Fun

I spent my day off researching the life of a Kardashian. And it was FUN pic.twitter.com/ubNmmGTmYY

— Movies Silently (@MoviesSilently) May 29, 2018

Italian Influence

Django Unchained

Directed and Written by Quentin Tarantino 

 

With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.  

When I sat down to watch this movie. It was in anticipation of something outstanding with all the good reports I had been hearing and it did'nt disappoint! The award winning script by Tarantino,a brilliant soundtrack,awesome character roles and excellent atmospheric setting. It had me in from the opening scene and although I thought there were a couple of points in the middle of the film which could have been edited slightly .This was an overall excellent film! 

 Jamie Fox played a great part as the black slave turned bounty hunter. The character roles were played so well  by Christopher Waltz and the awesome part played by Leonardo Di Caprio as the plantation owner. He never disappoints and would have to be one of the best actors around today .

If your into action movies with a touch of black humor and interesting characters don't miss Django Unchained. A Tarantino gem 9 out of 10! 

 
Killing Them Softly 
Starring Brad Pitt 

 This black comedy about unhappy assassins who have hit hard times is a compelling comment on economic bloodletting in the real world.
This movie is an enjoyable watch as I must say I find all Brads movies. The other character roles were all portrayed well Ray Liota,Jason Fleming and others.Brad plays the assassin and does a good job throughout this Andrew Dominik screenplay adapted from George Higgins novel set in New Orleans.The opening scene was excellent and really got you in for the long naul as it did drag a little in parts. There was a drug taking scene which was  a little annoying to be honest and unnecessary. Overall I did find it entertaining and am giving it a 7.5 rating.

Leonardo Di Caprio 
Shutter Island

Interesting topics of research for trivia buffs in Django Unchained of course is the awesome soundtrack

for you music connoisseur's.The spaghetti western influences and of course you history trivia buffs have slavery and the plantation owners. 

Kyle Onstott's 1957 Novel Mandingo

Life on a Southern Plantation 1854

Sniffing the Past Slavery and Dogs 

Slave Life in Photos

Plantations of Charleston

 
Its all in the Name 
 After emancipation, many of the men and women took on names of their former owners as their own. Some african americans  in the U.S. took on the surname Freeman,while others adopted the names of popular historical or contemporary figures of social importance, such as former presidents Washington,Jefferson,Jackson.
Some changed their names out of the belief that the names they were given at birth were "slave names." An individual's name change often coincides with a religious conversion or involvement in a movement like  Mohammad Ali from Cassius Clay or Malcolm X  e.g. Black Nationalist Movement

Recommended Movie one of my all time Favorites!

Malcolm X
 Denzel Washington

Claudia Cardinale 

Italian Actress born in 1938
(Claude Joséphine Rose Cardine

Photo stills from Circus World 1964

Claudia in the Spaghetti Western 

Once Upon a Time in the West 

Django Unchained from the Soundtrack 

Too Old to Die Young
Brother Edge

Quentin Tarantino on the Movie Soundtrack 

The Trailer to the Original Django 1966 
 Italian Western film directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Franco Nero

Italian Spaghetti Western

Background
Essential Top Twenty Westerns
Best Directors
Tarantino's Top Twenty Westerns 
 

Movie reviews this week Life of Pi,The Impossible and Silver Linings Playbook!

Life Of Pi 

Saw this movie a couple of weeks back awesome visual experience. Acting was good and script Ok but the visuals in 3D were epic! I am giving this an 8.5 out of
10 rating! Great to escape into this movie for two hours. Maybe the ending let it down a little but still epic movie!
 
  

The Impossible
 Watched this movie on the weekend and I'm usually not that big on disaster movies but thought this was excellently made. All actors paid super roles and disaster scenes were awesome. It had such a real authentic feel about the whole movie with touching scenes especialy between Naomi Watts and Tom Holland her eldest son in the movie!  8 out of 10 for me !
 

