August 31 1997 - The Death of Diana, Princess of Wales

On August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris, France. Her companion, Dodi Fayed, and the driver of the Mercedes-Benz W140, Henri Paul, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Fayed's bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was the only survivor. Although at first the media pinned the blame on the paparazzi, the crash was ultimately found to be caused by the reckless actions of the chauffeur, who was the head of security at the Ritz and had earlier goaded the paparazzi waiting outside the hotel. An 18-month French judicial investigation concluded in 1999 that the crash was caused by Henri Paul, who lost control of the car at high speed while drunk. His inebriation may have been made worse by the simultaneous presence of an anti-depressant and traces of a tranqulizing anti-psychotic in his body.

From February 1998, Dodi's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed (the owner of the Hôtel Ritz, for which Paul worked) claimed that the crash was a result of a conspiracy, and later contended that the crash was orchestrated by MI6 on the instructions of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His claims that the crash was a result of a conspiracy were dismissed by a French judicial investigation and by Operation Paget, a Metropolitan police inquiry that concluded in 2006.

An inquest headed by Lord Justice Scott Baker into the deaths of Diana and Dodi began at the Royal Courts of Justice, London, on 2 October 2007 and was a continuation of the original inquest that began in 2004. On 7 April 2008, the jury released an official statement that Diana and Dodi were unlawfully killed by the grossly negligent driving of chauffeur Henri Paul and the paparazzi. Though the official verdict implicated the pursuing vehicles, the jury also named the intoxication of the driver and the victims' decisions to not wear seat-belts as contributing factors to their deaths. Additionally, the Mercedes had been travelling at over twice the legal speed limit of that particular section of road and had long since left the paparazzi vehicles far behind by the time the accident occurred.

READ MORE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Diana,_Princess_of_Wales

VIDEO: BBC Announce The Princess of Wales has died.

VIDEO: Princess Diana - BBC Announce her death and tribute

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Poem: If You Only Knew

IF YOU ONLY KNEW

A darkened room
Is this place I call home.

Down the corridor
Of your world
Is a place
Dimly lit.

Please, patiently see
Inside my soul.

Every direction points
Back to the heart of this.

Within the roaring
of passion, an unfortunate child inside
Is waiting.

You don’t know how I feel
Being this way;
Wide-eyed and naïve.

Starving for attention.

Give ear, give sight
At these feelings that long for you.

Tied to the Kissing Tree
Is where we should go.

And I will love you
Every moment
In that garden called Beautiful.

Because you are the rose
In mid-summer,
The star twinkling at my wishes.

I have often wondered
If you would ever cross the line
Between simplicity and madness
For the sake
Of being my love,
Faithfully yours.

For the time
Will one day come
When you’ll be ready
To fly with me
In the glow
Of the sun.

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©1998 All Rights Reserved.

To view and order The Kiss of Life – Go to:

http://torrenceking.blogspot.com/2011/08/kiss-of-life-poetry-art-collection.html


 

Profile Playlist: Aaliyah (1979-2001)

Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001), who performed under the mononym Aaliyah ( /əˈliːə/), was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight. At age 12, Aaliyah signed with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson's Blackground Records. Hankerson introduced her to R. Kelly, who became her mentor, as well as lead songwriter and producer of her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number. The album sold three million copies in the United States and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). After facing allegations of an illegal marriage with R.Kelly, Aaliyah ended her contract with Jive and signed with Atlantic Records.

Aaliyah worked with record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott for her second album, One in a Million; it sold 3.7 million copies in the United States and over eight million copies worldwide. In 2000, Aaliyah appeared in her first major film, Romeo Must Die. She contributed to the film's soundtrack, which spawned the single "Try Again". The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 solely on airplay, making Aaliyah the first artist in Billboard history to achieve this feat. "Try Again" earned Aaliyah a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocalist.

READ MORE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaliyah

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Are You That Somebody - Aaliyah Ft. Timbaland -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cFYFuAX4N4

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Don’t Know What To Tell Ya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=901FA0_A5uU

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Try Again

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

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Come Over

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0dbD9whBXY

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At Your Best (You Are Love)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i0XGs39BrQ

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The Kiss of Life: Poetry-Art Collection

An updated edition of the poetry-art collection, The Kiss of Life by artist/writer, Torrence King is available now to order.

ONLY: $4.99

Book Description

This collection of poetry focuses on the subject of love...and not just about love with a narrow perspective but touching on the varied degrees of love: the hurt, the pain, the joy and the lost that makes us all humanly open to love's twists and turns.

