CURRENT EVENTS

Ukraine

What is happening in the Ukraine is 

absolutely heartbreaking!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

The Way You Wear Your Heart

Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Living’

By Bill Zehme

I think you can learn a lot about living from this book.

In The Way You Wear Your Hat, author Bill Zehme presents a masterful assembly of personal details of Frank Sinatra’s way of living. The book is  crafted from interviews with Sinatra himself as well as many other intimates, including Tony Bennett, Don Rickles, Angie Dickinson, Tony Curtis, and Robert Wagner, in addition to daughters Nancy and Tina Sinatra.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Death on the Nile

I’ve been watching a couple of older Death on the Nile films in preparation for seeing the current Kenneth Branagh version of Death on the Nile.

For those of you unfamiliar with the story, it is about Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer. His vacation turns into a search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s honeymoon is tragically cut short. 

The 1978 movie is a better story of these two versions, but David Suchet (Television) is Hercule Poirot. 

Death of the Nile (1978 Movie)

Death on the Nile (2004 Television)

Hopefully, next week I will get around to seeing the Kenneth Branagh version of Death on the Nile.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Ukrainian Patriotic Song

“Ой, у лузі червона калина”

ART OF THE WEEK

Essential Surrealists

By Tim Martin 

If you aren’t familiar with surrealist art, you may want to check out a book like this one that will expose you to this unique art form.

Rather than describe the above book, I thought it would be more helpful to provide you with some information on the Surrealist Movement.

Surrealism is a cultural movement that started in 1917, best known for its juxtaposition of uncommon imagery. Artists painted unnerving, illogical scenes, sometimes with photographic precision, creating strange creatures from everyday objects, and developing painting techniques that allowed the unconscious to express itself.

Its aim was, according to Breton, to “resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality into an absolute reality, a super-reality”, or surreality. (Source: Wikipedia)

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON  OF THE WEEK

Frank Sinatra

Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor who is generally viewed as one of the greatest musical artists of the 20th century.

He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold an estimated 150 million records worldwide. (Source: Wikipedia) 

I’m not sure how true the following is,

but if it isn’t true, it should be.

There are so many things about Frank Sinatra, that would make him worthy of being extraordinary person of the week, but that is not why I selected him this week. The reason selected him was because of the following story, which I think is likely true; but, I can’t say with certainty. I came across the story in Bill Zehme’s book The Way You Wear Your Hat. The story goes something like this:

Frank’s daughter Nancy was having a school party and Frank was  host. One little girl accidentally knocked over one of a pair of porcelain birds and it shattered.

Frank’s daughter Nancy, gasped, “That was my mother’s favorite.”

The little girl who broke one of the porcelain birds was mortified.

Frank walked over to the table and knocked the remaining bird on to the floor, shattering that bird. He then walked over to the girl who broke the first bird and said, “That’s okay, kid. Accidents happen.”

Wouldn’t you like to be like Frank, well you can. Any of us can.

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

PHYSICAL TRAITS

CHARACTER TRAITS

Addictive Behavior

Substance Abuse Isn’t The Only Type of Addiction

Guard Against All Types of Addictions

SOCIAL TRAITS

I wish it was just youth that supports 

Socialism.

The pandemic has shown us just how many people are willing to give up freedom.

LEARNING TRAITS

Another Tip From World Famous 

Chef Ronaldo 

Can’t Find Your Pizza Cutter

Try This

MISCELLANEOUS

It takes a while for things to be perceived.

Perhaps, we are too close to something to really perceive it for what it is.

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Do you believe what you are being told?

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Hercule Poirot

The Complete Short Stories

By Agatha Christie

I started reading these stories back in January 2019 and only recently finished this 850+ page book. Obviously, I took some reading breaks. If you like short detective stories, check this book out.

At last, a single volume that gathers together all of the short stories featuring Agatha Christie’s most famous creation, Hercule Poirot. The dapper, mustache-twirling little Belgian with the egg-shaped head and curious mannerisms has solved some of the most puzzling crimes of the century—and, in his own humble opinion, is “probably the greatest detective in the world.”

In this complete collection of more than 50 stories, ranging from short tales to novellas, Poirot faces violent murders, poisonings, kidnappings, and thefts—all solved with his characteristic panache. Only Agatha Christie could have devised cases worthy of Hercule Poirot’s skill and “little gray cells.” (Source: Amazon)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

I found this nine episode Netflix series interesting; although, I have heard others say they didn’t care for it. So, like most things; it isn’t for everyone.

Inventing Anna 

Inventing Anna is an American drama streaming television miniseries created and produced by Shonda Rhimes, inspired by the story of Anna Sorokin and the article in New York titled “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People” by Jessica Pressler. The series was released on Netflix on February 11, 2022. Julia Garner stars as Anna Sorokin, the title character.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

This song came out in April 1967 and I came home from Vietnam May 10, 1967. It was a great time to be young and alive. If not this time, I would have wanted to spend my youth in the “Roaring 20s”.

59th Street Bridge Sone (Feeling Groovy)

By Harpers Bizarre

ART OF THE WEEK

I can’t recall when I took this photo, but I thought the art work was more interesting than the traditional snowman. 

