Social Networking: My Adventures on Twitter

I am a writer, graphic designer, and ranked by Google,MSN and Yahoo America's Favorite Love columnist I am engaged to Rick London a writer, cartoonist and brand designer, together, we own the seo and branding firm Pen And Ink Inc.

Would I have joined Twitter had I been warned it might occasionally be akin to a “cyber office water cooler” or worse high school with adults? The short answer would have been, “no, No, NO”! Followed up by, “Are you crazy? I work at home to avoid those situations”. I am however extremely thankful I did not receive this warning until long after I had become part of the social networking phenomenon called Twitter. The heartfelt truth is that I would have missed out on events and people that would change my life forever.

Why did I sign up for a Twitter account? Our local TV station’s current events show used it to promote audience interaction. After months of watching and dying to respond I finally gave in and opened a Twitter account (@thehillers) so I could participate. Day one I sat staring mesmerized as all the data rapidly passed with every update. Each of the 140 character tweets containing personal messages, links to blogs, photos, products, and news left me wanting more. It was a buffet of delicious information delivered in rapid tasty bite size morsels.

There was a daily excitement watching as the effect of each tweet I sent out with a closing of “Hugs & Love” resulted in an increase of my follower numbers. It became a ritual to click on tweets of people I thought were interesting and follow them in the hopes of being followed back. Soon I had 100, 200, 300 followers. At 500 I realized to keep from missing favorite tweets I would need Tweetdeck. Suddenly I had multiple columns of tweets streaming in front of me and like a director choosing characters for a film I sorted those I was following into manageable groups.

Was Twitter becoming a necessary part of my daily routine? “Oh Yes, I needed to meet more people so I could discuss humor, poetry, animal rights, humanitarian causes and patriotism”. Soon I was chatting daily with a variety of interesting people who were witty, loving and engaging. This amazing group of individuals began to feel more like a family and I looked forward to learning more about them.

An important moment can be missed in the blink of an eye online, especially in the accelerated micro-blogging world of Twitter. If I had blinked I would have missed a wildly funny infidelity cartoon posted by Rick London (@ricklondon). The illustration depicted a cockroach discovering a matchbook from the Roach Motel in her husband’s jacket. I knew he would have to be my next follow. Rick as it turned out was a master of the humorous Tweet and I looked forward to our daily exchange of puns & double entendres. From sushi to pens and Ink every night we tried to raise the level of repartee.

A single DM (direct message) sent by Rick asking me to retweet something would set in motion an incredible series of events. I clicked on the DM (direct message) to respond when I noticed his Twitter background was a “horrible gray”. Rick’s cartoons were fantastic and colorful so I included an offer to create a new background for him in my DM reply. He told me he had no idea which cartoons to use so I created a collage of my favorites from his website. When I contacted him 2 hours later Rick seemed surprised that I had actually followed through with my offer. The email to send the background led to phone calls as he was unable to upload it to Twitter. We spoke twice that day for an hour in an effort to ensure the layout was perfect.

I was perplexed next morning when an email arrived asking if he could call me immediately. That phone call lasted 3 hours and each day after that we spoke longer and later like old friends trying to catch up on each other’s lives. Our friendship grew daily while we were exchanging favorite poetry, telling jokes, writing and working on a plan for our new SEO article marketing business idea (Pen and Ink Inc.). One night while Rick was showing me how to publish an article we realized our friendship had blossomed into love. Not more than three weeks later PenAndInkInc.com was born. In cyberspace, “this thing called twitter”, we had built a foundation for love and a new business in which we have already gained clients; most of whom have come to us on Twitter.

Rick was already working on a grass roots campaign with his sister Kathy Ireland “Citizens For Dame Elizabeth Taylor For The Presidential Medal Of Freedom”. At the early stages, I was asked to join the Twitter campaign which filled the White House mailbox with Emails sent from (most likely) tens of thousands of fellow Twitterers within our networks and other networks connected to ours. Stories of it appeared worldwide from MSNBC to my article in the Herald de Paris (@Heralddeparis), both of whom use Twitter regularly.

