Here We Are, Sydney! Lets find Bondi Beach…
The “Sixth Sexiest Beach in the World”

Sydney, Australia is one of the most INCREDIBLE cities in the world!

The first time I visited Sydney 28 years ago I knew I had to come back
some day and spend more time exploring the beaches, the parks, the
architecture, the restaurants, the sights and the people.

I have NOT been disappointed! You won’t either…there is so much
to see and do you’d have to live here for years to take it all in.

You’ll be seeing much more of Sydney and the surrounding area in
future videos as well as phenomenal photo’s, but this particular video
takes you through a quick trip through Sydney on our way to Bondi
Beach, one of the oldest and most famous beaches on the outskirts
of Sydney.

SHARKS!!!

Bondi has just recently been in the headlines along with Bay Harbor
in Sydney for shark attacks. Scary and sad for the victims for sure,
but surely we have to realize that the ocean is their domain and with
any activity we do, we take a risk. Percentage wise, I’m sure they
suffer more than the humans who invade their territory.

In fact, the shark hunters were all up in arms because the Australian
government put a limit on the amount of sharks they can catch in an
attempt to keep the from extinction. The fisherman quoted in the paper
said he and his crew catch up to one hundred a day, stating that the
the authorities were making a mistake by cutting down on the limit.
His reasoning was if they are catching that many of them a day and
the fact that more people were being attacked, was it such a smart thing
to do?

One has to question, however, when there is profit motive involved, which
side is right. If YOU have some information to bring light on the subject
we would LOVE you to contribute!

After all, I’m big into Mother Nature and creating balance. That’s why I
and a whole team of concerned people have joined Social Traffic Inc. in
a celebration of the earth promoting MASS AWARENESS of Earth Day
on April 22nd by contributing to an online campaign we’ve named

EarthDay Birthday

And YOU can join us if saving our planet is a passion of yours as well.
Just CLICK HERE to contribute what you can and get some top notch
social media training in return. It’s a WIN/WIN/WIN!

Back to Bondi Beach…

Apparently it’s a popular place for the “beautiful people” and I first saw
it on a TV special called “The 10 Sexiest Beaches in the World”.
Yep, you guessed it…Bondi was in there, although I did observe that
there weren’t nearly as many “beach bunnies” laying in the sun for hours
because so many Australians have been turning up with skin cancer.
Skin cancer clinics are turning up all over the place.

The “beautiful people” are now doing much more healthy things like
jogging, sea kayaking, yoga on the grass. The food I found (other
than the very favorite dish, “fish & chips”) was nutritious as well as
pleasing to the eye.

Healthy, beautiful food…

Tons of fresh fish and seafood either grilled or lightly fried, tons of
remarkable and interesting salads, every kind of wrap you can imagine
with lots of greens. I was told by my friend, Sam Adkins, to watch out
because most people actually gain weight in Sydney, just because the
food is SO GOOD! Even the Czech food restaurant was GREAT. (Of
course we had to Czech (pun) that out…since my hubby and his
dentist friend, Honza,  who lives in Sydney, HAD to make a stop there.)

The hotel we stayed at was over 100 years old. The actual hotel part
was quite boutique-ee since most of the original building was turned
into a restaurant/nightclub/gambling establishment which as it turns
out was quite a popular place during the Christmas holidays.

Did you know gambling and prostitution is legal here in the
Land of Oz?

But it’s not like in States at all…it’s very regulated and kept low
key. Must be the English influence I figure. Very well done, I must
say because an interesting side to that is that where ever the vices
are allowed they are combined with warnings of addiction and offers
of help to deal with them if they get out of control.

There are HORRIBLE pictures on the packaging of cigarettes
showing all kinds of side effects of smoking. Every liquor store
or “bottle shop” as they call them has warnings. The drinking and
driving laws are VERY STRICT! They have random roadside
checks regularly with breathalizer testing ready.

As a result, everyone seems to know how many drinks are
considered appropriate depending on man or woman and
liquor strength. I’m  impressed by the effectiveness of the
Australian governments educational efforts!

Quite an interesting approach! One Americans could emulate.

Christmas holidays last for a month and it’s summertime…a perfect
time for families to enjoy the great outdoors. And enjoy they do!

As I did…not only in Sydney, but all around the Sydney beaches,
bays and famous sites. All revealed to you in future postings…

SO STAY TUNED!

