Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts

18 September 2017

Book Suggestions: Mystery , History or Ghost Story?

Peter Ackroyd is a writer, in more ways than one: biographer, historian, poet, novelist. People like to describe him as eccentricMr. Ackroyd is a bit of a recluse, likes to drink, and still writes longhand. Some people consider that type of behavior somewhat peculiar. But he is without a doubt a prolific writer and has written so many books you may not know where to begin. 




Suggest you start with The Trial of Elizabeth Cree; it’s a murder mystery set in 1880 Victorian London.


Or … you could try to tackle his voluminous works of the History of England or his retelling of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.


If you like horror or spooky stories or you want to get into the spirit of the Halloween season, maybe his collection of English ghost stories might be fun!



Amazon product image


 


18 August 2017

JAZZ : World Music, Made in the U.S.A.

I heart trivia and jazz  :)

DID YOU KNOW?  “In 1912, the first use of the word “jazz” was in print in California, but it was not a description of the music.”  So what was it describing and how did it get connected to this musical art form that people all around the world enjoy today?   










World Music : Spotlight on Zaho, Algerian R&B Singer


Have always thought Algerian music had a moody, exotic, sensual vibe. Right? So tried to sign up at a site (a while back) to listen to Algerian radio stations. Could get other stations from other countries but for some reason could never get to hear music played on Algerian stations. Gave up trying!


Started watching foreign films with my SO (significant other) many moons ago and also began listening to singers from other countries or rather “world music”. You could say he opened up a new world for me; a fantastic point of view. :) But long before we ever met each other, the sound of people speaking in French has always captivated me. Mattered not what they were saying or singing – they could have been cussing at me - if it was in French it sounded way better than in English. Even people who RAP in French sound better!!



 
My SO (significant other) let me listen to this female singer called Zaho. Liked her sound. Did a little extra research on her. 

Zehira Darabid (born on May 10, 1980), known by her artistic name Zaho, is an Algerian R&B singer. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaho
 
Algerian? Yeah. Uh huh. That figures. Oh well! At least access to her videos wasn't cut off from the American audience.


[ Content previously published at Bubblews, Mar 20, 2015. ]

Zaho Music; available in MP3 or Unlimited Streaming with Amazon Music App


YouTube video url


17 August 2017

The Black Girl in Search of God and Some Lesser Tales

The Black Girl in Search of God and Some Lesser Tales


The title piece in this anthology is a parable on the nature of religious belief. When first published in 1932 it caused quite a stir and I wondered whether the intervening 75 years might have rendered it something less of a shocker. I found that, apart from one violation of current political correctness and a few inevitable stylistic issues, the message had lost none of its poignancy and perhaps little of its ability to shock.




"The Black Girl in Search of God" (free eBook) is not a novel or a novella. It is not really a short story either. I choose to describe it as a parable because others have, but equally, it could be classed alongside Plato's symposium as a vehicle for examining a philosophical idea. It's not a discourse, but it could be a meditation, albeit a rather energetic one. The idea in question, of course, is the nature of religious belief.

The Black Girl of the title is only cast as such, I think, to provide Bernard Shaw, the author, with a literary vehicle to convey his otherwise naïve questions about Christianity. To this end, The Black Girl is presented as a "noble savage", and thus a tabula rasa. It is here - and only here - that Shaw violates current correctness. The character could have been cast as a child, but then she could not have threatened to wield her knobkerrie, her weapon, and nor could she have been portrayed as bringing no tradition of her own. We must accept, therefore, that there remains a functionality about the role of this character. She does not represent anything, except her ability to ask the questions she is required to ask.

The Black Girl has been converted to Christianity by a young British woman who has taken delight in amorously jilting a series of vicars. She then becomes a missionary, despite her clearly thin grasp of the subject matter. She is, perhaps, an allegory of colonial expansion. She goes abroad to teach others despite not having achieved fulfillment or knowledge in her own life. It might be important that the teacher and the taught are both women.

When her convert starts asking questions, fundamental questions that the missionary herself has never heard asked, never mind answered, she reverts to invention, not scholarship. Shaw's intention is clear. She invents myth to mystify myth. And this cloak satisfies the curiosity of the average Christian, but not The Black Girl, who thus goes off in search of God.

And, guided by snakes, she finds Him. And not just once, because there is more than one God in the Bible she carries. There is the God of Wrath, who demands the sacrifice of her child. When she cannot comply, He demands she find her father so he can sacrifice her. A good part of the Bible thus disappears from her new-found faith.

She meets an apparent God of Love, but he laughs at Job for being so naively and blindly devout. More of her book blows away.

She meets prophets who, one by one, deliver their different messages, most of which conflict and communicate individual political positions or bigotry rather than personal revelation.

On the way, she belittles Imperial power and male domination. She learns that most "civilized" countries have given up on God and hears a plea that people like her should not be taught things that the mother country no longer believes.

Scientists offer her equally conflicting opinions. They are careful only to describe, never to conclude or interpret. In a way, they are just modern prophets, each with their own interested positions.

