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Friday, April 29, 2011

She did it!

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK

Waity Katie no more ... now Princess Catherine or HRH Duchess of Cambridge.

A princely feast of wedded bliss ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42799375/ns/today-today_people/?GT1=43001

http://www.people.com/people/

http://www.people.com/people/package/0,,20395222,00.html

http://www.people.com/people/0,,,00.html

http://www.life.com/gallery/59731/kate-middleton-the-beautiful-bride#index/0

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/entertainment/royalwedding/main504963.shtml?tag=cbsnewsTopThreePromoArea.0;fdRoyalWeddingPromo

http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20395222_20485897,00.html

Thursday, April 28, 2011

The eve ....

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

HAPPINESS & HOPE .-. ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL...
click topic for LINK


Royal pARTY
http://royalwedding.yahoo.com/photos/sets/991/The-royal-wedding-party.html

Royal Weddings

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK

Royal weddings ... on the eve of the latest installation

THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW ... VANITY FAIR COMPARES THE WEDDINGS OF DIANA AND KATE
http://www.vanityfair.com/society/features/2011/04/royal-wedding-then-and-now-slide-show-201104#slide=1

Catherine and Diana
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?searchPhrase=kate+and+diana

Harper Lee

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception



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Famously reclusive author Harper Lee of To Kill a Mockingbird  legend is subject of a biography The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee.  Not surprising -  Harper Lee has made it clear, she had nothing to do with the writing of that book.

To Kill a Mocking Bird was so pivotal in my development as it was for countless children, I am sure.  Her book taught me about the world including my first shattering moment in the looming shadow of racial prejudice.  I shared Scout and her double duo's carefree summers as only a child could and their mysteries and adventures  on those lovely, long, hot days of summer.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Royal-look-a-likes

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

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People.com blasts to the past with a look at Royal-look-a-likes in history.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Lizzie Borden

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK

120 years after Lizzie Borden was accused of murdering her parents, a new book may rewrite the history of her accusation.  Much was written about her by people who knew nothing about her - building the myth of a cold murderous spinster.  She was acquitted by an all male jury.  There was no evidence against her after all.  The
alleged murder weapon, a hatchet - is part of the Fall River Historical Society collection.

It was suggested that Lizzie's motive was the fear of her father dying before her step-mother and leaving herself and sister Emma at the mercy of his widow. 

After the murders Lizzie de-camped to another mansion in Fall City that became a curiosity for passersby hoping for a glimpse of her at the windows.  The murder house is now a bed & breakfast museum.  

The events of August 4, 1892 and the woman at the center of it all will be cast in a new and humanizing light.

The Real Bond 007

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception
Click topic for LINK



Geoffrey Gordon Creed

major in the British Army, spy, handsome serial seducer and war hero who moved to Jamaica in 1952 and befriended Ian Fleming, creator of the fictonal character James Bond.

RHWO New York

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK

A new feud on the Real Housewives of New York has erupted between Alex McCord and Sonja Morgan with a poll to match that Alex is winnng handsomely. 


The New York cast have a bee in their collective bonnet about class/social standing, more so than the cast of Beverly Hills, although Camille Grammer was the instigator on that cast and we all know she is possibly the least well born of that bunch.

On New York there is the insufferably pretentious LuAnn de Lesseps who clings desperately to her countess title and Jill Zarin, a sniping mean girl obsessed with being better than, sometimes equal to but never a lesser being of "Nuu Yaaak" society in her awful NY drawl. 

Kelly Bensimon and Ramona Singer appear the most socially relaxed of the bunch while they all believe Alex and her husband Simon are clawing their way to a loftier position.


Which brings me finally to Sonja Morgan who in every other way is pretty, witty and fun except in the last episode when she kept screaming at Alex for having "the worst manners."  Sonja was horrible, as if she were a little girl used to having her way, a deranged selfishness that is alarmingly unbecoming.


Sonja's entitlement is as off putting as a recent display by Bethenny Frankel on Bethenny Ever After during her birthday episode which became an excuse to behave like an over wrought toddler at her first birthday party who had missed her afternoon nap.


These women could consider growing up.


Sonja/Alex poll at the link.

5oth Anniversary

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK

The 50 year anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the founders of the "Revolution" were celebrated this week in Cuba.  Another display of Nothern aggression? I jest ... view reminiscent of the Southern states in the American civil war.

