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“The Great Gatsby” often tops the list of the best American novels. It’s a strange choice, really, but then maybe not. You would think the best novel would play out on the western frontier or take place during the Civil War or involve the Mississippi River or Plymouth Rock somehow.…
Read More »I’ve not yet been to Ireland but my understanding is the country does not often – or ever – see warm and humid weather of the type we are experiencing here this week. Our visiting Irish archaeologists are showing no signs of curtailing their effort on the front lawn of…
Read More »This will be a good day to stay above it all and catch a breeze if you can find one. “Commute” by Richard Marion (c) 2012 See more artwork at www.richardmarion.net
Read More »Frank Bruni’s column for tomorrow’s NYTimes covers the encouraging trend of city greening, from New York City to places around the country. Read his thoughts here, and get the NYT at home or online if you want more of this kind of writing. This is “Flowering City” stuff in the…
Read More »I just posted some comments and the obituary of John A. Goodwin on the Lowell Historical Society blog site. The Society will be doing a tribute to John and his contributions to the community in the Fall Newsletter. The Greater Lowell community suffered a great loss with John’s passing and that…
Read More »My wife and I enjoyed a sunny day in Boston this week and left the city convinced that it is looking as good as it ever has. Our destination was the waterfront, Fan Pier, where we expected to go to the Institute for Contemporary Art—but the weather was simply too…
Read More »The official White House portrait of John F. Kennedy by Aaron Shikler On July 10, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts spoke before an NAACP Rally in Los Angeles just before the Democratic National Convention. Here is the text of his remarks: We meet on the eve of a…
Read More »Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862) One of America’s most famous writers – Henry David Thoreau – author, philosopher, naturalist was born on this day July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts. He began writing nature poetry in the 1840s, with poet Ralph Waldo Emerson as a mentor and friend. In…
Read More »History is not a set story inscribed on stone tablets that last forever. Instead, history is a series of inferences that are based on evidence. As new evidence is discovered, those inferences change and so history is constantly evolving. An amazing example of that process has been taking place right…
Read More »In honor of the gardens all over the city, a summer composition from the 1980s. “Tomatoes Box” by Richard Marion (c) 2012. See more artwork at www.richardmarion.net
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