tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74848841794050317112024-03-13T07:20:51.035-07:00Dolce Vita di LibroMurder Mystery Book Club in Palm Springs, multi-media: films, videos, how-to articles, puzzles, photography, reviews, interviews, audio books, old radio programs, and more.brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-13926996540872475402016-02-11T22:05:00.002-08:002016-02-11T22:11:56.096-08:00TEN QUESTIONS FOR BROTHER ANDY<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-geI6qJkwUnk/Vr12BL9lODI/AAAAAAAABv8/oGVtT4jAXnc/s1600/broahatB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-geI6qJkwUnk/Vr12BL9lODI/AAAAAAAABv8/oGVtT4jAXnc/s640/broahatB.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Shahram Farshadfar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ten
Questions For Uber-Artist Brother Andy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Illustrious luminary,
Brother Andy, answers ten questions most frequently posed to him. The
provocative film-maker, fine artist, photographer, interior designer,
outrageous fashionista and leading figure in the Intriguism Art Movement is
sure to shock and surprise. As always,
expect the unexpected…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why
are you referred to as “Brother”?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A few years ago, several artists gathered
at a home for an informal salon. A woman
said to me, “Isn’t it a shame so many artists feel competitive toward one
another, when we really should be sharing our experiences as a group, which
would make the individuals of the union stronger?” I immediately remembered Marcel
Duchamp referring to “the religion of art” and the “group-think” he fought
against. I replied to the woman in a snarky manner, “Artists – Intriguists in
particular -- could call each other ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ as a reminder to
stay humble and to tag who is ‘in the know’.” The off-handed suggestion was a
way for artists to be separatists and elitists at once – a concept the art
world loves. From that moment on, the
nickname “Brother” stuck, especially to someone (me) who doesn’t have tattoos,
no piercings, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink alcohol, doesn’t take drugs, or even
eats red meat, although I do continually swear like a sex-obsessed sailor on
shore leave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shortly
thereafter, Lady Gaga came on to the world scene, billing herself as a performance
artist, which gave credibility in my choice of a “brand” name. I also loved the
nickname because of reverence for the legendary performance artist Brother
Theodore, who deserves homage for his ground-breaking contributions. The name made sense in context of other performed
fictional characters like Dame Edna, played by Barry Humphries, who is no lady
and who isn’t sanctified for the title, but who is an internationally
multi-media “star” on the character’s own terms, as is Pee Wee Herman or Elvira.
Comedian Roseann’s “Domestic Goddess” routine was of the same genre, as was
“Father Guido Sarducci”. Whoopi Goldberg’s real name is Karen Johnson. Creating
personas is primarily social commentary and social satire -- a joke -- and
either you get it or you don’t.
Characters are a specific high concept art form. Labeling helps streamline memorable packaging
which, in turn, helps get the message across.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There
are those who are now taking the notion further by referring to me as “Your
Grace”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Aren’t you afraid of repercussions
from “devout followers of religious faith” who may be offended by the controversial
religious intonations of your personae and the provocative themes of your art?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A: I can’t second-guess who will be offended by
what. That’s not my job. If I weren’t offending someone, a majority of time, I’d
be more afraid I wasn’t saying anything of value. There’s an old adage: if you
don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. As an artist, I deal in fear, doubt, guilt
and shame – within myself and in others.
There would be something amiss if the reaction wasn’t repulsion to parts
of my work because a percentage of it is -- by definition and by intent --
revolting, particularly to anyone with any kind of normal sensitivity, even within
myself. In that vein, nervous laughter or an insult or anger is a valid
reaction, as are awe or fascination or intrigue in other situations. Francis Bacon made really beautiful ugly art.
Picasso and Mapplethorpe and Arbus and Allen Ginsberg -- all made gorgeous pornography.
Both Michelangelo and Da Vinci were considered heretics within their time.
Today’s “smut” is tomorrow’s “genius”. I
can’t pay any more attention to “hate” than to the disproportionate about of
“love” bestowed every day, every hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When
you push buttons, you’ll get responses.
The result is controversy, a discussion, risk-taking, living with the
consequences of an honest life, but hopefully in a dignified manner. Every great artist in history, with any
insight whatsoever, was considered anti-social, their work viewed as
pornographic or deranged, at one point or another, and the greatness comes from
rising above the fray, keeping an eye toward the commonality in human
experiences. Apathy is the kiss of death
to an artist and their work. I work too hard at revelation to be dismissed
or ignored as a fringe lunatic or a flashy wanna-be. I would hope to be just as sacrilegious,
strange, and dirty as the best of them, not simply contrary for the sake of
being contrary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I
believe many contemporary artists – like Baldasari and Banksy -- are
con-artists, perhaps clever at best but not intellectual whatsoever. Their work
seems to say, “You’re an idiot and I’m going to take advantage of your lacking
knowledge of art…” When I do comedy, I don’t work “blue” as much as I could because
crude vulgarity doesn’t spark the imagination and it is empty anger to no real
end. The effect wears thin quickly. Yet confrontation is a necessary tool of the
trade, especially to authority like politics and religion. Remember: ideas don’t kill people – ignorance
kills people. Knowing how far to go is always a matter of going too far. You know when you’ve pissed off the right
people when you find yourself in jail. George Carlin knew. Lenny Bruce knew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We
also live in a time when any publicity is considered good publicity, principally
if negative in theme on “social media”.
Howard Stern has made a lucrative career of being hated, yet, he dares
to do what many in media do not do – chew on a kind of personal truth, which is
a respectful endeavor, no matter how difficult to digest. What he does is “anti-art performance art” –
an “unpopular populist”, so to speak, the opposite of Oprah and Ellen, who are
commercial artists telling people what they want to hear, what they already
know. There’s a place for both
approaches, opposite ends of a spectrum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Media
regurgitates cultural mythology in an endless loop. Freedom of speech, expressions outside the
boundaries of “good taste”, is essential for evolution, yet “bad taste” is not
always easy to swallow. Accepting
diversity, which is necessary for adaptation, counters the core of natural
selection which eliminates what doesn’t work, meaning: the field of
conceptualists is self-regulating by timing and pragmatic application. There should be no shame in being disliked,
although most people intrinsically fear being shunned. I’ve experienced
standing ovations and being booed off stage by a thousand people. The struggle for acceptance and understanding
of the positive and negative reactions to being cast as an uncensored celebrity
is easier for me than for those who are the closest to me. It’s <i>my</i> job and not theirs’. Who wouldn’t be
concerned for their well-being?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like
Stern, I wear the badges of “outsider” and “provocateur” with pride. The
pervasive irony of my personae is being iconoclastic while simultaneously
playing the role of an icon, reminiscent of the late David Bowie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
question is laced with an unspoken truth about religion: it’s irrational. “Faith” is antiquated and the sooner we move
on to ration and reason, the sooner we can deliver food, water and shelter to
everyone on the planet, move on to meaningful education, and stop hanging
responsibility of our destiny on an invisible fairy-tale being. Hoping, wishing,
dreaming and praying doesn’t make things happen. Action does.
The saying, “religion is Pablum for the masses”, pretty much sums it up.
