Do NOT miss this if you're in NYC

Robert Caro is my hero.  He's a masterful biographer, skilled storyteller, and while he's earned and won every prize under the sun, some of them twice, you never get the sense he's all that full of himself.

I had the great pleasure of hearing him give the keynote address at the Biographers Int'l Organization conference in 2011. On May 2, 2012 I shelled out actual cash money to hear him at the 92YTribeca. Tonight you can hear him at Barnes and Noble Union Square at 7pm, for free.


When he spoke last week he said a couple things that I didn't even have to write down to remember.

He said the Lord Acton quote we all learned in college ("Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely") wasn't right.  He thinks power reveals character.  You see what a man (or woman, I presume, although both Mr. Caro's great subjects were men) is all about when he has power.  When LBJ became President, Mr Caro pointed out, his goal was to eradicate poverty.  That's the thing we all forget now, was that LBJ wanted to use the power of the presidency to end poverty.

And when asked about his writing habits, Mr. Caro said he outlined everything at the start of the actual writing.  He'd also get "what this book is about" down to about two paragraphs.  Those two paragraphs helped him focus; helped him remember what to put in, leave out, and what to make a footnote.  (There was an odd watery sound as the QueryShark literally leaped for joy hearing THAT let me tell you.)  Then he told us how long it took him to get the book down to those two paragraphs. Would you like to guess what he said?

Here are the choices:

1. Two hours
2. Two days
3. Two weeks
4. Two months
5. Two years

Let me know in the comments column what you think the correct answer is. No fair if you attended the event and heard the answer, ok?

I think Robert Caro is one of those writers you should hear and read no matter what you read or write.  He's very simply a master of the craft and there just aren't that many of them.

Julija Skalkovič was crowned Miss Belarus 2012 on May 4, 2012 - She will represent Belarus in Miss World 2012

Miss Belarus 2012

MINSK, Belarus - Julija Skalkovič (20, Brest) was crowned Miss Belarus 2012 (Міс Беларусь-2012) at the Palace of the Republic in Minsk on May 4. She will represent Belarus in Miss World 2012 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia on August 18. Viktoryja Šavieĺ was the first runner-up and Anastasija Pahraničnaja was the second runner-up. Since Miss Belarus is a biennial contest, one of the runners-up will compete in Miss World 2013 in Bali, Indonesia on September next year.

source: (Thank you and credits to
http://www.timesofbeauty.com/
and all sources for the information and pictures)

Holly Hale was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2012 - She will represent Great Britain in Miss Universe 2012 Pageant this December 2012

Holly Hale was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2012 at the Town Hall in Birmingham on May 5, 2012. Holly Hale from Swansea (Wales) is 21 years old. She will represent Great Britain in Miss Universe 2012 Pageant this December. The top 5 were completed with Sandra Marie Lees, Margarita Nazarenko, Roxy Osbourne, and Lorraine Stretch. Holly Hale was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2012

Holly Hale

Special thanks and credits to beautypageantnews

source: (Thank you and credits to
http://freedom-guy.blogspot.com/
and all sources for the information and pictures)

25-year old Isabella Agbor Ayuk, Miss Cross River State, was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2012

Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2012

BENIN CITY, Nigeria - Isabelle Agbor Ayuk, representing the state of Cross River, was crowned as the new Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2012 at the Best Western Homeville Hotel in Benin City on May 5. She will represent Nigeria in Miss World 2012 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China on August 18.

Damiete Charles-Granville, representing the state of Rivers, finished as the first runner-up and will represent Nigeria in Miss Universe 2012 next December. Ifeoma Umeokeke (Abuja), Okafor Christabel Nkechinyere (Osun) and Joyce Chidebe (Kaduna) completed the Top Five.

source: (Thank you and credits to
http://www.timesofbeauty.com/
and all sources for the information and pictures)

Shristi Shrestha was crowned Miss Nepal 2012 at the Hotel de l’Annapurna in Kathmandu on May 6, 2012 - She will represent Nepal in Miss World 2012

Miss Nepal 2012

KATHMANDU, Nepal - Shristi Shrestha (23, 1.75m) was crowned Miss Nepal 2012 at the Hotel de l’Annapurna in Kathmandu on May 6. She will represent Nepal in Miss World 2012 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China on August 18. Nagma Shrestha and Subekshya Khadka finished second and third, respectively. Khadka will compete in Miss International 2012 in Okinawa, Japan next October.

source: (Thank you and credits to
http://www.timesofbeauty.com/
and all sources for the information and pictures)

The finale of Miss Universe Australia 2012 Pageant will be held on June 8, 2012 - The winner will represent Australia in Miss Universe 2012 Pageant

Road to Miss Australia Universe 2012


The finale of Miss Universe Australia 2012 Pageant will be held at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins on Friday 8th June 2012. 30 National Finalists will be vying for the crown. Scherri-Lee Biggs, Miss Universe Australia 2011, will crown her successor at the end of the event. The winner will represent Australia in Miss Universe 2012 Pageant to be held in December.

Back: Lucy Tuttiett, Susie Leigh, and Brooke Nash and front: Gold Coasters Emma Lane,

Danielle Byrnes, Madeline Taylor, and Jessica Friedman. Photographer: Kate Czerny

Special thanks and credits to beautypageantnews

source: (Thank you and credits to
http://freedom-guy.blogspot.com/
and all sources for the information and pictures)

Aisha Valy was crowned Miss Earth Reunion 2012 - She will represent Reunion in the Miss Earth 2012 Pageant

Road to Miss Earth 2012


Aisha Valy (22, from Entre-Deux) was crowned Miss Earth Reunion 2012 during ceremony held at the Sainte-Clotilde Exhibition Centre on April 1st.

Miss Earth Reunion 2012 Aisha Valy is flanked by Miss Earth 2011 Olga Alava
and Miss Earth Reunion organizer Julie Nauche.

The competition, which included 10 beauties from all over the French island, was honoured by the visit of reigning Miss Earth Olga Alava from Ecuador who was also president of the jury.

Anais Sadeyen was chosen Miss Earth Fire, Estenie Sadeyen is Miss Earth Air, and Solenne Abarnou is Miss Earth Water.


Valy will represent Reunion in the Miss Earth 2012 competition to be held in December.



Special thanks and credits to GlobalBeauties

source: (Thank you and credits to
http://freedom-guy.blogspot.com/
and all sources for the information and pictures)