Silver Linings Playbook

I was anxiously waiting to watch this! Have to say I was a little disappointed, it had its moments but never really flowed smoothly which lost a reality feel for me! Jennifer Lawrence played an awesome part. I felt her character in the film stole the show! Soundtrack was good, supporting cast and Bradley Cooper all played their parts well. I just feel they could have done more with the story which bought up some interesting topics. I would'nt mind reading the book by Matthew Quick. 6.5 out of 10.

 Silver Lining Jessie J 

Snow White and The Huntsman

 
 
Our movie reviews this week are Snow White and the Huntsman, Men in black 3 and Battleships.

Snow White and the Huntsman
Starring Kristen Stewart

       While watching the movie this arvo with my daughter. I was contemplating my review and sort of wandering between a 6.5 and 8 out of ten. The atmosphere and special effects in the movie were excellent . I just felt it was let down a little on the acting and dialogue sides. The acting probably just getting a pass but the dialogue honestly was a bit pedestrian! Never the less its well worth a look and the story and scenery certainly get you hooked! We really enjoyed the two hours of escapism so I am going to give it a 7.5 out of 10. 

    Sit back and enjoy the credits to because one of my favorite attractions with movies is the movie soundtrack and there is a super Florence Welch and the Machine track over the credits titled Breath of Life. We stayed until this finished playing! Have a listen below!  Hope you enjoy it! 

 Breath of Life
 Florence and the Machine

Men in Black 3

    Our second movie review is Men in Black 3 and I am going to give this an 7.5 as well. Did'nt see the 3D version so it could well push this to an eight. Well worth a watch. I am not really a big sci fi fan but these shows are a lot of fun and if there is one thing I love is something that makes me smile and this movie did that. Excellent adventure picture! Really enjoyed the time travel part of the movie! Time travel always makes for some extra fun. Recommended!

Trailer 

Battleships 

   Our final movie review is one that has just left the big screen, Battleships. I really was'nt expecting much from this even with Liam Neeson in the credits because seeing the supporting cast did'nt enthuse much. Although I must say Brooklyn Decker always looks WOW! I thought the movie was'nt all that bad, it was just  the ending really let it down. Started well and built up good to about midway through, then it seem to drag on into nothingville! I am going to give it a 6 rating. A bonus point for Brooklyn Decker. LOL Actually I must give her a rap, I thought she acted quite well! 

Trailer 

Snow White and the Huntsman Trailer

Just Go With It 
Starring
Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston and Brooklyn Decker 

Sandler, a plastic surgeon convinces his loyal assistant, Aniston to pose as his soon-to-be-divorced wife in order to cover up a  lie he told to his younger girlfriend.He takes them all to Hawaii on a holiday and that's when the fun begins.

 Just Go With It was nothing special but it did keep me in for the two hours with some very funny moments. At times the show was let down by the story which did'nt flow smooth and some strange characters that did'nt work well in the script! Sandler and Aniston were both average in their roles. I am going to give it a seven! Ok for a few laughs on a Sunday night!

Black Swan

Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel

 A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" as the delicate White Swan, Princess Odette. She slowly loses her mind because of her mothers desire for her to be the best and she becomes more like Odile, the Black Swan.

 Did'nt know what to expect from this movie as the reviews were mixed but i must say I was impressed.The storyline was good and kept me hooked all the way through. I do believe part of this had to do with the acting which I thought was superb. I would suggest seeing this movie!Giving it an 8 rating!

Hall Pass 

Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis,Christina Applegate 

A married man is granted the opportunity to have an affair by his wife. His best friend is also given the same chance, things get a little out of control when both wives start engaging in extramarital activities as well. 

Very Disappointing! I can't believe this is the same people who made Hangover, which i thought was a real funny show. I think they left all the laughs there because this barely had any! Acting average!Script poor! Laughs non existent! Four!

Actors Profiles

Adam Sandler 

Adam Sandler first performed comedy on a stage at the age of 17, on open-mike night at a Boston club. Later, while he was a freshman at New York University, he landed a recurring role as Theo's dim friend Smitty on The Cosby Show.More.......

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman , as a young child , spent her school holidays attending theatre camps where she developed her love of acting. After some experience in an off-Broadway musical, she was cast in Leon (released in North America as The Professional) at age twelve.More......

