The Hope Diamond long has been the star of the nation’s foremost museum collection. But for many of us, it’s been outshone by a recent acquisition, one that could be called the Hope Suit. — July 12 is the birthday of Rep. Andy Kim, a moderate Democrat from New Jersey. You may not know much about Kim. You may only know the famous image of Kim. It’s the one of the congressman cleaning up the mess left by violent rioters who attacked police officers while…

Why Sen. Inouye’s 2002 vote against the Iraq War should have persuaded more of his colleagues to also take that brave stand. — If this story were told in a novel, many people would read the book promo, roll their eyes about the unbelievable plot and move onto something more credible. Three soldiers meet at a Michigan hospital while convalescing from serious injuries near the end of World War II, and then years…

First, start with a visit with the “Cajun chef”…and then spend time with Leah Chase.. and then with Cooking with Carolyn… — There were ample leftovers from our weekend roast chicken and my husband is away on a business trip. It’s been a while since he’s had his favorite dish. Wouldn’t it be nice to make a pot of gumbo to surprise him when he gets home? So first thing I have…

Could changes in the popular website help some of us opt to scroll less and read more? I took an afternoon break today to visit with what appears to be a lone jacaranda tree on Jefferson Avenue in Miami’s South Beach. My husband and I had spotted this tree a…

Imagine how much stress and hassle you’d avoid if you were able to log into an IRS website and see what information the tax agency already has about your income. — Each year businesses tell the IRS what they paid people for their work. They file copies of W-2 forms for their employees and 1099 forms for contractors and freelancers. Then we taxpayers have to provide the same W-2 and 1099 information to IRS by midApril. (The deadline is usually April…

Born on this day in 1822 was an artist who built landscapes around livestock. — What question is the white ox asking us? French artist Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899) painted this scene as though we, the viewers, have distracted this lovely animal at its work. Unlike its companions, this ox stares out at us. Bonheur gives the other animals in this painting a more resigned or…

Dec. 16 is the birthday of a Russian-born artist whose abstract paintings appear to have been tossed off as improvisations. But they are the result of years of study and careful choices. — My new favorite film featuring the star Helen Mirren is a Museum of Modern Art video. In it, Mirren speaks of her love of paintings, how she often leans in too close to canvases to get a good look. “The guards always get rather nervous when I’m in a gallery,”…

Sept. 23 is the birthday of an American musician who mythologized highways while not being much of a driver himself. In this, Springsteen recalls French painter Henri Rousseau who shared with us marvelous landscapes that he created in his mind. — I’m a journalist and journalists doubt everything. We check facts and we check them again.. and again. Heck, we challenge what other people call facts, wondering if the sources we’re consulting are right.

There’s much wrong with the world as we approach the 252nd birthday of Napoleon Bonaparte. But it is a hopeful sign that there’s more attention these days to his sin of legalizing the crime of slavery. — Aug.15 is the birthday of one of the most famous men in history, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821). But until recently little has been said about why he also is one of the most infamous men in history.