Richard II, Thanks Shakespeare

JOHN OF GAUNT

Methinks I am a prophet new inspired
And thus expiring do foretell of him:
His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last,
For violent fires soon burn out themselves;
Small showers last long, but sudden storms are short;
He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes;
With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder:
Light vanity, insatiate cormorant,
Consuming means, soon preys upon itself.
This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,
This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings,
Fear'd by their breed and famous by their birth,
Renowned for their deeds as far from home,
For Christian service and true chivalry,
As is the sepulchre in stubborn Jewry,
Of the world's ransom, blessed Mary's Son,
This land of such dear souls, this dear dear land,
Dear for her reputation through the world,
Is now leased out, I die pronouncing it,
Like to a tenement or pelting farm:
England, bound in with the triumphant sea
Whose rocky shore beats back the envious siege
Of watery Neptune, is now bound in with shame,
With inky blots and rotten parchment bonds:
That England, that was wont to conquer others,
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself.
Ah, would the scandal vanish with my life,
How happy then were my ensuing death!

Damn Now CHad Everett is Dead!

Chad Everett was hot 70's hot and now he is dead! Is every star of the 70's going to die? Medical Center was a huge hit and Chad Everett was a major part of that success. Chad was 75 years old. Doesn't that make you feel old if you can remember him? Did you know Chad's nurse on Medical Center was his wife? She was his wife for 45 years. Chad was the real thing. He was hot and a nice guy. How often does that happen in Hollywood? Chad Everett also appeared on "Love Boat" (who didn't) and "Murder She Wrote" along with a string of movies. Now he too is dead! RATS!

The George Jefferson Door Slam

Sherman Hemsley has died! George Jefferson has gone to meet Wezzie. Hemsley was 74 years old when he died in his home in El Paso, Texas. He will forever be remembered as Geroge Jefferson dry cleaning magnate from Queens who moved on up to a Dee-Luxe apartment in the sky. He was discovered in 1971 by ground breaking sitcom producer Norman Lear and cast as the ying toArchie Bunker's yang on "All in the Family" before being give the lead in his own sitcom "The Jeffersons". Sherman Hemsley and Isable Sanford moved on up to the east side as George and Louise (Wezzie) Jefferson for 11 seasons. He then went on to play and equally bombastic character in the sitcom Amen in the mid-80's. Mr. Hemsley and Ms Sanford were paired again in a series of ads for Old Navy until Isabel Sanford died.
George Jefferson will always be remembered as the man who perfect the door slam. Be it in his neighbor's or his maid Florence's face. His character was also the perfect foil to Archie Bunker's dislike of other races.
Sherman Hemsley was an iconic actor and had received both Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his comic performances. He was living in El Paso when he died of natural causes. George has gone off to meet Wezzie in that deluxe apaprtment in the sky

Mrs. Jackson Needs a Break

You have to feel bad for Katherine Jackson. Not only has one of her children died and now she has to raise his kids herself now she is being harassed by her other children. The woman is 82 years old and when most women her age are retired and relaxing she has 3 teenagers to raise and a house full of crazy surrounding her. Is it any wonder she ran off and hid in Arizona some where? Her estranged husband Joe is another piece of work to deal with. Poor Mrs. Jackson. Now the police have been called to her house because the rest of her family decided to have a fight in the driveway. The woman needs a break! Money doesn't always buy happiness the Jackson's and their recent behavior is living proof of this old adage. Hide out Mrs. Jackson!!!! Go to a spa and read a good book with your feet up. Rest up and get ready to face the music.

