Author Archives: Blowhard, Esq.

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About Blowhard, Esq.

Amateur, dilettante, wannabe.

A Day in the Life of an Ancient Athenian Citizen

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: It’s the 5th century BC. Because Athens’s allies pay the city tribute (i.e. protection money in exchange for Athens shielding them from the Persians), you are sufficiently wealthy that you don’t need to work for a living. You … Continue reading →

Posted in History, The Good Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Village Du Jour

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Molyvos, Lesbos, Greece. Source. Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Architecture, The Good Life, Travel | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Quote Du Jour: On the French Sidewalk Café

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: It would be hard to imagine a more recognizable third place than a French bistro. Traditional third places tend to have physical features that unmistakably indicate what they are — these are sometimes called signal fittings. Thus, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, The Good Life, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Movie Still Du Jour

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Kay Francis and Miriam Hopkins in Ernst Lubitsch’s TROUBLE IN PARADISE (1932) Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Movies, Performers, Women men and fashion | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Linkage

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Brian Eno picks 20 essential books for sustaining civilization, including James Scott’s Seeing Like a State and Christopher Alexander’s A Pattern Language. Was Nietzsche right about religion? John Gray reviews books by Peter Watson and Terry Eagleton. (H/T … Continue reading →

Posted in Linkathons | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Art of Shashi Dhoj Tulachand

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Orange County’s Bowers Museum is currently running an exhibition by an extraordinary artist named Shashi Dhoj Tulachand, a Nepalese Buddhist monk. Each of the nine thangkas, or temple murals, stands approximately 6.5-7 feet tall and is about 4 feet … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Philosophy and Religion | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Sophocles’s Literary Defense

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: When he was 90, Sophocles was sued by his sons who argued their father was incapable of managing his financial affairs. They charged the playwright with “paranoia,” which was the ancient Greek equivalent of saying he had … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing, Law | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Movie Stills Du Jour

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Grace Kelly in Hitchcock’s TO CATCH A THIEF (1955) Click on the images to enlarge.

Posted in Movies, Sex, Women men and fashion | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Semi-Naked Ladies of the Week: The Girls of American Apparel

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: To quote Paleo Retiree, are American Apparel ads one of the great cultural achievements of our time? Yes or no (and the correct answer is yes), you’ve got to tip your ironically-purchased trucker hat to any campaign that … Continue reading →

Posted in Commercial art, Sex, Women men and fashion | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Architecture Du Jour

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: The old Penn Station, NYC, c. 1911. Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments