Awareness

Holland Taylor Embodies Ann Richards

On 18/04/2013 / Ann Richards, Awareness, Celebrities, Holland Taylor, Inspirational, Interviews / Leave a comment

Holland Taylor is Brilliant as Governor Ann Richards in the play she wrote.

by Rachel Sokol

In the midst of Broadway blockbusters such as Book of Mormon and Wicked, is a gem of a play simply titled ANN; which is based on the life and politics of Dorothy Ann Willis Richards (1933-2006), the 45th Governor of Texas who was defeated for re-election in 1994 by former President George W. Bush. This honest—and hilarious—one-woman show is the brainchild of Emmy-award winning actress Holland Taylor, who portrays Texas’ most controversial—and sassy—Governor.

ANN DESK 01 Holland Taylor Embodies Ann Richards

Holland Taylor on Stage as Ann Richards

Richards was a powerful figure in the Lone Star state, however, would New Yorkers really be interested in a play about her? “Absolutely,” says Taylor via phone from New York, where she was doing press for ANN, which premiered at Lincoln Center.

“The play is generational. Plus, she was an empowering figure,” says Taylor, who diligently wrote and crafted the play, which had successful runs in Texas and Chicago before making its Broadway debut.

I’m often asked to play rich, educated women, which requires writers to understand what a rich, educated woman may be like. I’ve been in some situations where they get what it’s like, and others where they say ‘Let’s just get Holland Taylor to play this’.” I don’t care what that person is politically, it doesn’t matter to me.”

READ MORE …

Homeless to Hollywood

On 18/04/2013 / Awareness, Celebrities, Culture, Inspirational, Interviews, People, Videos / Leave a comment

Homeless to Hollywood

by Surinder Moore

Inocente Izucar’s dream of becoming an artist is alive and flourishing today, and the documentary in her name, produced by Fine Films, recently won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film.

But under the vibrant and whimsically painted face is the painful story of a girl and her journey through a deeply unsettled childhood. Inocente Izucar’s story brings to light the dynamics of poverty and the impact of circumstances faced by many of the 1.8 million undocumented immigrant children.

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Inocente Izucar at the Oscars (second from Left)

Izucar was brought to the US as a young child by her parents who entered the country without legal documents. Her father was deported shortly after their arrival, for domestic abuse. With no legal status, Izucar’s mother couldn’t work, and with no income the family soon found themselves homeless and destitute. In the 9 years that followed, Izucar and her three younger siblings moved from shelter to shelter more than 30 times.

Despite the unstable conditions she relentlessly held on to a dream: To be an artist. Art allowed her a brief escape from the severe realities of being a homeless child. A Distinctive Style recently had the honor of interviewing Inocente to learn about her journey from homeless to Hollywood.

INTERVIEW and VIDEO…

SEED: The Untold Story

On 18/04/2013 / Awareness, Big Pharma, Bribary, Buy from Farmers, County Raids, Culture, Documentary, environmentally conscious, Farm Products, GM seeds, GMO Food, humanity, Injustice, insecticides, Inspirational, Monsanto, Pesticide Peddlers, Pesticides in Food, SEEDS, Shop Green, sustainable, Toxic, Videos, Youtube Video / Leave a comment

The Untold Story

Seed is not just the source of life. It is the very foundation of our being. ~Vandana Shiva

Seed is the self urge of life to express itself, in her diverse expression, her abundance, her permanent renewal and rejuvenation. Altering the genetics of a seeds to create GMOs means disrupting the most natural expression of life itself.

A new documentary film that will investigate the dramatic story of seeds, the basis of life on earth. For 12,000 years man has been nurturing and cultivating seeds to form the backbone of civilization. Now, 94% of our seed varieties have been lost and many more are nearing extinction.

Vandana Shiva

SEED unveils a David and Goliath battle for the future of our seeds by examining how five chemical corporations have taken control of seeds through patents, copyrights and genetic modification. These companies are placing ownership on the seeds, literally stealing the genetic material from our ancestors who nurtured these seeds for thousands of years. As Vandana Shiva says “the threat to seed freedom impacts the very fabric of human life and life on the planet.”

SEED will reveal the awe, wonder and hidden beauty of seeds. It will ignite the imagination of audiences, inspiring them to be part of a new movement to help sustain seed diversity. We will unearth the resilience and power that all seeds have to sustain, enliven and enrich our humanity.

Corporations like Monsanto have created a seed emergency, a seed emergency through patents on seeds, seed monopolies, biopiracy genetic engineering and creation of non renewable sterile seeds. Seed monopolies have pushed 250,000 farmers to commit suicide in India. After contaminating farmer’s seeds and crops, Monsanto sues farmers “for stealing their gene”, putting the polluter pays principle on its head, and making it the polluter gets paid principle.

The multidimensional emergency created by patents on seeds and GMOs needs a global collective response. Join the Global campaign on Seed Freedom to stop the corporate hijack of seed and with it, the hijack of our freedom and our future.

SEE VIDEO …

Join the movement: www.seedfreedom.in

Iranians we love you and will never bomb your country

On 18/04/2013 / Awareness, Children, Peace, war / Leave a comment

Peace is when we see each other as people. All we have to do is talk.

PEACE, it’s easy
PEACE, it’s quick
PEACE, it’s viral

When war between Israel and Iran seemed imminent, Israeli graphic designer Ronny Edry shared a poster on Facebook of himself and his daughter with a bold message: “Iranians … we [heart] you.”

Iranians we love you

Other Israelis quickly created their own posters with the same message — and Iranians responded in kind. The simple act of communication inspired surprising Facebook communities like “Israel loves Iran,” “Iran loves Israel” and even “Palestine loves Israel.”

One new person,
One new connection

Make a friend on Facebook with anyone from “the other side,” from “over there” from “the enemy.” Talk to him/her every once in a while, comment on a picture, share a post…the rest will just happen.

Send a picture of you holding a heart we will post it on the page, then tag yourself, share it on your page, find a friend on the comment list—make PEACE.

SEE VIDEO …

A cardboard bicycle that’s strong and waterproof

On 07/03/2013 / Awareness, Bicycle, Environmental, Inspirational, New Gadget, People, Videos / Leave a comment

A cardboard bicycle that’s strong, waterproof and costs less than £10 to manufacture.

Designed by Israeli engineer and systems developer Izhar Gafni

Izhar Gafni started developing the Cardboard Bicycle three years ago. “Since there was no know-how with regards to the cardboard material, the first two years were devoted to learning the properties and behaviour of the material,” explains Gafni.

“The idea is like Japanese origami,” he says in the movie. “You fold it once and then it doesn’t become twice the strength, it’s almost three times the strength. So I took it from there and did the same thing with cardboard.”

After the shape has been cut out, the cardboard is treated with a waterproof and fireproof coating specially created by Gafni, before lacquer paint is applied over the top.

