YouTube Stars!

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.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Emma discusses the Awareness of Privilege

Here is popular Guest Blogger Emma Samuelson with a discussion of some of the very hot topics in today's world!

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.

Now, let's see what Emma's thoughts are, on Privilege. Have you thought about this yourself? Is there something about who you are, which you have no control over, that affects your life? Is there something that should be done to reduce inequality in the world? Can we achieve Social Justice? Is it right to allow the capitalist system to make some people very wealthy if their innovation helps us all? What can we do about violence in Syria and around the world and should the United States get involved? What can you do, personally, to improve the world?

Continue on. Read Emma's thoughts on these matters. Watch the videos she mentions. Think.

The Awareness of Privilege

Privilege. It’s something we come across everyday in our own lives, but sometimes it’s hard to recognize for those that have a lot of it. I, personally, have become much more aware of my privilege since turning 18. It’s not like I wasn’t aware I was privileged growing up, but as I stepped into adulthood and attended a San Francisco college that focuses on social justice amidst the Black Lives Matter movement and ever-growing gentrification… I became hyper aware of my own privilege.

As a middle class white woman, I stand in a very privileged spot. I had the privilege of getting a free education K-12, I had the privilege of being sent to a private, Jesuit college, and I have the privilege of still being a dependent on my parents bill as I turn 22. I am eternally grateful for my education and my parents for making this a possibility for me. I recognize that the opportunity for this kind of education is slim for many people in our world, a sad truth I think about a lot as a recent college graduate.

This is the big stuff… education, financial stability, and a web of support. However, privilege is not just the big stuff. Privilege is having clean water, it’s having access to food, it’s having a bed. These are the things we need to think about.

In the current state of the world, many people are becoming more and more aware of just how privilege affects their daily lives. Sometimes, I just take a moment to be grateful that I have shoes to put on that day. Little reminders like this can be a great lesson in how to recognize your own privilege and a lesson in how to be grateful for it.

Despite these little helpful reminders, sometimes privilege is totally overlooked. People casually listen to stories on the radio and in the news about millions of people losing their homes, their country, and even their loved ones due to injustice… sometimes a reminder is not enough. In the real world right now, thousands of Syrians are displaced and being forced into refugee status, they have lost so much and yet countries like the United States are not doing enough to help. People in general are not doing enough. If it’s hard to imagine something like this happening in your country, it won’t be after watching this Save The Children PSA. This video documents a young girl’s life day by day for a year as she is impacted by a civil war (simulating Syria’s events).

This is real, and it can be difficult to absorb but I believe it is important. It is vital to understand your privilege, to understand that you have so many advantages in your daily life. Regardless of where you stand, everyone is affected by privilege and everyone deals with it.

In the United States, media, film and television generally reinforce stereotypes of different races, ethnicities, classes, genders and ages. However, even though many of these stereotypes and controlling images of people are not true, they still are somewhat honest in how people are treated in our society. I do not agree with any of the stereotypes I see portrayed in film and television, but I have seen scenes in television shows that I have experienced in real life.

This is where awareness totally changes the game. For example, I am aware that a lot of people in our society view LGBT people as sinners, as deviants, as 'unnatural people making poor choices’… but I have also seen real people treat real LGBT people like that is the truth. As a bisexual woman, I have been harassed, bullied and degraded because of that part of my identity… and I see the same thing happening to my fellow LGBT people on television. It makes me feel like the media understands what I go through, but at the same time it reinforces that truth. I do not want to live in a world where people are treated differently based on their identities, I want to live in a world of equality, of justice, a world where everyone has opportunity, where privilege doesn’t separate us.

Awareness can change everything, it can help us come together and let go of inequality. Buzzfeed contributed to this awareness, and had people do an activity based on self-identified privilege. Although reading about it and watching videos is helpful in understanding your privilege, doing something like what Buzzfeed did really puts it into perspective.

Anyone can have a difficult time discussing privilege. It is not an easy topic, but it can open the doors for more deeper conversations about our society and how we want to evolve. Doing an activity like this is a powerful way to look at privilege, it can open your eyes to just how much you can be grateful for. It can shift your consciousness from your individual world to the global need for change. It can dramatically reduce your record of complaining. It can lead to new friendships, new opportunities, and new ways of giving back and supporting the evolution of the world. Regardless of where your final position is, awareness can lead to action, and action can lead to change. Check your privilege, every single day.

Labels: Black Lives Matter, bullying, Buzzfeed, clean water, Cyber Bully, education, Emma Samuelson, emmalane94, feminism, gender, inequality, LGBT, privilege, race, refugee, religion, social justice, stereotypes, Syria, War

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

Monday, June 30, 2014

Emma's Back! "Perfection Does Not Exist"

Guest Blogger Emma Samuelson is back with an inspiring post that claims Perfection does not exist!

