Historic Painting: "A Boyar Wedding Feast" by Konstantin Makovsky, 1883.
This scene depicting 16th or 17th century Russia has more to do with the present than you might think.
The Outer Garden
Year's End: The best of the Garden in 2023.
On the last day of the year, here's a look back at what I think is the best of this blog in 2023.
Merry Jewish LGBT Black Jesus Byzantine Pagan Chinese African Christmas!
Have a wonderful holiday!
The plane that won't quit: celebrating the Douglas DC-3.
Over 150 DC-3s are still flying today in 2023, nearly 90 years after the first one went aloft. That's amazing!
Why the COP28 climate change talks are a farce, a fraud and an insult.
On Dec. 12, when UN Secretary-General Guterres reports yet another dismal failure to deal with the climate crisis, just laugh at him. He doesn't get it.
The JFK Assassination at 60, and the poisoning of history.
Holding out for facts rather than conspiracy fantasy is an increasingly lonely vocation, but it's part of my job.
Historic Painting: “The First Thanksgiving” by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, 1914.
This view of the first Thanksgiving in 1621 is very far from accurate, but it's extremely American.