Last week, I was in the checkout line of a grocery store.  In my basket, I had two items, small boxes, which together totaled nearly $70.  A young man ahead of me waited for the clerk to tally his bill, but before he handed over his money, he turned in my direction to ask if he coul

I’ve mentioned before that Bernard Berenson, American art historian (1865-1959) bemoaned that our culture in the 20th century was galloping toward rampant mediocrity. Given that harsh assessment, I wonder what he would say about the 21st. I suspect he would concur with the opinion o