Author Archives: jsl915@aol.com

First the En Route to Proust Part: I was thrilled earlier this year to audit Andre Aciman’s Proust class at CUNY Graduate Center.  I hadn’t taken a class in fifteen years, and it was a privilege to experience Proust via … Continue reading →

Well, we see that coming a mile away: that sanctimonious old slush fund himself, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, now rides his tax-cut-for-the-rich express straight to BLINKING RED LIGHT!!! OUR TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH MANDATE CUTS TO ALL SOCIAL PROGRAMS. … Continue reading →

cranks up many notches with his appointment of Mary Mayhew to head the program’s federal bureau. Are any red-state Democrats up for re-election telling their constituents what’s in  store with their health care if they vote GOP?

ICYMI: I reviewed Wendy Lesser’s Jerome Robbins: A Life in Dance for the Wall Street Journal last weekend.

Former Landmarks chair Scrinivasan hated landmark districts more than she hated individual landmarks–why? they put up more obstacles for the developers, of course. Her arbitrary refusal to consider proposals for an expansion of the Madison Square North district tells you … Continue reading →

Sarah Carroll, the new chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, actually has long experience as a preservationist! Now, we’ll see if she can stand up to the Mayoralty and the developers.

The Frick Museum is planning to dismantle its music room, built in the 1930s, and turn it into gallery space. The music room is one of the most beguiling performance spaces in New York City.  I’ve attended only one concert … Continue reading →

It should by now be axiomatic that any time Trump and his enablers make an accusation, they are in fact making a confession of guilt.

Remember how they were really, really mad about McConnell’s assault on the Constitution when he mau-maued all Congressional precedent to deny Merrick Garland a hearing? They were going to march into the election with Garland as (at least one of … Continue reading →

Rachel Maddow made a good point the other night: if the shoe had been on the other party’s foot, the GOP would have been screaming about Wray and Rosenstein’s friendship with Kavanaugh. What role did Wray and Rosenstein play in … Continue reading →