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The Art of Empathic Listening: "Mankind is No Island"
"Mankind is No Island" is a remarkable, award-winning short documentary film that was made entirely with a cellphone camera. The film was shot in New York City and Sydney, Australia. "Mankind is No Island" was named the winner of The 2008 New York Tropfest and was awarded a first-prize of $20,000.
Photographs and a video of this very touching documentary film are included. "Mankind is No Island" is a remarkable, award-winning short documentary film that was made entirely with a cellphone camera.... more -
Vernon Baker Hailed: African-American World War II Hero
On September 11th, 2008, the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks, Wofford College, a small liberal arts college in South Carolina that had been segregated up until 1963, paid honor to Vernon Baker. Baker is the only living African-American to have been awarded the World War II Medal of Honor.
For his acts of valor during WWII, Baker had earned the Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, The Distinguished Service Cross and The Medal of Honor. However, it took 52 years before those heroics were recognized. Baker, because he was an African-American, was not honored for his bravery until 1997, when he and six of his comrades were finally awarded the Medal of Honor from then-President Bill Clinton at a White House ceremony. Baker was the only member of the group of honorees who was still alive.
Wofford College President Bernie Dunlap presented Vernon Baker with the college's third annual Sandor Teszler Award for Moral Courage and Service to Humankind to a thunderous standing ovation during Wofford's 2008 Opening Convocation Ceremony. Dunlap and Wofford College Dean David Wood also presented Baker, who is now 89-years-old, with an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree and Spartanburg's Mayor William Barnet followed by giving Baker a key to the city.
This detailed article includes a number of photographs, three videos and a documentary about Vernon Baker's acts of valor during WWII. On September 11th, 2008, the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks, Wofford College, a small liberal arts college in... more -
Harvey Milk: Without Hope, Life is Not Worth Living
To be young and gay or lesbian in the 1970s was to anticipate that your life would be shackled by constant fears of personally devastating public exposure, your life marked as an isolated and lonely, elusively secretive journey, and your closest personal relationships always hidden behind darkened bar windows.
No single person could have changed all of that, and certainly not all the changes have been achieved today. But a few powerful figures have given gay and lesbian people the confidence that they needed to stop lying to and about themselves.
People told Harvey Milk that no openly gay man could ever win political office. Fortunately, he ignored their advice. And after Harvey Milk became the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office in the history of the world, thousands of astonished people wrote to Milk thanking him for finally giving them a chance to emerge from the shadows of mankind and to join the human race.
The new amazing biographical motion picture, Milk, pays homage to Harvey Milk. The film is directed by the Oscar-winning Gus Van Sant, who also previously directed My Own Private Idaho and Good Will Hunting. Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk, with James Franco playing his life partner, Scott Smith, and Josh Brolin as Dan White, Milk's eventual killer. The new film about Harvey Milk is being described as big, brash, bold and already looking as though it could be a major contender in the motion picture awards season.
If this first trailer is anything to go by, Gus Van Sant's Milk is going to be a big movie that takes on big issues in contemporary American life.
This detailed article presents biographic notes about the life and times of Harvey Milk, a number of photographs from the film, and the official HD trailer of Gus Van Sant's stunning biopic, “Milk.” To be young and gay or lesbian in the 1970s was to anticipate that your life would be shackled by constant fears of personally devasta... more -
Outside the White Breadbox: It’s Super Nip!!
Jeff Stearns' short classically animated film "What Are You Anyways?" explores the life experiences of cultural backgrounds that lie outside of the white breadbox. This is a humorous, yet serious film about the struggle of finding love and identity through the trials and tribulations of growing up.
The wonderful animated film is included. Jeff Stearns' short classically animated film "What Are You Anyways?" explores the life experiences of cultural backgro... more -
Fritz Lang's Metropolis: A Contemporary Symphony of Fear
Fritz Lang's amazing 1927 film "Metropolis" has recently been described as a contemporary symphony of fear. "Metropolis" is a landmark in the development of film noir. The film's depiction of brutal capitalism and its message calling for the importance of compassion is hugely relevant today, although its crucial message is largely ignored by the rich and powerful.
