The Real Housewives of Shakespeare

From the Great River Shakespeare Festival,  The Real Housewives of Shakespeare.

The Resolute Desk

This is a marketing video, but it has some very interesting history of the Resolute Desk that now occupies the Oval Office. Who knew that the door on the desk that John John was famously pictured climbing through was originally installed to hide FDR's leg braces.

Best Commencement Speech Ever

Ira Glass' commencement speech at Goucher College in Baltimore.

Happy Birthday Studs

Today would have been Studs Terkel's 100th birthday. Unfortunately Studs only made it to 96, so her is not here to celebrate. Below is a short animated film from NPR's StoryCorps—"The Human Voice"—based on a recording of Studs.

Here is also a longer interview with Studs when he was in his middle 80's, talking about his life and career as an actor, writer and TV/Radio broadcaster. He was a fascinating man.

Talking Head Talks

David Byrne, formerly of The Talking Heads, discusses how our architecture influences the kind of music we listen two. Something I never thought of before.

Old Post Office Views

Given Donald Trump's impending transformation of the Old Post Office building into a Hotel, I decided yesterday to go over there and take some photographs from the building's tower. Below is a link to a photo set with views from the tower, as well as some interior shots. Click on the Show Info link at the top of the photo set that opens to see information about the photos.

Old Post Office Building - May 2012

Architecture or Sculpture

A video from The Guardian about the ArcelorMittal Orbit, recently constructed in London to mark the 2012 Olympics. The 377 ft tall tower was designed by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond. Kapoor is best know in the United States for the Bean in Chicago's Millennium Park.