Free Republic

Raphael died in Rome 500 years ago today. Rome was to have been the focal point in the global celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the death of the High Renaissance artist and architect Raphael, hosting an "unprecedented" exhibition, the greatest Raphael show the world had ever seen. The Raphael exhibition saw a boom in the purchase of pre-sale tickets, with thousands of people around the world planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy to see the groundbreaking show, featuring no less than 100 paintings by the Renaissance master, with 40 masterpieces on loan from the Uffizi in Florence. Raphael's much-anticipated...

Arlo Guthrie was at a benefit for the Sierra Club looking a whole lot older than he did 35 years ago, and his daughter was performing with her band. She told a story about Arlo that has stuck with me. Arlo’s one big hit was the recording of “Alice’s Restaur-ant.” Later, he bought a church in the town where Alice’s Res-taurant was. He was sweeping the floor when a minister from town came in. The minister asked what Arlo was doing there, and Arlo said, “Sweeping the floor.” The minister was upset by the idea that Arlo had bought the...