This detailed article includes a number of stunning vintage photographs and video from Lang's amazing film, "Metropolis." Fritz Lang's amazing 1927 film "Metropolis" has recently been described as a contemporary symphony of fear. "Metro... more -
Trapped: Mentally Ill Persons in Our Nation’s Prisons
In the 1960s, there was a dramatic push to reduce the number of mental health patients in large public psychiatric hospitals, shifting their care to local communities. However, those communities were ill-prepared to provide treatment for them, and they ended up being left or abandoned on the streets to fend for themselves.
Presently, increasingly large numbers of mentally ill persons have ended up trapped as inmates in our country’s prisons and jails, rather than receiving treatment in mental health facilities.
This article includes a number of dramatic photographs of mentally ill persons who are presently trapped in prison, as well as an absolutely chilling documentary that provides a look at the unbearable experiences that the mentally ill endure inside the prison walls.
You will remember this. In the 1960s, there was a dramatic push to reduce the number of mental health patients in large public psychiatric hospitals, shifting... more -
A Child is Saved: Faith in Humanity is Restored
"Children of Men" is a science-fiction motion picture that is well worth remembering in our currently troubled times. The film presents the dark vision of a totalitarian world ravished by war, paranoia and the frustrations of man.
The world’s youngest citizen has just died at the age of eighteen, and with female fertility becoming obsolete, man cannot reproduce. No child has been born on the face of the planet for eighteen years. Man, and his future, is dying.
However, the unexpected discovery of a lone pregnant woman represents the miracle that can change the course of humanity. The discovery launches a desperate, perilous journey to deliver the woman and her child to safety, restoring faith in a future for humans beyond those presently on earth.
Photographs and the dramatic, chilling video of the movie's final scene are included. "Children of Men" is a science-fiction motion picture that is well worth remembering in our currently troubled times. The f... more -
Proud: The Moment the Closet Door Finally Opened
Stonewall: When the Closet Door Finally Opened. This composition presents wonderful photographs, an original documentary film about The Stonewall Riots and a video of the very first Gay Pride March (New York City, 1970).
It also includes music audio, as well as a memorable photo-gallery with both vintage and contemporary photographs. Stonewall: When the Closet Door Finally Opened. This composition presents wonderful photographs, an original documentary film about Th... more -
Child sexual abuse: suffering years of unrelenting sorrow
The Supreme Court has struck down a Louisiana law that allowed the execution of people convicted of a raping a child. The decision evoked an unyielding rebuttal from four members of the court, as well as strong condemnation from both presidential candidates.
This article presents photographs and two videos (including an absolutely staggering documentary about the life-long legacy of child sexual abuse in Alaska). The Supreme Court has struck down a Louisiana law that allowed the execution of people convicted of a raping a child. The decision ev... more -
Let us call it by its proper name: torture
Let us not forget that on March 8, 2008, President Bush announced his veto of legislation to ban the use of harsh interrogation methods, such as waterboarding. Remember what our government continues to do. Rather than depict it as an "enhanced" interrogation technique, let us call it by its proper name: Torture.
Photographs and a truly frightening video are included. Let us not forget that on March 8, 2008, President Bush announced his veto of legislation to ban the use of harsh interrogation method... more -
The Controversial Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair Photographs
"Annie Leibovitz: The Controversial Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair Photographs." Includes high-resolution photographs, the video of the Vanity Fair photo-shoot, and a photo-gallery of the Annie Leibovitz photographs of Miley Cyrus for Vanity Fair Magazine. "Annie Leibovitz: The Controversial Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair Photographs." Includes high-resolution photographs, the video o... more
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Barack Obama Unequivocably Cuts Ties to Ex-Pastor
An angry Barack Obama insisted upon holding a press conference about Rev. Jeremiah Wright today in Winston-Salem (NC), in order to unequivocally denounce Rev. Wright's recent national speeches, as well as to to completely sever himself from the ex-pastor and his tirades.
