South of Atlanta on I-75:


Everyone involved was incredibly lucky - no life threatening injuries. The daughter was asleep in the back seat, apparently got a mild concussion. She doesn't remember the accident at all but was awake and oriented in the hospital. They had to cut her out of the car she was in.

I suspect rain was a contributing factor - there is a cell phone video at the bottom of the story in the link above and the pavement is wet.

My husband and I have known the parents since before they married and my husband is her unofficial godfather so we're both really happy that she isn't seriously hurt.

Source: Washington Post

With hopes of dispensing the “perfect antidote” to the stock market crash of 1987, Italian-born sculptor Arturo Di Modica spent two years welding a 7,000 pound bronze bull statue designed to capture the resilience of the American people.

Under the cover of night and without a permit, he installed his massive “Charging Bull” directly before the New York Stock Exchange, a gift New Yorkers loved but New York City initially hated. Authorities removed it, but later reinstalled it under pressure at a small public park in the financial district.

<SNIP>

Then last month, on International Women’s Day, a new statue of a symbolically brave “Fearless Girl” stole its spotlight — and, Di Modica says, fundamentally corrupted the artistic integrity of his “Charging Bull.”

<SNIP>

The artist will hold a news conference Wednesday with attorney Norman Siegel, the former director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, to explain his plans to challenge the city officials who let “Fearless Girl” happen without asking his permission.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/04/12/charging-bull-sculptor-says-fearless-girl-distorts-his-art-hes-fighting-back/

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A little historical context:


The Charging Bull was installed on Wall Street without permission, was impounded for a while before being relocated. It has been at its present location with a technically temporary permit since 1989. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charging_Bull#Ownership)

The Fearless Girl was installed with permission: "The sculpture's installation is temporary; it was initially expected to stay in place at least several weeks,[8] given a New York City Hall permit for one week that was later extended to 30 days.[9] On March 27, it was announced that the statue would remain in place through February, 2018." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fearless_Girl#History

Frankly in my opinion, the Fearless Girl gives the Charging Bull even more relevance for today. While the Bull stands for American Power, the Girl stands for the power of the individual in American society, no matter how small they are, standing up to the most powerful forces in the land.

If Di Modica does not like the juxtaposition of the Fearless Girl to his statue, he is perfectly within his rights to remove the Charging Bull and to reinstall it wherever he likes. I'm sure people would be happy to give him some suggestions.

My husband has been scanning photos from his family. He came on one labeled "Clara Ward, Princess de Chimay" - a name that he could not find in his family tree. Well, after checking out her Wikipedia entry it turns out dear Clara was the Kim Kardashian of the 1890s!



Clara went on to marry Peppino Ricciardo, a Spaniard, or maybe Italian, who was a waiter on a train. Her last marriage was to Signor Cassalota who was the station agent for the tourist train at Mount Vesuvius.

The Wikipedia article has a few pictures of her. It also includes a note that her parents were "Captain Eber Brock Ward (1811–1875) and his second wife, Catherine Lyon, a niece of Senator Benjamin Wade." Catherine Lyon was a half sister to my husband's 2nd great grandmother and his 3rd great aunt.

Benjamin Wade "was one of the most radical politicians in America at that time, supporting women's suffrage, trade union rights, and equality for African-Americans. He was also critical of how certain aspects of capitalism were practiced in the 19th century." If Andrew Johnson had been impeached, Benjamin Wade would have become President since he was President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate. "Although most senators believed that Johnson was guilty of the charges, they did not want the extremely radical Wade to become acting president. One newspaper wrote, "Andrew Johnson is innocent because Ben Wade is guilty of being his successor." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Wade#Impeachment_of_Johnson)

The photograph my husband found was taken in 1886 before Clara began all her adventures - when she was a young ingenue from a wealthy Michigan family.