tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55492233618444463322024-03-13T00:04:07.243-04:00DontDragMeDownDon't Drag Me Down (DDMD) - What would life be like if a relatively few people weren't dragging the rest of us down?DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-79144512459290096022019-11-06T12:53:00.001-05:002019-11-06T12:53:24.097-05:00Justice for Colombian Musician, Andres Ocampo <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andres Ocampo of Los Suziox with Robert Rose of Raw Travel TV </td></tr>
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Andres Ocampo is a well-known musician from Medellin Colombia and a friend of mine. He also composed the theme music for the show Raw Travel TV and has contributed other tracks to the sound design over the years. His band, Los Suziox (The Dirty) was the first act I signed for my digital record label <a href="http://www.punkoutlawrecords.com/" target="_blank">Punk Outlaw Records</a> back in 2010.<br />
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Andres lives and works in Medellin, Colombia where he operates a concert venue called "El Sub" (the Underground) in the hard-scrabble and sometimes violent neighborhood of Castilla in the north of the city. In addition to hosting musical acts and other artistic forms of expression at El Sub, Andres works with local youth to give them alternatives to the violent lifestyle that surrounds much of Medellin's working-class barrios like Castilla. <br />
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Andres had his approved US visa and had visited twice before without incident (he has family in NYC and had never overstayed his visa). <br />
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However, on June 4th ,2019 during his 3rd trip to the US to visit his ailing mother, he was inexplicably targeted, detained, rudely treated like a criminal by US Customs and Border Patrol at JFK Airport in New York City. Under threat of imprisonment, he was ultimately coerced to sign a false document and sent back to Medellin, Colombia on what became a 30 hour odyssey. During most of this time he was unable to contact his worried relatives and let them know what had occurred.<br />
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This happens all too often and we feel that our US Customs and Border Patrol at certain ports of entry like JFK are acting rogue and above the law. This is especially tragic, given that many people, like Andres, are visiting the US to visit family members. This isn't North Korea.<br />
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We want to<br />
1) Help Andres recoup the money he lost for his roundtrip airfare to and from New York City (Colombia is not a wealthy country and Andres is a well-known musician but not wealthy)<br />
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2) Try to raise enough funds to help Andres apply for an artist visa so he can perform and tour in the US much as he already has in Europe<br />
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3) Raise awareness of this issue and hopefully impact behavior at the US Customs and Border Patrol Points of Entry. These personnel are often the 1st Americans many US Visitors see, and if they are rude, crude and dishonest it reflects poorly on the nation and the rest of us.<br />
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Please visit <a href="http://www.justicforandres.com/" target="_blank">www.JusticeForAndres.com </a>for more information and how you can help.<br />
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-63270969843764710892018-08-24T11:06:00.002-04:002018-08-26T10:18:15.664-04:00Why Pick on Charlie Daniels? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've been a little tough on Charlie Daniels of the Charlie Daniels Band as of late and I wanted to explain why. Like Charlie, I grew up in Tennessee and remember hearing his music and thinking "this is different" and I liked it. Now I wasn't a massive country music fan but "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" was a classic and back then, believe it or not, country musicians rarely used fiddles in their music (they used slide guitars and such). Charlie has always struck me over the years as Johnny Cash-like, in that he seemed to be going his own way, which I respect.<br />
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But a little over a year ago I stumbled across a tweet Charlie on his twitter account and while I don't recall what it said exactly word for word, I do remember it jarred me. As I scrolled further and uncovered his pattern of tweets I remember thinking maybe his twitter feed had been hacked.<br />
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After it was clear it was apparently him making these remarks, I remember thinking and maybe even commenting, this man isn't an artist, he's not sowing peace and love with his music, he's spewing negativity, fear, and division like a common cyber troll.<br />
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Now twitter is full of people (and bots) spewing hateful diatribes but to see a successful (and presumably wealthy) musician essentially criticizing poor folks from other countries who come to the USA for a better life was, as I said jarring... and personal for reasons I'll explain in a bit.<br />
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But Charlie ain't some backwoods cyber troll who hasn't been anywhere, done anything or experienced life, this is a man who tours relentlessly and I'll assume has left the country on more than one occasion.<br />
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As a traveler, did he not experience, as I had, the incredible warmth and hospitality of some of the poorest folks on the planet? How could he, or anyone tweet the vile ignorance he was tweeting, if he had? And then the scripture and other inspirational messages he tweets, they run completely counter to the occasional divisive rant.<br />
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Sure, Charlie has every right to his opinion and if he wishes to demonize people with different customs or more often simply with different political viewpoints (but still very much a patriot) that is his right.<br />
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But then this week I received my Middle Tennessee State University alumni magazine which had an interesting article covering Charlie hosting an event to help U.S. Military vets, a very worthwhile cause Charlie has worked on relentlessly. I applaud him for that.<br />
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I was thinking maybe I was wrong about Charlie so, let me see what he's up to and I checked on Charlie's twitter account again and after some very inspirational posts, saw this doozy of a tweet about an actual song he'd written that I'm sorry, it plainly smacks of Xenophobia.<br />
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Here are the lyrics he posted.<br />
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Now it may seem harmless on the 1st read through, but I can tell you with some degree of certainty and expertise that in ALL MY TRAVELS, no one has ever told me to "love it or leave it or go back to where I come from". Quite the opposite, in fact, they've literally offered a free meal, a place to stay, etc. The hospitality from complete strangers in other places has always blown me away.<br />
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Charlie is telling people from outside the USA that they must conform and not try to "change it" if they come here. Conforming is something you are forced to do in Cuba and other fascist regimes, not the USA.<br />
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More likely, he's watching his version of the U.S. slipping away and wants to hang on to it. I get it.<br />
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But the reality is his version of the U.S. is a very narrow version that is only real to him in his world. It doesn't match my version and my world and sorry but I'm as much of a citizen and patriot as Charlie. And by the way, my version doesn't match 299,999 million other people who are as much of a citizen as both Charlie and me.<br />
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So I wrote an email to the publishers of the MTSU Magazine, mostly with the intention of praising them on a fine product that seems to get better each issue, of which I was sincere.<br />
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But I also took the opportunity to alert them about Charlie's twitter account which contains tweets counter to the theory of the University's premise of a welcoming place of learning for an increasingly international student body. Students from all over the world come to study at MTSU and I, for one, am very proud of that fact and of my University in general for its growth as such.<br />
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<b>SO WHY AM I PICKING ON CHARLIE:</b> </div>
Well, I'm not, or at least I don't mean to be picking on Charlie.<br />
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Charlie is old (82), and that fact sincerely didn't occur to me until some folks wrote to me as I had never considered him as an old man.<br />
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I haven't seen him on TV in years, and like many celebrities, he was just kind of ageless in my mind, stuck in time, with a white beard, boots, wrangler jeans, perhaps some tobacco in his jaw and a fiddle in his hand with an almost Santa Clause like joviality when he played.<br />
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The last thing I want to do is pick on an old man who reminds of Santa Clause... or anyone for that matter.<br />
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Even in this graceless age, in my mind, only incompetent corporations, repugnant ideologies, etc. should be attacked, not individuals, unless they lead such nonsense or are being repugnant in their views.<br />
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I don't wish to be a contributor to the noise that passes as political dialogue these days, I don't know enough to have what I consider to be informed enough opinions (yeah, I know that doesn't stop 99.9% of the pundits and social media commentators) to always offer something of value. I try to limit my comments to things I either<br />
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1) Have some particular expertise or unique POV or<br />
2) Feel so very passionate about I simply can't remain silent.<br />
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BUT I still know the difference between right and wrong and it seems the world has gotten it mixed up. It has me wondering if it's me that's all mixed up suddenly. I believe<br />
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- Lying is wrong.<br />
- Intellectual Dishonesty is wrong.<br />
- Demonizing others to gain an advantage is wrong.<br />
- "Whataboutism" to justify your own wrongdoing is wrong.<br />
- Hypocrisy is wrong.<br />
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Charlie is from Tennessee and I'm from Tennessee and when he tweets out vile stuff he's fulfilling a hateful stereotype that I've spent my entire life trying to live down. That's why this is personal.<br />
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The Tennesseeans I know are (mostly) a good bunch of folks who are like the folks in other countries where I visit, they will bend over backward to be hospitable and nice, politics be damned.<br />
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But besides that, when Charlie or anyone, be it the Homeland Security folks at the airport or a random stranger on the street, treats a visitor badly then I feel it reflects poorly on me. That's another reason it's personal.<br />
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How can I travel all over the world, absorbing the unconditional love and kindness of strangers while folks in my own home country are being nasty to visitors or newcomers here?<br />
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I'm sorry but quoting scripture and wrapping yourself up in the flag doesn't make you a good human being or even a good American.<br />
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And writing blog posts about how bad the political discourse in this country has become is disingenuous and intellectually dishonest when you, yourself are actually driving and contributing to the problem. That's called "hypocrisy" I believe?<br />
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I'm not saying Charlie is a bad human being, on the contrary, he's just a human being, which means he's good, he's bad, he like all of us has unique gifts, some good traits, and some deep flaws.<br />
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Charlie Daniels has WAY more influence and sway than I do and it pains me to see him use it to divide, demonize and spew what frankly is ignorance, especially when I know better.<br />
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As I said, when someone... anyone, mistreats a traveler or visitor, it's personal to me.<br />
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So, it occurred to me that while Charlie travels, he probably mostly just travels in the USA on tour with his band where people know and adore him.<br />
