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Thursday, December 15, 2016

Cowspriracy

Popular Guest Blogger Emma Samuelson is back with a hot topic - Animal Agriculture and Sustainability!

Emma is a recent college graduate from California who writes her own songs, sings and plays guitar. Check out the excellent music and ASL videos on her YouTube channel! In Emma's own words, "I am a spiritual person and I love music, listening to it, creating it, and everything about it." Her love of music is obvious in her videos!

Please use this link to see a list of ALL guest blog posts by Emma Samuelson.

Emma just started getting involved in the world of Sustainable Permaculture this year. Please read her Permaculture article! What about eating animals? Is it sustainable? How are these animals raised and slaughtered? What affect does production of animals for human consumption affect the environment of the Earth? The Cowspiracy documentary talks about these issues and Emma talks about how she found this documentary, below!

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret

As a young adult in a changing society, I find it important to stay informed of local and global events, keeping up with the national news as well as the issues we face as a species. I often watch documentaries and series that shed light on phenomena that aren’t in the spotlight or aren’t discussed enough in the mass media. Some of the most incredible documentaries I’ve seen include Inside Job about the 2008 financial crisis and Inhabit about the permaculture movement. Although I love learning about many different topics, I can’t help but be drawn to documentaries about permaculture, the environment, agriculture and the food industry. There are many amazing documentaries in this arena: Super Size Me, Food Matters, An Inconvenient Truth, Planet Earth, Cooked, and Food, Inc to name a few.

I usually feel inspired or challenged to change my ways when I watch these films, but I recently watched a documentary that completely turned my perception upside down… it’s called Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret. Available on Netflix and their website http://www.cowspiracy.com/, this film explores and delves into the “true number one cause” of climate change, global warming, deforestation and pollution: animal agriculture. Since the industrial revolution, farming and agriculture have become a mass industry that works to feed the world as cheaply as possible. With this cheaper process, comes less care for the animals, the land, the soil and the atmosphere. Raising livestock for consumption is responsible for thirty percent of the world’s water usage and forty-five percent of the world’s land usage. It takes thirty-two trillion gallons of water a year to raise livestock on a global scale, which is largely factory farming.

This inspiring film was made by Kip Anderson and Keegan Kuhn, both hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to making this film, Anderson was already hyper conscious of his carbon footprint: giving up driving for biking, limiting his water and electric usage as well as recycling and composting. After watching An Inconvenient Truth from former Vice President Al Gore, Anderson felt called to look deeper into how he could contribute to global health and environmental justice… he discovered just how much damage modern animal agriculture has done to the world and started to approach environmental organizations about the issue. Not a single major environmental organization was willing to have a conversation about animal agriculture and quickly dismissed it as a major cause of environmental devastation.

Together, Anderson and Kuhn connected with many experts that were willing to talk about this issue including Michael Pollan (author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma), Dr. Richard Oppenlander (author of Food Choice and Sustainability), and Dr. Will Tuttle (author of The World Peace Diet). Eventually, after the first release, Leonardo DiCaprio executive produced the newest cut of the film and released it on Netflix in 2015. This film changed the way I thought about meat, farming and agriculture. After watching this film, I research where my meat and fish come from, I pay attention to how I contribute to the environment, and I am much more conscious of my carbon footprint. I highly encourage everyone, and I mean absolutely everyone, to watch this documentary and get educated. I would especially encourage meat lovers to take a hard look at the reality of consuming animals and how the world is being affected by continuing to order steak for dinner.

Labels: "Emma Samuelson", cowspiracy, documentary, Emma Samuelson, emmalane94, environment, permaculture, sustainability, vegan, vegetarian

Monday, November 07, 2016

A Permaculture Perspective - What is Permaculture?

Popular Guest Blogger Emma Samuelson is back with a hot topic - Permaculture!

Emma is a recent college graduate from California who writes her own songs, sings and plays guitar. Check out the excellent music and ASL videos on her YouTube channel! In Emma's own words, "I am a spiritual person and I love music, listening to it, creating it, and everything about it." Her love of music is obvious in her videos!

Please use this link to see a list of ALL guest blog posts by Emma Samuelson.