The “urban bike” for adults costs around £6 per unit and weighs 9kg, while the kids’ bike costs £3 per unit and weighs 3.5kg.

Both are made almost entirely from recycled materials and cyclists will also have the option to add an electric motor, according to the designer.

Gafni’s business partner, Israeli investment group ERB, is currently fundraising and developing the bicycle for production.

Above: movie by Giora Kariv

dezeen.com has featured lots of unusual bicycles recently, including one with a frame made from steam-bent wood and another that can carry heavy loads front and back despite its compact frame.

SOURCE: www.dezeen.com

New Bicycle Hybrid by Peugeot and Phillippe Stark

On 07/03/2013 / Awareness, Bicycle, Hybrid, New Gadget, Peugeot / Leave a comment

Pibal bicycle by Phillippe Stark and Peugeot

French designer Philippe Starck and car company Peugeot have unveiled a prototype bicycle crossed with a scooter, designed for a free cycle scheme in Bordeaux, France.

As part of efforts to integrate bicycles into its public transport system, the city of Bordeaux asked locals to submit design suggestions for an urban bike. Philippe Starck took their ideas and worked with Peugeot to develop a scooter and bicycle hybrid called Pibal, which means “baby eel.”

dezeen Pibal by Philippe Starck and Peugeot ss 4 New Bicycle Hybrid by Peugeot and Phillippe Stark

dezeen Pibal by Philippe Starck and Peugeot 3a New Bicycle Hybrid by Peugeot and Phillippe Stark

On the Pibal, cyclists can pedal as normal or, if traffic is heavy, use the low scooter-like platform to push themselves along with one foot. The aluminium bicycle has yellow tyres for visibility and spaces for bag racks at the front and back.

The first 300 units are expected to be manufactured and delivered by Peugeot in June, when they’ll be loaned to citizens for free.

“Just like the pibale, undulating and playing with the flow, Pibal is an answer to new urban ergonomics,” says Starck, “thanks to a lateral translation which allows oneself to pedal long distances, to scoot in pedestrian areas and to walk next to it, carrying a child or any load on its platform. It only has the beauty of its intelligence, of its honesty, of its durabiliity. Rustic and reliable, it’s a new friend dedicated to the future Bordeaux expectations.”

Images are by Philippe Starck and Peugeot.

Ann Richards – Tough as Nails, Funny as Hell

On 06/03/2013 / actor, Ann Richards, Awareness, Broadway Shows, Celebrities, Inspirational, Politics, women / Leave a comment

A revealing look at Ann Richards, the Legendary Governor of Texas
Through the Eyes of Holland Taylor

This season, a true original comes to Broadway. ANN is an intimate, no holds-barred portrait of Ann Richards, the legendary Governor of Texas. This inspiring and hilarious new play brings us face to face with a complex, colorful and captivating character bigger than the state from which she hailed. Written and performed by Emmy Award winner Holland Taylor (“Two and a Half Men”), ANN takes a revealing look at the impassioned woman who enriched the lives of her followers, friends and family.

ANN began as a project and quest for Taylor to understand what it was about this housewife, mother, grandmother, leader and iconic patriot that affected so many people so deeply. Writing the play became a four year journey for Taylor, crisscrossing the country, interviewing people who knew the Governor, watching countless hours of video coverage, and pouring over reams of Richards’ personal and public papers at the University of Texas. In the end, her greatest resources were the family, friends, staff and colleagues of the Governor who allowed Holland to know Ann Richards as they knew her.

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Holland Taylor as Ann Richards

A LETTER FROM HOLLAND TAYLOR

gfx label connect Ann Richards Tough as Nails, Funny as Hell

There is no way to convey my love and appreciation for the hundred or so friends, associates, and members of Ann Richards’ family who helped me understand her in a way that would have been utterly impossible without them.

I was compelled to write this play…the notion to do a play, and the idea for how to write it—its shape and style—came all in a rush, and left me wide-eyed with surprise. And in I plunged. During the darkest hours of trying to shape a mountain of material, in a daydream I would see Ann in the fifth row, beaming happily and elbowing our mutual old friend, Liz Smith. Four years of work later, I have made a journey I could never have imagined. But I went in whole hog, and stayed in—working hard and doing the best I could—which gave me a hint of how I’ll bet Ann Richards felt every single day.

I hope Ann would like this. People loved to please her…one of her children said to please her was to get hit with a million suns. So, of course, now I want to please her, too.

Texans have welcomed me in my endeavor, which I find incredibly generous (Yankee that I am), and I will always be grateful for their affection and fun and open hearts.

As this is a piece of writing based on research, I should say something about the text itself. I had intended by now to annotate it, to say who told the story something was based on, what chunk was cobbled from this, what sliver was taken from that, and what important parts were stitched up out of whole cloth (but based on sure and certain knowledge of her). But, of course, the tide sweeps me along, and I haven’t done that yet. (I never did master footnotes in school.)

Most of the play is based on stories told to me in significant detail, including some dialogue, by the players themselves.

The office scenes in the play have been created based on many, many anecdotes—though the ending, for obvious reasons, is pure imagination —about someone I do think of now as a friend I love and know pretty well.

Join Holland Taylor on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HollandTaylorOfficial

Watch for the April issue of A Distinctive Style magazine to see our interview with Holland Taylor.

Cicely Tyson Returns to Broadway after 30 Years

On 06/03/2013 / Academy Award Winner, Awareness, Broadway Shows, Celebrities, Culture, Theatre / Leave a comment

Academy Award-nominated actress Cicely Tyson is back on Broadway

The Academy Award-nominated actress Cicely Tyson will return to Broadway for the first time in 30 years to star in a revival of Horton Foote’s 1953 drama “The Trip to Bountiful,” directed by Michael Wilson.

Cicley Tyson, 78, will play Carrie Watts, an elderly woman who dreams of returning to her hometown of Bountiful, Tex., before she dies. First produced as a teleplay on NBC in 1953, starring Lillian Gish as Carrie Watts, “The Trip to Bountiful” had its Broadway premiere later that year with the same cast. Mr. Foote adapted the play into a 1985 film starring Geraldine Page, who won an Academy Award. In 2005 Lois Smith starred in an acclaimed Off-Broadway revival at the Signature Theater. Mr. Foote, a winner of the Pulitzer Prize and two Academy Awards, died in 2009.

The Oscar winner CUBA GOODING JR., and the Tony nominees Vanessa Williams and Condola Rashad will join Cicely Tyson in “The Trip To Bountiful.”

Mr. Gooding, who won the best supporting actor Oscar for “Jerry Maguire,” will play Ludie, Carrie’s son, who thinks she’s too frail to travel. Ms. Williams (“Into the Woods”) will play his bossy wife, who thinks the trip is too expensive; Ms. Rashad (a Tony nominee for “Stick Fly” last year) will play a young woman whom Carrie befriends on the bus.

