Categories
America Book Club Fashion History

Women’s Head Coverings: “The Minister’s Black Veil” (part VI of VIII)

“The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne: This 1836 short story explores themes of secret sin and the nature of humanity. It tells the tale of Reverend Mr. Hooper, who suddenly begins wearing a black veil over his face, causing unease among his congregation. The veil symbolizes the hidden sins that individuals carry, prompting readers […]

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Europe Fashion Tess Twinehart

Women’s Head Coverings: The Wimple (part III of VIII)

The wimple was a common medieval head covering, particularly for married women and nuns. It was a close-fitting cloth that covered the neck, chin, and sometimes even the cheeks, framing the face. The wimple was often worn with a veil draped over it and was seen as a respectable, modest form of dress. It symbolized […]

Categories
Europe Fashion Fine Arts History

Women’s Head Coverings (part II of VIII)

Oh, have we discovered a delightful rabbit hole. We were continuing the theme of Women’s Head Coverings, this time focusing on Catholic traditions. But this led us to head coverings in medieval paintings, which led us to the Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck. WLBOTT: G, are there medieval or renaissance paintings that feature women’s […]

Categories
Destinations Fashion The land, the people, the culture

Women’s Head Coverings (part I of VIII)

Today WLBOTT present the first in a series about women’s head coverings. First we’ll look at the various head covering in the Muslim community. In the Islamic tradition, head coverings have deep cultural, religious, and historical significance, varying widely in interpretation and practice. The concept of modesty, or hijab, goes beyond just head coverings and […]

Categories
Destinations Meaning of Life The land, the people, the culture

Ritus Benedicti Ovum

Today marks a special day in the WLBOTT liturgical calendar. Today we celebrate Ritus Benedicti Ovum, The Rite of the Blessing of Eggs. WLBOTT Word-of-the-Day Our special guest, Pope Benedict, will provide a benediction of the Eggs, followed by a buffet of eggs Benedict. One People, One Planet, Many Cultures United in Twine We present […]

Categories
America Collapse of Democracy/Civilization/etc. Music

America: The Pilgrim?

Kris Kristofferson wrote this song about a down-and-out musician, but what if we look at it as an analogy for America? See America wasted on the sidewalkwearing our camo and red hats.We’re wearing yesterday’s misfortunes like a smileOnce we had a future full of money, love and dreamsWhich we spent like they were going out […]

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Collapse of Democracy/Civilization/etc. ENGin Erudition Existential Angst Texas Ukraine

WordleBlott

Our esteemed Elder G informs me that there are approximately 100 four-letter curse words in the English language. WLBOTT Word-of-the-Day WLBOTT: If you had to say there was a “queen mother” of all curse words, what would it be? Elder G: The “queen mother” of all curse words would probably be “f***.” Its versatility is […]

Categories
Book Club Food Guerrero Mexico Movies

Prayers for the Stolen (part IV of IV)

Moral Musings and Iguanas The Moral Dilemma It’s so easy to look down from our throne of bounty, our luxury WLBOTT world, and ask these questions. The WLBOTT world, where we have unlimited ramen noodles and health care in the form of Vick’s Vap-o-rub and generic Tylenol. It’s hard to imagine anyone in America as […]

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Book Club Guerrero Mexico Movies

Prayers for the Stolen (part III of IV)

References Jennifer Clement (author of Prayers for the Stolen) Guerrero, Mexico Chilpancingo The movie and part I of the book are set on the outskirts of Chilpancingo, a city about an hour northeast of Acapulco. Chilpancingo de los Bravo (commonly shortened to Chilpancingo) is the capital and second-largest city of the Mexican state of Guerrero. […]

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Book Club Guerrero Mexico Movies

Prayers for the Stolen (part II of IV)

Book .vs. Movie Similar vignettes propel the story in both the movie and the book – hiding in makeshift foxholes, the classroom antics, the operation to transform Maria’s cleft pallet…. The book is divided into three parts. The movie roughly corresponds to the first part. In the second part of the book, a teen-aged Ladydi […]