The Explanation
(for those who require one)

And, of course, that is what all of this is -- all of this: the one song, ever changing, ever reincarnated, that speaks somehow from and to and for that which is ineffable within us and without us, that is both prayer and deliverance, folly and wisdom, that inspires us to dance or smile or simply to go on, senselessly, incomprehensibly, beatifically, in the face of mortality and the truth that our lives are more ill-writ, ill-rhymed and fleeting than any song, except perhaps those songs -- that song, endlesly reincarnated -- born of that truth, be it the moon and June of that truth, or the wordless blue moan, or the rotgut or the elegant poetry of it. That nameless black-hulled ship of Ulysses, that long black train, that Terraplane, that mystery train, that Rocket '88', that Buick 6 -- same journey, same miracle, same end and endlessness."
-- Nick Tosches, Where Dead Voices Gather

The City: Philadelphia #11


Original Caption:

For That Smoke-Filled Room?????

Philadelphia -- With the opening of the Republican National Convention less than a week off, the final touches are being put to Convention Hall to accommodate the flood of delegates who will nominate the Republican Party's Presidential hope. Here Patrolman Richard Baker relaxes with a cigar amid a collection of ashtrays provided for use of the delegates. (1948)
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3 comments:

Christopher said...

"OFFICER BAKER!!"
(((cLaNg CLAsH bAnG)))

June 16, 2009 4:25 PM
Who Am Us Anyway? said...

Starring Don Knotts as Officer Baker

June 18, 2009 10:45 AM
rjplumer said...

I remember my grandparents having ashtrays like those.

July 03, 2009 7:02 PM

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