A Lust for Lady Liberty

Amanda Whitaker lives in Leeds, England and is in a long distance relationship. Ms. Whitaker's relationship is a little more complicated as it is seemingly a one sided relationship. She has to travel to see her beloved as her cherished one can not travel. She is in love with The Statue of Liberty. Yes it is love says Amanda Whitaker, true love. Amanda has a rare condition called Object or Objectum Sexuality. This is a condition that is not common but not unheard of experts report is a form of Paraphila a sexual arousal with inanimate objects.
Ms Whitaker has built a shrine in her home in Leeds and has traveled to her be with love 4 times. She has claimed to have had an orgasm while in Miss Liberty. “It was like lightning between us. It was sexually and emotionally fulfilling. Libby satisfies my lovemaking needs.” said Ms Whitaker in a recent interview with The London Sun. This is not her first love affair with an inanimate object she was once involved with a drum set that dumped for The Statue of Liberty.
There are other people with this condition. One woman Erika Eiffel who is "married" to the Paris' Eiffel tower OS Internationale a web based community and educational based website. Eija-Riitta Berliner-Mauer who is married to the Berlin Wall also has this condition. Berliner-Mauer if the German translation of Berlin Wall has a harder time as most of her "husband" has been torn down per the request of Ronald Reagan. American Amy Wolfe from Pennsylvania is in love with and plans to marry an amusement park ride. Ms. Wolfe, an unemployed organist, claims to have a very satisfying sex life with her lover a roller coaster named Nacht 1000.
Amanda Whitaker has yet to marry her love and at this time has devoted herself to her shrine. How does she feel about the smaller version of the Statue of Liberty in Paris one has to wonder. Will there be a polyamourus relationship in her future?

Thank You Johnny Cash

Sometimes you go through your music collection and you find something you forgot all about. "Hurt" by Johnny Cash is one of those things in my collection I'd forgotten but now I remember. A sadly moving piece by one of America's great singer song writers. Could be the best last song ever.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go&feature=related 
The link above will bring you to the music video. Genius!

Don't you Love Air Conditioning?

There is nothing better on a hot day than walking into a nice cool air conditioned building. Just the thing happened to me today. It started me thinking about air conditioning and how we take it for granted. An air conditioner is one of those modern marvels we tend to forget had to be invented.
The modern air conditioner was invented in 1902 by Willis Carrier of Syracuse, New York. If you have ever spent a summer in Upstate New York you can understand his impetuous. He was not the first to study the concept of cooling the air. Egyptians did it with water running over reeds in their windows. Benjamin Franklin, the inventor of almost everything, experimented with evaporation discovering how it aided in cooling. It was Carrier though who was able to make an electric machine that worked not unlike a refridgerator. The term air conditioner was coined by a gentleman named Stuart Cramer. The original air conditioners used highly toxic and flammable chemicals to cool the air and it wasn't until 1928 that Thomas Midgley invented for DuPont Chemical Company the gas we use today, Freon. The window models commonly seen today were brought to the market in 1935 by oddly enough Chrystler Motor Company. Who knew!

Free Pussy Riot

Three members of the Russian band Pussy Riot are still in jail. They were jailed in February for a performance/protest in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The band Pussy Riot is a feminist punk rock collective that stages guerrilla performances. They wear mini dresses and bright colored balaclavas when performing. Three members of the band Maria Alehina, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were arrested in February and have been in jail since then. They are being charged with "hooliganism" and could face up to seven years in prison. Their protest was against Putin, his government and its policies. The members of the band that remain free have started a campaign to free the 3 incarcerated members two of whom have young children. They admit that what they did was meant to offend and they did it to protest the control of the church in the Russian government. They are now on trial. Pussy Riot has had great support in Russia as well as in other countries. Polls in Moscow have shown 50% of the people think they should be freed. There have some very well known supporters such as filmmaker Terry Gilliam, Adam Horovitz and Faith No More. Members of the band were on stage at a recent Faith No More concert in Moscow and lead singer Mike Patton made his encore wearing a balaclava and Pussy Riot t-shirt. Have things changed in Russia or is the draconian system of oppression still the rule of the day?

Pat Paulsen for President

It is an election year again and more than ever we need Pat Paulsen! Starting during the 1968 presidential campaign comic Pat Paulsen ran as a deadpan candidate for President of the United States of America. A member of the STAG (Straight Talking American Government) Party Mr. Paulsen campaigned with the slogan "I've upped my standards. Now, up yours." Pre-dating Stephen Colbert's comedic candidacy by announcing his campaign in 1968 on The Smothers Brothers' show Pat Paulsen received votes as a write in many states. His name actually appeared on the New Hampshire democratic primary ballot in 1996. He came in second.
This election year could use Pat Paulsen as the voice of reason. Sadly Mr. Paulsen died in 1997 but that shouldn't stop him for running again. You may say a dead man can't run for president but in the words of Pat Paulsen "Picky picky picky".