Emma just started getting involved in the world of Permaculture this year. What IS Permaculture? How is it good for us and for the environment? Emma tells us what Permaculture is, and shows us 3 videos that answer the question, What is Permaculture!

A Permaculture Perspective

Beginning in April of this year, I began a journey of learning and practicing permaculture as a way of life. It turned out to be my practice of connecting back to the earth, and after living from a permaculture perspective this summer, I will never look back. As a garden intern at a hot springs community in Southern Oregon, I worked in our garden every day growing vegetables, fruit, herbs, and medicinal plants that fed and nourished our local community of residents, visitors and friends. I learned how to plant seeds, tend them as they grew, harvest and process food, as well as how to take proper care of the earth and environment around me as I did it. Not only did we study the practice of farming and gardening, but we also delved deep into permaculture design and applied it to our practices of growing food.

Permaculture, which reflects the concept of "permanent agriculture”, is the conscious based design and maintenance of cultivated ecosystems. It is a solution based outlook that utilizes harmonious appropriate technologies, efficient modes of energy, and provides goods, shelter, and other needs in a sustainable way. One of the goals of permaculture is regenerative designs that honor earth care, people care and fair share of resources. In comparison to industrial farming, permaculture not only provides people with better food and resources, but also decreases environmental damage immensely... permaculture works with the earth and its soil rather than depleting its beneficial value.

What is Permaculture?

In this short documentary, Ana Sany and Jacob Redman interview countless people involved in permaculture design and practice asking them “What is Permaculture?” This is just a brief introduction to permaculture and how it can impact various people around the world. The interviewees include Pandora Thomas, a well known permaculture professor from the Bay Area, Rosemary Morrow, known as one of the pioneering women of permaculture based in Australia, and John Champagne, another pioneer of the Permaculture Movement in Australia.

Permaculture is a way of life.

As you can tell, permaculture is more than just a way of gardening, it’s a way of life, it’s a movement that is at the forefront of environmental science and social justice. Permaculture branches out into many different areas including agriculture, environmental science, food science, and even government and politics. In particular, I’m very excited about diving deeper into the connection between permaculture and sociology, looking at how we are as a society can benefit and grow from adopting a permanent regenerative design for gardening and farming. Starhawk, a well known writer and activist, recently did a Social Permaculture Conference along side Pandora Thomas, which a few of my friends attended. Starhawk is very influential in many different networks and has a lot to offer in the world of sustainable living and connection to the earth. In the following video, pre-conference, Starhawk discusses some of what she believes Social Permaculture is.

Permaculture restores Mother Nature.

As Starhawk said here, “permaculture is the art of designing beneficial relationships, it’s a system of ethical, ecological design.” I truly believe that permaculture is the way to resurrect the soil we walk upon, it is the way to restore mother nature and allow ecosystems to flourish naturally, it is the way to consciously feed our communities. There are many different Permaculture institutes and classes you can take all around the country, including courses that provide you with a full permaculture education resulting in a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC). By getting your PDC, you can go on to pursue further education, practice and get involved in global projects to help support sustainable living and regenerative design. After getting the basics down, I am currently on the road to getting my PDC and giving back to the earth that has given so much to me.

As a twenty two year old in the technology era, I am so incredibly proud to say I can grow my own food. I can make compost, I can grow vegetables and herbs and preserve them, I can cook, I can chop wood and build fires... I can feed myself, from seed to skillet, which is a skill I will have for the rest of my life. One of the films that truly helped me to learn more and understand what having a permaculture perspective is, came out last year and is entitled INHABIT. It is an incredible documentary that interviews a variety of people, groups and communities that practice permaculture in daily life. It is a well crafted and informative documentary that changed the way I looked at agriculture and farming. I highly recommend watching it and learning more about how you can be a part of this amazing movement. Here is the trailer, just to give you a taste of how permaculture can better our world and the way we work with it.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Emma writes about La Blogothéque

Guest Blogger Emma Samuelson is back to tell us about some very cool music videos!

Emma is a recent college graduate from California who writes her own songs, sings and plays guitar. Check out the excellent music and ASL videos on her YouTube channel! In Emma's own words, "I am a spiritual person and I love music, listening to it, creating it, and everything about it." Her love of music is obvious in her videos!

