Crasstalk Staff

484 posts

You Can’t Afford Elizabeth Taylor’s Jewels

The incomparably beautiful Elizabeth Taylor accumulated one of the most spectacular private jewelry collections in the world. The jewels and other items of Taylor’s will be auctioned by Christie’s Auction House in New York on December 13th and 14th of this year. Some of the more renown pieces are currently on a global tour, including the famous 33.19-carat Asscher-cut Krupp Diamond, later known as the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, a gift from her former husband Richard Burton. The history of the jewelry pieces are what make them even more compelling, given they were often gifts from one of her famous husbands.

Personally, I would go with something understated like this, though the tiara is also very appealing. See more of the collection here. The auction is expected to raise up to $30 million but like that of the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood auction, that number is likely to be much higher. A portion of the proceeds from the sale going towards the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Comment.

2011 Primetime Emmys Liveblog

Welcome to the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. The hilarious and irreverent Jane Lynch will do this hosting honors this evening. Let’s hope that Ian Brennan who writes lines like “So you like show tunes. It doesn’t mean you’re gay. It just means you’re awful.” for Sue Sylvester on Glee is writing for her tonight.

Who should win? Who will win? Meh. Who cares. The real issue is WHAT IS EVERYONE GOING TO BE WEARING?! So far as nominees go, major snubs include anything and everything True Blood; Lea Michele; all things Desperate Housewives, except for the woman who died season one and for whatever reason continues to narrate the show; past winner and one degree from Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgewick; and Sons of Anarchy. Here are the actual nominees, with my winner predictions (based on a combination of my own personal preferences and boring Emmy voters history) in bold. Continue reading →

Flashback Friday: Big Bands, Baby

Pop music is just short for “popular” music and what is popular has changed over generations. Prior to the rock n’ roll music, the big, rich sound made my velvet-voiced ladies and remarkably talented musicians was the popular music – we were all so civilized then. American Standards crossed musical genres, races and styles and transport you to a hot club populated by elegantly dressed patrons at tiny two-top tables, cigarette smoke billowing to the rafters. You’ve heard it all before, probably a few different ways, but the originals really did it best. Continue reading →

Of Money, Mystery and…Murder?


In a 27-room historic mansion on the exclusive island of Coronado, a tragedy filled with mystery emerged this summer. You reach Coronado via a bridge from San Diego. The bridge is a road to paradise for some. Many Arizonans travel to southern California for the summer to escape the relentless heat, buying or renting homes in the San Diego area. Such is the case with Jonah Shacknai and his family. Except that their family vacation ended with two people dead, and many questions left unanswered. Continue reading →