Marilyn

“The simple fact, terrible and lethal, is that no space exists between Marilyn herself and Marilyn the star. She has become Marilyn Monroe, and that is what is killing her. There is no real Marilyn Monroe. She never existed except as a fantasy creation of hers. She knows she will one day vanish, but not Marilyn on the screen. Since she was a teenager, she’s been creating this imaginary character for public consumption. But the character she’s created has become the living, walking Marilyn herself. She has slowly and deliberately murdered Norma Jeane, and now she’s ripping Norma Jeane’s rotting flesh from her body piece by piece. All that will be left is this cardboard caricature, Marilyn Monroe.”

-- Arthur Miller per Darwin Porter, “Marilyn at Rainbow’s End”




Marilyn Monroe photographed jogging in 1951.

getting a break

I recently complained about not being on a cold streak and not getting a break, but I got a big one last night. It was a little after three in the morning, and I was going to let the cats outside, as has been the routine this week, but the cats did not rush to the door to pounce through and run outside. I wasn't going to force the issue and was happy to return to bed. I am not in bed for more than three minutes when I hear the rain coming down hard.

God, if I had let the cats out, I would have been kicking myself so bad, and I probably would not have been able to go back to sleep, and I would have been convinced that the world has something personal against me. But I won one, a big one.

James Bond

The 85th Academy Awards® will include a tribute to the James Bond movie franchise which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the telecast’s producers announced today.

“We are very happy to include a special sequence on our show saluting the Bond films on their 50th birthday,” said producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. “Starting with ‘Dr. No’ back in 1962, the 007 movies have become the longest-running motion picture franchise in history and a beloved global phenomenon.”

-- ONTD

Seeing how much interest and money double-oh!-seven has reaped for the movie industry, one would think it is the least they can do.

That doberman

Shit! That doberman has picked up a doberman-like sidekick. Their bodies are so toned and muscular, very strong-looking. Maybe it is a good thing that I have the cats inside. It gives us a chance for these dogs to move on, but how much power is there in prayer...

Translating Dostoevsky

Wow, the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translations are being bombed and dumped on. About twenty years ago I jumped on the bandwagon, buying the line that here was the most definitive translation of Dostoevsky yet, and it is through them that I came to know "Demons".

I'm sure I don't need to feel badly cheated. No doubt it is a serviceable translation. But one would naturally like to get the best job that is available, especially if it doesn't cost you any more money. On the other hand, there seems to be a critical consensus that the H. T. Lowe-Porter's translation of Thomas Mann is very rough, but I still came to love "Magic Mountain" through her work.

Still, if and when I am in the market for another Dostoevsky book, I will probably look for another translation. I have felt an urge to get a copy of "Underground Man", not being sure where my old copy went.

(Source: Helen Rittellmeyer.com)

Daily Fun

Here’s one cub reporter who could bearly contain herself as she watched a wildlife photographer at work. As Dean Swartz took pictures of a black bear family in Minnesota, America, he noticed one juvenile bear watching him very closely. After about 45 minutes the bear decided to have a go as well and ambled over to the tripod. Backing off, Dean used another camera on his shoulder to carry on taking pictures as the animal investigated his expensive equipment.

-- Picture: Dean Swartz / National News and Pictures

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