A federal appeals court in Boston ruled today the heir of a Jewish art collector in Vienna has no right to a painting by an early 20th-century expressionist that wound up at the MFA because she waited too long under Massachusetts law to file a claim.

At issue is "Two Nudes (Lovers)," by impressionist Oskar Kokoschka, which Dr. Oskar Reichel bought from the artist himself. The Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston acknowledged the exact reason why Reichel transferred ownership of the painting to a Jewish art dealer who had more luck getting out of Nazi-occupied Vienna "is not clear cut."

WBUR reports on the first gallery being installed in the $500-million wing - featuring ship models.

Want to buy a child? Seriously. It will only cost you a bag of millet. Leila was sold ... traded really. For a bag of food that would feed her family.

If you're not interested in purchasing a child, what about children who work as many hours a day as they are old just to support their family.

Alcides parents - both parents - died of HIV/AIDS.

Are these tales put on the airwaves and television to tug at your heartstrings and empty your wallet? No. These are true stories put out by youth filmmakers to raise awareness.

John Carroll was less than impressed by Tina Brown's talk last night at the MFA:

Well the Missus and I trundled down to the Museum of Fine Arts Wednesday evening to catch its Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Celebrity Lecture featuring Daily Beast diva Tina Brown.

Of course it should've been called the Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Celebrity Commercial because Brown was there mostly to deliver a pitch for her new website, which she subsequently did in a straightforward and shameless fashion. ...

Joel Brown previews the upcoming new sections of MFA, which open April 23.

With Thanksgiving around the corner and the holiday season fast approaching, many people are in the market for holiday greeting cards for family and friends.

Project Bread, The Walk for Hunger is offering a wide variety of holiday cards for the 2008 season with unique images and heart-warming messages that will appeal to all. “Through the sale of holiday cards we help hungry families in need during the winter months,” said Ellen Parker, executive director of Project Bread. “It’s a program that does a lot of good.”

With Thanksgiving around the corner and the holiday season fast approaching, many people are in the market for holiday greeting cards for family and friends.

Project Bread, The Walk for Hunger is offering a wide variety of holiday cards for the 2008 season with unique images and heart-warming messages that will appeal to all. “Through the sale of holiday cards we help hungry families in need during the winter months,” said Ellen Parker, executive director of Project Bread. “It’s a program that does a lot of good.”

It needs to do more than just invite people to the museum itself, Third Decade writes:

... They have a great series of programs for kids, but where is the programming that engages young professionals or adults of color? Where's their support for any of the Boston Open Studios? If they want to engage people of color who are interested in the arts, why not support or have some connection to Roxbury, Dorchester, or JP Open Studios at least? Additionally, they missed a golden opportunity during Roxbury Film Festival. Hundreds of people of color, including myself, came to the museum to view some of the films being screened there. Not once was I asked to become a member nor did anyone suggest that I explore some of the collections or even the bookstore. Was the marketing department asleep for the entire year prior to the film festival? ...