whippin' post

I have no doubt that the nation has suffered more from undue secrecy than from undue disclosure. The government takes good care of itself.

Daniel Schorr (b. 31 august 1916)

today is the 93rd birthday of journalist daniel schorr. schorr got his start in journalism soon after wwII and is considered one of edward r. murrow's second generation 'murrow's boys'.

at the youthful age of 93, schorr is still going strong. schorr currently interprets national and international news as a senior news analyst for npr. in 1970 schorr wrote a book entitled don't get sick in america, he referenced the book the other day when he paid tribute to teddy kennedy. although written almost 40 years ago, the admonition of schorr's book title (and accompanying cbs documentary) to not get sick in america is as true today as it was back then at least for the more than 47 million americans who are currently uninsured (and the millions more that are underinsured).

speaking of books and health care, last monday I heard a fascinating and highly informative interview with journalist t.r. reid on fresh air. the interview focused on reid's latest book the healing of america: a global quest for better, cheaper, and fairer health care. if you have 39 minutes to spare you can listen to terry's interview with reid. I can't wait to read the book, needless to say I ordered a copy to read and share soon after the interview ended! here's a fairly succinct description of the book:

Reid shares evidence from doctors, government officials, health care experts, and patients the world over, finding that foreign health care systems give everybody quality care at an affordable cost. And that dreaded monster “socialized medicine” turns out to be a myth. Many developed countries provide universal coverage with private doctors, private hospitals, and private insurance.

... Reid also studies countries that have carried out major health care reform. The first question facing these countries—and the United States, for that matter—is an ethical issue: Is health care a human right? Most countries have already answered with a resolute yes, leaving the United States in the murky moral backwater with nations we typically think of as far less just than our own.

The Healing of America lays bare the moral question at the heart of our troubled system, dissecting the misleading rhetoric surrounding the health care debate. Reid sees problems elsewhere, too: He finds poorly paid doctors in Japan, endless lines in Canada, mistreated patients in Britain, spartan facilities in France. Still, all the other rich countries operate at a lower cost, produce better health statistics, and cover everybody. In the end, The Healing of America is a good news book: It finds models around the world that Americans can borrow to guarantee health care for everybody who needs it.

today's song whipping post, and on guitar none other than schorr's friend and fellow free speech advocate the late great frank zappa.

photo: a nosy eggplant - perhaps the newsman of the garden patch? cleveland august 2009.

the eggplant reminds me of a wonderful children's book, how are you peeling by saxton freymann and joost elffers - one of many books by freymann and elffers which utilize food to teach kids and stimulate the joy of reading.

when the ship comes in

Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) minister, civil-rights leader

today is the 46th anniversary of martin luther king jr's historic I have a dream speech. delivered on the steps of the lincoln memorial during the 1963 march for jobs and freedom, the speech and the march were watershed events for the country and for the civil rights movement. the official reason for the march was to rally support of a civil rights bill that was proposed by the kennedy administration.

a year after king's historical speech, at the age of thirty-five, martin received the nobel peace prize, making him the youngest person ever to receive this venerated award.

bob dylan and joan baez singing at the march in 1963 - the glimpse back in time that this vid provides is priceless. I have been to more than a few marches and all I can say is we certainly don't dress up for marches like they did back then!



photo: button from the 20th anniversary march on washington. although much has improved from 1963 to 1983 and then from 1983 to today, we still a ways to go before martin's dream is fully realized and before we can say the justice ship has docked.

cadillac ranch

Conspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure.

Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929) economist and sociologist

An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight. . . The truly wise person is colorblind.

Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) physician, theologian, musician and philosopher

He who is firmly seated in authority soon learns to think security, and not progress, the highest lesson of statecraft.

James Russell Lowell (1819-1981)poet, editor and diplomat

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.

