The Truth About Travels with Charley

In 2010, Bill Stiegerwald took a 11, 726 mile trip across America, using Travels with Charley as a guide and took pictures along the way. He also blogged about his trip for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and here is a link to that blog including his pictures.

I wonder what Oprah would say about his book and Steinbeck's stretching of the truth that has been pointed out by others, including this blogger:

http://truthaboutcharley.com/travels-with-charley-timeline/

But, I wonder, how much does the truth really matter in a book like this? Does it rise to the level of literary fraud, as this blogger contends?

Steinbeck's 'Travels with Charley' in NY Times

In 2011,  New York Times reporter tried to retrace the route John Steinbeck took in 1960 in Travels with Charley and here is what he wrote:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/books/steinbecks-travels-with-charley-gets-a-fact-checking.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Dr. Henryk Goldszmit (Panusz Korczak)

Source: jewishvirtuallibrary.org via Daša on Pinterest

This is the picture taken on August 6, 1942 of Dr. Godszmit escorting 200 children on the train to Treblinka, knowing his presence would calm them.
"You do not leave a sick child in the night, and you do not leave children at this time."

An observer later described the scene: "A miracle occurred, two hundred pure souls, condemned to death, did not weep. Not one of them ran away. None tried to hide. Like stricken swallows they clung to their teacher and mentor, to their father and brother, Janusz Korscak."

Warsaw Zoo: Righteous Among Nations

On September 21, 1965, Yad Vashem recognized Jan Zabinski and his wife, Antonina Zabinska, as Righteous Among the Nations. On October 30, 1968 Dr. Jan Zabinski planted a tree on the Mount of Remembrance. Yad Vashem is a living memorial to the Holocaust and this is the link to their page about the Zabinski family and their work on behalf of the Jews in Warsaw during the Nazi persecution of WWII.

The Zabinski zoo in Warsaw is featured in this month's book for discussion. Hope to see you Wednesday, Jan 23 at 7:30 p. m.!

Ellen Jennings

Art work of Claude Monet

Here is a 10 minute slide show of the works of Money set to lovely classical music. Enjoy!

Art works of Claude Monet

Willowbrook: the Last Great Disgrace

Many years ago, at a conference about Down syndrome, we were shown a horrific documentary film about how life was in an institution for those who were mentally retarded. I do not remember the name of the film, but I do remember the shock I felt as I watched it. The film went on to explain how this undercover documentary and the efforts of the Kennedy administration completely and forever eliminated this sort of institutionalization.

Tonight, I was trying to find the film and I stumbled across this short clip from a 1972 Geraldo Rivera documentary from 20/20. I'm not sure if it's the same film I saw so long ago, but it certainly paints a grim picture of the lives of those living in institutions in the U.S. until the 1970s.

I know it's difficult to watch, but if you are able, it will give a better understanding of the sort of place where Lynnie and Homan were living.

Here's the link to the short clip (less than 3 minutes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_sYn8DnlH4

Dubai to Build Replica of Taj Mahal

After reading Beneath a Marble Sky last month about the building of the Taj Mahal, I thought you might find this news article of interest!

Enjoy!

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-19825332