People stupid enough to believe bull
crap “spirituality” mumbo-jumbo aren’t clever enough to stop me and killing me
will not stop the message. The obvious
example of how killing to stop ideas doesn’t work is the story of Jesus Himself,
not to mention Martin Luther King or even imprisoning the Marquis De Sade. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
time to turn “political correctness” around on oppressors is long over-due, since
most cultural mythology is “tradition” which hinders growth as well. End empowering ignorance by turning a blind
eye, take responsibility, and no longer tolerate the intolerant, those who
insist religious belief has value, when, in fact, religion is bad for the
economy (cease tax exemptions), segregates communities, stands in the way of
much-needed intellectual progress, and is opposite in behavior everything it
pretends to be in principle (i.e. hypocritical, judgmental, exclusionary,
bigoted and vindictive, to name just a few). There is a difference between
amoral and immoral and organized religion (as is politics) is dangerous by
design by confusing the two. Nothing good has ever come from doing anything in
the name of the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
current Pope has the right idea. Put
religion back into “The People Business” or, better yet, get out of the business
altogether. Just to be clear: yes, I am anti-religious and my agenda is to
promote the alternative to religion, which is common sense. If logic is
offensive, then color me obnoxious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why
do you wear skirts and odd outfits?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A:
It’s a graphic statement, a visual warning sign to others that I am most
assuredly not “traditional”. I don’t
waste time with people who don’t “get me”, trying to communicate when the
discussion is over before it begins. The skirts service to instantly weed out
those who are profound haters. The affront from those who “protest too much” has
more to do with them than it does with me, as a person or as an artist. My “act” is not for everyone and I’m okay with
that. You don’t like me? Fine. Ignore me. Assume whatever you’d like about
me and it’s probably at least partially true.
I’ll own it. As far as I know, a
skirt has never hurt anyone. Get a sense of humor, already. Guess what?
Any minute I might choose to wear nothing at all. Deal with it. I’m an
educator but, ultimately, I’m an entertainer and dress the part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As
an educator, I push through cultural resistance to reconfirm what wise Martin
Luther King suggested: judging people on their character -- not race, gender, age,
sexual orientation, financial accomplishments or lack thereof. My identity
isn’t contingent on one hair style or one hair color, fashion trends, as sundry
success or failure models. I am myself – rich or poor, clothed or naked,
popular or not, and, contrary to the opinion of some, I’m perfectly happy not
having expectations of being happy.
Righteous indignation works best for me, not passive contentment with
life as an “as is” proposition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I
am offended as a feminist when someone suggests that a man being “woman-like”
or womanly or effeminate is somehow a detriment or anti-man or anti-Creationism
or “gay-ish”. Clothing does not make the man, at least, not in this case, yet,
pants on a woman certainly brought women into the fold. We should rejoice in diversity and
full-spectrum expression of self as part of human evolution, casting off the
tyranny of prejudice. An article of
clothing – or lack of clothing – shouldn’t represent anything other than minor,
minimal face value.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
on-going, absurd, repressive, Victorian fear of “debauchery” leading to another
fall of the Roman Empire is groundless, not to mention historically inaccurate. Machismo, sexism, and misogyny aren’t fun
and, furthermore, they are impractical attitudes in a global economy wherein codifying
diversity is a coveted asset. Sticking
to rigid gender roles is simply too boring to be taken seriously. Life is too
short.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If
only a man putting on a dress could have the power to change the course of
human events…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why
is there so much nudity and sexuality in your work?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A:
I resent the intonation of the question, as if there is something WRONG with
being sexual or naked. The question
should be: why is what I do, say, feel, want, or need so damned important to
others for others to care – whether sexual or naked?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From
what I know of life, the conclusion I’ve made: you can’t express yourself until
you have self-actualized your own body, meaning stripping away the social
confines of clothing which imply restrictive gender roles and ludicrous social
status and understand humans are sexual beings.
The hippies knew this. Nudists
prove it. Look no further than women who
are made to wear bourkas in Third World countries. Forced clothing subjugates the person,
objectifies them. School uniforms negate what school is for – to teach how to
think as an individual. “Clothing
optional” is about choice and choice is the very essence of freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ll
go further: until women question why they wear the makeup they do, in that
fashion, they will not make the same money as men or be treated with the respect
they should inherently have. Why would
anyone want glossy blood-red lips – especially in a work place where being
“pretty” isn’t in the job description?
Simply put: you can’t exemplify self-loathing under the guise of
“beauty” (i.e. “breeding material”) and expect to be seen as “who you really
are” as an equal to someone else who doesn’t have to spend one second of
thought on their appearance. Cast aside double-messages and perhaps your
message will be heard clearly. Throw away high-heeled shoes and put your feet
on the ground where they belong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We
are sexual beings, each and every person, designed to reproduce. Sexuality is the core to the “human
condition” and all cultures (sexual politics) and all philosophy (morality) and
all dynamics in all relationships and in all the traditional labels of self
which start in the womb with gender assignment.
The culture is moving away from sexuality and reproduction being one and
the same because technology has separated them, which leads to a paradigm shift
in philosophical purpose/meaning. The Farming
Age and Industrial Age needed workers – quantity for life. The Information Age requires less people –
quality of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Even
The Bible retreads the tired “Boy Meets Girl” scenario. Nothing is new. The current variation is: “Boy Meets Girl Who
Was Born A Boy But Always Knew He/She Was Really A Girl Inside”. That’s progress for ya.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve
been a nudist since birth. It’s what I
know, as comfortable with nudity and sexuality in my work as Woody Allen is
with representations of New York City in his work. I like sex and I like to watch people having sex. Sue me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You are known to be highly-opinionated. Is that a fair description?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A:
“Opinionated” is just the beginning.
“Opinionated” connotes you are closed off to opposing ideas, that you
are dogmatic, obstinate, suffer from a hindering negative personality trait. The word imbues a not-so-hidden distaste for
others, as though being judgmental and opinionated are synonymous. The
assumption is that being opinionated means you tell others how to live outside
your authority (yet, you best teach by example). As an artist of forty-plus
years, I will espouse as much authority as one is willing to give me to
influence thinking, but, again, to share and inspire is a long way from being a
megalomaniac monster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However,
to be a writer, director, actor or artist, one has to start with a committed idea which the artist deduces will achieve envisioned goals, which is then
invested with time, money, materials, effort and so forth. If you don’t value your ideas, how can you motivate
others into action (and develop trust), specifically when you are alone in your
vision unless through the enforcement of sheer will? Good ideas are a
statistical phenomenon. Sometimes an
idea has to be implemented before discovering it is “bad”. Failure, as Edison said, is as valuable as
success in many instances, because you’re developing a criteria. Far better to
try and fail, than to keep cycling through what you know and getting the same
poor results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Film
is a collaborative effort which requires a division of tasks. Ultimately,
someone has to make the decisions, take the bottom-line responsibility, and I
am extremely comfortable taking on that role. My opinions are the key to
planning and execution. Self-doubt is
the enemy. Being labeled “opinionated”
is the criticism of those who do not comprehend the thousands of problem-solving
edicts which go into making art. Artists
do not turn on opinions in the studio and leave them turned off at the entrance
before venturing into the world, any more than non-artists would go into a
studio and suddenly become open-minded to processes beyond their normal sphere
of knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My
world-view comes from decades of self-reflection and study, a life-time of trial-and-error
experience. You can’t have it both ways – keeping it to yourself and giving it
away to the world. Yet, all of this doesn’t damper the expectation of angry villagers
with torches storming through the door at any minute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You’ve
done a wide range of projects – interior design, photography, writing, make-up,
acting – to name a few. What are you
most proud of?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A:
“Jesus Chimp” combines both concepts of evolution and Creationism in a historically
new digital media format -- a pretty significant accomplish for a simple
image. The intense music video “The
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle” gives an insight into what someone with
Asperberger’s Syndrome might experience -- how people with cognitive conditions
might see the world. “The Invisibles” conceptual art outlines everything that
is both good and bad about the nature of “art” – in quotes -- as we presently
understand it. “The Social” short film exemplifies the
Intriguism retro-futurism methodology pretty well. Knowing lives have been
effected in a positive way by the Intriguism projects, from the work as a whole
and from the process of creating the work is an accomplishment of merit.