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This man, I assume, has worked hard for what he's achieved and has somehow been convinced if poor people immigrate to the USA (legally or illegally), it's going to take away his livelihood and legacy? I don't know, I'm not a mind reader but <b>I'm trying to empathize and see where he's coming from. </b><br />
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So I thought, why not go on a trip with Charlie to somewhere they don't know who he is?<br />
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I could empathize and see where he's coming from and he could empathize and see where others are coming from. We'll go somewhere he can get treated like a normal human being, a normal traveler so he can see what I see when I travel.<br />
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What kind of impact would that not have, not just on Charlie but on all his followers and fans?<br />
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And if we filmed it, even better. I always said "no celebrities" but in this case, I'd happily make an exception and lest you think I'm just doing this to be self-serving, if he didn't want a camera present, no problem there either... I love to travel without cameras, it is definitely more authentic.<br />
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Bottom line, my offer to Charlie for him to travel with me (my treat) for just a few days to some.. any developing nation and get to know the farmers and regular working class folks could have a huge impact on him.<br />
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He's a champion of the working class, I think he'd love it and his tweets and his life and his outlook would change and by nature, so would his followers.. or some of them.<br />
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Not because<b> I </b>have that power, but because true, authentic <b>travel</b> has that power. Travel is better than any self-help book or expensive seminar you can take, I promise.<br />
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A guy like Charlie, 3 days tops and he'd see a difference. A week, forget about it. Life changed... forever.<br />
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I don't hate Charlie Daniels.<br />
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On the contrary, I love the guy and the good he represents.<br />
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What I hate is what he's kind of become, which is a celebrity spokesperson for a political dynamic that spews divisiveness, bigotry disguised as political discourse, and xenophobia.<br />
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America is better than that and so is Charlie Daniels.<br />
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Travel is just a conduit to let the good beat out the bad. Lord knows I need it from time to time and by the looks of the discourse in this country, we all need it.<br />
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Charlie - I don't mean to troll you or pick on you and if it appears that way, I'm truly sorry.<br />
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I really want your people to call my people (me) and let's figure this out, my brother. Take a little break from touring and farming and let's go on a little trip to rural Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, etc., etc. etc. and meet some of the finest salt of the earth people on this incredible planet.<br />
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What do you say, Charlie, want to go be a Tennessee Volunteer somewhere cool with me?<br />
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-91787439577127987292018-08-04T15:21:00.002-04:002018-08-04T15:22:24.308-04:00Journalist Are Unsung Heroes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Journalists in the U.S. these days often get a bad rap, some of it perhaps not undeserved. But worldwide, journalists routinely risk prison, harassment or their very lives in order to speak truth to power and shine the light on corruption and criminality of those indulging in mankind's worst impulses. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">They go to dangerous places and asks dangerous questions about powerful, dangerous people and many pay with their lives, leaving behind families who love them, all for little pay, fame or glory. Would I do the same in their shoes? I can't say with any certainty that I would. Which is why I so greatly admire those who choose to do what's right over their own personal safety and too often pay the ultimate sacrifice to uncover the truth in places where Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press can get you killed. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The truth is more powerful than any government, company or individual and eventually, it will not be suppressed. The folks who bring it to bear are truly some of the world's bravest heroes. </span><br />
<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="async" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2018%2F08%2F01%2Frussian-journalists-killed-while-probing-mercenaries-linked-to-putins-chef%2F&h=AT1Rb0Q00I0Viv8_-Gp5HDpChynVqKjUXfjO8oUsw3Oq5ml74cFDx-p5w-KepE3Vg3UaryraDF0IYE5MCftw1rKzGVA8l02pZVJPfKE30b5MnDa5LmQmwMTXQ9f_7rPK40tGT9APTdXsgaEIkATaa-DZnFIlMjPsk6J3bz5zotk-guwxisrYGHZa" href="https://nypost.com/2018/08/01/russian-journalists-killed-while-probing-mercenaries-linked-to-putins-chef/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">https://nypost.com/…/russian-journalists-killed-while-prob…/</span></a></div>
DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-48824884483659084072018-01-07T11:53:00.001-05:002018-01-07T11:56:17.543-05:00Surgeon General on Fox News - Americans Are Dying From Starvation? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="ccgso-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">U.S. Surgeon Gen. Jerome Adams named a "Power Player" on Fox News with Chris Wallace this morning. Here are his views on Climate Change and a direct quote: "We know that the science says that man IS having an impact on the climate but we also know that people are DYING from not having JOBS, not being able to FEED THEIR FAMILIES." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.12px;">I hope the intent wasn't to try to suggest that the USA (Home of the most powerful economy in the world with 5% of the population consuming 20% of world's resources) is struggling so much to feed its population that we can't do anything about climate change. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.12px;">Do you know anyone in the USA that is literally starving? If so, please do let me know ASAP as I'd like to help. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.12px;">I don't know much about the Jerome Adams or his political affiliations nor do I care. But I know what I saw and he came across as nervous, ill-prepared, ignorant and not up to the task of being our Surgeon General. I hope he simply misspoke and these are not truly his thoughts. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids in Haiti</td></tr>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-40234445081764018882017-12-31T17:32:00.002-05:002017-12-31T17:32:38.259-05:00Journalism. A Brave Choice? Increasingly So. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EM6eS6ix0ds/Wklj54_MidI/AAAAAAAAB4c/rMuQ1UwYlWU2si3eXo3owVXNlKphEbRfQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-12-31%2Bat%2B5.25.06%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1268" height="215" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EM6eS6ix0ds/Wklj54_MidI/AAAAAAAAB4c/rMuQ1UwYlWU2si3eXo3owVXNlKphEbRfQCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-12-31%2Bat%2B5.25.06%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="6mo6d-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">The next time you hear someone complaining about "fake news" consider that for every politically motivated, hatchet-job hack there is probably at least one real, dedicated reporter risking their life for truth and justice in countries all over the world, some in theoretical democracies I've visited such as, Mexico (13), Philippines (4), and Honduras (3). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.12px;"><b>Countries with highest numbers of media killings in 2017: </b></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Mexico: 13 </li>
<li>Afghanistan: 11</li>
<li>Iraq: 11</li>
<li>Syria: 10</li>
<li>India: 6</li>
<li>Philippines: 4</li>
<li>Pakistan: 4</li>
<li>Nigeria: 3</li>
<li>Somalia: 3</li>
<li>Honduras: 3</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.12px;">I think it's safe to say none of these courageous, departed folks were wealthy either. Follow this <a href="https://www.snopes.com/2017/12/30/media-group-81-reporters-died-threats-journalists-soared-2017/" target="_blank">LINK </a>to read the story. </span><br /><div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-9758500515128650962017-12-17T16:47:00.001-05:002017-12-17T16:47:19.516-05:00Lead Singer of The Smithereens Dies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iococQ_8ocw/Wjbl08T936I/AAAAAAAAB4M/B41eRme1VHM5oBe7XwJT-2QtromqBe4sQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-12-17%2Bat%2B4.41.13%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="1268" height="301" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iococQ_8ocw/Wjbl08T936I/AAAAAAAAB4M/B41eRme1VHM5oBe7XwJT-2QtromqBe4sQCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-12-17%2Bat%2B4.41.13%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Lead singer of <a href="https://officialsmithereens.com/" target="_blank">The Smithereen</a>s died this week at age 62. It ain’t easy being a moderately successful musician I guess but these guys impacted a lot of music in the late 80s and early 90s.<br />
<br />
Was driving to Destin Fla. once in the mid-90s from Nashville & saw them by chance perform for a small crowd at a spot called Florbama I think it was. Happened to see them on the marquee and I pulled over. I was alone and mourning some failed relationship or something I thought was the end of the w<span class="text_exposed_show">orld in my tiny little self-absorbed world. Don’t recall but I remember I was in a morose mood.</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
Then I saw these guys. It was literally me and 50 folks at an outdoor patio kind of thing and we were ALL front row as if they were playing a fraternity party or something & half the folks didn’t even know who they were it seemed.<br />
<br />
Yet these NJ boys rocked it like it was an arena concert and this was the most important show of their lives and we all had a ball...Band, fans, and bystanders. I got back in my car and got on with my journey a bit lighter and a tad more joyful. A long ago but cherished memory.<br />
<br />
They got it. Details matter. Passion matters. Respect the fans & the audience. Don’t take them for granted and they will be loyal. Always give your best or don’t bother. RIP Pat DiNizio. You did at least one good thing and I suspect many, many more.</div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-35171583615684784302017-10-24T16:41:00.000-04:002017-10-24T16:46:01.770-04:00Verizon Fios Removes Univision. Univision Hints it's the "R" word?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWb44RuF5Og/We-kb5CLzBI/AAAAAAAAB34/t4XAn_WxFt4-QgxUNoQ2tlRHoyQaAOehACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-10-24%2Bat%2B4.20.16%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="1234" height="178" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWb44RuF5Og/We-kb5CLzBI/AAAAAAAAB34/t4XAn_WxFt4-QgxUNoQ2tlRHoyQaAOehACLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-10-24%2Bat%2B4.20.16%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/verizon-univision-dispute-1202591713/">http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/verizon-univision-dispute-1202591713/</a><br />
<br />
To my amigos outside of the TV business, this is a standard bearer dispute between two large multi-billion dollar media companies. It is happening more and more because as viewership and ad revenue plummet, broadcasters depend more and more on the "retransmission" revenue stream from cable & satellite companies like Verizon, Direct TV, Spectrum, etc.<br />
<br />
Disputes like these happen so often these days, most consumers don't even pay attention until it actually affects them. This is business and it's ugly yes, but it's not racist, it's just a stupid, shortsighted and probably greedy business move.<br />
<br />
Univision's old owners and management team, (which is today shedding viewers to Telemundo, the internet, etc,) did more to hurt the "diversity" of voices in the early to mid-2000s by insisting U.S. Latinos only spoke, understood and watched Spanish Language TV despite a plethora of research to the contrary.<br />
<br />
This dishonest stance prevented or I should say delayed, Latino talent and TV shows getting on mainstream, "general market" TV by years and did way more damage to "diverse voices" than this little dispute with Verizon, a blip on the radar, will ever do.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to today and there are more minority and diverse voices on TV than ever before (not to mention OTT - Over the Top and the internet). There are so many voices on TV, internet, OTT, etc. period, that you can barely hear what anyone is saying unless your initials happen to be DJT and you have your finger on the button, then people do seem to pay attention to your every word.<br />
