In the News

I've gathered a few thought I've had during the news this last week.

1.  Downton Abby won a Golden Glob for Best Mini Series.   I adore that program.  I did read an article that called it "Costume crack" and I have to agree.  I am a romantic at heart so I look at those dresses won in the early 19 teens.  1914, etc (think Titanic) with the long dresses and the pearls and the hats.  Love it.  I am thoroughly enjoying the 2nd season.

2.  I also read that Leonardo Dicaprio is making or has made the remake of The Great Gatsby.     I'm sorry Leo.  You are a brilliant actor, but you are no Robert Redford.

I had to track down these photos on Google.  I'll let you decide.

                                              Robert Redford as Jay and Mia Farrow as Daisy.

            Leo as Jay Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy.  Release date in December 25, 2012.

 Will I see it. You bet.  It is one of my all time favorite books.  I am enthralled with the big mansions on the Gold Coast of Long Island.  Only recently was the home that "possibly" inspired this book by F. Scott Fitzgerald, torn down to make room for another home.  I know this one would cost more to rehab than to build a new one, but it is still a sad thing..... to me.

3.  Moving on...... Hostess Twinkies filed for bankruptcy because they owed $860 million dollars.  Really?  It took reaching that amount to decide a Twinkie was not going to pull you out of the mire.  $500 million didn't tell you that?  How do you get that far into debt at $3.99 a box.  ( I really have no idea how much they cost.)  I can honestly say I have never eaten a Twinkie.  Looks like a lot a people are not eating them if they are in debt this much.

4.  Did anyone else see on the news of the mother that parked her drug selling, lying 14 year old son out on the street corner, wearing a sign that said as much.   Down at the bottom it also stated " I don't follow the law."  He looked pretty sullen.  She was out there with him, making sure he stayed on that corner.  She said he had been caught numerous times selling drugs and lying about it.  The courts gave him a small "community service" that she did not believe was strict enough so her words were " "He wants attention.  We're getting him some attention."

 Of course someone drove by and reported her to the Police for abuse.  Give me a break.  She was saving his life, "in my opinion".   The police did decide she was not endangering him and was breaking no law so he was still standing with the sign hanging around his neck. Can we have a "oo rah" for that Mom please?  I'm sure she had other things she would rather be doing too, but she decided nothing was as important as saving her son.  Good for her!

These things tweaked my interest this week.  What tweaked yours?

The Mysteries of Hollywood

I hadn't planned on making another comment of Hollywood, but then this past weekend, along came the Natalie Wood story.  She allegedly (is everything alleged these days?) drowned over Thanksgiving weekend, 30 years ago.  I remember this.  I was 30 then. She was one of the "old Hollywood" set. She made movies with James Dean and Warren Beatty. She was Maria in "West Side Story" and she was "Gypsy".   Hers was not one of those Hollywood deaths that I can say "I remember where I was when...." 

I do remember where I was when I heard Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bedroom.  I was 12 and visiting my grandmother on one of those once a year visits.  Her radio was always on low, kind background noise of farm reports and who was in the hospital kind of small town stations.  August, 1962. Then came the annoucement of Marilyn's body being discovered by her housekeeper.  This made an impression on me.  I was laying on a big feather bed, on the floor,  in grandma's living room. 
(That feather bed was rolled out for us kids on those visits and it was awesome!)
John Kennedy.. sure.  I was 13 and a hall monitor, sitting at a desk, outside the door of a study hall, when the teacher opened the door and asked me to step inside. 

But, no, I don't remember all that with Natalie Wood.  I do remember thinking the whole, went out in the dark, in her nightgown and a coat to tie up a dingy story didn't quite ring true.  We knew, at that time there was an argument between Christopher Walken (He must be a brilliant actor because he creeps me out.)  and Robert Wagner, and that there had been a lot of drinking of adult beverages going on.    hmmmm? 

Even back then a female witness claims to have heard a woman calling for help in the middle of the night.  She, the witness, had tried to call Harbor Patrol (?) , something like that for help, numerous times,  and no one ever answered the phone. 

So, now there is a book and "new evidence".  Really? I don't think the evidence is new.  I think it was always there and covered up.  These were 3 of Hollywood's brightest stars.  No one was willing to point fingers, especially the boat captain. He admits he didn't witness what happened.  He just failed to tell whole truth about what he had seen.

Hollywood has been covering up and stretching the truth, about their scandals for generations.  From Lana Turner's 14 year old daughter Cheryl Crane stabbing her mom's abusive boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato (He walked into the knife is what Cheryl says), to the Black Dahlia and Marilyn Monroe's questioned suicide, there have been questions about some of these conclusions.  Yes, O.J., I'm talking about you.

I'm the one that watches all these forensic programs.  I do know that sometimes the bad guy does get caught decades later.  I'm hoping that is the case here, but I'm not gonna put any money on it.

Omar... Shame on You

I don't know how many people have seen this news clip of 79 year old,  Omar Sharif slapping a woman that wanted to get a picture taken with him.  He behaved abysmally.  This happened just last week.  Here is an example of violence against women that has to be stopped.   Dr. Zhivago was one of my all time favorites.  Now,   I won't be able to watch it anymore knowing what I know about this man.  You just know if he can do this on camera, in a public forum, he's done it before.  So far, nothing has been done to him about it.  An apology has been asked for by "a leading Arab organization"  ( which is nameless apparently) but so far, he has not responded.

All I can say is "Shame on you Omar."  Frankly, I think you are an ass.

First there is a woman, all smiles that stands next to him.  Then another lady walks up.  You can only see the back of her hard and then he lashes out and her hair goes flying and he starts lecturing her in Arabic.  She looks stunned and has a smile stuck on her face.  She then goes on to get the photo op.   Boy, oh boy.   All I can say is she probably not an American.