VANESSA WILLIAMS has appeared on Broadway in Into the Woods (Tony nomination), Kiss of the Spider-Woman (Theatre World Award), and Sondheim on Sondheim, and Off-Broadway in St. Louis Woman in the City Center’s acclaimed Encores! Series. As a recording artist, she has been nominated for 11 Grammy awards.

For more information visit: www.thetriptobountifulbroadway.com

Boy With Disability Gets Support of Team

On 03/03/2013 / Awareness, Inspiration, Inspirational, mental disability, People, Sports, Video / Leave a comment

Team manager Mitchell Marcus has a with a developmental disability but…

With a minute-and-a-half left in the game, Coach Peter Morales of the Thunderbirds, puts him in to finish out the game.

Coach Peter Morales of the Coronado High School Thunderbirds in El Paso, Texas, makes no qualms about it: he has a favorite teammate. Team manager Mitchell Marcus has a developmental disability, but he far surpasses everyone here when it comes to love of the game. ”He’s just an amazing person that our basketball team loves being around,” Morales says.

FROM CBS NEWS

“Mitchell always had a basketball, that was always what he wanted for his birthday,” she says.

And because basketball is that important to him, on the last game of the regular season, the coach told Mitchell to suit up.

“I was very happy,” Mitchell says of what it was like to put on the team’s uniform.

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Mitchell Marcus and Coach Peter Morales

Just wearing a jersey was enough for Mitchell, but what he didn’t know — what no one knew at the time — was that the coach planned to play him at the end, no matter what the score.

Morales says he was prepared to lose the game.

Baby elephant having the time of his life

On 01/03/2013 / Animals, Awareness, Inspirational, Videos / Leave a comment

Baby elephant Navann having the time of his life!

Elephant News is an online environmental news network that specializes in educational outreach through media. Based in Thailand they have experience in filming throughout Asia. Their crew specializes in filming in remote areas and speak fluent English, Thai and Laos.

Navann lives with his mom and nanny at the Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand.

Video and image courtesy of YouTube, elephantnews.

ELEPHANT FACTS
Height: 5-14 ft at shoulders (males); females of all subspecies are smaller than males.
Length: Up to 30 ft trunk to tail.
Weight: 6,000-15,000 lbs (males).
Lifespan Up to 70 years.

Searching for Sugar Man Receives Oscar

On 26/02/2013 / Awareness, Celebrities, Culture, Film, Inspirational, Music, Poverty, Searching for Sugar Man, singer/songwriter, Youtube Video / Leave a comment

Searching for Sugar Man Wins Best Documentary at the 85th Annual Academy Awards

Searching for Sugar Man was honored with more than 30 awards in the last year, won the big one Sunday when it was named best documentary at the 85th annual Academy Awards.

A fascinating documentary about the quest for a vanished ’70s rock legend. Back in 1968, two record producers discovered a charismatic, soulful Mexican-American singer-songwriter named Rodriguez in a Detroit bar.

Convinced they’d found the Chicano Bob Dylan, they signed him up and put out a critically acclaimed album, ‘Cold Fact,’ which promptly flopped. Rodriguez disappeared, and it was even rumoured that he’s committed suicide. A few years later, on a different continent, a bootleg copy of ‘Cold Fact’ became the soundtrack to a revolution.

Sugar Man 1 1024x681 Searching for Sugar Man Receives Oscar

Rodriquez (Searching for Sugar Man)

In Apartheid South Africa, Rodriguez’s anti-establishment lyrics had struck a chord with a generation of disaffected Afrikaners. The album eventually went Platinum. But what really happened to Rodriguez? In the mid-’90s, South African fans Craig Bartholemew and Stephen ‘Sugar’ Segerman embarked on a quest to find out. Filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul charts a journey that proved stranger – and more exhilarating – than anyone anticipated.

“Rodriguez wanted to stay home in Detroit” and watch the Oscars on TV, producer Simon Chinn said backstage. “He genuinely doesn’t want to take credit; he regards it as Malik’s film.”

“Searching for Sugar Man” is the first music-oriented film to win the documentary award since 1986′s “Artie Shaw: Time is All You’ve Got.” “From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China,” “Woodstock” and “Arthur Rubenstein – The Love of Life” are the other music films that have won the documentary Oscar.

Homeless to Hollywood the Inocente Story

On 26/02/2013 / Academy Award Winner, Awareness, Children, Culture, Documentary, Film, Homeless, homelessness, Hunger, Injustice, Poverty, special interest, Video, VIDEO PREMIERE / Leave a comment

An artist’s journey from homelessness to the Academy Awards

Forced to make life decisions that a child should not have to face.

INOCENTE is an intensely personal and vibrant coming of age documentary about a young artist’s fierce determination to never surrender to the bleakness of her surroundings.

INOCENTE Homeless to Hollywood the Inocente Story

Inocente www.inocentedoc.com

At 15, Inocente refuses to let her dream of becoming an artist be caged by her life as an undocumented immigrant forced to live homeless for the last nine years. Color is her personal revolution and its extraordinary sweep on her canvases creates a world that looks nothing like her own dark past — a past punctuated by a father deported for domestic abuse, an alcoholic and defeated mother of four who once took her daughter by the hand to jump off a bridge together, an endless shuffle year after year through the city’s overcrowded homeless shelters and the constant threat of deportation.

Despite this history, Inocente’s eyes envision a world transformed…where buildings drip in yellow and orange, where pink and turquoise planets twinkle with rescued dreams, and one-eyed childlike creatures play amongst loved babies and purple clouds. Inocente’s family history is slowly revealed through her paintings.

Inocente’s story proves that the hand she has been dealt does not define her, her dreams do.

Told entirely in her own words, we come to Inocente’s story as she realizes her life is at a turning point, and for the first time, she decides to take control of her own destiny. Irreverent, flawed and funny, she’s now channeling her irrepressible personality into a future she controls. Her talent has finally been noticed, and if she can create a body of work in time, she has an opportunity to put on her first art show. Meanwhile, her family life is at a tense impasse—if she legally emancipates herself from her mother to strike out on her own, she’ll risk placing her brothers in foster care, but to stay is unbearable.

Inocente Painting 1024x571 Homeless to Hollywood the Inocente Story

Art by Inocente www.inocentedoc.com

INOCENTE is both a timeless story about the transformative power of art and a timely snapshot of the new face of homelessness in America, children. Neither sentimental nor sensational, INOCENTE will immerse you in the very real, day-to-day existence of a young girl who is battling a war that we rarely see. The challenges are staggering, but the hope in Inocente’s story proves that the hand she has been dealt does not define her, her dreams do.

