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Keep On Fighting

There will always be a need for motivational songs—songs that excite, rally and inspire determination. In “Keep On Fighting” Josh Buma, Carl Bensley, and Lucy Levinsohn (JCL) came together to produce an intense, metallic rock motivational masterpiece. Levinsohn’s passionate vocals remind us that we must “dig deeper to find that bit of hope to get you through the darkness… keep on fighting.” The group’s distinctive vocals and sharp melodies convey a heartfelt urgency that is elevated by the racing electric guitars and biting percussion. Infused with a rich and powerful rock ethos, the track’s uplifting quality comes with a grittiness that speaks to anyone who has traversed difficult times. These seasoned rockers from Hollywood have managed to produce a strikingly fresh and timely single, sure to add stamina and determination to everyone’s motivational playlists.

Listen: https://lucylevinsohn.bandcamp.com/track/keep-on-fighting

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The Greatness of America

As a black, transgender, atheist and the child of an immigrant, I have seldom felt embraced by my fellow Americans. While I never experienced violence, it was made clear that certain aspects of me were undesired, barely tolerated and ripe for ridicule. In order to exist, I needed to modify aspects of me, conforming to societal norms. Still, I was highly patriotic because I firmly believed no country was better than ours. Then I traveled abroad to Germany, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Though my time in these countries was limited, I experienced, for the first time, civic respect. I wasn’t judged, mistreated or distained for my attributes; my character dictated my interactions with others. In America, I have been called a nigger and a plethora of disdainful words launched against women and gays. I’ve had racial slurs hurled at me from the back of a confederate flag-flying truck as it made circles in the parking lot of a theater showing Lee Daniel’s The Butler. I suppose I could be grateful those epithets were just words instead of rocks, bullets or bombs. It is challenging to maintain confidence and pride in a country that harbors the hate I’ve witnessed while claiming to value equality, but I believe the American spirit is a progressive one that takes solace in hope.

Americans take great pride in progress, relishing in the unrelenting steps taken in the march towards independence. We firmly believe in the rights of every American to pursue justice and to aspire to greatness. We understand that anything can be overcome with the right amounts of pragmatism and dedication. We acknowledge that every citizen should pay taxes for the services and safety our government provides. We recognize that equality benefits our country as a whole and although we value our individualism, we appreciate being connected. We are the United States of America and we are stronger and more prosperous together than we could ever be divided.

In this election we have a choice to succumb to the cowardice that mars our past, or to stand tall, embracing what truly makes America great: us. We are the people who eradicated slavery and continue to fight for equal rights. We set our sights on the moon and left footprints on its surface seven years later. We conceptualized and gave birth to the internet. Our accomplishments are numerous, and for all of them the American people stood together demanding better, admonishing irrational fear, hate and divisiveness. Freedom has its complications and democracy has its flaws. As President Obama said twelve years ago, “We are not perfect but we have never had to put up a wall”. Immigrants have been a staple of American life and our diverse populous is our greatest asset. It takes great strength and courage to demand equality for all and these are the American values of which I am most proud. This presidential election will take the pulse of America’s ethos. Do we care about the welfare of all? Do we value our environment and climate? Do we take pride in bullying, harassment and separation, or do we stand for unity, equality and civility? Do we value hard work and dedication or braggadocious entitlement? Do we respect women and demand others to respect them because women give our country so much more than life? Do we turn towards fairness and reason over fear and treason? This election is not about party lines. It is about the American spirit. Hillary Clinton exemplifies that spirit and has, to an extraordinary degree, created herself to be the public servant that can best serve our country. She has tirelessly studied law, politics, finance and democracy. She has fought for equality within our borders and abroad. She has dedicated her life to improving the fundamental elements of equality: healthcare and education. She has worked her entire life to level the playing field of opportunity and resources. It is her life-long dedication to public service that produced the few chinks existing in her armor today. The alternative has spent his entire life acquiring wealth, avoiding taxes, failing to honor agreements, and erecting audacious displays of self-aggrandizement, emblazoning his single interest on each and every project. Hillary genuinely wants to improve conditions for everyone and has done a great deal to understand the problems we face as Americans. As a Senator, Wall Street represented a significant portion of her constituency-- a group of Americans whose interests she must consider. Despite claims of insidious ties to Wall Street, she has consistently supported increasing financial regulations and has proposed increased oversight of financial institutions. Clinton’s finance reform plan reflects a solid grasp of the complex world of finance—a grasp one gains by working with Wall Street. As America’s economy transitioned to finance, corruption and criminality became accepted business practices. Practices that her opponent takes great pride in utilizing. Hillary Clinton has the nerves, knowledge and support necessary to deal with the blatant and pervasive systemic criminality in our financial sectors. I respect her dedication to the issues, and her drive to find workable solutions. I trust her, knowing that democracy and foreign affairs are convoluted, multifarious, challenging matters. If we are to look at the history of the candidates in this election, it becomes fundamentally clear that only one is fit to be president. Hillary embodies the core American beliefs of equality, hard work, dedication and ambition. She understands the most important civil right is every American’s right to safety. She has the intellectual understanding and experience required to tackle the difficult issues of our time. She is willing to listen and work with the American people. There is no such thing as a perfect leader; we have to learn to lead ourselves—how to hold our leaders accountable because the task of governance touches us all. We must rally against injustice, corruption, fear and division because these contradict the American values we have fought for since our inception. We must do all of this because we hold these truths to be self-evident that all people are created equal. A threat to a woman’s safety is a threat to everyone’s safety. Threatening an LGBT person’s right to pursue happiness threatens all of our rights. Challenging the civil liberties of Muslims or Mexicans jeopardizes everyone’s civil liberties. A threat to a black person’s right to life is a threat to the rights of all. In this election, we must remind ourselves that we are not as divided as pundits would like us to believe. Our values of equality and unity must be upheld and that requires courage. We all want the same things: we want our hard work to be valued, we want a chance to pursue our ambitions, and we want to know that the hard work we put in today will create a better tomorrow. Hillary shares these goals and that is evident in her life’s work. She does not just want to be president, she wants to be a great president for all of us and our commitment to American values dictate that Hillary Rodham Clinton be elected and supported as our next president.

