Gimme hope.

I'm sure a lot of us have differing opinions on the subject of MJ hype.

I was just talking to Daisy (who I swear is the kind-hearted princess that Hans Christan Andersen wrote about) about this Michael Jackson memorial about how she thinks it's amazing and good that it's brought so many people together, and all over the world at that! And she's right... it is great proof that people can come together. She is very much a "glass-half-full" gal, and I am very much a "glass-half-empty and will someone get me a freaking refill like, now?!" kinda person. And dude - I like MJ albums, especially "Off The Wall." I've completely danced my ass off to "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and I looove "Rock With You." MJ's legacy is solid. That shit will live on forever.

But I ask you this:
You can fly across the world for someone you didn't know personally but you haven't given 5¢ to any charitable organization this year or ever, you say? You've never donated anything?! You pay $10,000+ for a scalped ticket for nosebleed seats for a memorial service? But you're with like minded people... who are also mourning as badly as you. Togetherness, eh? Where the fuck are these people on the day-to-day when the things that are going on around the world need their attention?! they just think "it's not their problem" right? but MJ's "untimely" death is their problem?

WTF.

I'm not saying that *none* of you give to others and none of you are socially conscious. Obviously many do and many are. But, clearly not as many people as there were about this MJ thing. Not unified in this way... And that is what is disheartening.

I am sorry if you are one of the many that are moved and grieving over this, I hope you're okay and that feel better soon. Those of you not-grieving: Despite what you might think of him, and what he has been accused of... MJ was indeed a humanitarian giving to many charities throughout his fame. Fact. What I yearn for is for everyone: especially the media, celebrities, and those of big and little influence - all the people that came together for this, all the people who were emotionally/mentally absent for this to come together over other pressing and relevant things. Can we please redefine "relevant news"? Please?

help people:

UN's Humanitarian Affairs

learn about homelessness in LA

learn about homelessness in NYC

learn about homelessness in chicago

help animals:
ASPCA
PETA

after cruising bbc news in 10 minutes, i found these. did you know:

Indonesians are voting in the country's second direct presidential election since the overthrow of the Suharto regime in 1998.

The world's most powerful leaders are preparing to tackle some of its most urgent issues, as they gather for a G8 summit in an Italian earthquake zone.

Taliban infiltrate once-peaceful Afghan north

Obama urges shift in Russia ties

Gang violence is surging in Mexico where 40,000 soldiers have been deployed to root out drug cartels.

The level of people falling behind with consumer loans in the US hit a new high in the first three months of 2009, the American Bankers Association said.

JOB OPP - assistant to President/Exec Producer for TV prod co.

TV Production Company (unscripted & scripted programming) seeks stellar
executive assistant for President/Exec Producer.
Wanting to fill position asap. Responsibilities includes general assistant
duties (scheduling, travel, filing, etc), TV development research, and very
little personal assistant duties.
If you are high motivated, very organized, and interested in TV development
please send resume to tvprod.assistant[at]gmail[dot]com

LAX JOB OPP - Video Game Publicist

I received this email from a recruiter who works in the video game industry,
in case anyone has any interest, please contact the person below.

I don't know more than what she wrote below.. Please mention that I referred
you.

I think we have spoken before ... I am a recruiter in the video game
industry. I am seeking a Publicist for a video game Publisher in LA. If you
are interested in this position send me your resume as a word doc and let's
talk asap!
Laura Lashua
Vertex Search & Consulting

send resume to lashua[at]vertexsearch[dot]com

Attn cat lovers: The Rancho Los Amigos Cats!

Since the Rancho Los Amigos Cats have been generously given a temporary home, I have donated a cat tree to them! Thanks to Emilie who told me about it and Monica (who shown in the video below) who came to pick up the cat tree.



