I was in a thrift store, huge place called Value Village, probably looking for vintage coats several years ago. I was taken aback, many yards away, at a stack of National Geographic back issues. It was because of this cover photograph. by the extraordinary William Albert Allard. I've written about it & scanned it ages ago. While I'm trying to help with matters Haitian, feast on this link to a photo gallery.
She's an actress, waiting for her cue. A Greek tragedy. Perfect for Sicily. Check out Andrea Camillieri's detective books (that's so inadequate, he's a genius) about Inspector Montalbano, gourmet/gourmand. Considering the racially-motivated (partially anyway) riots in southern Italy last week, Camillieri has much to say about this subject. (As does author Roberto Saviano, who has been in hiding & under 24-hour police protection since 2006.) Many Italians take offense. This last week they are in shock & dismay at the barbaric behavior. People like to think of Italy as the land of sun & pasta. Not always. To me that's like reducing Frenchwomen to their accessories & scarf-tying techniques. You can't love or know a place or a person without acknowledging the darker side. Period.
I'm really upset & bothered by the lack of mention of Haiti by so many bloggers. There's a phrase I use all the time: worlds collide. It won't kill you to put in a button or a link. I've seen several design blogs do it & it didn't mess up their precious template.
BTW, the long weekend in America is not just for sleeping in & loafing. It's Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday remembrance. "Oh Susan, don't you have any fun or sense of humor?" Yes I do, yes I have. In fact some people think I'm (one of) the funniest personnes they know in real life. No kidding, really. And if you think I'm just a self-righteous pain in the neck, I'm not, but you are welcome to think whatever you like. Now, I must go lie down. I have a case of the vapors or worse. Seriously.
[photograph via personal scan/William Albert Allard/National Geographic]