body2body

I adored “The 21 Balloons” by William Pène du Bois. The Book involves Baloon Travel, Diamonds, and the explosion of the Island of Krakatoa. I first read it when I was 8 or 9, and it was so popular that you had to put your name on a waiting list in my school Library to borrow a copy of it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twenty-One_Balloons

I adored “The 21 Balloons” by William Pène du Bois. The Book involves Baloon Travel, Diamonds, and the explosion of the Island of Krakatoa. I first read it when I was 8 or 9, and it was so popular that you had to put your name on a waiting list in my school Library to borrow a copy of it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twenty-One_Balloons

Actually, the original “Flex-Straws” invented in the 1937 were paper not plastic. I remember drinking from them in the 1950s. I’m sure with the passing of plastic straws the paper versions bendable straws will be re-introduced. I don’t remember using a plastic straw until the 60’s.
https://99percentinvisible.org/article/last-straws-inventing-modern-drinking-tube-flexible-bendy-straw/

Dune should never have been made as a single film. Lynch’s original cut was over four hours long. Even he knew it was too long and reduced it to a bit over three hours. Exhibitors were balking at such a long film so Dino and Rafaella De Laurentiis worked with Lynch to add the Virginia Madsen introduction, voice over narration, and cut many scenes and re shoot others. They brought the film down to about two hours, but rendered it all but incomprehensible to anyone who had not read the books. Lynch never made any other version of the film. The 1988 TV version of the film with the additional material (186 minutes including the crawl) was done without Lynch’s participation. He did not approve of the extended version hence the Alan Smithee credit.
 
De Laurentiis original choice for director was Ridley Scott, who wanted to make Dune into two films, which was rejected. One can only wonder what might have resulted with a Master like Ridley Scott at the helm and shot as two films so there could have been time for the exposition to build these worlds and characters.

Louis XIV controlled the unruly French Aristocracy by insisting that only at Versailles could they have access to the King and his Ministers. He then instituted all sorts of arcane protocols and formalities. For example if you wanted to attend Court in the Month of April of a given year you had to wear a coat of pale blue and ribbons in gold, if not properly attired, you were denied access. Those attending court had to spend a fortune to be properly attired, in fact the French Fashion industry is said to have had its beginnings with the Court of Louis XIV. Louis even insisted on uniformity in the attire of the Clergy. The Anglican Priest who taught my confirmation classes explained the the clergy did not always wear the Cassock, Chasuble, and Surplice common to most Catholic and Anglican clergy today until Louis had his tailors enforce order on the French clergy by standardizing the costumes of Priests, Bishops, and Cardinals

Sorry Avalon, that is what my History of Fashion Professor described to us in a lecture(45 years ago), and I should have clarified that the color and month were merely an example of what could have been a requirement. My Prof cited Louis’ approach as being one of fashions most direct influences on History.

Louis XIV controlled the unruly French Aristocracy by insisting that only at Versailles could they have access to the King and his Ministers. He then instituted all sorts of arcane protocols and formalities. For example if you wanted to attend Court in the Month of April of a given year you had to wear a coat of pale blue and ribbons in gold, if not properly attired, you were denied access. Those attending court had to spend a fortune to be properly attired, in fact the French Fashion industry is said to have had its beginnings with the Court of Louis XIV. Louis even insisted on uniformity in the attire of the Clergy. The Anglican Priest who taught my confirmation classes explained the the clergy did not always wear the Cassock, Chasuble, and Surplice common to most Catholic and Anglican clergy today until Louis had his tailors enforce order on the French clergy by standardizing the costumes of Priests, Bishops, and Cardinals

Sorry Avalon, that is what my History of Fashion Professor described to us in a lecture(45 years ago), and I should have clarified that the color and month were merely an example of what could have been a requirement. My Prof cited Louis’ approach as being one of fashions most direct influences on History.

Louis XIV controlled the unruly French Aristocracy by insisting that only at Versailles could they have access to the King and his Ministers. He then instituted all sorts of arcane protocols and formalities. For example if you wanted to attend Court in the Month of April of a given year you had to wear a coat of pale blue and ribbons in gold, if not properly attired, you were denied access. Those attending court had to spend a fortune to be properly attired, in fact the French Fashion industry is said to have had its beginnings with the Court of Louis XIV. Louis even insisted on uniformity in the attire of the Clergy. The Anglican Priest who taught my confirmation classes explained the the clergy did not always wear the Cassock, Chasuble, and Surplice common to most Catholic and Anglican clergy today until Louis had his tailors enforce order on the French clergy by standardizing the costumes of Priests, Bishops, and Cardinals

I’ve been several times. The Palace and Gardens are awesome. Book a Tour of the Palace so you can avoid the lines (which can be very long). Many people stop with the Palace and the Garden area immediately behind the Palace, when there is so much more to see. There is the Petit Trianon, an exquisite mini Palace used by Marie Antoinette so she could escape the pressures and intrigue of Court Life in the Palace itself (where Thouands of Courtiers and servants resided). Nearby is the Petit Hameau de la Reine (the Queen’s Little Hamlet), where Queen Marie Antoinette and her friends would dress as Shepardesses and pretend to be peasants in this artificial Village where reportedly they would wash the sheep so the odor didn’t offend the Aristocrats. Also nearby is an exquisite Architectural Folly called The Temple of Love. A cylindrical Pavillion in Classical style surrounded by Trees in an English style Garden. Further away is the Grand Trianon. It was the residence of Napoleon at Versailles during the Empire. Much of the furniture and decoration is from the Napoleonic period giving the decor a more unified appearance. Much of the furniture in the main Palace was sold off when the monarchy was dissolved. A French docent once ruefully said that if you wanted to see the best French Furniture from Versailles you needed to go to the Wallace Collection in London.

I’ve been several times. The Palace and Gardens are awesome. Book a Tour of the Palace so you can avoid the lines (which can be very long). Many people stop with the Palace and the Garden area immediately behind the Palace, when there is so much more to see. There is the Petit Trianon, an exquisite mini Palace used by Marie Antoinette so she could escape the pressures and intrigue of Court Life in the Palace itself (where Thouands of Courtiers and servants resided). Nearby is the Petit Hameau de la Reine (the Queen’s Little Hamlet), where Queen Marie Antoinette and her friends would dress as Shepardesses and pretend to be peasants in this artificial Village where reportedly they would wash the sheep so the odor didn’t offend the Aristocrats. Also nearby is an exquisite Architectural Folly called The Temple of Love. A cylindrical Pavillion in Classical style surrounded by Trees in an English style Garden. Further away is the Grand Trianon. It was the residence of Napoleon at Versailles during the Empire. Much of the furniture and decoration is from the Napoleonic period giving the decor a more unified appearance. Much of the furniture in the main Palace was sold off when the monarchy was dissolved. A French docent once ruefully said that if you wanted to see the best French Furniture from Versailles you needed to go to the Wallace Collection in London.

If you want to get a sense of life inside Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV you may want to try reading the Memoirs: Duc de Saint-Simon (volumes I-III). He was there, and chronicles the Court intrigues, and daily life in a way that makes you understand the Palace as much more than a building.

If you want to get a sense of life inside Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV you may want to try reading the Memoirs: Duc de Saint-Simon (volumes I-III). He was there, and chronicles the Court intrigues, and daily life in a way that makes you understand the Palace as much more than a building.

I’ve been several times. The Palace and Gardens are awesome. Book a Tour of the Palace so you can avoid the lines (which can be very long). Many people stop with the Palace and the Garden area immediately behind the Palace, when there is so much more to see. There is the Petit Trianon, an exquisite mini Palace used by Marie Antoinette so she could escape the pressures and intrigue of Court Life in the Palace itself (where Thouands of Courtiers and servants resided). Nearby is the Petit Hameau de la Reine (the Queen’s Little Hamlet), where Queen Marie Antoinette and her friends would dress as Shepardesses and pretend to be peasants in this artificial Village where reportedly they would wash the sheep so the odor didn’t offend the Aristocrats. Also nearby is an exquisite Architectural Folly called The Temple of Love. A cylindrical Pavillion in Classical style surrounded by Trees in an English style Garden. Further away is the Grand Trianon. It was the residence of Napoleon at Versailles during the Empire. Much of the furniture and decoration is from the Napoleonic period giving the decor a more unified appearance. Much of the furniture in the main Palace was sold off when the monarchy was dissolved. A French docent once ruefully said that if you wanted to see the best French Furniture from Versailles you needed to go to the Wallace Collection in London.

I’ve been several times. The Palace and Gardens are awesome. Book a Tour of the Palace so you can avoid the lines (which can be very long). Many people stop with the Palace and the Garden area immediately behind the Palace, when there is so much more to see. There is the Petit Trianon, an exquisite mini Palace used by Marie Antoinette so she could escape the pressures and intrigue of Court Life in the Palace itself (where Thouands of Courtiers and servants resided). Nearby is the Petit Hameau de la Reine (the Queen’s Little Hamlet), where Queen Marie Antoinette and her friends would dress as Shepardesses and pretend to be peasants in this artificial Village where reportedly they would wash the sheep so the odor didn’t offend the Aristocrats. Also nearby is an exquisite Architectural Folly called The Temple of Love. A cylindrical Pavillion in Classical style surrounded by Trees in an English style Garden. Further away is the Grand Trianon. It was the residence of Napoleon at Versailles during the Empire. Much of the furniture and decoration is from the Napoleonic period giving the decor a more unified appearance. Much of the furniture in the main Palace was sold off when the monarchy was dissolved. A French docent once ruefully said that if you wanted to see the best French Furniture from Versailles you needed to go to the Wallace Collection in London.