LA TIMES ON THE STORY:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/10/the-fate-of-the.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/10/rancho-los-amig.html

This is the story of the Rancho Los Amigos Cats:

L.A. County officials and Animal Control have been waging all-out war against a managed colony of stray and feral cats who have been living for years at Ranch Los Amigos. Their aim is to trap and kill the cats, prevent TNR groups from feeding them, and other inhumane measures. Fences have been built preventing cats from entering their previously safe haven, crawl spaces under buildings have been boarded up (sometimes trapping the cats inside, "no feeding cats" signs have been posted, and the cats are being trapped and killed, one-by-one. FailSafe4Cats, whose members manage the cats, have been negotiating with county authorities for over a year, with pleas to closed minds. View this YouTube video by whospuss, then contact the L.A. authorities to voice your support for the FailSafe4Cats efforts. Link: http://cats.about.com/od/advocacy/youtube/losamigoscats.htm

And the video on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wcXs503GgQ


They are looking for more supplies, here's the original email:

A very nice SCA supporter has let us use her home as a temporary holding place for the Rancho Los Amigos Cats. The space is very big and comfortable. The cats are going through a very difficult transition and we want to reduce the stress by giving them plenty of places to hide and escape from each other. If you can donate or lend us any of the following please let me know right away. Used or new!!

Tables
Cat Trees
Scratching posts
Crates
Cat beds
Cat Food
Chairs
Anything else you might think they will like!!

Thank you,

Monica Moreira
eye4ferals[at]yahoo[dot]com

If you have any donations, please send Monica an email. Tell her I sent you!

Benefit for Jennifer Tefft (Spaceland) tomorrow in L.A.

This is for my friend Jennifer. She is one of the sweetest people I've ever met.
If any of you don't know who she is, she has booked Spaceland for years and years and years. Not only has she enriched the LA music scene with her hard work and great taste, she is a great lady with a gigantic heart. Please pass this on.

***THIS JUST IN !!!!!! IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT DONATIONS CAN BE SENT VIA PAYPAL.COM TO jennifer[at]spaceland[dot]tv
Any amount will be awesome!!

please spread the word!!****

Luv,
Celeste

Begin forwarded message:

From: Jennifer

I’m sure you all know that I was in the hospital at the beginning of May due to complications from lupus anticoagulant, a blood clotting disorder that I was diagnosed with 17 years ago. My health insurance is for people with pre-existing conditions, so I have incurred a lot of medical expenses that my insurance won’t cover. Thankfully, I am blessed with many good friends that have agreed to play a benefit show for me.
The show is this Thursday July 2 at the Echoplex and Echo.

I would love to see you there!! But if you are out of town or just can’t afford to spend money on a concert right now, perhaps you could send the info to friends who you think would be interested.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support!!!
xoxoxoJennifer

Thursday July 2 $25 at the Echoplex / Echo
KROQ Locals Only presents Kick out the Clots: a benefit for Jennifer Tefft with
She Wants Revenge
M>U DJ SET
Dead Meadow
Living Things
Great Northern
The LA Ladies Choir
The Honorary Title
Rocco DeLuca
Nico Stai
Useless Keys
DJ sets from Kevin Bronson, Sam Velde, Dia and Sylvia
18+
Doors at 7:00pm
Two rooms of music!
Enter through the alley at 1154 Glendale Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026 (Echoplex entrance)
http://www.attheecho.com/
Get tickets at the door night of show, or in advance at: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=1981804


SET TIMES ARE:

ECHOPLEX:
7:30pm – 8:05pm Useless Keys http://www.myspace.com/uselesskeys
8:30pm – 9:05pm The Honorary Title http://www.myspace.com/thehonorarytitle
9:30pm – 9:50pm LA Ladies Choir http://www.myspace.com/laladieschoir
9:50pm – 10:40pm Great Northern http://www.myspace.com/greatnorthern
11:00pm – 12:00am She Wants Revenge http://www.myspace.com/shewantsrevenge
DJs Kevin Bronson and Sam Velde spinning in between sets

ECHO:
8:00pm – 8:35pm Nico Stai http://www.myspace.com/nicostai
9:00pm – 9:40pm Rocco DeLuca http://www.myspace.com/roccodeluca
10:10pm – 10:50pm Living Things http://www.myspace.com/livingthings
11:10pm – 11:50pm Dead Meadow http://www.myspace.com/deadmeadow
12:00am – 2:00am M>U DJ SET http://www.myspace.com/movingunits
DJs Dia and Sylvia spinning in between sets

***THIS JUST IN !!!!!! IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT DONATIONS CAN BE SENT VIA PAYPAL.COM TO jennifer[at]spaceland[dot]tv
Any amount will be awesome!!

please spread the word!!****