Cover bands are a dime a dozen and I truly enjoy original music but even good quality original music is hard to enjoy, I have found, in half of what I listen to. So why do I like Bolt Action so much live?

Bolt Action delivers the showmanship, especially their drummer Kyle. It’s like he’s an octopus or something the way he handles those drums. You’d think he had a 20 piece set. The guy can play nearly 2 hours without stopping longer than a few seconds. And that includes Foo Fighters covers and an incredibly lengthy and entertaining drum solo. I have a new favorite drummer I think.

Jimmy is excellent on guitar having to play both rhythm and lead. I’d like to see what this guy can do if a rhythm guitarist freed him up. He absolutely smokes the leads and doesn’t have to rely on the “safe zone” on the neck of the guitar. He can go all over the place. Very nice!

Troy busts out the vocals with an uncanny resemblance to Chris Cornell and spot on Rage Against the Machine and The Muse. This makes songs like “Man in the Box” and “So Cold” feel a little out of place but enjoyable just the same. His sense of humor makes the transition from song to song even more enjoyable.

As flashy as they are I implore people to pay more attention to Joey, the bass player. He absolutely rolls that bass like a mad man. Even his bass solo is a treat and he uses fingers instead of a guitar pic. I would not want to get flicked by this guy.

It was an honor to see them play for a show that was recorded live for fans who join their mailing list. Head over now to BoltActionOnline.com and see for yourself. Find details on how to help them open for Kiss next month as well which I think they deserve.

All in all, I give these boys an A. If it wasn’t for showmanship and being real tight they wouldn’t have scored as much. Their originals are very original and I believe once they go the original route people will find that they truly do have a style all their own.

Daniel C. Morrison
- Hit Man

As I write articles and interview bands it boggles my mind that, to this point in time, most of these hard-at-it bands aren’t more nationally or internationally known. Breaking Benjamin has been my favorite band with Chevelle a close second in the mainstream list. They are also just behind Alice In Chains on my all time favorite list. But I am finding it harder and harder to keep them at the top of the list. Now, these 3 bands are going to have another thing to worry about: Lucid Fly.

It’s not the fact that they are fronted by a beautiful and powerful vocalist, Nikki Layne, or that Doug Mecca, guitarist, and Go Nakabayashi, bass, work poetically together while Aaron Ficca, drummer, emphasizes the sound with punctuality. While those are all good reasons I think it’s their sound. Take that hard rock vibe sorely lacking in mainstream today and sprinkle that dark and epic sound they rightfully deserve and you have a tasty dish.

Their websites would say that they sound “like Evanescence meets A Perfect Circle.” Maybe that’s true but they can stand on their own two feet, or eight feet rather (maybe not the drummer since he has to sit down to play the drums.)

I like how the band came up with the name so I’ll tell you that now, thereby omitting that question from the interview. “The name came from a newspaper featuring an article on American astronaut Shannon Lucid, who set a new world record for spending 188 days in space. The headline “Lucid Flies Into The Record Book” stuck, and Lucid Fly was born.”

Also, to avoid another obligatory question, although interesting, I will go ahead and tell you that the magic began in 1998 when Doug and Nikki joined forces in the state most noted for oranges. In 2007, singer Nikki and guitarist Doug headed out to Los Angeles where they teamed up with Aaron and Go. This meeting of fate launched Lucid Fly’s song writing into something even more powerful than ever. Now they are happily playing the recent release of their 2nd EP, The Escape Stage.

I want you to check this awesome female fronted progressive alternative rock band out, especially if you like your music heavy, groove oriented, distinctive and often times melodic. First though, let’s get into the heart and soul and mind of this sure-winner band, Lucid Fly, with a little interview action from smokin’ hot front-woman Nikki.

Daniel/AR: Thankfully, for a fly, Lucid Fly has been around a lot longer than any other lifespan of a fly. What keeps you all going and what is that eventual goal you want to reach as a band?

