Happy 75th Anniversary to Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA - May 27, 2012

“The mystical structure, with its perfect amalgam of delicacy and power, exerts an uncanny effect. Its efficiency cannot conceal the artistry. There is heart there, and soul. It is an object to be contemplated for hours.”
~~ Herb Caen, May 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning San Francisco journalist

Seventy-five years ago today, May 27, 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opened and San Francisco, CA would never be the same. Tens of thousands of participants are expected at the historic celebration along the San Francisco waterfront to celebrate on this Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. It has been declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Frommers travel guide considers the Golden Gate Bridge "possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world".

Construction began on January 5, 1933 and cost more than $35 million. Four and a half years later, the Golden Gate Bridge opened on May 27, 1937. When completed, the Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge main span in the world, at 4,200 feet (1,280.2 m). Since 1964, its main span length has been surpassed by eight other bridges. However, it still has the second longest main span in the United States, after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City. At 692 feet (211m) (above water), the Golden Gate Bridge also had the world's tallest suspension towers when built. It held that status until 1998, with the completion of bridges in Denmark and Japan.


The color of the bridge is officially an orange vermillion called international orange. The color was selected by consulting architect Irving Morrow because it complements the natural surroundings and enhances the bridge's visibility in fog. Aesthetics was the foremost reason why the first design of Joseph Strauss was rejected. Upon re-submission of his bridge construction plan, he added details, such as lighting, to outline the bridge's cables and towers. In 1999, it was ranked fifth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.

Other Resources
►Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary, May 27, 2012
►WSJ, Birthday Bash Planned for Bridge, But Will the Golden Gate Show?
► Golden Gate Research
►Golden Gate Bridge – Wikipedia.org
► Huffington Post, Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary: The World's Most Iconic Bridge Celebrates Historic Milestone (PHOTOS)
► Facebook, Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary
► Images for Golden Gate Bridge
► L.A. NOW - Battleship Iowa make dramatic exit under Golden Gate Bridge
► San Francisco Gate
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Memorial Day, May 28, 2012

“We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies."
~~ Moina Michael (aka Poppy Lady)

U.S. professor and humanitarian who vowed to always wear a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who served in the war. In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem, We Shall Keep the Faith, November 1918

In Flander's Field by John McCrae
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead.
Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw,
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us, who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.

Memorial Day, honors men and women who fought for our country so that we can all be free.

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. We all should help celebrate our nation’s vets by remembering and never letting the importance of Memorial Day fade.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

Other Resources
►Moina Bell Michael: the Idea for the Flanders Fields Memorial Poppy
►USmemorialday.org
►Memorial Day Calendar
►Memorial Day History
► How to Observe Memorial Day
► Buddy Poppy
► The Story Behind the Poppy
► InflandersFields-YouTube
► InflandersFields-YouTube
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Happy B-Day Robert Arthur Moog! American Electronic Music Legend – born in NYC on May 23, 1934

Happy 78th B-Day to the world’s grandfather of electronic music, Robert Arthur Moog (May 23, 1934 – August 21, 2005). This American pioneer of electronic music who founded Moog Music, changed music forever with the invention of the Moog Synthesizer.

To honor Moog, Google celebrates with this interactive doodle of a replica of the Moog Synthesizer – visit google.com and go ahead -- click the keys!

Photo, left of the Minimoog,a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog, released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. (Moog Music after 1972); In 1981 production was stopped. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager. The Moog synthesizer was one of the first widely used electronic musical instruments.

Bands such as The Beatles, which would eventually use a Moog machine on the album "Abbey Road," (released September 29, 1969), wanted a psychedelic sound, and the Moog could provide it. Today, Abbey Road is known as the best Bestles album. Many musicians would adopt Moog machines: including Herbie Hancock and Sun Ra, the jazz greats; the Monkees and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, the rock groups; even the Beastie Boys, the rap group formed in 1981.

A native of New York City, as a child his mother encouraged him to study music and he learned to play piano. He also spent time with his father,an electrical engineer at Con Edison, whose hobby was tinkering with electronics. At the age of 14, Bob built his first theremin. Photo left, Moog with his Boy Scout group in 1945 at 11 years young.