Cuba celebrated the defeat of the CIA-backed invasion dubbed the "first defeat of imperialism in the Americas."  It was a big deal in its day - a veritable sh#& storm.

The bad ole cold war days.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Shirley MacLaine

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

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Shirley MacLaine is much derided for outspoken opinions on spirituality ... one of the special group of persons chosen by Oprah to appear on her final season on CBS.  I admire MacLaine's peaceful freedom - she has freed herself of society's needless burdens.

She has a trusted companion in her little doggy - a relationship I wholly understand and her own labyrinth walk (a 4,000 year old practice, is a circular path for meditation)... wonderful and profound. 

MacLaine mentioned the spiritual catharsis that discerning folks have recognized is upon us with events anticipated to unfold in coming months.  She spoke of her despair at stories of mankind's destruction of the animal world - another person who shares my feeling - despair.

A lovely interview with a lovely person who has left me with a priceless reminder, SURRENDER. 


the dancer's spirit who insisted MacLaine be the one to inhabit her New Mexico adobe style home


Barbie Kate

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception



Click topic for LINK


I know we are meant to refer to her as Catherine but sometimes Kate is great ... I think.  So here barbie Kate does London.








The Royal Knitting Book and other fun stuff...http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20395222_20477560,00.html?stitched


A Royal knit


Monday, April 11, 2011

Cause Cebre

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK

The trial of a scarlet woman and her teenaged lover drew crowds to England's Old Bailey in 1935. 

The twice divorced temptress of wanton morality was Alma Rattenbury, accused of her older husband's murder alongside her 18 year old lover, George Stoner. 

Acquitted at trial due in no small part to the wiles of her high priced attorney, George's inexperienced barrister from a program under the Poor Prisoner's Defence Act won him the death penalty. 

While women in the gallery wept and Stoner stood bewildered, Alma collapsed in tears - the heckling public turned on her, villifying her for ruining the life of a hapless boy.  A petition of 300,000 signatures demanded the commutation of his death sentence. 

Alma spared no expense on George's legal defense at appeal, which was dismissed.  On 4th June 1935, Alma dramatically stood at water's edge and plunged a knife in her chest six times before her body slid in the river.  George wept at the news, then confessed to having played no part in the crime, he had taken the blame for the woman he loved but her death put an end to his heroic act.  He received a reprieve, after serving seven years he was released to fight in the second world war.

Murder at The Villa Madiera by Sir David Napley, an eminent lawyer, was written about the case which also inspired tv programs and a play, Cause Celebre.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Who Do You Think You Are?

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK

My long excited wait is over and Ashley Judd's turn on Who Do You Think You Are? has aired.  Pretty stupendous results!

Perhaps predictably, her search results were startling because Ashley is a descendant of a Mayflower passenger, a Puritan pilgrim, an "original" US settler - hallmarks of what it means to be a pure American.  To the English her great grandfather, William Brewster was a Puritan radical who openly criticized the Church of England, was called a Brownist and served time in gaol.

Quite a find!

And Ashley cried but it seemed kinda phony - maybe my love of Ashley is well preserved in the movies, I dunno.

Remember the Man not a Saint

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

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"As we mark the anniversary of his death - we need to stay mindful of King's flesh-and-blood humanity.  By draping him in a halo glow, we do him little honour.  By fashioning him into a fleshless icon, we place his achievements at a sterile remove.  By calling our heroes superhuman we also let ourselves off the hook: Why do the hard work of bettering the world if that's something only saints will do?  What made King's eloquence so ferocious and his courage so stirring was that, like the Memphis garbage workers he came to represent, he was a man."

Hampton Sides rightly declares that we not sanitize the memory of King or other heroes for without their pathos, imperfections and messy ambiguity we will not see the struggling human heart or appreciate the greatness of their achievement.


Freedom rides ...
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/LIFE-MLK--Freedom-Rides/ss/events/us/050411lifemlk;_ylt=AupnQXMl99TXX2kc1S4sYa8UewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTB1OWV1a2VhBHBvcwMyMARzZWMDZXAEc2xrA2ltZ19oZWFkbGluZQ-- 

Meet the Middletons

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception



Click topic for LINK

A new Vanity Fair article on the Middletons of Bucklebury.

Night

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Robert Doisneau, The Stairway 1952
 Click topic for LINK

See a slideshow of the first nocturnal photographs snapped in the 1920s and 30s.  An exhibition showcases the European pioneers of photographic innovation.