Oprah Winfrey (b. 1954)multi-media personality, producer, philanthropist

Inside his slimy limousine
that slips about the slimy scene
he guzzles a glass of gasoline
and licks his slimy lips.
With rings on either slimy hand
he's a monster glorious, great and grand,
the wealthiest in monster land,
the slithery slimy Slitch.

from "The Slithery Slitch" in The Baby Uggs are Hatching
by Jack Prelutsky, pictures by James Stevenson (1982)

notes about photos:

1. in college I majored in sociology and economics where I read veblen's the theory of the leisure class (1899). the book, which is probably veblen's best known work, is full of wonderful insights, the least of which is his introducing the concept of conspicuous consumption. veblen deplored the consequences of conspicuous consumption, he believed it triggered greater inequality and conspicuous waste - as a product of frugal norwegian stock, he really despised the waste. it is unfortunate that veblen died a few months before black tuesday, the day considered the beginning of the great depression; undoubtedly he would have added much to the deconstruction of the great depression. this photo is of a 1929 minerva limousine, the minerva was a luxury automobile manufactured from 1902 to 1938. this car is part of the crawford auto-aviation museum . at least it was when I took this picture. unfortunately, the museum is currently auctioning off some of its automotive collection in order to try and stay afloat. hard times, hard times. this particular model limousine is reputed to be one of the largest automobiles ever made and is described as "a palace on wheels" - conspicous indeed! wrhs, cleveland, january 2008
2. one of the most interesting limousines I've ever scene. clearly it's a chevy, but year perhaps a 57 or 58. nyc march 2009.
3. I wonder what one calls a bunch of limos - we call a group of boats, a flotilla: a group of crows, a murder; a group of lions, a pride; a group of quail, a bevy; and, my personal favorite a mischief of mice. perhaps a group of limos could be considered 'a nuisance of limousines' - after all they are often waiting around for some fat cats. for those who like musing about such thing, check out this site. washington, dc 20 january 2009
4. c&s leaving the church after their wedding. cleveland december 2002
5. the first thing that popped into my head thinking about this week's theme was prelutsky's hilarious poem from one of my all time favorite children's books, the baby uggs are hatching. it has been almost two years since I mentioned this book on the mouse, about time to plug it again! ms t graciously agreed to pose with the book - by the way, the outfit is yesterday's arts and crafts project on avenue c - designed by none other than ms t herself - but she did not run the sewing machine - although she desperately wants to, I told her she has to wait until she's at least six.

the boss (aka bruce springsteen) seems to have something about cadillacs. in 1980 bruce and the e street band released cadillac ranch and a few years later bruce wrote and released his rockabilly quasi-ode to elvis pink cadillac. I like bruce's version, however I really like natalie cole's r&b version which she released in 1988.

fields of gold

And this is the cause of my life -- new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American -- north, south, east, west, young, old -- will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege.

Edward M. Kennedy
February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009

I am certain that millions of others pray and want, as I do, that the cause of senator kennedy's life - quality health care for all - will soon be realized and will pass from being a cause to being a reality.

saw this while reading this:

CNN will air the HBO documentary "Teddy: In His Own Words," chronicling the senator's life from his childhood through his speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. It includes rarely seen archival footage.
Tonight, 7 ET

thank you senator kennedy. rest in peace.

eva cassidy singing fields of gold

the people speak

If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves.

Howard Zinn (b. 24 august 1922) historian, author, professor and activist

today is the 87th birthday of the brilliant sage howard zinn. I have admired professor zinn since the early 1980s when I picked up a copy of his groundbreaking book a people's history of the united states - from 1492-present. as soon as I finished the book, I immediately felt it should be read by everyone. a belief shared by others.

It is difficult to describe why it (the book) is so great because it both teaches and inspires. You really just have to read it. We think it is so good that it demands to be as accessible as possible. Once you've finished it, we're sure you'll agree. In fact, years ago, we would offer people twenty dollars if they read the book and didn't think it was completely worth their time. Of all the people who took us up on it, no one collected.

