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No turkeys were harmed or killed during the production of this post.  Please enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday with our warmest regards.

–The Selvedge Yard.

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Circa 1910, postcard by Frances Brundage. You know I love anything on wheels...

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Circa 1934 -- Max Baer, world's heavyweight boxing champion, gathering his Thanksgiving dinner. -- Image by © Bettmann.

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“I’ll take a leg, please…”

Marilyn Monroe as vixen pilgrim, circa 1950.  Adelle August as ‘the angel of turkey death’, circa 1954  – Images by © Bettmann.

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Jeanne Crain has an axe to grind with a certain turkey, circa 1946.  (Bettie Page, left) Queens of the the 33rd annual Roseland Thanksgiving Eve ball in New York. circa 1951. — Images by © Bettmann.

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Carole Robert, circa 1950. Blackfeet tribe of the Glacier National Park reservation, circa 1926. — Images by © Underwood & Underwood.

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‘I don’t like this anymore than you do… ” — Actress Louise Lorraine, circa 1920s. — Image by © John Springer Collection.

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“Here turkey, turkey…” kids gettin’ in on the fun of  killin’ turkeys and such –circa 1930s.

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“I’ll show you mine,  if you show me yours…” Circa 1939. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection.

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Yes, there are proper ways to handle a turkey.  And they used to bring ‘em home live and prepare ‘em fresh.  No “Butterballs” back then– you had to get yer’ hands dirty.  Circa 1930s & ’40s. — Images by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection.

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Circa 1950, New York, NY.  Looking a gift turkey in the eye, Jimmy Durante ‘noses’ up to the gobbler presented to him in preparation for his role as Grand Marshal of the annual Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade. Jimmy is taking good care of the bird to make certain it can make the long march down Broadway with an impressive array of floats and floating giants. — Image by © Bettmann.

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Circa 1954, Washington, DC, USA — President Eisenhower seems highly pleased with the 43-pound Kentucky Colonel turkey from the blue-grass state, presented to him at the White House by Peary Browning (right) of Winchester, Kentucky, president of the National Turkey Federation.  The Thanksgiving bird was selected from a flock of 100,000 at Browning’s farm. — Image by © Bettman.

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Circa 1950, Washington, DC.  President Truman is shown as he received the first of a number of turkeys which are presented to him annually for Thanksgiving.  The turkey, a 35-pound white holland tom, was presented by the National Turkey Federation and National Poultry and Egg Board. — Image by © Bettmann.

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I can see in LBJ’s eyes he’s thinkin’– “I betcha this turkey would like to see my scar.”

Circa 1967, Washington, DC.  President Johnson was presented with this 40-pound broad-breasted white Tom Thanksgiving turkey at the White House November 16. Senator Everett M. Dirksen, Republican–Illinois, made the presentation for the National Turkey Federation. — Image by © Bettmann.

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I call this– “It takes one to know one…”  Isn’t that the saying?

Circa 1955, Washington, DC.  ”Howdy, Mr. Gobbler” –President Eisenhower’s thanksgiving turkey, presented annually by the Turkey industry, is received by Vice President Richard Nixon at a capitol ceremony. Looking on from left as Mr. Nixon accepts the 40-pound bird on behalf of the Chief Executive are: Stanley Marsden, Beltsville, Md.; Charles W. Wampler, Harrisonburg, Va.; Leslie S. Hubbard, Lancaster, PA., and Chester Housh, Elton, VA., President of the National Turkey Foundation. — Image by © Bettmann.

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It has been 5 years since the Franklin Mint released a new Porcelain Marilyn Monroe doll.  So I was excited to see the new Eternally Marilyn.  She seems to be based on the Richard Avedon photos of Marilyn in a black sequined dress with a fur wrap.  The only difference is that they went with a black wrap on the doll.

I love dolls that have been created since 2000.  Their poses are interesting and I think they do a great job capturing Marilyn’s likeness.  The earlier dolls leave a lot to be desired.  I also like that they are using less “famous” outfits.  I get tired of seeing the same film worn costumes all the time.  Marilyn has a library of amazing photographs and it is great to see them come to life in doll form.

If you are interested in ordering her please follow this link to the doll section of my website and scroll down to the No. 18 doll where you will see an ordering link.  I appreciate everyone who visits my site to order their franklin mint dolls as I get a small commission which helps to pay the hosting fees – and keeps those annoying pop-up ads off my site.

You can get a discount at Franklin Mint using these codes until Dec 31, 2009.    Save 25% when you spend $300 (Code XM25),  Save 20% when you spend $250 (Code XM20) and Save 10% when you spend $150 (Code XM10).

