Vote For Hope For Paws And Win Harlette Style

As any Bette Midler fan knows, one of the most fascinating aspects of the Divine Miss M is the company she keeps, and in the case of her Staggering Harlettes, she is in fantastic company indeed.

Although the roster changes from tour to tour, the Harlettes are a multi-talented trio of singers, dancers, often fish-tail clad wheelchair drivers, comediennes, ukulele players, and poi ball twirlers, and that is only the tip of their talented iceberg.

One of the most amazing of these gorgeous Glamazons is the beautiful, talented, and downright wacky Rhae Ann Theriault, who I've been fortunate to be friends with for a while now. She is also one of the most compassionate people on the planet, and through her most recent endeavour, she has allied herself with other compassionate people to ensure positive outcomes for the less fortunate, especially her animal friends.

Together with Don Bradshaw, webmaster of the premiere Bette Midler web-blog Bootleg Betty, Theriault has sponsored a very huge online benefit to save unwanted, neglected, or abused animals worldwide. This is a global effort in honour of one of her dear friends Eldad Hagar, whose organisation Hope For Paws could be the recipient of a $1, 000, 000 grant, courtesy of Chase Community Giving, to benefit these animals.

On the Hope For Paws website, the issue is very clear as to why this is such an important mission for pets and people alike.

"Five million pets are euthanized every year. When we created the book, Our Lives Have Gone To The Dogs, about our experience rescuing and fostering dogs and other creatures; we did not foresee that it would make a profound impact on human beings. The book has reached beyond what we could have imagined with its photos and stories are of animals who overcame abuse, neglect, and abandonment to become loving pets, companions, and even therapy dogs. With its emphasis on adopting and treating our pets as family members versus objects, the book has both educated and touched people regardless of race, religion, and political beliefs all over America and in other countries. Individuals in hospitals, cancer patients, and seniors in assisted living have told us that these stories inspired them and gave them hope. The book has the ability to ease the pain and suffering of both humans and animals alike. The written word has the power to educate, enlighten, inspire, and change lives for the better."

By voting (all it takes is a free mouse click) at the following website you can help, and there is an added incentive, as Theriault will explain herself. By the way, the beautiful cat in the photo is named Lucy, she is the pet of Hali Burton, a friend of Theriault who nursed her back to health.

"Hello Everybody,

An animal rescue organization that is very close to my heart, Hope for Paws, was voted among the TOP 100 charity organizations in the U.S. in the Chase Community Giving competition last month, and they won a $25,000 donation for the animals.

They are NOW in round two where they can win a ONE MILLION DOLLAR donation (the winner is based purely on number of votes we get online)! If you have a minute, please see some video of this dog they rescued this week (just to give you an idea of what they do):
Chase's Rescue Story


Here’s a video filmed YESTERDAY while rescuing an injured dog with a broken pelvis:


Rescuing Karma


I hope these videos convince you that they do awesome work for the animals and are worthy of your vote. They’re the ONLY pet rescue group in this contest!!


Rhae Ann Theriault (Former Harlette)"

As an added incentive, Theriault is offering her own original Divine Miss Millennium tour jacket as a prize for the person who can rally the most votes for the cause.

"If you get as many of your friends, family & co-workers to VOTE for "Hope For Paws" - you'll be entered to win an official Bette Midler tour jacket that I wore in the Divine Miss Millennium Tour!

Let's see... in order to be eligible to WIN you must try to get all your Facebook, MySpace, family, friends, & co-workers to vote. It only takes a mouse click and we need thousands of votes. One of the leading charities is in Turkey, I think. They must have people networking like crazy. We need to reach large masses of people - like at schools, universities, celebrity followers, and I'm not TWITTER-savvy!"

Don Bradshaw adds the following:

"After you’ve voted and rallied all your friends, family, co-workers, etc. to do so – and would like to ENTER TO WIN the Bette tour jacket: CLICK ON THIS LINK: Enter To Win and put
Hope For Paws Contest BootlegBetty.com in the subject line of the email. It will send me (Mister D) an email. *Simply enter your name, address, and zip code for the drawing!
Contest ends Friday, January 22 at midnight.
We can DO this! Please, Please Vote!!!!"

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Travel Somewhere Down The Road With Amy Grant On March 30

Amy Grant is one of the most positive and inspirational influences in music, from her strong faith to her refreshingly open-minded and compassionate love for all God's creations, without feeling the need to judge or condemn those who live or believe differently. To Grant, all are welcome in the House of God. Her life has been a series of journeys, through searching for faith, keeping faith despite life's hardships, and teaching faith to others to help them through their own tribulations.