Emma is a singer-songwriter 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.

Now, Emma tells us about three popular videos that show how some individuals deal with being less than perfect in the eyes of much of society. Read Emma's excellent article, watch the great videos and remember the dream of Martin Luther King Jr - there will come a time when we do not simply look at someone's exterior features, but we will look inside and see "the content of their character."

"Perfection Does Not Exist"

Everyone has their own idea of what is “normal” or “beautiful” in the world. However, when it comes to physical appearance, society has a large impact on how we view people’s bodies and what constitutes a “perfect” one. We are constantly seeing images of models and celebrities that have rock hard abs, acne-free skin, and a size 2 waistline… but the truth of the matter is, every single human body that resides on this planet is unique in a certain way. Despite the fact that acceptance of others is a trend on the rise, people are still very quick to judge, assume and mock others for what they look like, their style, or even a disorder or disability they may have. Not only can disorders and disabilities make daily life more challenging, but with the dramatic attention received by others, whether it be mean-spirited or not, can cause low self-esteem in those living with that difference.

Cheri, who lives with Vitiligo, a skin pigment disorder, opens up and speaks out about her disorder and how she has moved past the “abnormality” of her appearance. Instead, Cheri challenges us to be confident and embrace our appearance as is in order to fully occupy a life worth living.

Looking further into how we categorize normalcy, a Swiss charity organization entitled Pro Infirmis has helped to raise more awareness around people living with disabilities, challenging the stereotypes that are often more crippling than the disabilities themselves. One project they conducted has received much global attention with the title: “Because Who is Perfect? Get Closer.” Five people living with disabilities were measured, and mannequins were then sculpted using those measurements. The results are very telling in regards to people’s reactions as well as reframing our idea of perfection.

Cassandra, another Dermablend Camo Confession subject, opens up about her acne and really shows how much others intolerance has affected how she saw herself. Just like Cheri, Cassandra emphasizes the importance of self-love and self-worth. One thing she does point out in particular is that she no longer uses make up to hide herself, but instead uses it as a tool of self expression, a perspective that is much more beneficial to one’s confidence.

Ultimately, physical appearance standards need to be challenged; just like a wild horse, stereotypes must be broken. Regardless of what you have said, done or thought in the past, the next time you see someone who looks different than you, send them love and give them a smile. Also, the next time you look at yourself in the mirror and find something you do not like or judge, send that area love to support and affirm your unique beauty. If you take one thing away from these videos, remember what Cassandra said: “A huge misconception in the world is that we think that perfection exists.”

Labels: acne, ASL, beauty, body image, disabilities, Emma Samuelson, emmalane94, exterior, inspiration, inspire, interior, perfect, perfection, self image, sign language, stereotypes, Vitiligo

Monday, July 09, 2012

Emma writes about what bonds us

Guest Blogger Emma Samuelson is back with an inspiring post about how history, music and art bind us all together.

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 three popular videos that demonstrate how history, music and art bind the human race together. Read Emma's excellent article, watch the great videos and think about what she Emma's words and the videos mean to you!

Of the many bonds that tie the human race together, the two most fascinating that come to mind from these videos are history and expression. The rich history this world has to offer is immense, captivating and concrete, however along with the expression of the human mind also comes perspective and opinion of said history. Many people use their talent, creativity and unique views to bring this history back to life, in astounding ways.

Keep calm and carry on. Sound familiar? This common expression used in modern times actually has a much deeper history than most would know. Originally mocked up during World War II in Britain, this sign took off as one of the most influential and popular of its time, putting over two and a half million copies to print. The poster was used as propaganda to be "reassuring" to the public during dark times. More than fifty years later in 2000, a copy turned up in the second-hand book store, Barter Books, a former Victorian railway station began by the Manley's. They had it framed and hung in the shop, leading to wide popularity and the reproduction of this timeless poster. As an icon of the second world war, Keep Calm and Carry On has led to a greater bond within the human race and is a reminder of the connection we all have to history and each other.

Music is by far one of the most international and embraced forms of expression. People from all around the world can be connected through music, whether consciously or not. The documentary "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music" travels around the globe through the music we all love and connect to. This video is one of the "first of many songs around the world" that are being released individually. The historic song "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King is extremely popular and well known, and also carries a deep message about the connection of people. International musicians as a group play this harmonious tune note by note, bringing the world a little closer together.

Another form of human expression is art, painting a canvas with the thoughts of your mind. David Garibaldi stepped not only into the realm of art, but also tied in that of musical history. An image of the rock and roll legend Jimi Hendrix swiftly comes to life in this amazing painting done by Garibaldi during a show. As one of the most short-lived but influential musicians is painted onto a black canvas, Garibaldi shows the audience not only a great ability for artistic creativity, but also proves how history and expression combined connects all beings as one. With the music of Hendrix playing over as the image awakens, connection is being made between the fans of this legendary musician and a brilliant artist.