I’ve always been a sucker for pretty packaging and have sometimes bought makeup simply because it looked so lovely, only to discover that what’s on the outside doesn’t mimic what’s on the inside. A great analogy for life? Yes, but I digress. MAC’s new Baroque Boudoir makeup collection has it all — good looks and a luxurious product.

MAC's Baroque Boudoir Collection

The vintage -looking silverized and silk-screened packaging of the lipstick, lipgloss and powder compact are all etched with an ornate filigree that reminds me of damask-printed wallpaper and is perfectly suited for display on my vanity dresser. My favourites from the collection is the Lipstick in Prive, which is a creamy light blue pink and Lipgloss in The Lap Of Luxury, a sheer baby pink with a touch of white and pink pearl. The Baroque Boudoir collection is now in stores.
— Jodi Goulart

São Paulo é realmente uma cidade surpreendente, pesquisando fontes para o blog na rede descobrir o MESP Museu erótico de São Paulo, localizado na Av. Brigadeiro Luis Antônio, daí revolvi escrever esse post.

Quem costuma passar em frente ao casarão observa-se uma placa onde se lê “Canal X Locadora de Filmes Eróticos”, trata-se de uma locadora que divide o espaço com o Museu. Na verdade, não é um museu porque não existe um curador, apenas um colecionador Alfred Smith Palliser. Peruano radicado no Brasil há mais de 30 anos, começou a guardar peças relacionadas ao erotismo quando fazia suas viagens pelo mundo. O acervo é composto por algumas réplicas que o próprio Alfred comprou pelo mundo a fora. O maior orgulho dele é sem dúvidas o calendário do ano de 1955 com a incrível Marilyn Monroe, segundo ele é original da época. Esse calendário é marcado pelo choque causado a sociedade, para eles a nudez era um absurdo. Conta ainda com amuletos em forma de piroca (não sabia que pinto dava sorte), espartilho e cinto de castidade, um quadro recheado de clitóris de vários tamanhos, outro com diversos tipos de vaginas, cartazes de filmes eróticos e replicas de quadros de Pablo Picasso e o colombiano Botero. Ele Ficou famoso pintando mulheres um pouco acima do peso nuas.

No segundo andar é uma réplica de um quarto de bordel do século 19. Além da estátua que representa Priapus (deus romano da fecundidade). Na antiguidade as mocinhas virgens, que estavam prestes a se casar, eram afloradas por ele. Neste ritual diziam fazer bem na gestação e na vida sexual (e dizem que estamos na época da perdição).

Ainda tem mais coisas curiosas para se ver por lá, exibe um filme pornô legendário de 8mm que data de 1948, atribuído a Marilyn. Para quem gosta de uma sacanagem, quer dizer da cultura erótica é uma prato cheio.

Por algum problema ou coisa do gênero o site está fora do ar, apenas o da locadora funciona. Para maiores informações:

 Museu do Erotismo de São Paulo/Canal X Vídeo Locadora:

Avenida Brigadeiro Luís Antônio 2543 – Jardim Paulista/SP.

Tel.: 11 3289-7575 (das 12h às 22h)

canalxvideo@terra.com.br

Visitantes deverão ser maiores de 18 anos

The Sun is tackling the controversial subject of posing for Playboy magazine- an American magazine founded by Hugh Hefner containing images of naked women, interviews and fashion.

Founded in 1953, Playboy has featured the likes of American national treasure Marilyn Monroe and The King of Pop’s older sister LaToya Jackson.

Women who pose for Playboy will undoubtedly come across critics who will accuse them of degrading themselves for the sake of money.

But with a salary of approximately $25,000 (around £18,000) a month is this an offer too good to turn down? Why not make quicker earnings rather than be stuck in a dead-end job paying the minimum wage, some argue?

Of course the woman that poses nude for Playboy carries the risk of being seen as an object of sexual desire, and nothing more.

What people seem to forget is that the girls of the Playboy mansion are not all prostitutes, and if they are then that is wrong. A woman’s body is a temple and giving it up to any Tom, Dick and Harry is quite simply self abuse.

However,people often don’t realise that to be in Playboy you do not necessarily have to be naked- some are dressed in the iconic bunny outfits.

There is definitly the view that women who pose for Playboy, whether naked or not, are all beauty and no brains. An old Bible saying comes to mind here; “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

MY Sun users have engaged with this debate.

