this is… The Neighborhood
the Story within the Story
Albino Alligator
Life is a song – sing it.
Life is a game – play it.
Life is a challenge – meet it.
Life is a dream – realize it.
Life is a sacrifice – offer it.
Life is love – enjoy it.
– Sai Baba
∞∞∞
∞∞∞
Albino Alligator
edited by Kendall F. Person
With only 12 in existence, the albino alligator, with its piercing blue eyes and ghost-like white skin is of the rarest creatures in the world. They have been found only in the bayous of Louisiana and are buried deep in mystical beliefs, that laying eyes upon one, good fortune it will bring. But it is well known that an albino alligator cannot survive in the wild, being unable to camouflage itself and therefore never allowed the peace of moving out of harms way. But a more sinister notion of why they cannot survive, stunningly ascertained in the movie of the same name. Albino Alligators tend to be weak, sensitive and shy, unable to defend themselves, much less hold onto territory. It is proven that chimpanzees engage in tactical warfare and wild dogs will strategize in the hunt, but legend has it that an opportunistic gator, impatient about waiting his turn in line, will nudge an albino alligator into the prized territory of the alpha gator, and when the alpha swoops in to defend itself against the hapless gator with pale skin, he will have found himself outsmarted, for his rival has set the stage for ambush and his fate will have been sealed.
courtesy of Dave the Haligonian
In 1773, the 13 colonies located in North America, but still very much under British rule, revolted to additional taxation, believing they had already paid their fair share. So in Boston, they took the British Tea, in which they were expected to pay taxes on and destroyed it all, infuriating the Crown across the pond and setting off a spectacular chain of events, eventually leading to the American Revolutionary War. But in 1775, all of the colonies were still not convinced to join ranks into a single army in a fight for their independence. But at the Virginia convention, a man by the name of Patrick Henry stepped up to the podium and delivered a speech, that would lead to the birth of a nation.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace – but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!
The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!
Our brethren are already in the field!
Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have?
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take;
but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Jayden Nelson with his mother Monique.
On December 14, 2010, a young woman named Monique Nelson would take her 2-year-old son Christmas shopping, stopping by a one hour photo store in a strip mall located on the south side of the city of Sacramento. In an unthinkable chain of events, she would become a casualty in a street war that made no sense. A shootout began in an opposing business, located in the same parking lot. With the violence escalating and the bullets flying from all directions, Ms. Nelson’s actions would exemplify the bond between a mother and her child, when she acted without hesitation, using her body as a shield, and taking an errant bullet, straight to the heart.
The sacrifice of the albino alligator is another rung in securing survival of a species. For the best territories offer more to eat and the bigger and stronger in animal kingdom, the better chance to find a mate. War does not come without sacrifice, and those who declare it, and those who fight for it, play historical roles in victory and in defeat. And a mother sacrificing herself for her child, is tragic for its existence, and beautiful in its devotion.
Without hesitation – a person or situation or an occasion – we can comprehend a sacrifice on some level; and that the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few.But we also may struggle or be challenged by an empty sacrifice: things we do that do not edify our lives, that do not count as our contribution and, that we may not even enjoy, yet the time given or the money spent or the emotion exhausted, was at the expense of something or someone else.
On March 1, Season IV will begin. The Neighborhood has shied away from few topics. We have always tried to deliver thought-provoking shows, while never forgetting that we are here to entertain you. Appropriately titled ‘RAW’, throughout our 4th season we will take a closer look at our cities, our communities and ourselves, with the dream or intent or hope or ambition, to find solutions and build strength together, so that sacrifices we are forced to make, serve a purpose, like the American Revolutionary War or are beneficial to somebody – like Monique Nelson – but unlike the albino alligator, the choice will be ours.
Director Fran Daddy Brings a Song of Inspiration to Life
“The depth of his lyrics, matched by the power in her voice.”
There has always been something special about ‘My Heart’. Its production time – from idea to recorded song – in less than 5 days, created from a bond, built and nurtured right here…. in The Neighborhood. And seven months after its release, Multi-Media Artists, Nafiys Walters aka Fran Daddy of the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, imagined, and visualized then brought My Heart to life. A song of inspiration, intertwined in a story of rediscovering a united strength (delivered with conviction by IvySoul Robinson) he beautifully captures the essence of both, yet never forgets, that music should entertain us Fran Daddy demonstrates, not simply growth, but his transformation from cameraman to director. And the fact he has chosen The Neighborhood to perfect his craft is not lost, but serves as a testament, that this all-inclusive community, is spreading goodwill, peace, respect and love.
