We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Went to take a look at the Lewis Chessmen this weekend. Made of walrus tusk, found on the Isle of Lewis but most likely carved in Norway in the 1100s.
It is believed that Chess, invented in India, found its way from Moorish Spain to northern Europe where it was indeed a game for the wealthy. In Europe, the Vizier was changed to a Queen, the Warder to a Castle (rook), and an elephant to a Bishop.
Took a few pics at The Cloisters, then we took a little drive around Inwood and Washington Heights before driving down Broadway (Manhattan's original highway and first an Indian trail) through Washington Heights (in recent years mostly Central American, now very mixed), past Columbia-Presbyterian Med Center, through Harlem, then back uphill to the Columbia campus, down the Upper West Side, and then cut thru the park at 96th St to get to our lunch date on the East Side.
All I can say is that the City looked great, right through Harlem (which seemed to have plenty of Chinese people now). Not a single boarded-up shop. There are several urban hikes on my agenda, and one is from Inwood to Columbia - the 180s to 114 St. Alexander Hamilton's farmhouse was (is) in Inwood.
The Cloisters this weekend:
A few pics of the pleasant Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan below the fold -
24:36b While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
24:37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
24:38 He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
24:39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."
24:40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
24:41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"
24:42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
24:43 and he took it and ate in their presence.
24:44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."
24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
24:46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day,
24:47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
3 lbs. white, eastern or yellow flesh potatoes 1 1/2 lbs. Emmenthaler cheese grated 1 lb or ring of kielbasa - I use Hillshire Farms' pork, beef and turkey kielbasa 1 pint heavy cream Salt and Pepper 9 x 13 or similar size casserole dish
Peel potatoes, cut into 5mm rounds, boil until firm - not soft. drain set aside cut kielbasa into 5mm rounds Spray Pam on baking dish. season bottom with salt and cracked black pepper. layer potatoes, kielbasa, cheese, repeat, final layer should be cheese on top add heavy cream cover with aluminum foil bake 350 about 1 1/2 hours uncover, bake an additional hour or when the cheese has melted all the way through
If the oven is gas it may go quicker the cheese should gratin on top let stand 15 minutes to set cut into square servings
Mrs. BD and I, and some friends, have been spending a fair amount of time over recent weeks with a well-known Scottish landscape architect (Scotland born and bred, now working in the US - a legal immigrant!).
We all happen to be responsible for some lands which demand top-notch design and maintenance, and walking around with this fellow discussing design and plant selection - from trees to perennial beds - is a joyful education.
Mind you, we all have a fair and probably well above-average foundation in these things (eg we know what a Little Lamb Hydrangea is, and the difference between an Iris and a Siberian Iris), but a real Landscape Architect (as opposed to a Landscape Designer or, for the bottom of the barrel, a landscaper) not only knows which of the dozen varieties of Boxwoods you need for a spot, but can also step back and produce a big-picture, coherent plan which is more than any of us amateur gardeners could dream of.
Landscape Architects are professionals, and rightly so. A wonderful career. Good people to know.
Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe, For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow, Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee. From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee, Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee doe goe, Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie. Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell, And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well, And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then? One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
John Donne (1572-1631) was, at various times in his life, a soldier, member of Parliament, a secretary to the Court, and a renowned preacher - along with being an essayist, poet and song-writer. His first biography was written by - of all people - Izaak Walton. Donne had 12 kids - 7 survived. I guess he liked his wife, Anne More.
Artworks that mimic soft porn, showcase embalmed animals, mock the Pope, and otherwise offend propriety are filling auctions, museums, and galleries. Is there anything left to be upset about?
Not a bad essay. Which feels more obsolete in our culture today - propriety or "avant-garde"?
I still believe that Thomas Kincaid did more epateing of the bourgeoisie than any of the new "shocking" artists. He truly upset them with his comfortable, un-hip, and highly-profitable corny pictures:
In Spoleto, last summer. Yum. Cannot resist the strangozzi con tartuffo, con cinghiale, because that is the essence of Umbria. Or the polenta con funghi porcino.
Went to take a look at 
What College Women Want 
At 
I tried them. Chef friend sent me the recipe:
Mrs. BD and I, and some friends, have been spending a fair amount of time over recent weeks with a well-known Scottish landscape architect (Scotland born and bred, now working in the US - a legal immigrant!). 
Toon 
Death be not proud, though some have called thee
We posted Bruce's piece, 
Levon Helm, key member of The Band, 
Kobe beef is a scam
Image: Via 