<br />
Imagine playing tennis on an ever-expanding but still crowded tennis court with 1,000 other tennis players. That's the content universe today and sadly not much play is getting elevated.<br />
<br />
Networks are DESPERATE for attention because ATTENTION = REVENUE.<br />
<br />
All that said, I understand how easy it is to think people are treating others differently solely because of "who" they are.<br />
<br />
In this environment of 24/7 racism, sexism, and any other "ism" that gets people wound up on CNN and other channels, these terms have basically become TV genres in and of themselves.<br />
<br />
Again, this is mostly a symptom of large media companies worth billions, freaking out because they are losing viewers (and hence revenue) and will do anything to try to shock people into watching, including screaming racism and further slicing and dicing the viewing public in any way they can to garner their dwindling share of that divided market. It's a race to the bottom with no winners, least of all viewers.<br />
<br />
Doesn't mean racism doesn't exist, of course, it does. Doesn't mean it's not terrible, of course, it is. it just means this particular instance is about one color and one color only - GREEN baby GREEN. So don't get your colors all mixed up. </div>
DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-35273281126386745232017-10-15T21:36:00.002-04:002017-10-16T09:14:44.341-04:0060 Minutes Brave Expose on Big Pharma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">QUESTION: Why is TV called a medium? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">ANSWER: Because when it's well done, it's rare. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Old joke but very proud of 60 Minutes tonight who went up against a huge ad category (Big Pharma), when they broadcasted an expose on Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn sponsoring and congress passing a bill that helped Pharma Companies avoid DEA enforcement and ensure the flow of opioids continue to feed an increasingly addicted nation (many in her home state of TN) resulting in over 200K deaths. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Money of course. So sad how politicians continue to $ell u$ out at every turn. But very brave of 60 Min. to eschew Pharma ads (I counted $0 this week) in order to expose this travesty. Could not have been an easy choice. We need more journalism like this. Thank goodness (and our founding fathers) for the 1st amendment.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span> <span style="color: white;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="349" id="cbsNewsVideo" src="https://www.cbsnews.com/embed/videos/the-whistleblower/" width="620"></iframe></span></div>
DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-47540740290815549882017-09-28T22:21:00.001-04:002017-09-28T22:21:33.852-04:00Grey - My Favorite Color <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
WHY IS GREY MY FAVORITE COLOR? That REALLY strong opinion
you espouse... could it be the seeds were planted by a foreign government bent
on sowing discord here in the US? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1444417756"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://nypost.com/2017/09/27/russians-reportedly-bought-black-lives-matter-facebook-ads-targeting-ferguson-baltimore/">http://nypost.com/2017/09/27/russians-reportedly-bought-black-lives-matter-facebook-ads-targeting-ferguson-baltimore/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That would mean we're being manipulated to argue and be
divided politically, among friends, families, etc. by agents of foreign
governments (with sadly, probably some help at home as well). Throw in the
small % of people who run corporations that own most of the major national media
& technology within the USA and you have a recipe for manipulation not seen
since the days that most of the populace was illiterate and uneducated and
ruled by Monarchs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What to do? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
QUESTION EVERYTHING - ESPECIALLY YOURSELF. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Respect others' opinions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you consider yourself a "conservative", maybe
read a "liberal" newspaper like the NY Times or watch a liberal TV
show on MSNBC sometime. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If a "liberal" watch Fox News or read the NY Post
and see the other side. If a "moderate" do both WITH AN OPEN MIND.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>STOP being railroaded
into thinking a certain way just because you live in a certain geography or
were “brought up” a certain way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There's a reason they say you can't imprison the mind.
Borders in the brain are self-imposed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
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Think for yourself. Humans are imperfect but from Bangkok to
Baghdad to Boston, most are good-hearted folks. Give your fellow human a break.
Life is grey, it is not black and white. Which is why, grey is my favorite
color.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-79786566941458979212017-09-09T11:01:00.001-04:002017-09-09T11:01:49.925-04:00Humans... We Suck. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #454545} </style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
Gotta say it... Roger Ailes' Fox News legacy from 1996 lives on in the Summer 2017 DC shooting. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Dividing people to gain money, power, market share, career advancement, etc. has consequences... and we, the ever pliable and naive public are paying the price. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Turning against our neighbors, fellow citizens and fellow human beings on demand and on command. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Cuba has a similar problem in miniature. Only there, neighbors turn against neighbors and spy for the government for an extra bag of rice for the month. At least they have hunger as an excuse. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Encouraging the dehumanization of others is dangerous. And media is powerful... especially in the early to mid-2000s when Mr. Ailes' grand experiment began to bear fruit and shape public discourse so powerfully. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
This didn't happen suddenly or in a void. Actions, positive, negative and in between... ripple through time... decades and centuries after we leave the earthly realm. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
May your ripples be lovely & kind ... not brutish & selfish. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
No. I have not been drinking. Much.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-28127381706583549282017-09-09T10:55:00.000-04:002017-09-09T10:55:30.981-04:00Crazy Horse Prophecy Comes True <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDuMauIHT_Q/WbQAC7bAzWI/AAAAAAAAB3k/K5sbabCrRvkx5z5fCIP6R9TWiZnP-mKNACLcBGAs/s1600/RT%2B308%2BINT%2BSTILLS_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDuMauIHT_Q/WbQAC7bAzWI/AAAAAAAAB3k/K5sbabCrRvkx5z5fCIP6R9TWiZnP-mKNACLcBGAs/s320/RT%2B308%2BINT%2BSTILLS_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Mother Nature got you down? Yeah, she seems kind of angry.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Well, here is something uplifting. In 2016 we visited the Pine Ridge Native American Reservation in South Dakota, located in the poorest county in the USA where the avg. male life expectancy is 48. Let that sink in.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The famous Oglala Lakota Sioux Chief Crazy Horse predicted that the 7th generation would lead a resurgent comeback for his people. They are here and It is now happening with Lakota youth at the Red Cloud School (where 95% of graduates are accepted into college) leading the way.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Here is a link to a short, but inspiring photo essay. </span></div>
<div style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/08/a-reservation-restored/535656/#disqus_thread" style="color: #24890d; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/08/a-reservation-restored/535656/#disqus_thread</a></div>
</div>
DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-44632866437584408232017-07-18T08:29:00.000-04:002017-07-18T08:55:06.675-04:00Welcome to Florida.. Now Give Me Your Money!!!! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="737bq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kVbfHOvEe6w/WW3-0VQ02CI/AAAAAAAABsI/JtJDUTGoSP8Md93j7ADgmEFrnzXhUn3GACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-07-18%2Bat%2B8.27.13%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="998" height="171" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kVbfHOvEe6w/WW3-0VQ02CI/AAAAAAAABsI/JtJDUTGoSP8Md93j7ADgmEFrnzXhUn3GACLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-07-18%2Bat%2B8.27.13%2BAM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="737bq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I recently had a 60 cent cashless only toll turn into a $15.60 bill because of Thrifty Car Rental and the State of Florida's super sneaky and shady "Gotcha!" toll system which allows Miami Airport Rental Car Companies like Thrifty to charge $15 a day in "toll admin fees" after the fact. I was there less than 24 hours, hardly went anywhere, used GPS to avoid toll roads, but no matter... If they play you just right, the fees they "earn" from tolls from unsuspecting visitors is actually more than the car rental itself. How much $ does this contribute to the rental car co's bottom lines? How many people go to the energy and trouble to fight a $15 charge, no matter how ridiculous? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">New York State was recently outed for charging out of state EZ pass holders the cash fare, punishing them because they were from out of state, even though they had an EZ Pass. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">This dishonest behavior and complicity by our government appointed authorities reminds me of another example. This one in Mexico, a third world country with a transparently corrupt government and correspondingly inept tourism authority where they advertise rental cars as low as $6 a day without conveniently mentioning insurance at $100 a day or more is REQUIRED by law. No insurance, no car. You find that out at the rental car counter, usually in the middle of nowhere. GOTCHA! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">Travelers should not be treated as cargo or human ATMs. Governments and Companies that treat them as such, risk backlash (i.e. the airline industry's latest PR fiascos since they were allowed to merge) and worse. I think much of the rage we are seeing these days is a result of a series of small but more and more frequent injustices taking it's toll (no pun intended) on a seemingly helpless public. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">Since the New York & Florida Dept. Of Transportations, Dept of Tourisms & partner rental car companies don't respect their visitors, maybe there are just too many folks visiting the state of Florida and New York spending too much $ and taxing their overcrowded highway system, thus they treat visitors like an ATM instead of with respect. Perhaps travelers should consider going to other nearby destinations. I hear the beaches in South Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas are kind of cool....and that the Catskills are overrated. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">Here is a great article on Florida's "Gotcha" toll System. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="3j5rt" data-offset-key="92u14-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "San Francisco", -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="92u14-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="92u14-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://milestomemories.boardingarea.com/rental-car-tolls-florida/">http://milestomemories.boardingarea.com/rental-car-tolls-florida/</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-90870160437287535412017-07-04T10:40:00.001-04:002017-07-18T08:18:00.994-04:00Happy Independence Day USA <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="b0anc-0-0" style="color: white;"><strong>HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY USA:</strong> - I'm thankful for the unfettered opportunity to present our truthful travel and world experiences directly to our audience, free of government (or corporate) censorship, interference or fear of reprisal.</span></div>
</div>
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<span data-offset-key="dg0nq-0-0" style="color: white;">This simple but powerful right is still not enjoyed by too many in the world. May we always remember it, and not take it for granted and/or abuse it by presenting exaggerated, inflated, misleading or manipulated information to support a pre-judged position for the sake of money, power or influence.</span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a4045-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="a4045-0-0" style="color: white;">May we always recognize, that each of us, by our very nature of being human, see things through a prism of beliefs and attitudes already embedded by our unique education, experiences, upbringing and exposure to information.</span></div>