Since working on the documentary, Izucar, now 19, moved into her own apartment — which she shares with her two adopted pet bunnies — and she had a successful art show in New York City .

Since the economic crash of 2008, the homeless population is exploding and families are its fastest growing segment. The INOCENTE documentary gives you a rare glimpse inside the struggle of how one of the 1.5 million homeless children in the U.S. is living today – the largest and fastest growing group of them being the undocumented.

Children are the new face of homelessness in our country and yet they remain faceless. For most of these children, it is a shameful secret— which is why, despite their incredible numbers, you see so few homeless children on the street and you so rarely hear their stories.

Homeless kids are twice as likely to experience anxiety and depression than non-homeless children and 1 in 6 will develop emotional problems. Twenty-five percent witness violence in their homes. To compound the crisis, the social services that serve the homeless are being cut. It’s the perfect storm of desperation and chaos for the kids caught in the spiral.

Ways to Take Action: www.inocentedoc.com

Anne Hathaway wins Best Supporting Actress

On 25/02/2013 / actor, Anne Hathaway, Awareness, Inspiration, Inspirational, Interviews, Oscar, People / 1 Comment

Anne Hathaway crowned Best Supporting Actress for her role as Fantine in Les Misérables

With an incredible career, great friends, a loving husband and now an oscar, it’s fair to say Anne Hathaway has it all!

Anne Hathaway had been widely expected to win for her role as Fantine, having already picked up most major awards leading up to Sunday’s ceremony. In her acceptance speech, the actress said that she hopes the “misfortunes of Fantine will only be found in stories and not in real life.”

AnneHathawayandOscar Anne Hathaway wins Best Supporting Actress

Oscar win for Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway realized her dream. With poise and grace as she told reporters,”I had a dream, and it came true. And it can happen. And it’s wonderful.”

“Les Miserables” was nominated for eight Oscars, including best picture. The movie is based on the enduring French musical debuted on Broadway in 1987 and won eight Tony Awards, including best musical.

The love and admiration Anne Hathaway has for her husband, Adam Shulman, was evident in her acceptance speech on Sunday, when she stated, ”By far the greatest moment of my life was the one when you walked into it. I love you so much.”

Hathaway admitted in a recent interview with A Distinctive Style, that it’s a “miracle” her marriage survived the filming of the epic musical.

The extreme weight loss she underwent to portray the sickly Fantine, as well as the dark nature of the role, caused her to become “manic.” She admitted to picking fights with husband Adam Shulman. She eventually asked Shulman to go home while she finished up the shoot in London because he was preventing her from going deeper into her role. He understood…

See more of the interview with Ann Hathaway… A Distinctive Style

Most Admired Actor, Daniel Day-Lewis

On 25/02/2013 / Awareness, Best Actor, Celebrities, daniel day-lewis, Daniel Day-Lewis Oscar, Inspiration, Inspirational, Interviews / Leave a comment

Daniel Day-Lewis … Style and Grace

Daniel Day-Lewis won “best actor” for his authentic performance as President Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s historical drama.

The recognition for his performance in Lincoln capped off a night in which Adele won the Oscar for best original song along with other British successes in costume, make-up and animation.

DDL 2 Most Admired Actor, Daniel Day Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis wins Best Actor

Daniel Day-Lewis, 55, spent a year preparing for “Lincoln,” while staying in character during the production. His widely-expected Oscar win further cements his status as the most admired actor currently working.

When asked if there’s anyone he’d like to portray next, Daniel Day-Lewis said, “I can’t think of anyone right now because I need to have to lie down for a couple of years. No, I can’t think of any. I really can’t, no. It’s really hard to imagine doing anything after this.”

“I really don’t know how any of this happened, I do know that I have received so much more than my fair share of good fortune in my life,” Day-Lewis said while accepting his award at the Academy Awards from Meryl Streep.

He concluded his speech by simply stating, “For my mother, thank you so much!”

Daniel Day-Lewis has plenty of practice: Sunday’s win was Day-Lewis’ record third in this category. The Method actor previously won for “My Left Foot” and “There Will Be Blood.”

I really don’t know how any of this happened, I do know that I have received so much more than my fair share of good fortune in my life. ~Daniel Day-Lewis

When he won Best Actor, Drama at this year’s Golden Globes, Day-Lewis started off with some jokes before displaying his trademark humility. “If I had this on a time-share basis, I’d share this with my wonderful, gifted colleagues, I might just hope to keep this for one day a year and I’d be happy with that,” he said. “But I’ll take care of this. My fellow nominees, boys and girls, such beautiful performances this year. I’m very proud to be one amongst you.”

See Interview with Daniel Day-Lewis: A Distinctive Style

2013 Oscar Winners, 85th Academy Awards

On 20/02/2013 / A Distinctive Style Magazine, Awareness, Balog, brain injury, Celebrities, Changing Climate, Climate Change, Culture, designers, Eco-Fashion, Environmental, Fashion, Fashion Designer, Inspirational, Interviews, Les Miserables, Lincoln, Magazine, Mental Illness, Music, Music Video, Organic, pesticides, Scarlett Johansson, Shop Green, Silver Linings Playbook / 1 Comment

Oscar buzz is in the air! In A Distinctive Style magazine, readers will find interviews with this year’s most watched Academy Award Nominees, all vying for a coveted gold Oscar statue.

A Distinctive Style magazine starts with the amiable Hollywood heartthrob, actor, and philanthropist, Brad Pitt who is featured in an exclusive interview about his creative pursuits, and life with Angelina Jolie and their six children. Read his interview on page 42 (CLICK TO SEE INTERVIEW)

Screen Shot 2013 02 20 at 4.50.21 PM 2013 Oscar Winners, 85th Academy Awards

Click to see Video

Honest Abe Lincoln leads the nominations with 12 accolades, including a Best Actor Nomination for Daniel Day-Lewis, who portrays the 16th President of the United States. This is Lewis’s fifth academy award nomination; he previously won Best Actor Oscars for his leading roles in the films My Left Foot and “There Will Be Blood.” Read more about Day-Lewis—who recently won the 2013 Golden Globe for his role as President Lincoln— on page 58. (CLICK TO SEE INTERVIEW)

Check out our chat with Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper, up for Best Actor for his leading role in Silver Lining Playbook, in which he plays a former high school teacher battling mental health issues.This is Cooper’s first academy award nomination; his interview is on page 36. (CLICK TO SEE INTERVIEW)

Tony-award winning actor Hugh Jackman won the 2013 Golden Globe award for his portrayal as accused convict turned heroic mayor Jean Veljean in the musical-movie adaptation of the “Les Misérables.” He’s nominated for an Academy Award for the same role. An interview with the multi-talented Jackman can be found on page 52. (CLICK TO SEE INTERVIEW)

Anne Hathaway also received a Golden Globe award for her portrayal of Fantine in the “Les Misérables.” Proving she is more than just a pretty face, the actress can add “singer” to her resume now. The spunky brunette, who remains close to her childhood friends despite her success, once co-hosted the 83rd annual Academy Awards and wed actor/designer Adam Shulman last year in Big Sur. Hathaway’s interview in this issue can be found on page 62. (CLICK TO SEE INTERVIEW)

A Distinctive Style continues to bring readers informative, interactive videos, and this issue is no exception. The documentary “Chasing Ice,” featured on page 26, (CLICK TO SEE INTERVIEW) explores the rapidly melting ice caps that affect our precious planet.

