Willem de Kooning Retrospective at MOMA: Exhaustingly Large & Predictably Awe-Inspiring

A Willem de Kooning retrospective is on at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is, according to the New York Times, "exhaustingly comprehensive and predictably awe-inspiring." Read the review, "Unfurling A Life of Creative Exuberance," by Holland Cotter.

Further discussion of de Kooning's work: Seven Eras of Willem de Kooning.

Chamber spends $4 million in three months to secure immunity

Chamber spends $4 million in three months to secure immunity

Labor Day; Ode to Working People Everywhere

There are a lot of good songs about working. One of my favorites is Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons":

Good Night, Hurricane Irene

Here's an excellent video of empty streetscapes in New York City as Hurricane Irene moved through the city:

Irene NYC from Buffalo Picture House on Vimeo.

MLK Memorial to Be Dedicated In Washington on August 28

The national memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be dedicated on August 28, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. King's fabulous "I Have A Dream" speech. Here's a virtual tour of the memorial which sits on the Tidal Basin at the National Mall in Washington:

The Federal Budget Deficit: How Did We Get Here?

Here's a useful chart that explains precisely how since Bill Clinton left office and a federal budget surplus we got to where our Nation is on the verge of default:



Some might say that former President George W. Bush and the Republican Congress that voted for unbridled spending, tax cuts and inflicted great economic disaster and pain on our Nation are to blame mostly. Some could say that, they would have facts, but facts are just facts.

to Clarence Clemons

Clarence Clemons, aka "the Big Man, and ace saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band passed away over the weekend. His tenor sax added a soulful tinge to Springsteen's songs; one of my favorite examples is the sax solo on "Jungleland" here played in a concert at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee in March 2008:

to Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron passed away Friday having struggled for many years with health and substance abuse problems. He may be best remembered for the great rant "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" but he had a number of other memorable songs including this one, the title track of his 1971 album, "Pieces of A Man":

on this Memorial Day

In honor of those who have served and do serve today faraway on this Memorial Day.

Charting the Federal Budget Deficit

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words as with this chart of the federal budget deficit from the Center for Budget and Public Priorities.

Slide In Thoroughbred Betting Continues

Andy Beyer reports in the Washington Post on the continuing slide in thoroughbred betting nationwide, "Betting Totals Continue To Decline In Thoroughbred Racing." The prescription is what has worked for Keeneland for decades: a short season and full fields.

"His remark was not intended to be a factual statement." -- Arizona Senator Jon Kyl rewrites history

Senator Jon Kyl (R - Arizona) recently told a whopper during a debate in the Senate stating regarding Planned Parenthood and the indispensable services the organization provides women. It was wrong, so wrong in fact that one of the good Senator's clean-up people later explained about the Senator's whopper: "His remark was not intended to be a factual statement." The aide didn't explain what the good Senator intended his statement to be, perhaps, what it was an idiotic fabrication. Now, Senator Kyl has officially stricken his Whopper from the Congressional Record reports Talking Points Memo.

Cattlemen's Steakhouse: A Venerable Oklahoma City Steakhouse

Catttlemen's Steakhouse is a venerable Oklahoma City restaurant in the city's historic Stockyard City neighborhood on South Agnew Avenue. Bufe and me recently were in town and stopped in for dinner; we hope to return soon and often.

Brigsten's: A New Orleans Dining Gem

Brigsten's is a New Orleans dining gem located Uptown near the river's bend on Dante Street. Chef Frank Brigsten, a James Beard award winner, opened the restaurant in 1986. Chef Brigsten and his restaurant have won numerous awards.

Tchoupitoulas: Coolest Street Name

Tchoupitoulas Street runs along the river in New Orleans beginning at about the Morial Convention Center and running out about the Audubon Zoo. It is named after an Indian tribe that long ago lived along the river. A landmark is Tipitina's, a music club at the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Napoleon Avenue. A great New Orleans album, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, was made by a Mardi Gras Indian group back in 1976.

Casamento's: Food So Good It Makes You Sing

Casamento's Restaurant in New Orleans, just off the corner of Magazine Street and Napoleon Avenue, has been serving oysters, shrimp and other fresh seafood dishes since 1919. On a visit several years ago, Tim Francis ordered a dozen raw oysters, then ate dinner, then ordered another dozen oysters, explaining that he did not want to leave thinking he could have had more oysters. A recent visit confirmed Casamento's continues to earn the highest compliment: Food So Good It Makes You Sing!

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve: Bufe and the Buffalo

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is a 30,000 acre plus preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy in northeastern Oklahoma about 17 miles due north from the town of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. One gets the feeling, at the preserve, that the 21st century has not yet arrived to this corner of America. The preserve is a wild flower and wildlife refuge including a free-roaming bison herd of some 3500. The preserve is an excellent example of the fine work done by the Nature Conservancy.

Dow Jones Now Up 50% Since Obama Took Office

Today the Dow Jones index reached over 12,000, the first time it has exceeded that barrier since June 2008 as the New York Times reports. On January 20, 2009, when President Obama took office the index stood at 7,949; that is a 50% increase since Obama took office as President. The Daily Kos has more: Dow at 12,000: Obama must really be a socialist now.