Sometimes asking the right question is more enlightening than assuming/accepting
which answer is correct. I’m proud to be a unique critical-thinker, despite the
culture I live in, the education system I was subjected to and the up-bring
I’ve experienced. I’m most proud of the love given to me from someone who sees
me as worthy of that love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">7.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What’s your process as an auteur film-maker?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A:
My films are experiments. Each project has
a goal – whether lighting, dialogue, toying with narrative or concentrating on
acting techniques. Most are satires,
overtly or subtly. The films tend to be
a diary of where I was at as a person and as an artist at the time. Frankly, I’ve been making films for so long,
the process has become a lifestyle, second-nature, and, despite the massive
amounts of man-hours, not as much thought goes into it as one might imagine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like
all artists, I am constantly on the prowl for materials to use, whether it’s a
snippet of dialogue from a conversation, the way light plays off leaves on a
tree on a windy day, or acquiring equipment which will affect the outcome of
the film overall such as when to implement a dolly. My films are an amalgamation of every damned
movie I’ve ever seen and I’ve literally seen thousands of them. Bad artists steal and fake invention. Great artists are blatant about their thefts
and will give credit to those they have robbed by calling it a “homage” so they
don’t get sued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
bottom line is I play dress-up. Anything
to that end is what I will do. The films
are just an expensive, complicated, lame excuse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">8.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You have so many facets to your
character. How would you describe
yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A:
A paradox… A high-energy visionary conceptualist… An extroverted introvert… I can put on a show in front of thousands or
talk one-on-one, but put me in front of seven people at a party and I’ve got
nothing to contribute. Small talk is a
talent I just don’t have, along with math and window cleaning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most
people see their identity through what they do, what they have, their friends
and family, their appearance. Most
people have a self-image which reflects how they feel about themselves, like a
fixed place on a map. I don’t have that.
My free-form identity isn’t predicated on gender, race, age, appearance. I am
more of a psychic vibration that fills spaces, rather than a set of predictable
personality traits or physical attributes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Imagine
having a life in which every time you showed up the reaction from others was,
“Oh, I didn’t recognize you…” Imagine starring in a movie, being in ninety
percent of the scenes, and even your own mother can’t pick you out of the film.
Imagine having a photographic mind in which you were the camera, looking out at
the world, and not being part of the subject of the image, always once removed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It
took me until I was twenty-five years old to realize the difference between
having a sense of humor and sense of humus. I kept looking for collective
moisture when I should have been memorizing jokes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">9.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What is the biggest misconception
others have about you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Similar
to the common myths of most artists – that I’m some kind of “mad genius”, crazy
and moody… That I intentionally seek negative attention and feed off of it… That
without a striking financial gain (i.e. rich and famous), my work is not
valuable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Artists
are often thought of as “childish”, when, in fact, they are more likely to be “child-like”.
Maturity is over-rated. …That all this
pretty isn’t necessarily natural. That
I’m a flagrant, flamboyant cross-dresser. Okay, that one might be true. That I’m a hypocrite and a bigot and
self-centered and a chronic liar and… This is why I have a therapist on
speed-dial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">10.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What is your ultimate goal?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To
complete the multi-million dollar multi-media Brother Andy’s Goldshield Castle resident/commercial
project in San Diego, California, which will be a historically accurate
depiction of life from 1350 to 1550. To build an extensive library of work with
some artistic merit and financial value, which can be used as raw materials for
future generations. To portray women, gays, blacks and artists in my work in a
way that inspires acceptance and compassion. To teach critical thinking,
problem-solving. To redefine how we see ourselves, starting with self-actualization
(the awareness of the experience we are having) and address the fear, doubt,
guilt and shame that enslaves us. The goal of every artist, just as with every
human being, is purpose, meaning and relevance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To
make world history is possible and needed as a tool. Again, Mother Teresa,
Gandhi, Jesus are celebrities, no different than Elvis or Madonna. Santa Clause
is treated as though real because the culture needs role models to emulate,
even if conceptualized, just as children play with dolls to act out
role-playing. By using me as a social experiment, fundamentals can be
discovered and worked out in a safe way, then applied to the real-world
situations. The goal is to be more like my idol, Marcel Duchamp, who, in my
estimation, was more influential on the human race than was Jesus Christ
because he changed the way people thought, how people thought, without
dictating the subject of what to think about – and he not only did this once,
he did it multiple times in multiple ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Selfishly,
I want to live in a world that is free and peaceful, to seek what there is, and
to participate wholly without reservation. The objective is to release the
anger of what man has done to himself (the past), forgive myself for the human frailties
I have (the present), and pause to think before doing more of the same (the
future). I am grateful for the opportunity to know others, to be part of their
story, satisfied in having been known.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another
irony: I kind of need to be left alone, steeped in solitary down-time, in order
to talk to the whole of the world, to the generations yet to be, and I need
staffs of dedicated people to accomplish this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-7190307240631984382016-01-24T15:21:00.003-08:002016-01-24T15:21:44.720-08:00See and Hear The Intrigants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-dMlgdaFtY/VqVceLb9aXI/AAAAAAAABu4/Krqt7JKgc3k/s1600/CLINTRIGANTS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-dMlgdaFtY/VqVceLb9aXI/AAAAAAAABu4/Krqt7JKgc3k/s400/CLINTRIGANTS.JPG" width="370" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
An Invitation To See And Hear The
Intrigants<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Entar Entertainment and
uber-artist Brother Andy proudly announce the completion of a new, FREE video
channel, located on a global social media, dedicated exclusively to the
creative avant-garde musical Intriguism Art Movement project known as “The
Intrigants”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Over eighty original,
cutting-edge videos and over six hours of experimental music tracks (three
full, complete albums) are the result of various talented producers, musicians,
singers, and film-makers from around the United States and around the
world. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This unique project employs the
Intriguism Art Movement’s Retro-Futuristic Method, which many famous artists
have practiced without knowing and attaching the increasingly-popular label as
of yet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Simply search on line to find
The Intrigants, follow, and enjoy!<o:p></o:p></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-56486475948733081822016-01-08T17:43:00.000-08:002016-01-08T17:43:04.054-08:00WHY I LOVE ARTIST BROTHER ANDY WRITING CONTEST<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Why I Love Artist
Brother Andy” Writing Contest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Everyone loves a lover on St. Valentine’s Day and what better
way to celebrate than to share the special occasion with words of love for uber-artist
Brother Andy (film-maker, fine artist and photographer)! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What The Contest Is:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> In two hundred words or less, write (in
English) the various reasons what you love about artist Brother Andy. Writers of any age may submit as many times
as they would like from anywhere in the world! All materials submitted will become
the property of Intriguism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How Much The Entry Free
Is:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> FREE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When To Submit:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Submission must be received no later
than Wednesday February 10, 2016 at midnight PST. Winners will be announced on Sunday
February 14, 2016 at 10 am PST on artist Brother Andy’s web site and his blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Where To Submit:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> andy@intriguism.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Criteria:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> From the senseless to the sublime –
nothing is off limits or censored! A Top Ten list? A sonnet? Creativity counts.
