How We Thrive, Episode Five: Ray Nomoto Robison #filmmaker #thrivingartist

In episode five of How We Thrive, Ray Nomoto Robison shares his journey from the early days of beginning to make films, throughout the lessons learned, and where he finds himself today. He shares some useful tips with upcoming artists and filmmakers and ponders what it means to truly be a thriving artist.

LoveLink--It's Dan's turn #lovelink #onlinedating #gaming #nightcourt #d...

I'm playing Lovelink again and this time, in the series of Night Court characters trying online dating, it's Dan's turn, baby! Will he get his goal in seducing and sexing up his match? You'll have to watch & see! (VR may be a part of this video...)

So, who wants to kill some babies?

 The answer: No one.  

That was a mind blowing reality that was brought to me early in the relationship I am now, when back in about 2014, my partner and I were discussing the then active Roe V. Wade, the discussion and controversy that surrounds it.  As we were chatting, he stated, "Well, no one WANTS an abortion!" 

My jaw dropped, my brain exploded.  Wait, really? (It was very close to the moment I was talking to a guy at a bar one night, early days of my deconstruction, and mentioned the name of the church I attended.  "Calvary Chapel, ever heard of it?" I asked.  He shook his head no.  Man, I wish I was him, I thought.)

Back to the abortion and no one wanting one, really?!?  My mind was blown because those of us trapped in the mind control element of fundamentalism were taught a variety of such: that the world is completely wicked, no one loves God, all do want they want lewdly and without care for another, just sinning all day every day the whole live long day, and that, in fact, the world HATES Jesus and Jesus in you.  So, basically anything that you stand for in opposition, their teachings about what Jesus stood for (in their heads, not necessarily the reality of what Jesus stood for), is contrary to the world.  Armed with that in mind, it was believed that those who were Pro-Choice were not only pro-abortion but also anti-Jesus and Christian haters.  

So, yeah, that mindset is what you deal with when you come up against someone who opposes Roe V. Wade and other court cases of its like.  Due to the heavy influence of their church leadership and higher-ups, they are coming forth with an emotional insecure mindset not allowing them to think clearly or be able to communicate reasonably.  Right, I don't think that's accidental on the part of the fundie church leadership or lawmakers, no indeed I don't.  In that regard, I don't think its accidental that the lawmakers of the progressive left, so called, are using emotional rhetoric to steer up their constitutents and followers.  Emotional upset is a viable tool but is a weapon used both on all sides of a situation.  It can be used to enact change but also can become a stumbling block that builds walls between and interferes with forward movement. On both sides, mind you, both sides.

So, what if any is the reason for having legal and safe abortions?  My friends, I tell you, it's about choice and autonomy over one's own body.  The philosophic undertones of the Roe V. Wade and Pro-Life/Pro-Choice debate will never be truly resolved.  Does life begin at conception or does it not?  But, the import of having laws on the books such as Roe V. Wade allows women, those with uteruses, and girls the freedom to decide for themselves what they need and want to do with their body no matter the situation.

In June of 1969, then twenty one year old Norma McCorvey discovered that she was pregnant with her third child.  Earlier that year, a woman named Sarah Weddington recruited lawyer, Linda Coffee, to assist her with abortion litigation.  Their first plantiffs were a married couple in which the woman had child bearing difficulties and thus wanted the right to terminate the pregnancy.  However, the fact that the woman was not pregnant at the time was of concern, Weddington thought it would be best to find a pregnant woman.  Thus, they were connected with Norma McCorvey.   As stated by McCorvey in 2003, her whiteness and low income status were beneficial in the legal fight of Weddington and Coffee.   In addition, McCorvey was uncertain whether she wanted to terminate, imbibing in illegal substances and alcohol to forget her troubles, and was finally convinced by Weddington who informed her that "it's just a piece of tissue, you just missed your period." 

In 1970, Coffee and Weddingtion filed "Roe V. Wade" on behalf of McCorvey using the pseudynym "Jane Roe" and "Does V. Wade" on behalf of the married couple.  They were up against the defendant, Henry Wade, representing the state of Texas.  On June 17, 1970, the three judges presiding over the case ruled in favor of Roe stating that the Texas law was unconstitutional in violation with the ninth amendment.  However, the court declined to file an injunction against the enforcement of the law, ruled against the married couple stating that they lacked standing, and thus Roe was not allowed to obtain an abortion.  In addition, Henry Wade, still continued to prosecute those who performed abortions. Some weeks previous to the resolution of the case, Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe, had given birth to a daughter which she gave up for adoption.

It was not until January 22, 1973, after a lengthy battle in the Supreme Court, the findings ruled in favor 7-2 for Roe V. Wade, holding that women have a fundamental right to choose and the Texas law was unconstitutional. 

We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins. When those trained in the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, in this point in the development of man's knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to the answer.

— Roe, 410 U.S. at 159.

