2000 years of Christmas

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

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It is no surprise that the first Christmas carolers were a bunch of rowdy drunks.  Caroling originated as a pagan winter soltice celebration - Christmas was unfettered joy and drunken revelry with some prayer thrown in. 

Back in the day medieval carolers went house to house singing, begging for food and spirits or threatened to throw rocks through windows if refused.  The rowdiness grew so rapidly that Christmas was banned in the US in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Ancient soltice celebrations often lasted 12 days with the tradition of burning the yule log referred to in song - finding the largest log to last 12 days for light and warmth. 

Santa Claus was no jolly St. Nick, European legend had no elves but an imp of a devil creature called Krampus who beat and kidnapped naughty children. 

Giving gifts is a custom that developed differently in various cultures.  The point in history when Christmas converged as a shared practice was Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem A Visit From St Nicholas or The Night Before Christmas of a Santa with reindeers and stockings.  The tree became a must do tradition in 1848 after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were featured in a magazine with their Christmas tree.

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer was created by Robert L. May an employee of Montgomery Ward department store in 1939.

All that and more are part of a holiday special The Real Story of Christmas on the History Channel in December.

Another piece of Pompeii bites the dust

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

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Another Pompeii structure collapses.  This time a garden wall near the House of Moralist.

John Paul Stevens and Babe Ruth

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

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This is so cool because I think the world of retired Supreme Court judge John Paul Stevens.  He was 12 years old when he witnessed Babe Ruth at the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field.

Royal Curtsey Curfluffel

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

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A royal tiff, dissension, bicker, discord, disharmony, wrangle, mutter - all the above now that Kate is Catherine, princess-to-be-in-waiting.  Who will curtsey to whom and whom refuses to curtsey to who?  Oh it's all a jumble.

There is a royal hierarchy among family members and a second attendant order for royal women. Kate's rank will change when she is in or out of her husband-to-be's presence - respectively 2nd or 7th depending.  All this curfluffel started when Queen mummy acceded to Anne who refused to curtsy to Camilla the Duchess.

It's ok royal people, we understand.  We wouldn't want to curtsey to some commoner or some one we disliked either.  I jest.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20445965,00.html

Mad Men Course at NU

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

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How cool is this?!

Northwestern University now has a Mad Men course - officially titled Consumerism and Social Change in Mad Men America, 1960-1965.  Michael Allen, assistant history professor admits to loving the drama but also the program's historic themes.  History lovers attest to that special quality of Mad Men.

"Mad Men provides a good understanding of how ordinary people participated in history and produced change in politics broadly conceived."  Students are now watching the first season. 

Of course ... there are detractors who reject this idea.

O'Donnell hopes for Hillary Clinton presidential bid

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

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Christine O'Donnell is a baby Palin - I am a fan of neither.  Recently resurrected from political calamity she hopes to see Clinton's challenge in the democratic primary. 

Like I said, I am no fan of O'Donnell but I loves me some Hillary.

Footnote - the twist is, I love Clinton AND Obama!

Scarborough to GOP: "Man Up" on Palin

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

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Joe Scarborough speaks the truth that many whisper - Sarah Palin mischief has no place on the national stage.  Man-up and shoo that shrew!

LOL, you gotta read this link.

WikiLeak on Wall Street

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

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I am no fan of WikiLeak's Assange but if he leaks on Wall Street I'll be incredibly happy!  Bust that bubble WikiLeaks - do it proud!  Do it loud!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1334390/WikiLeaks-bank-document-dump-scandal.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/30/wall-street-pay_n_789812.html

Fostering non-partisan politics

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Good citizenship fostering non-partisan politics.

You gotta listen to this, yes it's American based but it works for all the world.

America the Beautiful - narrated by Richard Dreyfuss

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dreyfuss

Sacred One, Teach us love, compassion, and honour. That we may heal the earth. And heal each other.

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

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OMG, OMG, OMG give strength to the mother of three little boys missing and not presumed to be alive.  Their father done lost his F-ING mind!

Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton where ever you are we will love you forever.

To their Mummy, Tanya Skelton....

Lead me from the unreal to the real.
Lead me from darkness to light.
Lead me from death to immortality.

