Daniel Burnham

The space of time in which a great work can now be accomplished is not marvelous. Brain, muscle, materials, and the means of rapid transport are instantly at command. If one has capital and a well-considered plan, the thing does itself. But that which is wonderful and which I can scarcely believe, although I have been in the midst of it, is the noble, artistic result which has come from the work of American artists who have had only a few months’ time to prepare those very designs for the great buildings of the Exposition which have actually been executed with little change from the sketches which were presented in February, 1891. A statement at a dinner in New York city (25 March 1893), as quoted in Daniel H. Burnham, Architect, Planner of Cities (1921) by Charles Moore, Vol. 1, Ch. VI, p. 72-73 Source: Daniel Burnham – Wikiquote

Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed

Growing up, we were taught that Christopher Columbus was an ‘explorer’ and Benedict Arnold was a ‘traitor’. It’s good to challenge these thoughts from time to time…

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October 30, 2023 0

Brian Sweeney

Another 9/11 lesson.

September 11, 2023 0

Mary atop the Golden Dome of Notre Dame

The statue of Mary atop the Golden Dome of Notre Dame is a beautiful and iconic landmark. It is a 19-foot-tall, 4,000-pound statue of the Virgin Mary, cast in bronze and gilded in gold. The statue was designed by Chicago artist Giovanni Meli and was donated to the university by the sisters, students, and alumnae of Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame’s sister school.

The statue is depicted in the pose of the Immaculate Conception, with her hands folded in prayer and her head slightly bowed. She wears a long, flowing gown and a crown of stars. The statue is set against a backdrop of blue sky and clouds, and it is illuminated by spotlights at night.

The statue has been a source of inspiration and comfort to generations of Notre Dame students, faculty, and alumni. It is a symbol of the university’s Catholic faith and its commitment to academic excellence. The statue is also a popular tourist destination, and it is often seen as a symbol of the city of South Bend itself.

Here is my review of the statue:

Design: The statue is beautifully designed and captures the essence of the Virgin Mary. The pose is graceful and serene, and the expression on her face is one of compassion and love.
Materials: The statue is made of bronze and gold, which gives it a rich and luxurious appearance. The gold leafing also helps to protect the statue from the elements.
Setting: The statue is set against a backdrop of blue sky and clouds, which creates a sense of peace and tranquility. The spotlights that illuminate the statue at night also add to its beauty.
Overall: The statue of Mary atop the Golden Dome of Notre Dame is a beautiful and iconic landmark. It is a source of inspiration and comfort to many, and it is a reminder of the university’s Catholic faith and its commitment to academic excellence.

August 27, 2023 0

The legacy of the one and only Tony Bennett

You haven’t accomplished much until Mo Rocca does your Obit on CBS Sunday Morning…

July 23, 2023 0

Former president Ulysses S. Grant dies

Today in history, Ulysses S. Grant died of throat cancer brought on by his infamous cigar smoking.

“The son of a tanner, Grant showed little enthusiasm for joining his father’s business, so the elder Grant enrolled his son at West Point in 1839. Though Grant later admitted in his memoirs that he had no interest in the military apart from honing his equestrian skills, he graduated in 1843 and went on to serve first in the Mexican-American War, which he opposed on moral grounds, and then in California and Oregon, tours of duty that forced him to leave behind his beloved wife and children.

The loneliness and sheer boredom of duty in the West drove Grant to binge drinking. By 1854, Grant’s alcohol consumption so alarmed his superiors that he was asked to resign from the Army. He did, and returned to Missouri to try his hand at farming and land speculation. Although he kicked the alcohol habit, he failed miserably at both vocations and was forced to take a job as a clerk in his father’s tanning business.” Source: Former president Ulysses S. Grant dies

I’ve read this book three times. Grant is a very interesting man at a very interesting time in American history. Some have also called him the first ‘civil rights’ president because of all he did to end slavery. You can learn more here…

July 23, 2023 0

The story behind John F. Kennedy’s ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’

“During the Cold War, 60 years ago, John F. Kennedy sparked hope with a legendary speech given in West Berlin, after the Berlin Wall came up.” Did he really say ‘I am a jelly donut’? Go to the source: The story behind John F. Kennedy’s ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’

June 23, 2023 0

Germany agrees to record $1.4 billion in annual Holocaust reparations as survivors age

I had no idea that this has been going on! “The figure reflected a recognition that, even as the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles with each passing year, the needs of the remaining survivors are increasing as they age.” Source: Germany agrees to record $1.4 billion in annual Holocaust reparations as survivors age – Jewish Telegraphic Agency

