Big Head Todd and The Monsters - It's More Than Music

Big Head Todd and The Monsters - Never heard of them? Think you might have but you're not sure? That's okay.

The Colorado Trio, now four-some, have been making music together since their college days in the mid-'80's. They experienced radio success with hits like BitterSweet, Broken Hearted Savior and Circle but when they refused to sell out to the desires of the major record labels things changed - for the better.

Twenty years later Todd Park Mohr, Brian Nevin, Rob Squires and Jeremy Lawton make the music they want, have a fan base that follows them from one venue to the next, and are one of of the most celebrated concert bands in the country. If you ever hear them live you'll be hooked. Park-Mohr's gravelly voice and expert guitar playing is exhilarating. The band jams together like nothing I've ever seen before. It's as if when they play they become one mind, one instrument. It's good ole American Rock 'n Roll at it's best.

The music won me over years ago but that's not why I'm an ardent fan of these men. They live in the real world with the rest of us. It's not about the fame. It's about the music, the life, and what's left after the music stops. The guys from Big Head Todd go to the merchandise table after every show. They TALK to their fans and actually have fun spending time with them. It's not a burden, they really enjoy it and seem to thrive on the interaction. I've had the pleasure of meeting them twice and hope to again next spring when they make their annual trip to my town.

For the past few years they've used free podcasts and downloads on their website and ITunes to distribute their music to an ever growing fan base. Todd Park Mohr believes that art should be free. "We don't really make our money off the music," he said during an interview. "We never have, not even with a major record label."

To further that sentiment, BHTM is giving away 500,000 copies of their new CD, All The Love You Need. 25,000 copies were mailed to fans who requested them from the BHTM website and the rest are to be distributed by radio stations around the country. My copy arrived yesterday with a personal note from the band thanking their fans for the support. When was the last time you got a free thank you from your favorite band? It doesn't happen often, unless you're a BHTM's fan.

They also believe in using their notoriety to give something of value back to the world. For the last three years they've used their annual Red Rocks Amphitheater concert as a benefit to raise money for a selected cause. This year it's Soles United, a Crocs program committed to social responsibility and providing shoes for those in need.

With over 1 billion people living in extreme poverty, many households cannot meet the basic needs for survival including food, shelter, safe drinking water and basic articles of clothing, including shoes. In 2008, Soles United expects to donate over 1,000,000 pairs of shoes to those in need. To demonstrate their appreciation and support of BHTM, Soles United will donate a pair of shoes for every ticket purchased to a BHTM show in June of 2008. BHTM fans can be assured that their presence at a BHTM concert will make a real difference in the life of a child or adult living in poverty.

BMTH is conducting the first round of a charity auction that started on 12/10 that will benefit the Soles United Program. You can bid on several different VIP packages and seating for the Red Rocks concert. I can't imagine anything better than helping out a good cause and winning the bid for onstage couch seating at their biggest concert of the year.

On a side note, BHTM made national news this week when the Clinton campaign adopted their song Blue Sky as Hillary's new theme song. It's an inspirational song written in 2005 at the request of the NASA astronauts upon the first launch after the Columbia disaster. They are not claiming affiliation with any candidate but are happy for the exposure.

I'm proud to say I'm a loyal fan. Big Head Todd and the Monsters are shining examples of how to run a responsible, fun, compassionate music career. Go see them. It's an experience you'll never forget.

Dove Reality Diaries - Four Girls Share Important Insight

One expert, four girls, a few tears, six weeks, and a watershed of growth - that's the Dove Reality Diaries in a nutshell. But that is too simplified. How do I breakdown into a few paragraphs the transformations of Sydney, Chelsea, Jordyn, and Irene? I'm not sure I can. This morning I watched each of their video diaries and was amazed at how candid they were about their feelings and struggles. I marveled at how seriously these teenagers took the self-esteem exercises. They trusted Jess Weiner, author and self-esteem expert, to guide them along the way to their authentic selves.

No more hiding behind a mask of make-up, depending on boyfriends to complete them, or devaluing their reflections in the mirror. These girls are now armed with the tools to confidently face the world. The best part - Any teen anywhere in the world can watch the transformations and interact with the girls and others on the website. There is a message board and a link to ask Jess for advice. There are packets of information to download and tests to take that help evaluate where a girl stands in relationship to herself and the images pushed on her by the media. Every young girl/or woman/and I'd expect anyone who uses the tools on the site has the opportunity to confront their own issues and move toward change just as the four girls did.

On December 18th there will be a live chat with Jess Weiner and the girls from the diaries. Jump in, add your opinions and questions. Jess directs the conversations with thought provoking questions and topics. To get a feel for these live chats Dove has posted a transcript of the first conversation.

