We Call This Friday Good

This is the time of year when Bach’s Passions (St. John 1724 and, particularly, St. Matthew 1727) are performed around the world — from Boston to Auckland. The St. Matthew Passion has inspired artists as different as Pier Paolo Pasolini (who considered...

The Last Doughboy

For many in the United States, Great Britain, and Ireland, March 17 this year was just another St. Patrick’s Day. But in France it was a day for a more somber commemoration, as French president Nicolas Sarkozy oversaw a ceremony at the Hotel des Invalides to...

Saint Patrick’s Babe in the Morning

John Taylor has already noted Pat Nixon’s birthday yesterday (16 March), and its celebration at the Library. It came to be traditionally celebrated the next day and the story was told that after her birth late on the 16th, her father exclaimed,...

Can’t We All Just NOT Get Along?

Geraldine Ferraro’s impolitic commentary regarding Barack Obama has been widely covered and discussed. But in the rush to examine the really juicy part of her monologue, you know – the stuff about race – something else the 72 year old former congresswoman said is...

Tuesdays With Franklin

The sun had just risen over the Pearly Gates when RN threaded his way through the already crowded dining room. As always, the silver was gleaming and the glasses were sparkling and the napery…….everyone wondered how they managed to fold the starched linen napkins,...