WHAT A MIRACLE
Glorious is the moment we sit in the place, you and I
Two forms, two faces, but a single soul, you and I
The flowers will blaze and bird cries shower us wth immortality
The moment we enter the garden, you and I
All the stars of heaven will run out to gaze at us
As we burn as the full moon itself, you and I
The fire-winged birds of heaven will rage with envy
In that place we laugh ecstatically, you and I
What a miracle, you and I, entwined in the same nest
What a miracle, you and I, one love, one lover, one Fire
In this world and the next, in an ectasy without end.
Rumi

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20445519,00.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20024163-504083.html

Christa Brelsford

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

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She is inspiring, she is sweet.  Her story is worthy of aclaim for her championship of human spirit.  You needn't know her to love her.  Saved by her "brother" after the Haitian quake she has returned for the opening of a school she helped ensure was rebuilt.  Her Haitian brother Wenson Georges will be flown to the US to complete his education courtesy of Christa and her family.

She returned to Haiti because "she never had a chance to say goodbye" and had "promised" to come back.

What's in your shampoo?!

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

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What are those ingredients listed on shampoo bottles? 

Infact, in all beauty products the chemical contents are hardly beneficial.  The authors of No More Dirty Looks share that their investigation kicked off when they got Brazilian blowouts.  The rave trend creates sleek straightened hair that lasts 2 months - their eyes watered and throats burned, they flinched not when handed protective goggles and 2 hours later their hair was immaculately straightened, pretty and stinky.  Unable to shampoo for 48 hours, time gave way to convenient chic and faded stink until their shiny hair lost its shine and decimated ends with brittle flyaways crowned their heads. 

Siobhan O'Connor and Alexandra Sprunt found an article on a woman who died from those noxious fumes and discovered the beauty treatment was not keratin but formaldehyde.  A Pandora's box of disturbing discovery unfurled.  A known carcinogen in a beauty product was no rogue company taking advantage of feminine vanity in a regulated industry - only 11% of ingredients are tested for safety.  Sadly these products do nothing to improve quality, health and feel of our hair or skin but wreak havoc that make us look worse.

Brand trust built for years have taken our money to spend on big buck marketing campaigns and affirm their bottom line by chucking cheap fillers for ingredients on the manufacturing side.  They do so because they can. 

Our skin admits up to 60% of what we put on it.  Transdermal absorbtion.  Wash, plump, moisture, nourish, shine, buff, soften, bronze and play.  The industry plays up the one or two natural ingredients and leaves the foes in the shadows including on the very bottles.  The cosmetic industry self regulates with inadequate checks and balances and allow widespread use of questionable substances.  US laws have remained unchanged since 1938.  The typical evil brew - unchecked business, massive profits and outdated laws.

The truth about your beauty products and the ultimate guide to safe and clean cosmetcs is the message of this book.  These ladies have lived the lie and embraced truth and their skin and hair tell the tale.

Unknown Picasso Works Unearthed

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271 Picasso works hidden in a trunk, dated 1900-1935 that include lithographs, portraits, water colours and sketches worth almost 80 million and 9 Cubist collages worth 40 million Euros have been brought forward.

Inexplicably a retired electrician who worked for Picasso and his wife had secretly collected and hidden the loot in a trunk in their home garage on the Riviera and recently came forward.  A suit has been filed on behalf of the master's heirs for illegal receipt of work.  The couple claim the works were gifts and they wished to settle the issue rather than leave it for their children to face - "we are not thieves" - Picasso was known for his generosity.  The couple's home has been raided by police and their trove seized.


Art lovers say this is akin to opening a time capsule like the recent publication of Mark Twain's 100 year old biography.  It is unprecedented to see 271 Picassos that were never inventoried.

The NY Met claims Picasso made 20,000 works during his career and 100s are missing but these are different because they were unknown.

The electrician, Pierre Le Guennec worked at three Picasso properties in the South of France - a villa in Cannes, a chateau in Vauvenarges and a farmhouse in Mougins where Picasso died in 1973.

Guennec's wife, Danielle insisted her husband was well regarded by the master and his son has betrayed them by taking them to court.

There's a family tale hidden in here between the Le Guennecs, Picasso and his son.

