Amy Zukoff is a licensed medical massage therapist [as well as Thai
Massage] who came back to Buffalo, after living in Europe for several
years, to practice and give back to the city. She bought a home in
Elmwood Village and it doubles as an art studio. The atmosphere is
simply out of this world. Every time I visit there, I am taking pictures
of her artwork.
Amy is by far, one of the biggest supporters I have come across in a
long time who truly cares about health while keeping finances and small
business in the city, as well as art. She may have chosen to stay in
another city or nation, yet she came back to Buffalo.
Amy designed the studio herself. I adore it here. Below is her contact info.
Amy helped me immensely [and continues to] after a debilitating car accident in May 2012 where I
were horribly rear ended. It was devastating. Another car was stuck beneath my SUV. I am most grateful to her.
Get
a hold of Amy as a client, to cover her as media and to connect on
Facebook and Twitter to simply say hello. You will be seeing a lot of
press soon, as well as a new website.
Randy Rumley, [Raiders of Niagara] along
with Talking Leaves independent bookstore since 1971, in conjunction
with Just Buffalo Literary Center presented "Rustling the Leaves" with
Ken Feltges, Susan Marie and Mark Fulk.
Below is live audio of poetry readings, an excellent article by Max Crillen and a photo stream.
“Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.” – Leonardo da Vinci
We have heard the speeches, read the articles and sat by the
television as numerous candidates, including the current President,
promised the American people, as well as the world, better days ahead.
This is nothing new.
In America, a Presidential election is held every four years. Why are the 2012 elections any different than the rest?
There are diverse opinions of why “this” candidate is better, or "that"
viewpoint is not suitable, however, I ask you, dear reader:
Do you know anything about who you are voting for?
Are you aware of what they stand for, not just one issue but all issues?
Do you research the history of each candidate enough to know that
your solitary vote is responsible for alleviating or causing continued
economic downfall and suffering?
Are you even going to vote?
"Vote for Them" written and performed by International Slam Poet, Carlos Andrés Gómez @CarlosAGLive. Produced by Semicolon Productions @SemiColonProd
Promises, if elected: [See Mother Jones for Full Length Fund Raiser Video]
1. To form a committee to overturn Roe v. Wade,
a groundbreaking decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 that ruled
unconstitutional a state law that banned abortions except to save the
life of the mother.
This promise by Romney means taking away rights [based on the 9th and
14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution], eradicating law in place,
giving women no choice over their own bodies, thus regressing the rights
of American society back to and before 1972.
“I’d like to see Roe v. Wade overturned and allow the states and
the elected representatives of the people, and the people themselves,
have the ability to put in place pro-life legislation.” – Mitt Romney,
Republican Presidential Debate, New Hampshire
2. To fix the federal deficit, as well as a solution to health care,
dismantle Obamacare [Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010]
then to increase the age of future Social Security benefits past the
age of 65. Romney also supports a state to state mandated health care
system that forces people to buy insurance. Mitt also wants to give
seniors a “voucher” for Medicare.
This means that once one [under the age of 55 and not currently
retired] has worked their entire lives and paid taxes into Medicare [and
other benefits] they must keep working until they fall down dead, are
ill, or until a set age is decided upon.
“There’s no change for anyone who is retired or nearing
retirement. It’s only dealing with people in their 30s, 20s, 40s, and
early 50s. That’s the group we’re dealing with and saying what’s the
best deal for them? It strikes me the best deal for them is to either
buy current Medicare or to have a private plan.” – Romney on Meet the
Press
3. To hike military spending in the name of National Security [a
mechanism designed to protect the nation and its interests from an
internal or foreign political, military and/or economic threat.] This is
a 4% increase of the country’s GDP [Gross Domestic Product] that also
includes a government mandated increase in active duty military work
force by ten thousand.
Mitt Romney, former adviser to President George W. Bush, pro
Afghanistan, openly advocates to keep Guantanamo open, pro Iraq, favors
increased military spending, funding and occupation, pro death penalty,
pro life, anti-LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] rights; this
surely is a man who speaks of separation of church and state, rational
good will, peace and equality for all American citizens, as well as
citizens of the world.
1. To reform the tax code so that it’s simple, to have the wealthiest
households pay higher taxes on incomes over $250,000 [the rate Bill
Clinton utilized when President] the same rate that created almost 23
million new jobs.
