Excerpts from, New York Times: There’s a Reason We Can’t Have Nice Things Bryce Covert — July 21, 2022 The United States is one of six countries in the world without a national guarantee of paid parental leave. Twenty-three other countries have universal child or family allowances. We spend just 0.2 percent of our gross … Continue reading Quote of the Day: The True American Exceptionalism
Here are three analyses of how the Ukraine war is unfolding, especially from Vladimir Putin’s perspective. The first is by Tatiana Stanovaya, a U. S.-based scholar who has observed Putin and tracked his thinking and actions for twenty years. She argues, in sum, that Putin has a plan for conquering and absorbing/erasing Ukraine, and despite … Continue reading Three-Part Thinkpiece: Putin, His War, And Ours?
The Guardian: Claes Oldenburg Obituary A photo gallery of some of his most memorable works is HERE Pop artist famed for his ‘soft sculptures’ and outsized monuments to everyday objects Charles Darwent — Monday, 18 July 2022 Had the ideas of Claes Oldenburg been realised, Piccadilly Circus would have had as its hub not a … Continue reading Monumental, Yes — But Is It Art, Mr. Oldenburg??
The Guardian:‘I said, Don, it’s time for you to reveal’: 50 years later, the truth behind American Pie In an expansive new documentary, Don McLean talks about the much-discussed meaning of his enduring hit song Jim Farber Tue 19 Jul 2022 A long, long time ago – five decades to be exact – America was … Continue reading Fly High, Ms. American Pie! Don McLean’s Classic Is 50 & Still Great
#1– AP News: From the end of the world to your town, Elton John’s goodbye BY WAYNE PARRY — July 16, 2022 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — I think it’s gonna be a long, long time until we see another songwriter and performer like Elton John. Wrapping up a 50-plus year career with a farewell tour, the British … Continue reading Music: Elton John’s Farewell & a Walkout from Aida