I USED TO BE KING : GRAHAM NASH

FEMME FATALE : TRACY THORN

UNDER THE MILKY WAY : THE CHURCH

SO IT GOES : MAC MILLER

THE RAIN SONG : JIMMY PAGE AND ROBERT PLANT

I AM I AM I AM : SEVENTEEN BRUSHES WITH DEATH by MAGGIE O'FARRELL : CHRISTINE TRZYNA BOOK REVIEW

 

  Saw that this book was on the London Times best seller list, found it as bought by the Friends of the Library, and sunk right into it.

The experiences author Maggie O'Farrell relates are all causes for alarm and some it it made me think that the author had an uncommon number of incidents of death threats in her life, from a run in with a killer to the fear of her own baby's death. That said, what makes this book a best seller is the creative writing, the distinct voice, the way with words.  There is an almost visceral quality to images and the chapters are the names of body parts, Lungs, Cranium...

The short Cranium chapter is a test.  Would you think that falling in love or lust with someone was a brush with death? But that's not it.  It's that spontaneity and a certain mindlessness puts her in harms way, an arm hair away from a fast moving truck because she's concerned for a dog.  The mood of this chapter is tantalizing and so I'm going to excerpt from it.  (Note the symbolism.)  It takes place in 1998

page 151

A man and a woman are walking beside a river. The water is so slow-moving as to be almost current-less, motionless. They pause on a bridge, looking down at their reflections in the mirror-flat leaf-dinted water: he looks at hers. she looks at his.  She has been collection acorns in her pockets, greenish-brown and set aside in their cups,  and as they have walked, she has sifted them with her fingertips and ascertained that, yes, each acorn will fit only inside its own cup. No other cup will do.

The woman is me.  The man is - well, never mind.

They are talking about their situation, their conundrum. They have fallen in love, instantly, surprisingly, dizzyingly, but there are problems. There are obstacle. Other people stand in their way - other hearts, other minds, other situations.

*****

 Simply loved this book, a unique idea, carried out with the moving pacing of a drum beat.

C 2024  Christine Trzyna

The pacing is also good and 

MOONLIGHT ON THE RIVER : MAC DEMARCO

MERCY : DUFFY

MARK SHAW - AUTHOR and DOROTHY KILGALLEN ADVOCATE ASKS US TO CONTACT THE NEW YORK DA

I've covered Mark Shaw's book about journalist Dorothy Kilgallen's mysterious death, an improbable "suicide," here on this blog circa October 2023, long after it was published. I've listened to many YouTube videos in which Shaw talked about the investigations behind his books, in particular at the Commonweath Club of California and City of Allen ACTV.

This interview is an overview of his path of authorship, one of many - mostly a year old or older, that are up on YouTube. In this one Shaw talks about the spiritual connection he believes he has with Dorothy as well as how his book talks have lead to more informants coming forward to him as well as synchronicity.  Dorothy Kilgallen was, back in the day, one of the few women journalists who had national, even international respect.  As a writer of news she brought her reader to the trials she attended. Thought of as one of the What's My Line television show panelists, she was hot on the trail of the JFK Assassination story. 

I received a message from Shaw asking me/us to help the cause of reopening the case of Dorothy Kilgallen's death.

NEWSLETTER - February, 2024 “If a writer is so cautious that he/she never writes anything that cannot be criticized, he/she will never write anything that can be read.” - Thomas Merton

Distinguished NYC Councilman Robert Holden Demands New York County DA Bragg Investigate Dorothy Kilgallen's Death LETTER TO NYC DA ALVIN BRAGG To Support this Effort, please text or call the DA's Office at 212.335.9000 THE LETTER: January 31, 2024 Hon. Alvin Bragg District Attorney Manhattan District Attorney’s Office One Hogan Place New York, NY 10013 Dear District Attorney Bragg, I am writing to you as an elected official and a concerned citizen who deeply values justice and the preservation of truth in our society. Today, I wish to bring to your attention the case of Dorothy Kilgallen, a revered journalist whose name was synonymous with courage, tenacity and an unyielding pursuit of the truth. Her mysterious death on November 8, 1965, not only robbed the world of a journalistic titan, but also left a cloud of suspicion and unanswered questions that have persisted for nearly six decades. Kilgallen, also well-known as the star panelist on the CBS hit program, “What’s My Line?” was a pioneer, a celebrated journalist who navigated and excelled in a field dominated by men. She was a force to be reckoned with, possessing a rare combination of wit, intelligence, and a fearless commitment to unveiling the truth. From challenging the Mafia's connections to Frank Sinatra to boldly questioning the circumstances surrounding Marilyn Monroe's death, Dorothy never shied away from contentious and dangerous truths. Dorothy’s investigative work, particularly concerning her friend John F. Kennedy’s assassination, was not only groundbreaking but also, as it tragically turned out, perilous. The reported scare tactics, surveillance, and threats she endured just prior to her death speak volumes about the potential gravity and sensitivity of the information she possessed. Her sudden and mysterious demise, under circumstances that many believe were meticulously staged, raises grave concerns about the integrity of the lackluster investigation that followed. The official narrative of Dorothy's death, hastily labeled as a drug overdose did not just tragically misrepresent her legacy but also conveniently silenced a voice that was on the verge of perhaps revealing epochal truths. The subsequent looting of her Manhattan home, the disappearance of her files and “tell-all” book manuscript about the assassination, and the defamatory portrayal of her character in the media are all glaring indications that the story presented to the public was, at best, incomplete and, at worst, a deliberate obfuscation. 2 In light of recent revelations by Dr. Michael Baden acknowledging the mistakes in the Kilgallen autopsy and the premature conclusions drawn by the Manhattan Medical Examiner's office, it becomes not just an opportunity but a moral imperative to reexamine this case. Mark Shaw, a noted historian and bestselling author, possesses a remarkable amount of highly relevant documents and credible statements from nearly 30 witnesses who swear Kilgallen did not overdose that will be crucial to an investigation as will the new evidence Shaw has uncovered. Without question, Shaw’s contributions, which I have reviewed, can significantly aid in uncovering the truth about why and how Kilgallen died in 1965. There thus exists a pressing need to unearth the truth, not just in the name of justice for Dorothy Kilgallen but also to honor the principles of journalistic integrity and truth she valiantly stood for. As Lois McMaster Bujold aptly said, "The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is the duty of the living to do so for them." Dorothy Kilgallen was more than an iconic journalist; she was a beacon of truth in a world rife with concealment and deceit. Opening an investigation into her death is a step towards rectifying a historical wrong and a testament to our commitment as a society to uphold truth, justice, and the values Dorothy so fiercely championed. I urge your office to consider this request earnestly and to take the necessary steps toward opening and diligently pursuing an investigation into the mysterious death of Dorothy Kilgallen. Let us strive to bring closure and justice to a case that has lingered in the shadows for far too long. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope the truth will finally see the light of day.  Sincerely, Robert F. Holden Council Member, District 30 “Investigative reporting at its best. Mark Shaw’s original work into the questionable deaths of Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Kilogallons is now focused on the many unanswered questions left by the Warren Commission’s inquiry into the JFK assassination. Fighting for Justice has to be read.”  -- Nicholas Pileggi, author of Wiseguy (movie: Goodfellas) and Casino   “If a writer is so cautious that he/she never writes anything that cannot be criticized, he/she will never write anything that can be read.” — Thomas Merton About Mark Shaw A former criminal defense attorney and legal analyst for CNN, ESPN, and USA Today for the Mike Tyson, O.J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant cases, Mark Shaw is an investigative reporter and the author of 25+ books whose latest is the bestseller, "The Reporter Who Knew Too Much."   Regarding his books, Mark says, “My purpose is to make people stop and think about historical subjects and important issues confronting society today. Mark Shaw Websites TheReporterWhoKnewTooMuch.com  CourageInTheFaceOfEvil.com TheDorothyKilgallenStory.org  MarkShawBooks.com

