Maggie's Farm

Randomly stumbled on Moss Hart's autobiography, Act One.

Seeing as he died at 57, I am grateful to him for having taken the time to write this inspiring and delightful autobio of his life in theater.

Neuroscience and behavioral determinism. There’s No Such Thing as Free Will, but we’re better off believing in it anyway.

It's a good discussion. I have several problems with their conclusions, but by free will I have decided to put my tomatoes out instead of writing my thoughts. I guess you could claim that my genes and neurons made me make that decision.

Or do morally-flawed people often seek power?  Does power really corrupt?

I think power can act like a drug, and promote the most self-indulgent or sociopathic character traits. Not so, however, in those determined to be on best behavior. What sorts of people seek power over others?

On the occasion of what would have been her 100th birthday, a look back
at just how and why Jacobs’ insights on cities have proved so enduring.

Fun:  The NYC Apartments Jane Jacobs Lived In: Greenwich Village to Brooklyn Heights

Also, How Jane Jacobs changed the way we look at cities

Althouse noted that there is something Trumpian about the Robert Morse character from How To Succeed in Business...:

Here is Morse recently, in this case coming back as either the ghost of, or a hallucination of, Bert Cooper in Mad Men:

Unfinished artwork is great fun to look at. It's as much fun as watching a Youtube of craftsmen or chefs at work - or the late lamented Bob Ross' painting show.

Often, a finished product reveals little of what went into its production. It is concealed.

Mrs. BD and I saw the show at the Met's new satellite gallery a few weeks ago. Worth a trip. You can travel the world, but olde NYC right here in little olde USA remains the premier fine art venue in the world. The tourists know that.

Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible

Look at Mark Rothko. Is there less here than meets the eye?

I have no answer, myself. Always found his designs and colors interesting to look at.

With Springtime finally upon us up here, the skis are put away and the hiking boots come out.

When people get out of town, they want and need to get off the sofa and hiking in the woods and mountains. Here are a few ideas for tougher, and easier, hikes:

Hiking in the White Mountains

Hiking Mount Washington

Section hikes of the Appalachian Trail in New England

The Breakneck trails in the Hudson Highlands

Hike up Monument Mountain

Bartholomew's Cobble

Mt. Moosilauke

What are some of your favorites in this neck of the woods?

All of New York City - not just Manhattan - is a patchwork of neighborhoods. If somebody asks you where you live, you name a neighborhood, not a street. The neighborhoods, with their mostly fuzzy edges, are distinctive in character and more like towns with invisible boundaries.

During this Maggie's Hike on the past Saturday I figure we explored, or at least passed through, these Manhattan neighborhoods: Lower East Side and Alphabet City, the East Village, Gramercy Park, Murray Hill, a bit of Midtown, a slice of the Upper East Side, most of Central Park, the Upper West Side, and Morningside Heights to the edge of Harlem. Not bad for a day's stroll.

That was 12 miles in all and 7 hours total, including pit stops, lunch break, visits into some places of interest, etc. Heck, Advil works!

Pic above is not our starting DD on Delancey St. - that pic is on Houston St.

Our team included friends, relatives, friends of Maggie's (new friends) from all over.

We also had with us celebrities like Stuart of Had Enough Therapy, Francis of Manhattan Contrarian, Dave of Assistant Village Idiot,  Donald Trump and Bob Dylan - Fine fellows all and engaging, entertaining companions. Delighted to meet them.

Pic documentary below the fold to see what you missed -