Larry Ellison's Mrs. Astor's Beechwood

Beechwood Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island has been acquired by Larry Ellison. Mrs. Astor's Beechwood was the summer cottage of Mrs. William Backhouse Astor aka The Mrs. Astor. Her ballroom could fit 400 and that is why there is a society "400". Ellison has plans that were approved by the ever so powerful Newport Historical District Commission. The plans are to make the first floor of what is truly one of the most elegant of all mansions in the U.S. into an art museum. The CEO of Oracle has a collection of 19th century paintings and plans to use the ground floor of the iconic 19th century mansion as an exhibition space.
Mrs. Astor may not approve of Larry Ellison nor would she care for Oracle but her home as a museum would be a-okay. The Beechwood has been a living museum of sorts for well over 20 years. Actors dressed and playing 19th century Newport characters have been giving tours of Mrs. Astor's Beechwood and entertaining millions of tourists.
My first job out of college was at The Beechwood. What could be more fun than being 22 years old and living in a mansion with a bunch of actors in a mansion for the summer. When the house closed from tourists it was ours. We all lived on the third floor. Apparently Larry Ellison will also be living on the second and third floors. He is apparently cooler than me as he owns it.
Beechwood is just what you would think a summer "cottage mansion" should be. Elegant and ever so tasteful. The Morning Room, The Music Room, The Dining Room and the piece de resistance, The Ball Room. Designed by Morris-Hunt the Ballroom is a very special room. Not only did it comfortably hold 400 it has a view of the Atlantic ocean to die for. The herring bone dance floor complimented the three walls of French windows with wavey frames that gave the trippy feeling of the waves outside when waltzers spun 'round the room. Mrs. Astor didn't cut any corners. The rest of the ground floor rooms were purchased from European house and imported lock stack and barreled ceilings to Newport.  
Ellison has a jewel that he has the ability to enhance. This is good use of Internet money.

Willard's Willy

Hollywood has a reputation for being "dirty". Despite Disney's attempts to clean it up there are some hold outs of sleaze. One of those hold outs is The Tiki Theater on Santa Monica Blvd. The Tiki is notorious for good ole dirty fun. One of the celebrants this week was actor Fred Willard. Mr. Willard is famous for his humorous roles in films and on television. He is now famous for being arrested for "lewd acts" at the Tiki Theater. It seems Willard's willy was wanked Wednesday. It has been reported that his trousers were not in the proper place. Perhaps they were in the proper place for watching a porn movie but not for a public place. Oh Fred what were you thinking you are 72!

Stealing David Hasselhoff

The New England convenience store chain started a campaign this summer to sell iced coffee using life sized cut out cardboard signs of actor David Hasselhoff.  The campaign has done better than the Cumberland farms chain expected. Hasselhoff's cut out is now so hot he is being stolen from Cumberland Farms' stores. Apparently not only German's love David Hasselhoff.
Cumberland Farms is a New England based company with stores through out the Northeast and Florida. Vasilios and Aphrodite Haseotes founded the company after buying a small dairy farm in Cumberland, Rhode Island in 1938. The farm expanded and the Haseotes family opened a store in Bellingham, Massachusetts that eventually grew to a chain of over 600 stores in 11 states. The company is still family owned.
David Hasselhoff an actor known for working along side the likes of a talking a car and Pamela Anderson. He has also been a judge on reality television. He is infamous for a video tape made by his daughter of his drinking problems. He has had pop music hits in Germany. Now he is a cardboard cut out.
Hundreds of the cardboard cut outs have been stolen but sales of the 99 cent iced coffees have soared.

Walt Disney Might Hate You!

