Great Regulars: This story may well raise a quizzical smile.

A little over 100 years ago--on Aug. 21, 1911--Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in Paris.

The story has its hilarious aspects. No one noticed Mona was missing until the next day. But the theft may have helped bring to museums the era of modern security, "walking the fine line," as former FBI agent Robert K. Wittman puts it, "between making great art available to the public and protecting that art from the public."

from John Timpane: The Philadelphia Inquirer: "Mona Lisa" theft a century ago created modern museums

~~~~~~~~~~~

The word Jesus shouldn't freak anyone out, says self-described "secular progressive" Cohen, a longtime activist much at home with the passionate, radical social message of people like Claiborne. So, while Claiborne will "talk about Jesus," Cohen will talk about dollars, war, and the Pentagon. And they will end up at the same goal.

Jesus, Bombs, & Ice Cream rows against a tide in public affairs in which religion and secularism have become polarized.

from John Timpane: The Philadelphia Inquirer: Variety show with a point

~~~~~~~~~~~