View the magazine in its entirety at: A DISTINCTIVE STYLE .COM

ABOUT

Founded in 2007 by Dallas resident Denise Marie, A Distinctive Style—a magazine with heart—is a pioneer in the digital online experience, Their stimulating presentation using hd videos, breathtaking imagery and arousing music, is designed to appeal to the senses, while featuring diverse and prominent topics, in a fresh new way.

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Monsanto has sued 410 farmers and 56 small farm businesses

On 20/02/2013 / Awareness, Cancer, GM seeds, GMO Food, humanity, insecticides, Monsanto, Pesticide Peddlers, pesticides, Toxic / Leave a comment

75-Year-Old Soybean Farmer Could Deal A Blow To Monsanto ’s Empire Today

Written by Aviva Shen

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a 75-year-old soybean farmer’s appeal against biotech giant Monsanto, in a case that could permanently reshape the genetically modified (GM) crop industry. Victor “Hugh” Bowman has been battling the corporation since 2007, when Monsanto sued him for violating their patent protection by purchasing second-generation GM seeds from a grain elevator. An appeals court ruled in favor of Monsanto, and despite the Obama administration’s urging to let the decision stand, the nine justices will hear Bowman make his case today.

Screen Shot 2013 02 20 at 9.13.15 AM1 Monsanto has sued 410 farmers and 56 small farm businesses

Victor “Hugh” Bowman

Monsanto is notorious among farmers for the company’s aggressive investigations and pursuit of farmers they believe have infringed on Monsanto’s patents. In the past 13 years, Monsanto has sued 410 farmers and 56 small farm businesses, almost always settling out of court (the few farmers that can afford to go to trial are always defeated). These farmers were usually sued for saving second-generation seeds for the next harvest — a basic farming practice rendered illegal because seeds generated by GM crops contain Monsanto’s patented genes.

Monsanto’s winning streak hinges on a controversial Supreme Court decision from 1981, which ruled on a 5-4 split that living organisms could be patented as private property. As a result of that decision, every new generation of GM seeds — and their self-replicating technology — is considered Monsanto’s property.

Unfortunately, second- and third-generation seeds are very hard to track, which may explain why Monsanto devotes $10 million a year and 75 staffers to investigating farmers for possible patent violations. Seeds are easily carried by birds or blown by the wind into fields of non-GM seeds, exposing farmers who have never bought seeds from Monsanto to lawsuits. Organic and conventional seeds are fast becoming extinct — 93 percent of soybeans, 88 percent of cotton, and 86 percent of corn in the US are grown from Monsanto’s patented seeds. A recent study discovered that at least half of the organic seeds in the US are contaminated with some genetically modified material.

Bowman’s appeal gives the Supreme Court an opportunity to determine whether or not Monsanto is using patent enforcement to control their monopoly on a vital resource. As GM seeds become more ubiquitous, farmers who want to avoid Monsanto’s strict patents have few alternatives. As a recently released Center for Food Safety report notes, the concentration of market power among Monsanto and a handful of other companies has led to skyrocketing seed prices and less innovation by smaller firms:

USDA data show that since the introduction of GE seed, the average cost of soybean seed to plant one acre has risen by a dramatic 325 percent, from $13.32 to $56.58. Similar trends exist for corn and cotton seeds: cotton seeds spiked 516 percent from 1995-2011 and corn seed costs rose 259 percent over the same period.

[...] USDA economists have found that seed industry consolidation has reduced research and likely resulted in fewer crop varieties on offer: “Those companies that survived seed industry consolidation appear to be sponsoring less research relative to the size of their individual markets than when more companies were involved… Also, fewer companies developing crops and marketing seeds may translate into fewer varieties offered.”

Furthermore, emerging evidence indicates that Monsanto has hardly perfected the technology. A core argument for GM seeds in the 1990s claimed they would reduce chemical pesticide use because the plants themselves would repel pests and weeds. But studies have confirmed the spread of so-called “superweeds” that have developed a resistance to Monsanto’s gene, leading farmers to deploy even heavier doses of herbicides like Monsanto’s own product, Roundup. Another new report debunked the company’s argument that GM seeds would have higher yields; in fact, two of Monsanto’s most popular genes caused yields to drop.

Despite the mounting evidence against their products, the biotech industry enjoys a cozy relationship with government regulators. In December, the Justice Department abruptly dropped their investigation into anti-competitive practices in the industry without so much as a press release. The stalled Farm Bill also contains generous provisions that would allow these companies to put their products on the market with cursory or no review by the USDA.

Today’s oral argument is a study in these intertwined interests: the Obama administration is presenting their own defense of Monsanto, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was once a Monsanto lawyer (but will not recuse himself from Bowman’s case). Still, the same high court that enabled the current state of American agriculture in 1981 now finds itself in a position to check Monsanto’s power — or help them tighten their hold on the industry.

This post was originally published by ThinkProgress.

Katherine Heigl works to end animal cruelty

On 11/02/2013 / Animal Awareness, Awareness, Celebrities, End Animal Creulty, Pets, Social Justice / 1 Comment

Katherine Heigl is helping to save the lives of animals in desperate need

The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation (JDHF) was founded by Nancy and Katherine Heigl to increase awareness of inhumane animal treatment and support efforts for rescue, medical care, training and placement needs in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Heigl’s passion for animals inspired them to form an organization dedicated to animal welfare that would also be a lasting legacy to the compassion, kindness and memory of a beloved son and brother.

Screen Shot 2013 02 11 at 5.14.02 PM Katherine Heigl works to end animal cruelty

Katherine Heigl snuggling with her dog Piper

In 1986, Jason was killed in a car accident. He was fifteen years old. Throughout his brief lifetime Jason loved all animals, especially dogs and cats and monkeys. He lived his life extending compassion and kindness to all creatures great and small.

The mission of The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation is to eliminate the needless suffering inflicted on animals by human cruelty, indifference, and ignorance.