2. No new tax breaks for the wealthy.
3. That middle class families never give up their deductions for
owning a home or raising children to pay for a millionaire’s tax cut.
4. To refuse to ask students to pay more for college, to never kick children out of Head Start programs.
5. To never eliminate health insurance for millions of Americans who
are poor, elderly, or disabled. To never turn Medicare into a voucher.
That no American should ever have to spend their golden years at the
mercy of insurance companies. That retirement is with care and dignity
that has been earned. To reform and strengthen Medicare by reducing the
cost of health care, by not by asking seniors to pay thousands of
dollars more. To keep the promise of Social Security by taking the
responsible steps to strengthen it, not turn it over to Wall Street.
“America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won’t
promise that now . . . Only you have the power to move us forward.’ –
Barack Obama, 2012 Democratic National Convention Acceptance Speech
The first U.S. President to openly advocate same sex marriage and
civil unions, pro choice, pro LGBT rights, a civil rights lawyer, and
helped regenerate the UAW [United Auto Workers.] With the help of VP,
Joe Biden, ended Iraq [with a promise to end Afghanistan.]
Obama has yet to speak directly about Guantanamo, however, in the very
least, we know what we are in for. We survived the last 4 years, the
next must be about changing America, in that, bettering this world in
the process.
1. The “New Green Deal” to address global warming and financial
crisis where renewable energy jobs would be created by employing “every
American willing and able to work.” This deal is to be funded by a 30%
reduction in the U.S. military budget, returning all US troops home, as
well as ending presence of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The
secondary financial support for this deal is to eliminate “waste” in the
health care system. This is supposed to create 25 million new jobs.
2. To legalize the use of marijuana for adults, regulating then
taxing marijuana, then lifting restrictions on hemp products. Stein
attended HempFest 2012, a pro hemp, pro marijuana rally.
Jill stated: “Poor people are being thrown into prison for the
recreational use of a substance that is not dangerous, and that is a
crime.”
3. To create sustainable building materials through recycled energy.
To increase bike and pedestrian traffic and implement regional food
systems based on organic agriculture.
At age 62, Ms. Stein, a physician on leave from her practice, was
quoted by the NY Times, stating: “I’m now practicing political medicine
because politics is the mother of all illnesses.”
During the Green Party Campaign launch October 2011, she stated
at a press conference: “We are all realizing that we, the people, have
to take charge because the political parties that are serving the top 1
percent are not going to solve the problems that the rest of us face.”
In August 2012, Stein and her running mate, anti-poverty protester,
Honkala, were arrested during a sit in at a bank protesting house
foreclosures. Google TV later attempted to block Stein’s campaign
messages from airing in September 2012 because the ads included
obscenity and foul language, yet eventually ran them because they
complied with FCC [Federal Communications Commission] regulations.
Lastly, Stein stated in Grist Magazine: “If you put us
[Americans] all together, we have the potential for a Tahrir Square type
event, and [to] turn the White House into a Green House in November.”
You decide.
If you do not know about the candidates or you do not plan to vote,
PLEASE take the time to research.
It is what it is, and if you do not have a viable, rational solution
for the betterment of America; then it is up to you to make an informed
decision based upon the choices before you.
You must decide.
“I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution – take a bow for the new
revolution – smile and grin at the change all around me – pick up my
guitar and play – just like yesterday – and I’ll get on my knees and
pray . . . we don’t get fooled again.” – The Who “Won’t Get Fooled
Again” [1971]
Forest Call celebrated its one-year anniversary by honoring the work of our youth. Neil, a teen intern with Service Space, interviewed 17 year old Ian Watt. A filmmaker who founded, “Love is the Answer" on Forest Call.
"Love is the Answer" is a web based platform developed by kids in order
to direct their creative talents towards a movement. Several goals
include: celebrating creativity, building a community of passionate
problem solvers, and to reshape the ways that people can actively become
involved in change.
The motto of “Love is the Answer” is basic: “ ______ is the problem. love is the answer. Your creativity. Your movement. Let us be your voice."