Buffalo Soldiers

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

Buffalo soldier, dreadlock rasta
There was a buffalo soldier in the heart of America
Stolen from Africa brought to America
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
Said he was a buffalo soldier, win the war for America.
        Lyrics - Bob Marley

Click topic for LINK


Articles archived -
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv8-yie8&p=buffalo%20soldier&type=

Negro troops marched with George Washington's army in the battles for Independence.

Negro troops served with Andrew Jackson at New Orleans to repel British invaders in 1815.

Slave regiments 180,000 strong served in the Civil War's Union army and untold others fought in the Confederate army. 

The post Civil War peacetime army authorized 6 Negro regiments - 2 Cavalry, 4 infantry - for 24 years they campaigned in the Great Plains along the Rio Grande, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Colorado and in the Dakotas.  The 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments guarded mail, escorted/guarded stage coaches, cattle drives, railroad crews and surveyors.  They built roads, laid telegraph lines, mapped and explored fland as expansion moved westward.

Buffalo soldiers fought during the Native Indian war period, they were called "Buffalo" by Indians partly because Negro hair shared some similarity to the Buffalo but mostly as a sign of respect.

The 10th Cavalry fought in the Spanish-American war and were included in Teddy Roosevelt's charge up San Juan Hill and later served in the Phillipine Insurrection.

Danny Glover recently wrapped filming in a project dedicated to the memory of Buffalo Soldiers in Arizona.

Portuguesa por Polinka

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

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Polish or Portuguese?  I've heard this discussion before. Christopher Columbus who didn't "discover" the Americas since people had already been living there a long time while actually on his way to South Asia, India has long been the subject of an investigation into his nationality.

Historically hailed as the son of humble Italian craftsmen, 20 years of research asserts he was the son of an exiled Polish King.  Experts will insist the tale of a humble Genoese weaver has been debunked.  Columbus' Royalty likely convinced King Ferdinand to fund his voyage of discovery. 

Columbus' fraud reported his birth in the Italian city, Genoa in 1451, son of Domenico Columbo a weaver with a cheese stall in the city market but he was infact the son of King Vladislav III.

He continued his quest to find Asia for the rest of his sailing days.

A book by Manuel Rosa will unfurl the revision in history.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh the Nazis ! ! ! ! !

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

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Photos taken by Hitler's personal photographer brought to life.  Pre WWII photos captured during the 1930s as the Reich consolidated power.  Hundreds of them.

"It really is a sinister but intriguing social history of the rise of the Nazi Party, never before seen."

Hitler archive -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?searchPhrase=hitler

Santa Archive

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

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Santa archive ... ya gotta see!

Art Illustrates a Yarn

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... Forget musty old history books crammed with tiresome facts [I beg your pardon, I beg to differ].  The ingenious artists who illuminated the manuscripts in - Imagining the Past in France 1250-1500 - were in the business of bringing history to life.  As illustrators of a rich mix of historical documents, Christian literature, legends and myths, they told stories in dazzling pictures for the delectation and edification of the ruling class in medieval France.

"The manuscripts had a specific function at court .... Like movies today about Alexander the Great, King Arthur, the Trojan War or the Crusades, they were meant to teach, entertain and overwhelm  the senses as they celebrated exciting narratives."

Like devotional and liturgical illuminations produced in monasteries, the works are highly detailed compositions in vivid tempera colours and gold on parchment.  But they were produced by an urban book trade that responded to a demand for vernacular manuscripts.  Often larger than traditional religious books, the secular manuscripts are inventive visual interpretations of stories written in French or translated from latin for an increasingly literate audience.

J. Paul Getty Museum's exhibition "Imagining the Past in France" is a rich mix of manuscripts that illuminate the dazzle of medieval France.

The King's Speech

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

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Colin Firth plays Bertie, future King George VI afflicted with a crippling stammer in The King's Speech.  Unable to speak publicly, political consequences mounted while his subjects awaited his reassuring voice in the face of Hitler and Nazi aggression. His stutter was emotionally driven by a repressed childhood and friendless adult life. 

The film explores the relationship with his Australian speech therapist. 

It was clear to Firth how unappealing royal life can be, "This movie debunks the idea of a privileged upbringing ... I wouldn't change places with that guy no matter how many countries are in my empire."

We love Colin Firth.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1323769/Colin-Firth-stars-The-Kings-Speech-quack-cured-George-VI.html

Black Panther Party

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

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Night Catches Us a new film on the Black Panther Movement, written and directed by Tanya Hamilton rests on her premise,"To me, the Panthers have not been allowed to be humanized,"....