Please use this link to see a list of ALL guest blog posts by Emma Samuelson.

Today, Emma tells us about 3 “field work music videos” -- music videos from La Blogothéque filmed in cafes, on streets and in apartments. Sounds interesting so let's get started!

La Blogothéque

Of all the different musical endeavors in blogging, La Blogothéque is truly a unique collective of bringing new ways of consuming music to the world. Beginning in 2003, bloggers came together to produce music out of the typical context of live shows and making albums… instead they created an online project that gives both musicians and audience members a brand new experience. La Blogothéque’s main director, Vincent Moon, guides this group in filming “field work music videos”, entitled Take Away Shows, with various artists in scenes such as cafés, historical venues, city streets and apartments. They have shot over two hundred music videos featuring artists like Fleet Foxes, Local Natives, Father John Misty, Leon Bridges, Arcade Fire, Phoenix and Beirut. By taking these musicians into various contexts of daily life, the music gains a element of purity in sound. The quality delivered in every short film is incredible, without dubbing songs over or imputing any technical corrections, the music is pure in sound and delivery. With France as the main background for these epic music videos, anyone would enjoy the experience La Blogothéque has to offer.

One of my favorite Take Away Shows features Jack White at Château de Fontainebleau in France back in 2014. He, along with other talented musicians, performed “The Same Boy You’ve Always Known” and “Entitlement”, each in different parts of the palace. In comparison to his live shows which deliver a bold, classic rock, bring the house down kind of style, these performances are acoustic, quaint and quite moving.

Another memorable performance was done back in 2008 when La Blogothéque followed Bon Iver around Montmarte, Paris, France. Singing “For Emma, Forever Ago”, Bon Iver first sings the piece a cappella in a building lobby with a group of people standing witness to the gorgeous harmony. Next, the cameras follow Bon Iver as they slowly wander the neighborhood, as a group of tourists ahead continue on their walk, now with a soundtrack to their sight seeing. It truly is a remarkable short film well worth the time.

Lastly, I’d like to share with you all a beautiful masterpiece of Spanish guitar performed by the duo Rodrigo y Gabriela. To give you a little taste into the magical world of their music, Rodrigo y Gabriela are two guitarists from Mexico City that get their influence from neuvo flamenco, rock and heavy metal. Without lyrics, their music transports listeners into a space of incredible sounds produced from just two guitars. Combining instrumental rock and flamenco rumba, Rodrigo y Gabriela always put on a stellar performance. In this piece done by La Blogothéque, the duo sit outside a somewhat crowded café and perform “The Soundmaker”, as bystanders witness the magic.

These Take Away Shows, I believe, truly have a deep meaning in the world of music. La Blogothéque uses a unique approach of capturing artists in their element, as well as in a beautiful, intriguing, familiar place. Consuming music through this platform has the potential to impact listeners in a positive, uplifting and calming way. I encourage enjoying more of what La Blogothéque has to offer, and it will fill your ears with joy.

Labels: "Emma Samuelson", Emma Samuelson, emmalane94, La Blogothéque, music, music video

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Emma discusses Tastemade Recipes

Guest Blogger Emma Samuelson is here to talk about some delicious food recipes that are perfect for the Holidays!

Emma is a recent college graduate from California who writes her own songs, sings and plays guitar. Check out the excellent music and ASL videos on her YouTube channel! In Emma's own words, "I am a spiritual person and I love music, listening to it, creating it, and everything about it." Her love of music is obvious in her videos!

Please use this link to see a list of ALL guest blog posts by Emma Samuelson.

Emma tells us about 4 videos from Tastemade and describes what they are trying to do with their video network built for the mobile generation. They have a passion for food and travel, but Emma is here to showcase some of her favorite holiday recipes created by Tastemade, so let's get started!

Tastemade Recipes

In this new day and age of sharing culture and experiences via social media networks, one company has dedicated themselves to giving the world a connection through food and video. Tastemade is a video network that can be found on every social outlet online, including YouTube, Instagram, SnapChat, and Facebook. According to their website, Tastemade is a “video network built for the mobile generation. We enable Tastemakers to come together to discover their passion for great food and travel. We bring this to life on every screen from smartphones to connected TVs for a global community that reaches over 88 million people monthly.” That’s right, a global community of more than 88 million people get to partake in the delicious and unique recipes they share with us on a daily basis. Everything from purple rice cakes to chocolate quesadillas… Tastemade really gives us an opportunity to connect the world through food.

