American way

Rolling Stone Magazine first issue

John Lennon - RS 1 (November 9, 1967) How I Won the War Film Still

John Lennon was the first person to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Issue RS 1, dated November 9, 1967, features a film still of John from the Richard Lester film ‘How I Won the War’. In the photo, he’s wearing the military outfit and glasses of the character he played in the movie, Musketeer Gripweed. In the issue, Lennon is interviewed about the filming of ‘How I Won the War’.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year !

If only we could hold the life,

not miss the love,

if only we wouldn't feel regret,

multiply our dreams,

have more time for ourselves,

if only peace would come to all humanity

and to our countries

and happiness.

How nice it would be...

We wanted to wish you all the best for 2011, dear friends.

screen

War Is Over (If you want it)

Album covers of Eastern Europe 70s pop stars

Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins (Indian Proverb)

I've chosen this quote because of two main reasons.

One is because of Michael - remembering how he was lynched by the media and the public opinion. And two because it reminds me of children's role playing games - when they dress up and put on adults shoes. They do it for fun but also because they want to understand, make sense of an experience/situation and learn about what it is like to be that person. 

The meaning of the saying (as I see it) is not to know everything about a person but respecting and accepting each other in spite of things we do not know about each other's life.
We need to learn from our children.
Not being childish. But we need to recapture as adults their spirit.


We are one - We are here to change the world. It starts with each of us.


Though I find it hard to find the words to fully express all I want to say on the subject I thought I should post this anyway. I'm counting you will help me complete it with your opinion.

"We must learn to live and love each other before it’s too late. 

We have to stop! 

We have to stop the prejudice, we have to stop the hating, we have to stop living in fear of our own neighbors.

Together we can make a change of the world. 

Together we can help to stop racism. 

Together we can help to stop prejudice. We can help the world live without fear. It’s our only hope, without hope we are lost."

Michael Jackson 's Exeter Stadium Speech (June 14, 2002)

"If you judge people you have no time to love them."

Mother Teresa of Calcutta 

"What else is love but understanding and rejoicing in the fact that another person lives, acts, and experiences otherwise than we do?"

F. Nietzsche

Postcards

love card

Archie Talks

Marilyn Monroe in sport

CODE FOR HIRE

"Busty High Ball Coaster" Circa 1945

The Smoking Dog 1927

Brigitte Bardot

A sexy modem? Come on!

The Christmas Spirit is L.O.V.E

 ...from the IAFL-webteam to all our blog-visitors!

Reflecting  what to write for Christmas on the blog, I  read some wise words from wise people and as well some from tpeople who usually were not famous for their wisdom.

You too will have met people, who are convinced that there's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. I can not agree to this,  as it is us to keep our inner child alive - at least a little bit and  because the christmas spirit of love is magic for adults as well. 

The video below shows Michael Jackson´s very first Christmas in 1993. He never experienced the wonders of Christmas as a child. It´s amazing to see his joy.

To me, Christmas most cherished presents  are the gift of hope and the gift of love which we get  - unwrapped and unvisible. I found the message of Christmas well expressed by Taylor Cadwell:

~ I am not alone at all, I thought.

I was never alone at all.

And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. 

We are never alone. 

Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the word seemingly most indifferent. 

For this is still the time God chooses. ~

* * * Happy Christmas & Peace on Earth * * *

Thank you for your support and love.




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Lift-N-Reveal pin ups

Ballyhoo Calendar 1953

Children´s Day: What Children wish

This is just the time of the year people all over the world  are wondering what they are going to give the children for Christmas to put  smiles on their faces.
What we give depends a lot on where on this beautiful planet we are living, if and what kind of income we have and many more social factors.


Last week I learned about an internet survey where children were asked how they would spend money if they were rich and had about 1 million $.

The results are interesting:

Here is the top 10 what children would do 

with 1 Million Dollars:

•  place 10     save the money
•  place 9      spend money on a meet and greet       .............. ..           with Celebs
•  place 8      toys
•  place 7      sweets (and not to forget to make an appointment:::                                               ..at the doctors!, notation made by me ) 
•  place 6      clothes
•  place 5      fulfill wishes of all family-members
•  place 4      computer games
•  place 3      pets  
•  2nd place   donations to Charities

•  1st place    a luxury villa for the family

I do not know whether  the children could  run  the questions in a single or multiple instances. This internet survey is only based on  material  things and  therefore somewhat superficial.The more I am pleased about the children thinking clearly  very social  and  to raise the intent "donations to Charity" on the second place. It shows that our children are that kind of dreamers this world needs to survive ; it shows that our children are loving and giving human beings, willing to get in action to make this world a better place.
This is a lesson that our children have less material interests than we mostly assume them to have. Anyone who lives with children, especially those of us who work on a professional base, can experience that children´s real wishes  and dreams deep inside aren´t material at all. They wish health (especially when a family member is not at good health) and they dream of living in a happy family and to be loved.

These wishes and dreams reveal the childlike wisdom that we all do not need much more if we have a warm home, no lack of food, education and when  there is the love and appreciation we need.

