Piece Of Art

Violent movies can serve as models for violent behavior. This is a well-known fact, a subtheme of my book  The Copycat Effect , and decades of research attest to popular culture inspired-murders, suicides, terror, and more. But the reality of breaking news events certainly makes it more than academic. The continuing saga of synchromystic cannibals now enters the overlapping world of films, culture, and killings. At the end of the week, evidence mounted that Luka Rocco Magnotta, accused media-labeled "Montreal Cannibal" of 33-year-old Lin Jun, patterned segments of what he allegedly did via cinema inspirations. The primary film he used was American Psycho . This is not the first time this specific story has been used as the model for murder. In Canada, the novel on which the movie is based, American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, published in 1991, was highlighted during the trial of serial killer Paul Bernardo. It was discovered that Bernardo owned a copy of the book

The Fayette Factor Who--or more precisely, what--is "the Fayette Factor?" It is probably one of the strangest mysteries in American Forteana, first discovered by researcher William (Bill) Grimstad, back in 1977, and written about in "Fateful Fayette," Fortean Times , No. 25, Spring 1978. Namely, the "Fayette Factor" has been the finding of a surprisingly high incidence of Fortean (inexpliable) events linked to places named after one of the USA's Founding Fathers--the Marquis de Lafayette.  Fayetteville, West Virginia Since Grimstad's discovery , several items on this lexilink between Fayette (as well as its related forms - Lafayette, La Fayette, Fayetteville, Lafayetteville) and high strangeness have been published. In his book,   Weird America   (New York: EP Dutton, 1978), Grimstad mentions several Fayette hot spots but did not dwell on them. In exchanges with Bill, a small group of Forteans discussed the Fayette Factor privately throughout the l

As I sat down to write about Pret-Amoda.com , I was wondering as to what should be the head line for this blog post. An online fashion portal? Or a fashion paradise? Or a fashion hub? Nah!! All are cliche. I was listening to this song by GAGA called, " THE FAME ", and was wondering, no matter people swear by being sober, still deep down in their gut, they have a dream of being FAMOUS!! Well by that I don't mean becoming a known actress, or an international celebrity. By being Famous, I mean being known among your masses, your family, your friends, your colony, your college, your cousins, etc. etc. etc. But how to be "Famous"? Well that is when PRET - FAME - AMODA .com steps in! This is not just another online fashion portal, but an inspiration guide for fashion enthusiasts, and a step for that FAME FAME makeover ;) This user friendly website, offering best designers like James Ferriera, Prashant Verma and Veruschka contributing to this site,

First responders arrive at the scene of a SUV that crashed into the lobby of a building at Connecticut Avenue and L Street NW, Washington, D.C., Friday evening, June 8, 2012. Photo courtesy: Maureen Mathis. North of Lafayette Park (see " Fayette Factor "), the patio at the Connecticut Avenue location of Morton's The Steakhouse overlooks Washington D.C.'s infamous K Street Corridor, and the Bar is known locally as a relaxing retreat for the government elite. But the calm was disturbed Friday evening, about 7:30-7:45 pm. One floor below, chaos visited. “I felt a crash,” said a female eyewitness who was in the bar area of Morton’s The Steakhouse. “I kind of heard it.” She said someone in their group asked facetiously: “Is the building collapsing? Should we try to get out?” A vehicle had smashed through plate glass and into the building, one floor below the bar, on the southwest corner of Connecticut Avenue and L Street NW. It came to a stop at a building column in the lo

Coincidences? Synchronicity? A Maryland man was charged with killing another man and eating his heart and portions of his brain. Maryland, Miami, and many, many more, as, literally,  cannibals abound . Now, a new movie opens named after a character who had his liver eaten every day. Science fiction becomes reality? Reality becomes science fiction? The newest " cannibal attack " has occurred in Louisiana, in, yes, Lafayette Parish. (Read more about the powerful name game at the " Fayette Factor .") What is going on? What myths are being worked out in front of our eyes? Prometheus (Greek: Προμηθεύς) is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay.  Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gave it to the mortals, an act that enabled progress and civilization. He is known for his intelligence, and as a champion of mankind. The punishment of Prometheus as a consequence of the theft is a major theme of his m

It gives me great pleasure to share with you all, that my fashion tip has been published on the HT CITY newspaper of June 7, 2012!!

Ray Bradbury — author of The Martian Chronicles , Fahrenheit 451 , Something Wicked This Way Comes , and other science fiction and literary classics — died Tuesday evening, June 5, 2012, in Los Angeles, at the age of 91, according to his daughter. He was born in Waukegan, Illinois, on August 22, 1920, the son of a utility lineman. He was the third son and he was given his middle name, Douglas, after the famous actor Douglas Fairbanks. As a child he soaked up the ambiance of small-town life — wraparound porches, fireflies and the soft, golden light of late afternoon — that would later become a hallmark of much of his fiction, noted the Chicago Tribune  upon his death. “When I was born in 1920,” he told the New York Times Magazine in 2000, “the auto was only 20 years old. Radio didn't exist. TV didn't exist. I was born at just the right time to write about all of these things.” The Transit of Venus lasted from the evening of June 5th (in North America) to the morning of June 6th

While wandering the high street of DLF Select City Saket, I was taken over to a shop in one corner, which to me seemed like yet another unknown cosmetics brand. But when I entered the premises, I thought I had entered paradise.I was in Crabtree and Evelyn Store, DLF Select City, Saket. Well, to be pretty honest, I had never heard about this brand, until now. I was awestruck by the soothing color splashes on delicately crafted collection, the infusion of thousands of perfumes, all providing a deep spa transit for my nostrils, and when I actually tried their hand care range, I was in love with my hands. (Like love at first sight) :p What the company says ? Founded in 1972 by Cyrus Harvey, Crabtree & Evelyn has evolved from a small, family-run business – specializing in fine soaps from around the world – to an international company, well known and respected for its original fragrances, luxurious toiletries, gourmet foods - and gifts for those who enjoy a sophisticat