Musings,Meanderings & More

What were you doing on the night of March 27, 2010 at 8:30 PM.  Well, I hope you were just one of the millions, that participated in Earth Hour 2010, that was taking place globally to demonstrate the participants concern about the health of the planet.

Personally, I felt as though I was involved in something groundbreaking … in essence, like-minded folks were coming together in a easily recognizable way, displaying non-violently their concern and outrage, indicating the immediate need for a call for action from our government’s, corporations and officials to act aggressively to find alternate methods to counter the deteriorating effects modernization is having on our home.

At the very least, I would never have imagined that those that didn’t join in, would feel any measure of animosity for the folks that did.  After all each of us has a vested interest in the viability of this world, after all it’s our only home.

But was I ever wrong, I stumbled upon a site and a post that ignited a flood of ill-willed comments targeted at the movement, those that supported it and anything that had to do with ‘greening’.

This again, is something else that I just don’t get. The air we breathe is polluted, the oceans are tainted, animals are unnecessarily dying because of our screw-up’s, garbage is piling up [has anyone seen Wall-E], people are contracting illnesses that cannot be contained, the polar caps have melted and there is a menagier of other ills that have erupted as a result of our inaction.  Things are not OK!

And WE the sympathizers are considered ‘loonies’.  What gives…

Mystery’s are enthralling, I can’t seem to get enough of them. My favorites are always those that are based in the U.K … featuring such favorites as Perot, Sherlock Holmes and Cracker, but these are TV series and I’m here to talk about movies.

Recently, I seen an eye opening, fast paced, completely mesmerizing drama entitled Gosford Park, which was about the life within a/any household of the wealthier faction of that continent during the 1930’s.  This particular flick flings it’s doors opens and welcome’s a select few to a weekend party, and then ‘the hunt begins’.  This is a gutsy murder drama mystery, with no holds barred.

Not only are we the viewers invited to observe the wealthy at their terrible best, but we view how their excesses are managed by their work-staff … hour by hour, day to day.

This is a masterful piece of cinematography … don’t miss this one … it’s a keeper.

This video is extremely short, however it outlines what’s involved in mapping a DNA trail.  Also, Spencer found the missing link or more accurately the one minuscule deviation that proved his theory.   He found the DNA evidence that verified what path was followed.

For the last month, I have been burning the midnight oil trying my DARN hardest, to get some of those unfinished must-do’s done.  I sure hope all of the brick walls that I’m banging my head against is all a part of the learning curve, because I am so close to brain-dead from the effort, that I can’t be sure if I have learned anything from the ordeal.

One of the main things that has been at the top of that list was moving a blogger blog to wordpress … OMGosh has that proved to be a pain in the rear.  It’s almost completely moved over, but I am still having a problem with the ‘A’s’ and the ‘C’s’ [ A-name and CNAME].  And a template that I fell head over heels in love with, turned out to be in XML format and blogger’s hidden moderator keeps informing me, that it isn’t parsing.  So, I spent a day  and a half searching for answers which naturally lead to more questions.  And through all of this, I discovered that I wasn’t alone in my  template frustration, there are hundreds … if not thousands of folks pondering over the same dilemma.

Finally, my fairy weblog godmother took pity on me and sent me down 2 avenues, the first began with a search on google that introduced me to the existence of a gadget [Important Note-if I can't find a link to the download at CNET, than I don't do it] that converts XML to HTML; and the other ave was a blog that had the answer buried not in the post … because although it was suppose to address and solve my problem, it didn’t and there were at least 75 response that proved the guy who supplied the so-called solution was as clueless as the rest of us.

However, the solution was buried in the responses and it was so simple … it was embarrassing.  So, if their are others that have encounter the following Error Message when trying to install a Blogger Template …

“Please correct the error below, and submit your template again:
Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly. XML error message: The entity name must immediately follow the ‘&’ in the entity reference.”