The judge will be LA real estate mogul and art patron Corey Chambers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What You Win:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> First Prize is $100 US. Second Prize is $50 US. Third Prize is $25 US. Winning submissions
will appear on all Intriguism websites and blogs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-71866916672502635762015-10-30T20:21:00.001-07:002015-10-30T20:21:36.280-07:00Intriguism Moving Pictures "Sonnet"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooUx9vfdzEY/VjQzijU89eI/AAAAAAAABn8/c7FG5X7LMnI/s1600/SONNETPOSTER2DONE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooUx9vfdzEY/VjQzijU89eI/AAAAAAAABn8/c7FG5X7LMnI/s320/SONNETPOSTER2DONE.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Intriguism Moving Pictures latest feature-length film, "Sonnet", has just been completed and stars Edward Benford IV, Reginal Van Pelt, Carol Hannan, Rebecca Rowley, Phylicia Mason, Miguel Arballo, Manuel Domenech, Richie Sande, Brian Lavender, Ivery Edwards, Rebecca Navarre, Claire Navarre and Brother Andy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The 1920's era comedy film about poets is currently on youtube, but is unlisted to the public and is a low-quality version. Any comments, suggestions, or questions are greatly appreciated.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here is a direct link:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8r7xEbRrVE&feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8r7xEbRrVE&feature=youtu.be</a></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-33666491241062169042015-05-17T20:06:00.001-07:002015-05-17T20:06:46.056-07:00Brother Andy Tells All Blog Ad (Video)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PH9Az8tMJNo?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-17354617851189183712014-03-09T21:59:00.000-07:002014-03-09T22:00:06.562-07:00"MEET ESTEEMED MEMBER JACQUELINE WACHS" (DOCUMENTARY)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ETcPKG6gEZs?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br />brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-19695226112267558602014-03-07T21:12:00.002-08:002014-03-09T21:59:36.780-07:00DVdL: ESTEEMED MEMBER JACQUE WACHS (BIO PROFILE)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A8vLu3K1d14/Uxqlp3Of15I/AAAAAAAABH4/8ipNcXn_qZI/s1600/003C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A8vLu3K1d14/Uxqlp3Of15I/AAAAAAAABH4/8ipNcXn_qZI/s1600/003C.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>MEET ESTEEMED MEMBER JACQUE WACHS</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Jacque Wachs was born in a <st1:place><st1:city>Selma</st1:city>,
<st1:state>California</st1:state></st1:place>, sanitarium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though that was how<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hospitals were often referred to at the time and her birth
had nothing to do with mental patients,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>she insists somehow the implications of "life-long craziness" has wrung true
nonetheless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Her older brother by three
years did not interacted with much with her because of the age difference when growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
describes herself as a "bossy kid who did not understand how her behavior
hurt other people".</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Jacque was raised on a ranch ten
miles in a small agricultural town -- Kingsford -- of three thousand
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1971, after junior college,
at eighteen years of age, Jacque moved to Orange County, California, and while
naive, scared, and </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>In her mid-twenties, Jacque moved
back to attend <st1:place><st1:placename>Fresno</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>State (more to come)...</st1:placetype></st1:place></strong></span>
</div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-40934083362804574742014-02-22T20:31:00.000-08:002014-03-07T21:05:55.202-08:00DVdL: MARCH 2014 MEETING INFORMATION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JqCrpe9RKBc/Uwl5ZxQroPI/AAAAAAAABHU/8p9wOl_ypeM/s1600/mask.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JqCrpe9RKBc/Uwl5ZxQroPI/AAAAAAAABHU/8p9wOl_ypeM/s1600/mask.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>DARK AND MYSTERIOUS: DVdL MURDER MYSTER BOOK CLUB MARCH MEETING!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The next Dolce Vita di Libro meeting will take place on Friday, March 14, 2014 at 6 pm to 9 pm. Esteemed Members Jacque and Brian Wachs will be hosting in Palm Springs. Esteemed Member Brother Andy will serve as Facilitator. The selected book is "Death at La Fenice" by Donna Leon. The meeting's theme is "Dark Mysterious: Mardi Gras" (with color choices of black, white, gray and red). <br /><br />Please
RSVP to Jacque at </strong></span><a href="https://us-mg4.mail.yahoo.com/compose?to=jacwachs@gmail.com" ymailto="mailto:jacwachs@gmail.com"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1393129195_1"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>jacwachs@gmail.com</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>.</strong></span></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-47698353496835372582014-02-22T09:27:00.000-08:002014-02-22T14:52:52.331-08:00DVdL: "IT'S A MYSTERY 1 -- VANISHING THOUGHTS" (ARTICLE)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tb1d7dAxCUI/UwkpNdJaK0I/AAAAAAAABHE/PNrEsGWxryQ/s1600/mysterylogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tb1d7dAxCUI/UwkpNdJaK0I/AAAAAAAABHE/PNrEsGWxryQ/s1600/mysterylogo.jpg" height="320" width="283" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>It's A Mystery To Me: Vanishing Thoughts -- A Reoccurring Book Club Meeting Dilemma</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Dear Mysterious --</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>At our wonderful monthly book
club meetings, the club's rule during discussions is to raise our hands when we
want to speak and the facilitator calls on us in turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This works fine and we're happy to do so out
of respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, when several members
want to speak at once, we each have to wait occasionally while others speak
before our individual turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
situation, by the time it is my turn to speak, I have forgotten what I was
going to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's embarrassing to then
be called on and have nothing to say because I've gotten so engrossed in what
others have to say the thoughts have left me and the context and relevance of
my thoughts has shifted to other subjects. Any suggestions? It's a mystery to me...</strong></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Sign me...</strong></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Ponderous</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Dearest Ponderous --</strong></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Book club discussions are yet another
opportunity to learn, just as when you read the book selections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps keeping a notepad and pen handy
during the discussions and jotting down notes, as you would when reading the books,
would be a useful tool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When several
people raise their hands at once -- including you -- and someone else is called
first, quickly write down a key word or sentence that will jog your memory when
it is your turn to speak. When you do speak, make reference to what you are
commenting about so others can then follow your train of thought.</strong></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Secondly, note commentary on what
other people are speaking about throughout the discussion and perhaps keep most
of your commentary on several subjects to one turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, by listening, often times, someone else
will share similar ideas, addressing what you were going to say.</strong></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Perhaps you could think about
what you want to say about the book before the book club meeting, crystallizing
your ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the discussion begins,
raise your hand, and outline the different aspects you'd like to talk
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, open the discussion to the
group.</strong></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Lastly, book club discussions
should be invigorating and inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you feel embarrassed, frustrated, over-looked, hurried or put down -- then
speak privately to the person acting as facilitator at first opportunity about
your feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If nothing changes after
a couple of meetings, bring the subject up during the meeting discussions, as you
are probably not the only one feeling this way, and a solution needs to be
found. Feeling as though not being heard damages the purpose of the group,
acting as a destructive cancer that could lead to the group's eventual
disbanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Group leaders and facilitators
can only help you if you speak up.</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Thank you for sharing your
experience. Another mystery solved!</strong></span></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-57084917317024410932014-02-16T20:51:00.002-08:002014-02-16T21:06:37.704-08:00DVdL: "FEBRUARY MEETING: CELEBRATING LOVE" (ARTICLE)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JfbqmyvFaEs/UwGX6K-RBII/AAAAAAAABGs/vBd0SjRIWqc/s1600/dvdlfeb14meet+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JfbqmyvFaEs/UwGX6K-RBII/AAAAAAAABGs/vBd0SjRIWqc/s1600/dvdlfeb14meet+004.JPG" height="640" width="360" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>DVdL: AN INTIMATE "VD" MEETING</strong></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Twenty-odd (!?) devoted Esteemed