There is an amazing episode where a mathematician implores her to consider complex numbers, the square root of minus x, which The Black Girl hears as Myna sex or perhaps its homophone minor sex, and is clearly a reference to feminism. Along with economic power and male dominance, The Black Girl sees guns as the highest achievement of white society. This anticipates the description of colonialism's trinity in Ngugi's Petals of Blood.

Then, in a strange section, an Arab discusses belief with a conjuror. These appear to be a pair of major prophets in thin disguise. But their discussions merely confuse the girl and their words skirt her questions.

And so she meets an Irishman, marries and settles down. She devotes herself to him, their coffee-colored children and the fruits of their garden. Note that she does not devote herself to herself. She projects out, does not analyze within. And in this utterly humanist universe she finds not only personal happiness, but also fulfillment and, with that, answers to her own metaphysical questions that religion per se could not even address.

And so, as the parable closes, we ponder whether the Irishman she marries is Shaw, and whether The Black Girl is the questioning, non-racist, non-sexist, socialist and humanist vision of the future he has personally espoused.

And as for the Lesser Tales, they are generally lesser. Don Giovanni explaining himself was fun and the Death of an Old Revolutionary Hero was prescient of the role of the Socialist Workers' Party adopted in maintaining Margaret Thatcher in power in the 1980s. A great, historical and fundamentally contemporary read.



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Author Bio
Philip Spires
Author of "Mission", an African novel set in Kenya
www.philipspires.co.uk

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01 August 2017

War Movie Classics: The Dirty Dozen

Some say the movie “Inglorious Basterds” was inspired by "The Dirty Dozen". This classic starred some of my favorite actors: Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas and Jim Brown, to name a few.  Bad guys turned Patriots?  You really wanted these "dirty" guys to survive.

The Dirty Dozen, Clint Walker, Telly Savalas, Jim Brown, Trini Lopez, et al, 1967 Allposters.com








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25 July 2017

Music Lovers : Bobby McFerrin & Richard Bona Collaboration

In America we call Nat King Cole “the man with the velvet voice”. Well! If the late Mr. Cole's voice is velvet. Then the voice of Richard Bona is as smooth as silk. He hails from the Cameroon. Whoever thought to pair him up with Bobby McFerrin for a duet was a genius!  McFerrin's voice is satin.  Silk and satin.  You can't beat that! 






Excellent collaboration and stellar performance by two consummate artists. Men who know their music and can share its beauty with the world. Amazing voices.




Medicine Music : Bobby McFerrin (Album)









Dina Lam : Richard Bona (Album Version)





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Gifts for Music Lovers: Duke Ellington Album: Far East Suite

A duke is like a sovereign prince or a nobleman. What an appropriate nickname for him. Calling this man "mister" or "sir" just seems so inadequate and uncomplimentary for one of America's most influential jazz ambassadors. "Ellington was an outstanding composer.

Gifts for Music Lovers: Duke Ellington Album: Far East Suite

A duke is like a sovereign prince or a nobleman. What an appropriate nickname for him. Calling this man "mister" or "sir" just seems so inadequate and uncomplimentary for one of America's most influential jazz ambassadors. "Ellington was an outstanding composer.


Gifts for Music Lovers : Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics

"As of 2016, Aretha Franklin still holds the record for the most hits on the Billboard Hot 100 ... she is still on the road and performing in her 74th year." (Even though her doctors advise her to take it easy.) * * Quote source: "FUV Essentials: Aretha Franklin." WFUV.

Gifts for Music Lovers : Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics

"As of 2016, Aretha Franklin still holds the record for the most hits on the Billboard Hot 100 ... she is still on the road and performing in her 74th year." (Even though her doctors advise her to take it easy.) * * Quote source: "FUV Essentials: Aretha Franklin." WFUV.


Gifts for Music Lovers: Artists Collaboration | Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville

There are so many male tenors in the entertainment industry and no doubt if one is mentioned by name, somebody will readily respond with an alternative or comparable singer and say ~ Yeah, he's alright but I just love _________. Nevertheless I am going to resort to name-calling because this guy's voice even impressed Linda Ronstadt .

Gifts for Music Lovers: Artists Collaboration | Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville

There are so many male tenors in the entertainment industry and no doubt if one is mentioned by name, somebody will readily respond with an alternative or comparable singer and say ~ Yeah, he's alright but I just love _________. Nevertheless I am going to resort to name-calling because this guy's voice even impressed Linda Ronstadt .


Gifts for Music Lovers: Carlos Santana: Ultimate Guitar Hero

Jingle Jangle Jungle is a fabulous music entertainment blog that publishes interesting tidbits about music, artists and the stories behind them. Per JJJ: " ... the sound of Carlos Santana is one of the world's best-known musical signatures. ..."

Gifts for Music Lovers: Carlos Santana: Ultimate Guitar Hero

Jingle Jangle Jungle is a fabulous music entertainment blog that publishes interesting tidbits about music, artists and the stories behind them. Per JJJ: " ... the sound of Carlos Santana is one of the world's best-known musical signatures. ..."

08 July 2017

The Death Game: Book Review by Chris Longmuir

Found the link below because it was shared in a Writers, Readers, Researchers & Reviewers Group on Facebook.  I prefer historical romance novels myself but the reviewer seemed to be really enthusiastic about this historical mystery.  It has peaked my interest in exploring other historical mysteries.