With the winter season upon us, Tastemade has created a whole lineup of videos entitled “Hungry for the Holidays”, and have added holiday recipes to their “Thirsty for…” videos. These videos give some traditional and some different takes on classic holiday recipes. The thing I love about using recipes from Tastemade, is that it’s interactive when you watch their videos, instead of simply reading a recipe online. You get to see the food being made in front of you before you have a go at it. They also provide the full recipe with every video so you can remake each dish you fall in love with. Most of these recipes are also quite simple; anyone could afford to make these amazing additions to their holiday meal. This first dish is one of my favorites…

Although there are countless recipes I could talk about, what are the holidays without eggnog? Eggnog has been a long standing holiday tradition in the United States and Canada, and today is consumed all around the world. It has made its way into coffee shops and restaurants during the winter months so anyone could go pick up an eggnog latte wherever they are, but what Tastemade delivers is something too sweet to pass up. Their homemade eggnog recipe is one to be reckoned with! A friend and I decided to make this eggnog for a holiday party and by the end, people were begging us to make it again in the future. I told them they could make it anytime they wanted, thanks to Tastemade.

Finally, Tastemade gives us a slightly different recipe for a holiday favorite… pumpkin pie bars. These delightful bars will liven up any holiday party you attend. The recipe uses some unique, distinct flavors to spice up the classic dessert, including maple syrup and orange zest. I love making bars rather than large pies because they are a little easier to eat and that way you can give everyone an equal portion size. Regardless of my favorite holiday recipes, Tastemade provides thousands of amazing recipes for all occasions and seasons that you can access anytime. They truly do provide the world with amazing food experiences, so you never know when you and someone on the other side of the world are making the same meal!

Labels: "Emma Samuelson", Emma Samuelson, emmalane94, Food, holiday, recipe, recipes, Tastemade

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Emma writes on grief and self worth

Guest Blogger Emma Samuelson is back with a powerful post about life and death, grief and support, self doubt and self worth.

Emma is a singer-songwriter from California who writes her own songs, sings and plays guitar. Check out the excellent music videos on her YouTube channel! In Emma's own words, "I am a spiritual person and I love music, listening to it, creating it, and everything about it." Her love of music is obvious in her videos!

Please use this link to see a list of ALL guest blog posts by Emma Samuelson.

Now, Emma tells us about how she copes with the loss of a dear friend. Read Emma's excellent article and think about what she has to say. Also watch the video which is a tribute to her friend.

But first, The News!

This week's Featured Video on our Top 100 and Top 200 Charts is Tiffany Jo Allen's NEW cover song. She sings a beautiful version of "Safe & Sound" (from The Hunger Games Soundtrack) by Taylor Swift, featuring The Civil Wars. Tiffany's vocals and guitar playing are moving, and she is joined by George Nardo on bass. Click right here to see Tiffany's video. You can also BUY her latest single, Over You, on iTunes or at Tiffany's website. I did; it's a cool ROCK tune!

See Previously Featured Videos by Peter Hollens and Savannah Outen singing Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5, and Original Music Videos by Kylie Hinze and Kaityln K - on our Previously Featured Videos page!

Now, here are Emma's thoughts about grief and self worth.

Grief. Something universal, something unexplainable. Most have experienced the loss of a loved one, a friend, a classmate, a co-worker, an acquaintance. Grief is how we deal with loss, tragedy, and heartbreak. Although when 'shit hits the fan', there's usually someone else there to talk about it, and struggle along with you. At 17, I have experienced this. It hasn't been easy, but I've learned that isolation and depression aren't reasonable options for moving on and living life as we all are supposed to do. Last year, my friend took his life. It wasn't as surprising as it should have been, but it still hurt like hell. I had looked up to this inspirational, loving, hysterical man, and he couldn't even see worth in himself. Dealing with depression, anxiety, the stress of adolescence. Yes, we all have these things going on, but sometimes it doesn't feel as if anyone knows how you feel. Mark Spencer Wooldridge lived 20 years on this planet as an adored and loved young man. I know he's just experiencing the great beyond.