Please enjoy, and share with someone who needs it.
2014 Season-ending Show: Goodbye My Love & Thepublicblogger Awards – Day One
Please welcome, from Miami Florida,
underground recording artists…
Swift Slay
THE URGE
by Oscar Alejandro Plascencia,
of La Puente California
The urge,
the need…
is always there,
calling like a lover spurned.
Fragments flicker to life
then fade away,
before they can prosper,
like the spark of a matchstick
too humid to light.
Phrases
fold unto themselves
collapsing
from the weight
of expectation.
Then the moment passes,
the muse…
is gone,
like the foggy memories
of a dream
lost in the space and time
between slumber
and consciousness.
Still the urge,
the need…
is always there,
calling like a lover spurned.
set design by Keyur Panchal, Ahmadabad India
written, edited & directed by Kendall F. Person,
Sacramento California
We hung on as long as we could, but when the horn sounded the 4th time, we knew that we had to say goodbye. We were only 16 when we met, puppy love is what they called it, love is what we felt. We survived our final two years in high school together, albeit there were more than a few close calls. We stayed together through our collegiate years even though we attended schools thousands of miles apart. She said yes, the first time I asked, and we did not wait for a wedding, but eloped on the mountaintop with just us and God. Our first born stayed up all night, screaming, not crying, colic is what he had, stress is what we got, but together, we held on and raised a healthy son.
We both had our careers, she a teacher and I an engineer, but nothing stood in the way of our love or our family and we soon gave birth to a second child, my little girl. The four of us soon became five, and we were a loving family, the apple of our own eyes. For the next 45 years, we would live a fortunate life. Somehow immune to tragedy and the everyday disappointments of life. Some say we were charmed, others say we were blessed, but living with so many good years under our belt, when tragedy hit… we felt cursed.
and the Nominees are….
2014 Best Art Piece
Solitude by Charitha Kulatunga, Sri Lanka
Nacago, Summer Rose, Sacramento California
Primitive, Rick Daddario, Hawaii
la ropa justa, Martin Jimenez Tassara, Buenos Aires Argentina
SketchUrsula, Danijel Firak, Zagreb Croatia
the beauty of weeping, by Himitsuhana Photography, Chiara Fersini, Italy
The Day Came, Cpt. Gabor Dvornik, Budapest, Hungary
from Miami Florida, Jay Red featuring Swift Slay
Never respect men merely for their riches,
but rather for their philanthropy;
we do not value the sun for its height,
but for its use.
– Gamaliel Bailey
The 2014 Peace Award
Nikki Bollerman and 3rd grade class
When so much of the headlines – as of late – on race, having to do with hate, Nikki Bollerman is a pleasant distraction or change of pace. Not only does she enter a contest to win much needed books for her 3rd grade class, but when she wins the grand prize of $150,000 in cold hard cash, she donates the bounty to her school in hopes to build a computer lab.
Nikki Bollerman, for the size of your heart and the foresight of thought and for leading us away from hate, The Neighborhood is proud to announce the first ever recipient of The 2014 Peace Award, forever known, from this day forward as The Nikki Bollerman Peace Award.
2014 Song of the Year
My wife, the love of my life, was dying, you see and because of her age, the kidney transplant she needed would never take place. Our son had ventured into different parts of the globe, had found a solution, illegal for sure, immoral only God knows, but I would do anything to save her life. So as the horn blew a final time, we release our grasped, since I could not travel with her, my heart would not allow me to fly. So she and my son took off for Singapore, a kidney was awaiting her, how they got it, we do not know and nor would we ask, allowing ignorance to remain bliss. My son pulled her from my arms, tears rolling down both our faces. Neither of us knowing if we would ever see each other again or was this goodbye my love….. to be continued
Day Two: Performance is Underway
Knock Knock
Please cast your vote before exiting the show.
And may laughter by your gauge.
Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Avenue
Avenue who?
Avenue knocked on this door before?
