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Painted by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot in 1870, and entitled “Interrupted Reading.” It hangs in the Chicago Museum.
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Of interesting note, yesterday, I featured the famous mural by Seurat. Today, that painting was shown on GMA because a new stage play has been developed about Seurat’s life and the mural serves as a backdrop to the play. Apparently part of the story are the people in the mural who come to life in the play.
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It also was explained that the monkey at the foot of the woman with the bustle denotes a prostitute. I certainly was unaware of that. Also noted was that each of the people portrayed in the mural is looking at no other person. There is often much more to a painting than we assume at first glance.
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Two other matters bear mentioning today as well. First, our DSL service is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. today. The Contrarian has done what he can until the actual start time. Only then can the final hookups be done. Keep your fingers crossed for me! I have the camera working, it just needed a new battery, and the Contrarian is working on downloading. We have since changed computers and it’s not been as easy as he had hoped. So I may not have pictures, but I will be fast–God willing and the creek don’t rise as they say.
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The other mentionable is on the side bar. There is a direct link to a classic book, this one by Flaubert. You are taken to page one chapter one and can read to your hearts content. You can changed the font, coloring, margins to make it as easy to read as you like. Additionally by entering your email, it will remind you to return. Additionally, it will remember where you are, and return you to the page you left off with. You can find a direct link to the site further down in the books/reference sources. Also note the other one in that listing which is a huge site where you can find full copies of speeches, Bartlet’s Quotations, and literally hundreds of other documents and books. The internet continues to amaze me with the breadth and depth of what is now available. It appears that in excess of 100,000 books are now online in full for free. This is what the whole thing is really about, bringing knowledge and information to everyone at no cost.
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Okay, on to the potpourri of topics you have become accustomed to find here:
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In 1751, James Madison was born, and we are sure glad he was. He is, as you know, one of the most important of our founding fathers. Read a short but informative little bio about him at
American Revolution Blog. I wonder if he was Irish? Might I suggest you read the Federalist Papers and learn the real basis for the US! You can find a full copy under the History resources, Constitution link.
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I can’t complain since the snow is melting each day. A little more earth emerges each day as the snow slowly recedes in a glacial mimicry. However, the sun seems to have left its orbit and moved off into some other system for the moment and it’s been quite glum outside the last few days. As the Garden Grows has just what you need to remember that indeed those masses of spring flowers cannot be far behind. Go and take a look, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and bask in the memory of what will soon be yours to behold out your very own window!
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Regardless of your political persuasion, our government is a massive waster of our money and resources. Representative Henry Waxman, Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has been fighting that fight for a long time. He is one of my favorites as he pushes and prods, uncovering all the dirty little secrets to mismanagement and whatnot that our government tries to hide from the public. In Colorado, a taxpayer bill of rights was passed in 1992, to control some of this. Do we need one nationwide? Decide what you think.
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Civil War Women has another in her fine series on the women we never knew from history. I just get so excited when I update feeds and hers lights up alerting me to a new post. They are well researched and well written. If you have kids, I’d be requiring a read of these articles in an attempt to level the field a bit. This one is on Anna Maria Ross, a civil war nurse. Don’t miss it.
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I’m really glad that Epicurious is curious, since I find the recipes so good most every single day. I can’t make them all of course, but I think this one merits a try for a very special occasion. I’m thinking that maybe an anniversary dinner perhaps? Oh by the way, what does it say that on St. Patrick’s Day, I’m making fajitas? I’m irreligious at the very least! Anyway, try this Grand Marnier Crepe Cake and be glad you did.
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I wasn’t aware that Iowa is one of only two states that have never sent a woman to congress or elected one governor. What does this mean? The Essential Estrogen weighs in on the issue, and gives us some insight on what roll if any the Iowa media plays. An important read for sure. She are also linked to a very informative post by Women for Peace Iowa on Karl Rove’s recent visit to Iowa University. It was to say the least, a strange affair, and made this old hippie glow with pride at the protest that was held. Read their take on that “lecture.” Do people pay that lunatic money to come and spew that garbage?
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Free Sample Forager has a free sample of Tide with Dawn. Hurry while they last! The link is good and the order form pops up first.
