Michael Economides (2)

When writing about Spanish Civil War veteran Michael (Miquel) Economides, I did not expect to (virtually) meet his son, who happens to live in New Zealand as well. 

Kim Economides, a wearer of txapelduns himself, sent me a video of his late father reciting a poem by Rafael Alberti in the Madrid Sports Stadium in November 1996. 
Michael died 20 days after.  
I have to confess that the Alberti's poem (in Spanish) is too much for my minor knowledge of Spanish, but I loved the poetry in the words of Michael Economides. 

Enjoy and remember.

Superman goes French

French kid's poetry from a fellow Dutch Kiwi:

Superman goes French

By Marja Blom

Last week a rumour went through town

Superman goes French they said with a frown
Oh la la, bonjour and Au revoir he said
He holds a French stick and wears a beret

He uses the stick to hit the enemy on his head

but all what happens is he breaks the bread
In the wrong direction Superman flies

Because that French beret covers his eyes

Yesterday we saw him eating some Brie

With a French lady who called him Mon Amie
But that was before he dismantled a bomb in her flat

She wanted to distroy the world with that

Superman delivered her to the police

He saved the earth said a press release

Beret thrown away, rumour deleted
French stick eaten, mission completed

http://kidscorner-marja.blogspot.com/

Mike Cressy, in his own words

A humble lad really. From deep in the bowels of Detroit I sprang. Greek roots from the old country. 2nd generation. Worked in the car factories until I saved enough to make my excape to the west (left) coast. Hunkered down in Los Angeles for a number of years learning my craft as an artist so that one day I could make a splash (more like a piddle really.) in the art world.

I met up with some well seasoned lads from the old school. Ren Wicks, Bill Robles (Bill is still among us.) , Nick Galloway, Neil Boyle and Larry Salk. All well known in their day for their creativity. They taught me all I know about the business. We were known then as Group West.
Having had that training, I made my way in the commercial art world. Then I got married, moved to Seattle and started working in the computer game industry, just because there was a lot of money to be made there and they hired artists. 
Then I got divorced.
Free as a bird I went from company to company, making my mark over and over again. With a place like Microsoft there were chances to do that over and over again. A great place if you get on with people. Even computer people. (wink)
These days I'm back at doing my own art and trying to make a go at it. Check out me new website and send me a note. www.mikecressy.com

Barbie con Boina

In my continuing quest for everything related to berets, I came upon Barbie, the impossible beauty myth sold to millions of children around the world - giving them strong messages on waist- and bustlines. 

Typically, a few of her outfits are very French with Basque beret and marinière and, of course, an artist's set. Looking a little further into the phenomenon Barbie, I came upon the lawsuit against artist Tom Forsysthe (one of many people, companies, artists targeted legally by Mattel Inc.). 

The outcome though was more than pleasing; have a read here and check out the beautiful photographs of Barbie in the food-chain (in sympathy with all those other parents of Barbie-loving-daughters...).

My Fine Brother and his Navy Castilla

This fine gentleman is my brother, Emile Kolthoff, wearing his beret of choice: a Castilla Algodon from the Fabrica Nacional de Sombreros in Uruguay. 

And I agree, it's the ultimate summer beret at only 95 grams - lighter (and cooler) than it's competitor, the Tolosa Tupida from Argentina - and slightly cheaper too!

 Available in navy and green, they cost $31.50

Odilon Redon

Bertrand-Jean Redon, better known as Odilon Redon (April 20, 1840 – July 6, 1916) was a French Symbolist painter, printmaker, draughtsman and pastellist.

Until he was in his fifties he worked almost exclusively in black and white, in charcoal drawings and lithographs. In these he developed a highly distinctive repertoire of weird subjects (strange amoeboid creatures, insects, and plants with human heads), influenced by the writings of Edgar Allen Poe. 

He remained virtually unknown to the public until the publication of J.K. Huysmans's celebrated novel A Rebours in 1884; the book's hero, a disenchanted aristocrat who lives in a private world of perverse delights, collects Redon's drawings, and with this mentioning in the classic expression of decadence, Redon too became associated with the movement.
During the 1890s Redon turned to painting and revealed remarkable powers as a colorist that had lain dormant. Much of his early life had been unhappy, but after undergoing a religious crisis in the early 1890s and a serious illness in 1894-95, he was transformed into a much more buoyant and cheerful personality, expressing himself in radiant colors in mythological scenes and flower paintings.

He showed equal facility in oils and pastel. The flower pieces, in particular, were much admired by Matisse, and the Surrealists regarded Redon as one of their precursors. He was a distinguished figure by the end of his life, although still a very private person.