On June 24, 2022, The Supreme Court overruled Roe V. Wade on the grounds that the right to abortion was not deeply rooted in Nation's history or tradition nor continued a right when the Due Process Clause was ratified in 1868. Many argued against this ruling stating that other rights, such as contraception, interracial marriage, same-sex marriage, also did not exist upon the ratification of the Due Process Clause in 1868. By this logic are these also unconstitutional? Therein, lies the threat of what the Supreme Court may be planning to roll out, as many believe now that Roe V. Wade has fallen, what will be next?

For more information on the history of Roe V. Wade: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade

Lovelink: Night Court Version: Christine Sullivan #nightcourt #lovelink ...

In this episode, I spend time as Christine Sullivan, as if she was brought to the 80's, and forced to go on a dating app! It's BoyBandGuy, ComicGuy, & Soldier Boy fun! Which would should she choose?

Journaling Through The Years, Ep. 53: Army Camo Hat & 90210 Cosplay #bre...

In today's episode, I share my first cake baking experience, detail a special early summer day with my Vineyard Club friends, both younger and older than I, exhale gleefully over a certain iconic hat of my teenage years, all while doing my best at Brenda Walsh cosplay!

The Mary Tamm Chronicles, 2nd Gen, Chapter 11: Airlines, Airports, & Aus...

It's the final episode of this series. For more, go purchase Mary Tamm's autobiographies, First & Second Generation! I hope you enjoyed this series, I enjoyed creating them so much. Mary has long been an inspiration for the Timekeys DW fan-fiction as well as myself personally. In this episode, Mary recounts some of her wild adventures at Comic-Conventions throughout the world, from a scary fan sleeping in front of her hotel room door, a ride on a steamboat, drunkenly almost getting into a car with rowdy red-necks, a very long flight resulting in 24 miniature vases and a wonderful experience down under! In the thumbnail, Mary with her young daughter, Lauren

Lovelink: Night Court Style! Episode One! #nightcourt #harrystone #dat...

I'm playing Lovelink again & this is my series where I take on the role of the OG cast of Night Court as if they time-traveled from the 80's to present day 2020's where they get to dive into the unknown world they never imagined back then....dating apps! Of course, we gotta start with Harry!

Lovelink! (I may end up turning to the dark side!) #lovelink #lovematch...

Hey, I'm playing Lovelink! I meet a guy in the armed forces, a guy going on a crazy dog sled race for two weeks, a hot carnie girl & we may or may not have a steamy first date, & also an evil villian intent on stealing....an emoji.... Tune in for more!

Journaling Through The Years, Episode 52: Make-Up, Bad Friends, & First ...

In this episode, I share an entry from 1993 regarding how an invitation to my birthday party leads to my learning not to trust anyone or that it is safe to share who I am...which causes a host of problems, such as relationship addictions, anything to not feel so alone, and more. I share this entry & the thoughts that come forth all while doing my make-up. And, added benefit to today's episode. The Thriving Artist blog: https://artistthriving.blogspot.com/2022/07/4th-of-july-why-celebrate-independence.html Subscribe to my other channel, Casual-ia! #gaming #randonautica #fun #chill here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY4mdsNTGsoyjFnegzJodPA Purchase the wedding dress at: https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m59506542035/ Support Elizabeth Suzanne at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-return-elizabeth-to-her-thrive

4th Of July, Why Celebrate? #independence #selfdiscovery #selfactualization

 

in·de·pend·ence/ˌindəˈpendəns/

noun

the fact or state of being independent.

Brief History Of America's Independence:

Okay, fear not, there won't be a test but let's sojourn back to our awkward school days wherein we learned of our country's origins, although I may try to be a bit less bias than our history books tended to be focused.  We were taught that on July 4th, 1776, the Founding Father delegates signed the declaration of Independence signifying that the thirteen states were no longer under the control of the monarch of Britain, King George III.  In actuality, two days before, July 2nd, 1776, the second continental congress approved by vote the resolution of Independence, first proposed by Virginia's Richard Henry Lee, which solidified the legal separation of the thirteen colonies from Britian's rule.  It is because of this that John Adams believed that all celebrations of independence should be held on the second of July and refused any invitation for celebrating on the fourth.  

Okay, that said, let's focus on the significance of the wordings of the declaration of independence and constitution, always read and cherished by citizens of the USA on July 4th in subsequent years.   The incongruity of the idealistic wordings of these documents and a certain degree of the lifestyles of both the founding fathers (many were said to be slaveholders, for example) and those currently in government causes some to smirk at the day and even to refuse to celebrate.  Fair enough, that is their right to choose, after all, it is a 'free country' still in many regards, last time I checked.  

