Discussing his prostate cancer operation at a public event, [Congressman Duke] Cunningham called it “just not natural, unless maybe you’re Barney Frank.” When asked for his reaction, Frank offered that Cunningham “may have suffered a little brain damage” during the surgery.
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North Wind In March
. . . the work went well on the picture – I established firmly the great black North motif in the sky, with wind clouds, the largest of which is spewing forth snow-flurries. I think I have established with the relation of the wind-blown red maples in bloom, and the sky and inevitableness which every picture must have – that is, the assurance that absolutely no other arrangement could possibly be right. . . . This picture gives me great joy. How slowly the “secrets” of my art come to me – it seems to me I have been searching all my life for this motif of Black North combined with the wind-cloud and snow-flurry. When I said this to Bertha, she said “aren’t you thankful that at 71 new secrets are being revealed to you?” and I certainly am.
Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, March 30, 1964
Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), North Wind in March, 1960-66; watercolor, 47 1/2 x 59 1/2 inches; OMAA Permanent Collection, Museum of Art of Ogunquit
Not A Real Church
“It’s not a real church unless they have a cemetery.”
–Jimmy Breslin
Sit-Down
[Michigan Governor Frank] Murphy decided to ask John L. Lewis what he would do if he sent in the troops. Lewis’s reply: “You want my answer sir? I shall personally enter GM Plant Number Two. I shall order the men to disregard your order, to stand fast. I shall walk up to the largest window in the plant, open it, divest myself of my outer raiment, remove my shirt and bare my bosom. Then, when you order your troops to fire, mine will be the first breast that your bullets will strike. And as my body falls from the window to the ground, you will listen to the voice of your grandfather, as he whispers in your ear, ‘Frank, are you sure you are doing the right thing?'” Murphy hesitated: his grandfather had been hanged after an Irish uprising.
Sycamore
Sycamores age beautifully. This is a tree in Germany, somewhere around six feet through at breast height. Photo by Roberto Verzo. CC License, modified from original image.
Women’s Ward D
I took this photo in 2006 while walking my usual route with my dog around the Richardson Buildings. This is Women’s Ward D, the next to last building on the west end of the complex. I have several similar shots taken in later years, showing some deterioration, trees broken by the October storm and the structural remediation started a few years back. Here’s a link to a larger version.
I’ve long admired the ward buildings, particularly the brick outliers. Compared to the flashy administration building, they have great grace and subtlety and beautifully show Richardson’s mastery.
Art Nouveau in Buffalo
Here’s a drawing from the plans for the Hotel Statler (the first big one) in Buffalo, photo here.