In pursuit of this mission The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation funds a number of programs including an internal rescue group, The Heigl Hounds Of Hope, that focuses its rescue efforts on medium to large dogs from high kill shelters. Support is also provided to non-profit animal rescue / advocacy groups via the Heigl Foundation’s Networking Program, designed to encourage organizations to save more shelter animals in Southern California by helping to offset some of the enormous financial costs associated with animal rescue care. Funding is also given for free spay / neuter procedures for qualified caretakers, for compassion education programs, and to assist with the transport of dogs from overcrowded shelters in Los Angeles to communities where the demand for dogs is high but the supply is low.

To find out more information about the work of the Heigl Foundation and to discover how you can help, volunteer or contribute, please visit the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation web site.

Greenpeace calls on luxury fashion brands to clean up their act

On 09/02/2013 / Awareness, Beware, Environmental, Fashion, health and fitness, pesticides, Pesticides in Food, Shop Green, special interest, Toxic, Youtube Video / Leave a comment

Are your favorite brands failing to take urgent action to eliminate the release of hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and products?

by Chiara Campione—At the start of November, Greenpeace threw down the gauntlet to 15 top Italian and French luxury fashion brands, challenging these companies with 25 ‘uncomfortable’ questions about their supply chains.

Why? Every day another piece of the Amazon is destroyed to clear the way for cattle ranching and the production of leather used to make our shoes, bags and belts. A similar chain of events takes place in Indonesia, where the habitat of the last Sumatran tigers is being trashed to make low-cost paper packaging. While in China, Mexico and other regions of the planet, hazardous chemicals used by the textile industry are polluting our precious water resources.

These dangerous business practices are putting our natural resources at risk and threatening people’s livelihoods and any companies involved should be held accountable for their actions. So we asked these brands to outline what measures they are taking to ensure that their products are not being tainted with forest destruction and hazardous chemicals.

Big brands caught off-trend

When it comes to fashion many consider brands such as Chanel, Prada and Dolce&Gabbana to be real trendsetters within the sector. But have a look at the results of our survey at: www.thefashionduel.com. How disappointing to discover that these brands are failing to take urgent and transparent action to eliminate the release of hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and products. They are also failing to put in place concrete measures to eliminate deforestation from their supply chain.

Other brands, like Salvatore Ferragamo and Louis Vuitton, have only presented a partial commitment: showing a real lack of ambition to become environmental leaders and dress the growing number of conscious consumers who are looking for fashion with a story they can be proud of.

CleanerFashion Greenpeace calls on luxury fashion brands to clean up their act

www.thefashionduel.com

But among these inadequate commitments and ugly truths, there is also some fantastic news. On Wednesday Valentino proved unequivocally that fashion free from pollution and rainforest destruction is not a luxury, but a must-have.

The Italian fashion giant made an ambitious and binding commitment to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from its supply chain and products by 2020, and also made commitments with regard to its policies on the procurement of leather and pulp and paper.

These commitments are just the beginning and must be swiftly followed up by action on the ground to ensure that real change happens where it is needed most to help protect our life-giving waterways and beautiful rainforests.

But it is a fabulous first step and begs the obvious question: if Valentino can do it, why not the rest? Beautiful fashion does not need to cost the Earth.

To make your voice heard, join the Fashion Duel at: www.thefashionduel.com

Chiara Campione, campaigner Greenpeace Italy

SOURCE: www.greenpeace.org

Exposing Fashion Brands Dirty Little Secret

On 09/02/2013 / Awareness, Cancer, Design, Environmental, environmentally conscious, Fashion, Fashion Designer, Shop Green, Social Awareness, Toxic, Women, Youtube Video / Leave a comment

Join fashion-lovers, activists, models and designers in exposing fashion brands’ dirty little secret and demanding fashion without pollution.

Greenpeace—They say you can tell next season’s hottest trend by looking at the colour of the rivers in Mexico and China. That’s because global fashion brands like Calvin Klein, GAP and G-Star Raw are using hazardous chemicals and dyes to make our clothes. These chemicals poison our rivers, and traces of these hazardous chemicals also end up remaining in many of the garments people buy.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Around the world, a growing movement of people are calling on clothing brands to make fashion that doesn’t cost the Earth. More than 400,000 people have joined the campaign since November, resulting in the world’s largest fashion retailer, Zara, and the world’s largest jean manufacturer, Levi’s, to commit to clean-up their supply chain and products. True People Power in action.

Join fashion-lovers, activists, models and designers in exposing big brands’ dirty little secret and demanding fashion without pollution.

Together we can make it happen.

SOURCE: www.greenpeace.org

One Mind for Research with Tom Hanks and Friends

On 25/01/2013 / Awareness, Celebrities, Inspiration, Mental Illness, People, Post traumatic syndrome, PTS, PTSD, special interest, TBI, Tom Hanks, Videos / Leave a comment

One Mind for Research with Tom Hanks

THE INVISIBLE EPIDEMIC

1mind4research.org

Non-profit One Mind for Research (1mind4research.org) is dedicated to improving research, diagnostics, treatments, and cures for brain disease, mental illness, and brain injury with the goal of reducing the social and economic burdens on our society significantly within ten years. We need your help to launch our initial major research project, the Post-Traumatic Stress-Traumatic Brain Injury Knowledge Integration Network, and our first year of media advocacy to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and brain injury.

FEATURING TOM HANKS! from One Mind Studios on Vimeo.

About One Mind for Research

One Mind for Research is an independent, non-profit organization that is committed to curing diseases of the brain and eliminating the stigma and discrimination they cause. Through collaboration with partners in science, advocacy and corporations, One Mind for Research is working to advance a 10-year plan to cure the diseases of the brain by creating change in the way scientists, health care professionals, NGO and government partners think about and conduct scientific and translational research, and by advancing mental health related public policy.

About Brain Disease

Brain diseases are the number 1 cause of adult disability globally, afflicting, in some form, 1 out of every 3 people. For example, among the psychiatric diseases (i.e. mental illnesses), major depressive disorder leads in prevalence, disabling about 5% of the population to some degree in any given year. Among veterans returning stateside from service in Iraq, 300,000 are estimated to have TBI and/or PTS, adding to the total estimate of 1.5 million Americans living with these diseases. Beyond the emotional pain endured by these individuals and their families, the total lifetime treatment cost for these individuals calculates to about $3.3 trillion. This and the cost of dementia care for our nations’ growing elder population ($400 billion annually now, to triple by 2050) will soon prove beyond the ability of the U.S. economy to sustain—unless neuroscience starts an emergency pace, right now. At a time of decreasing government research funding and pharmaceutical industry’s widespread withdrawal from psychiatric drug R&D, this cause needs public support now to develop the preventions and cures that will protect the brain health of people worldwide.

