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Girl with a Pearl Earring
Over the years I have seen many small reproductions of Vermeer
Continue ReadingWatching Entourage
I am waiting for the fifth season of 24 to come out on DVD December 5th. In the meantime, I am watching the first season of the HBO comedy Entourage on the Stairmaster, trying to lose a few pounds. The show gives you a look at the day-to-day life of Vincent (Vince) Chase, a hot young actor in modern-day Hollywood, and his entourage. He’s brought with him from their hometown in Queens, NY: manager Eric, half-brother Drama, and friend Turtle. The producers claim that
A Free-for-All on Science and Religion
By GEORGE JOHNSON (NYT)
Maybe the pivotal moment came when Steven Weinberg, a Nobel laureate in physics, warned that
Bush’s Brain
Until last night’s election, Karl Rove could take it as complement to be called Bush’s brain. American voters no longer seem to believe that the brain of the commander-in-chief is large enough to steer the nation in the right directions. Republican politicians entering the 2008 races will now reevaluate whether Rove’s brain is large enough to compete for his services. It will be curious to see whether Bush will embrace bipartisan politics as he was forced to do when he was first govenor of Texas with a democratic legislature. Or will his presidency simply implode.
What I may have done in the 14th Century
I recently met a woman who told me that I am an “old soul.” “No, I am young! Much younger than you think!” I retorted. But she would be pleased to learn that a priest by the name of Peter Murmann existed in the 14th century who founded a cloister called Klosterli in the Swiss town Fiesch. Anyone who believes in perfect reincarnation could now believe that my soul is a good 700 years old. The beauty of the Internet is that you can figure out whether you have a doppelgänger. Since there are least 10 living “Peter Murmanns” on the Internet, it becomes quite legitimate to ask question who of the many Peter Murmanns currently in existence has the rightful claim to possess the soul of the 14th century Swiss priest.
Dr. Love has one More Piece of Advice for You!
This is a good story. I wish I had written it.
By JANE GORDON (NYT)
FOR years, Charley Wininger, a Gestalt psychotherapist and dating coach in Brooklyn, had wined and dined serious, intellectual women. A hippie who recalls being gassed while protesting the Vietnam War, he has always been passionate about politics and philosophy. He has also been passionate about relationships, pontificating about them on talk shows and in news articles, so much so that he was dubbed the Love Doctor by Newsday.
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Jazz Washes Away the Dust of Everyday Life
Art Blakey uttered this wonderful line in the superb documentary on Jazz by Ken Burns. I am presently watching the 10th and final episode of a film that taught me a new understanding of American history.
For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn
Ernest Hemingway proved that it is possible to write an entire novel in one line.
Where is Paradise?
The Economist reviews two books on the idea of paradise throughout human history. By historical standards, people in the industrialized countries are close to paradise in a material sense. The trick is to feel spiritually this way. The Germans have proven in the past few weeks that possessing a good national soccer team helps a long way to take the final step. But then the Italians, who seem to be closer to God with the Vatican in Rome, showed the Germans that full Paradise remains one step, that is one small goal away.
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