Get to Give HOW IT WORKS

About a week after our SPOTLIGHT series kicked off at the Brooklyn Bowl, we want to take some time to reflect, say some big THANK YOU’S, and share our plans for the road ahead for SOAR Nation.  For those of you who came out to the event, we first want to say thank you for braving the stormy night to be a part of the Get to Give movement!

Olamide started the show off with an amazing performance, full of soul, passion, and incredible talent. A huge thank you goes out to him for whole-heartedly supporting our mission and helping to shine the spotlight on More Than Me by even wearing the One K Tee designed for this event. The humility and undeniable talent of Olamide and the members of his band brought the audience to its feet, and when J Ross Parrelli took the stage following him, energy surged! Another huge thank you goes to J Ross, who made a stop from the Warped Tour just to perform and show her love for SOAR Nation and the concept of Get to Give. Her set ended with a memorable performance of the Miracles Remix—the same song used in the More Than Me Foundation’s video on their site. Some fans in the crowd sang along to the inspiring lyrics, “it’s true, it’s true… I believe in miracles, I do!” as the night was refocused on its greater purpose, and the venue was filled with anticipation for the headliner. When Pharoahe Monch took the stage, the Brooklyn Bowl was filled with fans of the hip hop legend, and his performance did not disappoint at all. With captivating energy and enormous talent, Pharoahe Monch blew us all away.  A giant THANK YOU goes out to Pharoahe and his whole crew who put on a great show: MeLa, Showtime, Mr. Len, and the surprise guest appearance from hip-hop phenom Jean Grae.

The SPOTLIGHT Series kickoff was a success because of the people who came out and showed that Get to Give is a model and mission that truly works. Thunderstorms plagued the evening and may have kept some people home, but those who did attend, bought raffle tickets, apparel from our One K Tee Campaign, etc. helped us make a difference. We also want to thank all the restaurants, gyms, and museums who donated gift cards to our raffle basket! The proceeds from the night will allow two more girls to go to school in Liberia with the More than Me Foundation, and to those girls you are all heroes.  If you want to help us send more girls to school with More than Me, you still can! Our One K Tee campaign will continue, and you can also buy any other merchandise HERE and choose More Than Me as the nonprofit you want to support at checkout.

So what’s up next in the SPOTLIGHT Series? We are in the process of planning our next SPOTLIGHT event, which will shine a light on the nonprofit IRATE & First Friends—an organization that advocates for the dignified and compassionate treatment of immigrants held in detention in America. Learn more about IRATE & FIRST FRIENDS and their mission HERE.

As for SOAR Nation, we are still working hard day by day to build an awesome marketplace full of great apparel, music, tickets, and more! Stay tuned with what’s new by following us on all your favorite social networks including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram*, Pinterest*, and now even 8Tracks! Get to Give is a growing movement with so much potential and the SPOTLIGHT series has given us new momentum. Thanks to everyone who believes in what we’re doing—we can’t do it without you!

On July 15th, SOAR Nation is hosting SPOTLIGHT: a Benefit Event series that raises funds and awareness for non-profit missions. Hip-Hop legend Pharoahe Monch will take the stage, as well as J Ross Parrelli, Olamide, and Aye James + China Black. The goal of this SPOTLIGHT is to support More Than Me, an organization that gets girls in Liberia (West Africa) off the streets and into schools. TICKETS: bit.ly/NEYTBc.

Watch “Clap”: a riveting social commentary / music video on police violence by Pharoahe and his crew. DEFINITELY watch this - it will move you.

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This event is a part of the SPOTLIGHT series through which we aim to raise funds and awareness for an amazing non-profit and its cause while providing you with a great night out.

WHEN: Sunday, July 15th, 2012 -- Doors open at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211
TICKETS: On sale NOW at Soar Nation
QUESTIONS? Call Soar Nation at 201-413-9600

Come out Sunday, July 15th for SOAR Nation’s first SPOTLIGHT Series event featuring Pharoahe Monch, the socially conscious hip-hop veteran whose music promotes the kind of change SOAR Nation looks for in the world. He’s best known for his songs Simon Says, When The Gun Draws and My Life.  

Sharing the stage that night will be NYC-born Olamide, previously a singer with R&B band Imajin who has now dedicated himself to being a singer/songwriter; J Ross Parrelli - who is making a pitstop to perform for us away from emceeing the Vans Warped tour - blends jazz, reggae, old school hip-hop and Motown soul to create a beautiful flow; and a special surprise guest!

The non-profit organization in the SPOTLIGHT for this event is More Than Me.  It was founded by Katie Meyler who spent a year living and working in post-war Liberia, where she learned that free education was not available to all children there.  The kids she worked with, who were orphaned, would tell her that their biggest dream was to attend school. She strongly believed that they should.

That is the mission of More Than Me: to take young girls off the street (often away from the clutches of the sex trade) and provide them with an education and a safe haven.  Supporting More Than Me means helping provide them with clothing, food, school supplies, etc. as they make their way through school, avoiding a slew of statistics.  It gives them a chance to embrace a different, brighter future.

Please check out their website, Katie’s amazing story, and more - soak up their passion and cause.  Katie and her crew will be at the event, giving out more information about their mission and meeting with those who wish to support. You will also have the opportunity to meet and learn about the other awesome non-profits SOAR Nation supports through its platform.

Tickets are on sale NOW! With this amazing line up and chance to support such a passionate organization, they will sell out fast. Go to soarnation.com to buy your tickets and support More Than Me. See you there!

Stay tuned for a SPOTLIGHT event every month through Spring 2013.

Do you know who are Lucas Papademos (current Greek leader after the resignation of Papandreou) and Mario Monti (now in charge of the Italian government)?

Do you know who is Mario Draghi (current president of the European Central Bank)?

Do you know what is Goldman Sachs?

Goldman Sachs is one of the largest global investment banks and co-direct responsible, with other entities such as rating agency Moody’s, of the current crisis, and one of its greatest Beneficaries. Just as a stroke in 2007 won 4 billion dollars in transactions that led to the current disaster.

Papademos: Current Greek Prime Minister Papandreou following his resignation. Not elected by the people:

- Ex-governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of  Boston between 1993 and 1994.

- European Central Bank Vice President from 2002 to 2010.

- Member of the Trilateral Commission since 1998, founded by Rockefeller, neo-liberal lobby (buy politicians engage in exchange of  bribes)

- Former Governor of Central Bank of Greece between 1994 and 2002. Falsified accounts deficit of the country with the active assistance of Goldman Sachs, which led to a large extent and the current crisis in the country.

Mario Monti, Italy’s current prime minister following the resignation of Berlusconi. Not elected by the people:

- Former European director of the Trilateral Commission mentioned above.

- Former member of the Bilderberg group’s management team.

