Tangled Webs

With With

Oh, man...
There is a lot I miss about Philadelphia, but the sandwiches may be right up at the top of the list.

This dude actually found some of my favorite spots.


For the record, John's was my jawn.
That roast pork sandwich is killer and the steaks are better than most, in my opinion.
It's a place you gotta plan your day around, though.  They're only open for four hours on weekdays.
All that planning and anticipation might be what makes 'em so good, no that I think about it...


Now I am hungry.

Artist

Another artist, though not depicted as a young man...


This time accompanied by his chauffeur and perhaps funeral director.
The details on that bit have faded, here.


I suppose, having an associate willing to shuttle you home after a bottle of grape, in the park - as well as dealing with your physical remains once you shrug off the old mortal coil is rather versatile...

Only Natural

Do you have any friends that do the paleo diet thing?

That shit tickes me.  You've heard of it right?
People try to follow a diet similar to what we imagine cavemen might have eaten.
I am paraphrasing the premise, of course, I am sure there is some dude, in a white coat, doing television appearances on the subject, delivering a very expert opinion.

So, you know, that whole premise of understanding our natural state - maybe, that is the part that interests me.

Here is a bit on that subject I found fun to read and ponder.  Excerpt-

One of the central conceits of the “man’s natural state” argument is that if we go back to some point in time, we’ll find it. We’ll finally come across the state of being where man lived totally in harmony with each other and with nature; eating the perfect diet for health, worshipping the correct gods, having sex in the natural and acceptable way.

That link is a bit of a rabbit hole, so apologies.  It's an article on a book, with links to tangents.  The article is enough to make me want to read the book.

Celebrity

What is it about celebrity that has gotten so amplified lately?

I have been pondering on this a lot, recently.
The election cycle, well, that has amplified my consideration of how fame has garnered an intrinsic level of associated/perceived power, but I think it goes beyond that.
Perhaps the social currency celebrity generates is now valued more by our culture and thus craved more at a personal level?

There are probably a dozen great books or studies on the subject, I just haven't bothered to look for 'em.

This guy, famous artist guy, I mean that is kind of funny but I am not sure that he is joking.
But by declaring himself famous, somehow, has gained him access to the real world art business, which is something a bit hard even for arguably more talented artists...


Being famous seems more important the younger you look, demographically, which fascinates me.
There are kids of friends who have listed that as there greatest ambition, though with follow up questions they never seem to have an answer for what they want to be famous for...
The abstract ends are valued more than the means, I guess.

And there is this cancer kid, here in this state, which might be what got these gears turning.
Out of consideration or good taste, I resisted jumping in to a post that that subject, yet here I am...
What drives a terminal child to select fame as his "make a wish" dream?
He just wants to be famous, he said that...
He's just a kid, and as a society we've taught him that is the greatest goal or ambition?


Probably not done thinking about this, but I am not sure how deeply I want to think about it...
It seems a toilet swirl of depressing suck, if I dwell on it too long.

Sure

Projects

Haha!

Oh, man, this dude wins the project in the garage game...

"Just need to find a few more parts.  It's really starting to come together.  Still scopin' eBay and Craigslist for some wings at a decent price, but they're coming...I can feel it."

Wait

Is that an AMC Eagle rally car?


It is, isn't.
Damn...


Not sure how this is the first one I have ever seen, but now that I have it seems like a fantastic idea...

Artist

Portrait of an Artist, as a Young Man (and a Handsome Dog).

Super Tuesday

So, yeah, that thing.
Anyway, politics...
I don't really even want to talk about it, so I won't really.

I did find this article addressing the populist rise in the 1896 election cycle valuable.  Excerpt, to suggest why it might be worth your precious minutes-

There are strong links between the campaign of 1896 and the campaign of 2016. The explosive growth of enormous wealth concentrated in a few hands gave America its first Gilded Age with its attendant miseries. But their corrosive effects brought about the insurgent spirit that eventually will always rise against injustice. When the two forces collided they brewed volcanic passions that almost tore the country apart.

If you like reading about we got here and the struggle of contemporary culture and/or politics mirrored in past events, it may be worth a few moments.

Neighbor

This guy, Lou, from down the street...


He seems nice.