 Owen Wilson

Texas native Owen Wilson teamed up with college roommate Wes Anderson to help put Austin on the filmmaking map with their debut film, "Bottle Rocket" (1996). In this, he succeeded, but he would also go on to prove his talents as a comic actor - as well as writer and producer - with numerous and varied roles in both small independents and studio blockbusters. More.....

What's Hot at the Movies and on DVD

This weeks reviews of whats hot at the movies and on DVD!


Season of the Witch

    A really enjoyable, entertaining watch! The acting,settings and atmosphere were excellent! I thought the only let down in this otherwise super show was the special effects and end fight scenes. They could have made this a nine instead of an 8.5. I feel a big screen viewing may also have pushed it to a nine. All characters were played well but it was really the feeling that you were in 1350 that made this movie a highly recommended 

watch.Top movie to get lost in for a couple of hours.

The Town

This is another good show! Ben Affleck does a great job with his maiden directing effort. Excellent acting and good story. Maybe it loses a little in the final shootout scenes but otherwise  a good watch. It always kept you interested throughout, with a great connection between Afleck and Rebecca Hall who both played excellent roles. I give it  a 7.5.

True Grit

    I am not really a western lover but this was a excellently made show. I am giving it a 6.5! You will probably find western fans giving it a nine but its just not for me. All roles were played well with Jeff Bridges probably the standout in the lead role! The young lady who plays Mattie Ross, Hailee Steinfeld also does a super job. A great story helps, as many will remember it from The Dukes original back in the late 60's.

Burlesque

   The story was a little cliched, but remembering it is a musical will help.It flowed smoothly and  was very enjoyable. All character roles were played well. Christina's acting abilities were stretched at times. Cher and Peter Gallagher both played good parts as the owners of the club with Stanley Tucci as Sean the club manager, being the standout. A bit of a musical vehicle for Aguileras voice,which is sensational but overdoes it at times,where it can get annoying. The music was well placed into the story and a song called Last of Me by Cher was a good addition!
 Overall I would rate this movie as 7.5 mainly for its entertainment value and good music score.Well worth a look!

Devil

                                       Warning dont read comments it will give the story away!

  A super movie! I really enjoyed this one. A good mixture of humor and horror which adds to the unique feel of the movie.Throw in a great storyline and super character roles and it can't miss.
Do your self a favor take a look you will be surprised.
     The setting has a group of people stuck in an elevator.The same morning there is a suicide out of one of the buildings apartment windows.The investigating police officers are about to have more on their plate than a suicide.A well written script,humor and character parts lift this to an 8.5 rating. Well worth seeing.

Our DVD Review

The Runaways

  This musical I am afraid falls a little flat.All character roles are played well. Kirsten Stewart is super as Joan Jett and Michael Shannon plays a good part as the girls manager Kim Fowley.What let's it down is the storyline. It's just basically the story of the first all girl rock band and that is where it starts and ends.

I am going to give it 5.5 for the character acting and the novelty.It was watchable so i am not bagging it altogether.

Latest Movies Behind the News

 The Tourist Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie

Johnny Depp stars as an American tourist whose playful dalliance with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance and danger in The Tourist. During an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart, Frank (Depp) unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise (Angelina Jolie), an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Paris and Venice, their whirlwind romance quickly evolves as they find themselves unwittingly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.more...

Beautiful Venice the Backdrop for The Tourist Underwater

Venice, December 24 - An exceptional Acqua Alta (high water) in the early hours of Friday put over half of Venice underwater on Christmas Eve.
The Acqua Alta was caused by a relentless sirocco wind, which has been blowing over the northern Adriatic Sea since Thursday. The water rose to a peak of 144 centimeters above sea level, the 10th highest since monitoring started, flooding 57% of the city, including St. Mark's Square, in the early hours of Friday. More...

Season of the Witch Nicholas Cage

Oscar winner Nicolas Cage (National Treasure, Ghost Rider) and Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Hellboy II, Sons of Anarchy) star in this supernatural action adventure about a heroic Crusader and his closest friend who return home after decades of fierce fighting, only to find their world destroyed by the Plague. The church elders, convinced that a girl accused of being a witch is responsible for the devastation, command the two to transport the strange girl to a remote monastery where monks will perform an ancient ritual to rid the land of her curse. They embark on a harrowing, action-filled journey that will test their strength and courage as they discover the girl’s dark secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world more....