Being part of Science of Mind, Mark attended teen camps with many other teenagers, including myself. This past teen camp was the first I experienced without his presence. There was so much love in the room for him… the youth could feel him there with us as we released our sadness and embraced spirit. Grief as a teenager might have been more challenging without this massive support system I know as my teaching. Science of Mind teaches that all is Spirit, and everything is connected. It has such positivity and warmth, it has given me tools in practice of how to live my life fully and it allows me to create my experience as I want it. So, when transition occurs, expression of sorrow isn't suppressed. Emotions aren't hidden, they are released and flow through us, with the comfort and love of a spiritual family along for the journey. I find these spiritual camps the best place to move through difficult situations, and come out with peace and clarity for how I feel and who I am every time.

Two of my closest friends, Jordan Dobbins and Casey Goodwin, performed at the talent show this past winter camp. They performed their rendition of 'Wish You Were Here' by Pink Floyd, dedicating it to Mark. Everyone in the room was completely connected to him in that moment. Jordan and Casey pour their love out through this piece and do a tremendous job in technique and sound. It is truly a beautiful performance.

No matter the situation, you are loved. Don't be so sure of the lack you have in your life, and take another look to see what's really here. I experience love everyday, and make sure I take the chance to be grateful for the life I have. I make sure I take the time to be with myself and just sit in the beauty of my own expression of who I am. Take the time. No one should lose their life because they can't see the truth of what they are, stay connected. There's infinite potential and perfection in your very own skin, embrace it, and give it a life.

Labels: "Emma Samuelson", "Pink Floyd", "Wish You Were Here", emmalane94, TiffanyJoAllen, tribute

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Emma writes about the New Year

Guest Blogger Emma Samuelson is back with her third post! Emma is a singer-songwriter from California who writes her own songs, sings and plays guitar. Check out the excellent music videos on her YouTube channel! In Emma's own words, "I am a spiritual person and I love music, listening to it, creating it, and everything about it." Her love of music is obvious in her videos!

Emma's first post for YouTubeStars was a review of some videos about Comedian Bill Hicks. In her second post, Emma wrote three Thought Provoking Videos on what gets us motivated, the state of the environment, and a Free Hugs campaign.

Now, Emma tells us about three videos with a New Year / New Start / Being Now theme. This very moment is all we have, so make the best use of it!
See what Emma has to say and watch the videos she discusses!

But first, The News!

This week's Featured Video on our Top 100 and Top 200 Charts is a heartfelt and powerful performance of the popular Adele song, "Set Fire to the Rain", by talented YouTube Musician - Ms Tiffany Lexus! Visit her YouTube channel for more great singing videos (and one raw egg eating video!)

I was so impressed with MsTiffany's singing in this video and I asked her if she would do a mini Twitter interview with me. She agreed and we both had fun tweeting our parts of the interview! Here is a link to our mini Twitter based interview with MsTiffanyLexus, check it out!

Our good friend Tiffany Jo Allen's NEW single is out, and it rocks!
The song is named "Over You" and it reminds me of vintage Pat Benatar. The crunchy power chords of an electric guitar are featured prominently and Tiffany's vocals are strong and clear. Click the pic to see Tiffany's video that previews the song. BUY the track on iTunes or at Tiffany's website. I did; this is a cool ROCK tune!

We love to promote YouTubers and we're not alone.
Here is another website that cares about the YouTube community and mentions both the big and little guys - YouTube Channel Reviews!
"From brand new YouTube users to the most famous YouTubers, we’ll take a look at it all and give our expert opinions as we break down everything in the YouTube community." The site is nicely origanized and has a cool slider on the Main page. See who they are writing about, at YouTube Channel Reviews!

Now, here are Emma's thoughts about the New Year.

This is a new year. Traditionally, the new year signifies a new start, a new beginning, or for some, it's a chance to forget the mistakes of the past, and move foreword. Along with resolutions to exercise and eat healthier, new lists of goals to achieve, and brand new material items to enjoy, what the new year really brings about, is a time to step into the moment. Many people take the new year as the only time to make changes, take chances and take a new breath. But really, every moment is the only time, for all we have is now. Being here and now in the present is where life lives, it's where everything lives. So be now, and live.