Phoebe81 says: “I have no problem with getting my kit off and to be paid for it. I’d be laughing all the way to the bank.”

alliebabe agrees and said: “I’ve always fantasised about doing it and the thrill of it.”

gemmamariemc is more reluctant, stating “The thought of my dad, brothers,uncles, grandad etc coming across it is enough to put me off!”

emmazzz hits the nail right on the head when she argues: “I don’t have the body for it anyway, but have no problem with those that do. They aren’t harming anyone and aren’t exploited as the get paid good cash for it

“My daughter is a photographer and gets lots of women asking her to take nude shots for loved ones and portfolios. It’s become much more open in the last few years. As long as it’s tasteful I’ve no problems with it.”

Forum comment of the day:

“It’s a COMPLIMENT if a guy is jerking off to your picture or even thinking of you while he does it. It means you look HOT and are attractive and desirable. Sex is not bad…..relax and go with it. It’s a healthy, natural thing.”

A tad explicit, but funny nonetheless!

Would you flash your flesh for cash?

Is it a case of move on with times, women are free to do what they want with their bodies?

In this week’s Media Bites we look at some recent Zales diamond commercials and critique their use of equating diamond giving with love. This strategy has been used for decades through Hollywood Films, magazine ads and TV commercials. We look at some of these examples and then juxtapose this marketing campaign with the human cost of diamond mining and diamond trafficking.

Comprei essa latinha na Colette, em Paris, em junho. Quase morri quando vi a Marilyn estampada nos pedacinhos de chocolate e surtei de felicidade quando vi que só custava $ 12 euros.

A Colette é, de longe, uma das lojas mais legais que já visitei na vida. Ela é tipo uma prima elegante, chic, sofisticada, francesa e absoluta da Urban Outfitters.

Super descolada e com uma fachada inteira de vidro na Rue Saint-Honoré (pertinho do Louvre), o espaço é referência em consumo cool e especializado em peças únicas e de morrer de designers do mundo inteiro.

No entanto, minha visita foi mais sofrimento do que prazer, já que lá é tudo caríssimo (tirando o super deal que consegui nos chocolates). Afinal, o que esperar de uma loja que oferece peças exclusivas de Balmain e Lanvin?!

Bonnie Greer, American-born Author of the play about Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald writes how she came up with the idea for her play.  My fellow Marilyn Monroe impersonator friend, Suzie, plays Marilyn onstage.  See the wonderful Times article here,

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article6923820.ece

Great article, and I  hope she brings this play to America, too. 

–Janet Valenetine, MarilynMonroe impersonator, Las Vegas

www.tributetomarilyn.com

President John F. Kennedy and singer Frank Sinatra at the 1961 Inaugural Gala

Singer and film star Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) grew up poor and lower class in Hoboken, New Jersey. Once he made it big in showbiz (thanks to help from his Mafia cronies), he obsessed about fitting in with the upper class. He wormed his way into politics, using his Hollywood star power to campaign and fundraise for Democratic heavyweights such as Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. In attaching himself to men of honor, Sinatra hoped to achieve the respectability he craved.

Sinatra had cultivated a relationship with President Kennedy through movie star Peter Lawford, who was married to the president’s sister, Pat.

Pat Kennedy Lawford and British actor Peter Lawford

In March 1962, the president was scheduled to fly to Southern California. Peter Lawford asked Sinatra to be the president’s host at his Palm Springs estate. Sinatra was thrilled. He went straight to work. At his own expense, Sinatra installed a helicopter pad, cottages for the Secret Service, and even a flagpole for the presidential flag.

But the president’s brother Bobby Kennedy wasn’t having it. He was the Attorney General of the United States at the time. When he heard about his brother Jack’s proposed stay at Sinatra’s, he went ballistic. Bobby was making the “most single-minded attack on organized crime in American history” and could not abide Jack associating with someone with mob connections. (1) Peter was the one chosen to tell Sinatra that the president would not be staying with him.

Sinatra did not take the news well. He had a notoriously explosive temper:

“Sinatra vented his spleen by destroying the concrete landing pad with a sledgehammer. He applied a different kind of sledgehammer to his friendship with Peter and Pat [Lawford], banning them from his company….Jack ended up staying at the home of Bing Crosby. Marilyn Monroe flew down to be with the president, spending the night in his bedroom….”

(l. to r.) Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, ca. 1961-62

…and Frank Sinatra became a Republican.

(1) Leamer, Laurence. The Kennedy Women: The Saga of an American Family. New York: Fawcett Books, 1994.

