Ok this is long overdue and is likely to be short. So apologies in advance. Earlier this year I had to travel to London on business for an array of media and conference work. I love going to London for any reason, including business. But as it turned out, my daughter Bianca was able to book time off and join me.
It worked out extremely well...although I was working for a number days while she was there, she had friends who lived in the city (school mates from our days in Germany and…
ContinueAdded by Lorne Alan Riley on June 24, 2015 at 3:30am — 1 Comment
We all have this idea in our head of what an actress's life is. You get to be anybody you want to be, travel, tell stories that are important and go to the magical Hollywood parties. But to get there, we have to go through every hot level of Hell.
Audition after audition. Tiny pay-check after tiny pay-check. Joe-job after Joe-job. Public transit that seems to want only for you to miss that callback. The poorly disguised look of disapproval received when you tell…
Added by Sierra Marilyn Riley on June 22, 2015 at 10:46pm — 4 Comments
This is a very special Fathers Day as it occurs on the Summer solstice and it is also my father's birthday so there are many things to celebrate.
Here's to you all you great fathers out there and to all of those celebrating their fathers or remembering ones who have passed already.
Hope you have a great…
ContinueAdded by Amanda @Kamazooie on June 21, 2015 at 3:27pm — No Comments
I wonder a lot about my own passion and read often about the joy and success that can come of pursuing your true passion. But, how do we know what that is?
I like this one from yoga coach Jes Allen.…
ContinueAdded by Brian Ritchie on June 10, 2015 at 11:30am — No Comments
This is interesting. A team is working to resurrect Sci-Fi author Philp K. Dick, who wrote the book that launched the movie Blade Runner.
I hope he starts writing again ;-)
Added by Martin James on May 29, 2015 at 4:54pm — 2 Comments
It is with bittersweet feelings that we watched David Letterman sign off in his last show last night. In a tribute to his long career of helping us end our day with laughter and grace, I thought I would post this Top Ten list of the Best Things That David Letterman Gave Us:
[...Drum roll...]
10. Something to watch besides infomercials after 11:30 at…
ContinueAdded by Amanda @Kamazooie on May 21, 2015 at 9:00am — No Comments
I find that Mothers’ Day gains more and more importance to me as time goes on. This spring, I had the great pleasure of traveling and staying with Mom over a 4-day period as the weather was warming up after a long and cold winter.
As we drove together, we talked about how this time of year was always a busy one for us as we prepared for the Spring Bear Hunt and…
ContinueAdded by Brian Ritchie on May 6, 2015 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment
I have the great fortune of being a member of the Advisor's Circle for the World Travel & Tourism Council, a global organisation which advocates the significant social and economic contributions of the sector and presses for changes needed to make travel and tourism accessible, easier and sustainable. Every year WTTC holds an annual general meeting which I have attended for the past several years. This year's event was held in Madrid, Spain.
The business schedule was intense and…
ContinueAdded by Lorne Alan Riley on April 20, 2015 at 4:00am — 1 Comment
For the first time in my career I was invited to speak at a conference, in this case "Global PR Trends" held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Cairo, Egypt. The presentation went swimmingly as I talked about Dubai Airports' communication strategy and how it delivered value to the business. If anything I could have shortened it a bit, but I digress. Over dinner that night the conference organizer, Kosta Petrov who hails from Macedonia, insisted I take full advantage of a very rare opportunity…
ContinueAdded by Lorne Alan Riley on March 30, 2015 at 6:00am — 2 Comments
Well, since this is my very first book, I’m not sure any advice I give would be based on any kind of profound experience. Yet, I can tell you that the thing that kept me going was having someone interested in what I was writing. I spoke about it to a few selected people that I knew were supportive and encouraging. And their responses and questions like—how much I’ve written, what am I writing now…—kept me wanting to keep writing so I had some more to share. It was kind of pushing me as…
ContinueAdded by Jack A. Langedijk on March 21, 2015 at 3:15pm — 5 Comments
Perhaps this Winter-Spring season more than most, we in North America at least, joyously welcome the arrival of Spring.
It is often said our minds are like gardens where anything can grow. This Spring, be sure to plant beautiful flowers there to share and not weeds.
Welcome…
ContinueAdded by Amanda @Kamazooie on March 20, 2015 at 6:00pm — 2 Comments
I must admit, I don't have the worst job in the world. Yesterday, my job was to entertain some customers in the Barcelona area as we prepare to meet with them formally at Mobile World Congress; the largest mobile and telecom show globally. As part of the tour, I got tickets to see Basilica Sagrada Familia Cathedral, the exterior of which is shown in the photo below.…
ContinueAdded by Brian Ritchie on March 1, 2015 at 7:00pm — 5 Comments
I was so fortunate that I didn’t have any pressures or real hard deadlines to meet, so when I did have a block I could wait it out. I think most of the time when I did have a block, it usually came from outside distractions—I allowed myself to become distracted. Sometimes an audition, a talk I would have to give or conceiving a new workshop…would take a lot of my concentration. But if I was being 100 percent honest with myself, I would have to say I allowed those distractions to block me. It…
ContinueAdded by Jack A. Langedijk on March 1, 2015 at 11:55am — 1 Comment
I was saddened to hear the news yesterday of the passing of Leonard Nimoy who I followed indirectly because I always loved the shows he was in from Star Trek to his work only a few years ago in Fringe.