DLD.edbd

To check out the other videos in the series Click here:

BeUlJL8sKlQ&hl=en&fs=1

I’ve been “chompin’ at the bit” to see the video interview my friends and professional video producers, Barbara Jabaily and MJ Mauro of  “Dream Teller Video” , promised to release to the internet world after coming back from the Democratic National Convention in Denver

If you missed the previous story about my applying for a media pass to the “Big Tent” in Denver to BLOG and about the grassroots effort of one of my “Heroines”, Barbara Marx Hubbard, you can catch up HERE. 

Long story short, I tried several different ways to get into the happenings in Denver during the Democratic National Convention, but to no avail. Even though I’m a native of Colorado and a long time member of the Democratic party, AND applied for entry the MINUTE I got word from my connections in Denver, I obviously hadn’t paid enough dues to warrant being granted entry into the BIG EVENT OR the BIG TENT.

Even though I was bummed about NOT getting in, I am resourceful, persistent and connected, so proceeded to PLAN B.

The professional video team I hired when quality was important, Barbara Jabaily, an AWARD WINNING video Creatrice, director and producer and MJ Mauro, her business partner… an  award-winning poet / editor / transcriber /photographer, were in Denver anyway as a result of a contract they signed with Channel 12 in Denver to do a series of 6 minute video segments covering the “other” stories that the BIG DOGs  weren’t interested in…like the protesters, spiritual leaders and other “fringe groups”.

When I caught wind of Barbara Marx Hubbard being invited to  the Big Tent at the last minute, I did all I could to create a  meeting between Dreamteller Video and Barbara’s Marx Hubbard’s team to capture a UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE  on Hubbard’s and LeCain’s  grassroots movement  to create the “Citizen’s Solution Council”.

When I got the email from my friends  at Dreamteller, asking if I had any specific questions to  ask Hubbard in their interview, all I knew was that I wanted to be able to participate AND pass on the details of this INCREDIBLY TIMELY and SENSIBLE MOVEMENT being initiated at the DNC, presented at the RNC and then followed up with in such a way that the manadatory support of the presidential hopefuls would NOT essential in carrying this movement forward.

So here it is!

I will be posting this article and video in EVERY nook and cranny I’m privy to in the social network world so that everyone I reach will have the opportunity to choose to become a part of the “What’s Working”,  solutions -oriented faction (and fraction) of the universe.

There is a petition to be signed online...easy, fast, effective! “It’s not even for the people, it’s FROM the people”

AND NOW…a 24/7 Online TV channel is devised to SPREAD the visual message across the world in a way that traditional TV and corporate media can’t touch!

Check out http://www.citizensolutions.tv  See HOW IT WORKS and prepare to become PART of the SOLUTIONS!

This GutZy Woman is at it again!

She’s 73 1/2 years old and just keeps plugging away…

No kidding, she is like the Eveready Battery. Which is a GOOD THING for us and the world and why I admire her to no end.

If you aren’t familiar with Barbara and what she’s accomplished in her 70 + years, scroll down further in this article and I’ll give the scoop, but since this is such a TIMELY post, I want to let you know about what she and another GutZy Woman in Washington DC are up to right up front.

That way, you can hop on the bandwagon, no matter what political party you belong to. THIS IS REALLY COOL! Just to to give you a little background and a chance to hear her with your own ears, I’ll tell you a short personal story:

About a month ago, I got an email from Healthy Wealthy n Wise about an online interview with Janet Attwood & Barbara. I made it a point to listen because I’ve been to seminars put on by both women and LOVE how each of these women are positively impacting the world. Believe me, I was NOT disappointed!

All of it was FASCINATING, but the part I want to point out is when Janet asked Barbara about HOW in the world she was placed in nomination to be Vice President with Geraldine Ferraro in 1984? She replied that her idea to establish a “peace room” rather than a “war room” was so innovative and so well received that the delegates liked it well enough to nominate her.

IMAGINE…Focusing on WHAT’S WORKING vs WHAT’S NOT. What a CONCEPT!

She then talked about taking that idea a step further, explaining how her idea this election year was to approach each of the presidential nominees about establishing a “solution oriented initiative” which would commit the elected President to address the US population regularly through television to divulge people, initiatives and solutions that WERE ACTUALLY WORKING to solve the challenges of the US and the world.