- Goldman Sachs adviser during the period in which it helped to hide the Greek government deficit.

Mario Draghi: Current European Central Bank president to replace Jean-Claude Trichet.

- Former CEO Munidal Bank between 1985 and 1990.

- Vice President for Europe at Goldman Sachs from 2002 to 2006, during which took place falsify above.

How many people who worked for Goldman Sachs….

Well, what a coincidence, all from the hand of Goldman Sachs. Those who created the crisis are now presented as the only viable option to get out of it, in what the American press is beginning to call “The government of Goldman Sachs in Europe.”

How did they do?

Encouraged investors to invest in sub-prime products they knew to waste products, while devoted to “gamble” in exchange for the failure of the same. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, and is well documented, you can investigate. As you read this text they are cheating a lot of money based on sovereign debt.

It tends to want us to think that the crisis has been a sort of slip, but the realitysuggests that behind it is a perfectly orchestrated to obtain direct power in our continent, in a move unprecedented in the century Europe XXI. The strategy of the biginvestment banks and rating agencies is a variant of other previously conducted on other continents, has been developing since the beginning of the crisis, and this from my point of view is being as follows:

1. We sank countries by speculating on the stock exchange / market. We drive them crazy with the unstables markets, the same markets we control every day.

2. We force them to borrow to keep in status quo, or “save”. These loans are strictlycalculated to enable countries not to pay, as is the case of Greece that could not have covered their debt even if the government sold the entire country, and it is no metaphor, it is mathematics.

3. We demand social cuts and privatization at the expense of citizens under the threat that if governments do not take place, investors will withdraw for fear of not being able to recover the money invested in the debt of these countries and other investments.

4. It creates a high level of social discontent, suitable for the people,  that accept anything to get out of the situation.

5. We place our mens where best fits.

If you think in science fiction, inquire: such strategies are well documented and have been used in different variations throughout the twenty and twenty-first century and in other countries, notably in Latin America by the United States, when engaged  to suffocating foreign debt economically by Central American countries, creating unrest and use it to put leaders sympathetic to their interests.

Now this is happening in Europe, and is no longer to do with the U.S., but it does the international financial industry. And what is happening under the  impotent eyes and / or with complicity of our governments is the biggest robbery ever in the history of humanity and global scale are huge violations of the sovereignty of states and their peoples.

Why do we exercise? Do we exercise to clean and strengthen the body, to clear the mind, to relieve stress? Whatever the reason(s), is it worth it? It is known that the USA is one of the largest, most obese countries in the world. Why? Most people are content with a walk around the block followed by a bacon cheeseburger. Most people are too busy to care about their health. These are very sad but true facts. People used to and still do, depending where you are, walk miles on end just to get water to provide their family.  With this being said, staying in shape requires hard work and a strong will. At the same time this same feat of the subconscious will help keep that peace of mind that many of us struggle to maintain.

 It is hard to understand how people can make the decision not to exercise. Some believe in the idea that for every gain there is loss; that everything positively affecting the body has its negatives affects. This is true.  We should all agree with this statement if we decide to run a 25 mile marathons when our bodies only permit us to run 15, or when we ingest substances to make our body do things they aren’t built to do naturally.  But what is worse? Is it trying to tread these waters or becoming too obese to tie your own shoes or becoming inactive by the age of 40? Lets also keep in mind that being active does not consist of playing a game of softball followed by a six-pack of Coors light.  It is not time to give up. It is time to take charge. Yet, we still must do it conservatively!

 We all should balance a healthy lifestyle with a responsible one. We should not look at exercise as a chore. It only feels that way at the start but soon becomes a necessity. As is already established as the biggest battle and most rhetorical statement pertaining to any venture, “The hardest part is simply getting started.”

 We would all be happier people with a little progressive blood flow in our lives and I won’t bring up statistics to prove this one. Just go out for a run, hike, or a bike ride…. it will prove itself. Why wouldn’t we want to feel our best everyday? These are our only days!

  When we think about trend and fashion, we usually skip the hair, unless we speak of Lady Gaga….

  But within modeling and the depths of fashion we cannot forget those that helped shape the trend of hairstyles. From 1950 to now, the “wedge bob”, the “beehive”, and the “hot roller” look, took the world through a whole new era of hair revolution “with a pair of scissors” (Wikipedia). A new sort of “wash-and-wear” look spread through out Europe in 1954 and made it’s way to the US shortly after. According to Sandy Cohen:

His [Sassoon] wash-and-wear styles included the bob, the Five-Point cut and the "Greek Goddess," a short, tousled perm — inspired by the "Afro-marvelous-looking women" he said he saw in New York's Harlem.

  London born, hair stylist, visionary, and philanthropist, Vidal Sassoon recently passed away due to, what’s been said as, Leukemia, or at this point pointed out as “Natural Causes” at age 84. Helping shape the image of the “Women’s Liberation Movement” Sassoon co-founded Paul Mitchell exclaiming “Good hairstylists never die,” (Cohen).  Most famous of celebrities that Vidal has worked with are “Jean Shrimpton, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, Elizabeth Taylor, Mary Quant, Twiggy and Mia Farrow” (Cole).

Mod Bob Cut

  We definitely admire Vidal Sassoon, one major reasons is not just because of his hair cutting skills and visions, but also his philanthropic views (you know us SOARers love our give back concept). Working heavily in the Jewish Community, Mr sassoon, developed “the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism, or SICSA, a research centre devoted to the non-political, interdisciplinary gathering of information about antisemitism” (Wikipedia). He also was a major advocate for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and was a big donator to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund..

  We as women understand the value of good hair care. As some spend minutes in the morning on hair others spend hours and it all revolves around which hair care (and makeup) we love in our hair. So in honor of good hair days and bad hair days, we salute and honor Hair Revolutionist Vidal Sassoon.

“HairStylist Vidal Sassoon was Fashion Revolutionary”. NEDA ULABY. NPR.

http://www.npr.org/2012/05/09/152366904/hairstylist-vidal-sassoon-was-fashion-revolutionary

“Liberator of Ladies’ Hair Vidal Sassoon dies at 84”. Sandy Cohen. Newsok. http://newsok.com/liberator-of-ladies-hair-vidal-sassoon-dies-at-84/article/feed/380456?custom_click=pod_headline_usnational-news

“Vidal Sassoon RIP: Charity Legacy”. Alan Cole. http://www.xperedon.com/news_1264

nanopatentsandinnovations.blogspot.com
April 21, 2012

Researchers from Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute and Harvard University have found that greater consumption of sugar-sweetened and low-calorie sodas is associated with a higher risk of stroke. Conversely, consumption of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee was associated with a lower risk.

The study – recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition – is the first to examine soda’s effect on stroke risk. Previous research has linked sugar-sweetened beverage consumption with weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gout and coronary artery disease.

