New at the Prado in Madrid.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader has decided that on a day where there will be precious little civility and culture to give you all an opportunity to get a little culture to brighten your day. Thanks to the Washington Post, your Maximum Leader has read a fascinating article about a new exhibit on Spanish Portraiture at the Prado. If you don't care to read about it at the Post, you may go ahead and read (in Spanish or English) at the Prado's site.

Your Maximum Leader loved the Prado when he visited Spain. Until his visit he had never really stopped to think of Spanish painters. But he left Spain with a deep appreciation and love of El Greco and Goya. Picasso's cubist works are still a bit much for your Maximum Leader's sense of aesthetics, but he can recognize them as great art. And just to give Picasso a fair shake, your Maximum Leader is quite fond of many of Picasso's early works.

So, give yourself a few minutes away from the din of election day politics and read about fine art. If you have the inclination and means, get thee to Madrid and see the art for yourself. (And while there, have some tapas for your Maximum Leader. Or perhaps some broiled suckling pig... Yummm... Broiled suckling pig...)

Carry on.