A bunch of videos noticed in this morning's blog surf provided the inspiration for today's jewel. Whit (http://bushsyndrome.blogstream.com/) and Johnny (http://annoiato.blogstream.com/).

Along with the rest of the universe, watched the Texas debate. Am not a Hillary fan, we are ready for a respite from big party politics. Hillary does not even pretend she is not a “win at any cost”, “the end justifies the means” killer politician. See Cowboy for today (http://skywriter.blogstream.com/). Not certain how honest Obama actually is, but he talks the good fight.

One interchange that sort of cinched it for me was the one about earmarks. Obama stood up to the question. Do not agree with him but he was direct. Hillary very quickly switched the subject, “did a little sidestep”.

So, I am offering this video to all politicians, but to Hillary in particular:

By the way, “The Best Little Whorehouse” was one of my favorites. Need to get Netflix to send it for another night of deep study and contemplation.

Having exposed some of my softer and more sensitive side in music selections, feel it is time to really show my artistic weaknesses as well. Fairweather (http://fairweatherlewis.blogstream.com/) did so regarding Masaccio and some, well, will not embarrass some others who post about modern art by giving out names. Always enjoyed art but without really pondering on likes and dislikes. Then, several years ago, the National Gallery had a special on the Pre-Raphaelites (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Raphaelites). It was splendid, absolutely breathtaking. At one end of the room was Flaming June

The Pre-Raphealites were a group of artists, sculptors, writers in the middle 1800's who espoused 1. Expressing genuine ideas. 2. Studing Nature attentively, so as to know how to express them 3. Sympathising with what is direct and serious and heartfelt in previous art, to the exclusion of what is conventional and self-parodying and learned by rote;. 4. Producing thoroughly good pictures and statues.

Here the mermaid who resides over the john in our bathroom.

And some more from Alma-Tedema:

And a Millais:

John Dalton

Another of those thoughts that come while reading Scientific American on the throne. Why is it that sitting on the throne is so productive?

This time, it is an article on vitamin D. It turns out that D goes through a number of transformations and affects a wide variety of organs and health issues. One remarkable thing about it is how much we know about it and how it works. On cellular and molecular levels. Modern biology and chemistry is really something.

The thought, though, (two interesting words) came from how did all of this ability to know about these things get started.

One start was John Dalton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalton), the discoverer of the atom. Published it in “Experimental Essays” in 1802. Dalton had trouble convincing anyone of his concepts, however. Dalton's work was supported by Amadeo Avogadro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avogadro) in an 1811 essay. The concept of atoms was not widely accepted, however, until a conference in Karsluhe, Germany, in 1860. Avogadro is also given credit for the concept of molecules. In the early 1900's there were still prominent scientists who doubted atomic theory. Wilhem Ostwald, chemistry Nobel Prize winner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avogadro) and Max Planck, founder of the quantum theory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Planck) among them

In 1910, a Japanese scientist, Umetaro Suzuki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umetaro_Suzuki), discovered vitamins.

Although Robert Hooke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hooke) first noticed cells in 1665, the concept is credited to Matthias Schleiden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Jakob_Schleiden) and Theodor Schwann (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_Schwann) in 1839.

And now all of this has come together, discoveries and scientists building on each other, 100 years of it.

This molecule, Vitamin D, is produced in the skin by sunlight, goes through a number of transformations, and is used to cure ricketts in the bones, tuberculosis in the lungs, cancer, immune disorders, kidney disease, numerous problems. And we know all of this! At molecular and cellular levels! Some of the studies were done in mice bred to either produce or not produce the vitamin or having genes with human components inserted.

Dalton, Avogadro, the others would marvel at what they had wrought. And it is marvelous.

A brief observation. The news is full of Pakistan and Cuba. Our Forefathers gave us something truly remarkable - a Constitution and system that provides for an orderly transfer of power. Even in civil war, assassination, war. There may be acrimony and verbal assaults but the system works beautifully. Thanks guys.

One of my favorite singers is the little tenor from Philadelphia, Mario Lanza (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Lanza) . Pavarotti he is not. He does have one of those voices that, like Pavarotti, can be easily recognized. And a boyish quality. Loved his movies. Especially the Kathryn Grayson ones.

Wikipedia says: “Lanza has been credited with inspiring the careers of successive generations of opera singers, including Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Leo Nucci and Jose Carreras, as well as those of singers with seemingly different backgrounds, and influences, his RCA Victor label-mate Elvis Presley being the most notable example. In 1994, tenor José Carreras paid tribute to Lanza in a worldwide concert tour, saying of him, "If I'm an opera singer, it's thanks to Mario Lanza."

imbd (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0487292/bio) says: “Mario Lanza's life, sadly, has all the markings of an epic Shakespearean tragedy. The story is truly incredible: a wild, incendiary Philadelphia kid who can sing better than Caruso, sets out to become the greatest dramatic opera singer who ever lived, is detoured by Louis B. Mayer and vixen Hollywood, is remade into a fiercely handsome box office champ with 50 inch chest, his own national radio show, 1951 TIME Magazine cover idol, and king of the pop record world.”

He died tragically at the age of 38. Good family man but abused by the industry and his manager. May even have died at the hands of the Sicilian Mafia (http://www.lanzalegend.com/welcome.htm).