The Maroon Beret #2

A nice maroon beret related post from:  http://www.expedschools.org/ExS2005/trip_progress.htm

Whilst we were staying with Ben and Mandy we met Ben's friend Ray and his wife Betty. Ray was blinded during the Second World War. He was part of the forces that were parachuted into Arnhem in The Netherlands to try and capture bridges over the Rhine River . Ben and Ray go for a bike ride every week on a tandem , a bicycle designed to take two people. Ben steers and Ray pedals behind as the 'stoker'. Ray, aged 84, did a parachute jump last September to commemorate the battle to capture 'The Bridge Too Far'. We were all very impressed by Ray's fitness (he swims a mile regularly) and wanted to show you a picture of someone who has maintained his health and fitness well into later life. A great example to us all.

I couldn't agree more. 

The Bike Series #8 - 1940's 'Petrol Bike'

And after the earlier post of a tandem bicycle, this beautiful picture of a man pushing his 'petrol bike', with trailer, on a dirt road near Paris in 1940. 

Photographer: Carl Mydans

The Maroon Beret

3 Generations of British maroon berets: Jalpotex from 1948, 

British Beret Industries from 1944 and Kangol from 1946

Following the posts in the Green Beret Series, let's move to a similar phenomenon: the maroon beret. Like it's green counterpart, it is a beret loaded with (military) history and cachet. Most armed forces around the world reserve the maroon coloured beret for their airborne and commando regiments, beginning with the British Parachute Regiment in 1942 during their North African campaign in WWII. 

South African Para

It was the wife of the 1st Airborne Division's commander, general Frederick Browning, who chose the colour; his wife happened to be the well-known novelist Daphne du Maurier.  

Whereas the colour green for a beret seems to be pretty much reserved for the military (except for myself, loving my green cotton Tolosa Tupida's and Castilla's in varying sizes...), the maroon beret is a very popular beret among the civilized population.

Previously on this blog there was Michael Esposito, and the maroon beret is also widely adopted by artists, writers and the South American gaucho's. 

Sarah Palin

Driving home through the night I just heard the disastrous US election results on NZ Radio. Despite all the explanations of journalists, political scientists, anthropologists, historians, Americanologists and all others coming through my speakers, I still fail to understand how so many people can be so dumb. 

Only a few years back we collectively laughed at Sarah Palin and her ambitions - who could even imagine this woman elected for president..? 
I remember the enormous sigh of relief; here, there and everywhere, after the departure of G.W., but what will happen in another 2 years? Will we be held hostage again for 4 years, or more?

Painting by Dan Lacey

Fearfully, I started searching for any material that related Ms Palin with the Basque beret. Fear not: the closest I got was Ms Palin wearing a floppy pancake.

Apologies for the bumper sticker - I couldn't resist

Oliver B. Bumble and Marten Toonder

Oliver B. Bumble (Olivier B. Bommel in Dutch language) is a fictional anthropomorphic bear and one of the two main characters, the other being Tom Puss (Tom Poes in Dutch) in an originally Dutch series of comic books bearing the name of either one main characters in their name, written by Marten Toonder.

Sir Olivier Berendinus Bommel is a gentleman of good standing, for whom money is no object and Lord of Castle Bommelstein. Sir Bumble is very class-conscious, but not unlikable. He drives a modest car, de "Oude Schicht" (the Old Flash), en dresses very modest in no more than a checkered coat. 
In 1938 Tom Puss was the leading figure in a children's-cartoon, where eventually Olli B. Bumble became the leading figure. First only appearing as a supernumerary, he developed into Oliver B. Bumle. The first Bumble-cartoon appeared in 1941 in a Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. De Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant, another Dutch newspaper, started to publish Bumle's adventures in 1947. In total there are 154 original stories published. 

On january 20th 1986 the last part of the last story, written by Marten Toonder about Oliver B. Bumble, was published. He is probably the most important cartoon-hero in Dutch literature. He's translated in at least 20 languages, was published in 21 countries and has made millions of people enjoy his adventures. Bumbe is a concept, an industry, a declaration of love. Bumle has become cult.

One other character in the Bumble comics is painter Terpen Tijn (Turpentine); a bohemian who lives for art and has no concern to bourgeois pettiness. He is sloppy dressed and wears a black beret, of course. He applies his paint with great energy onto the canvas, spreading "strong vibrations". It is said that Toonder based Terpen Tijn on Dutch painter Karel Appel. 