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON  OF THE WEEK

MATA HARI

Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod (née Zelle; 7 August 1876 – 15 October 1917), better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I

On 13 February 1917, Mata Hari was arrested in her room at the Hotel Elysée Palace on the Champs Elysées in Paris. She was put on trial on 24 July, accused of spying for Germany, and consequently causing the deaths of at least 50,000 soldiers. Although the French and British intelligence suspected her of spying for Germany, neither could produce definite evidence against her.

Zelle was executed by a firing squad of 12 French soldiers just before dawn on 15 October 1917. She was 41. According to an eyewitness account by British reporter Henry Wales, she was not bound and refused a blindfold. She defiantly blew a kiss to the firing squad. (Source: Wikipedia) 

I’m not sure how true the following is,

but if it isn’t true, it should be.

At her execution [ ], Mata Hari, dressed to the nines, blew a kiss at her firing squad and smiled, causing one soldier to faint and another to marvel, “Sacre bleu, this lady knows how to die.” (Source: Simply Irresistible by Ellen T. White)

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Don’t Say You Weren’t Warned

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Happy Valentine’s Day

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Here are some Valentine’s Day tips for the ladies.

Simply Irresistible

By Ellen T. White

Simply Irresistible is a humorous manual of case studies that show how the greatest sirens of history did what they did and got what they wanted, nearly all the time.

Our role models include Eva Peron, Greta Garbo, Coco Chanel, Nigella Lawson, Angelina Jolie, Edith Piaf, Lucretia Borgia, Anne Boleyn, Mata Hari, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Simply Irresistible gives practical, sexy, and sometimes downright outrageous advice on modern seduction. It exalts the siren archetypes of the Companion, Competitor, Goddess, Mother, and Sex Kitten.

The cheeky histories of the iconic real-life women are paired with a fun array of quizzes, quotes, photos, tongue-in-cheek captions, and personal stories of triumph and tragedy. Mata Hari and Anne Boleyn were, after all, both executed.  (Source: Amazon)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

If you are looking for a Valentine Movie to watch and if you haven’t already seen this film, you may want to give it a try.

Don Juan DeMarco (1995)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

It is the week of Valentine’s Day, so what better song.

Addicted To Love

By Robert Palmer

ART OF THE WEEK

  EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE  OF THE WEEK

Lovers Everywhere

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

PHYSICAL TRAITS

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS

Or if you are a bit more frisky

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

A Little Valentine’s Day Science

 

CURRENT EVENTS

Perspective

If you listen to the media, there is a good chance you are going to live in fear and hate those that see things differently than you do. Left or right, either side is trying to tell you what to think. What ever happened to reporting the facts and letting people decide for themselves?

I’m not sure how representative the above is, but I understand that if our sun was hallow, more than a million earths could fit inside of it. According to NASA, our sun is just an average size star.  

Our galaxy (the Milky Way) is estimated to contain 100 to 400 billion stars. Our Milky Way Galaxy is large, but still only one among the billions of galaxies in our Universe and there are some galaxies much larger than the Milky Way.

So relax, and treat people with kindness and understanding.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

I first read this book 20 years ago and have reviewed my notes and highlighting a number of times since. It contains so many interesting sayings, some of which may ring true for instance: The only things one never regrets are one’s mistakes.

I leave it to those who will read this book to find the many other witty and perhaps true statements.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

By Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde’s only novel, first published in 1890, is a brilliantly designed puzzle, intended to tease conventional minds with its exploration of the myriad interrelationships between art, life, and consequence. (Source: Back cover of the book)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

I enjoyed this Netflix series. It was like watching two series, one a straight suspense and the other a comic relief.

THE WOMAN IN THE HOUSE

ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW

.

For heartbroken Anna (Kristen Bell), every day is the same. She sits with her wine, staring out the window, watching life go by without her.

But when a handsome neighbor (Tom Riley) and his adorable daughter move in across the street, Anna starts to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

That is until she witnesses a gruesome murder… Or did she? The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window premieres January 28, only on Netflix.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Remember this guy?

Ice Ice Baby

By Vanilla Ice

ART OF THE WEEK

I recall trying to find this Roman fountain years ago and I went up to this guy and said in my best Italian, “MI scusi, dov’è Fontana di Trevi?”

He looked and me and said in English, “Go down two blocks and turn left.”

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) is a fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini and several others.

Standing 86 ft. high and 161.3 ft. wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.

The fountain has appeared in several films, including Roman Holiday (1953), the eponymous Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), Federico Fellini’s classic La Dolce Vita (1960), Sabrina Goes to Rome(1998) and The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003). (Source: Wikipedia)

  EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE  OF THE WEEK

Art

My Friend, Coach & Trainer of World Champion 

Powerlifters

As Well as Being a World Champion

  JOKE OF THE WEEK

When being questioned by a Police Officer, I would avoid humor; however, since this is a blog–humor is okay.

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Funny, because there is some truth to it.

CHARACTER TRAITS

Which are you?

SOCIAL TRAITS

I hear many people say they are for freedom of expression, and yet I recall how pleased they were when people they disagreed with were cancelled.

Have you been consistent, when it comes to 

“Freedom of Expression”?

LEARNING TRAITS

Your choice.

MISCELLANEOUS

There is a lot of truth in this.