In this concept of 'being now', one can discover the truth of life. The beauty of life. It's all waiting here for us to appreciate it. In this video, the Holi Festival of Colors is taking place. This annual event takes place in Spanish Fork, Utah for the 2011 festival. During this weekend festival, over 40,000 people from all over the world come to enjoy music, food, people, love, and most interesting of all: colors. Every few hours, everyone present at the festival, all at once, throw colored powder into the air, and the effects are magical. All the people at the festival are happily jubilant, dancing and being now in the midst of color. The beauty of this event is too inspiring to describe.

Sometimes, being in the moment unexpectedly rather than purposefully can be an entirely new and different experience. Along with the beauty of expression and peace, everyone in the world shares depth and hardships, and sometimes, we are blind as to how we are all connected. Everyone has strife. This is a truth that isn't as welcome in society to discuss and share with others. Kamil Krolak went beyond society and asked people in Galway, Ireland to open up and share their life's biggest regret. At first, most are taken aback, not sure how to begin to answer this question. This is an unexpected moment for the people in this video. Eventually, everyone opens up to share their story. Some lost friends, others didn't take opportunities… but no matter what they regretted, they all had an understanding that perfection isn't what life is. The idealistic nature that has become the 'image' of people today isn't real, it isn't what's going on.
Everyone hurts. Everyone heals. Everyone loves. Krolak takes a step into the journey of people he doesn't know, and shows how connected we all are, right now.

Being in the moment can look differently for individual people. Some meditate, others dance, some write. And some create music. For as long as the human race has been in existence, so has music. It is one of the fundamental crafts and arts that the human race has contributed to the world. But how can music 'be the moment'?

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros show just this. With a large band such as this, you get to experience a larger sound, with many voices, instruments and emotions all joining together as one. Everyone in this band gives into the music, and into the moment. They play a total of three songs: "Janglin'", "Home", and "40 Day Dream", all of which transcend human emotion into sound. By listening to this music you can't help but be in the here and now. It gives so much love and harmony to the atmosphere, allowing expression to occur.
Being now. This is my new year. And I get to be here, right now. And that is beautiful.

Labels: "Emma Samuelson", "YouTube Channel Reviews", evanmeetsworld, KamilFilms, MsTiffanyLexus, nprmusic, TiffanyJoAllen

Friday, December 23, 2011

Emma Comments on Thought Provoking Videos

Guest Blogger Emma Samuelson is back with her second post! Emma is a singer-songwriter from California who writes her own songs, sings and plays guitar. Check out the excellent music videos on her YouTube channel! In Emma's own words, "I am a spiritual person and I love music, listening to it, creating it, and everything about it." Her love of music is obvious in her videos!

Emma's first post for YouTubeStars was a review of some videos about Comedian Bill Hicks. In this post, Emma does something similar to what her friend and fellow guest blogger, Kayleigh Levitt recently did in this post on Thought Provoking Videos.

If you would also like to write for us, and get paid, please write to Kenny!

Emma tells us about three videos on what gets us motivated, the state of the environment, and a Free Hugs campaign. See what she has to say and watch the videos she discusses!

But first, The News!

This week's Featured Video on our Top 100 and Top 200 Charts is a beautiful performance of the classic Christmas song, "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire", by 11 year old Tina! Visit her YouTube channel for more great music videos. This video is featured in our YouTube Christmas 2011 playlist and is our way of wishing a Merry Christmas to kids from 1 to 92! Enjoy the Holiday Season!

We have a NEW Featured Video every week on our YouTube Top 100 Chart. If you missed any of our Previously Featured Videos, you can still watch them here.

Check out our Top 100 and Top 200 Charts of the Most Subscribed YouTube Channels every week! Go and Bookmark the Top 100 YouTube Chart at YTChart.com right now!

Now, here are Emma's Comments on Thought Provoking Videos.

