Two of Us

Two rebels were crucified with him,
one on his right and one on his left.
~ Matthew 27

You and I

“I have spoken openly to the world,”
Jesus replied.
“I always taught in synagogues
or at the temple,
where all the Jews come together.
I said nothing in secret."
~ John 18

The Big Nudie Post

NUDIE COHN | RHINESTONE COWBOY

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The Legendary Country Western tailor to the stars — Nudie Cohn.

Circa 1970′s, Los Angeles, CA– Hands of Nudie Cohn the Rodeo Tailor

Image by © Jeff Albertson

Nudie suits have been worn by just about everyone who is anyone in the world of Country/Rock music. Simply put, he made Country cool with his one-off original creations that bedazzled a long list of diverse celebs– John Wayne, Gene Autry, George Jones, Elvis, Cher, John Lennon, Ronald Reagan, Elton John, Robert Mitchum, Pat Buttram, Tony Curtis, Michael Landon, Glenn Campbell, Hank Snow, Porter Wagoner, Hank Williams Sr., and groups such as, America, Chicago, ZZ top, and the Flying Burrito Bros (Gram Parsons’ “Gilded Palace of Sin” suit is considered the Sistine Chapel of Nudies). To own a Nudie is to own something special; collected by fashion and music hounds alike– Dwight Yoakam, Ben Harper, Lenny Kravitz, Perry Farrell, Jeff Tweedy, and other A-list Rockers of today keep the Nudie flame burning, and even inspired a few of them to create their own line of signature clothing.

The man behind the amazing rhinestone-studded, hand-embroidered suits was none other than Mr. Nudie Cohn– arguably, the larger-than-life 5-foot-7 Russian Rhinestone Cowboy is the most influential and innovative fashion designer and tailor to ever bless the world of Country music. And he couldn’t stop at clothing– he put his Midas Touch on everything around him– especially his customized fleet of Nudie-fied GM cruisers that he used to promote his LA based Nudies Rodeo Tailors shop on Lankershim Blvd. Of the original 18 cars, the whereabouts of only 9 are known today.

Circa 1970′s, Los Angeles, CA– Nudie costomized each of his many cadillacs, protecting his work with plastic. This one is decorated with silver dollar coins and 14 various guns. –Image by © Jeff Albertson

*Pontiac Bonnevilles were the car of choice, Mr. Cuevas said, partly because they were among the longest cars on the road. “We took the seats out and did the upholstery in hand tooled leather,” he said. “We put guns and bullets and silver dollars all over it.”

Mr. Cuevas recalled that guns were cheap and easy to buy in Los Angeles. The Winchesters, Colts and derringers were sent to be plugged and silver-plated. When returned, the guns were holstered or became gearshifts and door handles. Silver dollars were strategically added.

“I thought it was fantastic,” Mr. Cuevas said. “The more things we had to hang on the car, the better.”

–Via The New York Times

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Circa 1970s, Los Angeles, California– Nudie costomized each of his many Cadillacs, protecting his work with plastic. This one is decorated with guns & silver dollar coins. –Image by © Jeff Albertson

*In the early 1960s, for promotional purposes, Cohn began receiving a free Pontiac every year. Typically, he’d drive the cars for a while and then sell them or give them away. While Mr. Cuevas said he recalled a few going out the door at prices up to $35,000, Nudie gave his ’63 Bonneville (adorned with more than 100 valuable coins, including Morgan silver dollars) to his friend Roy Rogers.

Today, that car is hooked to a Nudie-customized covered-wagon trailer in the Roy Rogers museum in Branson, Mo., not far from Trigger, the world’s most famous stuffed horse. Dave Koch, a museum spokesman, said Rogers drove the car regularly near his Apple Valley, Calif., home, until souvenir hunters began prying off coins.

“It was such a long vehicle with that extended rear bumper, that it was very difficult to drive on hills,” Mr. Koch said. “You had to enter driveways at a major angle.”

–Via The New York Times, read more here

Circa 1970s, Los Angeles, California– Nudie the Rodeo Tailor with photographs of the many stars and their suits he’s made over the years –Image by © Jeff Albertson

May 26th, 1973, Los Angeles, California– Nudie Cohn, George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Nudie Cohn outfitted many Country & Western stars in custom suits & shirts. — Image by © Michael Ochs Archives

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Circa 1970s, Los Angeles, CA– Merle Haggard choosing fabric for a new Nudie suit. –Image by © Jeff Albertson

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Circa 1970s, Los Angeles, California– Nudie the Rodeo Tailor in his Shop

Image by © Jeff Albertson

Alright, I get it. How can you NOT have color pics of something as beautiful and COLORFUL as a Nudie suit–

(Right) Nudie Cohn– The Man, The Suit, The Legend. (Left) Gram Parsons and Nudie Cohn.

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Nudie Cohn, in a glorious Nudie suit, atop a Nudie customized cruiser = Nudie Heaven.

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Gram Parsons in the infamous “Gilded Palace of Sin” Nudie Suit.

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Nudie Cohn and Gram Parsons. Gram was visiting Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors workshop.

Also, go check at Max’s excellent post WILCO &The Nudie Suit over at " all plaidout"

The Sky Is Burning

Our God comes and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
and around him a tempest rages.
~ Psalm 50

Firefighters try to extinguish the flames in Tirat Hacarmel, northern Israel, Friday, Dec. 3, 2010. Crews and equipment from around the world began arriving on Friday to help Israel's worst fire ever. The inferno, which also displaced thousands, is still raging through forests in northern Israel and on the outskirts of the country's third largest city, Haifa.