  

Nicholas Cage Interview on Season of the Witch

Witches in the Middle Ages

In medieval times, witches, real or imagined, were greatly feared and blamed for many of society's problems.
In an age of superstition and comparative lack of understanding of science, those accused of practicing witchcraft could be blamed for any number of problems, including bad weather, the failure of crops, an outbreak of illness and any kind of bad luck. More....

Witchcraft Today 

October 31st, 2010   Good article  by Dave Gamble

Viewing those who truly embrace an eccentric Wicca-based belief as nutters is probably justifiable, but labeling them as “Witches” and practitioners of evil is truly dangerous. Christianity is hostile to all other forms of belief and is fully prepared to fan the flames of such superstitious thinking. Many Christians would view the Wiccans as truly wicked because they are playing with evil forces. Even the bible tells them this, “For we fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of the air”. – Ephesians 6:12, so for them it must be true.
While Wicca does indeed have rituals that involve the casting of spells, at its core it is simply a primitive nature-centric belief centered on the worship of multiple goddesses and gods. Like Christianity, it has many diverse strands of belief, but most adhere to the Wiccian Rede which is summed up as “Do what you like, but don’t harm anybody” While Wicca does indeed have rituals that involve the casting of spells, at its core it is simply a primitive nature-centric belief centered on the worship of multiple goddesses and gods. Like Christianity, it has many diverse strands of belief, but most adhere to the Wiccian Rede which is summed up as “Do what you like, but don’t harm anybody”More....

Child Witch Victims of Nigeria

Witches Song Marianne Faithful

Gullivers Travels And Narnia in 3D

    Jack Black is taking on the title role of Lemuel Gulliver, a free-spirited travel writer who, on an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle washes ashore on the hidden island of Liliput, home to industrious, tiny people.The jolly giant  towers over the tiny citizens.There is a strong supporting cast of characters including Billy Connolly, Jason Seigel from How I met Your Mother And Knocked Up, TJ Miller from Get Him to the Greek, and Romany Malco, from Baby Mama and The Forty Year Old Virgin.
    This movie is only going to deal with Gulliver's adventures with the Lilliputians.The Island of Brobdingnag where Gulliver finds himself small as he was tall in Lilliput,is not touched upon so it seems pretty probable that there will be a sequel.

Gullivers Travels 3D
 

History Behind 
Gullivers Travels

by
Jonathon Swift

        Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin,Ireland on 30 November 1667.

Gulliver's Travels was published in 1726 . Though it's been pretty solidly labeled a children's book, it's also a great satire of the times with adult concepts.It shows Jonathan's desire to encourage people to read deeper and not take things for granted. Alot of the book looked at current events and long-term societal problems of the time.

      In 1710 Swift tried to open a political career and eventually took over the Tory journal The Examiner. From 1713 to 1742 Swift was the dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral.  Jonathan Swift died on 19 October 1745, aged 78.
   

Jack Black interview on Australian TV 

Gullivers Travels

 

Narnia  

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Interview

Director Douglas Gresham was asked his favorite scene from the movie

 The Voyage of the Dawn Treader?

Well, without a doubt, my favorite scene in this film is the ending of it. It’s one of the most moving and beautiful scenes ever put on-screen. I think everybody will find it the same way.

Sreeram Chandra Music Videos

   Sony Music and Indian Idol winner Sreeram Chandra have put together two Indian music videos for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. One in the dialect of Tamil and the other in Telugu. The song is called ‘Rehnuma’ and the videos have some new scenes from the movie.

Trailer 2

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader C.S.Lewis

1952

    When Edmund, Lucy, and their cousin Eustace are pulled into Narnia through a painting, they find themselves aboard the Dawn Treader, the ship of their friend King Caspian. Together, they must travel by sea to find and rescue the seven lost lords, good men whom Caspian’s evil uncle Miraz banished when he usurped the throne. Let the journey begin.