Barbara went on to say that she was already working with others to set up the infrastructure so that those people out in the world who witnessed these communications and were PASSIONATE about the issues addressed, or were already having positive results from their own programs, could “meet” and work together to form more synergy in that particular area.

This increased POSITIVE energy around SOLUTIONS and the power of passion, she said, would have the potential to “step up” the time frames for turning things around…something that was VITAL since the world is reaching chaos at an increasingly FASTER RATE.

CLICK HERE to listen in

Hey…made a TON of sense to me!

So I got on the phone to Barbara’s assistant, Patricia, to see if they would be attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver to repeat her 1984 success at getting her idea supported, but alas, she was NOT invited.

Totally bummed, I then asked if I could possibly set up an interview with her for YOU, my GutZy Women (and Brave Men), to get to know her and this AMAZING idea to see you resonated with that UNIQUE approach to saving our world, but alas, I was once again disappointed, as she was so overbooked as it was.

Well, imagine my SURPRISE and EXCITEMENT when I got an email back from Patricia informing me that Barbara got an invitation to speak in the “Big Tent: right before Obama was to speak in the Stadium! I scrambled to try to get a press pass from the PR people in charge of the Big Tent as a blogger to follow the story, but once again, no cigar.

Yesterday, I Got the Official Announcement:

“We have 4 days until the Democratic National Convention where Barbara Marx Hubbard and Eleanor LeCain will launch, in the Denver Big Tent on Digg Stage from 4:00-4:55 PM, a non-partisan appeal to form The Citizens Solutions Council in the Office of the Vice President of the United States of America.

The Alliance for a Sustainable Colorado is hosting The Big Tent at the Democratic National Convention, where we will present our petition with thousands of names showing our support for establishment of a Citizens Solutions Council in the White House. We will make a similar presentation at the Republican National Convention in September.

Now in 2008, at the Big Tent in Denver Co. she is leading a grassroots movement to establish a Citizens Solutions Council in the Office of the Vice President, which will function to identify, connect, communicate and build on citizen-based solutions to our Nation’s problems.”

Remember how I always get so JAZZED about the internet? This is exactly why!Not only do I get to alert you to such a PARADIGM SHIFTING initiative on my blog, but WE get to watch it happen LIVE on the Internet, PLUS we can take part in getting in going right now, if we have a mind to by signing their petition online!

CLICK HERE to get all the DETAILS :

Who is Barbara Marx Hubbard?Barbara Marx Hubbard is the President of the Foundation for Conscious Evolution. She has helped create the field of “conscious evolution”.

Dr. Hubbard, the author of several books, was a citizen diplomat in the former Soviet Union during the 1980’s and pioneered a Soviet- American Citizen Summit. She co-founded several major organizations including the World Future Society and the Global Association for New Thought. Barbara co-developed with Teresa Collins the educational program “Gateway to Conscious Evolution,” and she is now producing a seven part documentary series entitled “Humanity Ascending: A New Way through Together.”

She appears on many television and radio interviews and speaks internationally before audiences as wide ranging as NASA to the Inner city of Los Angeles.

Dr. Hubbard’s books include Conscious Evolution: Awakening the Power of Our Social Potential, Emergence: The Shift from Ego to Essence, The Evolutionary Journey: Your Guide to a Positive Future, The Hunger of Eve: One Woman’s Odyssey toward the Future, and Revelation: Our Crisis is a Birth, and 52 Codes to Conscious Self Evolution, now in beta testing phase to develop a deepening “Communion of Pioneering Souls.”

AND, of course, she’s one of my Heroines

qBTTS8QG32w

Hang around here for a while and you’ll meet the most interesting women!

For example, several weeks ago, a good girlfriend invited us to dinner to meet a multi talented musician, author, poet, actress, activist born in Southern Colorado near the New Mexico border from an educated and  political Hispanic family.

Her name is well known in New Mexico circles, but not just as an entertainer. She’s not afraid to speak up and take action when her people and community need a leader to bring attention to the plight of the rural areas of Colorado and New Mexico. She has become the keeper of the language and culture of the people.

Her Name: Veronica Ortiz. In some circles she is known as “The Gypsy Nun”.

