BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
Ringing the Bell
In Paris, in 1924, Man Ray painted his favorite model, Kiki, and added an actual pushbutton on her breast. At the first show of this work, he attached electric wiring, a buzzer, and a battery to the frame of the painting, visible to the public. The wiring led to the button which, as I explained above, was attached to her breast.
Man Ray, however, decided that the buzzer would not buzz when the button was pressed.
When I read about this work in his autobiography I thought about the expression “pushing my button,” and realized that my buzzer usually buzzes, and sometimes very loudly. On the other hand, there are some people whose buttons do not ever set off their bell.
Maria has told me that in my old age my button isn't working as often as it used to, and she is worried about this—which interests me, because one might have thought that she would be relieved that I don't take on every fool who steps in my path anymore. -----Especially as she used to be very embarrassed by my outbursts.
By the way, Man Ray desired that his name be indexed as “Man Ray,” not “Ray, Man.” Most indexers either are ignorant of his desire or are ignoring it. In addition, you may be interested to know that as a child he lived a block from Katz Drug Store, and that he attended the same schools (grammar and high school) that my Dad did. They were two years apart in age so I imagine that if their paths did not actually cross they may have had the same very good Irish spinster teachers and mutual friends.
Certainly, Emmanuel Radnitsky must have wandered into my grandfather Aaron Katz’ drug store at least once wearing his knickers. At the time the Katz’ lived above the store. Manya, Emmanuel Radnitsky’s mother's father was a pharmacist in Minsk so, who knows, she may have pitched in and helped at the store too.
It is hard for me to believe that there was no contact between the families.
Talking about knickers, there was a boxing match at the Polo Grounds in 1916 when my Dad was 14 years old. He knew one of the fighters, Sailor Levitsky, and wanted to see the fight. He was denied entrance at the gate on the grounds that he was too young. He demanded admission asserting , “What'd you mean, too young? See, I'm wearing long pants.” -- Admission granted.
Later, in 1923, he saw Jack Dempsey floor Luis Firpo for the final time in the fourth round. But by then Dad was already wearing suits and Fedoras.
August 2004
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
If your body had a pushbutton would the bell ring when the button were pushed--or would it remain silent?
If your body had a pushbutton would the bell ring when the button were pushed--or would it remain silent?
Sunday, August 22, 2004
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
We live a life of indignation and outrage suppressed.
Your work is who you are. Choose it carefully.
Human fraility is a natural condition, accept it. Don't complain.
mek
We live a life of indignation and outrage suppressed.
Your work is who you are. Choose it carefully.
Human fraility is a natural condition, accept it. Don't complain.
mek
Friday, August 20, 2004
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
Ft. Lauderdale
The hurricane did not affect us here. Other than some high winds, beach erosion, a very low tide, and moderate surf there is nothing to report.
There was a very strong sideways current in the water, which made it very hard to get out into the deeper surf. Besides me, there were several surfers, mostly teen-age boys, and a few windsurfers who were fl>>>>>>>>ying in and over the ocean. They seemed to leap from white cap to white cap and were really swift--to use a word currently in the news.
Last night, at about 2 A.M. however, the wind and air pressure was such that I could not open the door to my terrace. I am up to 204 lbs and still pretty strong. I thought that perhaps the Misses had locked it, but no, it was the air pressure against it. I could not move it. It was as though it had been welded shut. Not a budge. And remember, we did not get the hurricane--only the edge of a tropical storm.
Maria and I have our hurricane bag ready: Flashlights, water, half the June Atlantic tuna catch, cereal, new batteries, and a battery operated radio (though in these high-rises we can't get AM stations; and I wonder whether there will be any FM stations that will take on hurricane alert news). We also have a week's supply of our medications in a ready bag--and cash.
I had been thinking about some small gold coins with which to bribe the border guards, but the little woman pointed out that it was a hurricane--not a revolution.
I am sure you have read about the hurricane on the West coast of Florida. It was a class four; not as bad as Andrew, but bad. Hope we hear from my friend Hal. I spoke to him yesterday, and he told me that he and Mary were ready and had emptied the pool, as its water could overflow and flood the house.
Hal is packing lobster salad, roast chicken, foie gras and Veuve Clicquot for the duration.
***********************************
Good news for Bush fans: this will be good for Bush--there will be a lot of reconstruction hiring--and those figures will show in September-October.
His brother Jeb, has already announced full support from the Florida government, National Guard, extra police, and unnamed programs because, "This is a legitimate purpose of government -- to help in genuine emergencies," ( I may have garbled the quote, as I caught it on the fly, but I am giving you the correct gist.)
I love the action on the McLaughlin report; and tonight Tony Blakely, Editor-in-Chief of the Wshingon Times, owned by the Reverend Moon, and a very conservative paper, remarked on Governor McCreedy's resignation speech: "this is how far we have come, that the Governor uses sexual victimhood to cover up financial malfeasance."