Several weeks later we decide it was not good to hide our love for each other. Rick & I agreed it was time to bring our love out into the open on twitter so it would no longer be a secret we kept from our friends. Our love notes in open tweets felt so wonderful and filled my heart with joy each day. (These are verbatim actual tweets from Twitter) @ricklondon Waking up to your voice & hearing your love for me in your wit warmth & wisdom makes my soul sing I Love You, Your Lee xx00xx. @thehillers I can look at a sky full of shining stars and then your face, and in your face I see the whole universe. Love Your Rick @thehillers <---- There is beautiful & there is lovely. And then there is Lee = exquisite. @ricklondon Love is trembling happiness. ~ Kahlil Gibran - I Love You, Your Lee xx00xx. @thehillers Kahlil is singing 2 us baby. I love you. Ikea'nt wait 2 cu.

How could love provoke hostile behavior in others? At fifty-one the thought of going back to high school was not a thrilling construct. On Twitter it was worse as its adults that are playing the games of gossip and innuendo. Although 99.9% of close friends and acquaintances on Twitter were extremely happy for us the other 1% left me feeling betrayed with their vile words and deeds.

The detractors had a wide range of concerns about our relationship it was bad for us, bad for them, I would break his heart, he would break my heart and we can’t possibly be in love we needed to date others. Comments of displeasure of course were not expressed in open tweets to us. Their obsessive habits have included following our network of friends to gain access to sending DMs. Instead they tweet gossiped, sent DM’s to us, DM’s to others, left voice mail and sent emails professing their doing these things out of love for us. After weeks of a small group interfering and meddling in our relationship Rick’s Sister Kathy decided to act on her own plan.

To say our engagement was nothing as I imagined it might or would ever be is an understatement. As was our nightly pattern Rick and I were speaking on the phone while typing out our final tweets of the day. A single tweet caught my attention and I told Rick he might want to read what his sister had just tweeted me. After a brief silence Rick said to me, “Well, baby, as you know I was going to ask you anyway, but it's a nervous time in a man's life (to ask a woman to marry him), and it was a relief to have a third party (Kathy) do it for me. That's what sisters are for. Will you marry me”? My reply, “Yes”! I was engaged to my Rick the man who loves me and as deeply as I love him.

(These are verbatim actual tweets from Twitter) @thehillers Darling Lee...Will you be my sister in law? Sending love and prayers 2U. Angel...walking in light..8:19 PM Jun 19th from web in reply to thehillers. @kathyIreland Sis Lee says "YES!" & TY Sis 4 asking as it is a nervous thing ya know when a man asks. xx00Blessing Ur Bro & Sis In Law xx08:25 PM Jun 19th from web @kathyireland I would Love to be your Sister In Law Rick @ricklondon just asked on phone & I said Yes Love to You, Lee & Rick xx00xx8:27 PM Jun 19th from TweetDeck in reply to ADD @ to kathyireland. As Rick reminded me that night he communicates with his “Sis”, author/entrepreneur Kathy Ireland often. She already had knowledge that he had planned to ask me to marry him in July. We were both thrilled by her Tweet.

Are social networks like Twitter for you? This you will have to decide for yourself. I can only say you never know what you might be missing if you don’t try. My adventures in Twitterville have been blessed with true love, new family, new friends, great conversation and opportunities to help others. What could be better than that?

My Amazing Dog Thor

Rick London Founded the Internet’s #1 ranked Offbeat Cartoon, Londons Times & numerous peripheral stores featuring Cartoon Collectibles

July, 1997 the hot, mugginess engulfed me as my rescue dog “Thor” my shadow and companion was wrapped neatly in a blanket. I had just started my very first online offbeat cartoons and funny gifts venture, and stopped immediately my daily creative routine. Thor was about twelve years old but was staring at the walls and not responding to my voice. He had been very active up until then. I got him to the veterinarian within ten minutes and the diagnosis was “some rare ailment that dogs that age often get similar to seizures and he must be put down”. I had been a dog lover and owner since age four. My intuition made me skeptical of the veterinarian’s conclusion instead I decided to keep Thor comfortable for a few days at home. Once Thor was resting I urgently began searching the Internet for alternative solutions and discovered Dr. Ian Billinghurst an Australian veterinarian.