Ramal-meramal

Apa yang kebayang kalo inget Marilyn Monroe? Pasti tahi lalat dan rok terbangnya. Eitss, bukan rok terbangnya yang mo aku omongin disini tapi tahi lalatnya:)

Ternyata tahi lalat tuh sesuatu yang menarik yang bisa jadi daya pikat lho hehe…Buktinya, di era Ratu Marie Antoinette (abad 18), para wanita Perancis sengaja menggambar tahi lalat di dekat mata atau bibir untuk menarik perhatian pria^^

Mungkin itu juga yang menjadikan seseorang terinspirasi membuat ramalan berdasarkan letak tahi lalat ya… Coba deh dicocokin, kira-kira sesuai gak ramalannya?

@ Kening:

-> Kening kiri – Cerdas dan selalu sopan bertingkah laku.

-> Tengah kening – Sifat beranimu bikin kamu gak takut mencoba hal-hal baru.

-> Kening kanan – Kamu selalu jadi panutan di kelas karena kecerdasanmu.

@ Mata:

-> Ujung mata kiri – Sebenarnya kamu baik hati, tapi koq suka bohog?

-> Ujung mata kanan – Kamu baik hati, sopan santun dan cerdas.

-> Kelopak mata kiri atas – Suasana jadi ‘hidup’ kalo ada kamu dengan celotehan dan leluconmu.

-> Kelopak mata kanan atas – Banyak teman suka padamu karena kamu baik hati dan ramah.

-> Kelopak mata kiri bawah – Hati-hati, pemilik tahi lalat di daerah ini konon kurang pandai.

-> Kelopak mata kanan bawah – Aduh, jangan jadi pemalas, dong!

@ Alis:

-> Alis kiri – Sifat ‘rame’ kamu bikin kamu selalu jadi penggembira suasana.

-> Alis kanan – Kamu berhati baik dan selalu menolong orang yang kesusahan.

@ Pipi:

-> Pipi kiri – Rajin beajar memang sudah jadi sifat kamu.

-> Di tengah pipi kiri – Kamu baik hati, sopan santun, dan cerdas.

-> Pipi kanan – Kamu bakal sukses di masa depan.

-> Di tengah pipi kanan -  Kamu gaul dan menikmati hidup.

@ Bibir:

-> Bibir atas kiri – Berkat sifatmu yang baik hati, temanmu banyak!

-> Bibir bawah kiri – Pandai bicara, gak gampang menyerah dan kalah.

-> Bibir atas kanan – Beruntungnya kamu yang pandai dan murah rejeki.

-> Bibir bawah kanan -> Banyak yang senang berteman dengan kamu karena pandai bikin suasana jadi seru.

@ Hidung:

-> Hidung – Banyak rejeki.

@ Dagu:

-> Dagu bawah kiri – Selalu jadi tempat curhat, karena bijaksana.

-> Dagu bawah kanan – Banyak yang senang jadi temanmu karena kamu jujur.

@ Dada:

-> Dada kiri – Berani, jujur, dan sabar.

-> Dada kanan – Pintar banget menghadapi masalah

@ Perut:

-> Perut kiri – Karena baik hati, maka hidup kamu berjalan dengan tenang.

-> Perut kanan – Gak cuma dikelilingi keberuntungan, tapi kamu juga orang yang pemaaf.

@ Jari tangan & kaki:

-> Jari tangan kiri – Semua pekerjaan selesai berkat kamu rajin.

-> Jari tangan kanan – Kamu dberkahi hidup yang penuh keberuntungan.

-> Jari kaki kiri – Kamu suka berbuat baik demi orang lain.

-> Jari kaki kanan – Selalu siap menolong teman yang lagi susah.

@ Telapak tangan:

-> Telapak tangan kiri – Banyak rejeki dan cermat dalam bertindak.

-> Telapak tangan kanan – Banyak rejeki tapi boros.

@ Telapak kaki:

-> Telapak kaki kiri – Kamu punya sifat yang baik budi.

-> Telapak kaki kanan -> Kamu jarang banget mengeluh. Banyak yang terinspirasi sama kamu.

I asked the young black man walking up the street whether the Mexican restaurant across the street was any good.  He didn’t pay me much mind.  None at all as a matter of fact.  I was in a heavy Latino area south of Johns Hopkins Hospital and I wondered whether he spoke only Spanish so didn’t understand my question.  It was a warm afternoon, shadows lengthening, and I looked after him as he passed, without giving me the time of day.  Not 20 years old I guessed, wearing tight black nylon around his head and the magical blue jeans so popular.  Magical?  How do they stay up? I don’t get it.  The pants came up to the bottom of his butt revealing most of his white jockey shorts.  Really, how do the pants stay up?  He probably picked up on my thought process.  I mean, are their pins involved? Ok, ok. I’ll get off it.  He probably didn’t know much about the restaurant  named Paisanos across the street.  It didn’t look like much but all I wanted was a burrito, a real burrito.