On March 30, 2010, Grant will be releasing her new album Somewhere Down The Road which is actually not a "new" release, rather it is more a hybrid of original songs, new versions of popular favourites, and selected classic songs from Grant's repertoire. The six new songs are: "Better Than A Hallelujah," "Overnight," "Unafraid," "Hard Times," "What Is The Chance Of That," and "Come Into My World." We are also treated to two revamped songs from Grant's catalogue, "Arms Of Love" from Age To Age (1982) and "Oh How The Years Go By" from House Of Love (1994.) The album is completed with four unenhanced additions from classic albums: the first three of which ("Somewhere Down The Road," "Every Road," and "Cry A River") come from Behind The Eyes (1997), and "Do You Remember The Time" from Legacy: Hymns And Faith (2002.)

According to record label EMI, "Somewhere Down The Road" is like a travelogue for the soul:

"The theme for the album is stories and journeys. Amy has always been a great storyteller and many of her most impactful songs have come from her own journey as she sings about the honesty of life, it’s joys and struggles, and ultimately the hope she has found in faith and love. The songs on "Somewhere Down The Road" read like journal entries that will resonate with anyone who grapples with wanting answers to life’s toughest questions."

As such, specific themes that Grant explores on the album include learning to be honest with yourself and with God ("Better Than A Hallelujah",) the value of patience when waiting for answers to life's hard questions ("Overnight",) and learning to listen to people without judging them or feeling the need to "fix" them according to your own ideologies ("Come Into My World".)



Also, on March 30, there will be a few new compilations released concurrently with "Somewhere Down The Road", but anyone who already has the albums in question really won't need these double packs, although they are a good idea for new Amy Grant fans. Amy Grant: The Early Years comprises Age To Age and My Father's Eyes, Amy Grant: The Songwriter Collection comprises Lead Me On and Behind The Eyes, Amy Grant: The Pop Collection comprises Heart In Motion and House Of Love, and Amy Grant: The Breakout Years comprises Straight Ahead and Unguarded.



On December 29, 2009, Grant's 1999 Hallmark movie Song From The Heart was released on DVD. Grant proved herself to be as multi-talented an actress as she is a musician, and is breathtakingly beautiful throughout the film, and this beauty is radiated from the inside out. Grant's performance is on par with Val Kilmer's masterful performance as the blind massage therapist in At First Sight, also released in 1999.

In Grant's movie, she plays Maryann Lowery, a beautiful, blind cellist who lost her sight in a car accident as a child which claimed the lives of her parants. Maryann is the music teacher at the Milford Conservatory of Music, and she enjoys her quiet, comfortable life with her friend and widowed neighbor, Oliver (Keith Carradine). When world-famous musician Gregory Pavan (D.W. Moffet) visits the Conservatory to record an upcoming album, he sees undiscovered talent in Maryann, and promises her fame. He also convinces her to undergo a risky eye operation. As the two fall for each other, it will take a life-changing moment for Maryann to realize that sometimes, true love is waiting right before our eyes, waiting to be discovered.

In the meantime, Amy Grant's fans can rediscover their love for this amazing artist through her music and her movie, and one can only hope that she will return to acting one day, because Song From The Heart is a true gem.

~ Michael Holloway

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Val Kilmer, "50 Cent" and a Big Ass gun!

Why does Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson have a big ass gun and why is he holding in Val Kilmer's face. Get the latest buzz. Val Kilmer the Real Deal.

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"Back To Love" - Beth Nielsen Chapman CD Release - January 25 2010

The amazing singer-songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman is set to dazzle her many fans with her new album Back To Love which will be released on January 25, 2010. The album will be released in the United Kingdom first (as has been the custom with Chapman's past albums) with US and international release dates to follow soon.

This will be Chapman's first mainstream pop album in six years. Her previous album Prism: The Human Family Songbook and the accompanying DVD If Love Could Say God's Name, both released in 2007, were beautifully spiritual and uplifting, but are not really considered a mainstream release. Back To Love features eleven new songs, some of which Chapman co-wrote with luminaries such as Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers), Darrell Scott, Danny Flowers (Tulsa Time), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) and her close friend and hit songwriting partner Annie Roboff, who together with Chapman, co-wrote the popular hit This Kiss which was a big hit for singer Faith Hill, and was also featured on the soundtrack for the film Practical Magic.

Val Kilmer: A Blanket Of Hope And Comfort - Heroism Personified

Val Kilmer is a man of many accomplishments, he is a powerfully intense and hardworking actor, a melodic singer/songwriter, and writes amazing poetry with depth, poignancy, and humour. Not to mention he is an active humanitarian, dedicated to human and animal rights, Native American affairs, youth orientated programs, and helping to end violence against women. This is just the tip of Kilmer's iceberg.