Members of the Dolce Vita di Libro Book Club once again joined together on
Friday, February 14 to share their love of books with each other -- the fifth
such book club meeting assembled in as many months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The hosts' beautiful house
(provided generously by Esteemed Member Karen Laird and her husband, Jere) was
decked out in full Saint Valentine's glory with lacy paper hearts, red candles,
and vibrant pink roses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wonderful
Esteemed Member Jennifer Johnson, who is "The Heart of DVdL", made
sure everyone was alerted to time and place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Attendees came dressed in white, red and pink to commemorate the special
event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As always, the pot luck food was
extraordinarily delicious, with Esteemed Members out-doing themselves with
hours of preparation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Various types of wine
was served to those who looked forward to refreshments -- counting the minutes
to begin celebrating the day.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>A rousing discussion ensued
concerning everything from suggested reading of books otherwise not chosen by
the group, to the process members use to enjoy and appreciate books, to
illuminating the "pros and cons" of the month's book selection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One aspect of the in-depth talk centered on
the comfort level of the group as a whole, resulting in individual members
feeling free to speak openly without fear of reprisal. Gregarious Esteemed
Member Brother Andy acted as facilitator in a feeble attempt to disguise the
fact he never reads the selected books.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The next meeting is only four
short weeks away, but too long to wait for those of us who excitedly anticipate
what will take place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to all!</strong></span><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QncLwomTUhY/UwGYX4b3HAI/AAAAAAAABG0/cZSLsAV7Gf0/s1600/VDMEET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QncLwomTUhY/UwGYX4b3HAI/AAAAAAAABG0/cZSLsAV7Gf0/s1600/VDMEET.jpg" height="170" width="320" /></a></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-4131552346430079342014-02-16T20:07:00.000-08:002014-02-16T20:17:59.452-08:00DVdL: "AUTHOR WRITES 'JOKE' MYSTERY BOOK" (ARTICLE)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ORXAbKpbqCA/UwGNW4nO_LI/AAAAAAAABGc/WT0X2bhE4oo/s1600/isabel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ORXAbKpbqCA/UwGNW4nO_LI/AAAAAAAABGc/WT0X2bhE4oo/s1600/isabel.png" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>AUTHOR WRITES 'JOKE' MYSTERY BOOK</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>SUBMITTED BY ESTEEMED MEMBER JENNIFER JOHNSON</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Isabel Allende, better known for magical realism, has angered the crime </strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>fiction</strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong> community after admitting that Ripper, her first foray into mysteries, was written as "a joke" - and that she is "not a fan" of the genre.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>"An atmospheric, fast-paced mystery involving a brilliant teenage sleuth who must unmask a serial killer in San Francisco," according to its publisher, Ripper is just out, and to mark its publication the acclaimed Chilean author </strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>spoke with NPR in the US</strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>. "The book is tongue in cheek. It's very ironic," she said, adding that "I'm not a fan of mysteries, so to prepare for this experience of writing a mystery I started reading the most successful ones in the market in 2012".</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>"I realised I cannot write that kind of book. It's too gruesome, too violent, too dark; there's no redemption there. And the characters are just awful. Bad people. Very entertaining, but really bad people," said Allende. "So I thought, I will take the genre, write a mystery that is faithful to the formula and to what the readers expect, but it is a joke. My sleuth will not be this handsome detective or journalist or policeman or whatever. It will be a … 16-year-old nerd"</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>But readers, booksellers and fellow authors were unimpressed with Allende's analysis of mystery fiction. Houston bookshop Murder by the Book had ordered 20 signed copies of Ripper – </strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>but sent them back</strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong> after hearing the author's interview. Owner McKenna Jordan told her local paper the Houston Chronicle that "mystery and genre writers deal with this all the time from so-called literary authors. But for her to have gotten paid to write a mystery when she doesn't even like the genre – how would she expect mystery readers to react to that?"</strong></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>"That's one of the benefits of having a small business," the bookseller told the Houston paper. "If you don't want to stock something, you don't have to."</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Readers were also furious, taking issue with Allende's <span id="goog_1796750454"></span></strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>"snotty elitism</strong></span><span id="goog_1796750455"></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>", and advising the author to "stick to what she knows [if she] sees the genre as being beneath her". Sookie Stackhouse's bestselling creator Charlaine Harris took Allende to task on her blog for comments which "translate … [as] I'm so amazingly 'literary' that condescending to write a genre novel is incredibly funny … I considered buying it. But having devoted my professional life to genre literature, I don't think I will," </strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>wrote Harris</strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>.</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>In the UK, the bestselling authors Val McDermid and Mark Billingham also laid into Allende for dismissing their genre. "It's great to see the crime-writing community rising up in its own defence," said McDermid. "For years we've been the butt of ignorant prejudice from the literary genre and we've taken it on the chin, muttering in corners and up our sleeves about how misunderstood we are. But clearly we're not going to stand for it any longer. The great thing about this backlash is that it's coming from readers as well as writers – it can't just be written off as wounded amour propre. (Is that a bit too literary? Using French?)"</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Billingham added that "as a crime writer I'm obviously not well inclined towards any writer who professes to 'make fun of mysteries'", but speculated if Allende was "only now describing her book as a 'joke' after seeing the universally savage reviews it's received".</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>"Those poor, ignorant reviewers are simply not getting her fantastic 'joke'," said Billingham. "Allende claims that she's not a fan of mysteries, which is her prerogative, but she happens to be </strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>married to a mystery writer</strong></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>. I'm guessing it's been an interesting Valentine's day in the Allende household."</strong></span></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-64719000926353141552014-02-15T16:37:00.001-08:002014-02-15T18:52:21.334-08:00DVdL: RASPBERRY FUDGE TORTE RECIPE<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ee1KcXhnLiM/UwAntcYwroI/AAAAAAAABGA/cVjjiNQZN80/s1600/dvdlfeb14meet+008B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ee1KcXhnLiM/UwAntcYwroI/AAAAAAAABGA/cVjjiNQZN80/s1600/dvdlfeb14meet+008B.jpg" height="346" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>RASPBERRY FUDGE TORTE RECIPE</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span></strong> </div>
<div>
<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Submitted By Esttemed Member Jacqueline Wachs</span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>16 oz. semisweet chocolate, divided</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>2 oz unsweetened chocolate</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>6 eggs, separated</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>1/4 tsp salt</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>3/4 C. butter, softened </strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>1 c. sugar, divided</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>2 tsp. lemon extract</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>1/2 tsp vanilla extract</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>3/4 C. whole almonds, finely ground</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>1/2 C. seedless raspberry all fruit</strong></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>3/4 C. Heavy cream</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Directions:</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9" spring form pan; line
with waxed paper, then grease and lightly flour paper.</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>In medium saucepan, melt 8 oz. semisweet chocolate and unsweetened
chocolate over low heat, stirring; cool slightly. In bowl, with mixer at high,
beat egg whites and salt to stiff peaks. In another bowl, with same beaters
beat butter, sugar and extracts until light and fluffy; gradually beat in egg
yolks. Fold in melted chocolate, almonds, all-fruit and egg whites. Spoon into
pan.</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Bake 50 minutes or until pick inserted comes out clean. Cool slightly.