Nikki: I know Coffee Bean keeps us going lol! No really… writing… and the excitement for new songs. My favorite song is almost always the newest one that we’re working on as a band. Seeing a song evolve from a seed of an idea into what we eventually perform live, and the fans’ reactions to it, and how it touches them – seeing how each song will turn out.. there’s always more songs, more ideas, so there’s basically just no desire to stop.

Also, performing every show is unique, so every one of those experiences ends up being something more than we think it’s going to be. There’s always some unexpected chain of events that makes that particular show memorable for us, either the people, the venue, the traveling, the technical problems.. yea each one is pretty much a story of its own! And we’ve got stories…maybe we do it for the stories!

Eventually I think we all just want the ability to travel and tour the world and do this, with a team or actually a family behind us. We want to get inspiration from people we don’t know yet, and places we haven’t been yet, and experiences we’re going to have and write and record all those ideas. Just constantly grow and evolve…every artist’s dream I guess!

Daniel/AR: What major goals both obvious and not so obvious have you reached thus far?

Nikki: We’ve all taken a risk and left where we’re from and moved across the country — and even the world (Go has) — to be here in L.A., ‘thee’ place to be for music, and here we are making music and performing it. Even the fact that the 4 of us are together, that we met and defined our sound, that was a pretty major goal! and then we’ve been fortunate enough to record at some really amazing studios and have those songs played on the radio, in other countries too, that’s beyond cool. We’ve performed at some venues that almost every band knows and respects and are legendary. We’ve traveled a good chunk of the country too, places I might’ve never visited otherwise. And of course, getting interviewed by Alternative Revolt magazine JI-YEA! Really that’s a big accomplishment for us.. we get to reach people and tell our stories!!

Daniel/AR: Speaking of goals, can any of you shoot hoops worth a crap?

Nikki: Ya know, there are lots of long arms.. tall band members, so maybe! If you count Wii then yeah! Aaron’s the tallest and he’s like the Wii master, pretty much every game. Is that a drummer thing? All that hand-eye-foot coordination?

Daniel/AR: In other goal related things, do you think you would be better at kicking a field goal, scoring a goal in hockey or coming up with 5 words that rhyme with goal?

Nikki: I can roll some soul down the ol’ mole hole?!? Wait what was the question?

Daniel/AR: It’s a quick wit like that which makes me think you guys are no dummies to success. If you had a birthday cake with 3 candles and you made a wish for each candle of a major act you would love to tour with, what would that be?

Nikki: Man, first I’d probably wish that some bands were still together! Like A Perfect Circle –although I might settle for Puscifer, Maynard can put a project together AND a show .

And definitely the Deftones! There’s so many more to pick from but for the third wish I’m gonna have to say Mute Math. Their live energy is sick I love it. Damn there’s more.. can I wish for more wishes?

Daniel/AR: Lyrics are about what the writer knows, observes, or feels. Sometimes, they’re even funny. In the grand scheme of things it seems that most people know about struggles. What themes in your lyrics would people pick up on?

Nikki: I think I can write a song about anything… usually introspective… any thing or experience that has meaning to me, and of course relationships. Life boils down to relationships and that’s what I feel you really know the most about. I tend to sing about the duality of those topics and I throw nature in there a lot too. I’m sometimes deliberately vague in my lyrics…where they mean something to me and can mean whatever the listener gets from it – it’s open to interpretation for anyone to find personal meaning for them.

Daniel/AR: As I’m thinking about these questions I am eating Munchos. These chips are awesome and only two bucks a bag. If you could be eating chips right now, what would you eat?

Nikki: Secretly we moved to L.A. because I love Mexican food, so chips and salsa and guac. But I do totally dig these Calbee snap-pea crisps – they’re like cheetos made of snap peas! I’m addicted! Don’t ask Go this question though, he’ll probably say shrimp chips… ew!

Daniel/AR: Chips are freakin’ tasty for the most part. Your sound is tasty too, as I’ve described earlier. Even though most comparisons are to Evanescence and Perfect Circle who would you consider to your biggest influences, musically speaking?

