Tyre. An ancient city, a major port long ago, along the Phoenician coast. Tyre was the birthplace of a rare purple dye used to color the garments of kings. The secret ingredient to the purple dye was the blood of worms. That was then; now it is called Lebanon. Tyre…

It covers 118 acres of prime land, which would be worth several fortunes to modern developers. Just thinking about it must cause developers to drool. I mean what a waste of prime real estate! Pere Lachaise it’s called. Victor Hugo once said, “To be buried in Pere Lachaise is like…

His name was Shel Silverstein, and like Sonny Liston he was discovered dead in his home. When his housekeepers left one Friday, he was fine. Returning the following Monday, they found Shel lying on the floor. Somewhere in that three-day window he died. He also wrote a children’s book called…

Singer-songwriter Joe Malachi, aka Malachi’s Ministry, recently introduced his debut EP, For the Most High, a collection of songs drenched in spiritual significance. Malachi’s Ministry’s music has universal appeal and has been chosen for both Christian and secular playlists. For the Most High by Malachi’s Ministry draws upon influences from…

His name was Herman Bolle. A Frenchman descended from generations of German architects, Bolle made Croatia his home for fifty years, residing in Zagreb. Herman, too, was an architect. He had knack for it, designing and building many buildings. …

“Break easily, have sharp edges, and those who have to be carefully kept.” These, according to the Skin Horse, are the kind of people who don’t ‘become.’ Marilyn Monroe, I decided, was probably one of those who didn’t ‘become.’ She broke easily, I think. And she needed to be carefully…

CIAO, BABY Oak Hill Cemetery is in Ballard, California, which is near Santa Barbara, which boasts ‘perfect weather’ all year round. With their addresses carved in granite, three thousand plus permanent residents abide in Oak Hill, surrounded by verdant greenery, cool ocean breezes skimming over cerulean blue water. A permanent…

IMAGINATION New St. Paul’s Cathedral resides in Central London. The adjective ‘new’ refers to the fact that the extant structure was rebuilt from the ground up after the Great Fire of 1666. The Old Cathedral dated back to Saxon times, circa 600 A.D. …

“The Seraphim are all eyes — they can perceive true beauty.” I believe this is a quote from Kathleen Norris; however, don’t quote me on that. In any event, it is a curious and fascinating statement. The seraphim are the highest order of angels in the pseudo-Dionysian hierarchic scheme, and…