Hey, I miss BUH. And I hate myself for not missing MOX. Even the newcomers who post a totally unblendy square and never return are making a statement.
 
James Thurber ruined me as an artist. Because no matter how hard you try, you'll never convince me that I have no talent. His fault. His editor (the legendary Harold Ross) described his artwork as ''third rate.''

At an art museum (the Victoria & Albert in London) I saw Thurber's cartoon about the seal above the bed. It was drawn on hotel stationary. I could clearly see Thurber's weekly expenses scrawled on the back of the ''canvas.'' It's one of the greatest cartoons in the history of cartooning. Possibly the very greatest. An absolute, utter classic. Priceless. Immortal. Thurber clearly thought nothing of it when he drew it.

Think about that while you ponder the absolute futility of art in the 21st century.