Poet/Artist Torrence King gives his readers something to think about. "In terms of the feelings and perspectives of love, I tried to convey emotion and thought within each poem. Relying on both experience and reflections by others to accomplish my goal with this collection."

This updated, revised and expanded edition features classics Our Night in Question, How Did We Drift So Far Apart?, Mysterious Ways and Warmed By Your Fire plus new fan favorites, Insomnia and Lakeshore Sunrise

Dimensions: 8 1/2 x 11 - 20 pages - Language: English

Table of Contents - Poetry and Art (Click Links Below for Sample Selections)

Introduction

1. The Kiss of Life

2. Love Cycle

3. Catch Me If I Can't Catch You

4. Vantasia

5. The Miracle of Distance

6. The River

7. No One Nowhere Compares To You

8. If You Only Knew

9. Warmed By Your Fire

10. Love In Time

11. Change, Change, Change

12. How Did We Drift So Far Apart?

13. Mysterious Ways

14. Our Night In Question

15. Good Luck Charm

16. All or Nothing

17. Insomnia

18. A Desired Destination

19. Time Stands Still

20. Lakeshore Sunrise

Art and Graphic Design - Commission Rates and Ordering

COMMISSION RATES: The following rates are current and include any existing comic book, cartoon characters, original characters or gaming characters. If needed, artwork will be on 11 X 14 Glossy Paper and 1 USB Flash Drive or SD Card (whichever you prefer) that will include the illustration at 200-300 DPI [about 3000+ pixels] for larger printing, you can make it to a poster if you like and does not lose quality. Finished work can take up to 1-3 weeks for most commissions and may depend on the amount of workload and time it takes to complete the project.

PAYMENT METHODS: Paypal, Debit Card and Major Credit Cards are acceptable methods of payment. A deposit of half the price of the commission is required before the commission begins. The remaining balance is due upon review and acceptance of finished artwork. All deposits are non refundable. Online payment can be made through Paypal by credit/debit card/e-check by Clicking "Add To Cart" Below To Make your Purchase

COMMERCIAL USE: All reproductions, rights, or publishing of artwork should be requested via an email for quote. I am available for multiple projects, which can include larger projects or novels, pencils, inks, coloring, logos and custom designs.

ANY QUESTIONS or Detail List of Services and Prices? E-MAIL: torrenceking2000@hotmail.com  

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NOTE: Once the details are agreed upon, PLEASE pay deposit(s) below and use the same button to pay the remaining balance when work is completed.

To order, click “Add To Cart” below:

Pencil ONLY -  Character Design OR Poster ART without Background

Name, website information or personalized message (Optional)

$40 ($20 Deposit Now)

____________________________

Pencil and Ink ONLY -  Character Design OR Poster ART without Background

Name, website information or personalized message (Optional)

$60 ($30 Deposit Now)

___________________________

Pencil, Ink and Digital Color -  Character Design OR Poster ART without Background

Name, website information or personalized message (Optional)

$80 ($40 Deposit Now)

____________________________

Pencil ONLY -  Character Design OR Poster ART with Background

Name, website information or personalized message (Optional)

$60 ($30 Deposit Now)

____________________________

Pencil and Ink -  Character Design OR Poster ART with Background

Name, website information or personalized message (Optional)

$100 ($50 Deposit Now)

____________________________

Pencil, Ink and Digital Color ONLY -  Character Design OR Poster ART with Background

Name, website information or personalized message (Optional)

$150 ($75 Deposit Now)

____________________________

Profile Playlist: Simply Red

One of my favorite groups..or should I say, artist?

Simply Red has really been just one guy, vocalist Mick Hucknall with an awesome band. Of course, I was a fan of theirs with the song “Holding Back the Tears” and “Money To Tight To Mention” back 1985 but it was the song “Stars” and the highly successful album with the same name released in 1991 that made me a committed fan. I remember picking up the CD before it “A New Flame” and thinking how these guys with such a great jazz-R&B-soul style was being overlooked by the general public. I really owe the former Chicago Jazz station WNUA 95.5 FM for playing a lot of their music during the 90’s as well, keeping me up to date with their latest hits. Its funny, these guys were huge in the UK but in the U.S, it seems, they were viewed as a one-hit wonder.

Their song “Home” would have to be one of my favorite songs of all time, if not within the past decade. Thanks for the memories, Mick and band.