When he was 19, Bob published his first article named "The Theremi" in Radio and Television News, in January 1954. That article engendered requests from readers for Bob to create a theremin kit for sale, and thus R.A. Moog, Co. was born. Moog attended the Bronx High School of Science in New York, graduating in 1952. Moog earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Queens College, New York in 1957, another in electrical engineering from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in engineering physics from Cornell University. Moog's awards include honorary doctorates from Polytechnic Institute of New York University (New York City) and Lycoming College (Williamsport, Pennsylvania). Pronunciation of Moog rhymes with “vogue.” Photo right, 18-year young Moog with his theremin (1952).

More Info
♫ MoogMusic.com
♫ The Christian Science Monitor: Bob Moog: How he changed music forever
♫ The Bob Moog Foundation http://www.moogfoundation.org/
♫ Bob Moog Goodle doodle Demonstration: How to use it! – YouTube demonstration of Moog Synthesizer
♫ Inventor of the Week Archive
♫ SearchEngineWatch.com Bob Moog Rocks Google Homepage with Synthesizer Logo You Can Play
♫ Moog on Facebook
♫ Interview with Bob Moog
Photo left, Moog high school graduation portrait, 18 years young (1952)

In 2002 Bob Moog was honoured with a Grammy Award for technical achievements. He died of a brain tumour on August 21, 2005 at 78 years old. Photo right, Moog lecturing at York University, in Toronto, Canada (1974).

Happy Mother's Day - Celebrate with this Anginette cookie recipe.

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day, this year is Sunday, May 13th and always a great day to celebrate love, friendship and moms. Every year I post this blog to celebrate moms. Did you know that yellow roses indicate joy, gladness, friendship and "I Care?" I wanted to celebrate ahead of time with a beautiful bouquet of 2 dozen yellow roses and share a special recipe from mom. As a child my mother would often bake all sorts of foods, pies, desserts, cakes and cookies. One of my favorite, all time cookies is a famous Italian cookie called "Anginette" (aka Anginetti), in the USA popularly called "Lemon Drop Cookies." The great thing about this cookie is that it is popular all year round and with just a few ingredients, anyone can prepare and bake this great cookie in less than 30 minutes. I use to always enjoy rolling the dough into extra long cigar shapes and coiling the cookie into 2 and 3 tiers high. The sky is the limit in regards to creativity; although anginettes are delightful plain they are lovely and appetizing garnished with frosting and sprinkles. The prep time including rolling the dough into cigar shapes was slightly less than 15 minutes and it baked in 8 minutes. I try to bake these as much as I can. I once baked Anginettes and decided to bring in a tray for an early meeting where I was leading a direct marketing presentation to a group of about 30 people. The cookies were a big hit as was my presentation. Besides adding a personal touch, they were a surprise breakfast treat especially for those sipping coffee and tea.

INGREDIENTS:
► Eggs 6
► Baking Powder 4 - 6 teaspoons max
► Baking Soda 1/2 teaspoon
► Flour 6 cups
► Vanilla 1 - 2 teaspoons
► Sugar 1 - 2 cups (can substitute with alteratives, e.g., splenda, equal, etc.)
► Butter 4 sticks (can substitute with vegetable oil)

OPTIONAL ICING:
► Powdered Sugar (aka Confectioners Sugar) 3 tablespoons
► Milk, Lemon Juice or Water (just a dash, about 1/2 teaspoon)

OPTIONAL OTHER:
► Lemon or Orange Skin (grated or peeled, optional with flour mix)
► Caraway seeds, almonds, walnuts, cream cheese, etc.
► Be Creative

Step 1 : Make Dough (5 min)
► Prepare oven at 375°; In large bowl combine ingredients
► Eggs
► Baking Powder
► Flour (put about half and add the remaining flour while mixing in bowl)
► Vanilla
► Sugar (or alternative, e.g., splenda, equal, etc.)
► Butter

Step 2 : Knead, Cut & Shape Dough (10 min)
► Knead dough when ready divide into amounts enough to roll into long cigars (about 6" to 8 inches); Then create circular coil shapes. Place in baking tray. Makes about 36 cookies or so depending on shape and size of cookies. You can make many more if you use a simple flat, round conventional shape cookie, but then again, it won't have the look and feel as a true, anginette.

Step 3 : Place tray in 375° oven (8 - 18 min)
► Depending on your oven, bake anywhere from 10to 20 minutes, keep watching and when the cookies are golden brown color on the bottom it is done. If you want to have frosting, mix the powdered sugar and water and stir until paste like. Wait at least 10 minutes for baked cookies to cool and dip cookies into frosting mix, or simply pour a little on each. Should set within 15 minutes. Can serve plain or with the traditional sugar frosting. Be creative, try cutting a few plain ones and adding cream cheese in the middle.
► Don't forget to wait at least 10 minutes before adding the icing and sprinkles or serving without icing.