In the current of life, there is a constant flow of information, opinions and issues that provoke our thoughts. Whether it be an environmental disaster, struggling with income, or simply deciding what to eat for a meal, it's all here for us to think about. You could take any person in the world, and have them watch a video, read an essay, or be told a story, and the information they have received will be traveling through their train of thought, initiating feeling and opinion. Thinking and analyzing our thoughts is what makes us human. It's our basic, yet extremely complex biological feature that has created countries, economies and governments. Simultaneously, it's also what has created music, film, and art. It all began with a single thought.

So what's something currently flowing through our world that is provoking our thoughts?

Work. Working in a career, in school, or just working to solve a problem is something that is present in everyone's life. But, what is our motivation to work? Why are we working? Dan Pink gives us insight on what he believes to be the answer. In this video, RSAnimate illustrates and outlines Pink's speech at the RSA (Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, their website: www.thersa.org) about motivation, the 'Rewards System', and how thinking affects working and having a job. With the clever and brilliant illustrations RSAnimate brings to this speech, viewers take a look at what is going on within the economy and workforce, as Pink examines what people are doing and why they are doing it.

Currently, we are discovering, that after hundreds of years of utilizing the earth's natural resources, we are beginning to see depletion of these resources take a toll on something much larger than our society. Mother Earth herself is suffering the consequences for our benefit. Now, when you are eating a nice and juicy hamburger from a local fast food joint, what are you thinking about? Do you think about the animals that were raised to provide you this meal? Or what about the trees that were cut down to become your wrapper, napkins and soda cup? Many would probably answer: "No, I was thinking about my burger."

Although it isn't an option to destroy all fast food restaurants and force everyone in the world to recycle, buy a hybrid vehicle, and only purchase organic food, it is possible to provoke their thought about the possibilities of doing those things.

This video shows Mother Earth in her prime, as she inhales, water is abundant and plentiful, creating beauty among nature. But as she exhales, the water is sucked away, leaving the earth as a dry, unlivable habitat that is causing casualty among species. We are taken on a journey, through the world of majestic landscapes, diverse species, and colors unimaginable. But what do we want? Technology, money, sex, luxury… resulting in the over production and destruction of Mother Earth. This means that we are sacrificing the very nature of what gave us life.

At the end of the video, there are various people shown that helped to protect and preserve the environment. Sadly, all these individuals were killed fighting for their cause. So the next time you're sitting there, eating a burger, on your cell phone, or throwing a bottle in the trash, stop for a moment, and think. Think about the people who gave their lives to save the world you might be taking for granted.

If you saw a man stand on the street, smile, and hold up a sign that read "Free Hugs", what would you think? What would you do? Would you hug him? Would you make a judgment and continue on your way? Well, this was put to the test.

In this video, a man walks around with his "Free Hugs" sign and no expectations. At first, many people have questioning looks, and he is clearly avoided by most that are walking by. What were all these people thinking as they saw this casual, normal individual on the street hold up this sign? Was he even being serious?

Eventually, a small elderly woman looks up at the man, so he gets to his knees, and they embrace. At this moment, it seemed as if a huge lock had found it's key, and love was open. All of a sudden, various people embraced this man with enthusiasm and love, some even took the sign themselves and tried it on for size, creating a chain of connection between the people who released fear, and embraced love. This man opened up the possibility to connect to other human beings in the simplest form: physical touch. Towards the end of the video, local officers make the man aware that what he is doing is banned, and he will not be allowed to continue his "Free Hugs". At this juncture, the man creates a petition, for which he reaches his goal of 10,000 signatures to allow "Free Hugs". The connection continued. Provoking our thoughts is what makes us have impulses, make actions, and decide on how we feel about everything in our world. Thinking is a revolutionary art that cannot be mastered, and it leads to the opening of society's mind, allowing knowledge to be accessed. All actions start with a thought, and this mans' was a great one.

Labels: "Emma Samuelson", bittusahgal, lindas32, theRSAorg, zcau06

Friday, December 02, 2011

Emma Writes About Comedian Bill Hicks

We have another new Guest Blogger, Emma Samuelson! Emma is a singer-songwriter from California who writes her own songs, sings and plays guitar. Check out the excellent music videos on her YouTube channel! In Emma's own words, "I am a spiritual person and I love music, listening to it, creating it, and everything about it." Her love of music is obvious in her videos!

Emma decided to write for us after reading the Guest Blogs from her friend, Kayleigh Levitt. If you would like to write for us, and get paid, contact Kenny!