57 years ago Walt Disney's creepy dream came to life and we the world public have been buying into it. Yes it was 57 years ago today that branding became a life style. Walt Disney and his freaky concept of what America and fun is came to be He told us what fun was and if we didn't believe it we were wrong. He was the Hitler of wholesome fun. There were no Black people, no Latinos, no Queers and certainly no mustaches. Why would there be? Those people couldn't afford the entrance fee and if you don't save up you can't either. This was a place meant for happy upper middle class Americans and those who wanted to be . Poor people don't ride on tea cups unless it is a weekend engineered for them. Once a year queers can come with their money but not when anyone else is there. Otherwise it is for WHITE people with expendable cash. Walt Disney Uber Alles...

Happy Birthday Phyllis Diller

Phyllis Diller is 95 years old, well most of her is. America's best bad housewife started out in San Francisco's comedy scene in the 1950's performing at The Purple Onion. Phyllis' career really took off after Bob Hope had her on his television specials in the 1960's. Her self-deprecating jokes and cackle were her trademarks. Ms. Diller has also been a huge advocate of plastic surgery being one of the first women to admit to having a face lift. Known for her outrageous outfits,long cigarette holder and wild hair she talked about being a housewife and her husband Fang. Her cooking, cleaning and home making skills or lack there of  were the basis of her act. She also made fun of her own body and apparent lack of sex appeal. "I wore a peak-a-boo blouse, they peaked and then they booed", "My Playtex Living Bra died". Phyllis never worked "blue" she was funny without vulgarity.
Phyllis was always a stand up main stay but also worked in movies and television as well. Her most successful movie was "Boy Did I Get a Wrong Number" with Bob Hope. She also played real life hostess Texas Guinan in "Splendor in the Grass". Her television roles included her short lived but hilarious sitcom based on Patrick Dennis' "The Pruitts of South Hampton" and the role of Mimi Bobeks's grandmother on "The Drew Carey Show". Phyllis's voice has been used in dozens of animated fils as well. She herself has been animated for a Scooby-Doo episode.
Phyllis Diller is not only a stand up comic she is also a classicaly trained concer pianist and play the harpsicord. After retiring from stand up she has spent time in her Brentwood home where she paints and gardens. If one is very lucky an invitation can be gotten to visit her home and purchase one of her paintings.
There are several record albums of her stage up act. "What's Left of Phyllis Diller" and "Are you ready for Phyllis Diller" are among them.

Happy Birthday Phyllis Diller!!!!!

Encyclopedia Brown's Creator has Died

Donald Sobol died at the age of 87 he was the creator of the Encyclopedia Brown book series. The Encyclopedia Brown books are mystery books written for kids. The main character Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown is the son of the chief of Police of the town of Idaville. Encyclopedia helps his father solve crimes while sitting at the dinner table and runs a detective agency out of their garage where he along with his sidekick Sally Kimball. Encyclopedia charges 25 cents a day plus expenses. Most of Encyclopedia's cases involve the school bully Bugs Meany. Sally is the brawn of the agency and protect Encyclopedia from the threats of violence from Bugs and his gang the Tigers. Donald Sobol wrote eighty books in the series. Each book ended with the solution to the mystery. Encyclopedia would lay out all the clues and explain the thinking that enabled him to reach the solution. Mr. Sobol's books made reading fun for kids.

Helen Reddy Stepping out of Retiremnet

Australian singer Helen Reddy was one of the most popular solo acts of the 1970's. Her hit "I am Woman" has become a feminist standard. Ms. Reddy is also responsible for one of the creepiest hits of the 70's as well "Angie Baby".
"Angie Baby" was written by Alan O'Day and became fifth #1 hit on American pop charts. It is the story of "Angie" a slightly touched girl who spends her nights listening to the radio and living in a dream world. Angie is alone one night when "a neighbor boy with evil on his mind" peers through her window blind and tries to take advantage of her. What Angie does next is turn her radio down and the boys slowly disappears into her radio. He is reported missing and one knows where he is and thinks he is dead " "cept a crazy girl with a secret lover who keeps her satisfied". Angie is either insane or maybe she is magical. "Angie Baby" has all the makings for a made for TV movie starring Tilda Swinton.
The 70's had a rash of pop songs about creepy with mysterious lyrics. Songs like Cher's "Dark Lady" and Bobbie Gentry"s "Ode to Billie Joe" are both examples of the genre.
Helen Reddy not only had a recording career but a acting career as well having appeared in a number of television shows and the Disney movie "Pete's Dragon". She went into retirement in 2002 and moved back to her native Australia. There she lead a very low profile life and became a Certified Hypnotherapist. She has recently appeared in public singing at a club in San Diego and a high school in Panorama City in Los Angeles. Helen Reddy is now 70 and back hear her roar.