The Black Panther Party - still a divisive chapter of American History - surfaced in Oakland in 1966 with the 10 point program subtitled "What We Want, What We Believe" that included healthcare, education reform, housing and employment issues.  Issues distinctly important before MLK's assassination that remain strikingly relevant today. 


Panther Iconography - leather jackets, berets, guns and clashes with law enforcement have dwarfed their sincere core beliefs.  Black Panther discourse have been focused on the early years, largely in documentaries. 


The rise of the Panthers after triumphs of the civil rights movement in the 1960s are tragic and romantic according to Hamilton who left Jamaica aged 8 for the U.S. in 1976 and grew up hearing about them.  Her project took 10 years from script to screen. 


"It's a hard story to tell.  The movement and the times were larger than life." Jamal Joseph joined at 15 and now chairs the graduate film department at Columbia U.  Historical fact - government-sponsored disinformation campaign against the Panthers was real.


The members of the movement were complex and that complexity has been lost.  Hamilton contends the party in it's purest form was a grassroots organizaton of people committed and connected to community who wanted to make a difference and like all political movements - things got complicated.



http://www.marxists.org/history/usa/workers/black-panthers/


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_Party


http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=slv8-yie8&va=black+panther+party&sz=all

wanna see Tangled

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

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I'm planning to watch what millions have seen.  The new Disney Animated 6 years in creation that almost tied Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.  Tangled is a hilarious modern take on the fairy tale, Rapunzel.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney%27s_Rapunzel

http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-riverside/2010-11-28/local-county-news/disneys-tangled-nearly-ties-harry-potter-for-holidays-top-spot

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398286/

WikiLeaks

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

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I wish I could understand how thousands of State Department documents have conveniently fallen into the hands of a man who would broadcast them to the world risking countless lives and diplomatic ties.  How does he get them?  Why does he publish them?  This is confusing.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1333807/WikiLeaks-Unflattering-US-assessment-Cameron-Gordon-Brown-released.html

Have governments the world over lost their might - leaks like these never happened before - what changed in 2010?

Again we are seated at the Madhatter's tea table.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1333934/WikiLeaks-The-revelations-glance.html

Harry & Chelsy

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Oh wow! So cool - if this is true.

Chelsy invited as Harry's date.  Maybe they will re-commit.  I like Chelsy, she has so much mystery.

And so pretty too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsy_Davy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/chelsy-davy

http://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/chelsy-davy/

Timeless Mind ... notable deaths in 2010

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Bon Voyage, R.I.P to fascinating lives well lived and now flown home. A very interesting list.

Aware of myself
Simply as Myself
In my knowingness
I embraced death
And caught her
.....in my arms like a lover.
Chopra

History of Ballet

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

Click topic for LINK to the book review - A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans

Definitive history of a fantastic, refined and exquisite artform.  Dancers shape and perfect the highest form of the human physique, morality in muscle, the body eclectic. 

Ballet is the body divined.

It all began at royal court in 16th century France, the dance of Kings - Louis XIII designed costumes and Louis XIV studied ballet daily ... "all the misfortunes of mankind, all the disasters of which history is full, the bungling of politicians and the mistakes of great generals, all come through not learning to dance."

Pierre Beauchamps formulated the five positions of the body allowing for that "crucial leap from etiquette to art" and are still today a beautiful base of outward rotated feet and legs from which classical ballet rises and expands.  Auguste Vestris, French dancer favoured by Marie Antoinette "pried the feet open 180 degrees" where they have remained and emphasized fully pointed feet in soft flat shoes and ribbon wrapped ankles.

Marie Salle, mid 18th century ballerina revered by Voltaire and Montesquieu, insinuated with sensual movement the idea that all women not only men and kings may dance.  The history of ballet is a story of class, a language of upright ascent and substantial nobility.  "Ballerinas acted like aristocrats even when in real life they most emphatically were not."

Marie Taglioni is still recognized as the first ballerina, born in Stockholm in 1804 of a dynasty of Italian dancers, acquired immortal fame considering her prodigious shortcomings.  She represented the dream of a fully expressed life, the dream of all girls - to dance - they know within a confined tutu lies untold freedom.