Nikki: We all (in the band) have a wide range… but some of my influences in no particular order I’d say Ann Wilson/Heart, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Steve Perry/Journey, Imogen Heap, Brandon Boyd from Incubus, Maynard James Keenan in all his projects. We’re constantly finding new music! We share everything we find with each other in the band, and in all different styles. Every time I discover something new it pretty much becomes part of those influences too.

Daniel/AR: Who would be your personal inspirations or role models?

Nikki: Definitely my parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles for raising me in such a creative environment (musical and otherwise).

As far as famous people, other musicians… I’m inspired by women like Madonna for being able to reinvent herself and Gwen (Stefani) for having her own fashion line and being able to combine music and fashion. Both have a business sense and they created something way bigger than their music. Maynard too… the inventiveness of each new musical project he’s involved in, and the live shows, then his other passions like the wine and film, and bringing that creativity out in other avenues beyond the music. And they do it kinda classy, even if/when they’re somehow being offensive to society!

Daniel/AR: When people want Go to leave do they simply say “away” or the whole “go away” phrase?

Nikki: We just say ‘GO’, firmly.. and we point at the door! No no we never do that. We can’t be mean to Go because when we go to Japan, we hope the Japanese words he teaches us won’t get our ass kicked. Circle of trust in this band. Right.

You do hear some funny sounding stuff around us though.. like ‘where’d Go go?’ Really he’s like a ninja, he just disappears.

Daniel/AR: If you could go anywhere in the world to play music then stay or go somewhere else to retire, where would those places be?

Nikki: Uhhh, no intention of retiring anytime soon.. definitely want to try and hit every continent a few times first so I can research! Actually, I intend on being one of those loooong career types like the Rolling Stones, John Paul Jones, and Sting. I’ve been to a couple places that are good candidates. Amsterdam is on the list. Japan for sure.. I haven’t been yet but I know we’ll be playing Germany and Australia where rock is received really well and I’m lookin’ forward to bringing it there frequently!

Daniel/AR: How about some discography facts?

Nikki: Our latest recording “The Escape Stage”, named after the exact point at which a rocket is leaving the gravitational pull of the Earth. We recorded these all together with Brendan Dekora at Glenwood Place Studios here in Burbank. Can we say ‘lucky’?

Discography
EP “The Escape Stage” -available February 2009:
o dirgE
o Dramatis Personae
o Alohum
o Back and Forth
o Means To An End

Our first release was really a collection from 3 different studio sessions with 2 different engineers Adam Barber and George Spatta at various studios, oh and lots of stories!

CD “Adapting To Gravity” -available January 2005:
o Para11el
o Splinter
o Blind
o No Sleep
o Center of Your Space
o Collide
o 11th Hour

Daniel/AR: Where are some places people can go to read more about Lucid Fly and listen to some tunes?

Nikki: We’re on myspace, facebook, twitter.. you can go straight to www.lucidfly.com for links or search “lucid fly” and we’re real easy to find J The music from both releases is available on iTunes and Amazon, as well as directly through our website. There are so many websites out there helping bands get the word out now too.. we have songs on quite a few internet radio and music sites like Last.fm, Jango, Reverbnation and OurStage.com.

Daniel/AR: Right now, if people wanted to see you live what radius would they have to attend?

Nikki: Right now we’re playing pretty much Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. But we’re definitely planning to tour the west coast and beyond!

Daniel/AR: Is there anything else you would like to add that you want fans and would-be fans to know?

Nikki: Uh, let’s see… yeah the official band dog is a Shih Tzu. His name is Chuzzle and he’s the bomb. And we’re kinda obsessed with the whole peanut butter + chocolate thing.