For more information on One Mind for Research, please visit http://1mind4research.org

Silver Linings Playbook Reviewed by Patrick J. Kennedy

On 25/01/2013 / Awareness, brain injury, Mental Illness, One Mind Research, Post traumatic syndrome, PTS, PTSD, Silver Linings Playbook, TBI, Tom Hanks / Leave a comment

Patrick J. Kennedy Reviews Silver Linings Playbook

As a public figure with bipolar disorder, the Oscar-nominated Silver Linings Playbook hit home with me, portraying my illness with compassion—and a dose of humor.

By Patrick J. Kennedy

The movies have always offered a refuge from reality, a few hours’ pause to sneak into the fantasies of an imaginary world or the dangers of a daring adventure. Buy a ticket to one of this year’s Oscar nominees for best picture and escape to a mythical bayou, take a journey alongside a wild tiger, or travel back in time to your choice of 19th-century settings.

Yet as the lights came up after Silver Linings Playbook, I knew I’d seen the most worthy contender for precisely the opposite reason: not because it transported me to another world, but because of how faithfully it reflected one I know too well. This special film isn’t a diversion from real life so much as a sensitive and significant recognition of it. It runs full speed into the experience of the disorders from which most people race away, peeling away with each stride the stigma that keeps too many from the treatment and compassion they need.

Like Bradley Cooper’s main character, also named Patrick, I’ve struggled with mental illness. To escape my reality—shame I couldn’t shake and depression darker than a movie theater—I spiraled down destructive addictions to alcohol and painkillers.

Houses made with 70-80% recycled materials

On 24/01/2013 / Awareness, Culture, Design, designers, Documentary, Environmental, environmentally conscious, Inspirational, People, Recycle, Video, Videos / Leave a comment

Houses made from 70-80% recycled materials

Profound and Visionary Home Building

What an unbelievably unique take on housing and architecture! Dan Philips creates houses that are made from 70-80% recycled materials. The creativity he puts to use is as impressive as the tons of materials he saves from the landfill. You will see decorative details made from eggshells and bottle caps. You will see rooftops made of license plates! You will see water faucets for the bathtub made of a Budweiser beer Screen Shot 2013 01 24 at 11.59.45 AM Houses made with 70 80% recycled materials tap!

His philosophy is that our collective mindset of perfection is what creates all the waste. From the builders to the homebuyers to the marketers- everyone demands adherence to sterile, conventional norms. If a 2x 4 isn’t perfect, it goes in the dump. Dan Philips instead incorporates these blemishes and organic processes.

See all the materials he saves that were headed for the landfill- even vintage stoves! Hear his astute, original and truly amusing take on why we have come to tolerate this level of waste.

In 1998, he and his wife, Marsha, started The Phoenix Commotion, in Huntsville, Texas — a construction company that builds affordable houses from reclaimed and recycled materials. Their mission is to divert landfill waste while creating sustainable housing for single mothers, artists, and families with low incomes. The houses are energy-efficient, cheap and satisfying to build — and wildly, effervescently creative.

In the design process, we have to consider how design linked our social life and people’s perspectives.

There is consideration of his work:

Architecture related to human being and natural life. What human need and consideration of nature in our life. So, Dan Phillips design his architecture be a naturalism and not waste of materials. He was inspired organic texture and humanism.
Industrials revolution started, consumers wasting mass production and materials and also materials price was becoming expensive.
Power of mass media and consumption in our society

And The 2013 Oscars Go To?

On 16/01/2013 / A Distinctive Style Magazine, Awareness, Balog, Changing Climate, Chasing Ice, Eco-Fashion, Environmental, environmentally conscious, Fashion, Fashion Designer, Film, health and fitness, Interviews, Mental Illness, Music, pesticides, Pesticides in Food, Photography, Recycle, Shop Green, Skin Care, special interest, Toxic, Videos / Leave a comment

The 2013 Oscars Go To?

A Distinctive Style’s Winter issue features human interest, social awareness, sustainable and organic fashion and this years Academy Award nominees.

A Distinctive Style magazine kicked off the New Year with Brad Pitt. The amiable Hollywood heartthrob, actor, and philanthropist, graces the Winter 2013 cover and is featured in an exclusive interview.

“There is so much passion in this issue, from celebrities, to motivational women who run a horse ranch in Colorado,” says Denise Marie, publisher of A Distinctive Style. “The Winter 2013 issue is full of amazing humanitarians who pay-it-forward—just like Pitt does—by giving back to those less fortunate; individuals who possess a sincere love of family, or go through great lengths to save our environment. Everyone featured brings important social issues to the forefront. It may be tricky for people to see the reasons I have for each story I place, but there is always something humbling behind each editorial.”

W13PittCover8x10 785x1024 And The 2013 Oscars Go To?

A Distinctive Style Winter Cover

Pitt’s latest action movie, Killing Them Softly, directed by Andre Dominik, is currently available on DVD, and you can read more about his creative pursuits, and life with Angelina Jolie and their six children, on page 42.

Also in this issue, we learn about Trashed, a documentary that examines environmental pollution, executive produced by actor Jeremy Irons. The documentary—highlighted in an interactive, introductory video on page 18—is a political “wake-up call” about the ways food is affected by air, sea, and land pollution. We also provide readers with a list of 10 breakfast cereals that most likely contain GMO’s corn—which has been linked to tumors. Bringing readers health-oriented news remains a priority in our publication.

On a lighter side, we chat with Los Angeles-based fashion designer Deborah Lindquist, who up-cycles all sorts of eco-friendly fabrics to create one-of-a-kind clothes and accessories for women around the world. Story on page 64.

Oscar buzz is in the air—the 2013 nominees have been announced! In this issue, readers will find interviews with this year’s most watched Academy Award nominees, all vying for a coveted gold Oscar statue.

Screen Shot 2013 01 16 at 2.01.45 PM And The 2013 Oscars Go To?

Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln

Honest Abe Lincoln leads the nominations with 12 accolades, including a Best Actor nomination for Daniel Day-Lewis, who portrays the 16^th President of the United States. This is Lewis’s fifth academy award nomination; he previously won Best Actor Oscars for his leading roles in the films My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood. Read more about Day-Lewis—who recently won the 2013 Golden Globe for his role as President Lincoln— on page 58.

Also, in this issue, check out our chat with Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper, up for Best Actor for his leading role in Silver Lining Playbook, in which he plays a former high school teacher battling mental health issues.

“We do many editorials on individuals with all kinds of challenges, and this film brings up a very important topic—mental illness—and how it’s perceived,” says Publisher, Denise Marie. This is Cooper’s first academy award nomination; his interview is on page 36.

Screen Shot 2013 01 16 at 2.01.37 PM And The 2013 Oscars Go To?

Hugh Jackman

Tony-award winning actor Hugh Jackman won the 2013 Golden Globe award for his portrayal as accused convict turned heroic mayor Jean Veljean in the musical-movie adaptation of the Les Misérables. He’s nominated for an Academy Award for the same role. An interview with the multi-talented Jackman can be found on page 52. “Hugh Jackman is a sincere person that truly loves his family over anything else,” says Marie. ‘I think that’s noble.