</div>
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<span data-offset-key="d4os4-0-0" style="color: white;">May we always seek to continue to evolve and grow based on new information and knowledge that travel brings and understand that we are all "works in progress" and deserve each other's honest but respectful dialogue, regardless of whether we agree with someone at any given moment in time.</span></div>
</div>
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<span data-offset-key="cjn1n-0-0" style="color: white;">May I judge less and love more and understand that life is a short but powerful gift that should not be squandered.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="f9nqa-0-0" style="color: white;">Travel safe (but not TOO safe) out there and Happy Independence Day everyone!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="q9sj-0-0" style="color: white;">Rob</span></div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-77983786959671628942017-06-10T18:15:00.003-04:002017-06-10T18:15:38.339-04:00When Travel Goes Wrong. The Trip That Wasn't <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UTnPRk85dUo" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
We were all fired up about our trip to Portugal's Azores Islands to film over the Memorial Weekend Holiday.<br />
<br />
Weeks of planning had taken place and the Visit Azores folks had everything set for us and put together an excellent itinerary. This was going to be a great couple of episodes, but first, we had to get there.<br />
<br />
Azores Air flies direct to the Azores once per day out of Boston Logan Airport at 9:05PM. Our flight was scheduled weeks in advance and was to leave on Thursday.<br />
<br />
I had lunch with our Providence affiliate, WNAC Fox 64 and MyRI 64.2, so I decided to drive up from NYC via a rental car from Avis/Budget which has an office near where I live in Manhattan.<br />
<br />
I booked a flight for the film crew on Delta Airlines leaving from JFK in NYC at 3pm and arriving in Boston Logan a little after 4 PM. Our plan was that I would meet them there around 5 PM after my lunch and a couple of afternoon meetings in Boston.<br />
<br />
I was worried that the crew would be exhausted waiting around Boston Logan before catching our fight out hours later as we were to begin filming immediately on arrival to the Azores the following day shortly after 6:30 AM, so we'd all be sleep deprived.<br />
<br />
Turns out, my worries were misplaced.<br />
<br />
I began getting texts from the crew around 2 PM that Delta Airlines was postponing the flight. I began to get worried because I know things can go south quickly when this begins to happen. It was a rainy, dreary day but a little light rain shouldn't be enough to cancel flights, especially a shuttle flight from NYC to Boston which are pretty much every hour on the hour. I've made that same commute many times myself.<br />
<br />
After receiving notification that the flight was going to be really late getting into Boston Logan, I decided to pull over at a rest area about 70 miles and 1.5 hours outside of Boston Logan to make some calls.<br />
<br />
I alerted our travel hosts at Visit Azores and called Azores Air to see what our options were.<br />
<br />
They indicated the crew should be at the gate no later than 8PM. Delta's new ETA for the crew's flight into Boston Logan was now 7 PM (or at least as best as my crew could decipher from the reportedly un-helpful gate agent at JFK's Delta terminal).<br />
<br />
At that point, I could have booked the crew on the following evening's flight on Azores Air out of Boston as the ticket agent told me there were exactly 3 seats available. But those 3 seats would go fast and the Azores ticket office was scheduled to close soon.<br />
<br />
I decided against it assuming Delta would make the flight happen. Bad decision.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F63pV_B6iDw/WTxuWVuofhI/AAAAAAAABqY/FPbYBlXHnn4qUk92r5jFBvW8f-VI2-ImgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0118-e1496244263481-1024x650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1024" height="203" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F63pV_B6iDw/WTxuWVuofhI/AAAAAAAABqY/FPbYBlXHnn4qUk92r5jFBvW8f-VI2-ImgCLcB/s320/IMG_0118-e1496244263481-1024x650.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Budget Rental Car Tire Goes Flat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />To complicate matters, after visiting the restroom at the Rest Area, I discovered my rental car had a flat tire and, surprise, surprise...the car did not come with a spare tire.<br />
<br />
Roadside Assistance was called but the folks they arranged to tow the car were 1.5-2 hours from being able to assist me, so now I was in danger of missing the flight as well. David, the very nice telephone agent at Roadside Assistance, advised me to abandon the car and get an uber to the airport if I could.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XnjuwAIZ2DU/WTxukKxzuuI/AAAAAAAABqc/QIED5QbgkLML73J7jA-eLi0lsC4aw_yWQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0117-1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XnjuwAIZ2DU/WTxukKxzuuI/AAAAAAAABqc/QIED5QbgkLML73J7jA-eLi0lsC4aw_yWQCLcB/s320/IMG_0117-1024x768.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Budget RAC Doesn't Provide a Spare </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I set about arranging for uber pick up and was in luck as one happened to be in my area. Uber driver Keith swung by to pick me up and we were on our way, albeit in heavy traffic.<br />
<br />
Minutes later I get a call from the crew informing me that the JFK flight had just been officially cancelled. Delta gate agents then suddenly became helpful and booked the crew on a flight out of LGA to Boston that would get in around 7:30 PM, it would now be really, really tight but we could still make it. The Domestic Terminal was a 15 minute walk / run from the International Terminal I was told.<br />
<br />
I instructed the guys to sit up front as much as possible. They already only had carry on luggage/gear.<br />
<br />
But flying out of LGA is especially nightmarish these days, with construction going on. I was afraid the crew's taxi wouldn't make it on time with car traffic a mess there.<br />
<br />
They actually did, but it didn't matter because as soon as they arrived the LGA Delta Flight to Boston Logan began getting delayed, and eventually cancelled.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for us, all this happened too late, the 3 seats were no longer available and the ticket office for Azores Airlines was closed.<br />
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When I arrived to the airport (1.5 hours and $96 poorer from the Uber ride), I promptly checked in and received a call from my Azores Tourism contact, who, was working into the wee hours of the night there to try to accommodate us and save our trip. I felt so guilty.<br />
<br />
She suggest I fly in (it's not like I could just turn around and go home as I'm now in Boston, live in NYC and had abandoned my transportation due to the flat tire/no spare scenario) and then we either try to get the crew on the next flight in the following couple of days, or I could scramble and try hire a local crew there. Either way, hopefully, I would still be able to shoot something.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pVvzRBLg1XQ/WTxuxGaJ50I/AAAAAAAABqg/xVwiIpUapLgNlxMSsNpk6HHrfvd43OwcACLcB/s1600/IMG_0131-e1496244073963-1024x769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pVvzRBLg1XQ/WTxuxGaJ50I/AAAAAAAABqg/xVwiIpUapLgNlxMSsNpk6HHrfvd43OwcACLcB/s320/IMG_0131-e1496244073963-1024x769.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taxi Back to the Gate</td></tr>
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<br />Alas, after the Azores Airlines flight at was on the taxi way at around 9:30 or 10PM, we received word from the Captain that the flight had been cancelled due to a technical problem with the plane.<br />
<br />
After waiting what seemed like hours for my checked luggage, I did a quick online search only to realize there were no hotels to be had in Boston as this was Harvard Graduation week. I had not graduated from Harvard, but even dumb little old me could figure out this was not my time to visit the Azores.<br />
<br />
I could hang out in the Boston Airport for more than 24 hours and hope to catch the next flight to the Azores or take a train home (I was already exhausted having been awake since 6AM and it was now 12:30 AM the next day).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CaXMwuiV4dM/WTxu-jMKyDI/AAAAAAAABqk/Lv8EEYCsomUUJSYw-zXExsf9V7UxcGxdwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0147-e1496244425919-1024x769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CaXMwuiV4dM/WTxu-jMKyDI/AAAAAAAABqk/Lv8EEYCsomUUJSYw-zXExsf9V7UxcGxdwCLcB/s320/IMG_0147-e1496244425919-1024x769.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying For Shuteye @ Boston Logan Airport</td></tr>
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<br />I ended up sleeping (or trying too among the bright lights and constant airport announcements of "if you see something, say something" and "Lexus the official car company of Boston Logan" or some non-sense announcements) at the Boston Logan Airport before taking the 5:05 AM train to NYC.<br />
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The Amtrak train home was by far the most pleasant part of the journey.<br />
<br />
A lot of sweat equity and money was wasted on a trip that never materialized thanks to bumbling, fumbling travel corporations that dropped the ball and just plain old lady luck.<br />
<br />
I also share the blame because obviously, in retrospect, I should have never relied on airplane travel or even car travel, I should have just trained it. But with Amtrak's own woes of late, that carries it's own risk.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kIW6VvwwIew/WTxvKe76auI/AAAAAAAABqo/1hi8059kkekzg68ceBTTwP_StzyZtVhVACLcB/s1600/IMG_0156-e1496244499683-1024x769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kIW6VvwwIew/WTxvKe76auI/AAAAAAAABqo/1hi8059kkekzg68ceBTTwP_StzyZtVhVACLcB/s320/IMG_0156-e1496244499683-1024x769.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train Ride Back Home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Is there a boat service up to Boston that anyone is aware of?<br />
<br />
I've included some photos and a short video of the entire experience. I hope you can enjoy it because I sure didn't.<br />
<br />
P.S. Be on the look out for this and more misadventures in Season 5 when we premiere "When Travel Goes Wrong" in February 2018 and here's hoping the Azores trip gets rescheduled. Stay Tuned.<br />
<br />
<strong style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">6/10/17 POST SCRIPT: </strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lRy9YynrOvM/WTxvRPPhpZI/AAAAAAAABqs/Z7OFgUYcKg0BLpssDp5yvS2TpGHtl-ehwCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-06-10%2Bat%2B5.49.02%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1342" height="310" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lRy9YynrOvM/WTxvRPPhpZI/AAAAAAAABqs/Z7OFgUYcKg0BLpssDp5yvS2TpGHtl-ehwCLcB/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-06-10%2Bat%2B5.49.02%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avis/Budget Adding Insult to Injury</td></tr>
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<div style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Today I received this bill from Avis/Budget Rental Car for $182.04 for the Roadside Assistance and Towing.</div>
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Remember they didn't provide a spare tire in my car rental and advised me to call RA and take an Uber to the airport as a result. So let's see</div>
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(1) Original 1 Way Car Rental Cost NYC to Boston = $115</div>
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(2) Uber to Boston Airport = $75</div>
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(3) Roadside Asst. Cost = $182...</div>
