Heard On The Street

Bribes have become a way of life. Bribes may be offered or taken anywhere. Only those who hand them out and those who take them keep it quiet.

Africa: A Biography Of The Continent

Africa: A Biography of the Continent by John Reader is a captivating book on Africa, bringing to life the land of our beginnings and beyond. Great read.

John Reader is a writer and photojournalist with more than forty years' professional experience, much of it in Africa. Born in London in 1937, he currently holds an Honorary Research Fellowship in the Department of Anthropology at University College London, and is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Cancún Update

(via budgettravel) CANCÚN: The vendors selling jewelry on the beach will say just about anything to get you to buy their merchandise. Police say you should be skeptical of their claims. Jewelry sellers often tell tourists that their wares are made of real silver and then quote prices starting at around $20, says Verónica Fajardo, a spokeswoman for the Cancún police. But she points out that the jewelry is almost always made from cheap metal that will turn yellow or lose its sheen within weeks. 'Tourists from the U.S. and Canada are always looking for a bargain,' Fajardo says. 'They might get a cheaper price [on the beach], but the jewelry is definitely not of the highest quality.'

Buyer beware!

48 Hours Neukölln

48 Hours Neukölln offers a glimpse into the bubbling cultural realm that is northern Neukölln, one of the most dynamic and creative areas in Berlin. Artists + designers across the leafy Berlin district open their workspaces to visitors they’d never normally see. I think it's a great idea. It's a joy to see how people live, work and play.

Useful link:
www.48-stunden-neukoelln.de

Jazz On A Summer’s Day

Bert Stern's Jazz on a Summer's Day is one of the greatest concert film on the legendary 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. An amazing musical moment!

Useful link:
www.festivalnetwork.com

A must-see!

The Drowsy Chaperone

The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical with a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morisson + is an homage to American musicals of the Jazz Age.

Useful link:
www.drowsychaperone.com

A must-see!

Jewelry Thief

I found Doris Payne's story, now in prison in Denver, who made a five-decade career out of stealing expensive jewelery @ http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-jewelthief6-2008jul06,0,7720835.story intriguing. Her formula: Pick a nice store and look like you belong there. Make sure your well-cut outfit has deep pockets.

Sad, what a story!

Top 200 Collectors

The ARTnews Top 200 Collectors are listed @ http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2520