“Soda remains the largest source of added sugar in the diet,” said Adam Bernstein, M.D., Sc.D., study author and Research Director at Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute. “What we’re beginning to understand is that regular intake of these beverages sets off a chain reaction in the body that can potentially lead to many diseases – including stroke.”

The research analyzed soda consumption among 43,371 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study between 1986 and 2008, and 84,085 women who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study between 1980 and 2008. During that time, 2,938 strokes were documented in women while 1,416 strokes were documented in men.

In sugar-sweetened sodas, the sugar load may lead to rapid increases in blood glucose and insulin which, over time, may lead to glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and inflammation. These physiologic changes influence atherosclerosis, plaque stability and thrombosis – all of which are risk factors of ischemic stroke. This risk for stroke appears higher in women than in men.

In comparison, coffee contains chlorogenic acids, lignans and magnesium, all of which act as antioxidants and may reduce stroke risk. When compared with one serving of sugar-sweetened soda, one serving of decaffeinated coffee was associated with a 10 percent lower risk of stroke.

In addition, study findings show that men and women who consumed more than one serving of sugar-sweetened soda per day had higher rates of high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol and lower physical activity rates. Those who drank soda more frequently were also more likely to eat red meat and whole-fat dairy products. Men and women who consumed low-calorie soda had a higher incidence of chronic disease and a higher body mass index (BMI). The investigators controlled for these other factors in their analysis to determine the independent association of soda consumption on stroke risk.

“According to research from the USDA, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption has increased dramatically in the United States over the past three decades, and it’s affecting our health,” said Dr. Bernstein. “These findings reiterate the importance of encouraging individuals to substitute alternate beverages for soda.”

We hear all the time about a constantly shrinking middle class in the US. We recently found an article that lists 25 indications that the middle class is indeed losing mass. Check them out and let us know what you think!

If America wants to be great again, it is going to need a thriving middle class.  But right now the federal government and the big corporations are gobbling up all of the power and all of the money and the middle class is shrinking rapidly.

If current trends continue, eventually there will not be much of a middle class left.

The following are 25 signs that middle class families have been targeted for extinction….

#1 Over the past several decades, millions upon millions of middle class Americans have been systematically turned into government dependents.  Back in 1960, social welfare benefits made up approximately 10 percent of all salaries and wages.  In the year 2000, social welfare benefits made up approximately 21 percent of all salaries and wages.  Today, social welfare benefits make up approximately 35 percent of all salaries and wages.

#2 Unemployment is at epidemic levels and the vast majority of the new jobs that have been “created” in recent years have been low paying jobs.  Of those Americans that do have a job at this point, one out of every four works a job that pays $10 an hour or less.

#3 The “working poor” is a group that is rapidly growing in this country.  If you can believe it, the United States actually has a higher percentage of workers doing low wage work than any other major industrialized nation does.

#4 Over the past several decades, the percentage of low income jobs has steadily increased.  Back in 1980, less than 30% of all jobs in the United States were low income jobs.  Today, more than 40% of all jobs in the United States are low income jobs.

#5 The way that our economic system is structured today, almost all of the economic rewards go to the very top of the food chain.  The following is how income gains in the United States were distributed during 2010….

-37 percent of all income gains went to the top 0.01 percent of all income earners

-56 percent of all income gains went to the rest of the top 1 percent

-7 percent of all income gains went to the bottom 99 percent

#6 Several decades ago, there was a much more even distribution of income in this country.  Back in the 1970s, the top 1 percent of all income earners brought in about 8 percent of all income.  Today, they bring in about 21 percent of all income.

#7 As the middle class shrinks, the number of “low income” and “poor” Americans is rapidly rising.  Today, approximately 48 percent of all Americans are currently either considered to be “low income” or are living in poverty.

#8 Manufacturing jobs once enabled huge numbers of Americans to enjoy a middle class lifestyle.  Unfortunately, those jobs are leaving this country at a breathtaking pace.  Back in 1940, 23.4% of all American workers had manufacturing jobs.  Today, only 10.4% of all American workers have manufacturing jobs.

#9 In the old days, any man that was willing to work hard and wanted a job could get one.  Today, there are millions of American men sitting on their couches at home wondering why nobody will hire them.  Back in 1950, more than 80 percent of all men in the United States had jobs.  Today, less than 65 percentof all men in the United States have jobs.

#10 The middle class is shrinking at the same time that America is getting poorer as a nation.  In the middle of the last century, the United States was #1 in the world in GDP per capita.  Today, the United States is #13 in GDP per capita.

#11 Every year now, we see millions of Americans fall out of the middle class.  In 2010, 2.6 million more Americans descended into poverty.  That was thelargest increase that we have seen since the U.S. government began keeping statistics on this back in 1959.

#12 The shrinking middle class is having a disproportionate impact on children.  At this point, approximately 22 percent of all American children are living in poverty.

#13 In the old days, most Americans grew up in middle class neighborhoods.  Sadly, this is no longer true.  In 1970, 65 percent of all Americans lived in “middle class neighborhoods”.  By 2007, only 44 percent of all Americans lived in “middle class neighborhoods”.

#14 The concentration of wealth at the very top of the food chain is astounding.  Right now, over 50 percent of all stocks and bonds are owned by just 1 percentof the U.S. population.

#15 When you concentrate too much power in the hands of the federal government and the big corporations, it is inevitable that massive amounts of wealth will become concentrated in just a few hands.  In the United States today, the wealthiest one percent of all Americans have a greater net worth than the bottom 90 percent combined.

#16 There is nothing wrong with making money, but there is something wrong with a game where individuals and small businesses cannot compete fairly.  According to Forbes, the 400 wealthiest Americans now have more wealth than the bottom 150 million Americans combined.

#17 When the number of poor people rapidly expands in a society, that is a recipe for social unrest.  At this point, the poorest 50 percent of all Americans collectively own just 2.5% of all the wealth in the United States.

#18 The hidden tax of inflation is absolutely devastating middle class families all over America.  Since 1970, the U.S. dollar has lost more than 83 percent of its value.  Any dollars that middle class families try to save are constantly losing a little bit more value every single day.

#19 American workers that try to play by the rules find that they are constantly fighting a losing battle.  According to one study, between 1969 and 2009 the median wages earned by American men between the ages of 30 and 50 droppedby 27 percent after you account for inflation.

#20 In recent years, many middle class families have seen their paychecks get smaller.  Median household income in the United States has fallen 7.8 percentsince December 2007 after adjusting for inflation.

#21 In recent years, many middle class families have seen many of their basic expenses absolutely soar.  For example, health insurance costs have risen by 23 percent since Barack Obama became president.

#22 Just turning on the lights and heating their homes has become a major burden for many middle class families.  Electricity bills in the United States have risen faster than the overall rate of inflation for five years in a row.