Total time - 23 - 33 Minutes

These cookies are great plain or with icing. There are different textures and styles. The neutral-colored frosting was made using lemon instead of milk with powdered sugar.



“The sweetest sounds to mortals given. Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven” -- William Goldsmith Brown (1902-1982);
Survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Later he wrote a book about his experiences on the ship, and had his story featured in the documentary, Titanic: The Legend Lives On, as well as a children's book about the disaster, Inside the Titanic.

NYWIFT Designing Women 2012 Awards - See what you missed!!

On Thursday, May 10th, a full house audience of film and television professionals attended the 13th annual NYWIFT Designing Women Awards in the executive suites of Macy's in Herald Square in New York City. (Pictured above: Boardwalk Empire Creative Team with Steve Buscemi, American actor, writer and film director, front row, 3rd from left; All photos on this blog post courtesy of photographer Eileen Miller unless noted otherwise.)

Emcee Kristen Schaal (30 Rock, Flight of The Conchords) entertained with her usual comedic effervescence throughout the presentations, but ”confessed” that she had always thought her farmer father was the hardest-working person in the world, until she realized how hard these extraordinary women behind the scenes work. (Photo to the right of Kristen Schaal by Getty Images)

The event, co-presented by Variety, honored makeup artists Jenn Jorge Nelson (30 Rock, Baby Mama, Hope and Faith) and Julie Teel (30 Rock, Ugly Betty, In Treatment), hair stylist and wigmaker Amanda Miller (Smash, Country Strong, Saturday Night Live), and costume designer Kasia Walicka Maimone (Moneyball, The Adjustment Bureau, Capote). The Variety Ensemble Award was presented to the costume, makeup and hair design team of Boardwalk Empire—helmed by Costume Designers John Dunn and Lisa Padovani, Hair Department Head Francesca Paris and Makeup Department Head Michele Paris. (Above left photo, from L-R John Dunn, Lisa Padovani, Francisca Paris, Steve Buscemi, Michele Paris)

Tina Fey, Executive Producer, head writer and star of NBC’s 30 Rock, touted praises for her show’s makeup team (Nelson & Teel), describing their wackiest feats, including turning casts members into smurfs and opposite genders. (Above right photo, from L-R Jen Jorge Nelson, Tina Fey, Julie Teel)

Director Bennett Miller (Moneyball, Capote) presented to costume designer Kasia Walicka Maimone, affirming their “pact” that she will always be his “first call” on all his projects if she promises to always be his costume designer. Actor Harvey Keitel, who worked with Maimone in Wes Anderson’s upcoming Moonrise Kingdom, was there in spirit in his video tribute to the costume designer. (Left photo, from L-R, Kasia Walicka Maimone, Bennett Miller)

Cabaret singer Lady Rizo literally sang her praises with an impromptu composition she’d just written on the subway for her hair stylist/wigmaker Amanda Miller. (Left Photo Lady Rizo, aka Amelia Zirin-Brown)

All eyes on Lady Rizo and Amanda Miller striking poses on the red carpet. (Right Photo, L-R, Amanda Miller, Lady Rizo)

Steve Buscemi rounded out the presenters with heartfelt appreciation for Boardwalk Empire’s costume/hair/makeup team for transforming him into his character, Nucky Thompson. (Left, photo of Steve Buschemi on the red carpet courtesy of Getty Images)

Pictured above from L-R, Martine Reardon, Chief Marketing Officer, Macy's, Alexandra Levi, President NYWIFT, Amanda Miller, John Dunn

Pictured in left photo from L-R, Lamonia Brown-NYWIFT Program Coordinator, Steve Buscemi, Maria Pusateri-NYWIFT member, Susan Steiger-NYWIFT Board Member & Event CoChair









by Maria Pusateri

NYWIFT member MARIA PUSATERI has worked in various roles of TV/Film production. She is the director/producer of the award-winning documentary, Vito After, about a 9/11 responder coping in the aftermath of his rescue and recovery work. Pusateri was field producer for Mondays at Racine, a new documentary from Academy Award-winning director Cynthia Wade and HBO. The film, currently in festivals, won the Audience Award at IFF Boston. Maria has also worked in TV/Film publicity, performed as an actress, and has programmed many NYWIFT screening series, as well as the former CineWomen NY Screens at the legendary Pioneer Theater.