In her first Guest Blog post for YouTubeStars, Emma reviews three videos about "The Conscious Comedian" - Bill Hicks. Emma does a great job of telling us who Bill was and what his message was, read on!

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Now, here is Emma's article about Bill Hicks.

The Conscious Comedian

Combine dark humor, profound insight, and a strong, independent voice… and you have William "Bill" Hicks. Born in 1961, this young stand-up genius began his career at a local Comedy Workshop in Houston, Texas at 16 years old. Soon he became a regular, along with his good friend Dwight Slade, and they were quickly seen as an unforgettable comedic duo. After Slade moved to Oregon, Hicks focused on his solo comedic career, began touring and eventually, moved to Los Angeles with Slade. After a while of trying to make it big in California, Hicks made his way back to Houston, where he continued to tour and expand his career. Hicks experimented with drugs, and eventually started to drink heavily, which affected his comedy greatly. His friends commonly refer to that time as the 'dark years' of his career. With time and commitment, Hicks leaned away from drugs, which transformed his comedy, and took his career to New York City, where for 5 years he performed regularly and worked on leading a sober lifestyle.

By his mid-20's, Hicks had developed his voice further, with main topics of drug use, politics, philosophy and society that questioned the power in America. Not only was his dark comedy intriguing and hysterical, but he also brought out his deeper side as an activist. Hicks never ceased to tie in the humanity of life, and how corruption in government and religion erodes the fabric of love in the human experience.

This video shows Hicks in 1979 during the beginning of his career, as an 18 year old regular at a local comedy club. Hicks discusses the absurdity of 'flinching' and the draft, and receives a consistent response from his audience. Even as a young adult, there was something in him that was different and enlightening. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind, and he always spoke with great conviction.

Hicks wasn't just known for his comedy and strong opinions. Since adolescence, Hicks also pursued music and formed the trio "Stress" during his teenage years along with Slade and Kevin Booth, his high school buddies. Although it wasn't always his main focus, Hicks quite enjoyed creating music and never gave it up, producing songs throughout his life.

This song "She's A Woman" is a calm, sweet tune that captures the attention of any pair of ears close enough to listen. Hicks has a classic voice, with somewhat of a Neil Young tone, that comforts you in this pleasant song about loving a woman. "She's a woman, I'm a man, together we stand, face the winds and the rains in our life." The depth in Hicks' heart as he serenades us with this loving melody is quite beautiful, and expresses how facing struggles with a person you love is worth the time and the effort.

After constant touring in the United States, Hicks became interested in expanding his audience, which took him to London, where he was critically acclaimed for questioning American society. British audiences were much more receptive to his ideas than American audiences were. Hicks continued to tour throughout England and gained more and more fans.

Hicks reached a new level of expressing his ideas, and focused on the truth of humanity. He often stated, "We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution." Hicks began frequently talking about consciousness, and that we are all part of One life, and he would stipulate that we are actually living within a dream, and that we are the 'imagination of ourselves'. His ideas were very metaphysical, in that there is only One, and we are all apart of it at every moment. We create our life as we want, and we can be conscious of all that is truly going on. These ideas took hold in Hick's shows and routines, and he became seen as the comedian who dared to speak up about what had been suppressed.

In the early 1990's, Hicks was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He decided not to share this publicly, and continued to tour for the last time. His last show was on January 6, 1994 at Caroline's in New York. He spent his last few months with his friends and family, and just enjoying his life. Some of the last documented words from Hicks were: "I left in love, in laughter, and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit." Hicks passed on February 26, 1994, at the age of 32.

This video is the trailer for the biographical documentary about Hicks' life entitled, "American: The Bill Hicks Story", which was released in 2010. This documentary is a profound, intriguing film that navigates through Hicks' life by means of archive footage, photographs, and interviews of his friends, family and colleagues. It outlines how he became the comedian who sought to show the truth, and reveals his ideas about the world. Bill Hicks is the American comedian who showed the world the conscious way of looking at life, and was truly the 'outlaw comic who tried to save the world.'

Labels: "Bill Hicks", "Emma Samuelson", emmalane94, ZoeGiddingsJones1

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