Les Misérables co-star Anne Hathaway also received a Golden Globe award for her portrayal of Fantine in the Les Misérables. Proving she is more than just a pretty face, the actress can add “singer” to her resume now. The spunky brunette, who remains close to her childhood friends despite her success, once co-hosted the 83^rd annual Academy Awards and wed actor/designer Adam Shulman last year in Big Sur. Hathaway’s interview in this issue can be found on page 62.

A Distinctive Style continues to bring readers informative, interactive videos, and this issue is no exception. The documentary Chasing Ice, featured on page 26, explores the rapidly melting ice caps that affect our precious planet.

You can view the magazine in its entirety at: A Distinctive Style Magazine

Founded in 2007 by Dallas resident Denise Marie, A Distinctive Style—a magazine with heart—is a pioneer in the digital online experience, proving that utilizing this medium is not only a green practice, but can actually enhance the reading experience. The online magazine can access a variety of media not available in a traditional print format, and incorporates music as well as video and audio interviews.

ADISTINCTIVESTYLE.COM

Magic in nature

On 14/01/2013 / Animals, Culture, Environmental, humanity, Inspiration, Inspirational, People, Photography, Uncategorized / 1 Comment

With all the madness in the world there is still magic in nature

RARE WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN SIGHTING

The odds of seeing an albino moose are astronomical
And to see this in the upper peninsula of Michigan,
Near Wisconsin, is even greater than astronomical.
To see two of them together is nearly impossible.
We wanted to share these photos with as many people as possible
Because you will probably never have a chance to see this rare sight again.
This is a really special treat, so enjoy these shots of a lifetime.

: Magic in the World Nature 1

: Magic in the World Nature 2

: Magic in the world Nature 3

: Magic in the World Nature 4

: Magic in the World Nature 5

: Magic in the World Nature 6

: Magic in the World Nature 7

: Magic in the World Nature 8

: Magic in the World Nature 8

: Magic in the World Nature 10

: Magic in the World Nature 11

: Magic in the World Nature 12

: Magic in the World Nature 13

: Magic in the World Nature 14

: Magic in the World Nature 15

: Magic in the World Nature 16

Bradley Cooper Nominated for Best-Actor—Interview

On 11/01/2013 / Celebrities, Culture, Film, humanity, Inspirational, Interviews, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Videos / Leave a comment

Bradley Cooper Nominated for Best-Actor

Bradley Cooper was recently nominated for “Best Actor” in “Silver Linings Playbook,” opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro, who were also nominated for “Best Actress” and “Best Supporting Actor.” In his recent interview with A Distinctive Style, Cooper talks about the stigma against mental illness.

Q: What was it like working with Jennifer Lawrence, you’ve done it twice now?

Bradley Cooper: Yeah, back to back. Very lucky, I feel like I latched onto a secret before everybody knew about it. She’s incredible. She’s just an incredible actress and such a professional. It’s easy. I would do every movie with her.

Q: How did you prepare for a role like this in Silver Linings?

Screen Shot 2013 01 11 at 12.41.34 PM Bradley Cooper Nominated for Best Actor—Interview

Bradley Cooper in “Silver Linings Playbook”

Bradley Cooper: The guy you play obviously has some mental issues. Did you visit a hospital? There wasn’t much time, but David (O. Russell) sent me some material and a bunch of videos. I went online and I remember there was one thing; I saw a documentary of a guy who had recorded his own depression and mental illness for years. And I remember thinking that I could relate to it, the way it was written. It’s set in Philadelphia, and the relationship with the father and the mother, I know that world. So you make connections.

Q: Do you think love is the answer to cure illnesses?

Bradley Cooper: This guy meets a girl and then all is fine? Well I don’t think he’s cured. I don’t think the message is that he’s cured, I mean as life goes on, he’s made improvements. Did you get the feeling that he was cured?

Q: No, but he looked different in the end.

Bradley Cooper: Clearly. You see a guy who’s gotten his shit together, for sure. He doesn’t believe an illusion like he does at the beginning of the movie.

Awareness

Holland Taylor is Brilliant as Governor Ann Richards in the play she wrote.

Homeless to Hollywood

The Untold Story

Peace is when we see each other as people. All we have to do is talk.

PEACE, it’s easy PEACE, it’s quick PEACE, it’s viral

One new person, One new connection

A cardboard bicycle that’s strong, waterproof and costs less than £10 to manufacture.

Designed by Israeli engineer and systems developer Izhar Gafni

A revealing look at Ann Richards, the Legendary Governor of Texas Through the Eyes of Holland Taylor

A LETTER FROM HOLLAND TAYLOR

Watch for the April issue of A Distinctive Style magazine to see our interview with Holland Taylor.

Academy Award-nominated actress Cicely Tyson is back on Broadway

Team manager Mitchell Marcus has a with a developmental disability but…

Baby elephant Navann having the time of his life!

Searching for Sugar Man Wins Best Documentary at the 85th Annual Academy Awards

An artist’s journey from homelessness to the Academy Awards

Forced to make life decisions that a child should not have to face.

Anne Hathaway crowned Best Supporting Actress for her role as Fantine in Les Misérables

With an incredible career, great friends, a loving husband and now an oscar, it’s fair to say Anne Hathaway has it all!

Daniel Day-Lewis … Style and Grace

Oscar buzz is in the air! In A Distinctive Style magazine, readers will find interviews with this year’s most watched Academy Award Nominees, all vying for a coveted gold Oscar statue.

75-Year-Old Soybean Farmer Could Deal A Blow To Monsanto ’s Empire Today

Katherine Heigl is helping to save the lives of animals in desperate need

Are your favorite brands failing to take urgent action to eliminate the release of hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and products?

Big brands caught off-trend

Join fashion-lovers, activists, models and designers in exposing fashion brands’ dirty little secret and demanding fashion without pollution.

One Mind for Research with Tom Hanks

THE INVISIBLE EPIDEMIC

Patrick J. Kennedy Reviews Silver Linings Playbook

As a public figure with bipolar disorder, the Oscar-nominated Silver Linings Playbook hit home with me, portraying my illness with compassion—and a dose of humor.

Houses made from 70-80% recycled materials

There is consideration of his work:

The 2013 Oscars Go To?

A Distinctive Style’s Winter issue features human interest, social awareness, sustainable and organic fashion and this years Academy Award nominees.

With all the madness in the world there is still magic in nature

RARE WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN SIGHTING

Bradley Cooper Nominated for Best-Actor

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PEACE, it’s easy
PEACE, it’s quick
PEACE, it’s viral

One new person,
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A revealing look at Ann Richards, the Legendary Governor of Texas
Through the Eyes of Holland Taylor