Category: heroes

I forot that last week was Maria Montessori’s birthday. I was a Montessori kid. Were you?

Dorothy Parker once remarked that Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald “looked as though they had just stepped out of the sun.” (via The Writer’s Almanac).

My friend Willo posted this video of Mr. Rogers testifying before congress to keep funding alive for Public TV. God, do I miss him.

Do yourself a favor and listen to Terry Gross’s interview with Leonard Cohen. Cohen has lived long and had his share, like everyone, of struggle and sorrow. But the groundedness, the serenity in which he speaks about his work and his life reminds me of an old house build on bedrock. There are messy rooms, dark corners and pictures hung at odd angles. But the foundation is as solid as time. It embeds in a deep peace with one’s place in the world, an idea I can understand even treasure. I’ve still never had it myself.

I don’t know Leonard Cohen’s music or writings well. I know about the man mostly from a fantastic set of liner notes that Tom Robbins wrote of Tower of Song, a 1995 tribute album. After hearing Cohen speak but mostly listen for an hour, I that inner quiet has as much conviction as a scream. How to get it and where from? I’d like to know because I feel I need it.

I’d like to know: Who do you feel like you could learn a lot from?

Feminist legend Betty Friedan has died. Slate has this tribute. Salon asks what has become of feminism since Friedan’s groundbreaking 1960 book The Feminine Mystique.

Jeez, Pat Morita died too?

An icon passes on.

Looks like the legendary Cheslea Hotel has both a blog and a podcast. Oh and Wifi in the lobby. Howz that for adaptation?

Canada legalizes gay marriage. Alright! (via A Whole Lotta Nothing).

Please download and listen to this interview KRCW’s "The Treatment" did with Eric Idle, an original member of Monty Python. It’s a mesmorizing discussion of British v. American humor and the history of 20th century comedy. Idle’s genius comes across as effortless.