...A People's History Of The United States is available in regular form, read aloud on audio, on posters, in a teaching edition, and .... now here.

a new documentary, the people speak, will be coming out quite soon. the film is inspired by the book a people's history and weaves together narrative, music and archival photos and videos to highlight key moments in our nation's history. the film debuted last year at the toronto film festival and according to zinn's website, there was a pre-release screening of the movie saturday in wellfleet, massachusetts. zinn and other "special guests" were to be in attendance - wow, that would have been one fantastic event.

zinn has written scores of books and hundreds of essays and articles over the years. along with the must read people's history, the other book I recommend is his 1994 memoir you can't be neutral on a moving train. zinn's personal history is as remarkable and inspiring as the hidden (and often repressed) history that he has devoted his life unearthing and sharing ....he is a man of moral courage and unflagging conviction.

instead of a song, today I present the trailer for the people speak




happy birthday professor zinn - thank your for your courage, your tenacity, your optimism and idealism, and for always working toward helping us open our eyes and by doing so help open our hearts.

Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.

Howard Zinn

photo: detail from carl b. stokes federal courthouse, cleveland

spinning around the sun

All The Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' In The Sun,
Talkin' 'Bout The Things
They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done...
But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All Ran Away And Hid
From One Little Did.

Shel Silverstein (1930-1999) poet, cartoonist and composer

one of my favorite tunes from jimmie dale gilmores' wonderful 1993 album spinning around the sun, the song is entitled just a wave, not the water. hey, speaking of jimmie, we all are wondering just when he's gonna get his you-know-what back up to cleveland!! it's been way, way too long!



photo: sunflower, oberlin august 2009

shadows and light

Solitude is not something you must hope for in the future. Rather, it is a deepening of the present, and unless you look for it in the present you will never find it.

Thomas Merton (1915-1968)monk, writer, photographer

'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, but to support them after.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) dramatist, playwright and poet

Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under the influence of a great fear.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) author, mathematician, & philosopher

What a distressing contrast there is between the radiant intelligence of a child and the feeble mentality of the average adult.

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis

A friend is someone who dances with you in the sunlight, And walks with you in the shadows.

Anonymouse

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.

Victor Hugo (1802-1885) poet, novelist, human rights activist

God appears, and God is Light,
To those poor souls who dwell in Night;
But does a Human Form display
To those who dwell in realms of Day.

William Blake (1757 - 1827) English engraver, illustrator, & poet

Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) poet

notes on photos:

1. self portrait snapped while wandering along a (well marked) country road somewhere in the lehigh valley, pennsylvania, may 2008
2. steel road supports, chicago, october 2007
3. detail of agora a monumental sculptural installation of 106 iron cast figures in grant park by magdalena abakanowicz chicago october 2007
4. playground, cleveland june 2009
5. a portrait of two friends in liberty ny, may 2008
6. sax musician viewed from atop the centre pompidou, paris, october 2005
7. henry moore sculpture as part of the exhibit "moore in america" at the new york botanical garden, august 2008
8. family portrait. ever since em was a little girl we have been taking shadow portraits this one was taken somewhere in washington state, august 1999
   

joni of course! what other song could I possibly have chosen?

10 AM addendum: I can't believe I forgot to include a stanza (or two) from one of my favorite childhood poems, my shadow by robert louis stevenson. well here is an audio version of the poem in it's entirety - I was hoping there would have been a version of stevenson performing it himself, since stevenson lived in the last half of the 19th century, I guess that would be asking for a lot!

piece of my heart

If we had a keen vision of all that is ordinary in human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow or the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which is the other side of silence.

George Eliot ~ pen name of Mary Anne Evans (1819-1880)novelist, humanist & freethinker

it's been a while since I posted any pictures of any of the squirrels on avenue c. yesterday I discovered that this little fellow is now so tame that he will take a treat from my hand. and he isn't at all shy when it comes to getting his portrait taken. of course he does know who is the party responsible for said treats!


on day two of woodstock janis performed piece of my heart. as far as I can tell there isn't any movie footage of janis performing the song, but this vid includes a decent recording from the day and stills of janis and from woodstock.

a couple years ago we went to see love, janis - a musical based on the life of janis joplin. the musical was based on a book written by janis' sister laura. it was terrific and powerful, aside from janis' songs, the entire play was drawn directly from letters janis had written home or from accounts of interviews done with janis. I wonder if the production is still around.

smothered

last night f and I went to the 9th annual burning river fest. the organizers of the festival continue tweaking the format - and I think this year the may have finally reached a wonderful balance. celebrating environmentalism is still the guiding principle of the festival, but this year music moved more to the fest's center stage.

