Hilarious

Just for laughs...

Afghanistan

http://youtu.be/u0phY-XgB2Y

Afghanistan - an original song I wrote a few years back, which I think will touch the hearts of everyone listening! Including veterans, soldiers and patriots.

The song was inspired by the Winter Olympics hosted in Vancouver in 2010 where I was privileged to see every nation and country of our planet gather together in solidarity for a peaceful purpose - sporting events. It was fabulous to see people from worlds away who previously or even currently were otherwise at war with each other - coming together with a peaceful and common goal. Sporting events! I felt suddenly (again) like the world at war simply made so little sense, when clearly our entire planet would come together like this so peaceably.

My love for this occurrence inspired great hope, but also made me again question the insanity of war. My song, Afghanistan is inspired by these thoughts and moments.

Warning: The guitar I borrowed that afternoon was a little out of tune, so please bear with me - and also the amateur video is a little shaky - it was recorded last summer on an iPod, by my beautiful 10-year old daughter : )... Voice and venue acoustics sound good though!!! Enjoy & please add comments!!

 

 Visit: http://youtu.be/u0phY-XgB2Y

Euphoria and Devastation

An amazing collection of photographs that truly depict the devastation and euphoria of the human experience... my comment: "wow"

Photo credit: Vera 

Take a look at all 29... :

http://www.beautyexists.net/humanity/devastation-and-euphoria-29-photos-that-document-the-human-experience/

Christmas Eve, peace, words

What if Christmas is gluttony and my generosity doesn't matter; guilt and Christmas are a little hand in hand; and then...

-- we're all waiting for Santa Claus to come or for little ones to fall asleep so that santa claus can come - and the family swishes around us like the ones we are glad we can see and the unknown ones still to follow.

Christmas is candles that fill rooms with the scent of vanilla melting. And food in the moments of coming in from outside back into the air where a roasted bird with a chest sewn full of seasoned bread melts into the vanilla melting like a burst of Christmas. And the little ones, so anxious for santa, or rather, the gifts under that tree. Ha. I love Christmas.

Peace and blessings to you all. 2014 approaches... bang it out . -- Loud.
Seasons Greetings. As in, Merry Christmas, yo.

~Hazel

12 Years a Slave

12 Years A Slave

Breathtaking, shocking stunning, amazing, horrifying, brilliant, riveting, how do you say? … Oscars, Oscars, Oscars!!!

Wow. Among other dazzlers on the cast set, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s  startling, yet not unexpectedly phenomenal performance as Solomon Northup  complements the high tide of talent including pristine producers, writer - John Ridley for screenplay and director – Steve McQueen.  Well done and Amen to, likely, the best picture of the year.

Knowing Plan B, Brad Pitt and Dede Gardner were involved in the film production of 12 Years a Slave, but NOT knowing Brad Pitt was on the cast, I was deliciously surprised and thrilled when he appeared as Bass with heroic, highly risky, anti-slavery talk of equality for all colors of skin. I am certain everyone watching this show applauded his bold human approach to the scenarios at hand.

Well done Brad and everyone who contributed to this outstanding film. Five out of five thumbs up.

Check out the Trailer: 

http://pro.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2027857945/

And then GO to THIS MOVIE!!!!

The Audience of a Digital Format, by Hazel Hoyle

The world is changing.   Technology has a device in the hands of every person aged 9 through 79 and we as a people depend on our devices to check the time and weather, to communicate with friends and business associates via telephone, text messaging, email, or social media; we access the internet, play video games, fiddle with endlessly available app after app, we check how far it is to the moon, we Google answers for our crossword puzzles, we follow our devices one metre or three feet at a time toward the red/green dot leading our GPS to the address we are searching for; we use our devices to book  a flight to Toronto, New York, Spain or Africa; we pay our bills and do our banking; we dance to YouTube, we watch movies, we watch television, we  listen to our ever-growing digital music libraries and among many, many more things, we use our devices to read a book.     About Phoenix Star is available for electronic use on Kindle and whichever e-book medium you prefer... But also in paperback for the people who, like myself, still enjoy the turning of a page: the portability of literature without a battery required, radiation, or the distractions from all those bleeping lights reminding us to check our email, text messages, voice mail, social media, etc, etc, etc...    With the quickly-changing and ever wanting something new, NOW! society we have become, a new format to enjoy storytellers’ crafts is in demand... READ MORE CLICK HERE Or visit www.scriptsinprint.com.

Black Friday madness at its finest...

Black Friday madness at its finest...

EXTINCT - Rhinoceros No More...

I can't believe it. The Western Black Rhinoceros is no more.... Officially Extinct. This is sooo sad, what sort of world are we in that people treasure the value of an animal's tusks more than the preservation of the species itself ... Extinct is forever... RIP big fella

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2490777/Western-Black-rhino-officially-extinct-Northern-White-Javan-rhinos-follow-unless-conservationists-warn.html

Chilean Merlot vs Wagon Wheels

Mmm. Chilean Merlot from Merlot… I mean from Chile. And Wagon Wheels, can you imagine. I usta eat these when I was a kid. Soooo good. But the Merlot is definitely more tastey…  Wagon Wheels and Merlot from South America. Gotta love it.  North America rocks!

http://www.fronterawines.com/en/

Thor: The Dark World

Just watched Thor: The Dark World at Silvercity Metrotown!!! Holy omg! Sooo good. Not sure who's hotter in this one - Thor or Loki!! Both sooo yummy!!!

What a great script! Great acting!! Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins to name a few... Such a good - Marvel Entertainment film! Alan Taylor nails it as director!

A must see in 3D at the theatre!! Do NOT wait for this one on home video...You will not regret...

http://pro.imdb.com/title/tt1981115/

Aziz Ansari - Buried Alive

One of the funniest stand-up comedy performances I've seen in a really long time!! Aziz Ansari is hilarious - you will laugh your face off for 79 minutes straight! He is hilarious, original and full of cocky 2013 relevance. A must see!!

Aziz Ansari - Buried Alive - visit: www.netflix.com/AzizAnsari

Vanilla Sky

Holy crap. That blew my mind! Dude, watch it again. If you haven’t seen it; watch it! Sooo fkng mind-blowing. Nice work. Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, Kurt Russell and a few other familiars. That script is amazing. I might be afraid to dream tonight. :)

Vanilla Sky (2001)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259711/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Autumn Trees

In Alberta, one gust of wind and its over. Not here...

Autumn trees from my balcony – looks like there’s still some time left!! Beautiful west coast autumn colors.

Photo credit: Hazel Hoyle

http://Hazelhoyle.com

Leaves like snow on the ground

Still a few left!!