Huge soul- Elad Riven
16-year-old Elad Riven lost his life while volunteering in battle against Carmel hills fire. Birthday balloons still decorate his home. Mother: He was my whole life

Rescue workers walk among trees burnt in a forest fire outside Kibbutz Beit Oren near the northern city of Haifa December 3, 2010. Firefighting aircraft from four countries flew into Israel on Friday to help battle a huge forest fire close to the northern city of Haifa that has killed at least 40 people and forced mass evacuations.

Joseph Wouk is following all developments closely at his page

(THANK YOU TO ALL THE COUNTRIES WHO HAVE SENT US HELP. UK, CYPRUS, GREECE, US, TURKEY, BULGARIA, JORDAN AND ESPECIALLY RUSSIA. THE RUSSIAN PLANE DUMPS 4 TONS OF WATER. GOD BLESS YOU ALL! - Joseph Wouk)

A forest fire rages out of control in front of a residential house in the hills above the coastal Israeli city of Haifa, December 2, 2010. A devastating fire killed at least 40 people on Thursday when it ripped through a forest near Israel's northern city of Haifa, prompting urgent calls for international help to put out the blaze.

He rebukes the sea and dries it up;
he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither
and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.

~ Nahum 1

Ein Hod residents report homes bursting into flames

Israel Forest Fire: Waiting for a Miracle

Israel fire update: Uncontrolled, 42 dead, 17000 evacuated

Now summon the people
from all over Israel
to meet me on Mount Carmel.
And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal
and the four hundred prophets of Asherah,
who eat at Jezebel’s table.
~ 1 Kings 18

The burnt interior of a house in kibbutz Beit Oren, destroyed in a wildfire in northern Israel is seen Friday, Dec. 3, 2010. The worst forest fire in Israel's history devastated one of the country's few forested areas, and killed dozens of people. The inferno, which also displaced thousands, is still raging through forests in northern Israel and on the outskirts of the country's third largest city, Haifa.

He said:
“The LORD roars from Zion
and thunders from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds dry up,
and the top of Carmel withers.”
~ Amos 1

Baby You Can Drive My Car

Charm is deceptive,
and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD
is to be praised.
~ Proverbs 31

Can You See The Real Me?

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
~ Psalm 139

The Defiant Kronikles Part 18: The Maccabees

Judah Maccabee is best known as the hero of the Hanukkah story. In the second century B.C.E., Judah Maccabee, also known as Yehuda HaMaccabee and Judas Maccabeus, led the Jewish revolt against the Greek-Syrians. The success of the revolt is celebrated today by the Hanukkah festival.

When the priest Mattityahu of the Hasmonean family died in 167 B.C.E., he named his son Judah to be the leader of the rebellion. Guerilla warfare was used successfully against the strong Greek-Syrian army. In 165 B.C.E., the Greek-Syrians withdrew to Antioch, the prohibition against the practice of Judaism was annulled, and the Jews regained control of their Temple in Jerusalem. Judah and his followers cleansed and purified the Temple which had been desecrated by the foreigners, and they rededicated it to their One God.

Maccabeus is related to the Aramaic word for hammer, and it is believed Judah was given this name because of his valor as a soldier.

However, the war between the Jews and the Greek-Syrians continued. In 160 B.C.E., Judah died in battle and was buried in Hasmonean family grave in Modiin.

Judaism 101: Chanukkah

1 Maccabees

2 Maccabees

1 Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of God:

2 And to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter the Defender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the place.

3 The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people:

4 For the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places, and besides that brought in things that were not lawful.

5 The altar also was filled with profane things, which the law forbiddeth.

6 Neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or ancient fasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew.

7 And in the day of the king's birth every month they were brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when the fast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to Bacchus, carrying ivy.

8 Moreover there went out a decree to the neighbour cities of the heathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews, that they should observe the same fashions, and be partakers of their sacrifices:

9 And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the Gentiles should be put to death. Then might a man have seen the present misery.

10 For there were two women brought, who had circumcised their children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes handing at their breasts, they cast them down headlong from the wall.

11 And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all burnt together, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honour of the most sacred day.

12 Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not discouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation.

13 For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished.

14 For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently forbeareth to punish, till they be come to the fulness of their sins, so dealeth he with us,

15 Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us.

16 And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.

17 But let this that we at spoken be for a warning unto us. And now will we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words.

18 Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and to eat swine's flesh.

19 But he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live stained with such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his own accord to the torment,

20 As it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out against such things, as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted.

21 But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;

22 That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for the old friendship with them find favour.

23 But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his gray head, whereon was come, and his most honest education from a child, or rather the holy law made and given by God: therefore he answered accordingly, and willed them straightways to send him to the grave.

24 For it becometh not our age, said he, in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange religion;

25 And so they through mine hypocrisy, and desire to live a little time and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to mine old age, and make it abominable.

26 For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive, nor dead.

27 Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew myself such an one as mine age requireth,

28 And leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and courageously for the honourable and holy laws. And when he had said these words, immediately he went to the torment:

29 They that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred, because the foresaid speeches proceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind.

30 But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned, and said, It is manifest unto the Lord, that hath the holy knowledge, that whereas I might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear him.

31 And thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but unto all his nation.

~ 2 Macabees 6

Whole Lotta Rosie

The LORD is my strength and my defense ;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
~ Exodus 15

Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon

He took her by the hand
and said to her, “Talitha koum!”
(which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”)
~ Mark 5