tagged w/ VC2 Top Contender US
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There are people in this world who design and cut patterns for dog costumes. And I am a big fan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zps2e0AXpa8There are people in this world who design and cut patterns for dog costumes. And I am... more
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Last year's theme song involved shooting bottle rockets out our asses. This year we trained our dogs to do the heavy lifting ...
Drink beer, light stuff on fire ... HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, AMERICA!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gRkBjH1D2kLast year's theme song involved shooting bottle rockets out our asses. This year... more
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You can tell by my outfit that I am a pirate -- just like Johnny Depp!
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For decades, the media has influenced public perception of Italian Americans; painting them as mobsters, gangsters, and most recently, as wild, party-going narcissists. VC2 producers Lou Rinaldi and Erick Kwiecien set out to see if the stereotypes have any truth in them. Their journey took them up and down the east coast, where they interviewed strangers, family members, and officers in the largest Italian-American service organization in the USA.For decades, the media has influenced public perception of Italian Americans; painting... more
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What keeps me sane is having dogs, playing with my dogs, taking them on trips and fart assing around.What keeps me sane is having dogs, playing with my dogs, taking them on trips and fart... more
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For 23 years, Rashid worked in New York City as a construction worker. On 9/11, he arrived at the World Trade Center at 9:28 in the morning and - for the next four years - worked to clean up the horrific destruction at Ground Zero.
Today, as a result of his service, he suffers chronic heart failure and other health issues. He lost his health, his job, and his ability to pay rent. Today, Rashid lives in a homeless shelter.
Despite his tragic story, Rashid was one of the nicest people I met in New York. He went out of his way to encourage everyone around him.
This is how he chooses to live; he said a little bit of kindness can go a long way.
Rashid had three wishes: food, clothing, and shelter.
Seems we should not have to wish for things so basic.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormalFor 23 years, Rashid worked in New York City as a construction worker. On 9/11, he... more
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For 23 years, Rashid worked in New York City as a construction worker. On 9/11, he arrived at the World Trade Center at 9:28 in the morning and - for the next four years - worked to clean up the horrific destruction at Ground Zero.
Today, as a result of his service, he suffers chronic heart failure and other health issues. He lost his health, his job, and his ability to pay rent. Today, Rashid lives in a homeless shelter.
Despite his tragic story, Rashid was one of the nicest people I met in New York. He went out of his way to encourage everyone around him.
This is how he chooses to live; he said a little bit of kindness can go a long way.
Rashid had three wishes: food, clothing, and shelter.
Seems we should not have to wish for things so basic.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormalFor 23 years, Rashid worked in New York City as a construction worker. On 9/11, he... more
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Times Square is unlike any other place in the United States. Lights, traffic, noise, masses of people. But in the midst of all this commotion, I spotted a man pushing a buggy. [http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/on_shopping_carts_thanksgiving_and_homelessness] That's when I met Guy.
Guy says homelessness is hard to explain. One day he was doing fine. The next, tragedy struck and he was on the streets.
The streets, Guy said, are not kind to those without a home. He said the police in New York arrest people just for sleeping. His goal is to “get inside” before homelessness gets worse.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormalTimes Square is unlike any other place in the United States. Lights, traffic, noise,... more
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There are many times that I'll meet a person on the street who says that they prefer the streets, insisting they are there by choice. Usually, though, I can see the look in their eye; I can tell they don’t mean it. I believe it’s a defense mechanism to rationalize the trauma one goes through when they don't have a home.
But that's not to say this is true for everyone. There are those rare - and yes, I believe they're rare - occasions when I'll meet someone who is on the streets by choice. Elijah Alfred Alexander, Jr. falls into this latter category. He goes by "Nature Boy" and says he is not homeless, just ‘houseless.’