Christopher De Voss, Orlando Florida
2013 Winner Best Comedy Blog Post
My Simplistic Review OF The Smart Watch
The team of Long Awkward Pause proudly presents….
this year’s Nominees for the 2014 Public Blogger Awards in the category of…Best Hummus Blog Post.
We searched far and wide and combed every possible corner of the internet to find the best blogs about Hummus.
We found only one: HummusAmoungUs.com.
So we decided to scrap that and nominate blogs in the humor category instead.
So…
If you would like to find great recipes on hummus, then check out that blog…
If you would like to laugh instead, check out our Nominees.
and the nominees are……
from Thought Catalog
19 Things You Need To Know Before You Date A Sarcastic Girl
written by Crissy Milazzo
a sarcastic girl
excerpt
No. 14 There’s nothing in my eye
I’m actually having an emotional reaction to something. I’m not actually sure what this salty, watery substance is coming out of my eyeballs right now but it happens sometimes when I get upset. You don’t need to stare at me like I’m on fire. I have feelings!
from YouTube
Christian VS Muslim
produced by DarkMatter2525
from Snoozing on the Sofa
Reading is fun except for all those words
written by Scott Nagele
Reading is Fun
excerpt:
So it boils down to this: reading is fun, especially when accompanied by numerous illustrations, but the enjoyment can be diminished by an overabundance of difficult pages.
from The Chris Brake Show
Neighbor’s Eggs
on air podcast personalities Chris Brake & John Rapp
from Drinking Tips for Teens
Phooked
written by Ross Murray
Canadian Ross Murray
excerpt
So here’s that lesson I promised you: Phishing scams are like thunderstorms. They happen all the time and are mostly harmless. and every now and then they find the perfect, (distracted, stupid) conductor. So always, always wear rubber boots on your brain.
from Once Upon Your Prime
I’ll Have the Menopasta w/a side of Heatballs, please!
written by Stephanie Mark Lewis
Menopasta
excerpt
SPECIAL OF THE DAY
Wilted Insomnia on a bed of Lettuce (lettuce sleep please!) tossed (and turned) with Mean Goddess Dressing.
Black Cohash, Succatash Squash, gently sauteed in Evening Primrose Oil
Chicken Tender Breast battered with Lose Your Temper Tempura
Hot {Flash} Sundae.
from A Buick in the Land of Lexus
Moist Painties
written by Samara Rose
samara speaks
excerpt:
I live in a world of words. My job immerses me in words; I write, I talk a lot and I have a kid who speaks non stop. There are words, however, that just make me want to hork.
Wisdom to Believe in Ourselves
由美國thepublicblogger.com 舉辦，2014年度最佳勵志類博客網站/博文的七位被提名人名單已經誕生，首先，我對被提名者表示熱烈的祝賀。作為2013年度相同獎項的冠軍得主以及今年的評判，我認為今年被成功提名的作品都是極富啟發性的佳作，它們不單能夠觸動我的心靈，也相信能夠使人們從信息的更深層意義中，獲得改善自己人生的啟迪。 在今年年底的時候，我們將會選出一名冠軍，不難想像，要在已經最好的名單中挑選最好，將會是一項極富挑戰性的任務…….…祝大家好運。
What2believe （光靈）
香港
what2believe, Hong Kong
My heartiest congratulations to the seven nominees for the 2014 Best self-help blog/post award presented by thepublicblogger.com. Being the winner of the same award in 2013 as well as one of the judges for this year, I have found your works truly inspirational, not only touching my heart, I believe people’s lives can be literally transformed for the better through deeper understanding of the messages. By the very end of 2014, only one will be selected out of the list of seven as the final award winner, I am sure you can imagine how challenging it will be for us to pick the best from already the best…..good luck. – What2believe, Hong Kong
‘Difficulties’ by What2believe
Winner 2013 Best Self-Help postThe difficulties you encounter in your life are not supposed to torture you, but a reminder to let you know that you have some unfinished life lessons to which you need to address, it simply means you have not yet transcended a particular test life has to offer you.
Whenever you encounter difficulty in life, the first thing that you would say to yourself is “Thank you”, for life is finding a way to bring you an experience you need at a deeper level.
See difficulty encountered in life as catalyst to examine inwardly your state of being, so that you can choose again to change your perspective and attitude towards a particular situation you labelled as suffering.
by Dave King
and the nominees for the 2014 Best Self-Help Post are…..
from the blog, LIJIUN
nominated post ‘The power of a SMILE….’