I’ve been several times. The Palace and Gardens are awesome. Book a Tour of the Palace so you can avoid the lines (which can be very long). Many people stop with the Palace and the Garden area immediately behind the Palace, when there is so much more to see. There is the Petit Trianon, an exquisite mini Palace used by Marie Antoinette so she could escape the pressures and intrigue of Court Life in the Palace itself (where Thouands of Courtiers and servants resided). Nearby is the Petit Hameau de la Reine (the Queen’s Little Hamlet), where Queen Marie Antoinette and her friends would dress as Shepardesses and pretend to be peasants in this artificial Village where reportedly they would wash the sheep so the odor didn’t offend the Aristocrats. Also nearby is an exquisite Architectural Folly called The Temple of Love. A cylindrical Pavillion in Classical style surrounded by Trees in an English style Garden. Further away is the Grand Trianon. It was the residence of Napoleon at Versailles during the Empire. Much of the furniture and decoration is from the Napoleonic period giving the decor a more unified appearance. Much of the furniture in the main Palace was sold off when the monarchy was dissolved. A French docent once ruefully said that if you wanted to see the best French Furniture from Versailles you needed to go to the Wallace Collection in London.

I’ve been several times. The Palace and Gardens are awesome. Book a Tour of the Palace so you can avoid the lines (which can be very long). Many people stop with the Palace and the Garden area immediately behind the Palace, when there is so much more to see. There is the Petit Trianon, an exquisite mini Palace used by Marie Antoinette so she could escape the pressures and intrigue of Court Life in the Palace itself (where Thouands of Courtiers and servants resided). Nearby is the Petit Hameau de la Reine (the Queen’s Little Hamlet), where Queen Marie Antoinette and her friends would dress as Shepardesses and pretend to be peasants in this artificial Village where reportedly they would wash the sheep so the odor didn’t offend the Aristocrats. Also nearby is an exquisite Architectural Folly called The Temple of Love. A cylindrical Pavillion in Classical style surrounded by Trees in an English style Garden. Further away is the Grand Trianon. It was the residence of Napoleon at Versailles during the Empire. Much of the furniture and decoration is from the Napoleonic period giving the decor a more unified appearance. Much of the furniture in the main Palace was sold off when the monarchy was dissolved. A French docent once ruefully said that if you wanted to see the best French Furniture from Versailles you needed to go to the Wallace Collection in London.

I’ve been several times. The Palace and Gardens are awesome. Book a Tour of the Palace so you can avoid the lines (which can be very long). Many people stop with the Palace and the Garden area immediately behind the Palace, when there is so much more to see. There is the Petit Trianon, an exquisite mini Palace used by Marie Antoinette so she could escape the pressures and intrigue of Court Life in the Palace itself (where Thouands of Courtiers and servants resided). Nearby is the Petit Hameau de la Reine (the Queen’s Little Hamlet), where Queen Marie Antoinette and her friends would dress as Shepardesses and pretend to be peasants in this artificial Village where reportedly they would wash the sheep so the odor didn’t offend the Aristocrats. Also nearby is an exquisite Architectural Folly called The Temple of Love. A cylindrical Pavillion in Classical style surrounded by Trees in an English style Garden. Further away is the Grand Trianon. It was the residence of Napoleon at Versailles during the Empire. Much of the furniture and decoration is from the Napoleonic period giving the decor a more unified appearance. Much of the furniture in the main Palace was sold off when the monarchy was dissolved. A French docent once ruefully said that if you wanted to see the best French Furniture from Versailles you needed to go to the Wallace Collection in London.

In the L.A. Times obituary for Tab Hunter, they pointed out that “Young Love” Tab Hunter’s first record knocked Elvis Presley off the #1 spot on the charts. Jack Warner found out and was furious. It was said that Warner Records was founded largely due to Jack Warner’s anger over Tab’s success. Warner believed he “owned” Tab Hunter. He auditioned 10 times for his role in “Battle Cry” getting the role and beating out both James Dean and Paul Newman for the role.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEg5oWW5F2c

In the L.A. Times obituary for Tab Hunter, they pointed out that “Young Love” Tab Hunter’s first record knocked Elvis Presley off the #1 spot on the charts. Jack Warner found out and was furious. It was said that Warner Records was founded largely due to Jack Warner’s anger over Tab’s success. Warner believed he “owned” Tab Hunter. He auditioned 10 times for his role in “Battle Cry” getting the role and beating out both James Dean and Paul Newman for the role.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEg5oWW5F2c

If you use incontinence pads you will be teaching the dog to pee in the house. It is better to take the dog outside. A puppy has to go out every three or four hours. My last dog was not housebroken when I adopted her. I took her out often, but she still persisted in going in the house. I consulted a trainer who told me to put her on a schedule that I had to adhere to, basically walking her about 1-2 hours after eating, first thing in the morning, and before going to bed. I would put her favorite treats (cubes of broiled chicken) in a baggy in my pocket. Every time she would pee or poop outside, I would praise her and give her a couple of pieces of chicken. This was the only time she got treats. It took about two weeks, but after that she was fastidious. For the next 13 years, unless she was ill, we never had a problem. The only side effect was that for the rest of her life after “doing her business” outside, she would sit and look up at me, head cocked to one side, as if to say- “OK Dad, I did my part, now where’s the chicken”.

