Papa

Non habemus papa. What an unbelievable moment. A pope saying - I cannot continue. (need a break? have enough? not me?) Know too little about Catholicism.  But it is a moment underlying deep cultural decay - most cardinals did not understand the resignation announced in Latin. Nobody understands when I say Hic Rhodus, hic salta.
It is not just the loss of the Latin. But Latin has been taught using classic texts that will probably disappear from the horizon or from the basic cultural luggage...

Paintbush

Probably everything - funny, hateful or servile - has been said on the paintings of the most recent president Bush. Color, composition, subject. Water boarding, cleaning water, floating - you name it. Made me feel sorry for him - having to paint.

NYRB at fifty

Celebration at Town Hall. Had read ever issue for the last thirty years. Even placed an anonymous ad (my colleague noticed the ad and immediately recognized me). Had to show up - anonymous, with wife. Doors opened half hour late. Standing, waiting to get in, there was nothing else to do but to observe the other people on line. These were my people - high brow and bold heads. Pretenders at intellectual life -by association, with subscriptions to a review that drops names. My wife remarked - The men are not well kept. These are not the manager type. Realizing I  might take bad the comment, she added. These are not salesmen either.