#23 Just putting gas in the car has become a major financial ordeal for millions of hard working Americans.  The average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States has increased by more than 100 percent since Barack Obama became president.

#24 Sadly, government dependence is now at an all-time high, and that is the way that many among the elite like it.  When Barack Obama took office, there were 32 million Americans on food stamps.  Now, there are more than 46 million Americans on food stamps.  In particular, an astounding number of children are on food stamps right now.  At this point, approximately one-fourthof all American children are enrolled in the food stamp program.

#25 Many middle class families will not be in the middle class for too much longer.  According to a shocking new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research, 200,000 U.S. households will use the money from their tax refunds this year “to pay for bankruptcy filing and legal fees“.

It has been two years since we began pursuing this venture. SOAR Nation is a platform for change.  It is a change to the more common way of life. The way of life created by society and the human existence over time. Since the fall of the Roman Empire, where capitalistic gain and individual power became more important than the air we breathe, our selfish desires have intensified. This is due to the pressures put on us by the more powerful people that exist. In an imperialistic world, where consumption for our own benefit is more practical than anything else, we are forced to forget all that exists other than our selves and immediate surroundings. We work hard, so we are convinced to reward our selves by purchasing the next best thing. What we need to understand is our ignorance of the world outside our own. Most of us don’t understand it because we have never experienced it.  Seeing and feeling are very different.  Out of sight, out of mind.

We all must perform our own tasks in order to keep the world moving in the direction already set for us. We all have our part in this world. But we do need to keep in mind that there are those people that risk their lives every day for the betterment of others and at no reward to them other than that simple fact. These are the people that deserve all the support we can provide. 

Katie Meyler, from MORE THAN ME, makes yearly visits to the city of Monrovia in Liberia to visit and help girls in very impoverished communities get off the streets and into schools. She is in areas where her life and health are always at risk. She is surrounded by the unknown and what many would consider to be outside their comfort zone… and she overcomes it. Why? Because helping these children who need her assistance more than you or I is her drive. Katie is a soldier for a cause!

Unfortunately, Katie is also part of the skeptical philanthropy industry. It is an industry with annual revenue of close to $400 billion. This makes us wonder that in a world of 7 billion souls, how is everyone not at ease when an industry of good is worth this much annually? The answer is simple. Many of the people involved, shouldn’t be. The value of the industry has created ways for bigger businesses to become more prosperous, so it is now governmentally controlled. It is controlled by the same egotistical mentality of those who steadily focus on owning more money and power then the ones closest to them.

With the innovation of the Internet and social networking, it is now time to take this industry and put it back into the hands of the people where it originally came!

This is where SOAR Nation comes in. We are taking on two entities we can control as a people, consumption and the idea behind helping those who are truly doing their part to make this world a better place. We are taking ecommerce and philanthropy, and collaborating them. Giving us the opportunity to still buy, but with our hearts and minds, and not just our wallets.

Part of our hardship with SOAR Nation, amongst many discussions, is overcoming these same skepticisms. So, we are focused on making our support process as transparent to you as possible. But it does need to be understood that every positive act being done has its costs. Katie, for example, needs to be able to get to the people she is helping, she needs to eat, sleep, and hire those to help and educate these children. Our transparency lies in the smaller missions at hand within each organization. At the same time, we are trying to take the world of good and interactively feed it to you. It is up to you to follow up and get involved in order to truly beat the skepticism. SOAR Nation will always provide updates and photos for the missions we raise money for as they are provided to us. So it is our focus to choose the right organizations and continue to innovate as the Internet and technology continue to innovate. We will always strive to better the transparency of the support process for everyone.  Help us, help them, by simply helping yourselves!

Get to Give!

Music is a phenomenal entity. The industry is expanding at exponential rates all over the world. My iTunes is filled with culturally diverse music from mostly independent artists. Independent artists are prevailing, even if their pockets claim otherwise.  Music is supposed to be from the heart and for the serenity of them selves. Most independent artists without a steady overpaid income keep their hearts beating and their egos at bay, as their dreams lay ahead of them. This may force some artists to strive harder, sometimes forcing them to produce music that is more for the audiences than for themselves.  For those artists who care not to, they will continue to relish in their constant love for the sound. It’s their serenity! 

 Coincidentally, the same goes for the audience… us. The impact music can have on our moods, energies exerted, and relationships created, is indescribable as it varies amongst us all. When we walk around with headphones on, confining ourselves from what exists, our emotions will always get the better of us. It is like exercising and your iPod controlling the pace at which you move.  Subconsciously, music has a strong impact on all of us.  

Today, as I ran past the World Trade Center monument in Liberty State Park, NJ, Coldplay’s “Us Against the World” was playing on my iTunes, and my emotions quickly set in. My pace slowed down and my mind began to think of all the peoples’ lives affected10 years ago. I then turned the corner and saw the Statue of Liberty ahead of me. At that time Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” came on, and immediately my pace quickened and the journey of life crossed my mind as a path I anxiously look forward to. With no idea of what my future holds, I smiled.

 As great of a feeling as it was, I also tried to pay attention to the sounds I was missing. The sound of the waves crashing against the boulders along the harbor, the kids laughing, the kids screaming, the ducks flying overhead, peoples discussions of the monument, even the sound of my own breathing. I missed those sounds! I guess it depends on the day, but sometimes I prefer not being confined and more in tune with my surroundings. Serenity!

The systems that steer our civilization are broken.  Financial, judicial, political, educational – all deeply  flawed operations within the social infrastructure of  the US, and most other parts of the world. They  have all been compromised by decades of  compounding interests, and have finally reached a  point of bottlenecked processes and exposures of  illegitimate behavior – to the point that there is no  other option than an overhaul. A lot of people prefer  the term “revolution.”

 What is revolution?  Many men and women bravely  fought and died in the name of it…and unfortunately  many corporate giants have also used it to define  their products and services. Revolution is change–  and it is this change that has been sought by man  since the beginning of civilization.  Revolution holds  an unmatched allure for those who feel that their  version of the system would be an  improvement. Revolution is the holy grail of each  new generation – the inspiration for our drive – the  catalyst to action. At the end of it all, a revolution is a necessary instrument of civilization - a quality control mechanism for progress.

In the United States, revolution is a constant force in the under-current of society. One group or another is constantly working out the logistics on taking over or bringing alterations to a part of this dense terrain of a system. Some succeed in full, some in part, and some fall flat on their face in the process.  If one is to succeed in the revolution they align themselves with, it is on account of proper planning, unwavering organization, un-questionable dedication, and the perfect amount of luck.

If you consider yourself a revolutionary, make sure you are ready for the responsibility.  That’s rule#1.