It took two days to find Dr. Ian Billinghurst, an Australian holistic/but also allopathic (traditional western medicine) veterinarian surgeon who had written a controversial book titled “Give Your Dog A Bone”. It entailed a diet plan that was basically raw foods, bought at the grocery preferably organic. The special recipe contained lots of raw meaty bones and occasionally a blend of vegetables, raw burger, etc. in a blender. I discovered that raw organic tripe is one of the most perfect foods for domestic animals. The first time I fed Thor a raw chicken wing, I was mortified. I had heard all my life this was the surest way to kill a dog, but I was desperate. I could already see and feel his soul energy fading. Oddly enough, he immediately took to this new diet, after not eating at all or drinking very much water for three days. I switched his water to bottled and ordered herbal tinctures and live flash-glanced vitamins with live minerals as well. He was devouring these raw foods, from hamburger to raw chicken to broccoli to watermelon (and a blend of them all).

Slowly, very slowly, I could see him coming back to life. The biggest problem was the terrible odor and coloration of his stools and urine for the first month. Dr. Billinghurst warned me that would happen. The toxins of commercial pet food were leaving his system. One morning, about a month after beginning Thor on the B.A.R.F. (Bones And Raw Foods or Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods), Thor jumped on my bed, something he had never done prior to the diet. He was wagging his tail and ready to go out and play. He grabbed his leash and was ready for a walk. He didn't want a short walk but was willing to go with me my usual five miles. He kept up with me without even panting or having a shortness of breath. The vet had also advised me that in addition to the mystery disease, Thor also suffered from level two heart diseases. I started giving him the same herbs I was taking for my heart disease such as hawthorn berry and very hot cayenne tincture. I stopped all vaccinations as advised and bought homeopathic nosode vaccines ordered online from an only pet care service in California. His daily diet also consisted of fresh organic fruit and vegetables (and occasionally yogurt mixed in a blender. He loved it all and devoured every meal like a wolf in a hen house, whereas in the days of feeding him commercial dog food, even the best, he approached it with great disappointment and rarely finished a bowl (usually left it less than half-finished).

I later learned this shouldn't have been a surprise at all. According to Dr. Billinghurst and now other experts on the subject of B.A.R.F., dog’s digestive systems have not evolved very much from their earlier days, before domestication, when they were still wolves, just as cat's systems had not since they were lions. Thor's energy level kept growing and growing as did his wanting to be near me and play at every given chance, whereas he used to mostly lay around and sleep during his pre-barf days. Up until age twenty, he continued to greatly enjoy our walks, usually three to five miles. It was only when he was about twenty one, that his phase two heart disease changed to phase four, and I knew that was dangerous. It was only then, almost a decade since his last vet visit, except for checkups, that I was forced to also use allopathic medicines, such as Lasix for his heart. I did so very hesitantly, as I was aware this type medicine would eventually hurt his liver and kidneys, which of course it did. In his final year, he had several near-death experiences in which I rushed him to the vet. I was already resolved that if he were in any kind of discomfort, or his quality of life was compromised, I would sadly have my best friend put down. The vet insisted he would not put him down. After all Thor had made three major comebacks at age twenty-two which he considered nothing less than a miracle. After a final try of a “body flush”, I could tell he was “almost gone”. I asked the vet what to do. He said to take him home, there was still a chance. I knew there was not. I could see his life and soul fading from his eyes. I knew him too well. He had been by my side, by my desk at home where I work, for a decade. I said I would take him home but I ordered a bottle of morphine which I administered around the clock as I slept on the floor cradling him during his final night. I had to put the morphine pill down his throat and set my alarm clock for every three hours so as to wake up and give him another. On the 6 am alarm, I opened the bottle to give Thor his pill, but his soul had left his furry body. I looked down and saw there was no breathing. Any pain he may have experienced was now gone, but tears flooded from my eyes. I looked at his face carefully and he was still smiling. He always had a smile through life, and now it stayed with him in death. I will never forget his beautiful smile.