Yes, we have come a far piece....
Ft. Lauderdale
The hurricane did not affect us here. Other than some high winds, beach erosion, a very low tide, and moderate surf there is nothing to report.
There was a very strong sideways current in the water, which made it very hard to get out into the deeper surf. Besides me, there were several surfers, mostly teen-age boys, and a few windsurfers who were fl>>>>>>>>ying in and over the ocean. They seemed to leap from white cap to white cap and were really swift--to use a word currently in the news.
Last night, at about 2 A.M. however, the wind and air pressure was such that I could not open the door to my terrace. I am up to 204 lbs and still pretty strong. I thought that perhaps the Misses had locked it, but no, it was the air pressure against it. I could not move it. It was as though it had been welded shut. Not a budge. And remember, we did not get the hurricane--only the edge of a tropical storm.
Maria and I have our hurricane bag ready: Flashlights, water, half the June Atlantic tuna catch, cereal, new batteries, and a battery operated radio (though in these high-rises we can't get AM stations; and I wonder whether there will be any FM stations that will take on hurricane alert news). We also have a week's supply of our medications in a ready bag--and cash.
I had been thinking about some small gold coins with which to bribe the border guards, but the little woman pointed out that it was a hurricane--not a revolution.
I am sure you have read about the hurricane on the West coast of Florida. It was a class four; not as bad as Andrew, but bad. Hope we hear from my friend Hal. I spoke to him yesterday, and he told me that he and Mary were ready and had emptied the pool, as its water could overflow and flood the house.
Hal is packing lobster salad, roast chicken, foie gras and Veuve Clicquot for the duration.
***********************************
Good news for Bush fans: this will be good for Bush--there will be a lot of reconstruction hiring--and those figures will show in September-October.
His brother Jeb, has already announced full support from the Florida government, National Guard, extra police, and unnamed programs because, "This is a legitimate purpose of government -- to help in genuine emergencies," ( I may have garbled the quote, as I caught it on the fly, but I am giving you the correct gist.)
I love the action on the McLaughlin report; and tonight Tony Blakely, Editor-in-Chief of the Wshingon Times, owned by the Reverend Moon, and a very conservative paper, remarked on Governor McCreedy's resignation speech: "this is how far we have come, that the Governor uses sexual victimhood to cover up financial malfeasance."
Yes, we have come a far piece....
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
Word of the Day for Monday August 16, 2004 pervicacious \puhr-vih-KAY-shuhs\, adjective: Refusing to change one's ideas, behavior, etc.; stubborn; obstinate.
In fact, I'm a word nerd. I get a kick out of tossing a few odd ones into my column, just to see if the pervicacious editors will weed them out. --Michael Hawley, "Things That Matter: Waiting for Linguistic Viagra," [1]Technology Review, June, 2001
One of the most pervicacious young creatures that ever was heard of. --Samuel Richardson, [2]Clarissa
The language of the bureaucrats and administrators must needs be recognized as an outgrowth of legal parlance. There is no other way to explain its pervading, pervicacious and pernicious meanderings. --[3]New York Law Journal, 1973 _________________________________________________________ Pervicacious is from Latin pervicax, pervicac-, "stubborn,
point, maintain ones opinion," from per-, "through,\ thoroughly" + vincere, "to conquer, prevail against" + the\ suffix -ious, "characterized by, full of."\\References\\ 1.
Word of the Day for Monday August 16, 2004 pervicacious \puhr-vih-KAY-shuhs\, adjective: Refusing to change one's ideas, behavior, etc.; stubborn; obstinate.
In fact, I'm a word nerd. I get a kick out of tossing a few odd ones into my column, just to see if the pervicacious editors will weed them out. --Michael Hawley, "Things That Matter: Waiting for Linguistic Viagra," [1]Technology Review, June, 2001
One of the most pervicacious young creatures that ever was heard of. --Samuel Richardson, [2]Clarissa
The language of the bureaucrats and administrators must needs be recognized as an outgrowth of legal parlance. There is no other way to explain its pervading, pervicacious and pernicious meanderings. --[3]New York Law Journal, 1973 _________________________________________________________ Pervicacious is from Latin pervicax, pervicac-, "stubborn,
point, maintain ones opinion," from per-, "through,\ thoroughly" + vincere, "to conquer, prevail against" + the\ suffix -ious, "characterized by, full of."\\References\\ 1.
Sunday, August 15, 2004
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
Ft. Lauderdale
The hurricane did not affect us here. Other than some high winds, beach erosion, a very low tide, and moderate surf there is nothing to report.