May the elderly grandma be well and happy!
We may not all read books of inspiration or listen to motivational tapes or write our own goals down and place them in a visible place to read every day, and while each of these methods offers something positive to help us stay focused, LIJUN reminds us of the power of a smile and the difference it can make.
{excerpt from The power of a SMILE}
A little gesture of kindness can bring tremendous happiness to other’s life! Why not just do it! Don’t delay, don’t give excuses….give your unconditional loving kindness and BIG SMILE! You can always make a difference in your life and others too!
from the blog, Captain Excellent
nominated post ‘The Highest Calling of Mankind’
The Highest Calling of Mankind
There are some offering advice or words of wisdom, that force a climb up a hill to get it, no doubt believing, anything worth having is worth working for, and that includes knowledge. {Man} He does not trust himself with his own power of creation and ability to wield his tools with integrity. But reaching the top is worth the climb as artistic or spiritual freedom awaits. {Man} In his own Luminosity he finds shadowless, free to paint his canvass in rapturous tones. – {excerpt from The Highest Calling of Mankind}
from Welcome to our MindMedicine blog!
nominated post ‘Life is a Process of Becoming’
The conversational flow and writing style of Life is a Process of Becoming feels like we are sitting next to a good friend. The writing voice speaks directly to us, making the positive affirmations feel real, not like words upon a page. And even if you find the summation more than a bit optimistic, the subheading alone is worth the nomination. Acceptance, Allowing, Freedom, Peace, Self-Development, Self-Help, Self-Love, Wisdom {excerpt from Life is a Process of Becoming}
from the blog, Ramblings of a Young Christian Woman
nominated post ‘A Sassy 17 Year Old and & An Unveiled Passion’
A Sassy 17 Year Old & An Unveiled Passion
Her ramblings are about, and her passion is of her devout faith and her determination to fulfill the mission He has for her. That Spring, the Lord awakened a part of my heart I never knew existed. Rather we are of the same faith or religion or spiritual belief, makes no difference in being inspired by her dedication, and motivated by the intensity of A Sassy 17 Year Old and & {Her}An Unveiled Passion to make a contribution to humanity.
from the blog, Ahmad Al Charif
nominated post ‘Wake Up’
Wake Up!
When was the last time you gave your soul something it really wanted? Posing such a heavy question, we would anticipate an even heavier solution, but this is not the case. While Ahmad Al Charif may be a spiritual philosopher, who speaks to our inner self, he understands that to penetrate the chaos that sometimes surrounds, he must speak in a way that we hear and listen. When was the last time you sat in silence, completely still, and you felt whole, complete, and at peace? Wake Up inspires us to do just that, by simply allowing our inner voice to hear itself think.
from the blog, Star in Moi
nominated post Think Thursday: Accept Your Growth!
Accept Your Growth!
We are the accumulation of the days of our lives. With every challenge, every experience, every success and every meltdown we have ever had – Everything you go through is meant to teach you, strengthen you and “grow you” into the person you are meant to be. – is indicative of the inspirational prose delivered on any given Thursday, and on October 2, 2014 we learned that to Accept Your Growth! is one of the best things we can do for ourselves.
from the blog Breaking Free/Living Life
nominated post The World of Triggers
The World of Triggers
Rather it is an addiction, that is the burden we carry, or post traumatic stress disorder has us walking on eggshells, or we are haunted by a memory, that awakes us screaming in a cold sweat, each episode usually follows what are referred to as triggers or ‘the button that sets things off’ and turmoil into motion. Dealing with our triggers proactively is productive – is one of seven easily understood subheadings, which takes us from understanding The World of Triggers Regardless how big or little the triggers may be, the reaction is the same -to the desired Result: freedom!
2014 Season-Ending Show – Thepublicblogger Awards trailer
Up Next: Best Comedy/Humor blog, post or podcast
Still to come: Best short/long story fiction/nonfiction and Best Post or Blog
Please visit the main stage for the revealed nominees in your favorite categories.{Song of the Year, Best Poetry Spiritual Healing & Best Visual Art Piece}
2014 Season-Ending Show – Thepublicblogger Awards
New Year’s Eve
Only @ thepublicblogger.com
Welcome to The Neighborhood
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.