It was snowing heavily outside, icy, and it was hard to carry his almost forty pound body up the
hill. He had a favorite hill behind our home where he chased birds, squirrels, eagles, chipmunks, rabbits and every animal imaginable. I built a small casket for him and a headstone. I had a shovel in the other hand. I lay him down in the casket, and begin digging, first through the snow and ice and finally through the hard dirt until the hole was about four feet deep. I lay him in it, said a prayer, and filled it cold and shivering and still crying. I carefully placed the coffin in the ground and filled it up. I placed the headstone. It's epitaph read, “To Thor: A Special Dog Who Brought Only Joy & Happiness To All. Loved and missed more than he will ever know. Your best friend, Rick”.

A year and a half has passed since Thor's death. The grieving process took longer and was more intense than I had calculated lasting nearly six months. Friends were suggesting I go immediately to the shelter and adopt another. I could not do it then but now I know I will one day. It is after all what Thor would have wanted. I can only thank God, and thank Dr. Ian Billinghurst the Father of “The Raw Food Diet”, and Shirley’s Wellness Cafe, for giving Thor and I another beautiful ten years together. Although one veterinarian had decided it was time to “put Thor down”, it was, in reality, time for Thor to begin living. Thanks to the B.A.R.F. diet, Thor lived a long and healthy life.

Shoes That Amuse: Love on the Run

I am a writer, graphic designer, and ranked by Google,MSN and Yahoo America's Favorite Love columnist I am engaged to Rick London a writer, cartoonist and brand designer, together, we own the seo and branding firm Pen And Ink Inc.

Designer Rick London’s hip Keds “Champion” funky shoes series, allow you to proclaim your love by jumping in feet first. His savvy and yes sexy famous love quotes shoes for woman are the perfect romantic gift for any occasion. Rick carefully chooses from the great romantic poets and writers for the most powerful declarations of love. From Rumi to Emerson and Dickinson to Buddha every woman will be walking on cloud 9 in any of the over 100 unique design styles. They are the only footwear featuring famous love quotations made by any designer.

Speaking with Rick you can feel his passion for the subject of and belief in true love. “My inspiration for Shoes That Amuse began right before the summer of 2008. I was growing wary of relationship issues, and watching those around me whom I loved dearly walking away from relationships that I felt reparable.” Rick continues, “I purposely started associating with friends and couples who were in long-term marriages and relationships that were happy. So I began thinking about those in successful relationships. They didn't just talk the talk" they "Walked the Walk" of love. “

He has chosen a diverse selection of the most romantic poets, philosophers, politicians and writers throughout history. "And I will make thee beds of roses, and a thousand fragrant posies" (Marie Antoinette). "Come out of the circle of time, And into the circle of love" by the great poet Rumi. Aristotle’s "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies". One of Mother Theresa most famous love quotes "Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand". Classic Shakespeare "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely”. London imprints a graphic or photograph of the master who penned the quote on the top panel of each pair of shoes. He has also designed shoes with graphics and famous love quotations of Hemingway, Einstein, Gibran, Lao Tzu, F. Scott Fitzgerald, (and Zelda) and many others.

Rick London’s famous love quote shoe designs are on quality US manufactured Keds Shoes. The beautifully designed shoes come in 3 great styles the mini slip-on, the slip-on and lace-ups. The colorful panels and detailing make each pair the perfect fashion statement for any occasion. To complete the “Look of Love there are matching famous quotes bags and totes in 6 different styles and 8 color schemes.

On first glance on the most amazing feature of the shoes that amuse site might easily be missed. Every pair of shoes can be customized to the colors you want. Pick a poet with a quote you love then start designing. Color elements such as side quarters to insoles and stitching to binding can be changed to make any pair an original. The unique designs are the perfect gifts for lovers and can be an individual item or ordered in multiple as the perfect gift from a bride to her bridesmaids.

Share the love with a sweet pair of love quote shoes and a matching tote each original design is created to inspire the wearer by bringing great words of love into their life. When words fail you giving these will leave no doubt about how you feel about the recipient. As Rick says , "Why just talk about love when you can walk the walk in a pair of Shoes That Amuse, the world's only famous love quote shoes".

