Signed by Stephen Breyer: The Court and the World

Should legal precedents from around the globe be considered by the U. S. Supreme Court in its deliberations? Or should the U. S. Constitution be the Court's sole consideration? Like almost everything else having to do with the Supreme Court, the topic has become highly politicized. The Court and the World:  American Law and the New Global Realities is a new book by Stephen Briar, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. This signed copy was purchased at the New-York Historical Society gift shop. Additional copies are available while they last.

Stephen Breyer.  The Court and the World:  American Law and the New Global Realities, 2015

The Court and the World:  American Law and the New Global Realities signed by Stephen Breyer

Note:  You call that legible? The blog archives contain many more examples of signed books.

Congratulations! You have found one of the few blogs that can relate the Supreme Court to the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest.

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The Last Rays of Summer

Some of the last rays of the summertime hit Central Park late Sunday afternoon. I was able to capture a few of them.

Central Park looking northwest from near Belvedere Castle

Central Park looking northeast

The Delacorte Theater

Note:  As you can see, this blogger loves to venture into Central Park.

My posts about autumn should be all the rage now.

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The Jazz Singer's Kol Nidre

Al Jolson plays Jakie Rabinowitz in "The Jazz Singer" (1927). Unwilling to adhere to the strict Jewish traditions of his father, a cantor on the Lower East Side, Jakie leaves home to pursue a career singing jazz. Years later on the eve of Yom Kippur, the jazz singer now known as Jack Robin is called to his father's deathbed. That night he is forced to choose between appearing in the opening of a new musical or singing the Kol Nidre service in his dying father's place. Broadway's loss is the synagogue's gain, but ultimately the film has it both ways.

"Kol Nidre" from "The Jazz Singer" (1927)

Al Jolson as Jakie Rabinowitz/Jack Robin

Directed by Alan Crosland

Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer"

Note:  Al Jolson is mentioned in the "In Our Midst" section of a 1925 issue of the New Yorker as he's preparing to leave the East coast for California. I guess that turned out all right.

Let's get ready for autumn with some blog posts from the archives.

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Mike Lynch: Raconteur No. 7

Mike Lynch is one of those cartoonists who works tirelessly to promote the art form. His cartoons appear in the Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, Playboy, and just about any of those rare publications which still appreciate the humorous line. He also teaches classes in cartooning. He even writes a daily blog about cartoons which is probably as foolhardy a pursuit as one can have in this world.

When Mike Lynch isn't doing all that, he publishes Raconteur, a small comic magazine with several contributors now in its seventh issue. In its pages, world-class cartoonists recount some of their real-life experiences in comic panel format. The publication is 24 pages and sells for $5.99 postpaid. Not only is it highly entertaining and ridiculously inexpensive, but it comes personalized with a little drawing, or at least mine did. Raconteur No. 6 was promoted as including an autograph and a sketch, and this issue—No. 7—apparently does too. So there you have it: an all-around great buy. I just hope there's enough money left over to buy a beer for the cartoonists.

Raconteur No. 7 signed, insribed, and sketched upon in the upper margin by Mike Lynch

Raconteur No. 7, Spring 2015

Note:  Mike Lynch makes it easy for you to order your own copy of Raconteur No. 7. I heartily recommend it. The other cartoonists whose work appears in this issue are Mark Anderson, John Klossner, Michael Maslin, and Rina Piccolo.

Three years ago, Mike Lynch stumbled upon my most popular post of all time and just had to blog about it himself. No mention on the blog from him since. Talk about cherry-picking!

Autumn is coming around in a couple of days, you know. See what this blog looks like dressed in fall colors.

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The Soda Cans of Summer

With summer quickly winding down, I'm relieved that I'll soon be able to carry soda cans again inside the car. Soda cans are thinner than ever, and more than one of mine has come totally unroofed when left in the summer heat.  They look downright dangerous, don't they?

Note:  Thank goodness it's just three days until autumn.

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The Cat Grooms the Dog

What do you know? One of our cats, Amber, grooms the dog, Minty. Then she thinks better of it.

Note:  Would you like to know the truth about cats and dogs? It's all right here in the archives.

There are only three more days until autumn. I've got three posts in the archives about the coming season. Do the math.

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #489

Here is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #489 for September 14, 2015. The drawing is by Drew Dernavich.

"Did you all get my text?"

September 21, 2015 Update:  The Finalists

October 5, 2015 Update:  Winning Caption

Note: Last week, Charlie Hankin's cartoon was out of this world, but my caption was made of green cheese. See the unearthly result of Contest #488.

Drew Dernavich has been around the linoleum block a few times.

It's nearly the fall. See what this blogger has to say about that.

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Good Fences...

Back home, we find our new neighbors continue to completely neglect their garden. Our young weeping cherry tree, left, is dwarfed by one of their weeds, right.

Note:  Remember when life was simple? Take another look in Constantin Alajálov's garden.

Autumn is icumen in. Check out the blog posts.

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Greek to Me

After the Red Sox game, we had dinner at Greek Corner in Cambridge. The food was very good and was an excellent value overall. Afterwards there was no chance of finding a cab to take us back to the hotel, so we took our first ride with Uber. After a brief false start, we got picked up right away and it was noticeably cheaper than a taxi ride.

Greek Corner

Greek Corner 

How refreshing! Street cleaning rules are in effect nine days a year, as compared with three days a week in New York City. Trust me, the streets in New York are not cleaned three days a week.

Note:  This is the last of the Boston photos for now, although there will be more from the Museum of Fine Arts at some point.

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First Time at Fenway

Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, is the oldest Major League ballpark. I made my first visit there on August 1. It's obvious why Red Sox fans love this old stadium and want to keep it forever. Entering on Yawkey Way, one immediately enters a festive atmosphere cerebrating the Red Sox. The stadium itself is small by today's standards and therefore intimate; a game feels like a big family gathering. The park is largely free of the distracting amplified noise that fills every free second in most other parks. The Red Sox took on the Tampa Bay Rays and handily defeated them, 11-7.

Fenway Park

The Peanuts Movie blimp

Fenway banners

Franc Talarico, Ted Williams Jimmy Fund Statue, 2004

In 1919, The Red Sox sold Babe Ruth's contract to the New York Yankees. Smart move.

Welcome to Yawkey Way

Balloon, anyone?

Autograph Alley.  This is a great idea!

The Green Monster, looking like a Muppet

Red Sox gear

Yawkey Way from above

Inside Fenway Park

The Green Monster towers above left field. Note the vestigial ladder.

The ground crew prepares the infield

Let's take a walk over towards left field and see what else we can find.

History lesson

About the Green Monster seats

The prized Green Monster seats

Plaque about the Green Monster ladder

Left field foul pole

About those copper tanks

Copper tanks, hot water heaters memorialized. Personally, I think this is a bit much.

Back at our seats for the first pitch!

Note:  Lately, this blog has been mostly about Boston and blimps.

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