Friday, April 8, 2011

A 1964 Murder

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK

Louis Allen, a black WW2 veteran and an aid advocate of civil rights workers was shot and killed in 1964 having enduring harassment for speaking to the FBI after he witnessed the murder of a civil rights worker.  Allen's family suspect former Sheriff Daniel Jones who had investigated the murder and uncovered no suspects.  All circumstantial paths lead to Jones.  Allen's son Hank witnessed Jones' violent and threatening treatment of his father.


The FBI plan on solving this case and 100 others with the "Cold Case Initiative" project - reinvestigating unsolved murders of the civil rights era. 


60 Minutes on CBS will explore the case of Louis Allen this Sunday at 7pm.

Nazi War Plane Found Preserved

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


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A WW2 German bomber, the Dornier 17, shot down in 1940 over the English Channel during the Battle of Britain was hidden for years by shifting sand under the sea.  Upside down under 50ft of water, it had been ditched off the Kent coast of southeast England. 

Incredulous is its startling state of preservation - a significant aeronautical find of the century. 

The Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon in London hope to launch a lifting operation.

Lindsay is Victoria Gotti ... or not

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception



Click topic for LINK

Victoria is a friend of the Lohans of Long Island and demanded that Lindsay play the part of Victoria in Gotti: Three Generations.  John Travolta is John Gotti.

She can do it.

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability Video on TED.com de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Who Knew?

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


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There are over 600,000 words in the English Language.  The video tells us Shakespeare made up 1,600 words during his writing of the classics we know well.  Alice in Wonderland author, Lewis Carrol also bestowed words on our language namely jabberwocky and chortle.

Today in History

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


                Click topic for LINK to events on this day in history

Japan's centuries old tablets

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception



Click topic for LINK to four photos

Centuries old stone tablet markers stand in Japan as a warning of quakes and tsunamis.

Gay Cave-man?

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


A skeletal controversy.

A cave-man uncovered in Prague was laid in the position reserved for female burial - that is, buried on the left with the head faced west.  Men were buried on the right with the head faced east.  Grave sites also included gender specific items - weapons or jewelry.

Archaeologists are wary of media coverage declaring a gay cave-man.  The concept of a homosexual burial is an over simplication of ancient practice and it is soften difficult to assign gender to skeletons. 

Another explanation is the third gender or individuals who switch from one gender to the other and cite modern examples: the Hijras of India and Fa'afafine of Polynesia.  Also of note, the burial of Shamans, purveyors of the spirit world were buried in gender bending ways.

There are many possible explanations so caution in conclusions is strongly suggested.

Article at link below  http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/gaycavemanstoryoverblownarchaeologistssay;_ylt=AiUNxw6eImHvRjBhUXS6gnes0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTRtdDlncmtqBGFzc2V0A2xpdmVzY2llbmNlLzIwMTEwNDA3L2dheWNhdmVtYW5zdG9yeW92ZXJibG93bmFyY2hhZW9sb2dpc3Rzc2F5BGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDOARwb3MDNQRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX2hlYWRsaW5lX2xpc3QEc2xrA2FyY2hhZW9sb2dpcw--

The Town That War Built

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Click topic for LINK

Roppongi District of Tokyo signalled Japan's post war rejection of nationalist extremism as some embraced liberalism in place of strict conservatism.

Occupying US forces and foreign bureaucrats settled there because of its proximity to the Emperor's palace and the Diet.  Predictably it became the main stay of entertainment, illicit and otherwise.

In 1954 the first American style pizza restaurant arrived and changed Roppongi for good.  The bistro's night crowd encouraged the creation of other night spots.  Eventually the fashionable crowd ensured Roppongi's night life reputation. 

Long known for its debauchery and crime - the district born of its post war military camp days was shaped by history.

Meditation instead of morphine -- not so fast

Meditation instead of morphine -- not so fast de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

RHWO Miami reunion from hell

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

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The time has come to discuss the reunion from hell.

The Real Housewives of Miami live reunion on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in his Clubhouse was a new format.

WTH ... ?  Andy's efforts to contain the Squealing Cats were futile, it was a screaming mess.