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So my $115 Car Rental Tab has now more than tripled in cost to $372.04 for a trip I ended up never taking. Ouch. Talk about adding insult to injury.</div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-9989259741924539602017-06-10T07:33:00.002-04:002017-06-10T11:16:46.237-04:00The Myth of Roger Ailes & Fox News <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Roger Ailes recently died, and I couldn't help but think about the comparison to another formerly heralded man, shamed just before dying, Penn State Coach Joe Paterno.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Ailes was recently forced out at Fox News after accusations of sexual harassment by several female staffers. Paterno was forced out of Penn State after a horrific charge of ignoring child sex abuse for decades by long time assistant Jerry Sandusky.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Whereas Paterno died of a broken heart a few months after his dismissal, Ailes apparently died of a head injury after suffering a fall at his home in Florida.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">The obituaries and remembrances of Ailes poured in and to their credit, few tried to sugar coat his recent troubles. But in remembering the man's career as a broadcaster, I felt some made a few misleading statements.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">They heralded Roger Ailes as the brains behind building Fox News Channel to the cable news behemoth it is today. The New York Post (sister company to Fox News Channel) said:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i style="background-color: #444444;">"Roger Ailes single-handedly rewrote the rules of TV news, building a media juggernaut to cap a landmark career." </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;">All true, but then the article goes on to say:</span></span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<i><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">"But it was in partnering with Rupert Murdoch (whose News Corp. also owns The Post) in 1996 that he unveiled the formula for success: Appealing to centrist and right-of-center viewers turned off by the relentless liberal skew of existing media. </span></i></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">And that's where the NY Post and most media accounts get it wrong. You see in 1996, the cultural, political divide was nothing like it is today. Folks in the southern U.S. and "rural America"(where I'm originally from), didn't consider themselves "liberal" or "conservative", they were just people with common sense ideals. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">There weren't all these constitutional hobbyist or people "in awe of the founding fathers", as if the founding fathers were sent to earth directly by God to create a constitution that could be memorized, quoted and frankly bastardized to conveniently support positions that defied common sense (I also admire the founding fathers, but they were humans and some supported slavery so it's kind of hard to deify them). </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Back then the media tried to at least put forth an image of objectivity and news was on the whole, center or maybe just a smidgen left of center. Most people didn't discuss politics, or religion publicly. It just wasn't polite and most folks were just focused on their families and everyday lives. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">But if you believe the media critics and history revisionists, Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch swept down from heaven and FINALLY spoke for the poor, forgotten common man, who'd been dying to have a news channel to FINALLY reflect their views. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">WRONG. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Ailes and Murdoch wedged themselves into the smallest of cracks and exploited and pushed that crack into a huge gulf, I believe for one reason and one reason only - to make money and to gain political power. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Fast forward to today and Fox News is not only the #1 most watched Cable News channel, the country is bitterly divided, and most of the media now just picks a side where only the most extreme views on either side of the political divide or "culture wars" are represented. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Yes, Roger Ailes has a legacy beyond sexual harassment and people should also consider his professional legacy, because if you ask me, it's been more far reaching and damaging than any charges of sexual misconduct. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">So last week Roger Ailes died, just as Rupert Murdoch will and as will I. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">The worms will eat all our corpses and only our souls will be left to consider either the good or damage we have done to our fellow human beings and the world at large. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">I'm ok with that. I wonder if Ailes was? </span></div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-10362486285299122162017-06-10T07:19:00.000-04:002017-06-10T07:19:22.902-04:00Health Insurance For Circus Clowns (or the USA)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: black; color: orange;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XzN2eserq0g/WTvVqDd2plI/AAAAAAAABqI/q9NKOT2keDQQaJXv13IXjBWucMguWW_qQCLcB/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="90" data-original-width="175" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XzN2eserq0g/WTvVqDd2plI/AAAAAAAABqI/q9NKOT2keDQQaJXv13IXjBWucMguWW_qQCLcB/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: orange;">A few weeks ago my Health Insurance company cancelled me for lack of payment after I signed up for their recurring auto payment feature on their website which is how I pay 99% of my bills given my travel schedule.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: orange;">It worked just once then stopped working and I never was made aware. Turns out their website had an option to pay the bill on the actual day it was due which I, like a dummy, checked off because, you know, it was 1 of 2 options (the other was to pick a date<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"> out of thin air and plug it in manually).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Turns out that particular "pay on due date" option doesn't actually work (never did get an explanation to the logical question: If it doesn't work then why was it included on the website?). Their website is like a sadistic game of Healthcare Roulette, choose the wrong payment option and you could lose your insurance.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Since they never sent me a bill (neither via USPS or Email or carrier pigeon), I had no idea my healthcare premiums weren't being paid until I was cut off. Ironically, I DID receive the cutoff notice promptly.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">After a fumbling, circus like comical adventure that would have made Moe, Larry and Curley very proud, I was finally reinstated after paying back premiums and jumping through hoops like a trained schnauzer. Lucky for me, no buses hit me during my multi-week, no-insurance adventure.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Despite my complaints and half a dozen requests, I still don't receive bills or notices (they claim they are being mailed) and only receive the same "Welcome Aboard" Packages (3 of them so far, 1 every couple of months, which makes me even more concerned) and the big aforementioned "you are hereby cancelled" notification.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">However, today, I finally received some actual mail correspondence from my "healthcare provider" (AKA My "If I get hit by a bus" policy). It was a form notice of non-discrimination as required by New York State Law. At least this mass mailer of legal gibberish made it to the mailbox, which maybe means I'm still insured... for the time being.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;">Why did I waste my time writing this long screed, I have no idea.. but thanks for indulging me.</span></div>
</span></div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-31325079875350082372017-05-29T09:15:00.001-04:002017-05-29T09:15:25.167-04:00Saving Rhinos from Extinction <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong style="color: #ff9000; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="http://www.careforwild.co.za/" style="color: #ff9000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Care For Wild Africa </a></strong></div>
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People say I have a great “job”, and I do, but producing Raw Travel is also a ton of work and sacrifice. I’m 99% sure I could make more $ doing something else, but I figured out a while back that old cliche about $ and happiness is actually true. The impact of the show and feedback from viewers is one big part of the reason we carry on. At times I wonder if the show is having an actual impact other than entertainment, but then I hear stories like this Toronto gentleman who saw Raw Travel last year (we’re not licensed in Canada so I assume he saw the Buffalo or Detroit feed).</div>
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After tuning into our story on <a href="http://www.careforwild.co.za/" style="color: #ff9000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Care For Wild Africa/ African Conservation Experience</a> this gentleman booked a trip to volunteer for them in South Africa and has returned a changed man. He’s telling others about his transformation and about this critical issue as rhinos near extinction. Here is his story and I thought I’d share it. P.S. You can see our segment on the CFWA again this summer in <a href="http://rawtravel.tv/video/raw-travel-417-amazing-animals-trailer/" style="color: #ff9000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">“Amazing Animals”</a> July 1st-2nd, 2017.</div>
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A link to his story can be found <strong style="color: #ff9000; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://www.conservationafrica.net/blog/travellers-stories-2-weeks-caring-rehabilitating-rhinos-africa/" style="color: #ff9000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE:</a></strong></div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-60150603725063906922017-03-27T17:06:00.004-04:002017-03-28T07:12:14.340-04:00Vice Who? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YQkWQKJfgtE/WNl-3XWl8MI/AAAAAAAABn8/mh5OiY-APGo8LSAi-aejUZRl9d5A7i1JQCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-27%2Bat%2B1.54.09%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YQkWQKJfgtE/WNl-3XWl8MI/AAAAAAAABn8/mh5OiY-APGo8LSAi-aejUZRl9d5A7i1JQCLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-27%2Bat%2B1.54.09%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span color="#4b4f56" data-mce-style="color: #4b4f56;" face=""san francisco" , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif" style="color: #4b4f56;">T</span><span color="#4b4f56" data-mce-style="color: #4b4f56;" face=""san francisco" , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif" style="color: #4b4f56;">his is an ad in the media trade e-newsletter Cynopsis. Maybe it hits a little close to home but I find it kind of offensive when Vice says "Young People are tired of Old White Guys". Do they mean like Vice founder Shane Smith? (Old, white and now very rich). Or Vice investor Rupert Murdoch? He's really old.. and really white but also really rich. or Tom Freston, who made Vice what it is today.</span></div>
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<span color="#4b4f56" data-mce-style="color: #4b4f56;" face=""san francisco" , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif" style="color: #4b4f56;"><br /></span></div>
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<span color="#4b4f56" data-mce-style="color: #4b4f56;" style="color: #4b4f56;">Vice has had a ton of $ thrown at it in recent months due to it's "pied piper" status for reaching millennials which TV Networks are desperate to do. But Viceland has been an unqualified failure thus far, netting shows with titles like "Balls Deep" and less ratings than H2 or whatever was originally programmed at that channel.</span></div>
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<span color="#4b4f56" data-mce-style="color: #4b4f56;" style="color: #4b4f56;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span color="#4b4f56" data-mce-style="color: #4b4f56;" style="color: #4b4f56;">But no surprise, Millennials are hard to reach (as is everyone with a gazillion things vying for their attention) and advertising $s even more scarce, which this ad was designed to address.</span></div>
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<span color="#4b4f56" data-mce-style="color: #4b4f56;" style="color: #4b4f56;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span color="#4b4f56" data-mce-style="color: #4b4f56;" style="color: #4b4f56;">It doesn't work. Double digit growth from next to nothing audience is not really anything to crow about and the headline in the ad would be considered racists if it were making fun of any other gender or ethnicity (substitute "fat" or "dumb" for "old" and "Black, Hispanic, Asian, Muslim, etc" for "White" or "woman" for "dude" and see how it sounds), especially coming from a network run by "old white dudes"</span></div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-2915018297077847652016-11-06T11:13:00.002-05:002016-11-06T11:13:30.877-05:00Free Child Slaves in Haiti <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PgN4nZYa05k" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><em style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Freedom-House-Maison-de-la-Liberte-1550143388629830/" target="_blank">Freedom House</a></strong></em><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> is featured on </span><strong style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><em style="color: #24890d;"><a href="http://rawtravel.tv/episode/episode-406-port-au-prince-haiti/" target="_blank">Raw Travel 406 - Port Au Prince</a></em></strong><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. They are a U.S. supported charity helping to free poverty stricken "restaveks" (child slaves).</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">A restavek is a child that has been given to another family as a servant in hopes to have their basic needs met. If you see the segment, you will see how incredible these children are now that they are surrounded by love. Freedom House is not a huge bureaucratic organization with a lot of waste.</span></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://aimtvgroup.com/rawtravelblog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Rob-with-Girl.jpg" href="http://aimtvgroup.com/rawtravelblog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Rob-with-Girl.jpg" style="color: #24890d; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="rob-with-girl" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1883" data-mce-src="http://aimtvgroup.com/rawtravelblog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Rob-with-Girl-300x169.jpg" src="http://aimtvgroup.com/rawtravelblog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Rob-with-Girl-300x169.jpg" height="169" style="clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 7px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">They are small and grassroots and just the kind of organization we like to shine the light on.</span></div>