Elijah says he was a Baptist preacher in the 1970s. He said that since Jesus was a wandering messenger, he decided to become a wanderer. And wander he does. I met him across the street from the White House in Washington, D.C.. I still laugh because despite his skimpy attire, he still carries business cards with his personal website. [http://prop1.org/protest/elijah/nature.htm]
Mental illness? Or just following his heart? Either way, I like to think that Elijah is truly a unique guy who has decided to follow a different path.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormalThere are many times that I'll meet a person on the street who says that they... more
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Harold is one of over 12,000 individuals living in our nation's capital without a home. I met him in Lafayette Square, a park located directly across the street from Obama's government subsidized cushy home, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
When Harold was released from prison, he moved in with his grandmother. She passed away and he had no place to go. He ended up on the streets.
I asked Harold what his future looked like. All he said was, "I have got to find a job
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormalHarold is one of over 12,000 individuals living in our nation's capital without a... more
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"Brutal and senseless."
This is how Cotton describes homelessness. It might just be the most succinct and heart-breakingly accurate explanation I've heard in a long time.
Cotton is homeless and disabled. She lives in a tent in Greensboro, NC. If that's not bad enough, she has been living this way for over 16 years.
This raw and unedited story makes one thing crystal clear: living on the streets is horrible. Cotton is the real face of homelessness; the face that we need to see and hear and see and hear and see and hear until something changes. From this raw and gritty story, I hope you can find the the will to act. The will to get involved in the fight to make poverty and homelessness unacceptable.
I hope this story inspires you to do something.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal"Brutal and senseless."
This is how Cotton describes homelessness. It... more
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Three months ago, Yong lost everything - including her house and all of her possessions - in a fire. To make matters worse, she did not receive the insurance money she needed to survive. She ended up homeless.
Yong's recollection of her first night homeless in Greensboro, North Carolina broke my heart. She was terrified. Today, Yong holds on the hope that she can soon move out of the woods and return to her life as it was before the fire.
While in Greensboro, I met Michele Forrest [ http://chosenfast.com ] and friend Audrie. They are part of a group that cares for the homeless in their community. They bring food, provide case management, and serve as a liaison to other homeless services in the area, such as the police [http://whrrl.com/experience/story/18340963 ].
Never forget that one person can make a huge difference in their community. Michele has, so can you.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormalThree months ago, Yong lost everything - including her house and all of her... more
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After working hard his entire life, Jim should be settling into retirement. Instead, he is 69 years old and living in a tent in the woods of Greensboro, North Carolina.
Jim only wants to return to his former life. His three wishes are simple: to go back to work, to get his home back, and to get a meal in a restaurant. I hope things turn around for him soon.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormalAfter working hard his entire life, Jim should be settling into retirement. Instead,... more
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The world needs more songs about buildings and dog food.
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Coreen is homeless, but she is also a survivor. I met her on her second day living in Nickelsville, Seattle's infamous tent city. Rather than stay in an abusive relationship, Coreen ran with just the clothes on her back to escape the daily beatings. I'm glad she got away, many victims of domestic violence are not so lucky.
Although the thought of being homeless was frightening to Coreen, she was happy to escape to Nickelsville. She said that her first night in the tent city was the best night’s sleep she's had in over a year, because she now feels safe.
Now if only we could give all of the residents of Nickelsville the peace of having a 'safe ground' [ http://www.westseattleherald.com/2009/08/25/news/port-tells-nickelsville-be-out-sept-30 ] of their own.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormalCoreen is homeless, but she is also a survivor. I met her on her second day living in... more
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Ed lived under a bridge before moving to his makeshift "apartment" in a Nashville wooded area. While his current living arrangement isn't ideal, it is impressive. If nothing else, it proves that some people can make the best of a bad situation. Still, Ed looks forward to someday having a real apartment with a real light switch on the wall.
And as for his outdoor apartment? He says he'll give it to someone else in need.
For four hard months, Vickie has been living under a bridge. She says that there are lots of rats and ants, yet this is where they now call home. She ended up on the streets as a direct result of the recession; Vickie’s boyfriend lost his job and their ability to pay rent.
When I asked Vickie about sleeping on the rocks, she showed me how she uses her clothes as padding to make a bed. That really broke my heart. People should not have to live like this.
Vickie said she hoped she'd find a place to live this week. I hope so too. A bridge is not an appropriate roof for anyone.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormalEd lived under a bridge before moving to his makeshift "apartment" in a... more
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