Daniel/AR: This is the last question. By now you probably know what to expect so let us dive in. If your vehicle had enough gas to get 3 more miles and mile 1 was the site of reported alien abductions, site 2 was reported to be devil worshipping grounds, and mile 3 was where the vomit of animals were stored but leaked its hazardous stench into the wind which mile would you prefer to stop at and how would you decide to protect yourself from the would-be threats?

Nikki: Hey. This sounds suspiciously like one of those algebra word problems. You didn’t say there was gonna be math on this test but I’m gonna have to pick the aliens. They’re real smart but they’re probably evolved to be real small and weak with big brains so we can take ‘em and escape in their UFO. Plus we have a ninja with us. Ain’t skeerd.

Lucid Fly, you can be a fly in my ointment any time. I wish you the best in all you do.

Daniel C. Morrison
aka: Hit Man

The article I recently posted about the metal band Ardor was so well received that I was chosen to be the Head Journalist for a new magazine to hit online shelves soon called “Alternative Revolt Magazine.” Although this magazine is mostly about music it also has features on other artists. Imagine that for a moment. Unsigned bands being in the same magazine as Flaw, Kittie, Nonpoint. How about Paranormal teams as well or authors? While you’re there check out a few movie and video game reviews and even sample some music while you’re at it.

Here’s an idea: All the artists from Acoustic Alternative, signed and unsigned, send me a message to be featured in this magazine as well as right here in Arts and Entertainment Connexions. Alternative Revolt Magazine is destined to get more exposure than this site because it has sponsors and is more informative and interactive. So what are you waiting for? This is what dreams are made of! If you want to see a mock-up version of the magazine you’ll be in go to http://altrevolt.com. Keep in mind this magazine has not been released yet. The site I gave you is to see some basic pages and give you a feel. But if I could share with you the actual magazine your jaw would drop.

Cheers to all of you!

Daniel C. Morrison
aka The Hit Man

This four-floor building held many surprises ranging from nearly 150 learning and activity stations to a four story IMAX Theatre. I’m talking about teaching laboratories, a fun way to learn about the human body with trivia game consoles, arcade style bacteria smashing and my favorite, the x-rays. Yes, people in positions doing everyday activites with a screen that shows an X-RAY of what happens while you do it, none of which made me queezy.

This largest hands-on science center in Kentucky also had an awesome variety of interactive ways to learn about industrial technology, building your own bike, skeleton weight lifting, a huge wall screen map that told you of different places around Kentucky, wildlife, a machine that showed you pictures of what you’ll look like every couple decades, a kids zone that made me wish I was 10 again, 3 or more different educational and breathtaking movies on their IMAX screen, info on chemistry, telecommunications, physics, manufacturing, oh I could go on and on. So I will.

Their exhibit, The World Around Us, combines natural and earth sciences to create a fantastic range of interactive and multimedia activities. Three awesome ecological galleries that cover the atmosphere, terrashpere and aquasphere will excite you if you’re an environment buff.

For history fans their Discovery Gallery has natural history collections that includes cool, interactive learning experiences with the mummy, polar bears and Gemini trainer.

The World We Create is a fascinating exhibit
that introduces you to a mixture of manufacturing, transportation, chemistry, architecture, physics, engineering and communication. You can actually indulge all your senses in this fun environment and also compute and design stuff. There’s even physical science exploration. True! Here you can build with blocks, conduct chemistry experiments, design a bike, delivering high-tech packages and more. No pyromania exhibits though, thankfully. This was a lot of fun!

Another amazing exhibit was The World Within Us. According to their site, it “lets you get to know the amazing body that’s yours for life. Learn more about how your body works through hands-on exhibits that will give you a new appreciation for the parts most people take for granted. How does your voice work? Just how large is a large intestine? You’ll never see your body in the same way again!” Well, they were right. In a salute to my mother, a nurse, I would soon head to this amazing exhibit where I’ll also see how healthy and unhealthy lifestyle choices affect my body, as if the reflection in the mirror wasn’t enough. And I sure wasn’t going to miss the recommended highlights, “Out of Control: Slide behind the wheel of an orange Volkswagen and experience the difference between driving sober and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Time Machine: This photo booth takes you into the future so you can see how you might look in 20, 30 or 40 years. Amazing Beginnings: In a reverent, awe-inspiring display, eight human embryos and fetuses show how you grew from two autonomous cells.”