Good Works in the Twitter-verse: Real Help in a time of crisis

I am a writer, graphic designer, and ranked by Google,MSN and Yahoo America's Favorite Love columnist I am engaged to Rick London a writer, cartoonist and brand designer, together, we own the seo and branding firm Pen And Ink Inc.

Everywhere you look on the Internet, charitable causes have set up websites offering services and seeking donations. How do you navigate the maze of charities when you are in need of help? One man has appeared online in the Twitterverse with a helping hand to those in need. Richard Bassett, CADAC has opened a place on Twitter to guide people in the often grueling task of finding someone who can help them in a time of crisis. Richard has brought his knowledge and expertise of putting those in need together with a charity that can actually assist them with their individual requirements.

When I first spoke with Richard I was struck by his naturally calming demeanor. A man with a gentle strength and deep knowledge of the struggle those who are often invisible in our communities face each day. Richard imparts his background in social services, counseling and community support with an ease that is both comforting and dynamic. After a few moments of speaking with him I realized this is the person of whom I wanted to be in contact if I was faced with an emergency situation.

His journey to date is the stuff of Hollywood and it is where his story actually begins. Living in LA during the 1980s Richard was an aspiring actor who supplemented his income as an X-Ray Technician. Which as he put it “I could make much more money (opposed to a being valet or a waiter) and could adjust my hours around my auditions.” In 1984 Richard began working with a colleague, amFar director Dr. Michael Gottlieb doing chest X-Rays of HIV/AIDS patients. “I took the radiographs of these patients and they were the worst chest x-rays I had ever seen in my career. “ He explained. “I was crushed to see healthy patients literally die in a matter of weeks. There was no treatment at the time.”

Richard eventually gave up his dreams of being an actor and returned to his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. His eventual rise to a management position in radiology left him cut off from working with the patients about whom he cared so deeply. To reconnect, Richard began volunteering with the AIDS Helpline. Bassett adds, “In talking to thousands of callers, I concluded that AIDS and Addiction were massive issues.”

Richard stepped away from his comfortable career in medical management and return to college to pursue a degree in social services. Even though some tried to dissuade him, Richard was determined to follow this new path. He adds, “I got a job as an HIV/AIDS Case Manager and returned to school, (University of Massachusetts), and became a Certified Drug & Alcohol Addictions Counselor specializing in dual diagnoses. I took to it like a fish to water.”

In 2009 Richard began looking for a way to assist greater numbers of people. Twitter became the perfect outlet to share his information and experience in social services with a wider audience. Richard’s goal was to create a place where he could easily be contacted and interact with the immediacy that is so often required when a person is searching for help. He began a simple but effective Tweet dialogue with those he could see shared his goals of helping others and joined a community that is always ready to retweet his message to their networks for greater reach.

He has made himself available to help others on Twitter (http://twitter.com/RichBassett) where he has listed many of the charities and organizations with which he has worked. Each day he sends out beacons of hope in the form of tweets containing the names and links to trusted charities; tweets that he knows can lead those in need of assistance back to him for compassionate guidance.

Richard Bassett provides HIV/AIDS Counseling in Boston You can reach him on Twitter @RichBassett

Twitter Tools: The Incredible Shrinking URL

I am a writer, graphic designer, and ranked by Google,MSN and Yahoo America's Favorite Love columnist I am engaged to Rick London a writer, cartoonist and brand designer, together, we own the seo and branding firm Pen And Ink Inc.

In the Twitter world of 140 characters or less shrinking the URL is not only the new normal but it has become an imperative. Data across the Internet is now fetched from sub sections of websites with extensive distinguishing codes making many of the longer URLs unable fit in the allotted 140 characters space even if no additional text was added. To facilitate the size reduction there are currently over 100 URL shrinking sites on the Internet offering a variety of features from custom names to tracking and keywords.

A good example of the new larger URLs can be found on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/Baseball-Chase-Field-Dedication-09-23-05-3D-Crystal-LED_W0QQitemZ370150311957QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop?hash=item562ead8815&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A30. This URL which has 213 characters will be the model for the conversions in each of the examples of the Small URL sites visited and tested.