Inside the restaurant,  two women and a toddler paid me not a whole lot more mind than the mute young man who passed me by outside on the sidewalk.

“Can I get a burrito?”

The younger of the two women pointed straight up at the signs above the counter. Through the yellowing plastic  I could see that one of the selections, No. 5 I think, was a burrito.  The presentation didn’t excite me but I forged ahead.

“With chicken?” she asked.

The young child looked up at me and her brown eyes pulled mine away from the sign and the question.  I smiled, then I saw the poster of Marilyn Monroe on the wall and the shadows of the words on the front window playing across her image. It reminded me of a snowstorm last winter in Rehoboth when I photographed a snowy Rehoboth Avenue sidewalk, looking toward the ocean, and a poster of Marilyn Monroe, sultry and way too hot in her clothes, as she looked out on the wintry scene.

“Yes,”  I answered.  “I’ll have chicken.”

Another poster of Marilyn on the opposite wall, a different one, more tattered and faded, echoed the one defined by the afternoon’s shadows.

Why the owners of Paisanos wanted a poster of Marilyn Monroe in their restaurant was just as much a mystery to me as the magical, gravity-defying jeans.

I worried a little about the burrito being prepared for me until I saw the plump woman cutting slices of avocado and spreading them across the layer of refried beans on the warm tortilla. Such earthy colors; such earthy tastes. And then some hot peppers too.  It was no miss.

When I licked the last bits of the messy concoction off my fingers I wanted to be starting over. How did she make those big fat rice grains balance so well with everything else? And what does Marilyn Monroe have to do with any of it?

Life is filled with questions isn’t it? Surely a lot more questions than there are answers.

Marilyn Monroe is my favorite pin-up of all time.  Yes, I know thats rarely a shock when it come to choosing the hottest-coolest-hollywood screen legend-actress-siren-icon… Ever.  I’ve seen just about every movie shes made with few exceptions.  Some Like it Hot is timeless; Gentlemen Prefer Blondes I adore; and How to Marry a Millionaire should not be missed.

I dressed up like her for halloween on two different occassions.  The first time I was mistaken for a drag queen in the West Village.  The second time was more successful, despite the fact that I achieved the goal of making my costume in under a day…White bedsheets aren’t only good for ghost costumes.

My Fridge got dressed up for the Marilyn Cupcakes...

So why not dress up your cupcakes??  I’ve been working on recipes of cupcakes inspired by some of the most timeless ladies of stage and screen.  Be sure to stay tuned for Vivienne Leigh, Audrey Hepburn, and Marlene Deitrich. The following recipe is inspired by Marilyn Monroe and one of the most famous scenes in cinema history.  Marilyn’s dress billowing above the subway grate in The Seven Year Itch.

My canisters got dressed up too.

This Recipe comes from Martha Stewart, also an icon in her own right.

Mini Pavlovas

4 large egg whites

1 tsp vanilla ext

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1 1/4 cups superfine sugar 

Beat egg whites, vanilla and tartar on low till soft peaks form. Add 1 cup superfine sugar, also known as castor sugar, 2 tbsp at a time.  Beat on medium until stiff peaks form.  Fold in the last 1/4 cup of sugar.

Peaks will stand pointed (not slump over) when you achieve stiff peaks.

Pipe batter into baking cups with a pastry bag.  (or just use a large ziplock with a hole cut in the corner. ) 

Bake for just about an hour at 200 degrees.  Meringues should be dry on the outside with a soft center.

Frosting

8oz cream cheese

1 c Greek whole milk yogurt

2 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar.

Cream ingredients together.  This frosting is really a great compliment to the super sweet pavlovas.  Add a cupcake topper of your favorite starlit for the ultimate garnish.

Where I Got Swine Flu From Jager...

Hey all. If it wasn’t brought to your attention, I have been on a blogging hiatus because I’m studying for my LSAT on December 6th. I guess God was smiting me because I contracted Swine Flu. My friends say it’s because I’m a pig. I say it’s because I had sex with your mother. BOOSH! Some say this is karma. Me? Well, I totally agree. Even though dystonia-girl was just looking for attention and is a big fat faker[edit:Not a faker, her symptoms were mostly mental] who turned out to have a speedy recovery. Well lah-dee-dah, your highness. Do cheerleaders just get everything? Grrr.