Before I could get into more meat and potatoes of this fine facility I had to check out their intense Titanic exhibit.  If you have never seen this historic adventure you should head out to wherever it’s going next. Seeing this with my own eyes was simply awesome. Very educational, very breathtaking and it had cool, detailed touches to boot. Before entering we were told that the cases which held the artifacts were on an alarm system. I was also handed a mock boarding pass with the name of one of the passengers that actually rode on the Titanic. At the end of the exhibit I was to find the name in the list of survivors or the list of those who perished that tragic night. Sad to say, my guy and his family didn’t make it. I also have to mention that they had an actual large piece of a freshwater iceburg there as well. It was so cold. It was to let people get an idea of how cold the water was when the Titanic went down. In fact, the water was colder than that iceburg.

The exhibit walls had pictures of those on the massive boat and brief stories of others. The belongings in the cases had photos and stories of those whom they belonged to and there was even a pair of phones that had recordings of what eye witnesses who survived had described about the tragedy. Intense! There was a volunteer there as well who was stuffed full of information that the exhibit did not display. To me, it was icing on the cake. So, of course, I had to check out the four-story IMAX screening of James Cameron’s deep sea dive to explore the Titanic.

Inisde this 250 capacity theater it was difficult to find a seat but it was well worth it. The screen was in your face like a dog wanting a cookie. The way it added to the historic allure of the Titanic Exhibit was incredible. I could not imagine going there ever again without also partaking in an IMAX adventure. I even think only one kid cried. That’s impressive due to the number of families with children that were there.

This wonderful Titanic piece catered to my assistant, Stephanie in major ways. It is her favorite historical story so I let her write an article on the exhibit for you to read at the end of this article. Yes, I’m that kind.

After the movie was over I spent a lot of time in the health science section, “The World Within Us.” It was the most interactive learning experience I’ve ever witnessed (and that includes the game, Charades, and the kids game, Memory. Ha.) Huge displays in vibrant colors really grabbed my attention. Computers with Trivia about what you just saw were there as well to test your smarts factor. Devices that let you see pieces of bone construction via magnifiying glass, a machine that showed you what vision is like with several different diseases, a lot of different interactive ways to see your heart at work, and the list goes on and on. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the skeletal movements as I simulated weight lifting and enjoyed destroying bacteria via an arcade video game machine.

I witnessed the aging process of my associate, Stephanie, as she sat in front of this screen that took her picture and showed her what she would theoretically look like every 20 years until age 85. According to the machine she wouldn’t gain much weight, she would get glaucoma judging by how one of her eyes looked and that she would actually live to age 85. Theoretic flaws aside, this was unique entertainment. We also saw the KidZone where little ones could play and learn. I’ll just say that Ronald McDonald would be jealous. I also witnessed some cool nature and wildlife history of Kentucky and was in gemstone heaven in their surprisingly varied gift shop. Come on now, a gemstone vending machine? Yes! Fifty cents in, a handful of gemstones out. $2.00 later and we needed a bag for them. Those clever little vendors and that wonderful machine! Before you think I’m some dork I’ll have you know I’m a gemstone fanatic.

Finally, after so much fun, I found the only spot that had local artwork. It was hanging on the wall along the hall by the IMAX theater entrance. More than a dozen paintings decorated the wall all by the same artist, Margaret Oechsli, PHD . She uses a process called Photomicrography. As I understand it, it’s photography through a microscope. Her unique artwork includes different medicines with cool pieces such as “Dots Going For The Walk,” “Vagueness of Being” and “Almond Default” which all are priced at $1500. Amazing idea, her artwork! She crafts it very well. Sadly, that’s all they seemed to have in regards to local art. Well, it wasn’t really sad. the rest of the museum was just too cool for words.

