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The Great Seal
On this day in 1782 the US Congress adopted The Great Seal of The United States. The physical seal is kept by the Secretary of State and it is used to authenticate documents for the government. It is used on treaties, passports, military insignia, and flags. It is also the inspiration for another great… Read more
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Father & Son
My Father & Son I recently told an old friend that one of the advantages of getting older (and we both acknowledged there are precious few) is perspective. One of the revelations that time and experience have given me is seeing fatherhood from both sides. Two of the finest men I’ve ever known are… Read more
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Maurits Cornelius Escher
If your name was Maurits Cornelius Escher, you might go by the name M.C. Escher too. Of course, if you were him you would also be one of the most fascinating artists who ever lived. Born on this day in 1898 in the Netherlands, Escher’s mathematical precision and surrealistic visions set him apart from visual… Read more
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Waiting for Inspiration
Waiting for inspirationSometimes it comes, sometimes it doesn’tThis is a good time to be patientThe time I spent with you was not I followed rules to the letter And I’ve changedNot for the betterBashing my skull to the rootsCrushing bones under my bootsSleeping until I couldn’t wakeThrough hurricanes and earthquakesRisking all for safety’s sakeGiving till… Read more
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Collaboration
If you’ve seen the film Amadeus you might remember this scene: The “director” plays the fool by suggesting that Mozart uses “too many notes.” The Emperor (Joseph Benedikt August Johannes Anton Michael Adam von Habsburg-Lothringen, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary, Croatia, Slavonia, Dalmatia, Bohmia, and Italy – really) also seems unqualified to pass… Read more
