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Friday chill music – Olivia Newton-John “Help Me To Heal”

A few years ago, Olivia Newton-John re-examined and “renewed” her excellent CD “Grace and Gratitude” in a new version with some additional tracks.

One of the highlights of the “renewed” G&G was this track – Help Me To Heal. I think it’s gorgeous.

There wasn’t a music video to go with the song, so I asked Olivia if I could take some “behind the scenes” footage shot during the creation of the album and create a video. I was thrilled when she said ‘yes.’

So the above is something I made for the release of “Grace and Gratitude Renewed.”

The album itself is very special to me. Not only did it become the soundtrack for my own cancer journey, but Olivia honored me by asking me to help stage a special concert of the album outside Philadelphia.

Love the music. Love the message.

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Top 5 new posts this week on The Randy Report

Jonathan Allen wins hearts and wows on America’s Got Talent
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President Obama names two openly gay men to ambassadorships

President Obama has named two openly gay men to prominent ambassadorships: Rufus Gifford as Ambassador to Denmark, and also named James Costos as Ambassador to Spain.

Background from the White House:

Rufus Gifford tapped for US Ambassador to Denmark

Rufus Gifford most recently served as Finance Chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. He served as Finance Director for Obama for America from 2011 to 2012, and as Finance Director for the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011. From 2008 to 2009, he was the California Finance Director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, after working as a political consultant in California from 2004 to 2008.

From 1998 to 2004, Mr. Gifford was Creative Executive for Davis Entertainment, an independent film company based in Los Angeles.

He is currently a Federal Club Member of the Human Rights Campaign and a Partner in Conservation for the World Wildlife Fund. He received a B.A. from Brown University.

James Costos tapped for US Ambassador to Spain

James Costos is Vice President of Global Licensing and Retail for Home Box Office (HBO).

Before joining HBO in 2006, he was President and CEO of Eight Cylinders, Inc., an entertainment marketing and licensing agency.

Previously, from 2002 to 2004, he was head of Promotions and Consumer Products at Revolution Studios in California.

He began his career in New York as a fashion and retail executive. From 2001 to 2002, he was Vice President of Retail for Hermes in New York, and from 1991 to 2001, he was Vice President of Retail Operations for Tod’s in New York.

Mr. Costos currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Humane Society of the United States. He received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts.

Nominations to ambassadorships must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

I personally think it would rock to be US Ambassador to either Spain or Denmark.  Great gigs.

(from Towleroad)

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Donald Trump wades into the deep end of the Twitter pool with Modern Family writer

This is too much fun for words.

Donald Trump waded into the deep end of the Twitter-world pool with someone who actually understands language and how to use it.

Read below an actual Twitter argument between “The Donald” and Modern Family writer Danny Zuker.

Needless to say, Zuker leaves “The Donald” in the dust.  Read and enjoy.  And don’t miss the #hashtags from Zuker.  Best part of the exchange.

I give all credit to NextImpulseSports for pointing out the show you’re about to enjoy 🙂

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11 year old Sebastien De La Cruz shrugs off his National Anthem critics

So, I’m sure many of your have seen this in the news cycle lately.

11-year-old Sebastien De La Cruz has had the honor of singing the national anthem prior to Game 3 and Game 4 of the 2013 NBA Finals. While the young Mexican-American boy is living out a dream while showing pride for his heritage, believe it or not, ignorant folks out in the faceless Twitterland have trashed the choice of the young singer because of his appearance and heritage.

De La Cruz is American, not that it should matter; and his choice of costume out of respect for the rich Hispanic population in San Antonio. De La Cruz singing the anthem is an honor, and he knocks it out of the park.

The Spurs and NBA thought so much of Sebastien that they asked him back for Game 4 to sing again.

And yes, he knows what people are saying. But, in what is a testament to his character at such a young age, he shrugs it off.

“It’s not really what other people think about you. It’s what you think about yourself,” Sebastien said.

In case you missed it, below is Sebastien’s 2nd performance of the National Anthem at Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Rock on, Sebastien.

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Donations: Fire destroys home of National Mill Dog Rescue founder

This is sad news about someone who does a lot for many.

The Black Forest fire, located near Colorado Springs, began on June 11th and continues to burn.