<div style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">If you are so moved after seeing this weekend's episode and would like to help Freedom House rescue more children, you can donate and support <a data-mce-href="https://www.youcaring.com/freedom-house-children-s-home-674817" href="https://www.youcaring.com/freedom-house-children-s-home-674817" style="color: #24890d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">HERE.</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">A little goes a long way in Haiti, so no amount is too small.</span></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://aimtvgroup.com/rawtravelblog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Rob-with-Kids.jpg" href="http://aimtvgroup.com/rawtravelblog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Rob-with-Kids.jpg" style="color: #24890d; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="rob-with-kids" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1884" data-mce-src="http://aimtvgroup.com/rawtravelblog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Rob-with-Kids-300x169.jpg" src="http://aimtvgroup.com/rawtravelblog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Rob-with-Kids-300x169.jpg" height="169" style="clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 7px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a></div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-14643260298778158142016-10-13T12:13:00.002-04:002016-10-13T12:13:48.609-04:00RAW TRAVEL® EXPANDS GLOBAL FOOTPRINT INTO ASIA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">RAW TRAVEL</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt;">® </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">EXPANDS
GLOBAL FOOTPRINT INTO ASIA <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nat Geo People Asia Picks up Hit Travel
Series from the U.S. </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">New York, NY – October 13th, 2016 - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AIM Tell-A-Vision® Group (AIM TV) </i></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">announced today that Nat Geo People recently acquired
Asian territorial rights to certain episodes of their production, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Raw
Travel®</i></b>, the U.S.A.’S #1 most watched syndicated adventure travel &
lifestyle series. The series began broadcasting on Nat Geo People in a variety
of Asian territories earlier last month. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The announcement is just the
latest in a string of licensing deals from Raw Travel’s international distributor
Off the Fence Distribution, who has also inked several other deals for the
series in territories in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and on a variety of
airlines the past several months. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt;">Off the Fence is responsible for licensing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Raw Travel</i> (58 x 30’) to media outlets
outside of the United States and represents the show at global television markets,
including the upcoming market MIPCOM later this month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt;">Raw Travel</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt;"> is a 30 minute
adventure travel & lifestyle series that incorporates two of the fastest
growing segments of travel: eco-tourism & voluntourism. The fast paced show
focuses on authentic experiences to often off-the-beaten-path destinations as
well as other more mainstream destinations. The show recently debuted its 4<sup>th</sup>
season in U.S. Syndication in the United States in 159 cities representing over
93% of U.S. television households. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We are excited about working with Nat Geo People in Asia
and in continuing to work with Off the Fence to expand our international
audience even as our U.S. fan base continues to expand” stated <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Robert G. Rose, Executive Producer and Host.</b>
“Raw Travel’s unique perspective and positive message of socially consciousness
living among an inclusive worldwide community resonates with global audiences. We
are eager to welcome our new viewers and friends from across the globe and let
them know we are proud to be citizens of the world with them.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt;">Visit <a href="http://www.rawtravel.tv/">www.RawTravel.tv</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and <a href="http://www.rawtraveltrailer.com/">www.RawTravelTrailer.com</a>
for more information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-90444241074798972932016-05-24T21:34:00.002-04:002016-05-24T21:34:16.509-04:00CAPE TOWN PUNK ROCK PIONEERS “HALF PRICE” DEBUT “STRAIGHT OUTTA’ (SOUTH) AFRICA” FOR U.S. AUDIENCES <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--43K8g2WhNw/V0UBCJER2XI/AAAAAAAABj8/Skzdxu24Ko4qhO0pfVfoHg1ugjDQROzbACLcB/s1600/Half%2BPrice%2BStraight%2BOutta%2BSouth%2BAfrica%2BSMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--43K8g2WhNw/V0UBCJER2XI/AAAAAAAABj8/Skzdxu24Ko4qhO0pfVfoHg1ugjDQROzbACLcB/s320/Half%2BPrice%2BStraight%2BOutta%2BSouth%2BAfrica%2BSMALL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">AIM Tell-A-Vision Group / Punk
Outlaw Records</span></h1>
<div class="MsoList">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="mailto:info@punkoutlawrecords.com">info@punkoutlawrecords.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoList">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.punkoutlawrecords.com/">www.PunkOutlawRecords.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>CAPE TOWN PUNK ROCK PIONEERS “HALF PRICE” DEBUT<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>“STRAIGHT OUTTA’ (SOUTH) AFRICA”</i>
FOR U.S. AUDIENCES </b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">- Punk Outlaw Records Signs African Band
in Futile Bid to Become P. Diddy of Punk -</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">NEW YORK, NY, May 25th 2016 </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">– <b>AIM
Tell-A-Vision® Group’s</b> <b><i>Punk Outlaw® Records</i></b> announced the signing
of their first band from the African continent with <i>Half Price</i>. Hailing from musical hot spot Cape Town, South Africa, <i>Half Price</i> has been rocking the African music
scene for over 15 years. The band has toured extensively in South Africa and
until now U.S. audiences had yet to hear their potent sound or explore African
punk music in general. A concept that’s kind of nuts because when thinking of
punk music, one automatically thinks of Africa.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Featuring powerful rock hooks
channeling Ozzy Osbourne, AC-DC, NOFX, Rancid, Offspring and several other
bands you’ve probably never heard of, Half Price’s music adds just a touch of Ska
and Reggae for songs that have razor sharp lyrics ranging from bitingly serious
(corruption, inequality, H.I.V., etc.) to fall down funny (people borrowing and
ruining your stuff, partying with friends and family, etc.). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The quartet that make up <i>Half Price</i> have been more focused on
having a good time than exporting their raw, yet somehow simultaneously slick
sounds to U.S. shores. However, when
veteran indie TV producer and <i>Punk Outlaw
Records</i> owner, Robert G. Rose, was in South Africa filming his popular and
rapidly growing international television series, <i>Raw Travel</i>®, Rose insisted on meeting the band. He subsequently
tricked them into playing his favorite songs over and over while pretending to film
them for <i>“Raw Travel - Incredible Cape
Town”. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Rose later signed Half Price
because he was so impressed by their comradery and level of musicianship. The
band also plied him with a huge wad of South African currency, which looked like
a ton of money at the time, but turned out to be worth just $6 U.S. Dollars. But
a deal is a deal, so Rose worked with the band to curate 16 songs from <i>Half Price’s</i> hefty repertoire and the
result is <i>“Straight Outta (South) Africa”</i>,
the album debuting on all the major digital sites including iTunes, Google Music,
Amazon Music, CD Baby, and more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Full, as well as instrumental
only, versions of songs from the band will also be featured on Raw Travel’s upcoming
Season 4 sound track debuting October 2016. Visit <a href="http://www.punkoutlawrecords.com/">www.PunkOutlawRecords.com</a> to hear Half
Price’s music, see videos and find out more info on the band. For information on Cape Town or South Africa,
Google or Wikipedia is probably best. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Half
Price’s Cape Town, South Africa based members are: Homo Pete supplying main
vocals and guitar, Emo Mawk on guitar and back-up vocals, Kyle "The
Machine" on drums, The DFG playing bass guitar and backing vocals as well as some other crazy Africans on various
tracks.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“Half Price is one of the most
talented bands I’ve come across in all my travels, so I want to bring their
music stateside. I don’t know if it will be well-received, but to be honest I
don’t really care.” Robert Rose stated. “It’s more about staying true to what
you believe in and I believe in Half Price. I also believe messages put forth
in this collection of songs will ring true to fans as well.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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# # #<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">ABOUT HALF PRICE: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Since 2001, Half Price has caused
havoc in South African music circles. Their unique style of punk rock has been
accumulating followers and detractors in equal amounts. They’ve been banned
from various venues and have had their applications to festivals burned. Yet,
like a <i>bakkie</i> (a South African
4 wheel drive truck) careening out of control, they’ve been bravely plowing
forward refusing to back down. They claim to be 90% politically incorrect and
10% politically incompetent. The distinct backgrounds underlying the Half Price
social movement has resulted in a truly unique style of music, which is both
rocking and catchy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Half Price has been spreading
their high octane, and dangerously infectious party punk rock, touring
extensively in Southern Africa and Europe. This relentless touring schedule has
solidified a core following around South Africa. Half Price strictly adheres to
a “We do what we want, when we want, how we want” ethos and is a mantra that
their fans agree with and completely endorse. To listen to samples form the
release <i>“Straight Outta’ (South) Africa”</i>
please visit <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://punkoutlawrecords.com/release/half-price-straight-outta-south-africa/">http://punkoutlawrecords.com/release/half-price-straight-outta-south-africa/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">ABOUT PUNK OUTLAW RECORDS:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Punk Outlaw Records is a
digital record label and publishing company with a focus on distribution and
promotion of socially conscious punk, ska, reggae, rockabilly and psychobilly and
other music forms from around the world. The label’s mission is to facilitate
music’s ability to bring social awareness and change to some of the world’s
most pressing issues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">ABOUT RAW TRAVEL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Raw Travel is an adventure
travel and lifestyle television series currently heading into its 4th season airing
in over 150 U.S. Cities (93% of the U.S.) via broadcast affiliates (Fox, CBS,
ABC, NBC, CW, My, etc.), in a dozen or so territories and on a variety of
outlets internationally in Europe, Africa, Asia and more. Raw Travel showcases the rapidly growing wave
of socially and environmentally aware, independent travel. The series weaves
together themes of ecotourism, voluntourism (giving back) with underground
music and authentic culture in a way unique to television. More information can