Well, as we all know swine flu is very serious and I’ve put a lot of thought into it. So here is my last will and testament:

I never was a rich man, basically because I have a slew of terrible habits. What little money I do have though, will go to who ever tracks down Maddox (the self proclaimed famous blogger) and kick him right in his self-serving balls. This guy is funny, sure, but his act is kind of tired and his book sucked. Know what else? He didn’t respond to my email. And I’m not just some kid whining he didn’t meet Maddox. Nope. He called out Swine Flu on his blog, and I was going to sneeze in his face and spit in his ginger ale as he requested.

To Berstreet: I’ve shaved my head and bagged the hair. Now you have costume material for years to come. You’re welcome.

To Tom Coughlin: I leave you my 16 inch retractable knight-stick. After knowing you did not go home and beat your son-in-law or your own blood who married him, I’m sending this for every Giants fan. Either you start laying down the law or I’ll fucking haunt the Meadowlands. Don’t mess with me. I’ll have NOTHING better to do. Hell, you can even use this to hit your wife. I don’t care. Just get mean again. Or I’ll have Deacon from King of Queens check your prostate with the GD thing.

To My Parents: Since I’ve prearranged my passing, I’ve deleted all the pornography from my lap top so you can strip it dry of all my writing and give it to a publisher. I’m sure they’ll either make advances on sociopath studies or at least a decent dick-joke sitcom.

To my Dog Rudy (pictured below):

Don't Laugh. He has a disorder.

Rudy, you’ve been a loyal companion for the 3 short years you’ve been alive with me. I know I’m checking out early and that’s usually the dog’s job but for your remaining years, I leave you…my femur. I decided I’m not going to be an organ donor because of the sole fact that I hate those purple bumper stickers with the pun about “Heaven knows we need them here!,” but I decided I can go to heaven missing a leg so a cute puppy can play for years with the strongest bone in the human body. Well, the 2nd strongest bone in MY body but I need the other one for Marilyn Monroe.

*high fives my attorney named Chaz*

To Brian Westbrook: You ruined my chance at playoffs in fantasy football this year for my money league and I think that’s why my body started shutting down. The fact I had Reggie Bush for 4 weeks and he didn’t crack 7 points and then he pops off for 21 while your career could be over just infuriated me. Just like when I dropped Rashard Mendenhall after the week he was benched and I did it thinking no one could grab him before the game. Well, my opponent did and he had 36 points against me. Ugh. Enough about my fantasy miscues, I feel like Ruxin with Gates from The League. Well, Brian. I leave you my frontal lobe. I’m sure you forgot math by now with all your concussions. Actually, scratch the organ donor idea. You can take all of my body parts when you need them if you just promise to drink some fucking milk once in a while and stop being made out of crackers and loose-leaf paper.

To Gally: I had to put a lot of thought into this one. I left you my toilet paper. Basically because you’re an asshole. ZING!

To LeBron James: I left you my tooth paste for you, because it’s very obvious you put your stupid foot in your stupid millionaire mouth when you said you’d be great at football. It was the next game that you sat out an entire half for banging your wrist on the rim while dunking. Now, I’m just a fan and an amateur blogger but I’m about your age so I can talk down to you…DON’T YOU THINK FOOTBALL IS A LITTLE ROUGHER THAN BASKETBALL? Douche.

To Ashton Kutcher: You get nothing. I’m just letting you know me and Patrick Swayze are going to run a fucking TRAIN on Demi Moore. That bitch must suck the blood of the innocent because she gets hotter as time goes on. Real talk.

To Levi Johnston: I’m leaving you my old bike helmet. Why? Because I’m going to be dropping a lot of pianos on your head. You suck something fierce my friend. You aren’t even funny or attractive yet you get Playgirl spreads? You’re the new K-Fed. Congrats. Taco Bell is awaiting your arrival. Scumbag.

To Business Socks from Style Points: I’m going to leave you my autographed Mickey Mantle rookie card that he signed for me as a kid. I’m also going to send you an autographed picture of myself. You might not know it, but you were the first sports blogger to pay attention to me

To Big Troph: I’m going to leave my sense of humor. God knows you guys need one over there.

To Gimp, I’m going to leave you my set of balls because you haven’t done anything man-worthy in a long time. I’m also leaving your name on Megan’s Law.com for all those 9 year olds doing mediocre things posts.

To Tila Tequila, I left you a muzzle and a dildo. If you don’t put on the muzzle just go fuck yourself. Man, last time I used that joke I had to give my dinosaur a bath. Man, could I be on any more fire?!?