Trailer 1

The Horse Whisperer and Legendary Race Horses

Horse Whisperer 
James Bartholomew Cummings 

  born on November 14th 1927,raised in Adelaide, working for his father at the Adelaide stables after completing high school at Marist Brothers, Sacred Heart College.  

 Bart Cummings first experienced the thrill of a Melbourne Cup win at 23 years of age when he strapped the home-bred Comic Court for his father Jim Cummings in 1950.
He took out his own training licence in 1953.
 Bart first hit the headlines when he not only won his first Melbourne Cup in 1965 with Light Fingers, but also went on to train the winners of the two subsequent years, Galilee in 1966 and Red Handed in 1967.  For good measure, he also trained the second placegetters in 1965 and 1966.On Tuesday he lines So You Think up, looking for number 13.

        

       Bart's 12

Latest News on the legendary Bart Cummings 

  A smiling Cummings left Richmond's Epworth Hospital about 12.45pm today October 31st two days before the big day.The 82-year-old, who is recovering from pneumonia, was admitted to hospital on Thursday.

It was feared the hospital stay would put Cumming's attendance at Tuesday's race in doubt despite the prospect of a record 13th Cup triumph with his latest stable superstar, So You Think. Cummings said from his hospital bed he had every intention of being at Flemington for the race that stops the nation.

Might and Power just from the flying Doriemus

Makybe Diva's Amazing Third Melbourne Cup.

Great Horses of the Past

Secretariat

Scenes from the new Secretariat Movie

   When Secretariat arrived at Saratoga in the summer of 1972, he was a good-looking horse with promise  nothing more. After winning three races in 27 days, he left as one of the leading thoroughbreds in the country.

One year later, he returned as perhaps the greatest thoroughbred of all time. He had swept the Triple Crown with overpowering ease, winning the Belmont by an astonishing 31 lengths.

Secretariat won 16 of 21. His electrifying performance in the Belmont is considered one of sports not just horse racing’s  greatest moments.

Belmont Stakes

Red Rum

     Red Rum is the only horse in the history of the Grand National to win the race three times and on the two occasions that he ran and did not win he came second.

   On this day I'm sure that most of the talk would have been about the defeat of Crisp rather than the win of Red Rum but, 12 months later it wasRed Rum who was carrying the 12st burden and despite that he went on to win successive nationals and the public started a love affair with this chaser the like of which, is only given to a few

So You Think is our tip for this year super horses win the cup and he is on the verge of becoming one.

The Legendary Kingston Towns Three Cox Plates.

Dolphin's Cove of Death

       Japan’s annual slaughter and sale of thousands of dolphins, in the waters off Taiji has began.The gruesome spectacle of dolphins being slaughtered for profit has returned to Taiji.

In a typical hunt the fishermen pursue pods of dolphins across open seas, banging metal poles together beneath the water to confuse their sonars. The animals are driven into a large cove sealed off by nets and herded into secluded inlets to be butchered with knives and spears. They are then loaded on to boats and taken to the quayside to be cut up in a warehouse, the fishermen's work hidden from the outside by heavy shutters.

Dolphin Kill

I hope you'll join me in this campaign to stop the killing of dolphins in Japan. 

Save the Dolphins

Dolphins

A deeper knowledge and further information about dolphins is definitively the first step towards better conservation and understanding of these wonderful mammals.They have so many unique characteristics and just recently the bubble ring blowing is another loving gesture from the king of the sea.They are such an endearing part of nature.A gift!

There is a large number of accounts about dolphins helping people since the ancient Greeks.Protecting people in the ocean from the attack of sharks.Leading fisherman back home through thick fog.Alot of us would remember Flipper on our TV screens in the sixties.This maybe taking it a little far but they are a gentle animal and one we should respect and protect.