Ralph Lauren's Heinous Olympic Wardrobe

All of a sudden (and doesn't it really seem that way) there is a huge brouhaha about Ralph Lauren's clothing for the US Olympic team. First there were complaints that the athletes were going to wear berets. Then it turned out that not just French people wear berets. Um ever hear of the Green Berets? I think they are pretty Red whit and blue blooded, he n'est pas. Now there is a big stink rising because Ralph Lauren's design were made in China. Did anyone ever think Ralph Lauren didn't make his clothes in China?
The point I think that everyone has forgotten is the stuff Ralph Lauren designed is just damned ugly. Did anyone not notice the HUGE Polo logo on every thing? What is making them wear? They look like they are sportin' neo-nazi morman country club togs. Hitler Youth dressed like that! I have never seen an American with a subscription to a fashion magazine of even a JCPenny catoluge dress in an out fit like that. Ralph Lauren designs false Americana, even his name is fake.
Why aren't they dressed like real American's? Baggy trousers and visible underpants for the men and if the women wear size 12 slacks, they force themselves into a size 4 and have a camel toe. The Snooky and Pauly D lines would have been more representative than Ralph Lauren. Although Raph Lauren's cothes being made is rather all American. When was the last time an American sewed anything? The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory maybe? American's don't sew, vacuum or mow lawns. We watch TV, Google and demand unemployment extensions. We will wear although whatever anyone tells us to.

Do you have Friggatriskaidekaphobia?

Are you afraid of the day Friday the 13th? If you are you may be suffering from Friggatriskaidekaphobia. Friday the 13th is considered and unlucky day by some and feared by others. the number 13 has been considered an unlucky number in many cultures and Friday is also considered an unlucky day in others when the two combine and bam superstition takes over. It is estimated that between 17 and 20 million people have a fear of Friday the 13th.
Some odd events have happened on a Friday the 13th. The luxury liner Costa Concordia ran aground of the coast of Italy earlier this year on the first of three in 2012. If you were Tupac Shakur, Tim Russert or Julia Child you might find Friday the 13th to be a bad day as they died on the cursed day.
Throw some salt over your shoulder and beware of black cats!

von Bulow Mansion, Clarendon Court Sold

Do you remember Claus and Sunny von Bulow? She was an American socialite and he ersatz European nobility. They lived in Clarendon Court a Newport, Rhode Island summer cottage/mansion until the fateful day when Sunny's son, from a previous marriage, Alexander von Auersperg discovered her in a coma. A dramatic and sensational trial and re-trail then followed as Claus had been charged and eventually aquitted with attempted murder. Perhaps you have seen the movie "Reversal of Fortune" starring Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons. Sunny survived in a vegetative coma from 1980 until her death in 2008.
The house where all this drama happened Clarendon Court was built in 1904 by rail tycoon Edward Knight and his wife Clara. In 1956 the house was used as a movie set for the film "High Society" as musical starring Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly. Clarendon Court is 7 acre estate located on Bellevue Ave in Newport and has sea frontage overlooking the famous Cliff Walk. Sunny von Bulow's children from her first marriage to Prince von Auersperg Alexander and Ala along with their estranged step-sister Cosmia von Bulow through a legal agreement that excluded Claus sold the house in 1988.
Clarendon Court has just been sold again for slightly over 13 million dollars. What shall become of the grande dame now? The possibilities are endless.

Will Robert Blake Ever Get a Break?

