Showing posts with label 09/11. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 09/11. Show all posts

Friday, September 10, 2010

Today's Words of Inspiration - September 11th!



I want to remind you all to take a moment to pray this weekend for the victims, their families, and for our nation at large. If prayer isn't your thing, send positive energy, send it as an embrace that circles our planet.

I know that on the night of New York City's big 'Fashion Night Out' it would probably be much simpler to write about trends, beauty and wonderful shopping opportunities. Parties, cocktails, hors dourves, super models and Fashion are the topic of the day. But today, my mind is elsewhere, on a topic that is not as popular or upbeat.

The repercussions of that day still and will always loom large. I am a New Yorker, I was born here, raised here and have spent my entire professional career earning my living here. In what has to be by far one of the busiest and most hectic cities on the planet.

As some of you may remember from a previous inspiration, I was offered a job in the towers. Had I accepted that position, this community would never have happened! I can't imagine no Ascending Butterfly. Thankfully, I don't have to. Other families were not so lucky.

No matter what your stance is on War in general, please pray for our troops, this is an especially tense weekend for New York City, for our troops overseas, and for all those who serve the community like Policemen and Women, Fire Fighters, and EMT's who are on call and at the ready this weekend in NYC, just in case.

On that day I was working in a Hospital in Manhattan, while it was not nearest to Ground Zero, we did receive 'casualties'. Casualties. What a weird word that is. Bodies of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, who went to work and did not make it home. For reasons I still don't quite frankly understand. From Soul to Soul I can only pray for peace, for understanding, for people to STOP hurting each other oddly enough in the name of Peace. Peace is an action, not just a state of mind. It should practiced, not just preached!

I will be taking a moment of prayer and silence this weekend, I hope you will too!

Where were you on that day?

Today's Inspiration? Peace. Think it, Speak It, and put it into practice DAILY!

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Monday, October 12, 2009

Five for Fighting is Back!




Five For Fighting is back with their next great album "Slice" full of finely-crafted songs by @JohnOndrasik (Twitter). The Album will be released October 13 and features the single "Chances". You can Watch John's performance of "Chances" on the CBS early show HERE.

First single “Chances”  with lyrics like “Until you crash what have you done/Is there a better bet than love.”, is described by John who says “It’s all about taking the swing—there’s beauty in the scars.” - Sometimes it's the simplest truth that tends to elude us for awhile and it takes that fresh way of presenting it that helps it to finally stick. Music has always been such a powerful force for me. Bet that on most days you can remember the lyrics in their entirety to your favorite songs, but invariably you'll forget something important at the supermarket! LOL

I'm sure that like me, many of you out there have been a fan of Five for Fighting since you first heard ‘Superman' and ‘100 Years'.  While written and released well before 9/11, “Superman” has endeared Ondrasik to the survivors and families of those lost in that tragedy, as well as to servicemen serving around the world. As a New Yorker, the track 'Superman' certainly does hold powerful memories for me.

Ondrasik also conceived and produced For the Troops, a series of compilations featuring superstar recording artists that are available for free to every active service member in the U.S. Armed Forces (the forthcoming collection, For The Troops III, will feature comedians exclusively). Ondrasik’s charity work doesn’t stop there. His site, whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com collects money for various charities. Living in a society that can get wrapped up in celebrity and fame, it very much warms my heart to see those who use this celebrity to help and benefit those in need. Way to Go John!

Ascending Butterfly in conjunction with the One2One Network was recently given the opportunity to review "Slice" at just the perfect time. As most of you know, Ascending Butterfly offices were closed for the holiday weekend (although I will admit, I was forced to push my own advice to the side and make it a working holiday anyway!). I went on an impromptu road trip over the Columbus Day Holiday Weekend and this album certainly became the perfect soundtrack to that journey! As we got farther from the hustle and bustle of the city and the scenery changed to the trees covered in a robe of fall leaves, John's voice became another friend in the car and 'Slice' had my un-divided attention in a way that nothing usually does when I'm sitting at my desk or I'm writing.

I am certainly grateful for the opportune timing (nothing better than new music for a long road trip!), but I am happy to say I really enjoyed the album! Standout Tracks for me are 'Slice', 'Hope', and 'Story of Your Life'.  The entire album takes you along for a journey, that journey will often-times mirror your own so well, it will feel like hanging out with that friend you've known forever.

You can lock in a great pre-order price on Amazon below:



Album Tracklisting:


1. Slice
2. Note To The Unknown Soldier
3. Tuesday
4. Chances
5. This Dance
6. Above The Timberline
7. Transfer
8. Hope
9. Story Of Your Life
10. Love Can't Change The Weather
11. Augie Nieto

TV Appearances:

The View 10/14
The Today Show 10/16

Tour Dates:

John will be hitting the road in October with An Acoustic Evening with Five For Fighting. The songs are great on record, even better live! Definitely a show worth seeing! To find out about how to get tickets in a market near you, go to his site.

18-Oct Toronto, ON El Mocambo
20-Oct New York, NY City Winery
22-Oct Bay Shore, NY (Long Island) YMCA Boulton Center
23-Oct Uncasville, CT The Wolf Den
24-Oct Washington, DC Jammin Java
26-Oct Boston, MA The Paradise
27-Oct Philadelphia, PA World Café Live (downstairs)
29-Oct Nashville, TN The Belcourt
30-Oct Chicago, IL Lakeshore
3-Nov Salt Lake City, UT The State Room
5-Nov Seattle, WA Crocodile
6-Nov Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
10-Nov San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall
11-Nov Los Angeles, CA Largo at the Coronet
Five For Fighting on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fiveforfighting
Five For Fighting Videos on YouTube: http://bit.ly/FFFYouTube

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