Remove sides of pan and cool on wire rack. In saucepan, bring cream to a
simmer. Remove from heat and stir in remaining 8 oz semisweet chocolate until
smooth; cool 15 minutes. Spread on cake and decorate as desired.</strong></span> </div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-57302002351289505652014-02-13T17:51:00.000-08:002014-02-14T11:24:17.930-08:00DVdL: "MEET ESTEEMED MEMBER KAREN LAIRD" (PROFILE)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-mIQ34TrKI/Uv12RXD4fmI/AAAAAAAABFw/bH5ijB6W5Bk/s1600/karenportrait2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-mIQ34TrKI/Uv12RXD4fmI/AAAAAAAABFw/bH5ijB6W5Bk/s1600/karenportrait2.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esteemed Member Karen Laid<br />
Photo by Brother Andy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>MEET ESTEEMED MEMBER KAREN LAIRD</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>"I love people," said Karen Laird, a <st1:city><st1:place>Palm
Springs</st1:place></st1:city> resident of nearly two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I make friends easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's why I was a good salesman -- I could
ask anybody anything."</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Karen is an active Esteemed
Member of the DVdL Book Club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her early
career was raising three daughters while working in the advertising business
for radio and television in Portland, Oregon, AND earning a Masters and Bachelors degrees along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and her first husband
divorced and he subsequently died, leaving Karen to support the family as a
single mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had no intention of
every marrying again.</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>As can happen, she changed her
mind when she met her husband, Jere (pronounced Jerry) Laird while visiting
where father had a yacht parked in <st1:city><st1:place>Long Beach, California,</st1:place></st1:city>
slip for forty five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jere was
visiting friends at the yacht club as well who invited them both for breakfast
one morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two chatted casually
about "red convertibles", began talking on the telephone thereafter,
courted through the internet and married not that long after meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I told people I was pregnant,"
jokes Karen.</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Jere had been an award-winning
radio announcer for KNX for thirty-some years, covering such historic events as
the <st1:place>Watts</st1:place> riots and the Manson trial. "Those of us
in the advertising field worked hard," insists Karen, "While
'talent', like Jere, was thought of as less strenuous of a profession, let's
say." Jere retired from reporting and took cruises around the world for
three years.</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Together, they were settled in a
condo in San Pedro when someone made an offer that was impossible to resist and
Karen and Jere then serendipitously moved to <st1:city><st1:place>Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>One accomplishment Karen is
especially proud of -- that of being a "Biker Babe", as members of a cycling
club were referred to -- and bicycling across the entire state of <st1:state><st1:place>Iowa</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Karen currently enjoys water aerobics,
knitting, hiking, reading and studying Spanish. </strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Yet, Karen seeks an outlet to
develop a creative skill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking a class
on mosaics from well-known local fine artist Jennifer Johnson who is a founding
member of DVdL, Karen meet several other members and knew the club was
something special she wanted to participate in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"I'm curious about people and the book club is nothing less than a
spectacular way to socialize with some very intelligent individuals who keep me
challenged," Karen says.</strong></span></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-17935731204239192912014-02-13T00:03:00.003-08:002014-02-13T00:03:48.061-08:00DVdL: "ESTEEMED MEMBER KAREN LAIRD INTERVIEW" (DOCUMENTARY)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/odgEJdPE29M?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br />brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-16299479802322203842014-02-08T20:29:00.001-08:002014-02-08T20:29:19.806-08:00DVdL: SISTER BLOG CELEBRATES 1,000 HITS!
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OTFqAuXO4wE/UvcD4qnfAII/AAAAAAAABFM/Hdf3ztTVlts/s1600/DSC_0078a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OTFqAuXO4wE/UvcD4qnfAII/AAAAAAAABFM/Hdf3ztTVlts/s1600/DSC_0078a.jpg" height="400" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother Andy portrait by artist<br />
Shahram Farshadfar from the video project,<br />
"Art Never Dies"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>DOLCE VITA DI CINEMA CELEBRATES
1,000 HITS</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>I began Dolce Vita di Cinema
("The Sweet Life of Movies") at the end of last December 2013 (a
month-and-a-half ago) as a sister blog to the wildly popular Dolce Vita di
Libro ("The Sweet Life of Books") blog, which is used as a
clearinghouse for all kinds of media for the murder mystery book club in Palm
Springs (of the same name) and for entertaining/educating murder mystery book
clubs anywhere in the world -- filled with feature films, in-house videos,
retro radio programs, reviews, interviews, member profiles, meeting up-dates, images,
games, and tons of other stuff. The response to Dolce Vita di Libro has been positively
mind-blowing.</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Dolce Vita di Cinema was consciously
designed to be a kind of on-line film class, to concentrate on hard-to-find
features, insightful documentaries, and other educational materials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The work of incredibly talented geniuses are free
to see in full, uncensored. I wanted the blog to become a handy source of inspiration
for artists, writers, directors, actors and editors -- anyone with a serious
interest in films -- as a kind of free-form library. To help beginners in the
film business, I wrote a free PDF downloadable book ("Brother Andy's Notes
To The Actor") about my experiences with actors in my films and included
it in the blog materials, as well as posting my own independently-produced
feature films, open to critique and questioning, such as "The Mummy's Desire"
(a satire of Hammer films), "I Am...Dead" (a film noir zombie
thriller), and "The Rush of the River" (a Western with a twist).</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Now, Dolce Vita di Cinema has built
an amazingly loyal following, without a scrap of advertising or promotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am extremely proud of what has been
accomplished in such a short period of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Next, I am hoping to not only
continue to scavenge the vaults for lost film treasures, but to give a platform
to new creative visionaries who have something to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you to everyone who has supported this
worthy endeavor.</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Brother Andy</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Writer, Producer, Director,
Editor, Actor</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Intriguism Moving Pictures</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<st1:place><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong><st1:city>Palm Springs</st1:city>,
<st1:state>California</st1:state></strong></span></st1:place></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-61403022903617716932014-02-06T23:19:00.001-08:002014-02-06T23:20:44.622-08:00DVdL: "THE MARSEILLE CAPER" BOOK REVIEW BY ESTEEMED MEMBER PEGGY VERMEER<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZRhts6hXu8/UvSJNl1QzaI/AAAAAAAABEw/Lewn0rHDsHI/s1600/MARSEILLECOVER.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZRhts6hXu8/UvSJNl1QzaI/AAAAAAAABEw/Lewn0rHDsHI/s1600/MARSEILLECOVER.png" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>"THE MARSEILLE CAPER" BY PETER MAYLE</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>BOOK REVIEW BY ESTEEMED MEMBER PEGGY VERMEER</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The book is well-written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially liked the elaborate descriptions
of the food and the picturesque settings, sort of travelogue-ish, taking place
in a small village in the countryside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The main character, Sam Levitt,
is supposed to be a typical English Lord who makes money doing illegal
activities and wouldn't hesitate to do whatever it takes to get what he wants
-- including doing harm to anyone in his way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His girlfriend, Annabella, was interesting and intriguing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philippe, the Public Relations guy, did
nothing but seek sensational headlines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Great addition.</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The plot was a well-thought-out
caper set against French politics and how the French handle things with greed
and impatience. Yet, as a "light read", the story wasn't so
complicated that you couldn't obviously know what would happen and who the
murderer was. Still, the book was fun to read because of the amount of little
tid-bits of insight into this world.</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10
being the best book ever, I would give "The Marseille Caper" a solid
"8".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would recommend this