Adriana was the most unhinged - her anger erupted towards Cristy in particular and alot of unsavoury details spewed forth.  There was major simmering anger.  Marysol's eyes were on fire and she's usually as docile as a contented newborn but her anger at Larsa is now set in stone.  Alexia was cool until she let rip that Larsa and Cristy were the cause of her Hialeah "lower people" comment blowing up nationally in her face.  Cristy, while smiling eerily, constantly spoke over anyone who had comments that referenced her.  Lea, the most mature of age maintained her cool and seemed the least ladened with anger.  Larsa may have been and showed moments of contrition but then there was a fair amount of anger shooting toward her. 

The women aparently would lose their shit during commercials in a vain attempt to save their reputations as women of sanity.

Fat chance!  Whew!

Andy's take
http://www.bravotv.com/watch-what-happens-live/season-4/blogs/andys-blog/reunion-live-vs-taped

Final blogs of cast before reunion from hell
http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-miami/season-1/blogs

Famous Gravesites

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

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And now for a solemn turn ... wooooo.  A gallery of 75 very famous gravesites from Life.com.

Beethoven, JFK and Jackie O, Jim Morrison, Mark Twain, Princess Diana, Elvis Presley, Trotsky, Lenin, Dudley Moore, Gandhi, Anna Nicole Smith, van Gogh, 'Wild Bill' Hickok, Nixon, MLK, Buddy Holly, Nicole Brown Simpson, Al Capone, RFK, Paul Revere! and many more ...

Its really cool - trust me.

more Elizabeth Taylor

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


ELIZABETH TAYLOR ...


With her children
http://www.life.com/gallery/58231/elizabeth-taylors-children?xid=weeklytopten#index/0

http://www.life.com/gallery/22489/elizabeth-taylor-as-a-mother#index/0


Marriages and roles
http://www.life.com/gallery/22489/elizabeth-taylor-as-a-mother#index/12



More roles and marriages
http://www.life.com/gallery/22460/elizabeth-taylor-biggest-roles#index/13


From the wonderful collections of Life.com

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Preserving History

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Click topic for LINK

The US Library of Congress added 25 original recordings of contemporary songs to its registry. 

Preserving audio recordings forever.


They include ~ "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" 1908  ~  Tammy Wynette's "Stand by your man" 1968  ~  "Let's stay together" - Al Green 1971

The Conspirator

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK


MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES

Clearly I'm in a movie state of mind .... and my latest obsession is a Robert Redford creation

The Conspirator - set in the post American Civil War era after the assassination of Lincoln and the scandalous sub plot obscured in history - loving it!

10 North Frederick

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

 Click topic for LINK

Today someone spoke of a movie they have loved for ages - 10 North Frederick - with Gary Cooper and Suzy Parker, supermodel of her day.

They recalled the father character referred to his daughter in every scene as "my darling daughter" and never called her name.

So in honour of classics this is my ode to a great old picture, 10 North Frederick.

This Saturday on Reel 13

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

I know ... its Clark Gable not Laurence Olivier

Click topic for LINK


Coming attractions on Reel 13 ~ Public Programming fighting to stay alive in the face of governtment cut backs.

This Saturday - classic 1940s films featuring Laurence Olivier

Manning and Malcolm X

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception



Click topic for LINK

Honouring the life of Columbia University professor and historian Manning Marable 1950 - 2011.

His last labour of love ~ a book on the life of Malcom X, who lost his life on the eve of a personal catharsis that held the possibility of a step to personal greatness.

Re-examining the life of Malcom X ~ an excerpt http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42400704

From Spy to Star Chef

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception



Click topic for LINK to an excerpt of the book.


A Covert Affair: Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS - http://pages.simonandschuster.com/a-covert-affair/

Recently unclassified OSS and FBI documents form the plot of a new book on Paul and Julia Child's espionage activities during the second world war . 

The couple found themselves caught in the Washington maelstrom of the McCarthy era as suspicion and recriminations of communist allegiances swirled around them.

Very cool ....

Hollywood History

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady


Click topic for LINK


THE Hollywood auction to beat all auctions! 

The ultimate compilation of Hollywood memorabilia is the Debbie Reynolds collection. 

Fifty years of iconic pieces will be presented in a series of auctions by Profiles in History in June 2011.

Fantastic ...

Monday, April 4, 2011

WWII timeline

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK

A timeline of World War II with awesome photos from where else? Life.com of course!

Times Square

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

original NYC subway transit token

Click topic for LINK


Times Square ... New York city icon ... then and now

Slice of history.  See wonderful photos from Life.com ... of course.