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Evolove – We Are the Warriors

My favorite LA rockers have done it again with their latest album, “We Are the Warriors,” a 12-track album filled with hard-edged tracks that reflect the classic spirit of punk rock with fresh authenticity. Evolove successfully captures the punk rock ethos we know and love, while creating a unique sound and style laced with smart, poignant lyrics. Yes, they are the warriors and this is what they’re fighting for.

Evolove’s hard-hitting riffs and lively rhythms are woven into each track giving lead vocalist, Lucy Levinsohn a springboard to belt out evocative lyrics with her sweet, pristine voice. Lucy maintains a beautiful balance between the powerful conviction every dedicated rock singer should bring and the passion that reflects the band’s core. Evolove’s sound is simultaneously unique and classic giving the agitated nostalgic vibe of 90s punk rock with a fresh new twist that is truly unique and truly Evolove. Make no mistake: Evolove is a genuine rock band forging an independent musical path that allows them to be true to themselves while producing quality music along the way. This type of band is rare and incredible to hear.

Each track has a gritty edge, skilled instrumentation and killer vocals with songs like, “Arrows Against Guns,” “Spare Me,” and, “No More Excuses,” standing out as personal favorites, but what I absolutely love about this album above all else is the naked and heartfelt lyrics. Even softer tracks like, “Never Let You Fall,” have a quiet intensity maintained by each instrument and enhanced by their incredibly talented lead vocalist. Nearly every song on this album, including title track, “Warriors,” has hard-hitting rhythms, solid grooves, and catchy lyrics that make the entire album a worth-while listen for anyone, especially rock fans. If you’ve ever had to find your inner warrior against all odds, this album should be your personal soundtrack. Rock on!

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A Challenge For Thinkers

“You’re wrong. You’re an idiot. You have NO POINT! I can’t believe how stupid you are! Ugly. Moron. HIDEOUS. Bigot. Why don’t you turn on your feeble brain and read what I just wrote? Douchebag. Whore. Dumb bitch. You are so retarded. Go kill yourself. I hope you get raped.”

Above is just a sample of the vitriolic hate I see slathered across social media, especially Twitter. Some comments have been hurled at me, but most are aimed at folks I like, love or admire. Occasionally they’re tossed flippantly at someone else, and I get the honor of being tagged in the negativity. Thanks, but no thanks.

I’m not talking about the group of friends that playfully rib each other, or people who cast ill-tempered jokes, or even the trolls whose primary goal is to piss everyone off. I am talking about the people who attempt intelligent discourse and somehow allow themselves to spiral down Insult Lane resulting from a long stay in Defenseville. Contempt deteriorates the quality of conversation. Respect is paramount to meaningful discussion and meaningful discussion is paramount to progress. We all know this, and yet every day I see people dragged into despair, attempting to fight negativity with negativity.  As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Debatable matters are debatable because they are complex, interesting and relevant. When people couple public knowledge with THEIR understanding of history and THEIR own experiences, they will often come to THEIR own conclusion. So why do we often meet varying opinions with venomous attempts to shame or humiliate each other?

I see great, passionate, thinkers given an unprecedented opportunity to converse with anyone about anything. I also see vitriolic discourse destroying that opportunity. It is easier to insult and embarrass others than to it is to learn about someone else’s perspective. Being derisive is simple and easy. Respecting others who disagree with you? Now that’s a challenge.

“Ask questions.” “Use your words.” “Try to understand someone else before dismissing them.” I’ve heard these tenets my entire life, but the anonymity of social media allows people to disregard them. Anytime a potentially fruitful discussion disintegrates into negativity or simple silence, we lose an opportunity to better our understanding of the world.

In a 1958 speech, broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow remarked of television, “This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful.”

In 2014, social media is the instrument. A great battle must be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference in ideas and perspectives. The anonymous negativity that ruins your day is also destroying our ability to progress as a whole, because believe it or not, we are one. Disagree? Find me on Twitter sometime and we can debate it... respectfully.  We can disagree on the most contentious of subjects and still manage to discuss them without antagonism. The pen is mightier than the sword especially when used to write something meaningful.