book to others.</strong></span></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-69642681702648876822014-02-06T22:57:00.001-08:002014-02-06T23:17:07.359-08:00DVdL: SPECIAL FEBRUARY BOOK CLUB MEETING DETAILS<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TpONd2cR_GY/UvSDNnxqrzI/AAAAAAAABEg/IJp86dQnjUU/s1600/skullcandy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TpONd2cR_GY/UvSDNnxqrzI/AAAAAAAABEg/IJp86dQnjUU/s1600/skullcandy.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>GOTTA LOVE THE BOOKS<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>A book club meeting reminder: The
next Dolce Vita di Libro Book Club meeting will be held on <st1:date day="14" month="2" year="2014">Friday, February 14, 2014</st1:date> at <st1:time hour="18" minute="0">6 pm</st1:time>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The special
evening will be hosted by Esteemed Member Karen Laird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The facilitator will once again be Brother
Andy. The meeting will be held at the home of Karen Laird.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The book selection is "The
Marseille Caper" by Peter Mayle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The theme this month is "Valentine's Day" and anyone wishing
to participate in the "Celebration of Love" is asked to wear red,
white or pink clothing.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>PLEASE RSVP KAREN OR BROTHER ANDY AT <a href="mailto:DOLCEVITADILIBROCLUB@YAHOO.COM">DOLCEVITADILIBROCLUB<complete id="goog_1172609034">@YAHOO.COM</complete></a>!</strong></span></div>
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brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-89859696932900393442014-01-28T19:54:00.002-08:002014-01-28T19:55:11.742-08:00DVdL: "THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB" 2007 (FEATURE FILM)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVfqCikYT6Q/Uuh7dCmnakI/AAAAAAAABEA/kiTs1DrOKaQ/s1600/jane.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVfqCikYT6Q/Uuh7dCmnakI/AAAAAAAABEA/kiTs1DrOKaQ/s1600/jane.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Watch this FREE movie about a group of California people who start a book club.</strong></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://viooz.co/movies/2382-the-jane-austen-book-club-2007.html"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>http://viooz.co/movies/2382-the-jane-austen-book-club-2007.html</strong></span></a>brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-13153046767121718182014-01-27T20:10:00.001-08:002014-01-27T20:10:17.457-08:00DVdL: "BELA LUGOSI IN THE THIRSTY DEATH" (RADIO SHOW)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>An man insanely jealous of his wife, believing she has been unfaithful, devises a fiendish method of dealing with her and her lover. Starring Bela Lugosi, John Carradine and Lurene Tuttle.</strong></span></div>
.
.
.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/BelaLugosisMysteryHouse440703TheThirstyDeathAudition" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe>brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-9246107096263429982014-01-27T19:55:00.002-08:002014-01-27T19:55:45.332-08:00DVdL: "SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE CASE OF THE TYRANT'S DAUGHTER" (SHORT FILM)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/X2p1mo2fHVo?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br />brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-31226977167663240602014-01-27T19:46:00.002-08:002014-01-27T19:46:48.899-08:00DVdL: ABOUT AUTHOR PETER MAYLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eSehBZJ6WCc/UucoDz5y8jI/AAAAAAAABDw/-MDLBrRWq44/s1600/petermayle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eSehBZJ6WCc/UucoDz5y8jI/AAAAAAAABDw/-MDLBrRWq44/s1600/petermayle.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>For information about the author of the next DVdL book selection, "The Marseilles Caper", please see: </strong></span><a href="http://www.http//www.petermayle.com"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>www.http://www.petermayle.com</strong></span></a></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-34700547600731035202014-01-11T23:03:00.000-08:002014-01-11T23:03:55.003-08:00DVdL: JANUARY 2014 MEETING REPORT<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNU2LEo5Klk/UtI7LMUJ3sI/AAAAAAAABDg/aEiyrMeCtSg/s1600/DVdLmeeting4+003B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNU2LEo5Klk/UtI7LMUJ3sI/AAAAAAAABDg/aEiyrMeCtSg/s1600/DVdLmeeting4+003B.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>JANUARY MEETING 2014</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>What a fabulous fourth meeting!! Esteemed Members who could not attend were surely missed, as this special evening was exactly what we started the Dolce Vita di Libro book club for -- interesting and insightful conversation, great food and wine, lovely decorations, and fun!!!!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Thanks must go to Jennifer and Hunter Johnson for use of the hall. Having a gathering in one's home can sometimes feel invasive, but the gracious Hunter and Jennifer are incredibly welcoming. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The effervescent Lois Granziano was outstanding (as usual) in tirelessly helping manage the event. She's a real trouper. Legendary local artist, Peggy Vermeer (who has a work of art on permanent display at the Palm Springs Art Museum) provided much of the wine and more-than-some show-stopping laughs throughout the evening. She's definitely the life of the party!</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;">The whole of the Esteemed Membership is to be praised for reading a somewhat challenging book through the busy holiday season and showing up with superb food. The attention to detail and care that goes into making the food is amazing. Not only were Esteemed Members polite and tidy and showed up on time (for the most part), they were a well-groomed bunch who obviously understands the importance of dressing appropriately for such a prestigious occasion. From sharing heart-felt personal stories to actively listening -- the discussion was adult, open, honest and relaxed.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;">The suggestions that were made over the last months to improve the book club experience were noted and implemented, to the betterment of the group, and it showed. I, for one, am very proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to the next meeting with excited anticipation! Thank you all so very much!</span></strong></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-23335537701151161902014-01-11T20:51:00.001-08:002014-01-11T20:51:21.560-08:00DVdL: "INNER SACTUM" 1948 (FEATURE FILM)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/09UHeKNq-mA?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br />brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-49239290328220846632014-01-01T08:31:00.000-08:002014-01-01T08:57:03.957-08:00DVdL: "WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE MURDER MYSTERIES?" (EDITORIAL)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gd7RAVPhMAU/UsRDcreiCTI/AAAAAAAABCU/hPOkSbNVNcQ/s1600/murderscene.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gd7RAVPhMAU/UsRDcreiCTI/AAAAAAAABCU/hPOkSbNVNcQ/s320/murderscene.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>People love a "safe thrill". As part of the biological human need to survive, the psychology of acting out scenerios in which a "hero" (as stand-in for the average person) can resolve life-threatening issues is in the same manner children play house, play doctor, or play war to work out psychically -- in their limited experiences -- the anxieties of life as they mature.</strong></span> <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>People are social animals.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Horror stories, with their various exaggerated monstrocities, would, therefore, be an acting out scenerio of the audiences' fear of "The Other", the threat of a stranger, or addressing a deeply-rooted fear of deformity (another kind of threat to survival -- a mutation which may harm the gene pool). "The Monster" is the repulsion within one's self, the opposite of attraction, and may be sexual in nature. If "Dracula" is about repressive Victorian seduction and "Frankenstien" is about Alpha male territory anxieties (including that of acting as God), why the "murder mystery"? What is entertaining about murder?</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Perhaps the answer is in the development of the plots within the genre itself. Since one is satistically murdered by someone known (not a stranger), the fear of intimacy may be part of the audiences' emotional connection to the stories. Ultimately, in a "survival of the fittest" mode, who is to be trusted? To have the highest survival rate, one must remain an independant adaptable individual within a group where set rules of engagement are spelled out and expectations met. To kill someone is to love them, to care what they say, do and are, because ambivilance isn't a motivating force for anything.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Secondly, a parental figure -- a detective usually -- is involved in the resolution, someone who is smarter than the rest. This character's job is to reassure the audience of their trust in authority and assure the gene pool is safe. When children died of disease in the past, it left confusion to the surviving children and murder mysteries may be a way of making sense of the "randomness" of death. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Another aspect might well be that the "cupcake murder mysteries" genre is about a "mother" anxiety, using food as a symbolic gesture of reassurance, sensory recall (oral developmental stage), and reward. Is the culinary art murder mystery really about sibling rivalry, fighting over and murdering over food and needing "mommy" to rescue the situation?</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;">As adults, the need to seek out these kind of mythic stories -- as pure fiction -- must have some underlying real-life reward or people simply wouldn't do it. From the primitive cavemen's fireside story-telling to the computerized Information Age inter-active games, the story hasn't changed all that much. The ultimate fear is of death, which, of course, is really about living. Dolce Vita di Libro has represented itself as not only a book club centering discussions on death, but in the promotion of living life to the fullest through lifestyle choices. The ironic juxtaposition of a "sweet life" in contrast to ugly murder and mayhem is the drama that Shakespear speaks of: all the world's a stage...After all, if you can't act out murder plots with friends, what's the point?</span></strong></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484884179405031711.post-56837102029475387262013-12-31T18:46:00.001-08:002014-01-01T09:01:07.202-08:00DVdL: YEAR IN REVIEW: WOW!!!!<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span></strong><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BJqwSwVCQC0/UsOC5qjyf1I/AAAAAAAABBo/95kE6trEKac/s1600/office+DVdL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BJqwSwVCQC0/UsOC5qjyf1I/AAAAAAAABBo/95kE6trEKac/s320/office+DVdL.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It takes many computers to run a book club these days.<br />