unfortunately, the musician we were most interested in hearing performed before we got there. we should have checked out kristine's website beforehand; but all is not lost, turns out kristine's playing right down the street from where we live later this week!

this year the fest moved back to wendy park; in anticipation some folks were hard at work getting the old coast guard station in shape for the event. it was quite an experience to finally get inside this structure which has long intrigued me. even though the building is abandoned and dilapidated, with no roof and the glassless windows, one can easily imagine the grace and glory this incredible art deco building once possessed. I do hope the city gets its act together and finally settles on a plan to restore this historical gem. here's a little slideshow from the fest for anyone interested.


kristine jackson performing a song she wrote entitled smothered



photo: the cuyahoga river on 15 august 2009

high flying bird

If a man does not know what port he is steering for, no wind is favorable to him.

Seneca (mid-1st century AD) philosopher

this photo was taken from the grounds of the great lakes science center and shows the center's wind turbine in the foreground and the cleveland skyline in the background.

soon after I took this photo, f and I went off to attend the monthly science cafe. the topic was on bird migration in our changing world. it was a wonderful program and we learned a great deal. not surprisingly we learned that the greatest threat to birds, and to all wildlife, continues to be loss and/or degradation of habitat due to human development and disturbance. for migrating birds that require multiple areas for breeding, wintering, and stopovers, the effects of habitat loss are complex and far-reaching.

coincidentally, the subject of wind turbines and bird mortality was also raised. wind turbines are just one of the many potential threats to migrating birds that exist. however, if wind turbines are placed in areas outside of bird migration routes, if there is coordination between people and communities using wind technology, and if adopters of wind technology use the new (bird friendly) designs for wind turbines, the risk that wind turbines present to birds can be greatly reduced, in not almost eliminated. according to dr. mabey, who was one of the speakers at monday's science cafe and some things I've been reading this week (like this and this) there are much bigger threats to birds than wind technology.

richie havens performing his song high flying bird on bbc tv in 1969. as everyone knows today is the 40th anniversary of the woodstock music festival, what you might not know is that richie performed this song on day one of the festival. richie's iconic woodstock song of course is freedom - which coincidentally is one of the 10 songs from woodstock in the new york times poll "what is your favorite song from woodstock?" I did vote, but it was difficult as all the songs they listed are GREAT! for all you curious cats, if you want to see the day-by-day play from woodstock, check out this site.

are you going to scarborough fair

We are in the same tent as the clowns and the freaks - that's show business.

Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965) journalist

There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of this planet.

Brooke Medicine Eagle contemporary Native American metis, author and ecologist

Men are like bagpipes no sound comes from them until they're full.

Irish Proverb

Bluegrass has brought more people together and made more friends than any music in the world. You meet people at festivals and renew acquaintances year after year.

Bill Monroe (1911-1996) singer, instrumentalist, composer

It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.

Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama (born 1935)

There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny.

Irving Berlin (1888-1989) songwriter, composer, lyricist

Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. So practice happy thinking every day. Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast.

Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993)clergyman and writer

To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)polymath (aka Renaissance man)

notes on photos:

1. festival tents, cleveland irish festival july 2008
2. entrance to the 2004 burning river fest. the burning river fest (brf) is an annual festival which celebrates the watershed moment that raised our nation's consciousness about the importance of our environment in general, and our waterways in particular. that moment, of course was the day in 1969 when the cuyahoga river caught on fire. although that fire on the cuyahoga was not the first, it was the first time that the phenomena caught the populations attention (thanks to a story in time magazine on august 1, 1969) . the location of the brf seems to change from year to year. in 2004, the festival was held behind the rock hall near cleveland's (current) coast guard station and the steamship the william g. mather, a retired great lakes bulk freighter and now a maritime museum. last year the fest was held in a river side pavillion, but this year it returns to wendy park and cleveland's old coast guard station (this venue may very well be my favorite because of the park's great views of the city and the lake).
   