Ian, along with a friend, spent time with K.I. Nepal, an NGO involved in
anti-human trafficking where they rescue girls at border stations
between Nepal and India. K.I. Nepal invests in the rescued girls, in the
same manner Ian's parents invested in him. This experience proved to
be the crux of "Love is the Answer":
"This whole idea of the "loveistheanswer" movement is to come here [Nepal] and to really plug in."
Ian recalls his moment of inspiration that transpired into a continuous journey:
"We were sitting in the new Delhi airport in India and we were just
thinking about the model that organizations use and it was really just
brainstorming about ways to get involved besides using our finances. I
thought, the whole reason I am going to Nepal is to shoot a film so what
if I use film? We broadened the idea eventually to all creative
talents."
Once at K.I.Nepal, Ian learned how a border station operates:
"We went to one border station and we got out of the car, I was
filming, walked down to the actual border, saw border guards and the
people just crowding through and if anyone's ever been to India or
Nepal, there is really no traffic pattern. There are no toll booths or
no real security checks. The traffic just pours through like a funnel so
it's almost impossible to intercept girls that are potentially being
trafficked."
In detail, Ian describes his first experience at a border station:
"I went to the K.I.Nepal border station, and what they do is have
counselors who stand at the border station and seek out girls who are
suspects for being trafficked. They are authorized by the local police
force to interrogate these people. The counselors were once trafficked.
They have been so empowered by K.I.Nepal that they come back to serve.
These girls know exactly what to look for because they have been through
it."
What transpired next was an emotionally charged, life changing event for Ian:
"This 12 -year-old girl was rescued that morning and to look at a
12-year-old girl, I have a sister who is 12 and to see someone that age,
it just didn't make sense to me to see someone that young be trapped in
such a system of evil. It was really heartbreaking. She came in the
truck with us and sat right next to me and we went to the safe house and
dropped her off and there is a community of girls living in this safe
house who are learning skills and building relationships with each
other. Just to see them welcome this girl with open arms, it just
brought tears to my eyes.
We came back three days later, and this 12-year-old girl who had
just before been broken, had been totally crushed, not a hint of a
smile, her eyes were just glazed over fear; I saw the most amazing
transformation. This girl was given such hope from the community and the
safe house that she was beaming! She was singing and dancing with the
other girls. I was speechless."
After his return from Nepal, Ian was that much more driven to serve.
When asked about his upbringing, Ian makes it abundantly clear that he
understands not only his role, but the roles of others:
"I am privileged to have grown up in a really strong and centered
family. Our lives are here to serve others, it's not to get as much as
we can out of life. I think it's important to understand, our purpose is
not to gain things for ourselves, but to serve others. I would just
like to thank my parents, they have always been an inspiration to me."
Ian's school sponsored a contest that he won that propelled him to
continue to use film to help people realize the true purpose of their
lives. Ian does not seek to be the “best director” or to be “famous”
rather to inspire others to create.
Furthermore, Ian's school made his
vision a greater possibility by allowing him to finish his education
online in order to continue traveling to bring more awareness through
collaboration for a greater cause.
A direct result can be seen in Ian's advice for kids who do not have the same privilege or exposure:
"To the people who think they don't have the potential or think they
don't have the capacity to serve others, you totally can, it's less of
finding the money or finding the opportunity, it's more of what's going
on inside, where's your heart? Everyone is here for a reason and there
is a certain calling we all have to use our lives to serve others to
make our world a better place for the next generation."
Ian recognizes the need for technology, yet drives home an essential
message of utilizing that same technology for positive actions:
"We should be the change instead of technology, technology is a tool
that we should use. A lot of the advancements that we have made as a
society has been under detrimental purposes. The same technology used to
prevent human trafficking is being used to support human trafficking."
On the "Love is the Answer" website, there are new artists constantly
signing on. People can submit their art or movement for cultivation or
sponsorship.
In September 2012, Ian's new film is being released based upon his
experience of “plugging in” to street artists that created wall murals
to highlight causes.
To find people in the world, who are interested in becoming involved in the world, is the mission of "Love is the Answer."
In the words of one 17-year-old artist:
"Is this life about me or is it about us? As a global community, we are responsible for each other." - Ian Watt
Ian's experience in Nepal is documented on Northern Lights titled, “loveistheanswer” a short documentary created by diverse young artists collaborating with one another. You can also follow him on Twitter: lveistheanswr. Here's a film that speaks about their journey and work:
