A Thought for Thursday

Interesting thoughts from the great Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973):

"Art is a lie that makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand. The artist must know the manner whereby to convince others of the truthfulness of his lies. If he only shows in his work that he has searched, and researched, for the way to put over lies, he would never accomplish anything."

Classic Comedy

I consider this one of the funniest scenes ever from the TV program Seinfeld.  The set-up is that George is cheating on an IQ test (Elaine actually takes it for him, but has a little mishap), and has to do some quick thinking to cover his little ruse.  Funny stuff...

 

This Week's Top Five List

Due to a technical snafu, I don't have this past week's Top Five List from Dr. John's Record Shelf.  But luckily, I do have this "classic" edition from back in 2007, you know, for your listening pleasure:

A Tuesday Thought

Keen insight from the mind of noted playwright Moss Hart (1904-1961):

"So far as I know, anything worth hearing is not usually uttered at seven o'clock in the morning; and if it is, it will generally be repeated at a more reasonable hour for a larger and more wakeful audience."

Cool Song

There are a few more clips of the Cash Brothers on YouTube (compared to the Mary Janes), but several are lacking in the actual video content (like this one). Luckily, once again the music more than makes up for the visual shortcomings:

Yellowstone

I spent a couple of days in Yellowstone Park last week, and these are some of the photos I took as I wandered around.  Thursday was reasonably bright and clear, but Friday ended up being rather overcast.  Still, the scenery jumped out regardless of the light conditions. 

 

I tyhink my next camera will be one with a built-in GPS, so that I won't have to try and remember exactly where I was when I snapped a shot.  I'm pretty sure this is the Madison River on the west side of the park, but I could be wrong.

 This is, I think, the Gibbon River, and below is a picture of Gibbon Falls.

And here's one end of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  I'll likely have some more of these up later this week.

Monday's Quote

Here's something to keep in mind as the current political campaigns wind down towards election day.  It's a line from Ted Sorenson (1928-2010), who was a key figure in the Kennedy administration:

"A speech is made great, not from the words used, but from the ideas conveyed. If the ideas, principles and values and substance of the speech are great, then it's going to be a great speech, even if the words are pedestrian. The words can be soaring, beautiful and eloquent but if the ideas are flat, empty or mean, it's not a great speech."

Great Song

I've gotten so used to finding pretty much everything on YouTube that it's kind of shocking when I can't find something I'm looking for on that site.  Here's a good example: this appears to be the only clip by a wonderful group called the Mary Janes, who never got much attention when they were active, and now appear to have been largely forgotten. It's sad too, because their two albums are excellent all the way through.  Anyway, here's the only thing I could find by them on YouTube:

More Friday Family Blogging

Maria and Joseph-- this is another processed photo that turned out pretty good (though I wish Joe had given us a smile). 

Friday Family Blogging

I had to do some work to make this picture somewhat presentable, but like how it turned out.  That's Benny in the foreground. This was taken at the old train station in Prague, with its Art Nouveau  decor.

Friday Philosophy

Kudos to Art Buchwald (1925-2007) for hitting the nail on the head with this comment:

"We seem to be going through a period of nostalgia, and everyone seems to think yesterday was better than today. I don't think it was, and I would advise you not to wait ten years before admitting today was great. If you're hung up on nostalgia, pretend today is yesterday and just go out and have one hell of a time."

Good Song

I find this tune by Thelonious Monster to be a very nice listen.  Maybe you'll think so too...

Toonerville Thursday

Two more classic panels of Toonerville Folks-- and more evidence of the genius that was their creator, Fontaine Fox.

A Thought for Thursday

Something to think about from the pen of historian James Truslow Adams (1878-1949):

"We cannot advance without new experiments 

in living, but no wise man tries every day what 

he has proved wrong the day before."

Cool Comeback

I haven't heard anything from Garland Jeffreys since the eighties, but this new song by him is fantastic with a real killer hook.  The visuals in the video clip are almost as good as the song.  I can't wait to hear the rest of his new album.

This Week's Top Five List

From this past Sunday's edition of Dr. John's Record Shelf, I hope you all enjoy this week's Top Five List (NY Yankee fans may not be too thrilled with some extraneous comments heard near the end of the bit, so be forewarned):

A Tuesday Thought

A great question, still relevant today, from the noted French mathematician Blaise Pascal (1623-1662):

"Can anything be stupider than that a man has 
the right to kill me because he lives on the other 
side of a river and his ruler has a quarrel with 
mine, though I have not quarrelled with him?"

 

Prime Stones

A cool live clip of the Rolling Stones from 1969 performing the great "Gimme Shelter."

What I Did Saturday

I was in Idaho Falls over this past weekend and stopped by the Treasures of King Tut's Tomb exhibit at the Idaho Museum.  Many of the items on display are actually replicas, but still worth a look.  Here are a few pictures of what I saw.

This is a replica opf the actual disinterred remains of ol' Tut himself. Kind of creepy, if you ask me. Below is the top end of the cover of the sarcophagus which holds the remains.

 

Monday's Quote

Here's something to think about from the former Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas (1898-1980):

"As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of change in the air - however slight - lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness."