Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

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Vincent Van Gogh

Today is the anniversary of the birth of Vincent Van Gogh. We were fortunate enough to have been able to see many of his works a few years ago when “Van Gogh’s Van Goghs,” his paintings from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, were exhibited in Los Angeles.

From InfoPlease:

Born in 1853, Van Gogh’s works are perhaps better known generally than those of any other painter. His brief, turbulent, and tragic life is thought to epitomize the mad genius legend.

During his lifetime, Van Gogh’s work was represented in two very small exhibitions and two larger ones. Only one of Van Gogh’s paintings was sold while he lived. The great majority of the works by which he is remembered were produced in 29 months of frenzied activity and intermittent bouts with epileptoid seizures and profound despair that finally ended in suicide.

One of the most famous of Van Gogh’s works is “Starry Night.”

starry-night

30 Mar 2007 by Arts Culture People

Trump National’s Flag at Half Staff

A few months ago, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, acquiesced to Donald Trump’s installation of a giant flagpole on his Trump National Golf Club in spite of not having a permit to do so. Recently, he got into a flap with the City of Palm Beach, Florida for about the same thing. Putting all the squabbles aside, The Donald did the right thing in both locations.

Last week, when our 38th President, Gerald Ford, passed away, Trump National flew their giant flag at half staff for the late president. I took this shot from Palos Verdes Drive South with the new telephoto lens.

03 Jan 2007 by Current Events Patriotism People

Terrell Owens Suicide Attempt

This just makes no sense at all . . .

From Fox News:

DALLAS — Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens attempted suicide Tuesday night by overdosing on pain medication, according to a police report.

The report says Owens even put two more pills into his mouth after fire rescue personnel arrived, according to local media.

The Dallas police report released Wednesday morning said Owens told rescue workers “that he was depressed.” The report was first released by WFAA-TV.

UPDATE: Owens says it was an allergic reaction – not suicide. Looks forward to playing on Sunday. Dallas is very important to him.

Oh yeah? Is that why he went and stood taunting and gloating on the Irving stadium star after making touchdowns as a 49er? I forget the Cowboy’s name who decked him the second time he did that.

27 Sep 2006 by People Sports

Remembering Zep

Damsel and I are very proud to be able to honor Marc Scott Zeplin on the fifth anniversary of 9/11/2001 and to be part of the 2996 Project.

“Zep” is what his friends called him. Zep was one of the 2996 victims who perished in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Marc Scott Zeplin, age 33.

Place killed: World Trade Center. Resident of Harrison, N.Y. (USA).

Marc Zeplin worked in the World Trade Center offices of Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services company. Reading what Marc’s friends and family have written about him, Marc was well-liked and respected by peers, friends and others who wrote words about him following his death.

The following is from Zep’s tribute at the memorial site that his company set up to remember their employees that were lost in the attack:

Date of Birth: January 12, 1968

Department: Equity Sales

A group of friends named and registered a star in the heavens in memory of Marc Zeplin. How fitting as he was a star in the eyes of so many.

Successful as an equity trader, he formed close relationships with his clients but he was foremost a family man. Marc was very caring and devoted to his wife Debra, sons Ryan (3 yrs old) and Ethan (10 months), parents, sister and in-laws. He adored his children and treasured the time he spent with them. Marc was very proud of the new home he and his wife built in Westchester and enjoyed the change from urban to suburban living.

Raised in Long Island, Marc attended Oceanside High School and the University of Michigan where he also continued to earn a master’s degree in the acclaimed business school. Marc’s first career calling was sports casting. He loved sports of all kinds and enjoyed broadcasting games in Michigan during his college years. However, when he returned to New York, he found immediate employment in the financial world and soon after started at Cantor Fitzgerald where he became a partner.

Marc was truly a “master of the word.” He knew how and what to say in order to put you at ease, make you laugh or help you resolve a problem. Marc loved people. He had many friends and demonstrated a zest for living life to the fullest. He was tops in every way. He even worked at the top. The right position for so many years unfortunately was wrong on only one day – September 11, 2001.

— Debra Zeplin and Leora Zeplin, Marc’s Wife and Mother.

11 Sep 2006 by Never Forget Patriotism People

What a Croc

Steve Irwin, 1962-2006

Shortly after 11:00 a.m. local time (0100 UTC) on 4 September 2006, Irwin was fatally pierced in the chest by a short-tail stingray barb while diving in Batt Reef (part of the Great Barrier Reef), off the coast of Port Douglas in Queensland.

Now, with all due respect to the recently deceased, how in the hell can Rich Lowry and Alan Colmes (on H&C — Fox News) spend an entire freakin’ hour talking about this weirdo?

All I can recall about this guy was the time he carelessly dangled his infant son in front of a crocodile which prompted an Australian law change:

Steve Irwin baby concerns prompt law change

Steve Irwin’s decision to hold his baby son near a crocodile has sparked a review of Queensland Government crocodile enclosure guidelines.

The State Government yesterday released the new rules prohibiting children and any untrained adult from entering crocodile enclosures.

In January last year, Mr Irwin, known as the Crocodile Hunter, held his baby son Bob close to a crocodile at his Australia Zoo on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The incident was captured by television cameras, sparking an international outcry and a review of crocodile handling practices.

Regardless of our personal opinions, we send condolences to Mrs. Irwin and Steve’s daughter and son.

04 Sep 2006 by Culture People

2996 Makes the Goal

Our friend D.C. Roe deserves some real credit for this:

On August 28, 11:19 PM EDT the 2,996th name was assigned

Howard (Barry) Kirschbaum, age 53, a resident of New York, N.Y., will be honored by El Rider at the blog Flying Debris.

There will be more to come. But every name will be honored. It took exactly 90 days, and more hours than I’d care to count–and not just from me.

But for tonight I’ll take this victory and sleep well.

29 Aug 2006 by Blogosphere Islamic Terrorism Patriotism People

America Has Never Failed Us

Patriot Post sent us this reminder of a great man’s philosophy that remains as appropriate today as it was in the 1980’s — and perhaps more.

“We’ve come to a moment in our history when party labels are unimportant. Philosophy is all important. Little men with loud voices cry doom, saying little is good in America. They create fear and uncertainty among us. Millions of Americans, especially our own sons and daughters, are seeking a cause they can believe in. There is a hunger in this country today — a hunger for spiritual guidance. People yearn once again to be proud of their country and proud of themselves, and to have confidence in themselves. And there’s every reason why they should be proud. Some may have failed America, but America has never failed us, and there is so much to be proud of in this land.” — Ronald Reagan

29 Aug 2006 by Patriotism People

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