Congratulations, Catalonia, Spain!

For stopping the blood sport, bullfighting!

It is a remarkable accomplishment in light of its long cultural acceptance in Spain!

It's hardly a "fight" since there are people in the ring stabbing the bull with lances, debilitating him until the matador finally thrusts his sword into the bull's neck, killing the helpless, disabled animal.

This "sport" is the living definition of bully.

Rock on, Catalonia, for becoming a beacon of more humane behavior in our world!

Coccoons....

Do you know that a caterpillar becomes a liquid mush inside its coccoon before becoming a butterfly? It helps me to remember this on days I feel my life is a sack of liquid mush -- 'cause tomorrow I'll wake up a butterfly!

Truth...

will set most of us free to live our lives fully and unafraid.

The rest will go to jail, where they belong.

Ashley Judd Rocks the house! ... and the boat...

Ashley Judd is not only one of my favorite actors, she's one of my favorite people.

She's using her brains and celebrity to work on behalf of some pretty controversial causes, one of which is considered an ecological disaster-mountain top coal mining, in which entire mountain tops are removed to harvest coal, especially in her home state of Kentucky.

She is also an ardent advocate for health issues affecting women and girls.

I've seen her speak on the issues about which she is passionate; she is extremely well informed (she received her Master's Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University just a few weeks ago), measured and engaging when she speaks. Still relatively new to this role in her life, she is still just a little nervous as she presents her points of view, but her information is powerful and accurate.

Unfortunately because they can't seem to intelligently refute what she says, the coal industry has retaliated by showing a photo of Ashley topless, here hands discreetly covering her, um, mountain tops... But in an attempt to humiliate her, they've given Ashley and therefore her causes lots of new juice because she's getting attention from media who had no idea she has become such a star speaker on behalf of the planet and its female inhabitants!

Here she is speaking on behalf of health issues that affect women and girls:





Ashley Judd addresses the National Press Club last month about mountain top coal mining. A shakey start, but stick with her, she presents stirring and earth shake-up information.

The excitement grows....

Finessing the Artist Business Plan Workshop I'm conducting (Saturday, July 17 9am-4pm), I'm excited to see the success stories that come out of it! Artists and people who want to be artists who are already registered (rockmediaz@gmail.com for info) tells me people who are ready to succeed are going to be there, and I've put together just the tools that will help.

In fact, this workshop is really only for folks who are ready or who want to succeed.

The reason it's so important?

Artists and craftspeople use the right side of their brain to create - when it's protected by the left (practical and protective) side of the brain, it feels free to flourish and excel because it can relax and not spend so much of its time worrying about finances, what step to take next to establish or take the next step to advance a career, and so on.

I only wish I had developed the Artist Business Plan much earlier than I did - for myself! It's been an amazing resource for me, and I require artists (writers, actors, directors) I coach over a period of time to create one to help them put together a solid, practical career plan so they can devote all their energy to their art/craft, since the business side is taken care of.

As soon as artists understand they are a business - the manufacturer and the product - and that they must be responsible for understanding how their business works, they are much more likely to raise their game and work their way up the career ladder much more quickly - as well as avoid disasters like business managers and others stealing their hard-earned money because they weren't paying attention.

If this sounds like something that can help you, it's affordable, effective and actually fun because you realize what you've been avoiding - a solid business/career plan - actually compliments your art, style and personal approach to all you do.

Here's the 4-1-1. Contact Gina Lockhart at rockmediaz@gmail.com for info and registration. As soon as you register you will be sent the list of things to bring and details about how to get started before you even walk in the door.

It's an empowering BLAST!