This Tip just might be the answer you are seeking:

If you get an error the problem is most likely the following: You did not extract the files after download. If you look carefully, you will see that the file you downloaded has been saved in a “zip” format. You have to right-click on it and say “Extract All”. Inside you will see only two files. Ignore the “Readme” and select the other file when uploading into Blogger. Anonymous# April 23, 2009 7:43 AM

However, it is also possible that the gadget that I found and attempted to utilized actually worked in conjunction with the above.  Subsequently, when I next tried to upload the template … it worked like a charm. 8o)

In any event, I have decided I need a helmet and an Aleve… because I’m off again to tackle the next brick wall.

Now, if you are looking for a non-stop action filled movie flick with unexpected, catastrophic and startling situations; music that’s enchanting and engaging delivered from a completely bedazzling source; true love and a hero.  Well then …  I have just the movie for you.  It not only covers all of the above elements spectacularly, but there are more surprises than you could ever imagine still waiting too ignite your taste buds.

Bruce Willis who happens to be one of my ‘all time favorite’ actors, stars in this ‘rip roaring’ adventure, along with hilarious Chris Tucker and drop dead gorgeous Milla Jovovich.

The plot isn’t unusual, it’s all about saving the planet … yah, I know … nothing new.  But, it’s what happens in the process that will shackle and entangle your attention.

So folks, strap on your seat belts and expect to be amazed while exploring ‘The Fifth Element’.

Well, I never thought it would come to this, but I have officially become a ‘fan’ … a Susan Boyle ‘devotee’.  I hunger for the news on exactly where she’s traveled, who she has met in her travels, what new entertainment hurdle has she encountered and overcome, etcetera … And who you might ask is Susan Boyle [maybe], she’s a singing sensation from Scotland.

Susan Boyle the Next Chapter

Not only have I found a bit of intel’ about her upcoming plans, but I have learned a little more about who Suse is … and what lead her to bravely tackle the Britain’s Got Talent audience.  To begin with, Suse was the youngest of nine children and she had [up until Brit's Got Talent] lived at home with her mom[ her mom passed in 2007].  Her mom’s only wish was for Suse to make something of her life.  So Susan Margaret Boyle followed her dream and her ‘mom’s’ desire and tackled ‘Brit’s Got Talent’, hopeful that this could be the rocket that would launch her career [clever chick].  And as we all know, the timing was right; Suse’s frame of mind was focused and up to the challenge; and the vehicle she chose to catapult herself into stardom was again the right choice.

Was this transition … from an unemployed, small town girl, who was completely on her own … easy, heck NO!!!   It was, as she has admitted publicly, overwhelming.  Is she handling it? … heck YAH!!!  Has anything changed for her … of course it has.  The life that she was leading … is a thing of the past, she is no longer unemployed, she is now living her dream.  Oh, and she’s moved to a quiet little secluded spot somewhere in London.  However one thing seems to have remained the same, and that’s Susan Boyle.  She still appears to be unassuming, a bit shy [that is until she sings] and when she isn’t doing the newly acquired celeb status thingy … she still does the Suse thing.  She doesn’t go out in the evenings or on wild shopping spree’s, or venture out into clubs or attend wild parties.  My hope is that she’ll always keep that ‘hometown girl element’, I think that’s what most of her audience connects with including me.

But what is up for Ms. S. Boyle … Well, she will be in the September edition of Harper’s Bazaar  and during an interview with Susan, it’s was discreetly mentioned that she is now financially secure … Go Girl!  Oh, and let’s not overlook how shrewd Harper is, can you image how many September issues of this magazine’s will be sold … OMGosh are they gonna make a killin’, I guess some more records will be broken.  I know I gotta have one, I mean ‘this is the girl’…

And around November if all goes well, her album will be in the stores … just in time for Christmas.  Do these corporate moguls miss anything.  But for me, it really doesn’t matter when this album comes out, it is one of those ‘must have things’.

And after the album, I am sure there will be tour’s … what I wouldn’t give to actually be in the audience when she hits the STATE’s.

Well, that’s all I have for now … be talkin’ to ya!