It isn’t commonly known to a lot of people that I have OCD. Like Howard Hughes, I saved all my urine. I also didn’t do many drugs. So I am leaving all my pee bottles to the following: Tim Lincecum, Shawne Merriman, Michael Phelps, Dwayne Bowe, Sean Sherk, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Lattimer from The Program, my uncle Ray, former President Bush and fetish porn directors.

And lastly, my girlfriend. I’ve decided that you’re coming with me. Can’t have you cheating on me when I’m in hell heaven. So I’ve left you cyanide in the tea the lawyer just offered you. You’ll be dead before you can cry. See you soon honey!

crimson, cherry, berry, rose, ruby, wine – shades of glamour

source: Russh Magazine

photography: Annie Lebowitz, model: Karlie Kloss

source: stardustandsequins, model: Mary Kate Olsen

photography: not known, source: google

photography: Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiella, source: Numbero #94, inspiration: Ophelia vs. Millais

photography: Greg Kadel, source: Numbero # 104, model: Toni Garrina

source: stockholmstreetstyle

photography: Magnus Unnar, source: 10 Magazine, model: Ali Stephens

source: google, model: Marilyn Monroe

source: google

source: fancy that – red.eye

source: Prada SS 2010 via chouion

source: thecheapgirl – {style inspiration} short shorts + red lips

source: Masterheads with Marie Claire

source: Russh Magazine October 2009

source: beautyinreallife…

Via Bjo, Me liga

Bouquet of Roses

My favorite part of a rose show is usually the arrangements and bouquets.  What is the difference?  An arrangement has roses embellished with other plant material or prop while a bouquet is just roses.  I am not sure if that is a accurate technical difference between the two but it is mine!   I love them both. 

In a rose show each arrangement classification is given a descriptive name to inspire the arranger.  Themes are selected to compliment the title of the Conference or Show.  In this case, the Conference name is You have a “Date” in Palm Springs.  The arrangements were beautiful.  My favorite (always a difficult thing to say) arrangement was a dried arrangement in a standard traditional design.  I prefer the traditional designs because they use more roses but there were many lovely modern designs also. 

Dried Arrangement of Marilyn Monroe roses and dried plant materials

You can tell from the names of these roses that hybridizers like to grab the public’s attention by drawing upon the fascination with celebrities.  Deidre Hall is a wonderful rose and yes, I must admit that I have been known to watch Days of our Lives in my past.  Is she still on that show?

Entry for "America the Beautiful: Across the Fruited Plain" - Roses are Deidre Hall

 

 

This Rose Show was a national ARS event so the quality of arrangements is fantastic.  We do pretty well at our local rose show that is held at the Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center the first Saturday of May each year.  Please come by and check it out.  While I am writing of local events, the Redwood Empire Rose Society holds pruning demonstrations at the center the first two Saturdays of the year from 9 to noon.  It is a great time to learn to prune roses and we have lots of fun.  Hardy rosarians are outside pruning in the rain, sunshine or fog.  Stop by and get expert training free of charge.

Probably the most famous performance of the song ever, Marilyn Monroe to John Kennedy. Uploaded by marilyn.superhost.pl.

It probably won’t surprise you to know that this is the most recognized song in the English language. (The runners up, according to the Guiness Book of World Records: For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow and Auld Lang Syne.)

Sisters Mildred and Patty Hill were kindergarten teachers who wanted a simple melody that children could sing, so they came up with this tune and called it “Good Morning to All.” (“Good morning to you, good morning to you, good morning dear children, good morning to you.”) It’s not really clear how the song morphed into the most common birthday song, but the words and music appeared together as early as 1912.

Isn't this better than showing kids singing around a cake? Uploaded by zulva.com.

Today, the song is copyrighted. Probably. Maybe. Sort of. The fact is that Warner Music Group claims a copyright, and enforces it to the tune of $2 million in royalties in 2008 alone. Copyright scholars (if such a term is appropriate) say that if disputed in court, the copyright might not hold. But no one wants to take on that battle, so films and television shows either pony up the dough or avoid the song.

Well, it’s sad when the most you can say in discussing a song is that its trademark is in question. You can’t talk about the many outstanding cover versions recorded, the subtleties of phrasing, or the fresh and inspiring melody. Even so, sing Happy Birthday To You all you want.

Just don’t let The Man catch you.

Wonder if royalties were paid for this performance?

We always thought that Veronica Lake was the only classic Hollywood starlet to join the ranks of the undead, but our friends at Zilfage set us straight with this “Seventy Year Itch” zombie t-shirt.  Patterned after Marilyn’s original movie poster, this white and gray design is screen printed on a super-soft black tee, and comes in both men’s and women’s sizes.  To check ou the rest of the Zilfage merch line click HERE.