Yoko Ono (2)

Yoko Ono (オノ・ヨーコ Ono Yōko, kanji: 小野洋子; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese-American artist, musician, author and peace activist, also known for her marriage to John Lennon and her groundbreaking work in avant-garde art, music and film making. Ono brought feminism to the forefront through her music, and is also considered a pioneer and major influence of the 1970s new wave genre. She is a supporter of gay rights and is known for her philanthropic contributions to the arts, peace and AIDS outreach programs.

A great picture of Yoko and John, but... no beret for her.
The only photographs I managed to find of Yoko Ono with a beret are from the Dick Cavett Show:

John Lennon (2) & Yoko Ono (1)

Whereas John Lennon goes for the real Basque beret, Yoko Ono is most often pictured with a flat cap. Researching material for these posts on John & Yoko, I came upon the web site of the Anti Fascist Encyclopedia, an interesting article claiming CIA (and other US govt) involvement in Lennon's death.
I am again and again amazed how many intrigues and conspiracy theories go around on the web since I look at so many sites for my research. But then, as any writer knows, the truth is generally stranger and more unbelievable than fiction... 
Let me stick to the berets... 

John Lennon autographing (above) and in front of the Statue of Liberty (below).

PRC Navy Shirts

No, no berets in this post, but the new shirts that are now available at South Pacific Berets. 

Have you ever thought of Chinese made goods as inferior? Think again! These shirts are worn by the PRC's Navy and are not only of excellent quality, but extremely comfortable as well - and very hard to find anywhere outside of China.

They are made in old time Communist era factories and dealing without any knowledge of Chinese (on my side) or English (on their side), the absence of Paypal and frustrating customs regulations made it a long term process to import these shirts into New Zealand.

Read much more about these shirts, their origins, their role in counter- and underground culture at Edge-NeoCha - highly recommended!

Halloween

Halloween (or Hallowe'en) is an annual holiday observed on October 31, primarily in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints' Day, but is today largely a secular celebration.

Common Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, carving jack-o'-lanterns, ghost tours, bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, committing pranks, telling ghost stories or other frightening tales, and watching horror films.

Interestingly, there are costume-shops that sell berets (!) specifically for Halloween (and I  mean very plain, black berets; not these rather unconventional pumpkin shaped berets)...

John Lennon (1)

Do I need to introduce John Lennon? John Winston Ono Lennon, (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, and together with Paul McCartney formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century. That already is too much of an introduction...
I came upon this photo (above) and it is hard to believe Lennon is not wearing a stonewashed cotton Tolosa Tupida beret - one of my personal favorites, but they were definitely not around when this picture was taken... Any suggestions would be welcome!

Anyway, this was not the only beret in his collection, having numerous black Basques as well. One of these sold one year ago for an undisclosed sum through Rock 'n Roll Investments. 

Ramiro Pinilla

Ramiro Pinilla has emerged as one of the most outstanding storytellers in Castilian in the Basque country . The literary work of Ramiro Pinilla has been forged in the shadows, on the outskirts of the commercial channels and through Libropueblo, a small publishing house founded by him and distributed only in Bilbao.

I failed to find any translations in English, but Spanish editions can be foundhere.

Tetsugen Bernard Glassman

Tetsugen Bernard Glassman  is a Zen teacher with the White Plum Asanga—the lineage of his late teacher Taizan Maezumi-Roshi, to whom he is a Dharma heir. Glassman-Roshi co-founded the Zen Peacemaker Order in 1996 with his late wife, Sandra Jishu Holmes. 

Bernard Glassman was born to Jewish immigrants in Brighton Beach, New York in 1939. He attended university at the Brooklyn Polytechnic and received a degree in engineering. Following graduation he moved to California to work as an aeronautical engineer at McDonnell-Douglas. He then received his Ph.D. in applied mathematics from the UCLA. 
After reading Philip Kapleau's book "The Three Pillars of Zen" in 1967, Glassman sought a local Zen teacher. He found Taizan Maezumi and Glassman became one of the original founding members of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. He received Dharma transmission in 1976 from Maezumi and then inka in 1995 shortly before Maezumi's death.

In 1982 he established Greyston Bakery in Yonkers, NY, a successful business staffed by his students and homeless people of the area which catered to a wealthy clientele. Glassman-Roshi is well-known for his so-called “street retreats,” where he and his students live among homeless people on the streets for extended periods of time. 

Christmas Beret Shopping

With less than two months away, and the postal service slowing down nearing Christmas, and South Pacific Berets actually being based in the South Pacific, it may be a good idea to think of your Christmas beret shopping now.

We have a huge range of berets available this year and I actually dare to say that South Pacific Berets and South Pacific Cowboy have probably the largest range of berets in the world (please correct me if I am wrong)!
We'll happily Xmas wrap your beret for you - please advise when you make your payment.