Attributed to Russian master Balanchine in his letter to Jacqueline Kennedy, "Ballet is woman,.... Man takes care of the material things and woman takes care of soul.  Woman is the world and man lives in it."

Ballet like prayer is ritual repitition, the closer to perfection, the closer to God.

Ballet seems always to be ending and has been finished many times, sliding into "empty and meaningless virtuosity" but now it is feared to be decidedly near its ultimate death.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1333021/Former-ballerina-Jennifer-Homans-asks-ballet-breaking-pointe.html

Heartbreak

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


Click topic for LINK

Why should we be intimidated by the lousy, cowardly and greedy?  The unwise believe irreplaceable gifts of nature can be destroyed while pursuing personal wealth - it is not and will never be! 

The wise understand we are caretakers of wondrous and irreplaceable gifts of nature for the sake of our children and the generations to come.

British Petroleum and other greedy, gutless parasites commit crimes against humanity and the environment that sustains us.  Greed that hastens the extinction of magnificent creatures and their habitats.  How foolish can a boorish mind be? 

Heartbreaking.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-ruffalo/when-art-imitates-life_b_785665.html?ref=tw

bofoonery

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

Another bofoon sounding off about "socialism" and other things they don't understand.

If you guessed Conservative Republican - you guessed right.

One should read history and know it before sounding off on things unkown to you.... that's for you, Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO).  The Pilgrims did NOT flee socialism in 1621!


You gotta Click topic for LINK

Salut Great TV!

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

In recognition of an afternoon and night for great viewing pleasure ... line up -

A Perfect Murder - Michael Douglas, Gweneth Paltrow

Out of Time - Denzel Washington, Eva Mendes

Michael Clayton - George Clooney, Tilda Swinton

The Fugitive - Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones

Alice in Wonderland - Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter

Sleeping With the Enemy - Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin

on other channels  ...

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - Viggo Mortenson, Cate Blanchett

Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2 - David Carradine, Uma Thurman

Something's Gotta Give - Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton

Angels & Demons - Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor

but I'm not watching those today. 

Some of the actors, unlisted also made these movies great.  Thank goodness for the talented writers, screen writers, directors and actors who entertain us.

It's a great TV day!

Dear Sarah Palin,

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

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Tis better to keep your mouth shut and thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it.

Sincerely,

ME

Garrow's Law

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

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It's 1791, chaos reigns in the Old Bailey

...in walks

William Garrow, barrister-at-law - coined the phrase "innocent until proven guilty" and offered the earliest version of legal aid, a great contribution we accede.  Garrow invented 'court room drama.' 

A man ahead of his time.

"the woman I love"

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

Click topic for LINK

 Wallis Simpson


Woman of mystery.  Mystique can be good, not vilification.  75 years later and the controversy continues. 


"Hark the herald angels sing, Mrs. Simpson's pinched our king!"


Trove of articles on Mrs. Simpson and her King ...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?searchPhrase=wallis+simpson

I don't think about Sarah Palin - Obama

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

"What I am saying to you is that I do not think about Sarah Palin."  Amen.  Best possible answer given by Barack Obama about Palin's ridiculous assertion that she can beat him in a general election - asked of him by
Barbara Walters in her 20/20 interview with the Obamas tonight.

Sarah Palin believes she can swan her way into the White House without doing the work, knowing practically nothing about the world beyond the borders of the United States of America, she also lacks adequate knowledge about issues within these borders, to boot.

Early Days NY Subway

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

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More great Life.com photos, of course!  They are the best after all. 

A single train line, the IRT or Interborough Rapid Transit first operated in 1904 from City Hall to 145th Street.  Learn about the Beach Pneumatic, a mini shuttle test train! 

See NY Mayor Seth Low whose popularity was gained due to the support of Mark Twain. 

Mosaic tiling done at the time can still be found at some stations.  Imagine, once upon a time there were no turnstiles.  Subways were plush, cheap alternatives to cabs with a lamp post at entrances whose red, green and yellow lights indicated when a train was running.

An inspired undertaking ... heady times!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Subway

The Great War ... WW1

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

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Blood thirst?

The diaries of a German soldier and later celebrated writer Ernst Junger published for first time reveal a war-fevered mind.  Sole survivor of the 73rd Hanoverian infantry regiment which faced total annihilation twice, he was wounded multiple times and twice awarded for courage. 

