Following up on my NH-acquired cold, last night I started feeling cold. I just couldn’t get warm then, just as I was going to bed, the uncontrollable shivering hit. It pulled a muscle in my thigh so hard that this morning I had to rub it to walk without a limp. I was hoping to see Project Hail Mary today, but that isn’t going to happen.
Author: DOuG pRATt
The Mind of Lichtenstein
This week’s issue of The New Yorker has an ad from the Gagosian Gallery, promoting an exhibition of what appear to be abstract, rather than representational, paintings by Roy Lichtenstein.
https://gagosian.com/exhibitions/2026/roy-lichtenstein-painting-with-scattered-brushstrokes/
It’s interesting the works come from the Lichtenstein family collection. Have they never before been offered for sale? They’re nothing like the so-called Pop Art paintings that made Lichtenstein famous. Those were based on comic book panels he had selected, many of them from DC titles in the romance genre.
This is a good opportunity to watch the documentary Whaam! Blam! Roy Lichtenstein and the Art of Appropriation. It was based largely on the research of David Barsalou, who graduated from Westfield State a year ahead of me. Our art history instructor was Barbara Harris, who is now a friend of mine.
As you can see, I can’t embed the video. If I could embed it, there would be no commercials. Sorry to say, you’re on your own.
The New Hampshire Cold
Last Sunday, at the Funspot arcade in Laconia, New Hampshire, I was amongst many families with children. So I wasn’t surprised when, on Wednesday, I felt a sore throat coming on. Now there’s sneezing and coughing to go along with it. My usual temperature is about 97.7. It’s presently 98.8.
Less Than 12 Parsecs to Wait
Next February, the original, pre-New Hope, Star Wars will be released in theaters for the movie’s 50th anniversary.
https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-50th-anniversary-theatrical-release
It was screened last June in England.
This was how the death of the Death Star originally looked a long time ago, in theaters far, far away.
No Uncertainty About Undercity
Monte Schulz has written a follow-up to his dense and mesmerizing novel Metropolis. I’ve pre-ordered a copy of Undercity and have updated Monte’s entry in the links section.
Scam Scum
Freakonomics delves into the prevalent and increasingly sophisticated realm of online scams. Trump voters are perfect pigeons for a pig skinning.