Sightings
For Architecture Buffs: National Building Museum's Building Brain Busters
Q: What famous American author wrote an 1840 essay titled, "The Philosophy of Furniture," outlining sound principles of interior decorating? A: Edgar Allan Poe. Yes, the master of the macabre took a break from poems and horror stories to describe the characteristics of the ideal room, proper draperies, and tasteful carpets. He began by stating, "In the internal decoration, if not in the external architecture of their residences, the English are supreme." more »
Have You Received the Letter? Medicare Trying To Nudge Seniors Out Of Plans With Low Ratings
Susan Jaffe writes: Medicare officials are trying a novel approach during this open enrollment season to gently nudge a half million beneficiaries out of 26 private drug and medical plans that have performed poorly over the past three years. The effort marks the first time that Medicare officials have tried to steer beneficiaries away from some private drug and medical plans. more »
Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen
“What women wear today has been immeasurably influenced by Katharine Hepburn's strength of personality and insistence on wearing what she wanted. She took charge of her career and her public image early in her career and maintained a consistent style.” more »
A Changing Relationship to Visual Truth
With the perfection of halftone printing in the 1890s, newspapers and magazines began publishing photographs on a regular basis. Photojournalism was still in its infancy and standards of veracity were in flux. Were news photographs supposed to be strictly factual eyewitness reports, or could they be modified and embellished after the fact, like the drawings by newspaper sketch artists? more »