3. even though I love the brf, I must say that the cleveland irish festival remains my favorite cleveland summer festival - it's hard to beat wandering bands of pipers, multiple musical stages, guinness on tap, boxty, exotic irish dog breeds, and all the rest of the fest!
4. festival parking - parking for instrument cases that is! a jamming session at last year's annual music in the valley festival. last year was the festival's 33rd year and for me the first time I attended. I don't remember hearing anything about this year's festival - given all the cuts that we have been experiencing in terms of arts and culture, I wouldn't be too surprised to learn that the festival didn't take place. of course this would be very sad. hale farm and village, bath ohio july 2008.
   
5. but for me, the biggest and best (national) festival has to be the smithsonian's annual folk life festival in washington dc. I don't get down every year, but I have attended on and off since the festival began in 1967! my family moved to the washington area in 1966. although I moved away from the dc area in 1973, I often coordinate a visit with my family to correspond with the folklife festival. what other venue allows one to wander the world (and beyond) within the confines of the washington mall. the only downside to the festival is the washington weather, but it could be worse, it could be held in august! this photo was taken last year and I think the bhutanese prayer flags are particularly festive! what do you say? july 2008.
6. there are festivals for everything - some are really corny! a festive band of kids promoting last weekend's corn festival held in north ridgeville a community not too far from cleveland. I skipped the festival, it was so hot last weekend I was afraid if I went I might end up popped! photo snapped at a ballgame in avon ohio, august 2009
7. perhaps my favorite attraction at medieval or renaissance festivals are the falconry demonstrations. my heart always soars when I get close to these magnificent birds, such as the kestrel being held in this snap. photo transferred from film, taken circa 1998 at a renaissance fair held somewhere in the cleveland area (I think clauge park in westlake, but I wouldn't bet the fair (I mean farm) on my memory)
8. last year I checked out the medieval festival at fort tyron park. this annual festival is held in in the fall. the day I attended was very rainy so I didn't get very many photos, but I did snap a sign which made me chuckle - this sign beautifully captures the penchant these festivals have of adding ye olde and shoppe to everything.
   

although there are scores of versions of scarborough fair I skipped the version we all know and love and instead decided to post this beautiful rendition by hayley westenra. hayley is a young soprano from new zealand who possesses one of those voices that enchants and entrances the listener. for a brief while hayley was a member of the equally enchanting musical ensemble celtic woman.

this week's theme was chosen to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the famous woodstock musical festival . but did you know this week's theme also corresponds with the time of year the original scarborough fair was held. according to the portal of all knowledge, during the middle ages, the scarborough fair was a 45 day long trading festival held in scarborough, england, which began on august 15 and drew merchants and people from all over. by the way, the traditional scarborough fair started in 1253 but by 1383 it's prosperity slumped. the start of the fair begins on the feast of the assumption of the bvm and lasts until the feast of st. michael. to see what the portal of all knowledge has to say about the fair and the song go here.

roots rock reggae

My fondest hope is that "Roots" may start black, white, brown, red, yellow people digging back for their own roots. Man, that would make me feel 90 feet tall.

Alex Haley (b. 11 august 1921 -1992) author

I guarantee this song will put a bounce in your step today! (sorry the vid ends a bit abruptly, but the sight of bob singing more than makes up for that problem!)

wond'ring aloud

It's only the giving that makes you what you are.

Ian Anderson (b. 10 august 1947) musician

today the talented scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist ian anderson turned 62. I've long been a fan of anderson and his band jethro tull; once I could claim that I knew all the lyrics to their epic song thick as a brick. having written this, I realized I've shared this bit of useless information last year when I made note of his birthday!

what I didn't share last year were these interesting bits of trivia about ian - for years he has been an ardent activist of protecting wild cats - particularly those who have been rescued from cruel captivity and he is also a big fan of indian food. in fact, he has even written his own guide to indian food which you can find here. don't ya love the way he ends his trestise on indian food?

Wagner, Beethoven and Hendrix might have chanced the Vindaloo but Mozart, Debussy and John Denver were probably Korma or, perhaps, Dhansak guys on a daring night. Got the picture? See you in Curry Heaven.

a vid of anderson singing wond'ring aloud - filmed in 1976 - I swear I saw him on this tour - but not at this venue.


wishing everyone a great start to your week!