June 15, 2023 0

A History of the World Wide Web From 1989 to the Present Day

The World Wide Web was created all the way back in 1989. Here’s a look at the history of the web as we know it, up to the present day. Source: A History of the World Wide Web From 1989 to the Present Day

April 15, 2023 0

Why Chicago Became So Huge

Its position is unique in all the US, and the founders of the city knew it. Source: Why Chicago Became So Huge

April 14, 2023 0

‘A serious-minded kid:’ Pete Buttigieg aimed high early

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — It was a running joke in his AP U.S. history class at Saint Joseph High School: Would Peter Buttigieg — the smartest kid in class, language whiz and devotee of John F. Kennedy — use his unusual last name in his eventual run for president of the United States? Source: ‘A serious-minded kid:’ Pete Buttigieg aimed high early

March 7, 2023 0

Burnham’s “Make No Little Plans” Quote: Apocryphal No More!

Long considered apocryphal, here’s confirmation that Daniel Burnham really said his most famous quote!

“Make no little plans, they have no magic in them to stir men’s blood.” This quote from Daniel Burnham, the architect and city planner, is one of Chicago’s most famous maxims. It’s painted on the walls of a pretty sizable percentage of our tourist attractions. It’s engraved on one pair of my glasses.

Source: Burnham’s “Make No Little Plans” Quote: Apocryphal No More! – Mysterious Chicago

February 2, 2023 0

That time when George Harrison and Paul Simon did a duet on SNL

Get the backstory here: https://fb.watch/hQfBj7Joax/

January 3, 2023 0

One of the best commercial series ever made; every performance of every artist of every piece of music every recorded

In my mostly humble opinion, this series of commercials by George Parker is one of the best ever made. My personal favorite starts at about 1:10 minutes: “Our jukebox has every performance of every artist of every piece of music every recorded”. Effing brilliant! George recounts “Bob Metcalfe who invented the LAN at Xerox Parc, then went on to found 3Com, said it was the best explanation of what broadband can do that he had ever seen.”

20 years later, here’s an example: 120 different versions of Bob Dylan’s ‘Make You Feel My Love’ in one place: Spotify. 200 years ago you had to be the Emperor of the Austro/Hungarian Empire to listen to Mozart on demand. Now, we’re all kings and queens of our playlists on the internet. “And I think to myself what a wonderful world!”

December 16, 2022 0

How long will you remain unmoved by the plight of Ukraine and Ukrainians?

While we celebrate thanksgiving, Ukrainians remember Holodomor…

“Holodomor was a genoсide. The artificial famine killed millions in Ukraine in the 1930s. In 1933, Ukrainian villages were like hell on earth. Exhausted and swollen from hunger, both adults and children died a slow and painful death.” Source: Holodomor was a genoсide. The artificial famine killed millions in Ukraine in the 1930s

Today, the Russian regime is resorting to genocidal practices in the war against Ukraine. But it also does not shy away from using food as a weapon once again, this time – to pressure the international community. Russia does not care who and where will suffer or even die of hunger.

Only proper commemoration, conviction, and punishment of all perpetrators of crimes against humanity can be a safeguard against their repetition of crimes. And recognizing Holodomor as a genocide and condemning the Soviet totalitarian regime are the inevitable steps on this path.
https://war.ukraine.ua/articles/holodomor-the-artificial-famine-that-killed-millions-of-ukrainians/

How can you make a difference? Share this post on social media. Spread the news. Challenge your friends. Follow the news and make a donation here. Follow Ukrainian legislator Kira Rudik here.

November 27, 2022 0

Watch 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything

In a tumultuous era, 1971 was a year of musical innovation and rebirth fueled by the political and cultural upheaval of the time. Go to the source: Watch 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything | Apple TV+

Apple trailer…

Similar opinion…

Here’s the Spotify playlist:

November 14, 2022 0

The Virtue That Made Marcus Aurelius So Great

Ryan Holiday writes: “Marcus Aurelius did not come out of the womb a leader. Nor was he an emperor ‘by blood.’ In fact, when first told he was to be king, he wept—thinking of all the bad and failed kings of history. So how did he get from there to philosopher king? Book 1 of Meditations shows us. The first ten percent of the book—Debts and Lessons—thanks people who groomed him into one of history’s greatest leaders. He knew it—without his philosophy teachers and rhetoric teachers and, most importantly, his mentor Antoninus Pius, he wouldn’t have became who he became. In this video Ryan Holiday recounts one of the greatest stories in human history and talks about how Antoninus Pius taught Marcus Aurelius the most important virtue of all.”