Steve Martin: Comic Genius

I just finished reading Steve Martin's autobiography, Born Standing Up. He's such a comic genius. I think one of the things that makes him so compelling is he appears to be a pretty normal person, but after watching him you realize he truly is "a wild and crazy guy." The book tells about his experiences working and learning to be a magician at Disneyland, and then doing years of stand-up to hone his craft. Then he found incredible success with his brand of new comedy, and became a collaborator with Belushi, Akroyd, and others on "SNL." The crowds became huge at his stand-up shows (up to 15,000 people), but this changed the dynamic and the intimacy was lost. He decided as a result to step away from stand-up, and went instead into the movies. Here is an old school clip from one of his many appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Brown Mansion

My cousin, Jess, and her fiance, Nathan, are planning to get married at this elegant old home called "The Brown Mansion," in Coffeyville in summer 2010. I went down a couple days ago to check things out with them. Here are some photos of the place.










The next morning we ventured over to Pittsburg to see a bakery in downtown. Pittsburg had an interesting downtown area, with lots of older architecture.




On my way back to KC I stopped in at the Mine Creek Battlefield Site near Pleasanton. My Dad was really involved in helping preserve this battlefield, site of the largest Civil War battle in Kansas. The painting by Andy Thomas was done in his memory. It depicts the decisive moment of the battle when the Union finally broke through the Confederate lines.

4th Installment, Civil War Ancestry Series

Cool Illustration of the Day

I think this is pretty amazing. Compliments of Cole - not sure who the artist is.

Luck of the Irish

Truman Library

I recently read David McCullough's Truman, the most comprehensive and compelling work on Truman's life. McCullough is an amazing historian and writer. He has the ability to transport you in time, and his writing about the Kansas City of the 1920s-30s was really interesting. It was a town full of jazz, political machines, and tough-nosed gangsters. Truman himself was elected as part of the Pendergast political machine, but proved to be an honest and ethical politician. Anyway my cousin, Andrew, has also read McCullough's book, and so we decided to make a trip up to see the Truman Library in Independence.



As soon as you enter the Library you see a great mural by Thomas Hart Benton. After Truman opened his library some of his friends suggested to him that he commission an artist to create a mural for the opening area. He decided that he wanted a history of Independence depicted. Initially Truman was opposed to having Benton produce the mural, but after meeting with him they hit it off and became fast friends due in part to their mutual love of Bourbon and Branch. At one point Benton got Truman to paint part of the mural. In the top right corner of the mural Truman painted a few strokes of the sky.



This is the bible Truman was sworn in on after FDR died in office.



A note from Truman discussing authorization for dropping the atomic bomb on Japan.



That's self-explanatory.

















Ok this is a really interesting, and sad story. The parents of this soldier that died in Korea sent this letter to Truman that read, "Mr. Truman - As you have been directly responsible for the loss of our son's life in Korea, you might just as well keep this emblem on display in your trophy room, as a memory of one of your historic deeds. Our major regret at this time is that your daughter was not there to receive the same treatment as our son received in Korea. Singed - William Banning."

The emblem was their son's Purple Heart (as seen below), and Truman kept it close to him in his desk drawer for the remainder of his Presidency.









The globe given to President Truman by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.



Graves of President and Bess Truman.

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After Truman left the office there were tons of offers for him to endorse a product, including this guy that wanted to make "Harry S. Truman Soap." Truman declined all the offers, refusing to commercialize the office of the Presidency.





These are the guns used in the assassination attempt on President Truman by two Puerto Rican nationalists.





The courthouse in Independence's town square where Truman served as an administrative judge. He famously brought the Andrew Jackson statue to the front of the courthouse.





This is Clinton's soda fountain where Truman got his first job.




Overall it's interesting to me that Truman was underestimated time and time again, and proved to be a great leader. Between World War II, the Civil Rights struggle, the Korean War, and the decision to create Israel, Truman led our nation through a tumultuous time and left an impact on the whole world.