Rule #2 is to make sure you truly comprehend the change you are working towards. Last fall, the Occupy movement spread like wildfire. Hundreds of thousands of occupiers took to the streets across every continent. It was an impressive display of citizen protest, and the sheer speed at which Occupy grew to a recognizable magnitude was inspiring. However, Occupy was full of supporters that were unclear as to the solution being sought.  After many visits to Liberty Park and dozens of conversations with Occupiers, it was clear that many, if not most, of the activists did not have a clear goal for their activism.  The result was that this movement, a movement that garnered a tidal wave of worldwide affiliation, was unable to bring a solution to its pinnacle issue – the fact that 1% of this country will not ease it’s arthritic grip on the system – and 99% are negatively effected by it.

Be ready to lose everything in the name of your cause. That’s rule #3. Revolution will always be met with resistance, at varying levels of intensity, and only those who are willing to sacrifice everything will be successful.  Like I wrote before – it is my feeling that the Occupy Movement was only marginally effective because the majority of the people subscribed to its progress had no concrete solution in mind – and therefore also lacked the will to truly fight for something. People can’t believe in what they don’t understand – and they cant fight for something they don’t believe in.  The majority of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence gave their lives for the revolution – and they were joined by over 25,000 American soldiers who met their graves as a result of the Revolutionary War.  Now, that was dedication.

Which doesn’t mean we should count the Occupy Movement out. Rule #4 – Be ready for the long fight. If Occupy is serious, which my interaction leads me to believe it is on some levels, then this Spring should bring a resurgence of energy and ideas to the OWS movement.  Hopefully the “Capitalism-Sucks” pin-wearing hipsters will take a back seat to those who have concrete ideas and solutions for reform, and the recruitment will begin anew with a more defined perspective of the movement’s future goals. Whatever the case, the only way OWS can plant it’s movement’s roots into the soil of the American system is by not letting up.  Only then will OWS be considered a revolutionary force, and not merely an emotional reaction.

I write this as Part 1 of my insight on revolution and it’s role in society. I have no doubt that the coming years will be an expansion of the “fuck-the-system” mindset  amongst the American public. We have already witnessed the rise of multiple grass-roots movements in the last 3 years, and many of the most political minds I speak with are preparing for a long haul of protest and rebellion. If you are amongst those who are also fed up with the status quo, just know that you are not alone. However, before you grab your black bandana and join with a group of people who seem to have good intentions, remember; the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and unless you have a strategic, overly-analyzed solution, you and your new-found friends may be causing more harm than good.

So sit, think, analyze, and innovate. Then, revolt. More than likely, you will only have one chance to get it right.

To be continued….

I wish I were writing about something positive – some amazing part of human culture that inspires and invigorates the spirit. Unfortunately, today’s blog lays focus on some of the worst characteristics of human culture.

Last week, Anna Brown, 29, was the victim of two of humanity’s worst character flaws – negligence and profiling.  Anna brought herself to St. Mary’s hospital because of pain caused by an ankle injury. The doctors diagnosed her condition as a sprained ankle, but Anna could tell her medical issue was more severe.  Suffering from excruciating pain, she refused to leave the hospital, asking for additional treatment.

The hospital refused, and when Anna refused to comply with their requests for her to leave, hospital workers asked two police officers to address the situation. The officers arrested Anna for trespassing and resisting arrest. They brought her to a jail cell, where they laid her down on the ground. 10 minutes later, the blood clots formed from the ankle injury spread to her lungs, and Anna Brown died on a cold floor in a jail cell.

People die unexpectedly all the time – but there was nothing unexpected about Anna’s death – at least not to her.  Her intuition kept her persistently asking for additional treatment. She knew there was something very wrong.

Unfortunately, no one cared.  First it was the doctors who inaccurately diagnosed her medical condition.  Then it was the hospital staff who ignored her plea for help. And finally, it was the police who pulled her out of her wheelchair, threw her in a squad car, dragged her into a cell, and let her die.

When I read about this story and watched the video that shows you Anna’s final experience, I lost it.  Have we really gotten to the point in civilization, amongst our heavily advanced tools of understanding, where human beings have so little value?! I bet if one of the hospital workers, or the doctors, or even the cops, lost their cell phone they would be up in arms, immediately calling to get a replacement, exerting any effort necessary to fix the “issue.” But, when a 29-year-old female is crying out for help, all they can do is drag her some place out-of-sight – so that they don’t have to be bothered with her situation.  It’s disgusting, and it should bother each and every one of us to know that something like this happened.  And not just to the point where we say “ That’s awful” and then go about our day.  Acts like this should invoke the desire to change our world so that something like this never happens again.  They should push us to be more aware of our fellow human beings – and more conscious of the help they may need.

Don’t let Anna Brown die in vain.   Let her death remind us all how precious life is – and how every person you encounter is another example of that. And when you cross paths with people that take life for granted – take the time to tell them this story.  Ask them how they would have felt if they were Anna Brown  - ignored and left to die at 29.   Ask them to imagine that Anna Brown was someone they loved. How angry would they be then? How much would the experience change their outlook on life? 

You can watch the video of this terrible event here: http://youthrevolutionarycouncil.org/?p=1073

Zimmerman 2012

Whether it’s white, black, grey or rich in color, all this week we are going to see masses of hooded activist, families, and community members marching America’s paved streets in support of Trayvon Martin. With skittles and Ice Tea, the two items that 17-year-old Trayvon had on him at the time of his murder, “Citizens with a Voice” will be bringing justice and awareness to his fatale and “racist” murder..

As head of Neighborhood Watch, 28-year-old George Zimmerman, aimlessly pointed his registered gun and fired, instantly killing innocent High school student, Trayvon Martin. After a mini scuffle and an attempt to chase this hooded teen, Zimmerman took Trayvon’s life.

Many are pointing to Zimmerman and demanding justice to end racial barriers and color lines. As Zimmerman was taking in to custody for questioning he was released with out ever being charged. American citizens are appalled and taking it to the streets.

“This case has generated outrage about the state’s so-called Stand Your Ground law”, according to New York Times article “Obama speaks out on Trayvon Martin”.. 

The government is listening and now starting a full investigation of what took place last Friday, March 15^th, 2012. No matter which color hoodie or which color skin we have, these streets we will be flooded with individuals that are ready to take a stand in the name of justice. 

 http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/obama-makes-first-comments-on-trayvon-martin-shooting/#

We’re standing on the edge of a long overdue civil reassessment, where more than ever our white and non-African population is standing up to rally in honor of awakening and acknowledging ignorance. After cases like Oscar Grant in Oakland, our generation is taking a stand as a whole to say we don’t agree with our government’s actions. In solidarity we have been using social networks and media to build up a fast momentum beating directly to the heart of our government,  seen with “Kony 2012”.  People are becoming more conscientious to our surroundings, our history and our rights. 