I’m gonna have a post coming in a couple of days that talks some more about Heather Headley, but as a result of some searching that I did about her, I unexpectedly can across this VID of her, performing a song by Elton John.  Now, the song that she is singing was written and originally performed by this phenomenal individual, I mean as far as I am concerned he is nothing less than a living legend.

Straying here … just a tad, during a visit to NYC one year, I ran into an avalanche of people … I was bombarded by bodies as they were hurriedly making there way toward Madison Square Garden to see him perform.  I was literally being smothered by hoards of people, but the saddest thing about this situation was that I also should have been among that throng, heading to MSG to have seen this Musical Icon.

But returning to the topic at hand, what grabbed me the most about this VID is his reaction to  her rendering of his song … I really don’t think I am mistaken, but I think it took quite a bit of restraint on his part to avoid a stronger emotional response.  He actually appeared to be glowing.

And can you imagine what a rush she must have felt, to receive such a warm acknowledgment from SIR ELTON …

Yesterday while spending some time doing a little net browsing, and as what  usually is the case,  visiting one site leads to discovering another site that [in this instance] lead me to a blog … a really amazing blog, as a matter of fact.

Just to digress a bit … sometimes, I worry about the upcoming generation and wonder where will their decisions lead this little fragile and glorious planet, but as circumstance would have it I seen this blog that was maintained by a seven year old violinist … and after viewing it, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is hope after all, I think he is a shinning example of some amazing little people that are awaiting their turn at the wheel … and maybe I guess, I just worry too much.

Anyway, the blog is called PlanetStas by Stanislaw “Stas” Gunkel  and his entries are about his thoughts and things that he is involved in … however, a couple of entries dealt with [at that time] the impending elections and his reasons for supporting Senator Barack Obama, and the obvious character flaws in the decision making process of the opposing party.  Okay, I was amazed by this little guys insight and the fact that he is just ‘a little bit more’ than a toddler and already he is capable of analyzing our political structure.

But too be perfectly honest what amazed me even more, was that his ‘post’ was noticed and he received a response from the then Senator Obama …

Way to go Stas and MANY THANKS too Our President for noticing, acknowledging and responding too this talented and very small person.

Besides this blog, I also have two other blogs and two lens. I haven’t really been keeping any of my real estate current which is something I am not proud of and I realize I must remedy that. And to add kindling to that fire, lately I have been on a serious ’search n seek’ site mission. I know, I know that statement doesn’t make a ‘whole lot of sense’.

The truth is I feel as though I am missing something critically necessary. Something that will give this whole internet experience some cohesion. That one piece or maybe it’s a group of pieces that still eludes me, is a source of a lot of mental unrest.

Or I just may be pulling the ‘wool over my own eyes’ and the answer may be quite simple…and what I should be doing is directing all of my attention to completing my projects, that alone would probably lead to a more focused me.

Although I have been plagued by this gnawing distraction, I have still been a ‘busy little beaver’ and I have still eliminated many items from my ‘to do list’.

Let me just give you one example…I applied the EC 300 card drop system to my PC and I am doing that while I write this post. You see it takes a while to load those sites, so while they fully loads, I am doing other things on my laptop. And by dropping these EC cards, everyday I am viewing loads of fabulous and interesting sites. Each one jammed packed with a host of topics that feed that need I have for ’searching n seeking’.

Well, this is just an update on ‘me’ and what I am currently about…Wishing you and your’s a very Happy and Peaceful Sunday…

This morning I seen this video and honestly…I  laughed so hard…my sides were aching. Gosh, I just kept thinking that we have really forgotten ‘how to enjoy a moment’. There is definitely something to be learned from this little guy.

Just look at this little tike, he keeps losing his balance from laughing at something so simple as ripping a piece of newspaper. How innocent and special…that is. And just watching that little happy bundle of joy, had me almost as happy as he was.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all could always hold onto that ‘pure innocence’, safely stored somewhere in our hearts, always there and waiting for moments when we really need it the most…