At least 380 homes have been destroyed so far including the home of Theresa & Rich Strader and their daughters.

Theresa is the founder of National Mill Dog Rescue. More than 7,700 dogs have been rescued from puppy mills during the past 6 years thanks to Theresa and her efforts. The Strader home was the original home of NMDR and their beloved dog, Lily.

Friends and supporters of the Strader family and NMDR are collecting donations to help the family get back on their feet and begin to rebuild their lives again.

As someone who doesn’t live an extravagant lifestyle, it’s difficult for Theresa to accept help and donations from others, usually she is the one giving the help. Helping the Strader family get back on their feet will allow Theresa to continue helping others.

I know many Randy Report readers are dog lovers just as I am.  And I appreciate the work Theresa does on behalf of these beautiful furry friends.

A regular reader, Lisa, pointed out Theresa’s situation and I wanted to share with you and give you the opportunity to possibly help this hero.  Of course, only if you feel it.  This is a situation where any amount, no matter how large or small, helps.

You can click here to donate.  

Note: The account name for this fundraiser is Dan Taylor, a friend of the Strader family. 100% of funds will go directly to the Strader family.

Also, if anyone in the local area has an RV, 5th Wheel, or Trailer that they would be willing to set up at their kennel (near Peyton, Colorado) for temporary housing of volunteers/fosters who have been evacuated – please reach out to them. They are trying to help folks who have been evacuated. TEXT – Jenny Whitt at (407) 342-3131.

More infomation about National Mill Dog Rescue and Theresa Strader can be found on NMDR’s website.

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Sen. Marco Rubio opposes ENDA as “special protections based on orientation”

When asked if he planned to support ENDA should it come up for a vote soon, Sen. Marco Rubio said  “I haven’t read the legislation,” Rubio told Scott Keyes of ThinkProgress.  “By and large I think all Americans should be protected but I’m not for any special protections based on orientation.”

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2013/06/video-sen-marco-rubio-r-fla-on-enda-im-not-for-any-special-protections-based-on-orientation.html#storylink=cpy

So, “all Americans” unless you are gay?

Freedom to Work, the national LGBT group supporting ENDA and workplace nondiscrimination, has condemned Rubio for his position:

“Freedom to Work condemns Senator Rubio’s retrograde stance against basic workplace protections for gay and transgender Americans,” said Tico Almeida, a first-generation Cuban-American who is President of the LGBT organization Freedom to Work.

“Like Rubio’s family, my parents also abandoned Communist Cuba because America is a place where every individual should be empowered to build a successful career based on talent and hard work rather than getting held back because of irrelevant characteristics like sexual orientation or gender identity.

“It’s just plain sad that Rubio is mimicking the kind of anti-gay discriminatory positions that the Castro regime took during decades past. It seems the Senator has learned too little about American values.”

More at the Miami Herald.

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Nevada Rep. Joe Heck forced to apologize for son’s racist and homophobic Twitter rants

Nevada Congressman Joe Heck

Joey Heck, the 16-year-old son of Nevada Rep. Joe Heck referred to President Obama as a “f—-t” and “n—a”, praising former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for making the Democrat “his slave” during a 2012 presidential debate.

The Nevada teen, who just finished the 10th grade, said “Romney raped Obama” in a presidential debate and lauded the former Republican candidate for making the Democrat “his slave,” according to BuzzFeed.

“Crack that whip Romney,” Heck wrote last year in another message. Yet another post skewered Obama, indicating all he could do was “spear chucking and rock skipping. The sports they do in his home country.”

Homophobic messages also populated his Twitter account.

“There are gays everywhere. Maybe that’s gods way of thinning out the population because f—-ts can’t have babies,” he posted in a retweeted message.

Congressman Heck released a statement saying “that type of language has never been permitted in our home,” of the messages posted on Twitter by the youngest of his three children.

“My son also apologizes for his insensitive behavior. My wife and I have addressed this family matter directly with him and he has learned from it,” the boy’s father, 51, added.

Joey’s tweets were made public shortly after news broke of homophobic, racist and anti-Semitic social media postings from Tanner Flake, the teenage son of Republican Sen. Jeff Flake.

The Arizona Republican similarly said that he was disappointed in his son and offered assurances that his son had apologized.

(via NY Daily News)