Here Jennifer and Hunter Johnson work tirelessly<br />
to create social media. A few people in a room -- but the<br />
world is watching!</td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>DVdL YEAR IN
REVIEW: WOW!!!!!<o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>In just a few short months, a lot
has happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some of the
end-of-the-year DVdL highlights and what to expect in the exciting year ahead.</strong></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>August 2013<o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>In the beginning...Jennifer
Johnson, Nedra Young, and Arelene Dulaney discussed having a monthly book club
based on "murder mysteries centering on the culinary arts".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goal was to present an open-forum
gathering of friends who would discuss ideas, socialize, and to enjoy food and
wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good food, good conversation, good
friends..."Fun" was to be the mantra.</strong></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>September 2013<o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>At the first "Unofficial
Meeting", the group decided on a name, the meeting schedule and the book
selections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Esteemed Members decided to
dress as characters from the books at future meetings, decorations would
reflect story-lines, and the pot luck food would be inspired by dishes in the
selected books as well. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Brother Andy came on board,
acting as Creative Director. He immediately produced a series of off-beat
commercials for DVdL, featuring himself dressed as various characters who are
subsequently murdered.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>A few days later, the Dolce Vita
di Libro blog was created and an instant hit. Ads directing people to the blog
were placed on Craig's List in every major city of the world -- <st1:city><st1:place>Rome</st1:place></st1:city>,
<st1:place><st1:city>London</st1:city>, <st1:state>Berlin</st1:state></st1:place>,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The response was
overwhelmingly positive.</strong></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>October 2013<o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Our first Official Book Club Meeting
was held <st1:date day="11" month="10" year="2013">Friday, Oct. 11, 2013</st1:date>.
Effervescent Jennifer Johnson amused everyone, dressed a mustached "Bruno,
Chief of Police" -- setting the bar high for anyone else wanting to attend
as a costumed character. Talented Dona Nill provided gorgeous hand-painted
backdrops and signage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food was
unbelievably good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members out-did
themselves!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Esteemed Member Peggy Vermeer
gave a memorable Halloween party for DVdL members at her home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beloved Peggy knows how to throw a party!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The wonderfully gifted local
artist, Davidro, designed a logo for the group, donating his time and efforts
to the group.</strong></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>November 2013<o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The DVdL Second Meeting was also held
at Jennifer and Hunter Johnson's House. Nedra Young acted as Facilitator,
holding everyone's attention as best as anyone could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the meeting, some members made it
known they were not happy with the book selections thus far. The theme was a
"catering company".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hefty
platform backdrop was brought in with sewing machines, guns, mannequins and so
forth for ambience.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>DVdL gained a physical mailing
address. DVdL also gained a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and Google
profile -- done with the tremendous help of Jennifer and Hunter Johnson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blog continued to received thousands of
hits from viewers all over the world.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Esteemed Member Davidro released his 2014 date book.</strong></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>December 2013<o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Our DVdL Third Meeting had Lois
Graziano as the Facilitator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lois
contact the author of the selected book who sent some very special gifts to the
group. Lois also rang a cow bell to get everyone to stop talking over each
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It mostly didn't work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The theme was "<st1:place><st1:placename>Jersey</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>Shore</st1:placetype></st1:place>" and the place pretty
much resembled an Italian restaurant.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The group also decided to change the book selections to
books with subject matters that were a bit more challenging than "cupcake
mysteries".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone involved was
pleased that the group expressed themselves and that responsive change
occurred.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Several members went on a
"DVdL Day Trip" to <st1:city><st1:place>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members visited the stimulating Hollywood Toy
and Costume and off-the-wall Necromance stores. A restful, inspiring day was
had by all.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>One-of-a-kind DVdL Gift Baskets
were purchased as Christmas gifts.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Brother Andy created a FREE,
downloadable DVdL 2014 monthly calendar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The calendar features Esteemed Members and Sponsors as characters with a
comic brief profile about each one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Brother Andy also wrote the first PDF published non-fiction DVdL book,
"Murder Most Fun: How To Start A Murder Mystery Book Club And Live To Tell
About It".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The insightful book is available for FREE on the blog as well.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The DVdL blog gained several business as on-going sponsors.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Because the classic films posted
on the DVdL blog were so popular, an in-depth "sister" blog was
created, devoted entirely to obscure, hard-to-find movies of all kinds: Dolce
Vita di Cinema (dolcevitadicinema.blogspot.com).</strong></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>2014!!!</strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>With the out-spoken Peggy Vermeer
scheduled to act as co-Facilitator with wildly-unpredictable Brother Andy,
expect the unexpected at the meeting to be held on Jan 10th.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>A second "DVdL Day
Trip" to <st1:city><st1:place>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> or <st1:city><st1:place>San
Diego</st1:place></st1:city> is in the works.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>January will also see DVdL approaching media such as local
newspapers, magazines, and other blogs.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>On the first day of the year,
Google's Adsense has already pre-approved the placement of advertising on the DVdL blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goal in having ads is to have income
enough to address the on-going needs of the group.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Up-coming projects include a
series of DVdL products, including a feature film.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Brother Andy is in the process of
writing a fictional murder mystery book, "The Foreshadowed".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book is scheduled to be available at the
end of February. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>First on the agenda for the new
year is finding a venue that would not only hold DVdL meetings, but also act as a
studio for projects of all kinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
current meeting location will not be available after April 2014.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;">If the coming year is anything like the last few months, hold on and...HAVE SOME FUN!!!!</span></strong></div>
brother andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081175415248553981noreply@blogger.com0