Happy New Year

Heath Ledger's Final Role

Click here for YouTube -- The only pictures of Heath in his final role, as Tony in the 2009 film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

,..and here for -- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Teaser Trailer

PLOT: In the present day, immortal 1,000-year-old Doctor Parnassus (Plummer) leads a traveling theater troupe that offers audience members a chance to go beyond reality through a magical mirror in his possession. Members of the troupe include a sleight of hand expert, Anton (Garfield) and a dwarf (Vern Troyer), Percy. Parnassus had been able to guide the imagination of others through a deal with the Devil (Waits), who now comes to collect on the arrangement, targeting the doctor's daughter (Lily Cole). The troupe, which is joined by a mysterious outsider named Tony (portrayed by Ledger, Depp, Law, and Farrell), embark through parallel worlds to rescue the girl.



...and finally, here for YouTube -- Tribute Heath Ledger. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009).

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Eartha Kitt

January 17, 1927 - December 25, 2008

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12.26.08

Christmas 2008

Earthrise

Not-So-Lonely Planet -- Op-Ed, New York Times, 12/24/08

12.24.08

12.23.08

My Army

My Army

where is my army of servants
maids cleaners housekeepers
valets chauffeurs dishwashers
tuners grooms lackeys butlers
laundresses financial advisors
trainers secretaries assistants
filing clerks masseurs barbers
manicurists polishing windows
why do I have to do everything
myself (except the gardening)

-- Michael Townsend Smith

12.21.08

Lame Duck Ducking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWt3-kPBQ4A&feature=related

Full Moon

Biggest Full Moon Of The Year Expected Tonight
Friday, 12 December 2008, 10:15 CST
No, you can not see Neil Armstrong's footprint. But go ahead and look: The full Moon of Dec. 12th is the biggest and brightest full Moon of the year.

Golgotha

Golgotha

Odetta

Odetta, Voice of Civil Rights Movement, Dies at 77
New York Times, December 3, 2008

Odetta at the Performing Garage

July 5, 2007 -- The Off-Off Broadway Experience article by Donald L. Brooks

12.01.08

Moon, Jupiter, Venus, evening of December 1, 2008
photo by Donald

Tonight, millions of people worldwide can see a close three-way conjunction of Venus, Jupiter and the crescent moon. Highlighting the uniqueness of this event in one's life is the fact that most of the time the moon, Jupiter and Venus come together, they are too close to the Sun or unite at a time when they are not so visible. The next time the two planets and the moon will be as close and visible will be on November the 18th, 2052. .An interesting fact reveals that historians think that a similar approach between Jupiter and Venus in the year 2 BC may have been the source of the star of Bethlehem story found in the Bible. The stellar pair would have appeared so close together that they might have seemed to blend into an amazing beacon of light. However, from now on, the planets and the moon will start separating from each other, and we'll have to wait for about 44 years to see this again.