In recent years, these charities have been the recipient of proceeds from sales of Kilmer's original CD Sessions With Mick, featuring songs penned with friend Mick Rossi, and his poetry anthology entitled Jack's Gandhi, inspired by a drawing created by his son, Jack.

Now we can add blanket designer to his list of accolades.These beautiful works of art are also being offered for sale from Kilmer's website, with proceeds going to the charities as always.


Kilmer and Liz Lake have designed 250 beautiful Limited Edition Pendleton Woollen Mills blankets, into which Kilmer's own signature has been interwoven into the bottom right corner. There are two designs, Gourd People and The Dude. Each individual blanket has a commemorative label indicating the series number. Here are their descriptions taken from Kilmer's official website store where these blankets can be purchased:


Blanket #1: Gourd People

Gourd People is inspired by New Mexico petroglyphs: ancient rock engravings found throughout the magnificent cliffs and mountain faces that epitomize the raw beauty of the “Land of Enchantment.” These images are inseparable from the State’s cultural landscape and the spirits of the ancient people who created them.

Blanket #2: The Dude

The Dude is based on the buffalo skull hanging in Val’s New Mexico home. A family of buffalo call Val’s ranch their home and this blanket is named for a baby buffalo born on the ranch this past year.

Kilmer explains the history of these amazing blankets:

"The blanket is a symbol of the rich trade history of the American Southwest. A constant of Native American life, the trade blanket is emblematic of our nation’s past. Historically, the blanket is an important communication device of emotion, of individual and community identity and status, a poetic statement with both ceremonial and practical uses. The gift of a trade blanket is a way of showing friendship, appreciation, honor and celebrating commemorative milestones and achievements."



The following is just a short list of the charities Kilmer has worked with over the years:

http://www.operationcominghome.org/

Operation Coming Home is a team of veterans, homebuilders, and other volunteers that are dedicated to providing free housing in the Raleigh/Durham, NC area to severely wounded veterans of recent Middle East wars. They help make a wounded veteran feel "right at home" in the Triangle.

http://www.thewildlifecenter.org/

The Wildlife Center is a charity that I have donated to for over ten years. We have released over one hundred wild animals on our wilderness retreat that Dr. Kathleen Ramsey has PERSONALLY treated. Please check it out.

http://www.vday.org/main.html

I heartily support Eve Ensler's V-DAY efforts to help end violence against women and girls.

http://www.indian-affairs.org/

For 85 years, Associates on American Indian Affairs has been working to promote these goals and provide the critical elements that Native American Indian children and families need to live happy, healthy and productive lives.

http://www.warehouse21.org/

Warehouse 21: Our mission is to inspire youth to empower themselves thorough artistic expression and productivity.

http://www.amnesty.org/

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognised human rights for all.

http://www.habitat.org/

Habitat For Humanity International seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.


Kilmer also has many exciting film projects in the works, all of them look interesting, but one of which in particular is the one I am most eager to see. As a major fantasy/sci-fi buff, I adored Kilmer as Madmartigan in Willow in the 80's, which is where I first became a fan.

In 2010, Kilmer will be returning to the fantasy genre when he stars in Tales Of An Ancient Empire, a story in which a princess is on a quest to unite the five greatest warriors to save her kingdom from a demon sorceress.

Also in the cast are Kevin Sorbo from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (which had an even more successful spin-off in the Xena: Warrior Princess series), and Christopher Lambert of Highlander fame. We can only hope Kilmer has only just begun his return to the fantasy genre and that similar projects may be under consideration. There is nothing more appealing than the idea that Val Kilmer and heroes are an appropriate fit.

~ Michael Holloway

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Strength Through The Shadows: Beth Nielsen Chapman's Recipe For Peace Jam & More Delightful Treats

Beth Nielsen Chapman is an amazing woman, not just for her beautiful music, but because she is a genuinely caring person who shares her faith with people to unify humanity in all its varying shades, rather than trying to use one particular doctine to force people to conform as certain religions are wont to do.

In 2007, she released her latest album Prism: The Human Family Songbook and an accompanying DVD, If Love Could Say God's Name, which incorporates a soul stirring concert with a church service so profound and inspirational with its message of unification. To understand where this depth and passion comes from, one only has to look at Chapman's life, and how she shares her joys and sorrows with the world to teach us a new way of living.

In 1994, Chapman's beloved husband Ernest lost his battle with cancer. Chapman herself has battled breast cancer and a brain tumour but has thankfully survived both, thanks to not only modern medicine, but also to her devout faith. Ernest had an MA in philosophy and was fascinated with the meaning of life and the relationship with God in all aspects of many different cultures and faiths.