be found at <a href="http://www.rawtravel.tv/">www.RawTravel.tv</a> and viewers are
encouraged to visit their Facebook page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/rawtraveltv">http://www.facebook.com/rawtraveltv</a>
and <a href="http://www.rawtravel.tv/wheretowatch">www.RawTravel.tv/wheretowatch</a>
for updates on complete listing of cities, affiliates and time slots in the
U.S. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">ABOUT AIM TELL-A-VISION GROUP <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">AIM TV is an independent
content, production and distribution company founded by media executive and
entrepreneur Robert G. Rose. AIM TV aspires to produce and distribute positive,
compelling content that reflects its mission of presenting <b><i>Media That
Matters</i></b>. Visit <a href="http://www.aimtvgroup.com/">www.AIMTVGroup.com</a>
and <a href="http://www.rawtravel.tv/">www.RawTravel.tv</a> for more information</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"># # #<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-52986256985224842532016-03-22T11:15:00.001-04:002016-03-22T11:15:08.633-04:00Belgium Bombings <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c-ZWTKK5yUM/VvFhVKbTYLI/AAAAAAAABik/V9kgyef3rmM2dhGaNTHnDtLJqj5bobeaQ/s1600/IMGP0425%2B-%2BSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c-ZWTKK5yUM/VvFhVKbTYLI/AAAAAAAABik/V9kgyef3rmM2dhGaNTHnDtLJqj5bobeaQ/s320/IMGP0425%2B-%2BSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were on layover at Brussels Airport when filming Eastern Europe in Season 2 of <a href="http://www.rawtravel.tv/" target="_blank">Raw Travel</a>. I distinctly remember how very polite & nice airport personnel and staff at Brussels airlines were. I was so moved by their hospitality, I actually wrote a letter telling them so AND they actually responded back in kind. Today I'm saddened by the images and I hope and pray for their well being. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now get ready, because much of our national media is going to tell you that travel is unsafe. They are pedaling fear as usual, because fear gets ratings. But they are wrong. Staying home, locked in a comfortable existence while everyone else is living their lives is not living. The odds are in your favor. While travel is unpredictable and occasionally uncomfortable, it's safer than driving down the road for a carton of milk or commuting to school or engaging in the work place. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don't let fear and misguided media messages stop you. See the world, warts and all. It's an amazing place MOST of the time. </span></div>
DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-77653982283193697592016-03-12T11:23:00.001-05:002016-03-22T11:16:13.047-04:00Finally Africa - Johannesburg, South Africa <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">This was my first trip to the fabled continent of Africa so I
figured what better country to begin than the so called "Gateway" to
the continent, South Africa. Less official nicknames for South Africa
include "Africa Light" or "The Livable Africa". I get a
chuckle out of those because after later visiting Ghana, I realized it's kind
of true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EVcuySiznz4/VuRBAnmDPDI/AAAAAAAABhk/lYucGqeSu_g4whQ2cAudq5QTFG_Gg3HLQ/s1600/10310536_1066140620076138_8735265405113260083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EVcuySiznz4/VuRBAnmDPDI/AAAAAAAABhk/lYucGqeSu_g4whQ2cAudq5QTFG_Gg3HLQ/s320/10310536_1066140620076138_8735265405113260083_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Johannesburg, South Africa or Joburg as the locals refer to it,
is the largest city in South Africa and it's the commercial center but it's
definitely not why most tourists come to South Africa. That would be Cape Town,
the safaris and wildlife at places like Kruger National Park or perhaps the
beaches of Durban.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">This is precisely why we wanted to dig deeper into Johannesburg.
I firmly believe that in every destination, there is a Raw Travel episode
waiting to be teased out, probably several actually. This includes the well-traveled
spots (i.e. New Orleans, Prague, Costa Rica, etc.... let's show another side of
it) and the more off-the-beaten-path destinations (i.e. Bratislava, Honduras,
Laos, etc....let's show why this place deserves to be visited).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hkp3h6Ctokc/VuRBFQUvy9I/AAAAAAAABho/cq4zaZfAXbk2LPKPEHrVuAUekbbWwJgVg/s1600/12631547_1066765090013691_1142302767426703609_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hkp3h6Ctokc/VuRBFQUvy9I/AAAAAAAABho/cq4zaZfAXbk2LPKPEHrVuAUekbbWwJgVg/s320/12631547_1066765090013691_1142302767426703609_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">I wasn't sure what to expect in Johannesburg but two words were
on my mind... "gritty" and "dangerous". I couldn't have
been more wrong.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Media reports are wildly subjective and I've found, inaccurate.
Yet another reason to visit and see it for myself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The definition of "dangerous" is so relative it's
nearly impossible to define anymore. There is war zone danger and there is
everyday danger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">I believe NYC with its rash of random stabbings could very well
justly be perceived as dangerous, yet I've lived here going on 20 years and
never had more than a handful of issues that could have easily been avoided and
where I came to no harm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sJDthEKVfHU/VuRBKzAgBxI/AAAAAAAABhs/p1NZJgJfUuoiw6JoRUPrWEkqgl5y8aTrQ/s1600/CaSl4APUYAAZmQL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sJDthEKVfHU/VuRBKzAgBxI/AAAAAAAABhs/p1NZJgJfUuoiw6JoRUPrWEkqgl5y8aTrQ/s320/CaSl4APUYAAZmQL.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Which is why, I do some research ahead of time and consult not
the news media or U.S. government web sites but travel blogs, social media and
other travelers before I go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Turns out Johannesburg WAS dangerous.... 10 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Well, since I'm not traveling back in time, Johannesburg needed an update and I intended to do my best to see what was up in this city and this included hitting up the "dangerous" townships and neighborhoods where "poverty" exists.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHWmb1SbRSM/VuRBP1CNpoI/AAAAAAAABhw/3OrwtqIj_rErXKROqDeEeWpzA2V8i1b6g/s1600/DJI_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHWmb1SbRSM/VuRBP1CNpoI/AAAAAAAABhw/3OrwtqIj_rErXKROqDeEeWpzA2V8i1b6g/s320/DJI_0022.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<div data-mce-style="line-height: 18.0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: 1; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 18pt;">
<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Granted we were going with guides and granted, I probably would not have gone to these particular spots by myself at night with expensive camera equipment but that is just because I had no reason to, not because I perceived any danger whatsoever at any point. I'd like to think after 50 or so countries my "danger radar" is getting pretty fine-tuned and it ran silent the entire time. That doesn't happen everywhere. </span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The reality is, that in the 3 township tours that we took... Alexandra, Soweto and Hillbrow... I found absolutely zero reason to be concerned and I felt 100% welcomed and almost, I hesitate to say it, but beloved.</span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">I don't know how else to describe the warmth of feeling when total strangers stop you in the street to hug you.. when kids wave and jump as you pass by and others wildly jump in your arms to give you a big hug and a kiss on the cheek and clap and sing and basically are so full of goodness, and lack of cynicism that I am still emotional typing these words weeks after my visit.</span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Perhaps I should not have been surprised in a land where the likes of Nelson Mandela and his legacy still loom so large. Madeba is beloved here and it's infectious. </span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">But beloved is the word I feel and thus what I will use.</span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">My annoyance quickly faded to true affection for the Joburg Tourism folks and their staffers after they left us hanging at the Joburg airport waiting for a ride for well over an hour (after a 19 hour flight from NYC and after confirming numerous times beforehand that a driver would be meeting us at the airport when we landed). Severely jet lagged, exhausted and facing 16 days of a brutal work and travel schedule with little sleep ahead normally puts me in a somewhat surly mood.</span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">From our driver, now my pal, Mndeni at <strong><a data-mce-href="http://www.zeigentours.com" href="http://www.zeigentours.com/" target="_blank">Zeigen Tours</a></strong> and Rendani at <strong><a data-mce-href="http://www.joburgtourism.com/" href="http://www.joburgtourism.com/" target="_blank">Joburg Tourism</a></strong> and the rest of the crew like our local cameraman Mike Bell (one of the most talented and professional I've ever worked with), to Jimmy, a local guide who tagged along... to the dozens of other folks we met on the ground at the different filming locations... their spirit of friendliness and lack of guile completely extracted any negative thoughts or anger issues from my mind. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">But how can they be so happy and joyful? </span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">This was after all where Apartheid reigned up until just a few years ago. I mean in the U.S. we went through our Civil Rights period in the 1960s and today it seems, if you believe the media at least, race relations are as bad as ever.</span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Yet in South Africa where apartheid reigned until as recently as the mid-1990s, this was a place that, in my short time there I observed, was so lacking in bitterness and pessimistic thinking, even in the poorest of areas, that I couldn't help but think "what are we in the U.S. doing wrong?"</span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Perhaps it's an unfair comparison, but still... one has to be impressed with the way South Africa and Joburgers in particular have embraced their history. They are not ashamed of it. In fact they almost seem to celebrate it, proud that they found reconciliation or so it seemed to me. Now granted an outsider in town for a very limited amount of time but this is how I saw it. </span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Yes, apartheid was a travesty of human relations and people died and were severely mistreated for many, many years but as Madeba instructed through his own extreme example of forgiveness, it appears to have been relegated to the past by most and almost everyone we met seemed focused on the present... a loving and more caring present and an hopeful, optimistic future. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Of course there are problems (we witnessed 3 car accidents in our short time there). Of course there is inequality (we stayed at some extremely nice hotels courtesy of our pals at Joburg Tourism and yes, I enjoyed it while the Townships we visited are super raw). Yes, there is a massive difference between the wants and needs of the wealthy vs. the everyday folks living in the townships but there is no way it could be described as a hotbed of danger, divisiveness and crime as I'd allowed myself to subconsciously believe through erroneous reports. </span></span><br />
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Johannesburg is lovely. It's big, traffic is tough sometimes and it's spread out, but it's a place I'd gladly return.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But even if it were a hellhole, I'd still go back to be with the people. </span><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; color: #333333;" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Because I cannot emphasize this enough, it's the PEOPLE who put the heart into a place and it’s the people of Johannesburg I will always remember.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZwJWe1wwBs/VuRB2cVW7VI/AAAAAAAABiI/5no1QmS1BSs23wVhSHBA-0QY3mBsIWAJg/s1600/IMG_0872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZwJWe1wwBs/VuRB2cVW7VI/AAAAAAAABiI/5no1QmS1BSs23wVhSHBA-0QY3mBsIWAJg/s320/IMG_0872.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18pt;">Thank you Joburg for not treating me like a walking ATM... as an outsider or interloper or exploiter... but instead as a fellow human being.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mR6wsX01vJI/VuRB-gRmUkI/AAAAAAAABiM/nk6wSb-UVWwICYRYlS1ziOezD3yGDFvGw/s1600/IMG_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mR6wsX01vJI/VuRB-gRmUkI/AAAAAAAABiM/nk6wSb-UVWwICYRYlS1ziOezD3yGDFvGw/s320/IMG_0772.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18pt;">Raw Travel Episode #313 - "</span><i style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 18pt;">We Heart Johannesburg" </i><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18pt;">will premiere in the U.S.