The Death Game by Chris Longmuir | wendyhjones





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30 June 2017

Movies That Suck With Sequels : The Expendables (2010)

Question. Why is that the movies that you can most assuredly live the rest of your life without ever watching, have sequels??

Continue reading:  Virily.com







10 June 2017

Book Suggestions: Political Thrillers by F. C. Etier

On November 7, 2012, with the official publication of a political thriller entitled The Tourist Killer, Frank C. "Chip" Etier added - Published Author - to an already impressive list of accomplished career objectives. The novel is a fast-paced thriller with political overtones, conspiracy and intrigue. The main character, Claudia Barry is "The Shooter", a female professional assassin, who is about to retire. But before she can complete her last assignment, close out a 30-year career and fade into the sunset, she just has to answer a simple question: Can a leopard change her spots?


Finding the answer to the question may prove to be somewhat complicated.

Blogcritics.org states that "The Tourist Killer is a strong first novel by a promising author." Other reviewers have described this book as: "exhilarating", "intense", "surprisingly good", "electrifying", "a refreshing angle". But you know you've got a really satisfied audience of readers, when they start hinting about what a great movie it would be.  Mr. Etier shared a snippet of his novel as his weekly contribution to the Weekend Writing Warriors project.

The Presidents Club
A Weekly Serial Novel by Chip Etier


Mr. Etier ended 2012 on a positive note with the release of his first book and brought in the new year of 2013 with his second novel, The Presidents Club, which is being presented as a weekly serial novel by Venture Galleries, a publishing house that promotes the works of independent authors. The novel will soon be available on Amazon as an e-book and a trade paperback. Soon!


Future Projects?
An Interview of Mr. Etier About His Next Career Move

The Phoenix is the writer team of Lee and Gary Jordan. The Jordans also interview authors and publish book reviews and interviews at their Phoenix Book Review Site. On January 10, 2013, they shared their conversation with Chip Etier. He discussed a little about his background - his birthplace, Louisiana; his various career paths (pharmacist, artist/photographer, writer); and mentioned that his writing influences range from Dr. Seuss to John Grisham. (That's quite a range.) He then concluded the interview by responding to questions about what led him to write the two novels, and his plans to write more.

You can tell by the tone of the interview that Mr. Etier is a very humble guy and perfectly content to live with Bob (aka Miss Bob), his "drop dead, gorgeous" wife in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. So the interview gives no indication that he's even thinking along these lines. But the fact that Mr. Etier has successfully published two outstanding thrillers should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever read anything he has written. Why not place him side by side with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? If people are already raving about converting his first book, The Tourist Killer, into a blockbuster hit; then might as well consider adapting The Presidents Club into a TV miniseries. Maybe plans are in the works and he's just keeping it hush hush. Then again maybe he hasn't been approached on the subject. Not yet! :)

Content first published at Seekyt, Oct 2013



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A soft cuddly sitting plush leopard from the Realistic Plush collection at Wild Republic. 14 Inches Tall.

09 June 2017

A Week of Dickens: Resources on His Life, Works, Walks, and London : Faith, Fiction, Friends (Reblog)

Well my weekend is starting off really well. I should hashtag everything #FabFriday.  First, I found a beautiful flower pic on Tumblr. Then I plucked this gem out of the posts stream for the Authentic Blogger Group on Facebook. This post is sure to delight all lovers and loyal fans of Charles Dickens.  Did you know that if you have an Amazon Kindle, you can buy the entire collection of Dickens' works for $1.99. Good literature that's priceless and inexpensive. Can it get any better? 😄


 

11 May 2017

Celebrities : In Memory Of: Bob Marley, Reggae Music Legend (1945 - 1981) | Music

NOTE:  Apologies.  Sites where content was published no longer exists.  All broken links have been removed from this post.

Just published this quick tribute. Adding to my collection of Marley bio tidbits.


Celebrities : In Memory Of: Bob Marley, Reggae Music Legend (1945 - 1981)


♦ ♦ ♦

~ 36 years ago today, on May 11, 1981, singer/songwriter and reggae music legend, Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM (Feb 6, 1945 - May 11, 1981), died of cancer in a hospital in Miami, Florida. …

Celebrities : In Memory Of: Bob Marley, Reggae Music Legend (1945 – 1981)




~ February 6th was the singer's birthday. ... May 11th, the anniversary of Mr. Marley's death, ... remembrance. …

Bob Marley - Rastaman Trivia 2



~ by frugalrvers : Most of the world now knows what the genre of reggae is in music, mostly thanks to one man: Bob Marley. …

Myths & Facts: Bob Marley Cause Of Death, His Life And More



~ ... It's great to have musicians and players of instruments around us. …

The I-Threes: The Golden Voices Behind Bob Marley



~ BOB MARLEY: His words and prophecies through his music are taking place.  A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article captioned "Is Belgium's Royal Family Proud Of The Horrible Crime Leopold II Committed In Africa?" ...

Understanding The Background Of The Wisdom Of Bob Marley


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