Here are some disturbing facts about what young girls and women are facing in our society today:

One-third of all girls in grades nine to 12 think they are overweight, and 60 percent are trying to lose weight.

Only 56 percent of seventh graders say they like the way they look.

Studies show that 57 percent of girls have fasted, gone on diets, used food substitutes, or smoked more cigarettes to lose weight.

Research also shows that messages girls receive from the media can damage their feelings of self-worth and negatively affect their behavior. More than one in four girls surveyed feel the media pressures them to have a perfect body

Girls who watch TV commercials featuring underweight models lose self-confidence and become more dissatisfied with their own bodies

As a result, girls question their own beauty: between 50 and 70 percent of girls of normal weight believe they are overweight.

Dove wants girls to know that it doesn't have to be this way. Their global plan addresses the whole girl/woman from body image to intellectual development. This is something that should be applauded in a corporate culture that values profit over all else. We have a long way to go and even Unilever, the parent company of Dove, could make a few changes to align their other products (i.e. AXE body spray) with this positive school of thought.

Even so that doesn't discount or diminish the good being accomplished by the Dove campaign for Real Beauty. Every movement starts somewhere. I'm hoping more companies and brands will follow this shining example.

Friendship Awards - The Most Cherished of All

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy explains friendship as a distinctively personal relationship that is grounded in a concern on the part of each friend for the welfare of the other, for the other's sake, and that involves some degree of intimacy.

My first friend, Jeanne, lived in the green house next door. We played dolls and cars. We planted dead tree branches in her yard and watered them everyday, dreaming they would grow into giant oak trees good for climbing. We alternately babied and ignored her little sister Stacey. We spied on her big brother Chris and his group of strangely intriguing friends. She stood up with me at my wedding and learned to dance the Cotton-eyed Joe at my reception. To this day I know I can call her and it will be as if we just spoke yesterday. We will pick up the conversation where we left off the last time we spoke and end it with "love you, girl!"

Blogging opened a new avenue of friendship for me. Since I started LifePrints I've developed "virtual" friendships with a handful of writers on the web. Some I only know through their avatars and comments on discussion boards or blogs. Others I email regularly and feel as if I know them as well or better than my "real life" neighbors. I've met one of my new friends, even went on a trip to New York with her. What a hoot that was! She was a great traveling companion.

The Internet has certainly changed the way friendships are made and has opened a world of possibilities. As always, I believe that people come into my life for a reason, and me into theirs, as well. Recently, two of my best blogging buddies awarded me with badges of friendship. I cherish them just as I do my "real" friends, like Jeanne.

Francis at Caught In The Stream , one of my best blogging buddies, gave me The Colors of Friendship Award. He's my newest uber-intellectual, mind stimulating, idea challenging buddy. If I ever visit his city I'm expecting to at least go out for coffee with this interesting man. I've told him before that he thinks circles around me but he humbly denies it. His writing is concise and beautiful in the same breath. He's a poet as well as a man of big ideas. I'd be hard pressed to find better or more worthwhile reading anywhere on the web. Now if I could only convince him to run for public office, that would be great!
I've decided to give The Colors of Friendship badge to Wendy at La Delirante. Wendy was one of the first bloggers I made contact with and I've enjoyed reading her blog ever since. She intrigues me because her life is so different from mine. She's from El Salvador but lives on the little island of Malta. I have to admit when I first found her I had to look at a world map to figure out that Malta is off the coast of Italy. With each new post she opens a window to a way of life that I'd never have known about without her. Thanks Wen. Keep writing and I'll keep reading.

Heather at The Wishful Writer gave me this beary friendship badge. I know if we met in person we'd have a blast together. She shares so much about her personal life on her blog that I feel like I've known her, her girlfriend April, her Granny, and heaven forbid Blemish, for years. I know more about her neighbors than I know about my own. She always answers comments, making her readers feel included in the joke. I talk to my husband about her as if I'd just talked to Heather on the phone. "You're never going to believe what Heather said today!" At least now he's stopped giving me a look of total confusion when I mention her name. So thank you Heather. You're the best.

I'm passing on this cute badge to my friend Lisa McMann. She is an accomplished Young Adult author. Her first book entitled WAKE will be on the shelves in March of next year. Get it and say you heard about her when because she is going to be big. I can feel it. She has more in the works so don't despair, you won't have to wait too long to read the next installment of Janie and Cable's adventure.

Thank you again Heather and Francis. If we ever meet in "real" life just look for the blond with the big smile and open arms looking for a hug!