April 30th and May 1st in the U.S. Click</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><a data-mce-href="http://www.rawtravel.tv/wheretowatch" href="http://www.rawtravel.tv/wheretowatch" style="background-color: black; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 18pt;" target="_blank"><strong>HERE</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18pt;">for
tune in info. For more photos from our travels to Joburg go </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/punkoutlaw/albums/72157664998583576" style="background-color: black; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 18pt;" target="_blank">HERE. </a></div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-64852779935048163292016-02-28T10:16:00.002-05:002016-02-28T10:16:49.320-05:00Half Price Band - A Good Deal in South Africa <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://punkoutlaw.com/po09/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_0977.jpg"><img alt="Half Price" class="size-medium wp-image-5713" height="222" src="http://punkoutlaw.com/po09/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_0977-300x222.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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I've heard a lot of punk bands in my life... from all over the world. From Asia to Latin America to Russia, Europe and the U.S. and I've heard some really good (and yes, some not so good) punk, ska, reggae, rockabilly & psychobilly music.<br />
But on my very first trip to the continent of Africa I may have stumbled one of the best and mostly unheralded punk bands I've ever heard, a band based in Cape Town, South Africa called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Half.Price.Band" target="_blank"><strong>" Half Price"</strong></a>. South Africa is known for good music, period.<br />
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As I write this, Mos Def is in the middle of a legal proceeding there for overstaying his visa. He wishes to continue to live there full time. For good reason. The musical influences there are amazing and we heard great music pretty much the entire trip (including a hell of a Rastafarian, reggae sound from a legendary band in Johannesburg called "Tidal Waves".. but more on them later).<br />
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<a href="http://punkoutlaw.com/po09/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_0964.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0964" class="size-medium wp-image-5714" height="300" src="http://punkoutlaw.com/po09/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_0964-298x300.jpg" width="298" /></a><br />
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The punk scene in South Africa is apparently larger than you might think, but in a way this makes sense. There is a backdrop of Apartheid, Segregation, HIV infections, corruption, immigration, extreme poverty, environmental catastrophes and other social justice issues are not quiet 100% in the rear view mirror (unlike Americans, to me South Africans openly discuss these matters largely without walking on egg shells or the threat of violence or resorting to political shouting matches). Of course I was only in South Africa for around 10 days, so any impressions I have on the country must be countered against that information. But I didn't need much time to know that Half Price IS the real deal when it comes to Punk Music.<br />
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They are buttoned up by musician standards.. showing up on time (well, ok, just to prove this was a punk band still, the lead singer sauntered in over an hour late but he had a good excuse, he recently had a daughter and had fatherly duties), a cracker jack manager who was 100% organized. While being on time and having a manager who actually does stuff may not be a big deal in places like Western or Northern Europe, this is Africa, where even though we had arranged days in advance, we had to wait for over an hour for a ride from the airport to our hotel after a 19 hour, little sleep flight from the U.S..<br />
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<a href="http://punkoutlaw.com/po09/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/faces-black-cover.jpg"><img alt="Print" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5715" height="115" src="http://punkoutlaw.com/po09/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/faces-black-cover-300x115.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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But we don't often judge bands by their punctuality or management capabilities, we judge them by their music and that's where "Half Price" really shines.<br />
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Once I could tear my ears away from the highly addictive single "Break Out" and give the rest of their catalog a good listen, I realized just how good (and in your face funny) these guys are. They are like NOFX combined with Rancid with their alternating hilarious, tongue in cheek songs sitting side by side with very serious issues (the aforementioned subjects of segregation and HIV). Ska and Reggae play a heavy influence on many of their tunes and I dig it, but I REALLY dig even more the straight ahead punk sound of "Break Out" and "We're Still Playing Punk". <a href="http://punkoutlaw.com/po09/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DSC_0023.jpg"><img alt="DSC_0023" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5716" height="201" src="http://punkoutlaw.com/po09/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DSC_0023-300x201.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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I'm including below a video of their "Break Out" tune rehearsed in studio with us and recorded on my iphone (hear the studio recorded version on their FB Page) and "Half Price" playing live at the Jolly Roger in Cape Town with "We're Still Playing Punk" Do yourself a favor and head over to their<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Half.Price.Band" target="_blank"><strong> facebook page</strong></a> and give these guys a listen.<br />
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Their sound cleans up nice in the studio and in the very off chance you happen to not like what you hear, just remember, it's only "Half Price" so it's always a good deal. <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_SjG3gpSqMM" width="560"></iframe>in <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dF8eKLev3u4" width="560"></iframe> See our interview with Half Price on U.S. television in Late April or Early May on Raw Travel TV. Visit our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/rawtraveltv" target="_blank">Facebook Page </a>or<a href="http://www.rawtravel.tv/" target="_blank"> www.RawTravel.tv</a> for updates.</div>
DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549223361844446332.post-35399887705641568082015-11-21T20:36:00.001-05:002015-11-21T20:36:22.692-05:00Help & Hope For Pine Ridge Reservation <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EO_DaTu_LLk/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EO_DaTu_LLk?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">I first heard about the situation in Pine Ridge reservation a
few years ago while watching Diane Sawyer profiling the tragic issue of teen
(and even more tragically pre-teen) suicide there. If you don't know the stats,
they are mind boggling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The Oglala Lakota Sioux Indian reservation in Pine Ridge, South
Dakota is one of if not the poorest area in the entire United States. On the
reservation it is reported that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">- Average annual per-capita income is estimated at just $4,000
annually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">- Unemployment is over 80% and it’s estimated that over half
live below the poverty line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">- Teen (and even pre-teen) suicide is estimated to be four times
the national rate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">- They have the second lowest life expectancy in the Western
Hemisphere (second only to Haiti).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">- Diabetes is eight times (and infant mortality three times) the
U.S. rate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">- There is a massive housing crisis with multiple families often
crammed into small mobile homes, many without running water or adequate sewage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Upon seeing the piece by Diane Sawyer, I pledged then and there
that if ever I was able to help the people on the reservation, I would.
Finally, during the 4th of July holiday weekend of 2015, I visited Pine Ridge
to produce an episode of Raw Travel entitled "Pine Ridge - Tribal
Tourism" and my life has never been the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Nothing that specifically extraordinary happened to me on
that trip. I simply met regular folks from the reservation who were kind and
hospitable to me, a total stranger. But I was very impressed by their
resiliency in the face of difficult circumstances. I was equally impressed
by the large number of locals, transplants and volunteers working to help make
the situation on Pine Ridge better, especially for Lakota Youth. I can
think of no better way to inspire young people to believe in
themselves than to allow them to explore the innate creativity present in
all human beings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-85NgFomQY6s/VlEbab6wGKI/AAAAAAAABbE/DlL-4T9fmKk/s1600/CrowdRiseCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-85NgFomQY6s/VlEbab6wGKI/AAAAAAAABbE/DlL-4T9fmKk/s320/CrowdRiseCover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">I was made aware of the lack of creative outlets by youth on the
reservation when I interviewed the local band <a href="http://www.scattertheirown.com/" target="_blank">"ScatterTheir Own"</a> where Scotti & Julianna informed me
that no music schools existed on the entire reservation. After interviewing the
folks at Red Cloud School I thought a good way to help would be to assist their
efforts to expand their after school clubs program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">I hope we can work with some talented musicians, filmmakers and
other artists and entrepreneurs to visit the reservation and speak to the youth
on a consistent basis. I’d also like to try to create a small film school. Who
knows where, if anywhere this will lead but I do know that to do nothing, is in
essence choosing to endorse the status quo, and that I cannot do. Whatever we
can contribute, big or small it will help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-c9XHLi63g/VlEbdzooV6I/AAAAAAAABbM/GAQKkx5_7i8/s1600/GetAShirtBanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-c9XHLi63g/VlEbdzooV6I/AAAAAAAABbM/GAQKkx5_7i8/s1600/GetAShirtBanner.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Even
though this fundraising effort kicks off to coordinate with our <a href="http://rawtravel.tv/episode/episode-308-tribal-tourism-pine-ridge-south-dakota/" target="_blank">Raw Travel - Pine Ridge / Tribal Tourism </a>debut,
it will be an ongoing effort and will continue as long as there is interest in
helping Pine Ridge help themselves. For me this already is an ongoing cause
I've pretty much resigned to be dedicated to until either things improve
drastically or I die, whichever comes first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">There
are several ways you can help. You can simply visit the reservation or donate
via our crowdfunding effort or purchase the "Still Here.. Still
Proud" T-shirts and/or forthcoming special edition Pine Ridge Extended Cut
DVD. Or if you prefer, you can find a plethora of deserving organizations on
the reservation to donate or volunteer like our pals at Red Cloud School or
Re-Member. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 15.75pt;">With your help, they I'm confident things can and will get
better. For more information on Raw Travel - Pine Ridge and to donate please go
to </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 15.75pt;"><a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/rawtravel">www.crowdrise.com/rawtravel</a></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 15.75pt;"><a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/rawtravel" target="_blank"> </a>or
for other ways you may choose to help then click the “How To Help” link
at </span><a href="http://www.rawtravelpineridge.com/">www.RawTravelPineRidge.com</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 15.75pt;"><a href="http://www.rawtravelpineridge.com/" target="_blank"> </a>which
will be updated as time goes on.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iP1i6OyYN3g/VlEbjVqZikI/AAAAAAAABbU/BVj1mTDqAcI/s1600/RawTravelPineRidgeSlide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iP1i6OyYN3g/VlEbjVqZikI/AAAAAAAABbU/BVj1mTDqAcI/s320/RawTravelPineRidgeSlide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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DontDragMeDownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504830434593093384noreply@blogger.com0