Chapman states: "A few months before his death he wrote a letter and sent it to everyone he'd known and loved in his life asking if they would be so kind as to send him a brief note telling him what they believed happens when we pass out of this world."

The Chapman family's friends, who ranged from all cultures and religions from Christian to Muslim, all sent letters and prayers, including one particular (un-named) friend who was a devout atheist. Ernest had had many colourful arguments with this friend during the course of their lives debating all facets of faith, or lack thereof. The atheist friend had also offered this prayer upon receiving Ernest's request.

"I'm probably not, as you know, the best person to ask this question of at a time like this. Nothing has changed. I still feel the same way, still, because I love you, today I sent up for you the prayers of an atheist."

Ernest said to his wife "Wow. That would have to be the most powerful prayer to have had to travel so far."

Thus the inspiration for one of the central songs from the Prism album was born, Prayers Of An Atheist in which Chapman shares her belief that: "Whatever anyone's beliefs are we are born to love and create, which, to me has always been the greatest proof of God's existence. And even the prayers of an atheist have value as I can attest from the amazing grace it brought to my husband in the last days of his life. "

This became the cornerstone with which Chapman sought to find the universal thread in all faiths or non-faiths and weave them together to inspire people to look outside the doctrines of any one particular set of beliefs and try and understand and reflect the values of different cultures and ideologies. To further this crusade, Chapman allied herself with two very special and important organisations, PeaceJam and PeaceMala.

PeaceMala aims to promote "understanding, respect, friendship, tolerance and peace between all communities, cultures and enlightened, compassionate faiths. PeaceMala promotes global citizenship and invites all people to treat each other with respect and compassion regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexuality, ability, size or age.

PeaceMala was founded in 2002 by Pam Evans, former Head of the Department of Religious Studies at Coedcae Comprehensive School in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. I personally have been fortunate enough to talk to Pam online, since she discovered one of my posts about this subject on the Jon Peter Lewis website/forums and other music sites I frequent. In fact, she specifically signed up to post on the JPL forums to chat more about this noble endeavour with my friends and myself.

PeaceMala arose from discussions regarding race relations after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, and how one student in particular became a target for misplaced distrust and outright prejudice simply for being Islamic. Student Imran Sheikh states that: "I suffered from racist taunts and our local mosque was attacked following September 11 and that is when the Peace Mala all started."

Pam Evans gave up her position at Coedcae School in 2005 to focus on her work with PeaceMala. She was awarded the Noble Soul Award in 2006 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to challenging Islamaphobia in schools. The award was presented by RAHMA (Racial Attacks and Harassment Monitoring Association) on the International Day of Peace.

PeaceJam takes this ideal further with active charity events like an upcoming auction to be presented on E-Bay starting December 7, 2009, where five hand-painted guitars will be auctioned off and proceeds will go toward funding more PeaceJam events. Each guitar has been signed by the following Nobel Peace Laureates and supporters of PeaceJam: The Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Jose Ramos Horta, Adolfo Ramirez Esquivel, and Betty Williams.

The mission of the PeaceJam Foundation is to: "create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates who pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody."

Also included with each guitar is a Letter of Authenticity from the President/Co-Founder of PeaceJam, Ivan Suvanjieff.

Another interesting project that Beth Nielsen Chapman has been working on (and which comes as a pleasant surprise to me) is a new limited edition EP which is available to purchase from her website store. The product is described as being a "New Limited Edition sneak preview featuring Shadows from the new BNC record."

Chapman's new album, Back To Love, will be released sometime in 2010, so this looks like an early treat for eager fans who (understandably) cannot wait for the new full-length CD release. She will also be touring the United Kingdom in the new year.

Another fascinating project Chapman is involved with is the I Heart Benefit For Cancer Schmancer hosted by fellow cancer survivor and spokesperson, the lovely and talented Fran Drescher from the hit sitcom The Nanny. The benefit will be held at The Million Dollar Theatre at 307 S. Broadway, Los Angeles on December 13 from 7:00 PM, although doors will open an hour earlier. Guests at the event will include: Jackson Browne, The Bird & The Bee, Olivia Newton-John, Beth Nielsen Chapman, The Whispertown2000, Chris Pierce, Arrica Rose & The...'s (actual band name although I am unsure how to pronounce it,) Charlotte Martin, Caitlin Crosby, Vertigo Posse, Charlyne Yi, Mortified, and more.

More information and a direct ticket link can be found by clicking on the relevant links provided.

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Leaving Out Christ for the PC Christmas

Twas the Month Before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

not Happy Holiday!

annonymous

Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

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