Liz Smith once said that the unanswered facts surrounding Princess Diana’s death will be with us until the end of time. I also believe that whether Michael Jackson is innocent or guilty will also be speculated until the end of time, as well.

Though the child would be better off with Madonna, I wonder just how much hands on experience comes with the deal. Nannies and nurse maids, governesses, servants…etc…may be responsible for the every day responsibilites of raising the child. In other words, who will the child call ‘mother’. We have all heard of these celebrities who are rarely seen by their children, and live a life in boarding schools hundreds of miles from home. Madonna may be the token mother and the one who rules, but I am sure others see to the day to day living. But I suppose it IS better than the fate of the child in Malawi. I am a fan of Madonna and I hope the adoption comes through and I hope the child feels loved…by Madonna.

Tom Hanks changed the social face of AIDS with his performence in "Philadelphia", which was the first chance for us to see the depth of his acting talent. He hasn’t disappointed me since. Back in 1993, discrimination, especially work related, was a very real thing for those with AIDS. Hanks painfully showed the public that this wasn’t right but the film was a sign of the times. People simply didn’t live very long with the disease. Tom Hanks goes down in history.

Years ago, I was a Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide so I saw first hand the differences between home care and long term facility care and it all came down to the quality of life. Some people enjoy the social aspect of long term care and it is an adjustment to make in their lives. Some people were more isolated at home with health care workers providing services. My best experience was working at an assisted living community. People had their independence, as well as other around the clock health care services. I know that these living situations are expensive. If the cost for these communites could be more reasonable, I believe that you would have a happier population of people. People thrive and live longer. Isolation is such a concern for the elderly, it detracts from their spirit. Luckily, my parents lived at home until they passed away. For the most part, they had each other and all us children and grandchildren as constant visitors. I know that isn’t the care for everyone. I feel long term health insurance should take into consideration the quality of one’s life above all.

For a short time, movies were being filmed, here, in Boston and throughout Massachusetts as we were providing a tax break. Boston was going to be called Hollywood East. Of course, this did not last when the state realized that they were actually losing money.

I think you may mean the opposite. This flu lacks the genetic material that made the 1918 pandemic so deadly. It falls into the "Seasonal flu" classification. But, you know, the reports change all the time so I guess we will just have to wait it out.

I remember a time when film production companies traveled to England to film to get a tax break. How the times have changed.

I am in Boston and cases are popping up all over the city. There have been endless news stories on television throughout the entire day. The media, though informative, is really at the core of this panic. It was stated that Biden was meant to say something else and simply made a mistake. We have public transportation all over the city and in recent days a cough or a sneeze while in route have resulted in people telling one another to ‘cover your mouth!!’ I detect panic in the voices of commuters. I understand the flu is serious but, thus far inthe USA, this flu has been very mild and everyone have recovered. I do not fear contracting it, if that is to be the case, as I have faith that I will fully recover.

Another "Momma Mia"? I could not imagine it. As much as I loved the movie, I wouldn’t have loved it nearly as much without the nostalgic ABBA songs sprinkled throughout the film. Where would the music come from in a remake? The film did allow 60 year old Meryl Streep to tap into the fountain of youth. She was excellent in the film as a musical actress and the film was unlike anything else that she ever did. A repeat just wouldn’t have the same magic.

The masn engaged to Elizabeth Taylor during Richard Burton’s death was Victor Luna. He was the man who stuck by her side during the difficult days of her addiction and sebsequent rehab. Once sober, she realized that Victor may have been an enabler and had to let him go. Mary Wilson (in her autobiography) seems to totally discard the fact that Diana Ross had any talent at all. She was always shocked when Diana was singled out of the trio for any reason whatsoever. She just couldn’t understand why. Why not her? But to read her book, she just merrily went about her life as a Supreme…never attempting to better herself or discover her own talent. She was happy to just get a paycheck. Diana once said, : Maybe, just maybe, it was MY voice that attracted the world. Maybe, just maybe…it was my style that attracted the world". Mary couldn’t understand that. As for Flo, she was a lost soul from the beginning, never fitting in to the endless stream of concerts and traveling. A sad ending.

The world would be a much sadder (and less informed) place to live without having Liz Smith to read. I personally think there would be a public revolt and I would be on the front lines demanding more Liz Smith.

As for the gay issue, I feel confident that GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders) are on the case. They hardly ever allow an issue to slip by and make us very aware.

"Suddenly Last Summer" was made mainly in London, as Elizabeth Taylor was on her honeymoon with Eddie Fisher. But this was a difficult time for her. The London press was still blasting her for breaking up Eddie and Debbie’s marriage and she was in a foul mood. She couldn’t turn to Montgomery Clift (as she had done in past films) for support as he was in the midst of severe drug addiction and barely made it through the movie. I guess the tone of the film was as upsetting as the personal lives of the stars who appeared in it. At the end of filming, Katherine Hepburn was said to have spit in the directors face for his harsh treatment of the cast.

Long live Dame Elizabeth Taylor!!!

And I am sure that you wouldn’t skip a beat!