Dolphin and their Halo's

 

 Feeding Rainbow Beach

Flipper Theme

Everyone loves the king of the sea,
Ever so kind and gentle is he,
Tricks he will do when children appear,

And how they laugh when he's near

     Japan is called the “Land of the Rising Sun”

  It is known for leading the world in innovation and technology, for  moving forward into the future and for  blazing the way with new trends and ideas.
Japan is also a land of tradition proud of its ancient cultural background. Sometimes, it holds on to ancient traditions and customs, which seem to contradict the country’s efforts to lead the way into the future. It is this blend of the old and new which makes Japan the interesting and intriguing place it is today.
Unfortunately, some of Japan’s ancient traditions are still being practiced .The dolphin slaughter is a tradition that should cease.
        The small town of Taiji  is a place of picturesque beauty and hidden horrors. Taiji could easily be viewed as just another quaint, historic Japanese village. However, this is not the case.At the beginning of September every year dolphins and small whales are corralled by fisherman and slaughtered in the coves of Taiji .
      Hundreds of dolphins are killed  between September and March. Fishermen slay the dolphins by driving a pin into their necks, by slashing their throats with knives or by spearing them with long harpoons from their boats. In addition, members of the international dolphin display industry attend these dolphin slaughters to purchase show-quality dolphins for use in captive dolphin shows and dolphin swim programs then the dolphins not selected are slaughtered. This is the largest scale dolphin slaughter in the world and unfortunately very few know it even takes place.

Natures Amazing Firefly and Stem Cell Research

      Their ability to make light is known as bioluminescence. Both males and females have light producing organs composed of cells called photocytes, which contain a chemical called luciferin. An enzyme known as luciferase acts on luciferin that combines with oxygen to generate light in the firefly’s tail.         
  Scientists have used luciferase in the analysis of cells. By injecting luciferase into specific cells within an animal’s body, they are distinguishable from other ones because of their glow. For instance, by injecting cancer cells with luciferase, researchers can monitor progress in treatments, as cells begin to disappear. Apart from cancer research, firefly luciferase has played a significant role in the areas of muscular dystrophy, heart disease, urology, antibiotic testing, and wastewater treatment and blood banks have used the luciferase enzyme to test the quality of red blood cells within their stock.

Fireflies Stem Cell Research.

      In University of Central Florida ,Steven Ebert engineered stem cells with the same enzyme that makes fireflies glow. The "firefly" stem cells glow brighter and brighter as they develop into healthy heart muscle, allowing doctors to track whether and where the stem cells are working.
    Researchers are keenly interested in stem cells because they typically morph into the organs where they are transplanted. But why and how fast they do it is still a mystery. Now Ebert's cells give researchers the ability to see the cells in action with the use of a special camera lens that picks up the glow under a microscope.
      If doctors can figure out exactly how the cells repair and regenerate cardiac tissue, stem cell therapies could offer hope to more than 17.6 million Americans who suffer from coronary disease. The glow of the enzyme also means therapies would no longer require cutting into patients' chest cavities to monitor the healing.Now that scientists can track the stem cells, Ebert said he hopes to use them in disease models to determine how they heal a damaged heart and what conditions are most suitable for the stems cells to thrive.
    

 Firefly and their Mating

    New research finds that females of the firefly species Photinus ignitus choose males based on flash pattern in their taillights. A long burning flash means the male can offer a high quality nuptial gift, a sperm package high in nutrients.

   Females that receive high quality nuptial gifts lay lots more eggs, University firefly researcher Sara Lewis said there is a benefit for females that choose one of these males.

   But males of a related species, Photinus greeni, may not be so honest. The greeni males with the most desirable flash pattern do not provide the best nuptial gift.

  The question now is whether the males are being purposely dishonest or signaling something else, Lewis said. "Females definitely notice the variation. They're still being choosey"

     Male fireflies are built to mate  basically their whole anatomy is dedicated to producing the sperm package. Making a good sperm package requires loads of energy, and most males can only produce about 10 in their short lifetime. The entire purpose of a male firefly's life is to mate, pretty much with any female that will accept them.

       Female fireflies need to be choosey  they only live for two weeks in their adult stage and need to make those two weeks count. In this small period of time  females will mate with multiple males and lay about 100 eggs.