Former child star and television actor Robert Blake has been in the news again. He was badgered by Piers Morgan on CNN and went on a tirade. Always the tough guy Robert Blake refereed to Morgan as "Charlie" and "Charlie Potatoes" while babbling about the LAPD and Morgan's producer AKA "the man in your ear".
Robert Blake has had a life as tough as he is. Starting his career in Hollywood in the 1940's as a member of "Our Gang" he was a star at age six. Blake was raised in an unhappy home with an abusive alcoholic father. At age ten he went to a public school for the first time but didn't fit in. He was a star and that inevitably got him into fights. He finally left school at age 14. Blake entered the army before returning to Hollywood as an adult to study acting and restarting his career. Blake made his way playing tough guy parts. What could be the high point in his career as an actor was the role of Perry Smith the real life murderer in the black and white film adaptation of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood". The scene shot in a window during a rainstorm where Blake as Perry Smith confesses to the murders is mesmerizing.
From 1975 to 1978 Blake starred in the television series "Baretta" where he played undercover police detective Tony Baretta. Blake won an Emmy award for his portrayal of Tony Baretta. He was known for the catch phrases "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time." and "You can take that to the bank."
Robert Blake married twice. He second marriage in 2000 was his most infamous. He married Bonnie Lee Bakley a suspected con artist who was murdered in Blake's car outside of Vitellos restaurant in Studio City. This was Bakley's 10th marriage. She had given birth earlier to a baby who she claimed was either Christian Brando's or Blake's. Blake was arrested for the murder of Bakley and eventually acquitted of the charges after a drama filled trial.
Robert Blake made his appearance on Piers Morgan's show to promote his new memoir "Tales of a Rascal".

A Remake of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane! Why?

Fifty years ago a cinema masterpiece of sorts was made. It was the black and white B-movie "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane". Co-starring two of Hollywood heaviest of heavy weights Joan Crawford and Bette Davis as freaky Hollywood casualties. The original was released on Halloween of 1962 and based on the Henry Farrell novel. Shot in black and white in Hancock Park and Hollywood culminating on a beach in Malibu "Baby Jane"is one of the creepiest movies ever made. It has achieved cult status for both its horror and camp appeal. Both Joan Crawford's and Bette Davis' careers were resurrected by "Baby Jane". The plot is a legendary Hollywood nightmare, a study of fame and its detriments. Sisterly jealousy dominates the twisting script. "But you are Blanche. You Are!"
There are now reports of a re-make of "Baby Jane" in the pipeline. Why? It was tried once before with Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave and failed. It failed so badly most people wouldn't know it exists.  This new attempt is slated to be directed by Walter Hill. His biggest problem is going to be casting. Who could play those roles other the Davis and Crawford? Many actresses will turn the roles down flat. Don't expect Meryl Streep and Sally Field to take the roles, Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips would be a better ballgame to bet upon. Sure, it could possibly be a good movie but it will always have to compete with the original. It will never compare so why go through the expense and bother? It is a lose lose situation.

Courtney Love has a Birthday

48 stormy years ago Courtney Love was born. Yup she is 48 years old. What did Courtney get for her birthday? Bad press. It has been reported on this her special day that her ex-personal assistant is suing her unpaid wages. Jessica Labrie worked for Courtney for about a year and claims she wasn't paid and was asked to do unethical things. Um you took a job with Courtney Love Jessica did you think it was going to be a bed of roses? Did she not know who Courtney Love is? The job of Courtney's assistant should be a pre-paid gig because lets face it she is not known for her stability and reliability.
Courtney Love actress/stripper/widow/rocker is a piece of work and likes it that way. It seems to know Courtney Love is to sue her. Universally loved and hated at the same time Courtney is a polarizing figure to say the least. She has been critically acclaimed as an actress and musician as well as being accused of murder and fraud. Her 1994 release "Live Through This" was one of the biggest selling records of the 90's and may have been the high point in her career. Don't count her out though. Courtney always has another trick up her sleeve.