History, expression, connection. The bonds of the human race.

Labels: Emma Samuelson, emmalane94

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

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Kayleigh Comments on Thought Provoking Videos

Hello and Happy Holidays! Are you ready for them? Got all your shopping done? Regardless of what you celebrate this time of year, take a minute to reflect on the origin and meaning behind these special days. Have a wonderful time with your family and friends!

Guest Blogger, Kayleigh Levitt has written another excellent blog post for your reading pleasure! Kayleigh is a creative young lady with a real talent for writing. In her last article, she discussed nothing less than Life and Death! In her first Guest Blog for YouTubeStars, she wrote about Artist and Filmmaker Andrea Dorfman. We're glad to present the third Guest Blog post from this talented young lady who can sometimes be found in a tree singing and playing guitar!

This post reviews three videos; a film about random acts of kindness, an interview about how curiosity leads to scientific discovery and a talk about a 17 year old girl who decided that she was going to change the world! Kayleigh does a great job of discussing the subject matter of these must-see videos - read on!

But first, The News!

This week's Featured Video on our Top 100 and Top 200 Charts is a warm and wonderful music video from Kayleigh's friend and also a guest blogger here at YouTubeStar.com, Emma Samuelson! Emma has captivating covers and original songs too, on her YouTube Channel. Watch Emma sing Samson by Regina Spektor, it will make you smile!

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 is Kayleigh's article on Thought Provoking Videos.

Change For A Dollar

Sharon Wright wrote and directed this film about the journey of a homeless man and the ripple effect.

Change.

We can befriend change by being the change. The idea a little goes a long way works if you let it. Philanthropy is not just about having the financial resources. Changing the world is not fueled by money, it is fueled by compassion and love.

This film is mostly silent. It opens up on this homeless man sitting on a cement step holding up a cardboard sign that says, “Change?” This provokes thought as he proceeds to pass a long the dollar he made in coins through random acts of kindness.

Throughout the day, he participated in making the world a better place. By placing a penny on the sidewalk, he helped a poor mom get a job. He bought coffee for 35 cents and gave it to another homeless woman. He gave a dime to a charity and a little girl gave him a flower in return. A couple had a fight in the Laundromat; he gave the man a flower. The man gave it to his partner and they made up. He bought matchsticks for 15 cents and gave it to cold homeless people who stood in front of a bundle of wood. He gave his last quarter to a teenage girl sitting in the park at dark, which she used to walk to a payphone and call her mom. She asked to come home.

This short film speaks to the act of giving for the sake of giving. It makes us ask the question, what kind of change are we asking for and how can we be that for the world? The cheesy posters from elementary school instruct us to do random acts of kindness. The man in this movie does not live in his own little world where being kind is random recognition of the world around him. He lives in the world outside of himself. His life is not the self-absorbed life that most of us live. Maybe his kindness came from the humbleness of having no material possessions. Maybe it is in losing everything that we learn to give.

Change.
Be it.

He is not the only one asking for it.
The world is.

Curiosity and Science

Richard Feynman created this video about the concept of curiosity. No one meets up and says, “What about those cars?” We would probably just shrug our shoulders and say, “What about them? They are just cars.” We may care about what kind of car it is or how much it costs, but he invites us to consider the fact that the complex outcome of a car just breaks down to atoms that are following orders. This universe is very strange, but we are used to it. It is not foreign to us because we are comfortable in this mysteriously functioning world.

He states, “There is so much distance between the fundamental rules and the final phenomena that it is almost unbelievable that the final variety of phenomena comes from the steady operation of such simple rules.” The stunning visuals of this video reflect on the beauty around us that is all interrelated and connected. It shows amazing architecture, beautiful animals, the Stonehenge, the desert and many more of just things that are on this planet.

When people wonder how things work, they get answers. Then only to realize that the answers to these questions are connected. We are made of curiosity. At our most primal human nature, we are designed to be curious in order to survive and evolve. He points out how exciting it is to realize that we are actually on a floating rock in space and half of us are upside down at some point or time. The truth is so much more remarkable than the stories that we could ever create with our minds. The universal mind is infinitely more creative and we get to tap into it with our curiosity.

We are all just atoms that are working perfectly. The world around us is complex yet it breaks down to the same thing, atoms. How does that work? Atoms create the Grand Canyon. Atoms create sky-high buildings. This earth is floating in space. When we look at the basic truths of this universe, we are faced with how much we do not know. Curiosity leads us to understanding. Curiosity is what created science.

Anonymous Extraordinary Teen

Natalie Warne is an Anonymous Extraordinary. To be an anonymous extraordinary one must let go of the need to be recognized for their service to this world. One cannot give and receive simultaneously just as we cannot inhale and exhale at the same time. We truly give when we give without the motivation of our ego.

