Edgar Allen Poe's Birthday Bash

Dwight Allen Poe

Jan 19, 2009 marks Edgar Allen Poe's 200th birthday and the city of Baltimore is kicking off a year of festivities to celebrate the dark bard. Go to the Nevermore 2009 website for a list of events which include a tribute by actor John Astin, a five course Poe-themed dinner, a movie showing of The Pit and the Pendulum and a reenactment of a scientific experiment gone awry, (complete with mummy).

Because of a long-standing personal issue with his publicist, Paisley is unable to offer a free ipod wallpaper download of Edgar. However, he is able to offer this painting of his brother Dwight. Little is known about about the younger Poe, except that he died in a freak accident in a lady's hosiery mill and was much more fun at parties. (click on the image above and drag it to your desktop to use as an ipod wallpaper)

The Man Behind the Legend

Saint Nikolaus, the original Santa Claus

A variety of stories and legends exist regarding Saint Nicholas, (or Nikolaus, spellings vary). He is the patron saint of sailors, having saved a fellow sailor from drowning.

In another story, he takes pity on a man with three daughters who was too poor to afford proper dowries, (almost certainly condemning them to a life of prostitution). When each girl came of age, he secretly left a small pouch of money, (being too modest to help the man publicly). The third daughter's dowry was dropped down the chimney, in order to remain anonymous, (word got out that the father was laying in wait to discover his benefactor). Legend has it that the daughter had washed her stockings and had hung them by the fire to dry, and that's where the money landed.

The feast of Saint Nicholas is held on December 6th a day medieval nuns used to anonymously deposit baskets of food and clothing on the doors of poor families. In many countries Saint Nicholas' Eve remains the primary occasion for gift giving, remaining separate from the typical American Christmas celebration. (click on the image above and drag it to your desktop to use it as an ipod wallpaper).

Little gifts of no intrinsic value, Vol.2

Delilah

Another goodie from the archives. To download this free iPhone wallpaper, click on the image. When the new window opens, drag the image onto your desktop.