                                           Children always felt Michael Jackson´s love

~They who dream by day are cognizant of many things 

which escape those who dream only by night.~

(unknown author)







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Doris Day with Her 6 Poodles c.1952

Rod

Merry merries to all

In a show of enormous Christmas spirit,  you all overwhelmingly made the decision to send the Gorgeous Giveaway prizes to Jane from My Pear Tree House.* Merry Christmas from us all and Godspeed, dear Jane. We are all thinking of you and wishing you a smooth journey on your challenging road ahead.

This is my final post for Twenty Zen. It's been a great year for me, strengthened by my desire to make it my 'slow down' year. I have practised living in the moment and cherishing the things that I already have, rather than focusing so much on what is to come. I've worked on being less busy with things that aren't important or interesting and taking time out to just be. It's been a lesson in happiness and I will continue to practise these valuable skills all my life.

I'm taking a little blogcation. Not sure how long for... back sometime in early Jan. I'm going to let the Summer Tsunamis wash over me and see where they take me.

Very best wishes to you and yours for a merry Christmas from me and my three little elves** (and LOML too, of course). See you in the bright and sparkly and really-rather-ravishing new year. I am working on what kind of year it will be... I like to theme these things you see. It will be hard to top 20Zen, but I'll do my best!

Enjoy yourself.

x

* I'm sorry if you missed out on having a say...
** If you haven't encountered 'ElfYourself' from OfficeMax before, pop over there now to make your own hysterical Christmas fun. It's free to create and email out to family and friends.

__________________________________

Edited a little later on Monday...

PS - No, wait, there is more of me to love. On Thursday I'm guest posting at Gina's blog Acute Designs. She has asked me what 'five (material) things I can't live without'. I wrote the post only three days ago but already I can't remember what I wrote and definitely won't remember by Thursday. December does that to a person, right? Anyway, check it out as I'm sure it's bloody brilliant and even if it isn't, Gina's a fab, fab gal.

And then again a little bit later... (alright, would you just get off now, Maxabella. You said you were going...)

PPS - Just heard from Jane and she is recovering from surgery. Her spirits seem very high (probably the drugs) and she is overwhelmed by the generosity shown by all of us involved in the Gorgeous Giveaway present. That's you, too, by the way... thanks for giving up your entry to offer a little bit of light in a dark, dark day for Jane. x

Park City Center Mall Kiosk, Pennsylvania - circa 1970s

High Society mag

A change of plan?

I wonder... I wonder if it would be okay with everyone if instead of using random.org to generate a winner for the Gorgeous Giveaway, we just very unrandomly choose Jane at My Pear Tree House.  Jane is a long-time follower of Maxabella loves... and a fun, generous supporter of many of our blogs. And, oh my, she's going through a really, really tough time right now. 

Please let me know via comment if you are okay to forfeit your entry and send all the prizes to Jane. If I get a enough comments saying 'yes' then that is what we will do. We'll send her a care package full of all these lovely handmade presents from all of us in the blogging community. 

Thank you Posie Patchwork, Scissors Paper Rock, Mira Narnie, Ivy Designs and Loved for being open to this idea.

Please let us know.

x

Getting ready for Christmas...

 

Credits for the picture: Raven

~ Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. 

All else is outward display--so much tinsel and decorations. 

For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. 

It isn't the tree not the firelight's glow. 

It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again. (unknown author)~ 

Michael Jackson might have left this planet,  but he will never be forgotten.  The world will not forget him being an unique artist, but most of us will also always remember him as humanitarian and giving person, a beautiful living soul, who has fought throughout his life for suffering children  All over his lifetime, he donated incredible loads of money to a number of foundations  intending to heal the world.
Michael will have felt the spirit of Christmas all over the year...and not just in december.

By his will he is going to live on as a giving humanitarian;  charities will get support for many, many years beyond his death.

On the occasion of Christmas, I would like  (one more time) to ask for your attention  for a project in Haiti, organized for the children in the poorest area of Port au Prince, Cité Soleil.  After checking out the fotos you will agree that the life in  Cité Soleil is far away from being as nice as it´s name seems to promise, especially not for the children, ....especially not after the devasting earthquake in january 2010.


A  group of volunteers around one of Haiti´s most famous DJs, Carel Pedre, distribute every Sunday a warm meal to about 300 children. 
Take some time to learn more about the project by following into our archive of posts where you find additional links which will give you a picture of "The Sunday Project in Haiti".
Don´t miss to watch Karlitos video.

"To honor the children of the world,

I vow to help the sick & dying, the alone, homeless

 and hungry in every corner of the world."- Michael Jackson

There are many campaigns, organizations, and charities directly related to Michael that you can donate to. If you follow the links, Raven, the appreciated  author of this beautiful blog has published, you will get to Charities which you might like to support.

A special shoutout goes to this project

A Million Trees  For Michael :

This group’s reputation and purpose needs no introduction! Most of you will have already crossed @yogadancer7´s paths or the account @trees4MJ on Twitter. A small donation of $15 ensures the planting of 15 trees in Michael’s name.

Santa Claus Time: 1921