I wish I could have stayed there longer. We spent over four hours there and didn’t even get to experience a good third of the place. Danielle Waller says that the ROBOTS exhibit starts in about two weeks, an exhibit based off the animated movie ROBOTS.  How cool is that? When I go back to write on it I will partake in the rest of the adventure that is the Louisville Science Center . Next time I will focus greatly on the exhibit. This article was to let you know about this entertaining complex. Maybe one day they’ll have a mime display. It would be more acceptable than a drunk driving display. Yikes! To see for yourself all the other things this place has to offer and its rich history visit the site at www.LouisvilleScience.org and when you visit, let them know that Daniel sent ya!

So to Danielle, Josh, Kelly and the rest of the staff, thank you for your hospitality, your energy, and passion. It was one of the coolest places I’ve been. I look forward to seeing you all again very soon!

– Daniel C. Morrison
aka the Hit Man for Arts and Entertainment Connexions
Shout! Radio Services
DanielsDoorstep.com

A Walk Through The RMS Titanic Exhibit at The Louisville Science Center
Written By: Stephanie Pacey

Titanic’s story is still heard even from the dark, abysmal silence of the bottom of The Atlantic. It has been almost ninety-eight years since that fateful night that the White Star ocean liner set sail on it’s first and last journey to its watery grave. Today, the luxury ship sits over 12,500 feet below the ocean’s surface as a massive tomb for over 1,500 souls and millions of memories.

The Louisville Science Center’s exhibit on this tragic loss is beyond what you would call “informative”. Unlike most historical walks through time, not only do you learn about things you wouldn’t possibly know, you actually enjoy learning little known facts about Titanic, and are able to recall them later on. They incorporate every way of learning that is known in society into one massive place. Everyone knows the story of Titanic, even today’s middle school students know a little about the ill-fated, maiden voyage of the largest and most luxurious ocean liner ever made at the time. Whether they learned about it in school or watched the movie, they know the basics. What the exhibit in the Science Center had to offer was above and beyond.

At the beginning of the exhibit, you are told by one of the many workers donning lab coats that the artifacts actually come from excavations of the wreckage, and because of their delicate condition, they are encased in glass that will sound an alarm if it is touched. You are also told to look out for “major butt”, who ends up being a passenger from Louisville named Major Archibald Butt. So in finding the amusement of this tragically, yet humorously named man, you remember the name later on at the end of the exhibit. They give you a faux boarding pass with a name of a passenger on it, why they are travelling, who they are travelling with, and what they do for a living.

As you walk through, there are framed pictures and facts along the walls, and encased artifacts such as: American currency, bank notes, dinnerware, pots and pans, hair brushes, toothpaste containers, Gillette razor blade wrapper, a champagne bottle with liquid still in it, a marriage certificate, the list goes on and on. There is also a part in which you see a menu of what types of food was served to each class rank. There is also a fun fact stating that one ticket for first class would be around 100,000 dollars today. The most aristocratic passenger was John Jacob Astor who was a businessman in New York. Mr. Joseph Bruce Ismay was the owner of Titanic and was on the ship when it hit the iceberg. He was also the man behind how fast the ship was going and how many lifeboats were on the ship on its maiden voyage. He survived by getting on collapsable lifeboat C. Mr. Thomas Andrews was the ship’s builder, and spent his last hours telling people to get on the lifeboats and to put on a lifejacket. Sadly, he did not survive.
Near the end of the exhibit you come to an actual freshwater iceberg that you touch to feel how cold the water would have been for the 1,500+ souls that didn’t manage to get on a lifeboat because there weren’t enough to rescue everyone on board. You also get to see some AuGratin dishes found stacked neatly in the rows they were in when the ship sank. At the end, you walk to a wall that has the classes, and a list of who survived and who perished. You are to take your boarding pass and try to locate the name on it to see what happened to them that cold night on April 14th, 1912. You could also go to their IMAX Theater and see “Ghosts of the Abyss”, a short film by James Cameron, the director of Titanic starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. It takes you on an exploration of Titanic’s wreckage and stars Bill Paxton who is a guest on the quest. There is also two special guests called : Jake and Elwood, two ROV “bots” on the boat that become part of the family.

