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Home movie of Agra, India 1970s & cultural appropriation

Sam Darling

Dec 26, 20141 min read

Home movie of Agra, India 1970s & cultural appropriation

Here’s a tip to your future generations: Include images of road signs or other identifying markers. It’s not every home movie that...

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Sam Darling

Dec 24, 20141 min read

Musical cross-pollination

That moment when you realize that Mitzi Gaynor borrowed from Brazilian Afro-Samba. Baden Powell & Vinicius De Moraes “Canto De Ossanha”...

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Sam Darling

Dec 19, 20141 min read

Great Grandfather Gustave Arents

My paternal great-grandfather was a rakish fellow from near Brussels, Belgium. The bit of family lore we do know about him is that he was...

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Sam Darling

Dec 11, 20143 min read

Let’s talk about Mariah Carey

My friend said I needed to do a blog post about Mariah Carey because I went off on an impassioned tirade when some unedited vocal tracks...

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Sam Darling

Dec 5, 20142 min read

Hunting, fur, & pets

We had a traditional relationship with animals. We had many pets we adored living alongside our fur coats and hunting trophies. It’s a...

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Sam Darling

Nov 21, 20141 min read

Fifties Americana

No one is more American than an immigrant. I think of my family when the US immigration reform discussion crops up again because we are...

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Sam Darling

Nov 17, 20144 min read

The danger of fame

Let’s talk about fame. I have known a lot of famous people. I’ve also learned that it’s best not to mention that fact among civilians as...

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National identity and a nanny named Becassine

Sam Darling

Nov 12, 20142 min read

National identity and a nanny named Becassine

One of the things that glues you to the people of your nation is shared childhood experience. It’s always an odd moment for me when I...

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Sam Darling

Nov 4, 20142 min read

Your physician is crap at science

There are a lot of physicians in my family and perhaps that’s why I’ve befriended doctors, their children, and worked for a number of...

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Sam Darling

Oct 20, 20142 min read

Ballerinas are tough as nails

My maternal great aunt Hermine is a spitfire who has always amazed the family with her abundant energy and stubborn streak. She is tiny....

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Sam Darling

Oct 10, 20142 min read

Hair story; herstory

I was represented by an agency and auditioning as a commercial actress so I’ve been expected to keep the same long dirty blonde princess...

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Sam Darling

Oct 3, 20142 min read

Risk – perceived and actual

There were times when my anxiety crippled my ability to live my life. I learned to manage my anxiety and one of the main tools I use for...

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Sam Darling

Sep 24, 20142 min read

The primer for classical singing

It’s almost like a totem. When an individual has signaled their readiness to become a classical singer a teacher will lead them one of...

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Sam Darling

Sep 18, 20141 min read

Writerly influences on my self

I’ve been tagged to give my top ten most personally influential book list. I have this habit of reading every book by a particular author...

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Sam Darling

Sep 16, 20146 min read

Walk! Avanti!

Cars are good and useful tools that I enjoy. No one on Earth can parallel park a GMC Suburban in Beverly Hills like I can. And no one...

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Sam Darling

Sep 12, 20141 min read

Children’s clothing, organized!

Did you go back-to-school shopping? Is your child’s room overflowing with clothes and making you crazy? I know, right? I do have one...

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Sam Darling

Aug 19, 20145 min read

Secrets of Southampton

I’ve told you before how I am a sort of time traveler, inhabiting worlds and activities from a bygone era. This is a common pastime of...

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Sam Darling

Aug 14, 20141 min read

Early 1900s – photos around France

The paternal grandfather and his family owned a factory outside of Paris and he and his siblings traveled the world selling their...

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Sam Darling

Jul 27, 20142 min read

Malaga & Morocco

Growing up with stories of globe-trotting family inspired me to do my own traveling. Occasionally, I would walk in their footsteps. My...

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Sam Darling

Jul 24, 20142 min read

Physiological response to singing

Many people who learn I sing opera feel compelled to apologize for not liking the art form. It’s okay. I get it. I don’t like opera...

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