Billy Pappas, detail from 'Marilyn Up Close'

First in a regular new series where I post links of interest…

Historical novelist Mary Sharratt interviews Erika Mailman, author of The Witch’s Trinity:

While I had thought my book looked at an outdated belief mode while casting light on modern-day scapegoatism, it turns out I was really writing about something current. The same sorts of accusations ring out today as they did centuries ago, hitting the themes of hunger, infertility, and the mundane occurrence of random bad luck.

Newsweek ponders the ‘blah-blah’ of Lady Gaga, and the inevitable Madonna comparisons…

Pop’s intelligentsia has largely gone along with Gaga, anointing her, like Madonna, a dance maven who has something to communicate aside from great grooves…She writes strong melodies and gives us great photos, but unlike Madonna—who was willing to tie provocation to a discernible purpose in ‘Like a Prayer’—Gaga offers no synthesis.

(To be fair to Gaga, Madonna’s ‘Hanky Panky’ wasn’t exactly Shakespeare either.)

Artist Billy Pappas spent eight years on a pencil drawing of Marilyn Monroe – based on Richard Avedon’s famous photograph, it’s described as ‘the sharpest portrait the world has even seen.’ So, why Marilyn?

Marilyn belongs to all of us. Her visage is arguably the most ubiquitous in history. And her having already been the subject of countless artists made her image an even greater challenge through which I could introduce something new. I especially liked Richard Avedon’s portrait, engaging because it showed Marilyn’s thoughtfulness and vulnerability. Moreover, the Avedon portrait possesses a very soft—if any—focus. These characteristics made this particular image a perfect vehicle to serve as my point of departure.

I promised days ago to get some pictures up of the ARS Fall Rose Show in Palm Springs.  Lots is going on in my life, real estate and family this last week so it has taken me a few days to get back to the keyboard.  My first comment has to be that it was a spectacular rose show.  For those of you who do not hang out at these types of events, a rose show is not something that just comes together without a great deal of effort on the part of the organizers and the exhibitors.  For weeks prior to the show there are preparations of what to include in the rose show and how to display all the entries.  The venue has to be large enough to handle all of the anticipated entries and provide appropriate light and room for observing.  Judges are often scheduled more than a year in advance.   A show program is developed which explains to exhibitors what is expected for each of the various classes - be they generic to a flower, a special exhibit of a rose or collection of roses or an arrangement. 

Then there are the exhibitors.  Not only do they watch their gardens for the sight of the perfect bloom but they have pruned, trimmed, feed and pampered these bushes for months.  Over a week before the show the seasoned exhibitor will be selecting which buds might hold the Queen of Show.  Any side buds are removed early so that the stem can repair where the disbudding occurred.  After all that work, they harvest their choices and pack them for transport to the show – at which time they stay up all night prepping roses and determining which ones will make it to the table.  If they happen to be arrangers, they have not only carried blossoms but vases, oasis, greenery – the list goes on.  These are people who need to sleep a couple of hours during the judging so that they will be able to recognize their blooms on the winner’s table.

Queen of Show - Cajun Moon

The honored “Court” of the show are those blooms judged to be the very best of the Section E Class 44 – One Hybrid Tea or Grandiflora Bloom without side buds.  The Court is Queen, King, Princess and 6 additional blooms of merit.  There are many other trophies and other courts but the One Hybrid Tea Bloom is considered by all to be THE winner at the Show.  The judging is done by groups.  A panel of judges is assigned to a portion of the show and they determine who gets first, second, third or honorable mention places.  From the first place winners (those that have been awarded a blue ribbon) the Court is determined.  Often (I am not certain if it is always) all the judges come together to select the Queen, King and Princess.  For a show the size of this one, there can be as many as 40 judges who have to agree!  I was feeling thankful that our little rose show in Santa Rosa only has around 10 judges.

Mini Wings - MiniatureRose

 This lovely Mini Wings specimen only received a red ribbon (second place).  I was stumped as to why as I think it is a darling rose and petals so  perfectly spaced.  It is a very new introduction and is not found in the 2010 Handbook for Selecting Roses (yes, this is my rose bible).   Once I was able to look it up on the internet, I learned why it only got a second.  This rose is to have between 9 and 16 petals.  The specimen is not “representative of the variety” which is the criteria on which it is judged.  So while I am fascinated with this bloom, if I bought a shrub, it probably would not come out like this one!

Another post on the arrangements will be added later today.  It appears that I may have found a limit to the pictures I can put in one post – maybe not – maybe I am just blogging challenged right now!  Check back later for some fantastic arrangements.