I challenge everyone engaging in meaningful idea-sharing through social media to move away from insults. I imagine negativity would be difficult for trolls to maintain if the good world-changing, prolific thinkers wrapped every thought, tweet, and post with respect—especially in the absence of receiving it. Why? Because only light can drive out darkness. I’d propose the same challenge the “journalists” who resort to condescension, sarcasm, theatrics and buffoonery, but… baby steps.

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I Voted for Melissa Joan Hart (a while ago)

As I sip coffee from my soon-to-be-replaced Melissa Joan Hart mug, I'm sifting through tons of emails, fb posts, etc, regarding Melissa's voting for Romney. Why you ask? Almost 2 years ago, I wrote this blog: http://www.velvetparkmedia.com/blogs/im-not-addict-baby

praising her for all her awesomeness. In declaring her Romney support she stated that she might lose some followers. I'm still following you @MelissaJoanHart.

Here's why: I believe you're the good person I think you are. I believe that we both want what's best for this country and that will only come from people sharing ideas... and that's what #twitter is built for. I hope one day you'll chat with me about life, love politics and "other" because I grow from my interactions with others as I believe we all do.

You may be wondering why your mug is getting retired. It's simple: since I don't know why you're voting for Romney, sipping coffee out of your face no longer brings me joy (That sounds worse than it is, the mug has a picture of your face on it.. yeesh). Not knowing your motivations is far more unsettling than the vote itself. Your vote could be rooted in a difference of opinion which I would respect, or a decision based on misinformation, or worse a decision based on no information.

Fortunately, there's no shortage of intelligent, beautiful, talented, classy women out there. One of them is getting her face slapped on a coffee mug.

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Why vote for President Obama?

As the Presidential election looms near, I’ve done a fair amount of work asking people for their thoughts on the election through Twitter, Facebook and in-person discussions. What became clear is that this election is unbelievably close, closer than I ever thought was possible. Some people are avid supporters of Governor Romney, some are avid supporters of President Obama and many are undecided. Please help me spread a message that will help Americans make an informed decision on November, 6th, 2012.

I hope to make a short montage video that will be available on YouTube displaying Americans stating their reason(s) for giving President Obama their vote. In order to do this I need your help.

Please take a photo of yourself holding a sign stating your reason for voting for President Obama. I, myself, have several reasons but I want this video to show that the President has impacted many people’s lives. I want this video to confirm that President Obama’s work over the past four years has not gone unnoticed, unappreciated, or misunderstood.

Please help me show President Obama our collective support. Send your photos along with your first name, last initial and city/state information to this email address: Obama2012VoteVideo@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can photo-reply to this post.

I will need all photographs no later than Friday Oct 26th. Thank you for taking the time to read this message. I sincerely hope you will support this effort by spreading the word and sending in your photograph.

Respectfully, Fallon Stone

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My puppy, Remi.

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Pete Escovedo’s Live from Stern Grove

People often ask, “What genre of music do you listen to, Fallon?” My response is always, “Good music.” It’s true. I cover the spectrum of music genres from reggae, to country, from neo-soul to metal; if it’s good, I’ll listen to it. Every now and then the universe beats a clear path to GREAT music and when that happens I drag out my soapbox to spread the word. Pete Escovedo is a musical genius and his latest album, “Live from Stern Grove” is something everyone should hear!

I’m a big fan of the legendary percussionist Escovedo family so I’m down with anything stamped with the “E.” of approval. This album inspired me so much I had to dust off my old entertainment journalism skills to pen the fantastic that is Live from Stern Grove. This album is an exceptional expression of Latin Jazz with a pinch of crooner fabulousness led by the legendary Pete Escovedo. Live from Stern Grove was recorded live at the historic 75-year-old Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco earlier this year and thankfully it’s now available via iTunes for purchase.  

Make no mistake, Pete Escovedo’s latest album is a must-have. At such an affordable price ($9.99), Escovedo’s latest album should be a part of everyone’s digital music collection. Live from Stern Grove has something for everyone from its fast-paced, high-energy Latin drum-driven song, “Dance” to the smooth Latin-Jazz groove of songs like “Picadillo Jam” and “Take Some Time.” Ladies will swoon when Escovedo puts on his crooner hat for “Fly Me to the Moon”. If I had to recommend one track it would be my personal favorite, “Sόlo Tú” that has killer conga and sax solos nested snuggly between classic Latin rhythms. This album is well worth the purchase as it will most certainly put a smile on your face, a bounce in your step and a rhythm in your heart!

Please pick up Escovedo’s Live from Stern Grove on iTunes today; your senses will thank you: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/live-from-stern-grove/id561333040

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Mediocre Shabana Azmi sketch (She's far more stunning than I could convey)

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A blog about my undying love and appreciation for Sharon Needles. She is deliciously dark... who can resist?!

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Sketch of RuPaul

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Sketch of Carole Lombard

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Sketch of Cher from her modeling days

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Sketch of Lauren Bacall

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Best. Sticker. Ever. This woman is the living end. SICKENING!

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Always be...