When you have only 140 characters as on Twitter size does matter and three small URL sites all claim to create the smallest. First Tinyurl http://tinyurl.com/ is one of the best known for this magical feat of compacting size and the larger URL was reduced to http://tinyurl.com/nwpnkn. The next site twtr.us http://twtr.us/twtr.html it claims to create smallest tiny URL's on the planet with the resulting URL http://tw6.us/RF. Last is 3.ly http://3.ly/ claims it is the tiniest 3 letter URL result http://3.ly/Ubz and was the smallest URL and had helpful browser add-on function.

URL shrinkers that had a reliable browser add-on include RubyURL http://rubyurl.com/home it’s advantage drag drop toolbar add-on URL which reduced the URL to http://rubyurl.com/mYNC. It was quick to set up and use disadvantage takes you back to the ruby site to copy and paste. Is good http://is.gd/ has a Firefox add-on with a URL shrink result of http://is.gd/10oRG. An advantage to is.good add-on is it places new link in clipboard for rapid pasting.

To customize your small URL with a keyword for easy recognition http://doiop.com/ allows you to choose the name for the compression to give it some context creating the resulting URL http://doiop.com/chasefield. Another small URL keyword site FON Get Simple Naming http://www.fon.gs/ created this URL http://fon.gs/chasefield/.

If you are seeking link tracking for your shortened URLs http://www.tiny.cc/ provides traffic statistics with a URL result http://tiny.cc/chasefield the downside is currently if you lose the link to tracking they cannot retrieve it for you. Another site Shrinkster http://www.shrinkster.com/ created the URL http://shrinkster.com/176z and it allows you to access stats by entering the URL end code. Finally Dwarf http://www.dwarfurl.com/ created the URL http://dwarfurl.com/1f666 and you receive a link for tracking http://dwarfurl.com/1f666/654 . The resulting URL is password protected via 3 digit extension so statistics are only available to you.

As new sites and programs change so has the amount of data we enter into the information spaces. Whether you need the tiniest URL, browser add-on, Keyword and or tracking there are many reliable sites that can accommodate your preferences. These new smaller URLs are perfect for IMs, Tweets, facebook postings and emails.

Decoding the Twitter Hash Tag Mystery

I am a writer, graphic designer, and ranked by Google,MSN and Yahoo America's Favorite Love columnist I am engaged to Rick London a writer, cartoonist and brand designer, together, we own the seo and branding firm Pen And Ink Inc.

Within the million tweets 140 character world of Twitter the tiny hash tag aka Pound Symbol [#] is the difference between your messages being seen or being overlooked. Although not an official Twitter feature the hash tag is a simple and effect way to ensure your tweet will appear when others seek out similar information. Hash tagged words are the Twitter equivalent of internet keywords. A simple click on the hash tagged word or a search at search.twitter.com and you will find all the tagged tweets with matching words.

A good place to start is by following @hashtags on Twitter then every time you tweet with a hash tag reference it will show up as a real-time posting at hashtags.org. You can easily check trending topics at their site and see what might be pertinent to your daily tweets. Current popular daily hash tags include #music, #quote, #jobs, #phone, #news and #socialmedia.

The hash tag is a twitter community builder allowing likeminded individuals to share information and ideas. Twitter’s social media follow Friday event is a good hash tag example and is represented by #followfriday or #ff these tags are used by a majority of Twitterers to spotlight individuals they consider worth following. Once you see a tweet with the #followfriday hash tag click in it and you will see volumes of recommendations which appear in a search format at search.twitter.com.

Hash tag creation is as simple as tweeting “#pdxtweetup Portland Grill 8pm Tuesday 10th” this lets friends know to where and when to meet you for the next Portland Tweet-up. The added hash tag will allow anyone in your group to check of an upcoming event. Are you watching Fringe or #Fringe? If you want your opinion about the show to be found it is an important difference. Been to a film or rented a DVD you can hash tag the title and leave a review for everyone to see.

