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COFFEE COUNTER
for week of
August 23rd
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Today In History
The death of silent-screen idol Rudolph Valentino at the age of 31 sends his fans into a hysterical state of mass mourning. In his brief film career, the Italian-born actor established a reputation as the archetypal screen lover. After his death from a ruptured ulcer was announced, dozens of suicide attempts were reported, and the actress Pola Negri--Valentino's most recent lover--was said to be inconsolable. Tens of thousands of people paid tribute at his open coffin in New York City, and 100,000 mourners lined the streets outside the church where funeral services were held. Valentino's body then traveled by train to Hollywood, where he was laid to rest after another funeral.
Rudolph Valentino was born Rodolfo Guglielmi in Castellaneta, Italy, in 1895. He immigrated to the United States in 1913 and worked as a gardener, dishwasher, waiter, and gigolo before building a minor career as a vaudeville dancer. In 1917, he went to Hollywood and appeared as a dancer in the movie Alimony. Valentino became known to casting directors as a reliable Latin villain type, and he appeared in a series of small parts before winning a leading role in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921). The film, which featured a memorable scene of Valentino dancing the tango, made the rakishly handsome Italian an overnight sensation. His popularity soared with romantic dramas such as The Sheik (1921), Blood and Sand (1922), and The Eagle (1925).
more~Quote Of The Day
"Wisdom begins in wonder. "
Socrates
Today's Trivia
Chitty Chitty Bang BangA 23-litre car named "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" won the first Southsea (England) Speed Carnival in 1922, driven by Count Louis Zborowski at 73.1mph. The name "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" reappeared in Ian Fleming's book about a magical car, and again in the 1968 movie of the same name starring Dick Van Dyke.
Cars And Bears Automobiles were legally allowed to enter Yosemite National Park, California, for the first time on this day, marking a huge change in the national park system. Prior to 1913, most park visitors traveled by train to the park and then took scheduled stagecoach tours. The advent of motor tourism changed the face of Yosemite forever, for it demanded modern, high-quality park roads. The National Park Service's landscape architects, along with the Bureau of Public Roads, developed a systematic approach to the design and construction of park roads. From the mid-1920s through World War II, a "Golden Age" of park road development flourished as designers attempted to create roads that would
"lie lightly on the land."
From Our Forums
CLIFF'S FOTOFUN #53, WE HAVE A WINNER
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Welcome to our Mini Challenge #40
here at the Photography Cafe
"C R E A T I V E B L U R" This is our latest
mini challenge here at the
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See who is appearing on Centre Stage this week
Bustinmins
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The Judges of the Cafe Choice Award are pleased to announce the presentation of this highly rated award:
is awarded to memberELLETTEfor her image"Dive, Dive"
"Sara’s ‘Dive! Dive!’ has an almost cartoon quality with its simple lines, clarity and the very engaging look of the fish. Although the fish is placed around the right and lower ‘third’ lines, the image does not slavishly follow compositional rules and there is a lot of pure white ‘negative space’ which the fish is swimming into. There is a separation of the two elements of the fish and the surface water only linked by the delicate line of bubbles and the fish’s reflection.
The fish itself has a very engaging and quizzical look, its eye is pin sharp and the fins have a very soft, flowing texture more suggestive of painting than photography. The colours from opposing sides of the colour wheel give the image real ‘zing’.
Congratulations, Ellette!* * * * * * *
Today's Chuckles
How Old Are You?Nurse: How old are you?
Patient: None of your business.
Nurse: But the doctor must know your age for his records.
Patient: Well, first, multiply twenty by two, then add ten. Got that?
Nurse: Yes. Fifty.
Patient: All right, now subtract fifty, and tell me, what do you get?
Nurse: Zero.
Patient: Right. And that's exactly the chance of me telling you my age.
The RescueThe two men stood on the lonely lighthouse. Through the fog they could see a small boat making its way toward them, with a lonely occupant. Suddenly a squall lifted the craft and tossed the man into the water.
The two men on shore sprang into action. Hurriedly they launched their own craft and fought their way through perilous and treacherous waters to reach the man. At last they got him aboard their boat.
"It's a good thing you rescued me," the dripping man said gratefully. "I was coming out to see you about your income tax."
Quick Quotes
" Always be a little kinder than necessary. "
~J.M. Barrie
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"During the work, you have to be sure that you haven't left any holes, that you've captured everything, because afterwards it will be too late. "
~Henri Cartier-Bresson
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"Win or lose, do it fairly. "
~Knute Rockne
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More Chuckles
Somethings To Ponder For the Fun Of ItNo one is listening until you make a mistake.
Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.
When someone says, "Do you want my opinion?" - it's always a negative one.
The word listen contains the same letters as the word silent.
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.
A VERY BIG WELCOME TO ALL OUR NEW MEMBERS 