Our umbilical chord to histories Civil Rights movements, from women’s right to abortion and the end of the enslaving our African ancestors, has been temporarily cut. Bike pedaling backwards and repeating questions, situations and ideas that are altering our state of government control. Antebellum America is starring directly at racism and hate crimes conquering it with solidarity and acts of peaceful protest, a repeat of what’s already taken place in the 60s-70s Freedom and “Hippy” movement.  This is our generations chance to stand up say “We don’t stand for injustice at all”. In the end may peace prevail, but in the case that it doesn’t may we find the opportunity to build an appropriate coup and take back the streets of America.. 

Creative Grove: a diversity of people, a cluster fuck of ideas, cultures, and artists. Creative Grove is an organized libertarian event where all vendors present sell their inner passions. People of all cultures and trends get together to express themselves. To them this is happiness, to others, disbelief.  Something in the air in Jersey City at this time of year that brings out the weird in everyone. Some of it may be perceived as an over expression of freedom, which turns the majority of people away, both here and most definitely abroad. But to those who don’t judge others, it is perceived as serenity. The serenity of finding that balance in life between controlled responsibility and expressional freedom.   

This event happens every Friday on the corner of Christopher Columbus and Grove St on the brink of downtown Jersey City. Now that the weather is up and around, expect good things to come about.

From visual art pieces, graphic tees, antique and modern jewelry, black and white photos, hula hoopers with pink hair and all elastic body suits, decorative cards, to multi cultural cuisine on wheels, you get it all in an outdoor space that is approximately 3000 sq. ft.  It shows promise in a small city with lots of potential.

The other day a few of us were discussing the significant differences within people. Even the ones closest to us and ones we have known forever differ in so many ways.  People differ in their mannerisms, motivations, compassions, intelligence…. another list that never ends. For now, lets discuss intelligence.

What is intelligence? Intelligence is the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge. Yet, amongst us all, and I say this with confidence, the word has been used incorrectly over time. Lets take the common phrase “ignorance is bliss” as an example. What is it to say that the ignorant is simply being intelligent enough to not let the worst consume them? Not that most people or I believe this to be the case, but what if it is? To most of us, someone’s ignorance is most likely his or her lack of intelligence.  What they don’t know, they don’t acquire, they don’t dwell on, thus not apply it to their everyday.  

This should make us ponder whether being too “intelligent” is actually a fault of the human existence.  Of course, it is not. Intelligence has its benefits to those who need it and utilize it for the benevolence of mankind and all that surrounds us. This day in age, in the world that surrounds us, it almost seems unnecessary. Convenience has been achieved.

Social networking has spread the ignorance of convenience globally and people are beginning to understand how important it is to be intelligent once again. This intelligence and “lack of ignorance” has created uprising where people’s acts are for the benefit of the whole. They are selfless. Selfless acts put everyone more in touch with the world that surrounds them, hence the creation of religion. Selfless acts create serenity, just as prayer, which provides the intelligence of being ethical in the process.  

This is where our concept for SOAR stemmed from. Turn our most selfish acts as consumers, purchasing things to better us, and let them become selfless acts, by knowing our purchases are also bettering someone else. This simple decision is “intelligent” so it is not ignorance, so how can it be bliss?

We originally blogged about the KONY 2012 video on March 8^th, 3 days after it was uploaded, when it was at less than 20 million views. A lot has happened since then, so I felt it only right to follow up on our initial post.

The first blowback that came regarding the viral surge of KONY 2012 was from the “haters.” This was clearly going to happen – as the video embodies a thesis of action, composition, and innovation that is so rarely achieved, people couldn’t help but search for the inaccuracies.   So people did their digging, as did I, and most of what I discovered only gave me more faith in what Invisible Children has accomplished.  And as I read through dozens of articles of criticism, I didn’t find one that could change my mind.

There was criticism of how they spent their funds, and pictures with guns, and altered numbers to draw harder on viewer’s heart strings – but there was nothing in all that criticism that changed the fact Invisible Children had achieved remarkable milestones within their larger mission.  To change the to-do list of the most powerful government in the world is no small task – and to do it with a small fraction of the support that most initiatives get makes it that much more incredible of a feat.  And I think, until a few days ago, most people who watched KONY 2012 didn’t really care if the Invisible Children crew was a group of perfect people or not.

Until the unthinkable happened.

I don’t subscribe to the fanatical public decision-making that happens based on mass-media’s rendering of reality, so when TMZ’s video of Jason Russell went on its own viral rampage, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Honestly, I’m still not. I don’t rule out that Mr. Russell may have mental issues that led him to act the way he did – but I also don’t rule out that Mr. Russell could have been drugged and set-up for public humiliation. I don’t rule either out simply because I don’t know what really happened. And neither do you.

What we both know is what Jason Russell did with his life for almost a decade. The successes of Invisible Children are real – they are achievements which have brought opportunity to people that were without.  I would bet, that no matter who you are or where you live, when you walk through the busiest section of your town or city, it would be hard for you to find a person who has dedicated themselves to a cause the way Mr. Russell has.  That makes him unique – and what’s more important - it was his ambition to live in a more selfless world that led millions to think about what could be done to support that mission.

Unfortunately, the conversation has changed and our thoughts are now focused on the sanity of an activist – rather than the activism that is needed to realize a solution.  The dialogue is full of gossip – rather than analysis, thought, or reasoning – and if any of us hope to live in a better world – then that needs to stop.

I want to live in a world where KONY 2012 worked – not a world where our own insecurities and demons got in the way.  Jason Russell is not the bad guy – Joseph Kony is. So, let’s get the bad guy… and hope the good guy gets better.

So, before you go and show another person the TMZ video of a naked man banging his fists on a sidewalk – show them the KONY 2012 video.  Here’s the link:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

All around me people are working diligently. We are an amazing species. Everyone has a drive or focus, but no idea where it stemmed from. Maybe it was their parents, their upbringing, society, culture, religion, where does it end? It doesn’t! Because of this, there is always doubt. Doubt is a never-ending battle, but without doubt, there wouldn’t be risk. Without doubt, emotions would cease to exist. We wouldn’t be human!

But emotions have also gotten the better of many of us, maybe most of us. The drama created behind things that are pointless manners of the subconscious. When our minds can actually manipulate scenarios, creating circumstances that never occurred, which in turn affect our relationships as well as our work and focus. This is when, becoming present in the moment, is our only remedy.

Most of our negative emotions have been created by television and the media. I can write a book on this alone, as many have already, but I’ll summarize it all with a few lines.  Listen to your mind, know only what you know, stop creating scenarios, learn to let go! Reality TV is not reality TV. The only reality TV that exists is the news, and even that needs to be read between the lines. 

