There are three elements to the “Through The Eyes of Picasso” exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. The exhibit consists of priceless works of art by Pablo Ruiz y Picasso, several pieces of art from Picasso’s own extensive art collection, and several items from the Musee National Picasso-Paris. But all three…
I’m a fan of the game show Jeopardy! but never imagined I would be smart enough not to embarrass myself as an actual contestant. But two events happened recently on the show that may make me reconsider. The first was an episode which featured a category called “Talkin’ Football”. I knew all the answers to…
As a football fan I enjoy watching the Super Bowl, but I also like watching the fascinating commercials that are debuted every year during the big game. For me, the most memorable Super Bowl ad this year was the one by Sprint entitled “Evelyn”. A scientist is walking around a room recording notes about the…
Faribault’s Paradise Center for the Arts was chosen as the location for the “Skilled Hands” exhibition of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota. Here are the handwoven treasures that I found at this remarkable show. Marie Westerman’s “Moon Dance.” Judy Goebel’s “Purple and Green Shawl.” Anne Burgeson’s “October 10.” Ann Masemore’s “Harriet…
Minnesotans will watch tomorrow’s Super Bowl with a feeling of “what could have been.” Our Minnesota Vikings had a great regular season and were well positioned for the playoffs. With just two wins in the post season we would playing the Super Bowl in our home stadium. Sadly, even with the help of the “Minneapolis…
I grew up in a Muslim-majority area of Africa. I currently have neighbors who are devout Muslims. I studied Islam at the seminary and in various continuing education classes since then. Yet still there was much that I learned from Hanadi Chehebeddine’s “Demystifying Islam” presentation at the Steele County History Center on January 18. According…
Marilyn Monroe made famous the song, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” in the movie “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” In mid-January London-based diamond mining company Gem Diamonds Limited announced the unearthing of what is believed to be the fifth-largest gem-quality diamond ever found. The massive rock is said to weight 910 carats which is more than…
In the land of finding just about anything to make us feel warmer as we shiver our way through another January cold blast, here are the record lows for the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul for the following dates in January: January 15: -37 January 16: -29 January 20: -32 January 21: -41…
For the past several years I have been keeping a journal, the main purpose of which was to keep track of the unusual events that take place almost daily in my everyday life. Then, at the end of each year, I look back over my journal and compile a list of the top 10 most…
Anytime a world record is shattered it’s big news. The recent sale of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting Salvator Mundi for $450 million far exceeds the previous record price for the sale of a work of art. Leonardo da Vinci is widely considered one of the most diversely talented individuals ever to have lived. His areas…
Mirror Neurons 