By using hash tags you can create a group, find others watching the same television shows, rate a movie or track a charitable cause. It is also an excellent business tool for tracking the trending topics of the twenty-five million plus daily visitors to Twitter. Whether you want your opinion of a favorite book to reach the Twitterverse or want to stay up-to-date for an event the tiny hash will allow you to inform others or be informed.

Hollywood Reporter Picks up Dame Elizabeth Taylor Presidential Medal of Freedon Story

After our tenacious Twitter campaign people are beginning to pick up the story!

White House Inundated by Letters, Emails & Tweets in Support of Taylor Receiving the Highest Civilian Award for Her Meritorious Contributions

LOS ANGELES, CA and WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - June 08, 2009) -

WHAT:

It would be difficult to find any other single act of humanity that has helped and healed America -- as a nation -- in the past century as Dame Elizabeth Taylor's unyielding acts of kindness, vision, bravery and generosity. Believing strongly that Dame Elizabeth is deserving of the nation's highest civilian honor, the Citizens for Dame Elizabeth Taylor to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom ("Citizens"), an initiative initially spearheaded by Kathy Ireland, Mariel Hemingway, Richard Bassett and Rick London, have been promoting the campaign and are encouraged by the outpouring of support from the online communities, actors, politicians and others.

See Hollywood Reporter Story http://is.gd/T7Vl

Citizens call on President and Congress to Honor Dame Elizabeth Taylor with Presidential Medal of Freedom

I am a writer, graphic designer, and ranked by Google,MSN and Yahoo America's Favorite Love columnist I am engaged to Rick London a writer, cartoonist and brand designer, together, we own the seo and branding firm Pen And Ink Inc.

Citizens from all over the United States began a Twitter campaign June 02 2009 emailing the President and Congress to honor Dame Elizabeth Taylor with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. A voice of compassion and reason Dame Elizabeth Taylor stepped forward to calm worldwide fears that had reached fever pitch by 1985. Her friends and fans alike have stepped up to champion the fight to ensure she receives this honor filling the white house email inbox.

In the highly volatile 80s HIV/AIDS crisis there was widespread dissemination of inaccurate information that resulted in public fear and panic. News stories of the 1980s were mentioning a dreaded new plague, a disease with no cure. There were dire warnings from leading authors like Helen Sanger Kaplan that condoms would not protect you and Masters & Johnson warned of getting Aids from a toilet seat. In 1985 cover of Life Magazine announced “No One Is Safe from AIDS” fanning the flames of hysteria farther. Often called the “Gay Cancer” by the media this also fueled a wave of homophobia as people looked for a way to defend their fear and prejudice.

In 1985 Dame Elizabeth Taylor began calling her friends and peers as part of her personal involvement in the AIDS Project Los Angeles’ Commitment to Life dinner. Never wavering her calls were often met with “No” and many of her peers hung up on her. Even the massive worldwide anxiety and alarm that brought her death threats would not dissuade her efforts. For her effort the first Dinner saw 2,500 people pack the Boneventue Hotel and it was emceed by Burt Reynolds and included appearances by Sammy Davis Jr. Abigail Van Buren, Cyndi Lauper, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder and Cher.

As she fought the prejudice the tragedy of the HIV/AIDS epidemic it now included her dear friend Rock Hudson. As he struggled to live hateful letters arrived indicating it was God’s punishment and that he deserved to die of HIV/AIDS. It was at this time that Dame Elizabeth Taylor began to work with Dr. Michael Gottleib, Hudson’s doctor a hero of the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In September 1985 she announced the merging of Dr. Gottleib’s National AIDS Research Foundation and Dr. Krim’s AIDS Medical Foundation to create amFAR. To date, with Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s help, amFAR and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation has raised a combined total of over $270 million dollars.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s gift to the world during 1980s was twofold. She saved us from becoming hate filled bigots fueled by misinformation and transformed us into understanding caring individuals. Her second gifts amFar and later, The Dame Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation both lead the way to find effective treatments for the many HIV/AIDS patients without hope. The impact of both of these gifts makes Dame Elizabeth Taylor the true face of freedom as her work freed so many from a certain death.