I was spending some time on Linked In today and came across this truly great article written by John which points out why many of us liked (loved) the…
ContinueAdded by Brian Ritchie on February 28, 2015 at 4:30am — 2 Comments
I wanted to take a few minutes to share a Kamazooie moment from the weekend that involved the bass player from my second band The Tundra Rick March. Rick is a seasoned musician who plays with a couple of bands in Dubai as well.
During a mid-week email conversation he shared a couple of songs that he, and a former band member Paul Stanton, wrote in 1992. They were very catchy and on Saturday we decided to give one of them a go. The song, Talk Too Much, is quite catchy and we stayed…
ContinueAdded by Lorne Alan Riley on February 22, 2015 at 10:30pm — 2 Comments
Unfortunately, I didn't. And I say unfortunately because it would have been easier to follow an outline...although writing without one was quite creatively stimulating. I did have the main characters pretty well thought out in my head: who they were, their struggles and how I wanted them to conquer their battles...But many story elements—things that help drive the story were actually thought of during the process—like the chapters with Seema and Robert and the journals, they were all…
ContinueAdded by Jack A. Langedijk on February 22, 2015 at 12:53pm — 9 Comments
Greetings Kamazooie Memebrs!
In our short history, Kamazooie has developed a few very faithful followers and contributors.Of course, while all of our members are important to us, the ones that contribute give us the content to keep coming back to the site and the inspiration for us to share stories our own experiences within the Kamazooie community.
Lorne Riley, is one of these special members; in his…
ContinueAdded by Amanda @Kamazooie on February 20, 2015 at 9:00pm — 1 Comment
I think it was one of the greatest artistic experiences I have ever had. I spent the majority of my life as an actor and a director in theater and film. Rehearsal has always been my favourite part. Although there is a wonderful satisfaction that comes with being in front of an audience and performing, I truly love the creative process and feel that once I am in front of an audience...well, at that point I am…
ContinueAdded by Jack A. Langedijk on February 15, 2015 at 10:21am — 2 Comments
As I mentioned last week, I wanted to post some updated photos to chronicle the recording of Mileage 51's upcoming CD as well as provide some shots of the jam with my second band The Tundra. On Friday/Saturday Mileage 51 gathered at Roy's apartment aka studio to lay down some instrumentation and vocal call backs as we start to complete and refine songs bound for the CD. Roy has a great…
ContinueAdded by Lorne Alan Riley on February 15, 2015 at 2:30am — 2 Comments
It has been far too long. Sadly with work, vacation, travel and other commitments my blogs have fallen by the wayside. Accordingly, I feel compelled to provide an update on what has become a recurrent theme...music.
Let's be clear, there are other things that go on in my life...it just seems that Kamazooie has become the vehicle for sharing my hobby. Mileage 51…
ContinueAdded by Lorne Alan Riley on February 10, 2015 at 1:30am — 1 Comment
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Posted by Jack Smith on May 13, 2025 at 3:40am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Forklifts are the heavy machinery that does all of the heavy lifting in the industrial world. They lift, they haul and they swerve through tight aisles to get the job done. But even the most seasoned forklift can use a little help. These come in the form of forklift attachments. These handy add-ons take your standard forklift and turn it into a multi-purpose machine.
Because of this, more and more companies have started investing in attachments for their forklifts. This translates to…
ContinuePosted by Jack Smith on May 6, 2025 at 6:27am 0 Comments 0 Likes
In today’s fast-changing world, diversity and inclusion aren't just trendy ideas — they are essential for a company's growth and success. Businesses that focus on creating a truly inclusive environment experience greater innovation, stronger teamwork, and happier employees. They also become magnets for top talent and develop a progressive brand image.
So, how can you build a workplace where every individual feels seen, respected, and empowered?…
ContinuePosted by Jack Smith on April 24, 2025 at 8:14am 0 Comments 0 Likes
There is a lot of buzz behind organic soil these days and for the right reasons. It has gained a reputation for being the gold standard in gardening and farming. However, misinformation still lingers, making some hesitant to embrace its benefits. Time to set the record straight and separate fact from fiction.
“Organic Soil Doesn’t Have Enough Nutrients”
A common misconception is that synthetic fertilizers are necessary for healthy plant growth.…
ContinuePosted by Jack Smith on March 6, 2025 at 8:28am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Diversity and inclusion have become more than just buzz words in today’s interconnected world. They are now core elements of any workplace. Nowhere is this more evident than in internship programs, where the next generation of professionals takes their first steps. By embracing diversity and inclusion, companies do not just offer a richer, more dynamic experience for interns. They fuel creativity, innovation, and the eventual path to…
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