Includes photographs, as well as a summary and the complete video of Obama's press conference. An angry Barack Obama insisted upon holding a press conference about Rev. Jeremiah Wright today in Winston-Salem (NC), in order to une... more -
35,000 Philadelphia supporters hail Obama’s speech on race
Barack Obama was greeted by the largest crowd of his campaign on Friday night in Philadelphia, an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 enthusiastic supporters. They hailed his speech, which is now being acclaimed by many political observers as one of the most powerful public discourses on race ever given by a politician.
Photographs, an NBC News video and the video of Obama's full speech are included. Barack Obama was greeted by the largest crowd of his campaign on Friday night in Philadelphia, an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 enthusias... more -
Hillary: can Obama beat McCain? Yes, yes, yes!!
With the Pennsylvania primary just six days away, Wednesday’s Democratic presidential debate in Philadelphia gave Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama a last chance to settle old and new scores as they headed into a week that could make or break their presidential aspirations. Clinton wanted to extend her five point lead in Pennsylvania, while Obama was trying to unveil a debate performance that reflected the recent national poll figures that show him surging way past Clinton in the areas of trustworthiness and electability.
During the debate, Obama and Clinton each defended their handling of missteps and misstatements on the campaign trail and directed sharp criticisms toward each other. They began their first head-to-head encounter in nearly two months focused on political disputes, rather than upon their relatively narrow policy differences. Obama, who leads in the number of delegates needed to claim the nomination, fielded tough questions about his relationship with his former pastor, his patriotism and his description of small-town voters as “bitter,” the latter a controversy that has engulfed his campaign for much of the past week.
Clinton, who has been quoted as saying in private conversations that she does not think Obama can win the general election, made her clearest statement to date of her confidence in Obama. When asked whether Obama would win against Sen. John McCain, Clinton adamantly replied: “Yes, Yes, Yes.”
Obama responded by saying that he believes he’s better suited to beat McCain, that his ability to unify the electorate would be the key to winning in November. “When we are unified, there is nothing that we cannot tackle,” he said.
A photograph and the video of this exchange are included. With the Pennsylvania primary just six days away, Wednesday’s Democratic presidential debate in Philadelphia gave Hillary Clinton and ... more -
Martin Luther King: A Remembrance
This past Friday marked the date of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated in Memphis 40 years ago. This article includes memorable photographs, a detailed biography, videos of King's important speeches and a photo-gallery. This past Friday marked the date of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated in Memphis 40 years ago. This artic... more
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Photos of the Day: The Mysterious Sexy Lothario, Gale Harold
After graduating from an elite private high school in Atlanta, Harold went to American University in Washington, DC, on a soccer scholarship. He began working toward a Liberal Arts degree in romance literature, only to abruptly depart after a year and a half following conflicts with his soccer coach. After dropping out of college, Harold moved to San Francisco in the late 80s to study photography at the San Francisco Art Institute. At the same time, to support himself he worked various jobs, including as a motorcycle technician and a construction worker. In 1997, Harold moved to Los Angeles to study acting, working in some independent films. But his big break came when he landed a lead role as Brian Kinney, the unashamed sexual lothario, in Queer as Folk, the pioneering television series about urban gay life in the 90s.
Very sensually erotic photographs, a stunning photo-gallery, music and three videos are included in this piece. After graduating from an elite private high school in Atlanta, Harold went to American University in Washington, DC, on a soccer schol... more -
Obama’s Speech on Race: The View from a Car Repair Shop
This article is an account of one man's experience of observing other people's reactions to watching Obama's speech on race in America, while they were all waiting in a car repair shop. The article includes photographs and two videos (with one music video: John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme"). This article is an account of one man's experience of observing other people's reactions to watching Obama's speech on ... more
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