The Magic Kingdom is Currently Closed

DON'T PANIC. But if you're heading to Florida, keep in mind that the Magic Kingdom does close.

Yes. It's a Phase 3 closing, too. Phase one: guests who show up without tickets "will be turned around at the parking lot booths." Phase 2: admission limited to Disney Resort guests, annual passholders, and some other categories. Phase 3 is more restricted; Phase 4 is NONE SHALL PASS. Or Fastpass, if you wish.

CONFESSIONS It is almost impossible to quantify the amount I do not care. Your may have a different opinion. What famous writer was paid by Esquire to put down the following sentiments?

More here.

ART Nowadays, this qualifies:

I hope someone's filming it, so they can sell DVD sets of the entire performance. It would be a shame if art of this caliber - so exquisitely conceived, so masterfully executed - vanished at the end of its run. At least they could frame the pillow case on which she drooled.

Or, seal up the box so no air gets in, change the title from "The Maybe" to "The Most Certainly, Oh My Yes" and create a new form of performance art that does not rely on the consent of the artist. It's an interesting question, no? Can you force someone to create against their will? Is the artist's permission required, or - OH DO STOP POUNDING, TILDA, IT'S SIMPLY NO USE - or does the art arise from the protest?

According to his bio, he painted "Blackwell Island" in 1911, when he was trying to make his name. He was 28, just back from Europe, making his money doing illustrations for magazines and advertising. He hated it.

Here's the painting.

A biography notes that George Bellows had also painted the island in 1909, and Bellows was a man on the way up. Here's his take:

You can tell who'd be more fun at parties, can't you? Bellows' work has his usual messy energy; Hopper's is cool and removed and remote. There's the matter of the clouds, too - the quiet unease you sense in his work, someone noted, is often due to perspective lines that don't quite the vanishing points the way you'd expect.

But back to Tilda. I spoke too soon: there's video! Whew.

(via designweek.)

BUSINESS As you've heard, Supervalu is axing jobs after selling some chains. One of them was Star Market, which I'd never heard about until now. The wikipedia page says this:

It's still around. It's the Meat Spot! From this store a retail empire arose.

If it says "23 Auburn Street," and you're tempted to correct me, fine; that's the address returned for "28 Auburn," and that's the even side of the street. I wonder if there's a plaque. Probably not. Few grocery stores have any sense of history, let alone the chains that run then.

If they did, we'd still be shopping at Red Owl, and liking it. Because the Owl is more fun than the name of some chain they broiught in from elsewhere and doesn't mean much to the locals there, either.