Subprime Mess

If, like me, you're still trying to figure out how/why Wall Street couldn't figure out what a bad mortgage looked like, check out this highly educational and amusing presentation sent to me by George. (It seemed to take a little while loading, but it's worth it.)

On the theme of Art

As long as we're chatting about Art, check out the latest special exhibits at the Art Institute: Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer.
Hopper's most famous work is Night Hawks, showing four people in a late-night diner, each one of them seemingly alone. I wasn't familiar with his other work before going to the show, but I really liked it. It would be best to go when you're in a melancholic mood or having an existential crisis. It will corroborate your feelings of ultimately being alone in the universe. It was also reminded me of writing by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Come to think of it, the 1920's - 1940's were a time of dramatic social change, rapid urbanization, economic ups and downs (to say the least.) And so the question is asked, "What do we have to count on?"

Homer's work didn't inspire as much thought in me, but there are some pretty water colors.

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Today is my brother's birthday, so in case he's checking this - Happy Birthday!

Beautiful Japanese Prints

There is a store in Chicago in the West Loop called Primitive. They've just started posting on-line exhibitions. Here's a beautiful collection of Kuchi-e Woodblock Prints.