Ariane Bellamar a Hot Property

You may not know the name Ariane Bellamar right now but soon you will. Ariane is an actress originally from Toronto, Canada living in Los Angeles. Miss Bellamar hits the national scene with a new ABC Family reality show titled "Beverly Hills Nannies". No she is not a nanny; she is a mom. The reality show is as the title suggests about nannies who live and work in Beverly Hills. Ariane along with her husband Barry and their uber cute daughter Emma hire a nanny and the cameras follow them about. Up to now Ariane has had some smallish roles on television and in some films. She is also a model and worked as Playboy Bunny. So obviously she is very pretty but she is more. She is funny and rather smart. She is also a hard worker. Ariane came to Hollywood with a pretty face and a dream but no agent. She did it on her own!

Writing in a Library Book is Wrong, don't you agree?

Library books aren't yours they are on loan. Defacing them is just plain old wrong! You can have your opinion but writing in a book that doesn't belong to you is just idiotic. Any valid points are lost because you wrote in the book. You don't like the points made in the book, great, go write your own book. A public library is now a municipal standard. It wasn't always so...
Once upon a time in America a long long time ago there were no libraries and most people had rudimentary reading skills. Libraries were a luxury. One paid to belong to a library, if there was one in your area. Boston, Providence, Newport, Philadelphia and Charleston were the only cities with a subscription library. 
The Providence Athenaeum opened in 1753. On the corner of College and Benefit streets in Providence Rhode Island, The Providence Athenaeum was constructed in a Greek style and isn't that how a library should be designed. Poe wooed a woman unsuccessfully at a table in the reading room. He lived next door in the garret of one of the row of Georgian town houses. One can check out book titles ranging from "Fifty Shades of Grey" to Audubon Portfolios.
Now people disrespect books and libraries without even a thought. The first (so they claim) public library was in Franklin, Massachusetts. This is town of New England ass kissers. They named their town after Benjamin Franklin hoping he would give them some money for a bell. Instead Benjamin Franklin sent them a selection from his library. Thus started the Franklin Public library with 113 volumes from Ben Franklin donor and town namesake.
Today sad people write in library books. You would have to be a damaged sole to write in a book right? It is a sad cry for attention. You have to feel bad for someone who has only one outlet, writing in library books. First you are mad and then repulsed and slowly you start feeling bad for the annoying scribbler.  How sad for the defacer. Unhappy people with no power other than the pen in a loaned book. No matter how pathetic may be they are a library book defacer and that is wrong.

Good Bye House of Davids

Earlier today I read (and then had to run out to see if it was true and it is) The LA House of Davids is completely gone. The house is still there but nary a David; not even a lousy fountain out front. No elaborate driveway gates. It's just an ugly house now. I lived around the corner from The House of Davids when I first moved to LA.  It was a treat. An LA treasure that is no more. If you have never heard of The House of Davids you are about to.
Norwood Young owned Youngwood Court commonly known as The House of Davids. Mr Norwood had a thing for copies of Michelangelo's David. The house and grounds were covered with them. How many? How many is too much and then add a few. Scores of Davids. The house is nothing out of the ordinary, sure its large but no mansion, just a house. It was the Davids that made it so special. It was so white!

The House of Davids sits smack dab in the middle of one of Los Angeles' swankiest neighborhoods. Needless to say the people across the street weren't to thrilled with Mr. Young. It was Norwood Young's dream house and he did it and if they don't like too bad. The neighbors may have seen it as a vulgar eye sore but not the rest of us. It was not at all uncommon to see a car load of people having their picture taken on the sidewalk in front of The House of Davids. Those poor neighbors, you do have to feel sorry for them in a way.

Norwood Young decided to sell Youngwood Court last fall. There were yard sales. All the Davids had to go! The Davids sold Norwood moved on after finding a buyer. The House of Davids is now gone. It is now just an older house in a nice neighborhood. Baby Jane's House and the Happy Days house are both right around the corner but its just not the same without The House of Davids.

Ernest Borgnine and why he Rocked

The news that Ernest Borgnine died came today and yes an amazing charater actor died . But he was more than just a character actor; he was Ethel Merman's ex-husband. For one scary month that man was Mr. Ethel Merman! A Hollywood match made on someone's acid trip; or was it real? What pray tell makes a straight man want to marry Ethel Merman? Was she a vixen as well as a ham? Was Ethel a great piece of Ethel and Ernest Borgnine went for it? I hope so. Thanks for Marty, thanks for MacHale. Thanks for giving Ethel Merman a month long shag!!

