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There, all is order and beauty,
Luxury, peace, and pleasure
-Charles Baudelaire
Luxury, peace, and pleasure
-Charles Baudelaire
photograph by Gordon Parks, 1950
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Showing posts with label Words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Words. Show all posts
how they write today
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This is what I turned to read last night from a pile of untouched June magazines:
from MARIE CLAIRE/JUNE 2011, Lea Goldman
is there anything that redeems this?
did the waiters drop their trays?
did I read more?
caricature by Al Hirschfeld of The Algonquin Round Table
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hello?
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does anyone use the telephone anymore?
I do look-
checking out caller id-why didn't someone think of this sooner?
a couple of calls from CA. Now who could that be-yet not sure if I really want to start a chat there.
I wonder who Private Caller is? but not so much that I answer.
I prefer email-of course those that know me well-
Well know that.
This lobster telephone is one of six all white versions that Dali made in association with the pioneering British interior designer Syrie Maugham (1879-1955) for the home of the surrealist collector Edward James.Minneapolis Institute of Arts, William Hood Dunwoody Fund
Save your paddles for the hands-I know emails are impersonal, but I am not-So my emails are fully thought out and considerate, kind and well composed.
In my postings here and there- I often abandon proper capitalization and grammar, I do know it -understand it-
But I prefer dialog on paper-
that is how we speak-this is how I write.
Remember the days of party lines? they were shared lines in your neighborhood-imagine that! My brothers, cousins and I called one of theelderly ladies-old maids in the neighborhood "Clickin Annie."
If you know of party lines- a click in on a conversation was a way hurry another conversation along -albeit a rude one. A stealth listening in on others conversations was another party line taboo. I never did either-but I was not an old maid then-only a little innocent. That I missed anything by not participating in these activities I have no doubt of-but when one is an old maid one has to take one's pleasures stealthily. Taboo or not.
It does beg the question- should be answering the phone more often?
I suppose I miss things- I'll never know-I'm not quitean old maid there yet. Hush.
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does anyone use the telephone anymore?
I do look-
checking out caller id-why didn't someone think of this sooner?
a couple of calls from CA. Now who could that be-yet not sure if I really want to start a chat there.
I wonder who Private Caller is? but not so much that I answer.
I prefer email-of course those that know me well-
Well know that.
Save your paddles for the hands-I know emails are impersonal, but I am not-So my emails are fully thought out and considerate, kind and well composed.
In my postings here and there- I often abandon proper capitalization and grammar, I do know it -understand it-
But I prefer dialog on paper-
that is how we speak-this is how I write.
Remember the days of party lines? they were shared lines in your neighborhood-imagine that! My brothers, cousins and I called one of the
If you know of party lines- a click in on a conversation was a way hurry another conversation along -albeit a rude one. A stealth listening in on others conversations was another party line taboo. I never did either-but I was not an old maid then-only a little innocent. That I missed anything by not participating in these activities I have no doubt of-but when one is an old maid one has to take one's pleasures stealthily. Taboo or not.
It does beg the question- should be answering the phone more often?
I suppose I miss things- I'll never know-I'm not quite
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the essence of an artist
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You've got to know the rules to break them. I spent a lot of time learning to construct clothes, which is important to do before you can deconstruct them." *
Alexander McQueen
Pablo Picasso Woman with a Crow
from his Rose Period
Alexander McQueen above & Alexander McQueen for Givenchy Haute Couture, below
*this is the essence of a true artist, I was taught this in my basic art courses over thirty years ago & it is none more visible in the work of these two geniuses-one with a long and full life, one with a full life-cut short.
