Your FSA/OWI Photo of the Day

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Walker Evans, 1935.

Muggles

We watched HP and the Half-Blood Prince (No. 6) again the other night. Pretty good movie. The book was even better, of course. Was Ms. Rowling aware that muggles was slang for marijuana back in the day? Did she know Armstrong's 1928 recording by that name, with its short and exquisitely economical trumpet solo? Nah. Maybe? The great wheel of popular culture spins on.

Forgot about this one... mighty fine...

"A lotta people ask me, why I started rapping... I say I dunno, it just kinda happened..."

"Big Eyes": a review

There should be a new, stronger word for when a movie is both bad... and dull... it's b'dull!
Hat tip to:

Anderson Collection at Stanford

Basically it's a near-perfect survey of postwar American art, including excellent examples of most of the big names. The Andersons had excellent taste and the resources to back it up. A very fine Pollock was hanging in their daughter's bedroom. Thankfully she never spilled anything on it (or maybe she did...). They got to know Nathan Oliveira, who apparently helped them pick some very good stuff, including some of his own best work. This Franz Kline was my favorite picture on my first visit to the gallery today. You can go see for yourself why it is so extraordinary next time you are in the Bay area. The museum warrants a special trip, and admission is always free. https://anderson.stanford.edu/

Quasi-feminist Christmas musings

Baking Mexican wedding cakes tonight... also known as Russian teacakes, or in my family, growing up, pecan sandies... A very pleasing activity: grinding the pecans (don't overdo it!), rolling the buttery dough balls (like snowballs or play-doh), and then once they are baked and fully cooled, rolling them again in confectioner's sugar. The house is filled with that nutty smell. This is quite possibly the best cookie in the world, and the recipe is foolproof. Every manly man should have the opportunity to make these for family and friends. Feminism is win-win!

Your FSA/OWI Photo of the Day

Untitled photo, possibly related to: Spanish trapper and his children taking muskrat pelts into the FSA (Farm Security Administration) auction sale which is held in a dancehall on Delacroix Island, Louisiana. The fur buyers come from New Orleans. See general caption no. 1. Marion Post Wolcott, 1941 (?).

Happy Hanukkah!

Howie's makes the best pizza in Palo Alto. They also have an excellent selection of beer on tap. And two days a year, they serve latkes for Hanukkah. I had not had them until tonight. They are fantastic.