this is… The Neighborhood
the Story within the Story
STRANGERS 101: THE PEOPLE
“Fear makes strangers of people
who would be friends.”
– Shirley MacLaine
∞∞∞
People That You Meet
by Slaves
∞∞∞
STRANGERS: THE PEOPLE WE MEET
In 2015, The Atlantic published an article based on a college course offered by New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. The theme and goals were multi-layered, but the quirky programs main thrust, can be assessed directly from the title of the course: Stranger Studies 101: Cities as Interaction Machines. 
From Florence Oregon (pop. 8,800) to Los Angeles California (pop. 3,976,000) local governments nationwide spend millions; from the simple to the Hollywood-style public relations campaign, all to draw visitors to their cities. But at any given time, these visitors – and neighbors alike – are the strangers, that 101 studied how to meet.
At the onset of the technology revolution, while most cheered such an advanced form of communication, there were the naysayers who foretold a further diminishing of human interaction, a loss of common courtesies, that many still hold dear.
The internet has turned out to be more than commerce; it is in fact, society online, with unlimited potential to meet the people. To connect with strangers, collaborate with neighbors and even become our cities’ best resource to draw visitors in.
In 2014, The Neighborhood became an online community – a stage – for underground artists of all genres, to entertain a growing audience of literature, photography, short films and music enthusiasts. But as a sign of times, the mission did not change, but altered. It became the belief, with an online city of 100,000, that along with entertaining, we could perhaps do something revolutionary, like forging change or maybe something beautiful, like turning strangers into friends.
On Friday September 29, a Community Meet & Greet or a Town Hall or an interaction of strangers, or a public relations campaign or a summation of them all. In prose, quotes, video or photography. By lecture, laughter or in a personal story. 20 cities – down from 32 (The Knockout Round) – will be in The Neighborhood to tell us something good about the places they call home. 
But with its simple, yet noble purpose, CITIES is still a game of elimination. However, it is not about the individuals, it is about their CITIES; and 5 of the 20… will not have told us something good enough.
∞∞∞
Based on The Top 10 Cities…
CITIES Round 2: Tell Me Something Good
Friday Sep 29 only in The Neighborhood
Follow The Neighborhood here and Like our fb page as #CITIES unfolds
SHADOWS OF OURSELVES
“If you must, do not judge me by who you think I am, judge me by who I say I am.”
∞∞∞
from Bridgette Cooper-Anderson
by Orpheus With His Flute
∞∞∞
SHADOWS OF OURSELVES
(\Dreams & Nightmares)
written & edited by Kendall F. Person
We have dreams, that never come to fruition and we have nightmares, in which we never escape. We have ambitions, that we do not pursue and there are traps that we willingly fall into. There is serenity, that we chase away and there is conflict, in which we seek out with rage. And there is love in abundance all around, and yet we only acknowledge the haters, even though we know, they exist only when we do.
There is a wide berth between dreams and nightmares, and yet, they are easily confused. Nightmares we awaken from, shaken and scared, but relieved, that whatever was chasing us, does not exist here. Dreams provide such comfort, that upon our awakening, we make desperate, futile attempts to fall back inside and dream the same dream again.
During the past 14 months, Colin Kaepernick has donated $800,000 to various charities
“I have to help these communities. It’s not right that they’re not put in the position to succeed or given those opportunities to success.” – Colin Kaepernick*
We arise sad and angry, that we are not making a contribution, nor on a path to live our dreams out loud. So we guard our emotions, by changing the way we think. But rather than initiate the pursuit of happiness, to start believing in ourselves, to lend a hand in helping the world, we choose to become a victim and detonate blame, then decide upon a boogeyman.
“The blood of that girl [Heather Hyer] is not on my hands….” – Jason Kessler**
Jason Kessler, Organizer of the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville
The victim syndrome is a clever lot, and may take years for others to figure out – that all that time we spent complaining, it was wolf we were crying out. And it seems to make no difference, how the syndrome derives [a manipulating personality trait; or the manifestation of an actual victimization, that we could not get past] once the syndrome is triggered, it appears to grow non stop.
Believing or pretending to believe, the world and everyone in it is out to get us, and not a single one of our failures had anything to do with the choices we made, is a cunning mental illness, often mistaken for leadership or brilliance, but
can lead to tragedy or our own undoing.
Blame is like a masquerade; shadows of ourselves. Such a high when we fool the people, but unaware, it is only temporary. So we wear the mask more and more, until one day we neglect to take it off and inevitably, we begin to fool ourselves and the fall… it never stops.
— The Neighborhood
*Colin Kaepernick donated $800,000 to empower oppressed communities, For The Win
**626: White Haze, This American Life
\Dreams & Nightmares, thepublicblogger
On Friday September 29, meet 15 Cities you will feel good about… and 5 you will not.
CITIES RD 2: Tell Me Something Good
FOR THE SMALL MOMENTS
∞∞∞
As a matter of fact, videos shared in The Neighborhood, either soundtrack the performance or promote a future show. But every now and then, the video is the main event and should be viewed and not passed over. And speaking directly with my neighbors, who do not follow on social media or generally play along, let this one be the exception. If your city is still in (and even if they are not), be of good cheer and play along. (big smile) – KP
In – 2 paragraphs or less
OR a :30 – :60 second video
OR 3 original photographs – tell us something good about your city
∞∞∞
Tell Me Something Good
created by Kendall F. Person
music prod by Carneyval feat. Sophia
∞∞∞
*Thank you for sharing #wordstoliveby Cassandra Cardona.
JUST MAKE ME FEEL GOOD
“When it is dark enough,
you can see the stars.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
∞∞∞
Cups (jellosea remix)
by Anna Kendrick
∞∞∞
Just Make Me Feel Good
by Kendall F. Person
Time Magazine would hail it as Black History Night at the Oscars, and a big night it was. Sidney Poitier received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Denzel Washington took Best Actor, but it was Halle Berry that truly made history. In 2002, she became the first African American woman to be named Best Actress at the Academy Awards.
However, controversy would not be far, unfounded I thought then and still do now, that the first Black woman to win the top honor, would do so for a movie named Monster’s Ball, for some was not a reason to celebrate at all. At the core of the controversy was one pivotal scene. Some moviegoers believed it was over the top, doing nothing to advance the drama, simply a way for the movie to exploit Halle Berry’s gorgeous body. Out of context, this reasoning made sense. The love-making scene between Halle and Billy Bob was so intense, so visual and graphic, it left a shellshocked audience panting, trying to catch their breath. But in context, it defined the Monster’s Ball.
When the movie opens, Halle Berry’s husband is on death row. He would be put to death by a man who would eventually become her lover, but she did know. Billy Bob Thornton was the man in question. His father was an old school racist and his son suffered from depression. Her only child – an immensely overweight, chronic eater – was killed by a hit and run driver. His only son, could not fight his demons and placed a gun against his own head and pulled the trigger.
When Billy Bob arrived at Halle’s home, everything she owned had been put on the streets, and everyone she loved was buried six feet deep. So when he asked her was there anything he could do, her response was the precursor to the most talked about scene of the movie “Just make me feel good.”
∞∞∞
It is not necessary and nor should we wait until times are bad, to do nice things for ourselves and others. Simple courtesies like saying good morning with a genuine smile or holding the door open or just listening without saying a word, can go a long way in making us feel good about ourselves. Although, there are times when only a chocolate sundae or being in the arms of the person we love can make us feel good all over.
CITIES RD2: Tell Me Something Good
By SEP 27 tell us something good about your city.
WHERE IS OZ?
cover Yellow by Madalinonut
“If it’s inside of us, why do we not reach for it all the time?”
IvySoul Robinson w/ Some Days
written by Kendall F. Person
∞∞∞
∞∞∞
WHERE IS OZ?
developed by Kendall F. Person
When Dorothy woke up from the land of Oz, surrounded by her smiling and relieved family, she had an epiphany, that had escaped her nearly the entire film. Clicking her heels in triplet succession, closing her eyes and believing in the words she was saying, there’s no place like home. there’s no place like home, is how she both made it from and found her inner Oz. It was with her family, with people that loved her and she loved too/ Inside of the moment, Dorothy had found what she was looking for. But more importantly, in her nightmare she had discovered, that they were with her all along.
However, while we are searching, and even before we know inner peace and love and destiny exists for us, then what is ‘IT’ doing? What emotion or feelings do we mistake it for or cover up or suppress? If it lives inside of us, then why is it so hard to find? Where is Oz when we need it most?
Official 1st round questions from Cities. For interactive fun, answer all or just the 5th one, as it is a part of this show.
Theme: American Places
Category: Delaware
Question: What is the official name of the structure in this image?
Only 1 wrong answer given.
∞∞∞
Theme: American Places
Category: West Virginia
Question: What is the name of this body of water?
An additional clue was requested, but only submitted a wrong answer once.
∞∞∞
Theme: American Places
Category: South Dakota
Question: What is the name of this monument?
A Bullseye in first response.
∞∞∞
Q5 Theme: American Places
Category: Alaska
The Question: What is the name of the specific body of water within the circle only?
An argument could have been made, that all of the additional clues, made it impossible to be anything else. Correct answer on the 4th try.
∞∞∞
Theme: American Places
Hint: Kansas
The Question: Where is Oz? (In relation to this image,
considering theme and inside category, which is also a hint.
Each wrong response – and there were many – felt like a personal rejection, as if they truly believed, what they were looking for, could be found in Oz. Unlike the other questions, not one person got this one right. So I sent the answer up and this was the reply: “It was right here with me all along. I just didn’t see”
79 years later, and we are still comprehending what Dorothy meant. Oz is with us always, the search need not go on. But it lives inside the bigger picture. The theme is the outside world; the category is our place in it. And when we forget who we are, remember this hint: even in the bigger picture, the photograph is still you.
CITIES: Rd 2 Sep 29th at 7am pst/10 est only at Thepublicblogger FB Page
Trending
Support The Neighborhood
You are appreciated. (big smile)
ABOUT ME
Kendall F. Person Answers Questions on Quora
this is... The Neighborhood 
You must be logged in to post a comment.