Mark's Blog! News, views and commentary on social issues of importance in today’s crazy world will be forthcoming in the Mark Shaw Books blog. Best of all, you’ll get to weigh in.

SUPERMOON

 

COME DOWN : ANDERSON .PAAK and FREE NATIONALS

WHERE IS THE LOVE? : BLACK EYED PEAS

432 hertz

HOW SOON IS NOW : JOHNNY MARR

 This just sends me...

PLUTO IN AQUARIUS and THAT ASTROLOGY THING

I read my first astrology book as a teenager. It was a paperback that I bought in a dime store. I wish I could remember the title and author. The astrologer featured some charts of rock bands and famous musicians. That was a draw.  I had that inexpensive paperback till the pages yellowed and dislodged from the glue binding.  The most important thing I learned was that other people were potentially very different than me.  The second most important thing was how magazine and newspaper "sun sign" astrology was bogus.  It's true that such columns are for "fun" or, as some Christians think, an inducement into "the New Age." 

In my entire life there was only one column I followed and did so for some years.  It was the Rockie Horoscope that featured in the LA Weekly free newspaper.  (It was written by a woman named Rockie Gardiner who died on Halloween in 2008.  I suspect she knew that was her death date. She was born in 1938.) The newspaper normally came out on a wednesday and figured in planning activities for the weekend and beyond.  I got hooked on this sun sign column, which did mention other planetary movements,  because it was right on for me three weeks in a row.  Well, at least it always gave me something to think about.

Every person is a composite of multiple planetary analysis. It makes more sense to get to know a person by giving a relationship some time.  However, once in a rare while I find myself using astrology to understand someone better.

There is something to astrology but to use it pragmatically and effectively one must afford a professional. These days there are a number of free-on-line astrology websites where a person can have their personal charts done and perhaps more fascinating are the compatibility charts. The time of birth is quite important. You can send away for a report too and I did this twice many years ago before the internet, though the reports were likely generated by early computer programs and software. There was a question of daylight savings time or not and though the reports were similar, the calculation of my rising sign was a question.  Two different reports - two different rising signs. When I think back on it, I guess I wish I had not sent away for these reports. I think some of what these reports said effected me a bit much.  I've lost them so I can't reread them and reassess. 

Vedic astrology, which, as it sounds, arose from Hinduism, is a better astrology system than Western in my opinion.  Some professional astrologers disagree. I've been told that in India people are unafraid of, and ask, when they will die. Vedic, like Hinduism, seems to be more oriented to fate - karma - reincarnation.  While Western seems to be used mostly for the purposes of timing, finding out when it would be best to take a certain action to increase the chances of success and is, therefore, used in a more willful way.

Fate versus Will.  The debate goes on.  

Pluto, last week entered into a new sign Aquarius, where it will be for the next 19 years. Since the 1950's the question has been when will the Age of Aquarius begin and I think it has just begun with this generational transit.  Slowly, it will effect everyone alive.  It's up to humans to make the world a better place.

Heres an article from, of all things, Vogue INDIA  https://www.vogue.in/content/pluto-is-back-in-aquarius-after-248-years-what-does-this-mean-for-your-zodiac-sign

After moving back into Capricorn in September, the planet will go forwards into near two decades of Aquarius.

And this podcast by two astrologers,  Chris Brennan and Nick Dagan Best is a look at history and what happened the last time Pluto was in Aquarius.

YOU TALK : BABYSHAMBLES