Last Saturday I visited the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, pretty much Matisse and Cezanne heaven,1 the brainchild of Alfred C. Barnes, the Argyrol king, who put together a stunning collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and early Modern art during the first half of the Twentieth Century. Current estimated street value of the paintings is in the…
I predicted this!
Well, I did. I said that Senate Democrats were just posing when they voted down the “Fast Track” trade bill, and now, a mere month later, I’ve been proven right. Well, if you wait long enough, almost any prediction will come true, so, by that standard, this one was almost instantaneous. As my last post…
Pseudo New Yorker
Legal humor here “Brian Johnson don’t do meta ’cause Brian Johnson don’t do meta, that’s why.” “I’m just sayin’. If he tries to give me a moustache again, there’ll be trouble.” “No, Helen, I can’t read the writing on the wall. You’re going to have to tell me yourself.” “Would I like a better schnoz?…
Rhythm String(s) Trio—“Off Minor”
The Rhythm String(s) Trio includes Muneer B. Fennell, 6 stringed cello; Felix Borel, violin; and Robert Montheureuex, drums. Recorded, mixed and mastered by R. Montheureuex at Live Arts. Filmed by Krishna S. Beute. Film made by Robert Monthereureux. Posted by TheMusicalEvents.
Edward Gibbon, Part III
In Part I of this near-random collection of jottings, I remarked that Edward Gibbon, despite his near-obsessive concern with politeness and polish, tells you more about the sex lives of historical figures than virtually any modern historian. I also remarked that his modern-day fans, despite their frequently amazing levels of erudition and enthusiasm, studiously avoid…
Pseudo New Yorker
Legal humor here “Fill out the damn proxy, Harkins, or I’m buying the damn cave!” “That’s a chicken, right? Because it sure looks like a dog.” “I hope that isn’t your idea of a mortgage payment, Mr. Jenkins, because if it is it won’t be accepted.” “Knock off the martyr routine, dad. Since you were…
The Washington Post goes to Disneyland, and gets lost
The Washington Post’s Drew Harwell tells it like he wishes it was, “How theme parks like Disney World left the middle class behind”. Way back in 1971, Drew tells us, a ticket to Disney World cost $20.50 in 2014 dollars. The price today? A cool $105! Hey, middle class! Mickey don’t love you no more!…
The Disillusioning of the Left
Lefty standups Bill Maher and Lewis Black and lefty economist Paul Krugman all have shocking news from the lands of universal health care: The trains in Europe are as bad as they are here! Seriously, we’re talking Amtrak bad! Whatever happened to those magical trains that always seemed to be going nonstop from wherever you…
Baltimore cops: Where is the outrage?
On May 1, Maryland State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby filed charges against six Baltimore police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray, who died of spinal injuries incurred in the course of his arrest and transport in a police van. The Washington Post offers a primer on the Gray case here. Following the indictments…
Edward Gibbon, Part II
In Part I of this near-random collection of jottings, I remarked that Edward Gibbon, despite his near-obsessive concern with politeness and polish, tells you more about the sex lives of historical figures than virtually any modern historian. I also remarked that his modern-day fans, despite their frequently amazing levels of erudition and enthusiasm, studiously avoid…