We were treated to a delicious Cuban dinner, an eclectic and fun mix of guests and a performance of delightful and beautiful songs sung in spanish, a soothing voice and a strumming guitar. It was a delightful evening, but even more engaging were the stories told by this greying woman of the world, who now sticks close to her home of  El Rito, a rural setting, which, while beautiful, is suffering from lack of water as a result of drying up wells from years of drought.

It’s a Problem. People Need Water!

And the discussion was…how is it possible that the government in this great United States of ours, one of the richest nations in the world, cannot seem to provide for the basic needs of it’s people! People Need WATER! And because this is an aging and economically depressed rural area, the people cannot afford to pay for the infrastructure needed to pipe in water. The problem is falling on deaf ears.

But rather than dwell on it, Veronica just does what she can to help her community AND she has many stories to tell of her younger days growing up on a sheep ranch in a family of 13 children. She talks with a focus on the benefits of her experiences…

as a nun in training at a Benedictine Convent…

Deciding to leave the order to travel and follow her love of music and creativity…

The consequence of that ending in divorce and separation with her children…

Winning recognition and awards as an artist, actress, as well as activist…

As a multimedia maven and as a natural communicator, I am passionate about revealing the remarkable stories of GutZy Women!

Our stories are important and for many years were hidden away from the history books, but couldn’t be stopped as women LOVE to talk and we pass stories on by  word of mouth, woman to woman and then pass the down to our children. But often they get lost, as they have in my family.

Just exactly why I LOVE this medium called the internet with all of it’s capabilities to communicate, connect, educate, archive and inspire! Won’t you join us?

Don’t forget to come back when Part 2 is unleashed! 

In the meantime, there is much to gain from the TONS of INFO at my website

AND, there is MORE to gain from Veronica’s Wisdom…

OK all you grassroots organizers, non-profit fundraisers and do-gooders out there. This article is about the power of the internet to save a person’s life that YOU can take part in or use as a template for creating and implementing your own drives, fundraisers or movements.

If you have a list or post in a blog, then this article might even spur you on to spread the word to help the cause or if you’re the type they’re looking for, you may even decide to save a life!

This is exactly why so many of us get so JAZZED about new technology, web 2.0 and the Internet.

We talk about how we use the Internet to start and grow our businesses in order to create more freedom and abundance, which is GREAT, but with all of the crazy things going on in the world, we can use it to do great things to help man(woman)kind in our life struggles as well.

“Petey Needs a Wheelchair Van” is an Example

I previously wrote of an example of one of my fellow competitiors in the Next Internet Millionaire, who is an aide for a young man by the name of Petey. Petey has an incurable debilitating disease and in order to help him lead as normal a life as possible with the time he has left, Jason Marshall put together a giveaway campaign to raise money to buy  a wheelchair accessible van.

While they didn’t reach their goal of $15,000.00, they did raise $6,000.00, which not only puts them closer to the possibilities and may open up new opportunities, but it also helped those of us who who donated recieve some valuable information products, softwares, books, courses, etc. for much less money than we would have had to pay if we bought them at retail…Obviously you can see the WIN WIN!

By the way, you HAVE to go see the Google graphic Petey created for a contest…Those of you who can relate to handicap life will LOVE it!  

When you Ask for More than Money

Well, this new grassroots effort takes this same sort of idea to another level. This time the disease doesn’t have to be fatal and by either contributing our time, our connections or our bone morrow, we get a chance to save a life of a darling 26 year old Asian American woman and more!

Michelle Maykin dedicated herself to helping others by creating Project Michelle, an online/offline campaign focused on recruiting people to become potential bone marrow donors for others like her who  have leukemia, so this drive reaches even further. Apparently, there is a major shortage of Asians registered as potential donors, which is a problem because they are the most likely prospects for donors that match others of Asian background.
 

My point is that this campaign can be used as an incredible template for using our skills and creativity to put together grassroots movements of as many people and entities as possible to provide for the needs of others less fortunate in our communities by leveraging the capabilities of viral marketing, blogging, email marketing and the Internet.

What makes this drive unique is that its purpose is not to raise money, but bone morrow donors. Think about the logistisical challenges, especially online, which, to the more traditional thinking person, might stop them before they start in putting something like this together.

So I invite you to study how this grass roots campaign is put together and how are successfully getting the word out, gaining volunteers and how they handle the logistics of creating drives in 5 major cities, as well as dedicated centers outside of those cities, that are tied in with the National Morrow Donor Program. 

Read the rest of the article here: