pbsthisdayinhistory:

MARCH 2, 1904: DR. SEUSS BORN

On this day in 1904, Theodor Seuss Geisel was born. He would have been 108 today.

Most people know Dr. Seuss as the man behind The Cat in the Hat. But how many know that Yertle the Turtle was modeled after Hitler - or that Dr. Seuss created WWII political cartoons that denounced racism, isolationism and other issues of the day?


From 1941 to 1943, Seuss served as chief editorial cartoonist for the New York liberal newspaper PM, and his work commented on issues of the day. His political cartoons during World War II denounced isolationism, racism and anti-Semitism.

However, in Dr. Seuss Goes to War, historian Richard H. Minear, writes: “…it is a surprise that a person who denounces anti-black racism and anti-Semitism so eloquently can be oblivious of his own racist treatment of Japanese and Japanese Americans…. to realize that the cartoonist is the same Dr. Seuss we celebrate today for his imagination and tolerance and breadth of vision: this is a sobering experience.”

Flip through Independent Lens’ “The Political Dr. Seuss” photo gallery.

Images: Dr. Seuss/ Random House

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss: Green Egg Cookies for Larchmont Elementary + Recipe Dr. Suess spent a lifetime weaving cunningly benign rhymes for children about the environment, the dangers of isolationism and materialism, racial equality and the arms race. But ask a kid (or most adults for that matter) what they remember most about Suess and they’re likely to zero in on the food: pink ink drink for the yink or the titular green eggs and ham. Extra points go to the rare Suessical child who names our personal favorite, the “certified strictly Grade-A peppermint cucumber sausage-paste butter,” from the cake bakers in Happy Birthday to You. While the later might be a more appropriate literal birthday homage to Dr. Suess (he’d have been 108 today), we’re happy to forgo it for cookies. Farmer’s Kitchen executive chef Ernest Miller will be serving up Green Egg Cookies to Larchmont Charter Elementary students today as part of their annual Suessian celebrations. If you’re not a student, or a teacher, at Larchmont, you can also grab yours at the restaurant today only. If you can’t make it over to Hollywood, Miller has also provided the recipe, after the jump. Please click here to continue reading the original article by Felicia Friesema at LA Weekly.
Pop-upView Separately

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss: Green Egg Cookies for Larchmont Elementary + Recipe

Dr. Suess spent a lifetime weaving cunningly benign rhymes for children about the environment, the dangers of isolationism and materialism, racial equality and the arms race. But ask a kid (or most adults for that matter) what they remember most about Suess and they’re likely to zero in on the food: pink ink drink for the yink or the titular green eggs and ham. Extra points go to the rare Suessical child who names our personal favorite, the “certified strictly Grade-A peppermint cucumber sausage-paste butter,” from the cake bakers in Happy Birthday to You. While the later might be a more appropriate literal birthday homage to Dr. Suess (he’d have been 108 today), we’re happy to forgo it for cookies.

Farmer’s Kitchen executive chef Ernest Miller will be serving up Green Egg Cookies to Larchmont Charter Elementary students today as part of their annual Suessian celebrations. If you’re not a student, or a teacher, at Larchmont, you can also grab yours at the restaurant today only. If you can’t make it over to Hollywood, Miller has also provided the recipe, after the jump.

Please click here to continue reading the original article by Felicia Friesema at LA Weekly.

Beautiful Covers: An Interview with Chip Kidd by Spyros Zevelakis - Smashing Magazine

The work of Chip Kidd spans design, writing and, most recently, rock ’n’ roll. He definitely has the charisma to get ahead in that third field. He is best known for his unconventional book jackets, but he has published two novels of his own: The Learners and The Cheese Monkeys. Uninterested in design trends and fashions, he often draws inspiration from collectibles and memorabilia.

Kidd is now busy creating his masterpiece, a graphic novel born from his lifelong fascination with Batman (he regards himself as Batman’s number-one fan). He has teamed up with comic-book artist Dave Taylor to illustrate the story in an astonishing way, conjuring a Fritz Lang aesthetic with a healthy dose of Kidd’s own sensibility. Batman: Death By Design is set to be released in spring 2012 through DC Comics.

Please click here to continue reading this article.

thecomposites: The Misfit, “A Good Man Is Hard To Find,” Flannery O’Connor He was an older man than the other two. His hair was just beginning to gray and he wore silver-rimmed spectacles that gave him a scholarly look. He had a long creased face and didn’t have on any shirt or undershirt. He had on blue jeans that were too tight for him and was holding a black hat and a gun…“You don’t look a bit like you have common blood. I know you must come from nice people!”… When he smiled he showed a row of strong white teeth…Hunching his shoulders slightly…The Misfit’s eyes were red-rimmed and pale and defenseless-looking.
View Separately

thecomposites:

The Misfit, “A Good Man Is Hard To Find,” Flannery O’Connor

He was an older man than the other two. His hair was just beginning to gray and he wore silver-rimmed spectacles that gave him a scholarly look. He had a long creased face and didn’t have on any shirt or undershirt. He had on blue jeans that were too tight for him and was holding a black hat and a gun…“You don’t look a bit like you have common blood. I know you must come from nice people!”… When he smiled he showed a row of strong white teeth…Hunching his shoulders slightly…The Misfit’s eyes were red-rimmed and pale and defenseless-looking.