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As I mentioned yesterday, Barack Obama has gotten himself into one nasty place in regards his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. History News Network has a very valuable essay on the subject of Rev. Wright, one that should not be missed. This story is not going away, and it’s important I think that we don’t over think this issue. Wright is doing nothing so wrong of course, it just doesn’t play well and can be used so nicely by the GOP and the radical right to dump on Obama. The role of the church in the black community is a long and some would argue essential one. It has served the African American people well. It is often misunderstood by whites. This post serves to help us understand a bit better its role, and what it means.
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Yesterday we featured some help on setting up, changing or improving a garden. I thought there was some additional insight into the subject offered by How to Garden, so you are invited to partake of the wisdom offered in a second installment. He gives you the lowdown on what you need to consider in making that garden to be viewed from the house, a true delight.
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More blocks for quilting at inspired by antique quilts. I just love the blocks. I want to make several of them. I have no time, I need to do spring cleaning. Oh, on that note, I did start a bit today, starting with the master bath. A couple more days, and it’s on to the bedroom. By the time I am done, it ought to be about November! Any volunteers? I will feed you I promise. Oh, follow the link marked “Mary” at the top of her blog to see the latest blocks. And welcome to Stitchin by the Sea, another superb quilting blog.
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So what exactly do you know about the Greek Agora? No, not angora, its not about wool. It’s about markets, the earliest we have on record in a big way. It changed the world. If you don’t believe me, go over to Live Science and read it for yourself. It may have been where people went to buy, but it’s also where they stayed to talk. And talk leads to action, and viola, democracy. Oh that it were that easy. Enjoy your history for the day!
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I find it amusing that Bush folks always sneak into Baghdad unannounced. The reason of course is obvious. Darth Cheney of course says its because “the Iraqi invasion was a successful endeavor.” I mean how does he say that with a straight face? I don’t know, but it seems that there is an alternate universe that Cheney and those of his dangerous ilk are caught up in. They do not live in our reality, but in one of their own making. Does anybody not get that the return to a less violent situation is artificially manufactured by walling off Shiites from Sunni and the fact that there has been extensive ethnic cleansing already? Does anybody not get that perhaps the only way this was accomplished was by Sadr’s moratorium on attacks? Does anyone get that we have armed both sides to the teeth in return for their cooperation in helping to eradicate al Qaeda, who were NEVER there until we invaded? Keep Cheney there and make us all happy.
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While we are on the political rant, lets talk some about John McCain. The straight talker admits that economics ain’t his strong suit, and well age may be the cause of the rest of it, but his stances on all things economic are strange, and contradictory. Not that he is quite aware of this problem. Heck he’s not even aware for the most part what his website says is his position. He often contradicts it. American Prospect has a quite useful and telling article today by Jered Bernstein. It seems his method for solving his less than stellar knowledge of how the economy works has resolved itself by and large by simply adopting Bush’s policies. Those are working soooo well of course. If you think I am trying to convince you not to vote for this guy, you are right, I am. He’s a total neo-con (like Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rice, and Rummy) in foreign policy, and a Bush neophyte as regards the economy. Oh boy, do we need more of this?????
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Oh, I love all things chocolate, so you can be sure I was going to alert you to one of my favorites, and one I don’t make nearly often enough. No, not this particular recipe, but the genre of cheeeeeesecake!! Mouth watering, drooling good, cheesecake in every manifestation. Try this marvelous Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake. It’s wonderfully alliterative and sounds mighty tasty too. Remember when Lucy said “and it’s so tasty too” in the Vitaminavegamin commercial show? Grams to ounces can be converted at the left remember.
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The Farmer’s Almanac has these goodies for you:
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What does it mean to get off scot-free? I dunno the answer, but is this the proper question on St. Patrick’s Day? The inhumanity of it! Blasphemy!
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The father of states. (Abbreviation of a U.S. state)? Oh I know, they are corny.
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“The most erroneous stories are those we think we know best – and therefore never scrutinize or question.” Stephen Jay Gould
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“A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.” Doug Larsen
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Today’s St. Patrick’s Day. Legend has it this patron saint drove the snakes out of Ireland. And for decades, this country was entirely free of lawyers.
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Harley-Davidson sales are up 20 percent so far this year. They’re loud, weigh a ton, and give off a noxious odor. But enough about the riders.– Alan Ray, Stockton, Calif.
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When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane. ~~Steven Wright
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Bush on Economics: Bush also said that if you look at the numbers over all, even though things may seem bad right now, they’re actually very, very good compared to how they’re going to be. So, enjoy. Jimmy Kimmel.
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