At 17, she decided she was going to change the world. At 17, most of us are still idealists because we have not had the years of reality disappointing us. At 17, she did. She became a part of the Invisible Children organization. There was a 25-year long war happening in Africa where children were being forced to be soldiers.

If we are not a part of the solution, we are the problem. She decided to be a part of the solution. She stood on the shoulders of giants as she helped orchestrate a hundred thousand silent protesters, a bill being passed by Obama, and getting Oprah’s support on national television.

The youth of this generation have pure potentiality readily available and Natalie is the perfect example of that. We know where we have been and with the combination of technology and the evolving minds of our youth, anything is possible.
How much does it take for us to realize it is time to change the way we think and act? As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Empathy is a commodity. Where is the action to back up this feeling? It begins with connecting with each other. We cannot change the world single-handedly. Together we are strong. When we stand for something together, we make a statement. The only way we can come together is to begin to understand where others are coming from. It begins by the way we live our life. When arguing between political issues, we must listen to the other side and hear more than the words they are saying. People are just people like us. Their beliefs are not them. Let us see other people as more than what they say. Anything that doesn’t show up as love is just a call for love.

Warne says that we must remind ourselves everyday to be extraordinary. She says that the most pivotal moments in our lives are the everyday moments we are walking the path of our dreams.

Labels: "Kayleigh Levitt", change, curiosity, emmalane94, empathy, science

Monday, December 12, 2011

The Dandy Warhols

Last month I showed you some super cool dance music videos to get you up and moving, by Freezepop! Now I'll show you some ultra cool psychedelic trippy pop rock music videos by The Dandy Warhols. Like catchy Indie guitar and organ rock? Dig 60s inspired Psychedelic Garage Rock? Like cool and controversial music videos? You'll love The Dandy Warhols!

But first, The News!

This week's Featured Video on our Top 100 and Top 200 Charts is a captivating music video from YouTubeStars guest blogger and talented musician Emma Samuelson! Emma (EmmaLane94) does an amazing cover of Regina Spektor's Samson. Her singing performance will make you smile!

Watch the video right here!

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.

Last week's Featured Video, now on our Previously Featured Videos list, was by Tamara, also known as Tamy, from Germany. Tamy did an infectious cover of Pixie Lott's song, Mama Do. Tamy really gets into the song and you can tell she had a great time recording it. Watch!

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 4 Psychedelicious videos by The Dandy Warhols!

I will never forget the first time I heard The Dandy Warhols. It was one night in the late 90s while watching MTV, probably 120 Minutes, and this video came on - "Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth". The tune is a trippy anti-drug psychedelic droner and the video is a parody of 80s MTV videos. I love this kind of music and immediately went out and bought "The Dandy Warhols Come Down" - their second CD.

The Dandy Warhols were founded in Portland Oregon in the early 90s by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and Peter Holmström. Then drummer Eric Hedford was added along with keyboard player Zia McCabe after Courtney saw her working in a coffee house. According to Wikipedia, "The Dandy Warhols performed in bars throughout Portland and became well-known for their nudity-filled live shows. [Their music] combined elements of 1960s garage rock and 1990s shoegaze music." Here is a very cool song called "Boys Better" which features the band highjacking the famous Capitol Records building in LA and shows clips of live shows by the band. If you are offended by a topless girl playing keyboards and a tambourine then please do not watch!

The Dandy Warhols are probably best known for their song "Bohemian Like You". This is a very catchy Indie dance rock tune and the video is done in Karaoke format; you can read the lyrics and sing along! Warning, there is female and male full frontal nudity in this one. No sex in this YouTube video, just brief nudity. Don't watch if you are offended by seeing a naked girl or naked guy.

If you can get past the first few seconds of rather annoying feedback, you'll be rewarded by a very cool trippy rocker with a totally catchy guitar riff! The person who made this video used an old cartoon for the visual accompaniment to this pounding psychedelic rock tune. Great beat, great harmonies, great dance song!

Labels: "the dandy warhols", dandy, emmalane94, naked, naked girls, nude, nudity, TamyFanClub, topless, warhols

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!

But first, The News!

This week's Featured Video on our Top 100 and Top 200 Charts is a beautiful duet from Australian singers Zoe Giddings Jones and Maribelle Anes. Zoe says this in the video description: "I am a singer, songwriter, Actress, Fashion Designer & dancer from Brisbane, Australia. I believe that you can Achieve anything if you put your mind to it. Never stop Aspiring to reach your goals no matter how far away they may seem. You will Astound yourself and Astonish the world."

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 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

YouTube™ is a trademark of YouTube, LLC.
YouTubeStars and YouTube are not affiliated in any way.