catnipoflife

For some of you, the name Norma Jeane may not ring a bell but once I mention Marilyn Monroe its tone will surely be loud and clear.

Marilyn was born Norma Jeane Mortenson June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. She endured a difficult childhood that was anything but glamorous, instead filled with insecurity and instability. She spent her adolescence in and out of foster care and an orphanage. In spite of her immense vulnerability and extreme odds being cast against her, Norma Jean went on to become one of the world’s biggest and most enduring sex symbols, Marilyn Monroe.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

“Being a sex symbol is a heavy load to carry, especially when one is tired, hurt and bewildered.” –– Marilyn Monroe

Awakenings Reflection Scoop.it

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Awakenings: And the music goes on…The 21st Century

by catnipoflife

As we enter the 21st century, many songs from the 50s all the way through the 90s are still popular. Of course, it was by way of the 20s, 30s and 40s that music has evolved into a passion relative to survival as many listeners would so declare today. Look at the plethora of choices available for listening pleasure, dancing, rapping, or simply relaxing: contemporary music, popular music, traditional music, hip hop music, country music. Each decade has offered its own unique genres of music.

Read on @awakenings…

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

To quote Bob Dylan “I don’t know anybody who’s made a record that sounds decent in the past 20 years, really. You listen to these modern records, they’re atrocious, they have sound all over them. There’s no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like … static….”

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Awakenings: Wolf in the Wilderness

by catnipoflife

Alaska’s nickname is The Last Frontier. The state motto of Alaska is North to the Future, which was adopted in 1967 during the Alaska Purchase Centennial. The motto is meant to represent Alaska as a land of promise.

This Day in History: January 3, 1959 Alaska is in the farthest northwest extremity of the North American continent. It was purchased from Russia on March 30, 1867 for $7.2 million, which equates to approximately 2 cents per acre. Alaska became the 49th state in the USA on January 3, 1959.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Awakenings features poetry for Alaska – Wolf in the Wilderness. Alaska is the wolf in the wilderness — loyalty among her own within an affectionate, playful nature.

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Awakenings: AULD LANG SYNE 2013

by catnipoflife

See on http://awakenings2012.blogspot.com/2013/12/auld-lang-syne-2013.html

Today is the 365th day of the year 2013, the last day marking preparation for the final hour, minutes, and seconds of yet another year. With the passing of its last second comes a new beginning, a new year filled with hopes and promises in the form of resolutions for some while others enter the year without resolve.

Embrace the past. . .History of Auld Land Syne and New Year’s Eve @Awakenings!

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Let your hearts be mindful of those who will not be celebrating with family and friends, some perhaps on homeland soil, while others across oceans and continents. They continue to protect and defend our nation from enemies who lurk about waiting, watching, plotting for the right moment to destroy.

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Awakenings: And the music goes on…Country Time 1

by catnipoflife

Before moving forward into the 80s, we must step back in time to the beginnings of Country Music, a genre all its own that has left an indelible mark on music history. Old time fiddle (a genre of American folk music) is the precursor to country that influenced bluegrass, country blues, variants of western swing and country rock.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

This is part 1 for Country Music covering three generations, 1920s, 1930s-40s and 1950s-60s.

See on http://www.awakenings2012.blogspot.com/2013/12/and-music-goes-onstuck-in-70s.html

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Awakenings: And the music goes on…Stuck in the 70s

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – Awakenings: America & Beyond

Different from the numerous musical genres of past decades, only a handful can be considered of the most successful and most popular during the 70s. First to be mentioned is SOFT ROCK (which was the “pop music” of that generation). This genre was led by artists such as Elton John, Chicago, The Eagles, Paul McCartney and Wings, The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac and Bruce Springsteen.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Where would be be without the music…the sounds, the lyrics, the showmanship? Each song tells its own poignant story, it is life within the moment. You can take an inanimate object, write about it in a song and it comes to life. Each tune touches the heart, opens the mind, stirs the soul.

Who was THE Most Successful Group of the 70s? What is The Greatest Rock Song of All Time?

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Awakenings: We Survived!

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – Sizzlin’ News

To All The Kids Who Survived
the 1940’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s!!

Share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good. While you are at it, forward it to your kids, so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.

Here is a teaser:

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned how to solve the problem. Ingenious!

MORE @ http://awakenings2012.blogspot.com/2013/12/we-survived.html

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Includes special poetry from Remembering…

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Awakenings: The music goes on…Spirit of the 60s Music

by catnipoflife

Where could we possibly be without someone mentioning Motown Records and the impact it had on 60s music! Nowheresville, for sure! Simply reference Hitsville, USA, then, watch eyes light up as flashbacks of some of the eras greatest songs engulf every brain cavity!

During a time of racial division amid the turn of the civil rights movement, Motown became the sound that changed America.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Step back in time to the 60s. A decade of excitement labeled the “golden age” and “classic period” in music. The 1960s were, without question, the most exciting and innovative decade in the history of popular music. It’s the soundtrack that altered the lives of millions and had a dramatic effect on everything from hairstyles to human rights.

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Awakenings: The music goes on…60s Music Revolution

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – Awakenings: America & Beyond

Welcome to the 60s:

A music revolution, an era of triumph for popular music, an Afro-American model in the forefront, & the emergence of this music as a universal language, with the Beatles as the heroes of the age

One of the first things that come to mind when thinking of the music scene in the 1960s is the “British Invasion.” This marks the era where music groups in England experienced breakthrough success in the United States.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

MORE to come…the spirit has only begun for the classic sounds of the 60s! Go to Awakenings…relive Beatlemania!

See on www.awakenings2012.blogspot.com

Awakenings: The Cola Wars

by catnipoflife

Legendary rivalry exists between Coca-Cola and Pepsi as each has tried to outdo the other for decades. Since the 1980s Cola Wars, aka Soda Wars, have occurred between the soft drink manufacturers The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo. Marketing ploys, blind taste tests, ad campaigns, increased product lines, all have had the two ‘super colas’ going after people’s throats so to speak.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Both survived the times, even the Great Depression so today who reigns supreme? Coca-cola? Pepsi? What is the difference anyway? A soda is a soda, right? Of course, the answer to that last question is an emphatic, “NO!” It is all about the taste. Or, should be anyway.