All photos on this site courtesy of Eileen Miller unless otherwise noted. More photos of the event at: Designing Woman Awards 2012 – Getty Images
Other Resources
►Designing Woman — Mara Blumenfeld nabs 2012 Merritt Award
►Designing Women Facebook
►30 Rock's Makeup Artists Get an Award, Share Their Top TV Beauty Secrets, Daily Beauty Reported
►What It’s Like to Do Makeup For Tina Fey, Source Vintage For Boardwalk Empire and Design Costumes For Wes Anderson, Fashionista.com


NYWIFT was founded in 1977 and brings together more than 2,000 professionals, including EMMY and Academy Award® winners, who work in all areas of the entertainment industry — above and below the line. It is part of a network of 40 international Women in Film chapters, representing more than 10,000 members worldwide.. For more information visit NYWIFT.org

Happy B-Day Keith Haring! American Pop Artist

Happy B-Day to Keith Haring (May 4, 1958 – February 16, 1990), American, pop artist and social activist whose work responded to the New York City culture of the 1980s.

Haring was interested in art from an early age. From 1976 to 1978 he studied commercial art at The Ivy School of Professional Art, an art school in Pittsburgh. He soon lost interest in commercial art and moved on to study Fine Arts.

At age 19, in 1978, Haring moved to New York City, where he was inspired by graffiti art, and studied at the School of Visual Arts. He was also mentored by Andy Warhol. Haring was well known for his chalk pop art drawings in the subways of New York City.







In 1981 he sketched his first chalk drawings on black paper and painted plastic, metal and found objects. Around this time, "The Radiant Baby" became his symbol (see image above). His bold lines, vivid colors, and active figures carry strong messages of life and unity. Starting in 1980, he organized exhibitions in Club 57. He participated in the Times Square Exhibition and drew, for the first time, animals and human faces. Google celebrates with a Haring inspired doodle.

More Info

►Haring.com
►The Christian Science Monitor Keith Haring: Painter, activist, and one of the original street artists
►Huffington Post – Happy Birthday photos Keith Haring
►Wired.com – Google Doodle Salutes Graffitti Artist Keith Haring
►Keith Haring Exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum - http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/keith_haring/
►Haringkids.com Lesson Plan Database for parents and teachers http://www.haringkids.com/
►Wikepedia - Keith Haring

Happy 1st Anniversary – world’s cowardly terrorist dead 1 year ago on 5/1/2011

May 1, 2011 marked the end of the Cowardly Terrorist! So shall we all celebrate the 9/11 Falling Man photo as the 501 "Rocket Man" photo?

"The Falling Man," photo below by Richard Drew is rotated 180° to celebrate the 1 year anniversary on the death of OBL and as a symbol of rising peace. Truly so much more to this photo than meets the eye.

my two haikus
═ five one eleven ═ 1 year OBL dead ═ coward killed hiding



pin-straight
Rocket Man

rising up towards the heaven

our
land, brave and free


by
Gloria
Buono-Daly








One of the most provocative, unforgettable images by Associated Press photographer Richard Drew, of a man falling from the twin towers, positioned perfectly in the middle, has been flipped! To celebrate the 1 year anniversary on the death of the cowardly terrorist, I rotated “Falling Man” image 180° as a symbol of rising peace, beginning a new chapter closing the decade of 911, and the decling of al-Qaeda cult. It was bin Laden's overall strategy to cripple the Soviet Union and United States by luring them into war to nowhere with Muslim countries to economically crush non-jihadist nations. According to a CNN report “a tape broadcast by al-Jazeera, the Al-Qaeda manuals clearly outline OBL’s strategy where bin Laden also spoke of "bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy".

Excerpts from lyrics to “Rocket Man” by Neil Diamond posted below:
I miss the earth so much
I miss my lady
It’s lonely out in space
On such a time, time
Such a timeless flight
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time
Till touchdown brings me around again
To find I’m not the man
They think I am at home
Oh no, oh no, oh no
I’m a rocket man
Rocket man
Rocket man

Additional information at the following links:

║See CBS video, “The Passionate Eye,” http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeyemonday/video_player.html?fallingman&playerType=wmp

║Video “911 The Falling Man”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EFvGuIXIJc&feature=related Images of bodies hanging out of windows, holding on across the steel across windows, leaning out for air.

║Google Blog: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/ten-years-later.html

║September 11th, 2001 – The Day The World Cried. Ten Years Later! http://myblog.allthingsdigitalmarketing.com/2011/09/september-11th-2001-day-world-cried-ten.html