 Fireflies in a Jar

       History of Firefly

 

   Fireflies have served as cheap lights in some countries, such as China and Japan, where students once used them as reading lights. The Brazilians made gourd lanterns from them and tied them in their hair and around their ankles to guide them at night.
       Throughout history people from different cultures have been fascinated by fireflies. European sailors returning from the South Pacific talked of “fields of fairies” they had seen in the islands. Many Native Americans believed they were magical. The Cherokee told a legend of fireflies leading a young brave to his lost daughter after a terrible storm.     
And today the Japanese, having a deep respect for nature, hold firefly festivals hotari matsuri in their honor. Aside from the romantic myths that surround these luminous insects there are numerous scientific discoveries that we can share as we engage in chasing fireflies.

Firefly

Darkness fills a damp summer night,
Nature’s lanterns begin to take flight,

Crickets chirping, the nocturnal awake,
Nightfall in action until the day breaks,

Fireflies staging a brilliant show,
Festival of lights in a grassy meadow.

Children rush to this sacred place,
Wondrous looks on each little face.

Searching ever carefully for a twinkle and flash,
snatching beetles from mid-air, away again they dash.

Catch them, count them, one, two, three...
Flickering in a jar for all to see.

A call in the distance, time to fly,
Release the luminaries back to the sky.

The Gypsies and Discrimmination

  

        European Union justice commissioner Viviane Reding wants legal action taken against France for its treatment of its Roma community.She says France's deportation of its Roma, or Gypsies,are similar to injustices committed during World War II.

     Frances president Nicolas Sarkozy has said Roma camps are links to crimes like prostitution and child exploitation and has deported 1000 gypsies back to Romania and Bulgaria .

    She's personally been appalled by a situation where people are being removed from a member state of the European Union just because they belong to an ethnic minority," she said.

   "This is not a minor offence. After 11 years of experience in the commission, I even go further: this is a disgrace."Ms Reding says the European Commission has no choice but to start legal proceedings.

Gypsy in Spain

     Antonio Moreno lives in Madrid. He owns a four-bedroom house with a pool.He works out of his own photo and video studio and he's a Gypsy, one of the 40,000 inhabitants of an illegal settlement on the outskirts of the Spanish capital. If they lived in just about any other European country, Moreno and his neighbors would be the source of tension and controversy.  When it comes to dealing with Gypsies also known as Roma Spain is different. Spain has embraced its Gypsies, giving them rights, celebrating their history and making them feel at home. "Of course there is racism, but it's better here than anywhere else I've seen," Moreno says.

 Gypsies Tramps and Thieves

    Roma or gypsy

  

  are an  ethnic minority that is difficult to define in any definite, factual terms. Throughout their his­tory, the Roma have been comprised of many different groups of people, absorbing outsiders and other cultures while migrating across con­tinents. This has resulted in creating a patchwork of groups calling themselves Roma, Romani, Romany or Gypsy, each with differing cultures, cus­toms.

    If any one single aspect of their history has been dominant, it must, unfortunately, be that of their persecution, forced assimilation, enslavement, and yes, even genocide carried out against them by the Nazi's. Estimates are that roughly 600,000 Roma were exterminated by the Nazi's, roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of their numbers in all of Europe. Even in Europe in the 1400's  they were confused with muslim invaders from the east. Laws were enacted against them everywhere they went. The history of the response of the countries in which they have lived has been uniformly one of rejection, mistrust, fear,and  banishment.

Vardos

     It is the Vardos that reminds me of the Gypsies and my mum had one on her mantlepiece for years. That's an ornamental one.When I was doing my blog on Cohen's song Suzanne there was an article that contained the story of Suzanne Verdal and her son, building one to live in on the banks of the St Lawrence River. Then looking for my behind the news story I came across France's discrimatory actions against these people so I chose it as my behind the news story.

Gypsy Dance and Music

 The Flamenco

      Flamenco dancing was the result of several cultures coming together with music, dance. The gypsy people came from India and arrived in the Andalucia region of Spain in the early 1400s. Jews and moors also lived in this area, which was under Arab rule at the time.

    Catholic monarchs forced the gypsies, Jews and moors all to convert to Christianity and give up their traditions and way of living; as a result, these groups took refuge together in mountainous areas that were too dangerous for authorities to visit. This is when gypsy dance began to mix with Arab influences and other Spanish dancing, which eventually became known as flamenco.

 Caravan Of Love 

House martins