His matter of fact attitude to the ravages of war gained the admiration of Hitler but Junger would not deign reciprocate and was accused of being part of the Von Stauffenberg bomb plot against the Fuhrer.  Remember the Tom Cruise thriller, Valkyrie, about the assissination attempt?

He saw war as a great test of manhood. 

Sadly, war sacrifices too much, a pernicious waste of time and resources - that's my take.

Maru Malapropism

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

Click topic for YouTube LINK
Maru is a very famous cat - 56 million utube hits famous. 

He favours jumping head-first into boxes.  See his biography here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maru_(cat) and by the way, he's Japanese.  Remember Nora, the keyboard playing cat? She's getting a run from Maru to hold her fame.

Determined eyes - he WILL have his way - the way of the cat! lol

Dinosaur Extinction cleared way for Gigantic Animals

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

Evolution is real ....

"Evolution can happen very quickly when ecology permits."

When the age of dinosaurs was quenched 65 millions years ago it preceded the age of mammals and some were gigantic but how and why did their size evolve as it did?  Click topic for Article LINK that tells us why.

Giggy the Pom

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

Click topic for LINK

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star of canine celestial sphere - Introducing the Hottest Blogger of them all ......  Giggy!

and Giggy tweets!  http://twitter.com/#!/giggythepom

We looooove Giggy and his tell tales on his mistress.

Sing-a-ma-jigs

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



Hottest toys listed when you Click topic for LINK ... and the bestest are the singamajigs!


Looooooooooooooooooove THEM......!

http://twitter.com/#!/singamajigs

NY, NY

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

Click topic for LINK

1940s Big Apple Golden Age


Sports, finance, music, art ...  the American supernova emerged post World War II and NYC became the world capital.


A wonder to see Penn Station in 1943.  Thank goodness Grand Central Terminal was spared destruction by those who fail to honour history's bestowal; although the Third Avenue elevated train is no more.

Dodgers, Giants and Yankees glory .... Belmont Race Track, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, the Plaza Hotel, yellow cabs and more are forever landmarks of NY lore.

Portrait of a City:
http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/48311/new-york-portrait-of-a-city

I don't know about you and I've said it before, pictures such as these transport me to the life and times captured therein.

Scourge of Wall Street

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

Click topic for LINK ....  Meet THE MAN!

Chasing after real-life Gordon Gekkos.  Preet Bharara, tenacious and humble US Attorney uses wiretaps broadly as done in mob and drug cases to gather evidence in white collar cases.  Insider trading by hedge funds and other financial rat holes including the nefarious Madoff melt down has netted impressive results; 14 of 23 rats arrested in his probe have pled guilty.

Yaay for small breaks and big ones too. 

Give Thanks for Bygone Times

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

Click topic for LINK

The ten most prosperous Thanksgivings in the United States since the Great Depression - post WWII, 1952, 1998, 2007 and more plus other interesting memory blurbs.


Others refuse to celebrate "re-written" history that heralded the decimation of Native Americans and their culture
http://www.popeater.com/2010/11/24/angelina-jolie-thanksgiving/

April 29th

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



Royal Wedding date. 

Click topic for LINK to see other mementos of history that occurred on April 29th.

Green eyed Chinese

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

Click topic for LINK

Descendants of a lost Roman legion?

Green eyes and blond hair too, accompany the western features of Chinese people in the village of Liqian. DNA now shows that most are of Caucasian origin.

The legend of general Marcus Crassus and his missing legion holds that in 53BC after Crassus was defeated and beheaded by the Parthians that 145 Romans were captured and wandered the region thereafter.  Archeologists have unearthed a 6ft tomb suggesting a Roman legionnaire was buried there.

Others are satisfied to leave this story where it lay, as a legend.

Dribble, Dribble, Drab

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

Click topic for LINK

Palin confused about which Korea is a U.S. ally.

Like I said - this woman don't know crap - enough of this nonsense!

And here she is throwing insult jabs at the Bushes - read her language she sounds like an uneducated adolescent.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20023852-503544.html?tag=pop

And here Caribou Barbie also insults Michelle Obama
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/24/palin-slams-michelle-obam_n_788200.html