If you use incontinence pads you will be teaching the dog to pee in the house. It is better to take the dog outside. A puppy has to go out every three or four hours. My last dog was not housebroken when I adopted her. I took her out often, but she still persisted in going in the house. I consulted a trainer who told me to put her on a schedule that I had to adhere to, basically walking her about 1-2 hours after eating, first thing in the morning, and before going to bed. I would put her favorite treats (cubes of broiled chicken) in a baggy in my pocket. Every time she would pee or poop outside, I would praise her and give her a couple of pieces of chicken. This was the only time she got treats. It took about two weeks, but after that she was fastidious. For the next 13 years, unless she was ill, we never had a problem. The only side effect was that for the rest of her life after “doing her business” outside, she would sit and look up at me, head cocked to one side, as if to say- “OK Dad, I did my part, now where’s the chicken”.

If you use incontinence pads you will be teaching the dog to pee in the house. It is better to take the dog outside. A puppy has to go out every three or four hours. My last dog was not housebroken when I adopted her. I took her out often, but she still persisted in going in the house. I consulted a trainer who told me to put her on a schedule that I had to adhere to, basically walking her about 1-2 hours after eating, first thing in the morning, and before going to bed. I would put her favorite treats (cubes of broiled chicken) in a baggy in my pocket. Every time she would pee or poop outside, I would praise her and give her a couple of pieces of chicken. This was the only time she got treats. It took about two weeks, but after that she was fastidious. For the next 13 years, unless she was ill, we never had a problem. The only side effect was that for the rest of her life after “doing her business” outside, she would sit and look up at me, head cocked to one side, as if to say- “OK Dad, I did my part, now where’s the chicken”.

If you use incontinence pads you will be teaching the dog to pee in the house. It is better to take the dog outside. A puppy has to go out every three or four hours. My last dog was not housebroken when I adopted her. I took her out often, but she still persisted in going in the house. I consulted a trainer who told me to put her on a schedule that I had to adhere to, basically walking her about 1-2 hours after eating, first thing in the morning, and before going to bed. I would put her favorite treats (cubes of broiled chicken) in a baggy in my pocket. Every time she would pee or poop outside, I would praise her and give her a couple of pieces of chicken. This was the only time she got treats. It took about two weeks, but after that she was fastidious. For the next 13 years, unless she was ill, we never had a problem. The only side effect was that for the rest of her life after “doing her business” outside, she would sit and look up at me, head cocked to one side, as if to say- “OK Dad, I did my part, now where’s the chicken”.

Think about what you want to do. For many years I stayed near Paddington at a Hotel that fronted on Hyde Park. I found more and more, that every trip had me heading to the South Bank where the Tate Modern, National Theatre, Old Vic, Young Vic, Shakespeare’s Globe are located. So, my last few trips I have stayed on the South Bank. I stayed at the Novotel Blackfriars (modern amenities , comfortable, 100 yds from Southwark tube, 4 blocks to Waterloo station). I’m going in August for a Theatre binge (ticket prices are fraction of New York ticket prices), this time I’m staying at the recently opened Hilton Bankside, which has great reviews, a popular restaurant and bar. I tend to take day trips during the day (Bath, Brighton, Hampton Court Palace, Stonehenge, Windsor are all easy day trips by train).
The National Gallery has an incredible collection, but because it is free it tends to be a mob scene, try to go early. The National Portrait Gallery around the Corner is wonderful. You can see the faces of historical figures, authors, artists. I enjoy it. The Tate Britain for the Turners, as well as some sublime Hockney portraits, and fine examples of Lucien Freud, and Francis Bacon. The Tate Modern (across the river) has a vast collection of contemporary art and a reputation for mounting blockbuster shows. The Wallace Collection is a personal collection of Old Master Paintings, and the finest 18th Century French Furniture (according to the French) in the setting of a London Townhouse. The recently re-done Imperial War Museum is also fascinating. There is so much to do, to have the luxury of a couple weeks to explore London and the surrounding sites is wonderful. Buy a London Travel Card for zones 1 and 2, you can use it on the tube or buses, and it will get you a discount on local train fares. You can buy it here, or in London at any of the major rail stations.