There was a very strong sideways current in the water, which made it very hard to get out into the deeper surf. Besides me, there were several surfers, mostly teen-age boys, and a few windsurfers who were fl>>>>>>>>ying in and over the ocean. They seemed to leap from white cap to white cap and were really swift--to use a word currently in the news.
Last night, at about 2 A.M. however, the wind and air pressure was such that I could not open the door to my terrace. I am up to 204 lbs and still pretty strong. I thought that perhaps the Misses had locked it, but no, it was the air pressure against it. I could not move it. It was as though it had been welded shut. Not a budge. And remember, we did not get the hurricane--only the edge of a tropical storm.
Maria and I have our hurricane bag ready: Flashlights, water, half the June Atlantic tuna catch, cereal, new batteries, and a battery operated radio (though in these high-rises we can't get AM stations; and I wonder whether there will be any FM stations that will take on hurricane alert news). We also have a week's supply of our medications in a ready bag--and cash.
I had been thinking about some small gold coins with which to bribe the border guards, but the little woman pointed out that it was a hurricane--not a revolution.
I am sure you have read about the hurricane on the West coast of Florida. It was a class four; not as bad as Andrew, but bad. Hope we hear from Hal. I spoke to him yesterday, and he told me that he and Mary were ready and had emptied the pool, as its water could overflow and flood the house.
Hal is packing lobster salad, roast chicken, foie gras and Veuve Clicquot for the duration.
***********************************
Good news for Bush fans: this will be good for Bush--there will be a lot of reconstruction hiring--and those figures will show in September-October.
His brother Jeb, has already announced full support from the Florida government, National Guard, extra police, and unnamed programs because, "This is a legitimate purpose of government -- to help in genuine emergencies," ( I may have garbled the quote, as I caught it on the fly, but I am giving you the correct gist.)
I love the action on the McLaughlin report; and tonight Tony Blakely, Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Times, owned by the Reverend Moon, and a very conservative paper, remarked on Governor McCreedy's resignation speech: "this is how far we have come, that the Governor uses sexual victimhood to cover up financial malfeasance."
Yes, we have come a far piece....
Love Mike
Addendum: Pal Hal tells me that he has abandoned his house as they have lost electricity and has taken a suite at the Excalante, a small European type boutique hotel catering to Euro-trash and American Corporate CEO's with pockets full of shareholder cash.
Ft. Lauderdale
The hurricane did not affect us here. Other than some high winds, beach erosion, a very low tide, and moderate surf there is nothing to report.
There was a very strong sideways current in the water, which made it very hard to get out into the deeper surf. Besides me, there were several surfers, mostly teen-age boys, and a few windsurfers who were fl>>>>>>>>ying in and over the ocean. They seemed to leap from white cap to white cap and were really swift--to use a word currently in the news.
Last night, at about 2 A.M. however, the wind and air pressure was such that I could not open the door to my terrace. I am up to 204 lbs and still pretty strong. I thought that perhaps the Misses had locked it, but no, it was the air pressure against it. I could not move it. It was as though it had been welded shut. Not a budge. And remember, we did not get the hurricane--only the edge of a tropical storm.
Maria and I have our hurricane bag ready: Flashlights, water, half the June Atlantic tuna catch, cereal, new batteries, and a battery operated radio (though in these high-rises we can't get AM stations; and I wonder whether there will be any FM stations that will take on hurricane alert news). We also have a week's supply of our medications in a ready bag--and cash.
I had been thinking about some small gold coins with which to bribe the border guards, but the little woman pointed out that it was a hurricane--not a revolution.
I am sure you have read about the hurricane on the West coast of Florida. It was a class four; not as bad as Andrew, but bad. Hope we hear from Hal. I spoke to him yesterday, and he told me that he and Mary were ready and had emptied the pool, as its water could overflow and flood the house.
Hal is packing lobster salad, roast chicken, foie gras and Veuve Clicquot for the duration.
***********************************
Good news for Bush fans: this will be good for Bush--there will be a lot of reconstruction hiring--and those figures will show in September-October.
His brother Jeb, has already announced full support from the Florida government, National Guard, extra police, and unnamed programs because, "This is a legitimate purpose of government -- to help in genuine emergencies," ( I may have garbled the quote, as I caught it on the fly, but I am giving you the correct gist.)
I love the action on the McLaughlin report; and tonight Tony Blakely, Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Times, owned by the Reverend Moon, and a very conservative paper, remarked on Governor McCreedy's resignation speech: "this is how far we have come, that the Governor uses sexual victimhood to cover up financial malfeasance."
Yes, we have come a far piece....
Love Mike
Addendum: Pal Hal tells me that he has abandoned his house as they have lost electricity and has taken a suite at the Excalante, a small European type boutique hotel catering to Euro-trash and American Corporate CEO's with pockets full of shareholder cash.
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