The inspiration for this blog is the amount of time I see people wasting their lives worrying about things they can’t control, about things that have not proven themselves wrong, and……..Snooki being in Jersey City. Is it wrong to try and come up with every excuse in my head for the cynical figure she represents? I DOUBT it! The image below speaks for itself!

Soar Nation is a lifestyle marketplace that raises funds and awareness for non-profit organizations through the sale of apparel, music, and tickets. Our philosophy is "get to give" - a lifestyle choice that brings purpose to every purchase. Our operation is multi-faceted - taking us from running an ever-expanding online market to producing concerts and art shows. We are offering two opportunities to college students in the area of FILMING AND VIDEO EDITING and MARKETING Major.

FILMING/VIDEO should have experience in:

• Recording
• Editing
• Final Cut Pro
• I-Movie
• After Effects
• And/or Post Production

Marketing Student should be able to:

• has knowledge in Social Networks
• be able to set up a Marketing Campaign
• Read Analytics
• SEO and Tagging
• Guerilla Marketing
• Advertisements

As an intern you will gain hands-on experience in the music and entertainment industry, the fashion industry, philanthropy, business and IT. You will be encouraged to participate in events and event planning, interviewing celebrity artists and musicians, as well as working towards a commission based salary.

On this day in 2003, The United States, along with coalition forces, initiated war with Iraq with the first bombings of Baghdad being televised to the masses.  As we sit here nine years later, some safely behind a keyboard and some still fighting abroad, we should take a day not to question the legitimacy of the Iraq War, but to reflect and remember the brave soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  In December of 2011, the last 13,000 US troops were withdrawn from Iraq, ending a war that left many dead and wounded behind in its wake.  There were 4,487 US troop casualties, 54% being under 25 years old.  Non-troop casualties totaled 316, with 179 from the UK.  As troubling as those numbers are, a more depressing fact is the effects the war has had on the wounded, whether mentally or physically.  32,223 troops were wounded in Iraq, with 20% being serious brain or spinal injuries.  Another alarming statistic is that 30% of US troops have developed serious mental health problems within 3 to 4 months of returning home.  So although the battle in Iraq has come to an end, the battle at home still remains. On this day, March 19, 2012, take a second to see what you can do to help, and to thank a veteran for preserving this great nation we live in.  

Hire Heroes is a great NPO that is addressing the lack of jobs for veterans, helping these troops who are deprived of the tools needed to survive the life they uphold for all of us. 

http://www.hireheroesusa.org/

Yesterday Ron and I rolled down to Asbury Park to meet with Caroline, the GM of the world famous Stone Pony. The meeting went well, and we're excited to start planning our first event of our new concert series, Spotlight. Our goal is to "spotlight" a different non-profit organization for every concert, raising funds and awareness for important causes. 

We have some ideas arleady in the works for artist line-ups, but we always welcome suggestions from you as well. If there are some amazing musical acts out there that you would love to see live, email us at support@soarnation.com with your ideas. You never know - the next Spotlight concert could feature one of your favorite artists.

Stay tuned for more info on the Spotlight Series....

For almost ten years I helped others run their businesses. I left full-time schooling when I was 19 in search of full-time professional experience, and I found it. At first I was immersed in the world of night clubs and entertainment. After a few years I moved on to sales and marketing, at first for a home theater company, and then a tech vocational school, and then a web development company. After a few more years, I moved on to operations management for an amazing arts collective. Every one of my experiences in the professional world was demanding and enriching…and all of those experiences led me to decide that it was finally time to start my own business. In 2009, I started to develop an idea that had been lingering in my head for several years.

We first want to welcome a new member to our SOAR Nation crew. The SOAR Nation crew has now become a 5-member team. This is thanks to the arrival of our most dedicated artist, Blair Urban with Alma Revolution out of Laguna Beach, CA. The East Coast welcomes her with open arms as another soldier for a cause!

In other news…the tasks are piling up! Every morning after a short read of my most recent novel and a quick healthy bowl of oatmeal, I sit and stare blankly at my computer screen for about 15 minutes. Owning a business is hard work, and a true test at that. It is a test of patience, a test of the mind, a test of desire and will. 15 minutes allows me to pass all these tests and proceed.

Today, a venue for our next event has almost been solidified. For those who did attend the November event in Jersey City, headlined by Dead Prez, and spotlighting Urban Art Beat, a NPO which brings innovative arts to underprivileged youths in NYC communities, we thank you for your support. Keep yourselves, friends, and network of supporters updated for the next event to take place mid/end of June 2012.

Happy Birthday to one of the innovators of SOAR Nation, Mr. Jason Haines. A big 3-0 on the Ides of March. Hello Jay, Good-bye Caesar!

"Gerald Zirnstein, a former U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist, has told ABC News that 70% of ground beef sold at supermarkets contains filler called “pink slime,” a phrase that he coined while working at USDA".

So what exactley is this "Pink Slime" and how does it affect not only our diets but our children's diets? 

This so-called "Pink Slime" is something once-used at major fast food chains such as McDonalds and Burger King as well as sold in most Supermarkets, labeled as "Boneless lean beef trimmings". Lean beef trimmings are actually "salvaged" trimmings from beef, mixed with ammonia to kill the bacteria. While skeptical healthologist have an issue with this concept, the USDA has said this to be completely "GRAS or Generally Recognized as Safe". It's the fat trimmings that still have pieces of edible meat from your sirloin steak, with a 90%/10% fat ratio (Meat/fat). It’s all the meat trimmings that have been tossed aside, but still profitable to the meat industry.

So tell me about this Amonnia ( ammonium hydroxide) ? 

It's the combination of natural occurring earth elements, used in cleaning products and food additives. We are in daily contact with these products. Whether it's cleaning table-tops and eating dinner on top of them, or cleaning a bath tub and then laying in it. Ammonia is all over our lives, the anti-bacteria that saves us from “harmful germs”.

So in the case that we already ingest this compound, what is the problem with it in our meats? It's true that we do not know the direct affects of this product in correlation to cancer, obesity, diabetes, or any other inflicted human condition, although there are speculations and research that declares so. 

It's the same problem with Formaldehyde, if we need to put an additive in the foods we eat, what does that say about the foods we eat? 

I'm a vegetarian, but I have nothing wrong with meat-lovers, so in comparison the same way we don't want to mix pesticides with fruit, we don't want to mix additives to meat. The more natural the food the better for us, I'm sure we can all agree. We come across so many additives in our live from the Aspartame in our gum, to “natural” (a word undefined by USDA) flavorings and colorings in juices and candy.

The idea is that we are aware of what we are putting in our bodies. And SOAR NATION is not here to tell you what to eat or how to it, but BE AWARE of what you eat!!! We want to know about additives you’ve discovered and/or food you are weary about. Keep us all aware and in the know. 

