I Never Knew My Name Was Spelled that Way

Recently a Sarah Oppenheimer installation opened at the Saint Louis Art Museum, where I work, and I helped with the opening night news media. Kate accompanied me, and since she was on hand they interviewed her about her impressions of the work. They erroneously listed her as a Washington University Art Student, and misspelled our last name, but whatever. It's still fun for me to watch.
 

Cahokia

My wife and I recently visited the Cahokia earth mounds about 7 miles from downtown Saint Louis. I was very impressed by the facilities and the Museum (watch the orientation video if you visit). The folks there are doing a good job educating visitors about the largest pre-Columbian man made structures North of Mexico—and generating an understanding of the impressive, powerful culture which built them.

The Cahokia were the wealthiest and most powerful Mississippian indigenous people. Monk's Mound is the largest of the mounds. For 300 years the Cahokians carried dirt in straw baskets on their backs—collecting, moving, and depositing it to build the largest of these earthen mounds. Several other mounds dot the landscape, each impressive in its own right.

Monk's Mound from a distance. You can (barely) view two people on its top.

A view of two smaller mounds from the top of Monk's Mound.

Downtown St. Louis viewed from the top of Monk's Mound.
 

Who Are They Calling Elitist?

"Given the transparent hypocrisy of the 'liberal elitist' charge, coupled with its shifting but always not quite definable content, one cannot help but be awed by the effectiveness with which it is wielded. The simplest explanation is that 'elitism' has come to be perceived as a legitimate attack word by the right, without anyone really being able to define why. Remember: it's not about where you live, how much money you have, how many security guards you regularly employ, where you summer, what you drive, what you drive when you're driving whatever else you drive when you're not driving that, where you went to school or where you think people should have gone to school. Conservatives are as one with the people they so disdain on all of those scores. Rather, 'elitism' has simply become a contentless cudgel with which to beat back one's opponents without the trouble of engaging their arguments. Nunberg notes that right-wingers have had remarkable success in pigeonholing liberalism as a 'white upper-middle-class affectation.' "

From a very good article in the April 14th, 2008 issue of The Nation, by Eric Alterman.
 

Clever Vandal

Sex, Drugs ... and Gunfire?

(Both above photos thanks to Howard Junker of Zyzzyva, whose blog lives here.)
 

Selective Memory

Sorry, but I'm still not impressed. Am I the only one who can think back to 2003 or 2004?


What silly, self congratulating creatures we are.
 

Down is the New Up

Isn't it just dizzying and disgusting how, after all this time and so many lives lost, the administration's military puppet calls for a "suspension of troop withdrawals" until after July to "evaluate" the situation.

See here.

A suspension of troop withdrawals. Orwell couldn't have penned it better (worse).

Jesus fucking christ.
 

Lost Control

"And as you lose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown."

Pink Floyd
Animals
 

Things We Can Tell from a Kindergarten Test

Check only those that apply:

⊗ Have enough money, but are underpaid
⊗ Love your job, but hate getting up in the morning
⊗ Think dogs are dumber than most people think
⊗ Think dogs are still smarter than most people
⊗ Would rather stay home, but can't stand the neighbors
⊗ Still can't remember people's names; still don't bother trying to remember
⊗ Can't abide stupidity, but constantly tolerate ignorance
⊗ Always park in the end spot, but never take it for granted
⊗ Are often tired but have lost the ability to sleep
⊗ Still haven't forgotten how to imagine
⊗ Spend too much time imagining how to forget
 

Woman Remixed

My photograph, "Woman," is remixed on the new entrance page to Perigee: Publication for the Arts.

Google it if you haven't already explored this online publication.