I knew a great deal about Titanic when I went to see this amazing exhibit, and I can say with confidence that it was the best learning experience about the ship and its passengers I have ever witnessed. There is nowhere else I can think of that related so much in a few hours as the Louisville Science Center did. They make learning a lot more fun and easy than, say, reading a book, or an article (just kidding..) I would love to go back to see their next exhibit on Robots that starts March 20th.

Evolving from previous projects, BLIND started playing as a group in the mid-90’s after the previous project The Crocodile Nasty’s which included both Marty and Jim tragically ended with a death of a member.

Marty and Jim added a new drummer and began an 8 year stretch of countless shows and a debut CD in 1999. Work was nearly complete on the followup album when they disbanded in 2001.

Seven years later, Marty and Jim, still playing together in a local cover band “A-Town Unplugged” for the love of music, occasionally performing a requested Blind song or two were asked repeatedly by fans to play a rock show again with the Blind catalog of songs as a setlist.

Since they had Pat from A-town on drums that knew many of the songs, and was available, they worked on putting a new twist on the old lineup including working on some new songs and retooling some of the unfinished 2001 material.

This new incarnation, now called LEADING THE BLIND, has all that the fans loved from the past but benefits from years of various projects that each member has participated in since 2001.

The new songs that have been played live since reforming has increased the hopes that a new album will not be far off!

Listen to the Rising Star Spotlight on this great band:

Be sure to make your comments and let the know what you think.

Thanks to a supporting cast by Shout! Radio Services and Daniels Doorstep I have an opportunity to give you exposure unlike any other. It’s a package that consists of a high definition video posted on YouTube for your portfolio, an interview like you see me post on this site (which will be posted on as many sites as I can including DanielDoorstep.com, this site, and Louisville Mojo), the opportunity for you to sell your merchandise to the public, and at times mention on local public broadcasting stations, and sometimes being aired live on Acoustic Alternative radio (for musicians). There is a lot more to it than that and you can find information here at AllForOnePromotions.com.

I’m also using my html coding experience to come up with a list of artists in the Louisville area. I have realized that I cannot search one spot and find all the artists that exist in this city. So anyone who is in a band, who paints, who is a comedian, etc. send me your name and what you do and a link so I can get a public directory for this city.

I hope to be able to start one of these conventions really soon but I need the cities support. I am going this alone as far as paying for the initial costs, doing the recruiting, doing the physical work and most of the advertising and it’s very difficult but my passion and desire to be a good samaritan and help others drives me forward. Hopefully, this will work. I have seen no one go to this extent. I can’t thank Shout Radio enough for their support. Here’s to everyone who has an art and skill to make the world a better place!

Sincerely,
Daniel C. Morrison
aka The Hit Man

One for all,

Daniel C. Morrison
aka The Hit Man

A fan asked me what I meant about “if you want a miracle, be a miracle”

Being a miracle: I always enjoyed that line. Some miracles, I believe, have to be done in a spiritual nature. Such as if you’re standing in the rain on the side of the road because your car is broke down and another car loses control. That car could easily hit you and even come your way. Unexplainably, you feel yourself be pulled out of the way. Or more likely a part of you notices and reacts unexpectedly and unconsciously, as I believe some spiritual things work. (After all I do believe God uses science and a very specific, perfect chain of events to do a lot of things: re coincidence). Another example is some medical issues that mysteriously disappear.

Let’s face it though, everyone is in need of some miracle. Perhaps it depends on the severity. If you need someone to take the kids to school you might need a small miracle. However, it is kind of a big deal even though it is small and could fit into a miracle category. Somebody might be short on a car payment or insurance or something and could use some financial help. Someone could be out of food for real. I think in the cases that these happen, and it’s not someone’s direct fault, miracles have an easier time of happening. However, it is usually an individual being a good samaritan that takes care of the miracle.

For me, if my parents or siblings need some financial help, usually I can freely give them money because it is always small amounts. I decide, they need a miracle and I have this money so I’ll give it to them and not think twice about it. A lot might depend on how precious that cash is to someone versus how precious it is to give it to someone in need. If someone is starving one can easily spend anywhere from five bucks on up to supply some food. Ramen noodles are cheap, as every entertainer and struggler knows and boy, do they get you by!

I don’t like to use myself as examples but I can’t think of anything else right now so I will say in the realm of making your dreams come true, miracles are very much appreciated. For me, I’m trying to make mine come true. I know hundreds and thousands of others are too. Since I’m going to have a site up I figured I would write articles for others struggling so that they, too, can benefit from what I’m trying to do. For bands, I put together a demo cd of bands all over the nation and hand them out when I do book signings and stuff. I even suggest them to people and see if I can get them shows. I’m handing out my stuff, why not hand out some work by others as well? Sure, I hardly get anything in return ever but for me, the fact that I can be the exception, prove that I am not “too good to be true” makes me feel good inside. People need help in this world all the time and although I’m not rich, I’m not very famous, and I don’t have many true connections I am still doing it because it makes me feel good. Making people feel like somebodies is a wonderful feeling.

So my suggestion is that if you want to see a miracle, be a miracle. If you put good out there then maybe it will come your way. Somebody will be a miracle to you perhaps. I think God uses people as much as possible to get what he needs done, in the physical realm at least. You might get an unexpected bonus, more on your refund, a friend might hop in and help or some stranger might stop by your inbox or talk to you when you’re out somewhere and take care of a small need resulting in a big, positive impact. Just know that miracles are truly intended, I believe, to help you with something that is truly necessary. Otherwise, everyone would win the lottery, everyone would be physically fit and no one would ever get sick. I challenge people to be a miracle to someone whether family, friend or stranger and see just exactly what comes your way.

Find more insight at http://www.danielsdoorstep.com/ondanielsmind

Scattered Leaves: The Legend of Ghost Killer is a fictional tale about the historic Great Sioux Uprising in 1862. In Minnesota on December 29th of that year 38 full blooded and mixed blood Sioux Indians were hanged. Why? Various crimes against white settlers. Crimes? yest, crimes related to the unjust and unfair actions that the government was doing instead of honoring the treaties. The hangings are known as the largest mass execution in United States History. Unless you count natural disasters. Just kidding. Natural disasters really can’t be compared to mass hangings just like batteries can’t really be compared to a hamster running on a wheel.

The story itself takes place in the town of Moccasin Flats. It is about a curse that has haunted the citizens of the town for over 140 years, a curse called from the gallows the day that horrible execution occured.

Kyle is the main character in the story, a 7th generation Ghost killer whose ancestor was hanged on that fateful day. HIs fate was to save his people and that began quite a journey! He returns after a long absence to find out that he was accused of the latest grizzly murders in that small town. How’s that for a welcome home present? Oh, it comes with a tasteless cake too because his childhood sweetheart has a vengeful vendetta for him. Let me quote the author herself…

“The time has arrived for Kyle to face the dreaded curse head on, which pits him against dark forces. It’s a fierce battle between good and evil; which will win?

Can the help of his uncle and a seasoned police officer save Ghostkiller from the hangman’s noose and forever alter history for all Plains Indians?

If this sounds cool to you then please check out her myspace page, www.myspace.com/thelegendofghostkiller and see what else she has in store.

Suppose you want to know more about the author (and I hope you do.) Check more out about her and her full blooded Indian husband at LynnyPrince.com. You’ll find other cool things including their organization Red Road Awareness where they raise money for many unfortunate victims of troubled times. When you check her out, tell her Daniel sent ya!