Who Do You Think You Are?

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Click topic for LINK

The second season of Who Do You Think You Are? on NBC has been predictably entertaining and inspiring.  Last week we explored her family history with Gwyneth Paltrow. 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1381107/Katharine-Danner-grandmother-prompted-Oscar-winning-actress-Gwyneth-Paltrows-shocking-C-word-outburst.html 


This season we journeyed with Vanessa Williams, whose great great grand dads were history makers like her first black Miss America feat.  Tim McGraw in addition to sharing his super sexy 'everything!' solved the mystery of his edited birth certificate, revealing his unusual discovery of and relationship with his father that led to his family tree exploration.

Kim Cattrall traced the line of family heartbreak to identify the polygamous scoundrel that was her grandfather and it all began with the ghostlike figure of a young man peeping behind a curtain in a family photo he had refused to join.  Rosie O'Donnell achieved a rare trick in identifying the town of her Irish ancestors but her trip there brought to light the soul shattering loss bourne by her family during the Irish famine and then overcoming poverty in America. 

Lionel Ritchie pushed past mystery, revulsion and sadness to uncover the genius and civil rights movement pioneer that was his great great grandfather.  Steve Buscemi, the 'funny lookin' guy, revealed his unusual familial countenance which oddly puts it all in place and led me to declare he's not so bad lookin' after all - his story is the typical heartwarming story of the Italian Americans of Brooklyn, NY.

And next week, the finale will feature a favourite girl of mine - Ashley Judd. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/42431047#42431047


See past episodes - here!
http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/video/tim-mcgraw/1291035

Kennedy fascination

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception
Future US first lady and spouse of a shipping magnate Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Click topic for LINK

Happiest days of my life ...?

The love letters by teenaged Jacqueline Lee Bouvier written at Miss Porter's School to a boyfriend at Harvard, will be auctioned at Christie's next month.


The Kennedy's breaks the bank for ReelzChannel
http://www.okmagazine.com/2011/04/katie-holmes-greg-kinnears-the-kennedys-bring-record-ratings-to-reelz/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Mixed reviews ...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1373332/Katie-Holmes-The-Kennedys-mini-series-premieres-widely-mixed-reviews.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/04/the-kennedys-miniseries-premiere-sets-ratings-records-for-reelzchannel.html

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Lindsay is Sharon Tate

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Click topic for LINK


Lindsay Lohan to play Sharon Tate? 

The pregnant wife of Roman Polanski before his vilification for molesting a 13 year old girl.  She was a beautiful star forever beloved by Hollywood for her brutal death.  Tate had a starring role in her own tragic tale - murdered  at the hands of Charles Manson's flock.  After the rampage, Hollywood's innocent sense of safety was shattered for good.

When I was 17 I tried to read Helter Skelter, the book on Manson's life and criminality.  Disturbing. 

If the report be true I think Lindsay will do well in this role ~ it will be, if nothing else, short and sweet.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

First Portrait of Christ?

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


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First portrait?

A bearded man with curly hair covered by a crown of thorns.  Jesus Christ?  Uncovered among 70 lead codices discovered in a hill cave above the Sea of Galilee. 

Five years ago a flood revealed the large capstone that had guarded the cave's entrance and inside, small wall niches held the booklet and other items including metal plates and lead scrolls.  The area is frought with historic virtue - a hotbed of Roman and ancient Jewish ferment before the split of Judaism and Christianity.

The Holy Land - where Israel, Jordan and Syria's Golan Heights meet and miles from Hamat Gader, a religious site for thousands of years - hosted the Essenes, Samaritans, Pharisees, Sadducees, Dositheans and Nazoreans in the period when the codices were created.

audrey hepburn

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

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A new book celebrates the timeless chic and trendsetting style of the legend Audrey Hepburn.

59 Ways To Put a Little Hepburn in Your Step - Cindy De La Hoz

29 of the best on Life.com
http://www.life.com/timeline/12991/image/50711291/audrey-hepburn-classic-and-timeless#index/1

Quakes

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


San Francisco 1906
 Click topic at the LINK for a look back at deadliest quakes since 1970 ~


The scariest shit on earth.  I think most of us would agree ... is a freaking earthquake.


Love to Japan - our latest brothers and sisters facing the horror after the horror.  Life after the quake.  And everything is defined by what came after.  The quake.