BIO: Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz. Since their early days the main driving force behind the band was singer Mick Hucknall, who by the time the band broke up in 2010 was the only original member left - Read More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simply_Red

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Holding Back The Years

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVecxL7rjAE

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Enough featuring Joe Sample on keyboard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1wNhJFaZ5c

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For Your Babies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9WmQ5Dqops

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The Sky Is A Gypsy

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

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Home

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/wm-A10302B00002391185/simply_red_home_official_music_video/

Simply Red - Home (Official Music Video). Watch more top selected videos about: Simply Red

Poem: Something More Than Ever

Something More Than Ever

Behind the scenes,
An offer still stands.

Beyond the clouds,
Memories of your love
Surrounds
This battered soul.

I could not 
Have known
The most beautiful glow
Of your kindness to me,
Unless,
This charm wore thin.

Yes,
I had fallen
Helpless.
Hopeless.

Swallowed my pride
And attempted 
To do without.

But you helped pull me
Through it all,
Made me stronger
And did away with
All my despair.

Now,
I am standing in the rain,
Waiting for you
To be near.

Drowning in anticipation
Of every moment,
That I can be in your arms,
Loving you 
As you love me.

I had nothing more to give
But you gave me more
Than I could ever dream.

I know now, 
That my life will never be the same.

I love you,
With all my heart
And yet, what more can I say?

What more can I do?

I pray I never lose you to another.

I hope to kiss you and celebrate 
The miracles we share,
Standing together.
On this day,
At this moment
Existing in our difference.

Let the whirlwind of your love,
Cover me body and soul.

I have nothing left to say,
Without anything less to hold.

My world has been restored,
By everything you have done for me.

Now, I stare into your face of beauty
Knowing that
From this time forth,
Even forever more,
My heart belongs to you.

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©2011 Torrence King. All rights reserved.

Dead Artists Symmetry - Poetry-Art Collection

AVAILABLE NOW: Dead Artists Symmetry - Poetry-Art Collection 

$7.99

To order, click “Add To Cart” below:

From the art and mystic writings of William Blake to the thoughts of T. S. Eliot to the music of Mark Heard, inspiration from these artistic forefathers is the driving force in this collection. Their lives, rested on a foundation to create what was never there, to sing whatever came to mind and to proclaim their love for something that came from within.  

Dead Artists Symmetry is a semi-biographical look at artists and their connection with each other. Poet/Artist Torrence King explains: "The artist is a reflection, the reflection is their life, their life is forever interwoven throughout time and time is hopelessly, desperately, forever in their debt". 

Featuring the poems, "Vox Humana", "Fearful Symmetry" and "I, Madman"

20 pages - Language: English

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. The Unbearable Likeness of Being Here

3. Recollection (of life and mystery)

4. The Barren Land

5. Heaven Still Hounds

6. The Touching of Eve

7. The Unfortunate Ones

8. I, Madman

9. Nevermind Me (Parts 2 and 3)

10. La Tristeese Durera (The Sadness Will Never Go Away)

11. Vox Humana

12. The Tyger by William Blake (1757-1827)

13. Dark I (The Blinding)

14. Dark II (The Howling)

15. Dark III (The Ending)

16. Fearful Symmetry

17. The Edge of Forever / Shedding The Mortal Coil

18. In My Memory

19. From This Point Onward

20. Through The Door, Captured By Fate

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Introduction 

(From the poetry-art collection: Dead Artists Symmetry)

Throughout Earth-time there have been a variety of creative spirits who have walked among humanity. They have been called artists or poets or thinkers or writers or musicians. They have influenced our world like a never-ending song. As I began my journey to study them, to find the connection of these great minds, I was surprised by all the treasures I found buried within their lives and works. Our artistic forefathers, all connected to the arts in some weird scheme perpetrated by fate, bare a strange resemblance to one another including those of our modern time. The similarities are almost endless: the denial of love, the battle of emotions and inner-demons, unsuccessful attempts at recognition in their own lifetime, seclusion from an often harsh world or even spiritual aspiration. These artists were more than “complex individuals”. They were part of an eternal struggle. They tapped into a sea of creativity and, at times, paid with their lives. In my gathering of quotes, poetry and art that connected this truth, I eventually bridged a gap in understanding myself. I came to understand the need to hold a mirror to my life and make sense of it all. I found in it a reflection all too familiar. From William Blake to T. S. Eliot to Mark Heard, we find inspired individuals who have gone before us and, in their lives, rested on a foundation to create what was never there, to sing whatever came to mind or to proclaim their love for something that burned inside. The artist is a reflection, the reflection is their life, their life is forever interwoven throughout time and time is hopelessly, desperately forever in their debt.

Welcome all who may enter here and bid farewell to the faithful departed.

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