The Blah Blah Blah Virus

Apparently tomorrow is another day the world could end and we have some Ukrainian hackers to thank for it. So this could be it for Internet users. Life as we know it could soon be over. Oh well its been fun. I have done what I could do to protect my computer/lifeline to surreality. If it is all over newspapers and magazines would have a great comeback. Letters and phone calls could rebound. How long ago did anyone fax?

Good bye Internet thanks for whatever...

To the Beibermobile!

Justin Beiber was pulled over for reckless driving on the 101 in Studio City. He was driving his Fisker Karma at a very high speed on a very busy LA freeway at 10:45am. It has been reported that he was driving at speeds nearing 100 mile per hour. Little Mr. Beiber claims he was being chased by paparazzi. He was trying to elude the tabloid photographers. Granted he is young but has he never heard of Princess Diana? Not only was he weaving through traffic endangering himself and his brand but he was endangering the public. Not his public but the general public. The biggest crime itself may well be the car Justin was driving. It is a shiny chrome $100,000 automobile. You want to be left alone Justin try driving a less conspicuous vehicle, perhaps a Prius or maybe as you are in LA a Mercedes coupe.
A call to 911 was placed by LA City Councilman Dennis Zine who was on the road and witnessed the Beib racing through Studio City. Oddly Dennis Zine recently proposed a local ordinance against aggressive paparazzi.

The Shard

London now has what is officially the tallest building in Europe, the Shard. Standing 1,016 above ground level or 309.6 meters if you are a metric measurer The Shard towers literally over London. Built on the site where the Southwark Towers, a 70's office block, once was in the Southwark district of London not far from the Tower Bridge. The Shard replaces Frankfurt's Commerzbank Tower as Europe's tallest building atlthough its reign may be a short one as buildings under construction in Moscow and Paris are expcted to be taller. Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano one of the designers of the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris the Shard is pyramidal shaped tower clad in glass inspired by an ice berg rising from the river Thames. When it opens to the public in 2013 there will be an a public viewing gallery on the 72 floor. The building resembling a shard of glass is covered with 11,000 panes of glass that will reflect the London sky. Apparently The Shard will often appear grey.

Spam 75 and Still Kicking

In the immortal words of Monty Python:"Spam!Spam! Spam! Spam! Lovely Spam Lovely Spam!". The square canned meat staple is 75 years old this year. Spam the name is made of of the words spiced and ham and that is more or less what it is. Well there is a bit more than just ham and spices in that blue little can but no one wants to think about that now do they. Created by The Hormel Food Corporation in 1937 Spam is a world wide phenomenon. Gaining popularity during World War II as it could be shipped easily Spam became closely related to American GIs not unlike Budweiser Beer.
Often thought of as the poor man's meat because of its low cost Spam has a certain stigma to it in much of the USA. The is not the case in Hawaii and Guam! The residents of these islands consume more Spam per capita than anywhere. On Guam one can get Spam at McDonald's. Spam can be found there served with nori and rice. Umm Umm.

Wildly popular in Asia, Spam is featured in many Japanese, Korean and Chinese dishes. It is considered a lovely gift to bring a hostess. There are actual gift sets available.
In the USA there are Spam fans as well; in Austin, Minnesota where Hormel Foods has its corporate headquarters there is a celebration coinciding with the Fourth of July called Spam Jam. There are parades, fireworks the whole kit and caboodle of any festival. Honolulu also has its very own Spam Jam in the last week of April. Nothing says Waikiki like a Spam t-shirt.
In Israel there is a kosher version of Spam. What exactly this consits of is beyond imagination. Spam is apparently for everyone! Is Spamfu the vegetarian Spam available research is not complete on this.
Of course on can not think of Spam in this day and computer age without having junk email come to mind. Named because it is ubiquitous and unavoidable. Spam is here to stay!