Well, it's good to be back after so many years. I have tried a number of blog templates and Blogger is my favorite. My goals change and this new direction suits me as well.
This Blogger blog site was initiated to put my own artwork, specifically that of the homeless, into the larger context of art. It is intended as the linear language expression of my visual work's thesis. Eventually, the correspondence between linear and pictorial expression branched-out into other areas, over time. Given the many diverse topics discussed since the blog's beginning, even I must concede art - much less art about the homeless - constitutes a minority share. Art (for me) is second nature; linear science-including mathematics-is what I find hard. My verbal Scholastic Aptitude Test scores were quite high, even as I tested miserably on the mathematical. Nobody knew what to do with me. Usually shy, if the opportunity arose to interpret the meaning of a nonlinear expression, I shined like a performer in the spotlight. My take ended the discussion. The instructor glared at me, and moved-on to her next topic. When I say, 'nobody knew what to do with me,' what I me...
... fact check medical claims in today's news story about Teddi Mellencamp's cancer -she maintains it is melanoma but her father John Mellencamp says it is “in her brain” Teddi Mellencamp was diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, in 2022. The cancer metastasized (spread) to her lungs and brain, leading to a stage 4 diagnosis in April 2025. This is consistent with medical facts: melanoma can spread to distant organs, including the brain and lungs, and when it does, it is classified as stage 4. Her father, John Mellencamp, stated on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on January 14, 2026, that she has cancer in her brain and is “suffering right now.” Teddi Mellencamp clarified on her January 28, 2026, Two T’s in a Pod podcast that her father’s comment referred to her mental and emotional state, not a new physical deterioration. She confirmed that there is still no trace of cancer, but she remains stage 4 and is still undergoing immunotherapy. Medical e...
... fact check this story <link> about German soldiers training with broomsticks; German Soldiers Used Broomsticks The story is accurate. According to a report by German broadcaster ARD, German soldiers used broomsticks painted black to replace heavy machine guns during a NATO exercise in 2014 This incident highlighted the significant equipment shortages faced by the German army at the time. ... kindly "expand" on this story for the benefit of readers; The story about German soldiers using broomsticks instead of guns during NATO exercises has been widely reported and verified through multiple sources. Here is a detailed fact-check based on the available context: Background and Context The incident in question occurred during NATO exercises, specifically those involving the NATO Rapid Reaction Force, which is designed to be ready for deployment at short notice. The German army, known as the Bundeswehr, has faced significant equipment shortages, which have been a recurrin...