                                       

But, then why do we celebrate other than for the mere purpose of tradition?  The answer lies within the context of the wordings chosen in the two documents depicted above.  Words hold weight and are chosen, in such regard, for a specific purpose.  Words can uplift or tear down, unlike the child adage of sticks and stones, "words can hurt yet also they can also heal."  And, thus the profundity of the verbage of these documents that, however, the lives of those who penned them still hold weight when held upon with serious mindful intention.  Indeed, in the chaos and tumult of these last several years, fraught with much fear and anxiety that many seek to stifle by returning to a somewhat life of normalcy as before, yet the tragic darkness of humanity ceases to hide.  For each of us, founding fathers not withstanding, are a wash with both the good and the bad, the light and the dark, every one shades of grey and nuance.  Truth be told, one that seeks to do good and be beneficial to others also has the propensity to do wrong, likewise, one that brings about harm to others has also, at times, done harm.  The most hardened of criminals had a mother who lived him, or at least, someone who did.  

The very reality of such nuance is why the words of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution are of such an extreme value, especially in the wake of today, when what we deem as freedom, independence, and the very country in which we stand seems to have become hostage to the darkness of all hatred and bondage.   

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,"---proclaimed the founding fathers as they penned the declaration of their independence, thus doing separating themselves from the terror of the abusive King George.

Continuing thus with the Constitution, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

"We the people," they proclaimed, "Of the United States."  Years from then, another commanding figure would declare with the words of Christ, "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" and such words would such endure that their echoes would reverberate throughout all time and nations.

Indeed words have power to uplift and to tear down, not just collectively, but individually.  In light of the last couple years, wherein the celebrations of Fourth of July were shut down due to quarantine and lockdowns, I personally took the time to reflect on the nature of the day itself, allowing the historical documentation and significance to impact my mind and heart.  

What is Independence? What is freedom? Why, across all variety of humanity, religion or lack thereof, do we each seek for such individually and collectively? Why, across the boundaries of history and time, do we all feel endowed with the right for freedom? And, why, in the face of what we perceive danger to such right do we rise up in anger and protest?

I'm not disagreeing with such, merely asking the innermost reason within and without why we strive for freedom for one and for all.  The start of this blog began with the definition of 'independence', giving it as 'the state of being independent'.  To look deeper then, Merriam-Webster says that to be independent is defined as "not subject to control by others,  not requiring or relying on something else, and not looking to others for one's opinions or for guidance in conduct."  (Please note: there are more definitions included but I am only using what is pertinent to the argument of this entry.)  

So, abiding such with the definitions of independence above included with the depth of sincerity of our founding father's decrees, we must seek out continuously to cast off our own darknesses and ever strive forward to the power of what is light and good.  This, so doing, is not something merely as a collective country but inwardly we must do our part.  For true revolution without becomes truly evident when one has found the freedom within.

For my part, these last few years I have spent a great deal of time reflecting upon all that has bound me in constraint, not a fault of others alone, and I have diligently to break those chains of pain and regret, by allowing my darkness to be prevaded by bringing it forward into the light.

No darkness can prevail when brought forth into the light and when all is fully become known, then as individuals and as a collective we shall truly be able to profess our own declaration of independence, breaking the chains that bind, and standing united for all.

America The Beautiful Sung By Ray Charles

Oh beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife

Who more than self, their country loved

And mercy more than life

America, America may God thy gold refine

'Til all success be nobleness

And every gain divined

Official Constitution of the United States – 2022

Declaration Of Independence

The Mary Tamm Chronicles, 2nd Generation, Chapter 11: New York, New York...

In this episode, Mary shares her experience traveling to New York City for the first time for a comic-con. Highlights include: American style cole-slaw, Trekkies, The Statue Of Liberty, & a horse drawn carriage ride! The Timekeys Doctor Who Fan Fiction webseries includes Hearts-Sick, HomeSick, MindSick & TimeSick. Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc is the former name of Cafe Girl Thriving Artists, LLC, all film & media produced under Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc is the property of Cafe-Girl Thriving Artists, LLC. Cafe-Girl Thriving Artists, LLC does not own the rights to Doctor Who or BBC material.

Journaling Through The Years, Episode 51: Why do I like like him? #journ...

In today's episode, I recount the degree of how boy crazy I was, which leads into a discussion of the types of love as well as the stages of love, touching then on my past history of dealing with relationship addiction of which I am in recovery for now. I briefly explain the difference between new relationship energy and limerence. Root Of All Evil Boy is out, at first, as I turn my affections to another, or a few others, then suddenly Root Of All Evil Boy is back in my good graces. Why? What is this love thing all about? Subscribe to my other channel, Casual-ia! #gaming #randonautica #fun #chill here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY4mdsNTGsoyjFnegzJodPA Purchase the wedding dress at: https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m59506542035/ Support Elizabeth Suzanne at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-return-elizabeth-to-her-thrive

FanGirlHour Exerpt S1,EP12: All About The Kennedys #jacquelinekennedy #j...

My guest this week is my good friend, Jacqui, aka Kristen Diana Laura Jacqueline Pollock (Kristen Long Name Girl). She shares her great love of the history of America's very own royal family, The Kennedys, a slice of history that is truly beloved yet mired in controversy and sadness. Join Jacqui and I as we delve deep into the family, their beliefs, their loves, and their lows. For more episodes: https://anchor.fm/fangirling