I'm going to try and start posting more consistently starting this week. perhaps returning to regular posting will help organize my time which seems to be flying by at an alarming rate. I don't know about you, but I'm just in shock that it is already the 10th of august!!

a kiss to build a dream on

To know one thing, you must know the opposite.

Henry Moore (1898-1986) English sculptor

The mind of a thoroughly well-informed man is a dreadful thing. It is like a bric-a-brac shop, all monsters and dust, with everything priced above its proper value.

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) poet, novelist, dramatist and critic

May your joys be as bright as the morning, and your sorrows merely be shadows that fade in the sunlight of love. May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet, enough trials to keep you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to keep you happy, enough failure to keep you humble, enough success to keep you eager, enough friends to give you comfort, enough faith and courage in yourself to banish sadness, enough wealth to meet your needs and one thing more; enough determination to make each day a more wonderful day than the one before.

Irish Blessing

When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become.

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) chemist and microbiologist

I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day.

James Joyce (1882-1941) novelist, poet, teacher

When I look on you a moment, then I can speak no more, but my tongue falls silent, and at once a delicate flame courses beneath my skin, and with my eyes I see nothing, and my ears hum, and a wet sweat bathes me, and a trembling seizes me all over.

Sappho (circa 620 b.c.e - 570 b.c.e.)

'Twas not my lips you kissed
But my soul

Judy Garland (1922-1969) singer and actor

There are unknown forces in nature; when we give ourselves wholly to her, without reserve, she lends them to us; she shows us these forms, which our watching eyes do not see, which our intelligence does not understand or suspect.

Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) French sculptor

notes on photos:

1. although this henry moore sculpture is named 'large two forms' I think it should really be called 'french kiss' - do you agree - can you 'see' it? new york botanical garden, august 2008
2. porch knickknack , lakewood ohio august 2009
3. shadow kissing, ballpark. avon ohio, august 2009
4. tsuki kissing ms. t, august 2009
5. 'kiss me I'm irish' t-shirt worn at the cleveland irish festival, july 2008
6. billboard in the paris metro, october 2005
7. rita and shan's (my mom and dad) wedding kiss, harwood mines, pennsylvania, 30 march 1951
8. mouse blowing a kiss in front of the kiss, one of rodin's masterpieces. the rodin museum, paris - october 2005.
   

louie armstrong singing a kiss to build a dream on the song written in 1935 by bert kalmar, harry ruby & oscar hammerstein was recorded and popularized by armstrong in 1951, but it was the hugo interhalter orchestra's version with vocalist johnny parker which took the song to the top of the charts in 1952. some of you may recognize the song from the films sleepless in seattle (1993)or the strip (1951)

the best way to travel

A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity to the point of doubtful sanity.

Robert Frost (1874-1963) poet

for years I've been trying to get to the american visionary art museum in baltimore - finally last week I made it! what can I say, but wow, wow, wow!!!! I was accompanied by susan's alice and my sister and her family, who graciously drove up to baltimore to pick me up at the airport. all of us were blown away by the museum. photographs were not allowed in the main building, but I did manage to take some snaps on the museum's grounds and inside an adjacent building which housed some exhibits on the history of the museum, classrooms, and the visiting art cars (hunter, the driver of the 'brass van' said it was a-okay to take photos of the cars). here's a slide show of avam for those interested in taking a wee fantastic journey. (oh and here's the link to a set of six snaps of alice checking out avam)

the reason for the weekend jaunt was to help celebrate my father's birthday - he turned 87 yesterday. yeah dad!!

I returned to cleveland on sunday and it's back to busy-ness as usual!

it was hard to decide which moody blues song to feature, it was this and this - the moody blues seems like the group to accompany my post on this phantasmagorical museum!


p.s. whoops I got sidetracked listening to moody blues songs and forgot to add some more birthday wishes! today is president obama's 48th birthday!! according to the tibetan astrology this is his year! obama was born in 1961, which was the year of the iron ox; this year, by the way is the year of the earth ox. happy birthday mr. president!! speaking of birthday's today is also the 219th birthday of the united states coast guard and the 2nd birthday of matilda, the cattle dog!