posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 26
When my daughter was two years old, we were sitting one feverish afternoon in the pediatrician’s waiting room. Waiting. The doctor’s office was kind enough to furnish some pastimes to distract the younger patients until they could be escorted into the examining rooms.
My blond cherub picked up the stub of a purple Crayola and started scrawling on whatever paper was available — in this case, a dreaded Disney coloring book. Her artwork was nowhere within any lines at that age, of course. After a few minutes she finished her embellishments and proudly exclaimed, “Look, Momma!” as she held up her masterpiece. The page of the coloring book was a black-and-white outline of Prince Charming bent over Cinderella’s hand, giving it an elegant kiss. “Look!” she cried, “Da pwince is fixing Cindewella’s boo-boo!”
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 19
(And hooray for Christopher Dodd, who’s put a “hold” on the bill giving immunity to telecoms!)
“While the President may think that it’s right to offer immunity to those who break the law and violate the right to privacy of thousands of law-abiding Americans, I want to assure him it is not a value we have in common and I hope the same can be said of my fellow Democrats in the Senate. For too long we have failed to respect the rule of law and failed to protect our fundamental civil liberties. I will do what I can to see to it that no telecommunications giant that was complicit in this Administration’s assault on the Constitution is given a get-out-of-jail-free card.” - Sen. Christopher Dodd
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 19
In most Italian cities, cats roam at will, foraging and begging for food, making their presence known in alleyways, on church steps, and even hanging around famous monuments.
This, for example, is the view from our hotel window in Naples a few years ago. These kitties showed up the minute we opened the shutters, and kept up a three-day chorus of meows and purrs until at last we tossed some tuna out the window.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 11
Today the UN Security Council issued its first-ever “Presidential Statement” on Burma. Such a statement is agreed by all members of the Security Council, including China and Russia, but is not a resolution and is not binding in any way.
“This is a first step, when what Burma needs is a concrete measure,” said Aung Din, former political prisoner and executive director of the US Campaign for Burma. “We hope the Council follows this move by implementing an arms embargo that stops countries from shipping weapons to this regime.”
In the statement, the Security Council “unanimously and strongly deplored the use of violence against peaceful demonstrations in Burma. The Security Council emphasized importance of the early release of all political prisoners and remaining detainees. It also called on the military regime to create conditions necessary for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung san Suu Kyi, all concerned parties and ethnic groups, to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 11
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 10
Today is the 5th World Day against the Death Penalty. Organised by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, it is marked by thousands of citizens and hundreds of organisations around the world. To find out more and sign the petition asking the United Nations General Assembly to support an international moratorium against the death penalty, go here.
Meanwhile, Europe is marking its first anti-death penalty day, organised by the Council of Europe, despite Poland’s objections. Capital punishment is banned in all 27 European Union states. See the BBC report here.
parisparfait.typepad.com
posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 22
For the Sunday Scribblings prompt “My name is…”
My name is aspersion and I am tossed about all too frequently these days. If you dare to disagree with the current American government, it may be suggested you are unpatriotic. But true patriotism as envisioned by our forefathers involved questioning the government - not following blindly whatever direction we are led and doing whatever we are told, like sheep. The Constitution calls for a government by, of and for the people - not just a privileged few who care more about politics and making money than the country and its citizens.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 21
Photo by Leau Phillips
This is the third in a series of four pieces by Leau Phillips at the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque.
You must be on the edge of your seats waiting to find out the scoop about angry hot glass lady. But before I give you the rundown of the third day of the glorious New Mexico State Fair booth saga, please indulge me while I rant.
These things ARE NOT art - in my humble but adequate opinion:
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 19
Check out the eyelashes on this beauty! Photo of pgymy zebra by Leau Phillips.
Remember as a child what a big deal the state fair was? When my friend Leau Phillips emailed me daily accounts of running an art booth at the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque, first I laughed at her often hilarious observations. Then I asked if she would share her amusing reports with my readers. Here’s her account of day one at the fair:
The state fair is undoubtedly one of the best places for people watching. Since I was there for more than 12 hours, across from the petting zoo and near the pony rides, I had plenty of time to watch!
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 9
Who would want to tear down a building like this? Things have changed — last week, Time Out honored St. Pancras Chambers as the First Wonder of London.
George Gilbert Scott’s St. Pancras Chambers building, which fronts the “new” St. Pancras International rail station, had few fans in the 1960’s, a time when London was lurking under a serious coat of grime. No longer was ornate en vogue - it was the dawn of the age of the grey, concrete slab, a time for brutalism, an atmosphere where that which is today considered oppressive could have been seen as liberating.
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