With over a 150 million subscribers flocking to the likes of Groupon and Living Social, deal-of-the-day websites have been clogging up your inbox daily with buy one get one free massage and cheap deals at your favorite restaurants.  Everyone loves a good deal and saving a penny, especially during the current economic times we live in.  Groupon and Living Social have made their mark as the top dogs in this ever-expanding business.

However, there is a new kid on the block, one that Soar Nation can relate to and give the utmost respect too.  That new kid is Recoup, a cause based deal-of-the-day website that operates out of Washington state.  They offer great deals from local businesses, while at the same time donating to charity.  The way it works is simple: the consumer purchases a promotion they like, chooses a cause they like, and a donation of 10% is made by Recoup to the charity selected.  As the consumer, you may also up the donation by lowering the percentage of the promotion to your liking.  Although the site is still in beta, Recoup has over 50,000 subscribers.  Recoup has also teamed up with two non-profits, More than Me Foundation and Engineers Without Borders, that are currently part of the Soar Nation family.  So if you happen to buy a promotion through their site, be sure to throw some love their way. They are two amazing non-profits.

We wanted to start the week out by explaining the "Get to Give" philosophy. A lot of people that we have been speaking with recently are confused as to how we could develop a business model that also helps charity. We get a lot of " But doesn't that take away from your profit?"

Here's the thing. We've been building the model for SOAR Nation for over two years now, and our goal is pretty simple. We want to prove that a business can be profitable and growing, even after donating a healthy portion of our profit margin to non-profits.  We don't hide what we do - 10% of every purchase is donated  - which means that 20 -  60% of our profit margin is donated, depending on the category of product.

Now, this may seem like a risky venture, but we're willing to take that risk. At the end of the day, if we are successful in proving that it's possible, we hope it will inspire thousands of other businesses to integrate a "Get to Give" model in their business, even if it's only one percent of their margin.

Let's all build together to show the world that as consumers, we can also be responsible members of society. It's up to all of us to pioneer new business models and to support those who take the necessary risks. It's up to all of us to "Get to Give" - 

 - The SOAR Nation Crew

This morning I finished a great book. It was one that doesn’t allow you to get a grip on your emotions. All I kept pondering, especially being from a country where life is taken for granted by the majority and is underestimated by the rest of the world, the "grass is greener" motto will always beckon you. 

"Then They Came For Me" was written by Maziar Bahari. It takes place during the 2009 presidential election in Iran. He is a Canadian citizen and journalist for Newsweek, who was born and raised by a family of Iranian revolutionaries. They have lived through all the political and clerical corruption since the establishment of the Soviet influenced Tudeh party, through the Islamic Revolution of the 1980's, and upon the current green party movement going on in the Middle East. This book discusses Maziar's willingness to break certain Islamic Law in order to report on the 2009 elections that had been determined rigged in advantage of the incumbents and not the majority vote of the public.

Arrested and charged for media espionage, Maziar spent three months in Evin prison and suffered severe interrogation. This book talks about his capture, his time in prison, and the impact it had on his family. During his recap of events he goes into detail of the corruption in Iran, as well as the majority of people whom are desperate for human rights and a more liberal democracy. 

I highly recommend this book for those who are unaware and aware of the current affairs between the US and Iran. Before making judgments based of the naïveté created by propaganda, read this book and get a better understanding of life below the umbrella of supreme power. It's people seeking liberty from a military dictatorship and a simple request for the respect of life. 

Watching major headlines transition from the KONY2012 campaign to discussions regarding Peyton Mannings next destination, makes you understand the power of media and the diversity of important matters to the ever growing population of the world.... This level headedness, is quite relieving. 

Peyton for President!

http://www.komonews.com/sports/Would-Seahawks-try-to-sign-Peyton-Manning-141748043.html

We were sitting around my computer the other day, discussing the idea of viral videos, and how potentially powerful the medium could be. The only issue that we could find is that when looking at YOUTUBE's chart of the most viewed videos of all time, it was full of nothing but pop music and babies making funny faces. 700 million people had witness Justin Beiber, but what was that going to do to change anything about the world.

Well last night our faith was restored, and this morning, even more so. If you haven't watched it yet, we've embedded it for you here. Since yesterday, this video has added an additional 20 million views. This is the power of the internet...and its finally being utilized to its potential. 

Great job to Invisible Children and TRI for building a campaign that inspires people to make a difference. That's not easy to do...and that's what makes this significant.

http://youtu.be/Y4MnpzG5Sqc

I was recently conducting searches for examples of philanthropy in business, so I entered exactly those terms in a Google search. One of the top hits, the 3rd to be exact, was for Bloomberg's Businessweek site. So, I clicked it, thinking I would find some interesting information about the philanthro-consumer movement, or maybe some info about a business that is supporting a good cause. Well, looks like the businesses that Bloomberg reports on haven't evolved past their exclusive bottom-line thinking, because there was absolutely no articles at all. That's right - ZERO articles about philanthropy in business. So then I start thinking "Why would the top search engine in the world be so misleading?" Companies pay thousands to end up on the top of Google searches, and supposedly, according to Google's new Panda algorithm, the content of a site must be relevant and unique in order to bring a website to the top of search results. Well, apparantly they forgot to leave out that you can also have no content at all, and it'll work just fine. Maybe it was Bloomberg's multiple visits to Google's headquarters over the last decade that made it easier for him to convince the internet giant not to be so finniky when applying the rules to his companies. Who knows! But we sure would love to have the 3rd spot in Google's results for "Philanthropy in Business" - at least people would be able to learn something relevant if we were. 

A twice-monthly showcase for local artists and performers on the second floor of SOAR’s HQ building in downtown Jersey City, JC Live will quickly become the premiere destination in Jersey City for artists and fans alike to see new material from homegrown performers.

Costs of Care, a non-profit organization founded by Neel T. Shah, M.D., is a group that works hard to make it easier for doctors and patients to make responsible economic decisions in the expensive world of health care.  Recently, Neel took some time to answer a few questions to help us better understand Costs of Care and to tell us a bit about himself.  Check out the full Q&A below, and don’t forget to Get-To-Give on SOARNation.com--10% of every purchase goes to great causes likeCosts of Care!  Meet Neel:

SOAR Nation attended the Bamboozle music festival at the Meadowlands in New Jersey this past weekend.  Our previous fundraising event in Red Bank had over 100 guests--Bamboozle had over 30,000 per day.  We learned a lot about what it takes to pull off an event of such size, made a ton of new friends at the SOAR tent, and even managed to catch a show or two.  Most importantly, we raised awareness and money for three great non-profit organizations and had a great time doing it!

Before we get where we’re going we must remember where we’ve already been.

SOAR Nation’s best charitable work is certainly still ahead of us, but over the past months as we prepared for the company’s launch we got a head start on making positive change in the world.