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a reminder
" I'm an avid follower of the news, and sometimes you just can't take any more war, any more disasters, and you want to remind yourself there's Beauty in the world." Alexander McQueen
The Madonna and Child with St John and Angels
Michelangelo
(c. 1497),
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the comet of 1680 & a comedy from fontenelle
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In 1680 a fiery comet caused superstitious panic in Europe. Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle (1657–1757) wrote a comedy making fun of such fear. In 1686 he responded again by reporting the latest news about the cosmos, the findings of Copernicus, Galileo, and other scientists, in a book that any common reader could understand, Entretiens sur la pluralité des mondes (Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds). No work was more influential in popularizing the facts and the philosophy empowered by the microscope and telescope.-from the Norton Anthology of English Literature
from Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds by Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle
( selections below are from 1688 English translation, a free and stylish version, by Aphra Behn, A Discovery of New Worlds)
We went one Evening after Supper to walk in the Park. * * * Do not you believe, madam, said I, that the clearness of this Night exceeds the Glory of the brightest day? I confess, said she, the Day must yield to such a Night. * * * I love the Stars, and could be heartily angry with the Sun for taking them from my sight. Ah, cry'd I, I cannot forgive his taking from me the sight of all those Worlds that are there. Worlds, said she, what Worlds? And looking earnestly upon me, asked me again, what I meant? I ask your Pardon, Madam, said I, I was insensibly led to this fond discovery of my weakness. What weakness, said she, more earnestly than before? Alas, said I, I am sorry that I must confess I have imagined to my self, that every Star may perchance be another World, yet I would not swear that it is so; but I will believe it to be true, because that Opinion is so pleasant to me, and gives me very diverting Idea's, which have fixed themselves delightfully in my Imaginations, and 'tis necessary that even solid Truth should have its agreeableness. Well, said she, since your Folly is so pleasing to you, give me a share of it; I will believe whatever you please concerning the Stars, if I find it pleasant. * * *
I shou'd think it very strange, that the Earth shou'd be inhabited as it is; and the other Planets shou'd be so entirely desolate and deserted: For you must not think, that we see all the living Creatures that inhabit the Earth. For there are as many several species and kinds of Animals invisible as there are visible. We see distinctly from the Elephant to the Mite; there our sight is bounded, and there are infinite numbers of living Creatures lesser than a Mite, to whom, a Mite is as big in proportion, as an Elephant is to it. The late invention of Glasses call'd Microscopes, have discover'd thousands of small living Creatures, in certain Liquors, which we cou'd never have imagin'd to have been there. And it may be the different tastes of these Liquors, proceed from these little Animals, who bite, and sting our Tongues and Palates. If you mix certain ingredients in these Liquors, (as Pepper in Water,) and expose 'em to the heat of the Sun, or let 'em putrefie, you shall see other new species or living Creatures. Several Bodies, which appear to be solid, are nothing else but Collections or little heaps of these imperceptible Animals; who find there as much room, as is requisite for them to move in. The leaf of a Tree, is a little World inhabited, by such invisible little Worms: To them this leaf seems of a vast Extent, they find Hills and Valleys upon it: And there is no more Communication between the living Creatures on the one side, and those on the other, than between us and the Antipodes. And I think there is more reason, to believe a Planet (which is so vast a Body) to be inhabited. There has been found in several sorts of very hard Stones, infinite multitudes of little Worms, lodg'd all over them in insensible varieties; and who are nourish'd upon the Substance of these Stones which they eat. Consider the vast Numbers of these little Animals, and how long a tract of Years they have liv'd upon a grain of Sand. And by this Argument, tho my Moon were nothing but a confus'd heap of Marble Rocks, I wou'd rather make it be devour'd and consum'd by its Inhabitants, than to place none at all in it.
To conclude, every thing lives, and every thing is animated; that is to say, if you comprehend the Animals, that are generally known; the living Creatures lately discover'd, and those that will be discover'd herafter, you will find that the Earth is very well Peopl'd; and that Nature has been so liberal in bestowing them, that she has not been at the pains to discover half of 'em. After this, can you believe, that Nature, who has been fruitful to Excess as to the Earth, is barren to all the rest of the Planets? My reason is convinc'd, said the Marquiese, but my Fancy is confounded with the infinite Number of living Creatures, that are in the Planets; and my thoughts are strangely embarass'd with the variety that one must of Necessity imagine to be amongst 'em; because I know Nature does not love Repetitions; and therefore they must all be different. But how is it possible for one to represent all these to our Fancy? Our Imaginations can never comprehend this variety, said I, let us be satisfied with our Eyes, or we may easily conceive by a universal view, Nature has form'd variety in the several Worlds. All the Faces of Mankind are in general near the same Form. Yet the two great Nations of our Globe, the Europeans and Africans, seem to have been made after different Models. Nay, there is a certain resemblance and Air of the Countenance peculiar to every Family or Race of Men. Yet it is wonderful to observe how many Millions of Times, Nature has varied so simple a thing as the Face of a Man. We, the Inhabitants of the Earth, are but one little Family of the Universe, we resemble one another. The Inhabitants of another Planet, are another Family, whose Faces have another Air peculiar to themselves; by all appearance, the difference increases with the distance, for cou'd one see an Inhabitant of the Earth, and one of the Moon together, he wou'd perceive less difference between them, than between an Inhabitant of the Earth, and an Inhabitant of Saturn. Here (for Example) we have the use of the Tongue and Voice, and in another Planet, it may be, they only speak by Signs. In another the Inhabitant speaks not at all.
Here our Reason is form'd and made perfect by Experience. In another Place, Experience adds little or nothing to Reason. Further off, the old know no more than the young. Here we trouble our selves more to know what's to come, than to know what's past. In another Planet, they neither afflict themselves with the one nor the other; and 'tis likely they are not the less happy for that. Some say we want a sixth Sense by which we shou'd know a great many things we are now ignorant of. It may be the Inhabitants of some other Planet have this advantage; but want some of those other five we enjoy; it may be also that there are a great many more natural Senses in other Worlds; but we are satisfi'd with the five that are fal'n to our Share, because we know no better. Our Knowledge is bounded to certain limits, which the Wit of Man cou'd never yet exceed. There is a certain point where our Ingenuity is at a stand; that which is beyond it is for some other World, where it may be some things, that are familiar to us, are altogether unknown. Our Globe enjoys the Pleasure of Love; but is destroyed in several places by the fury of War. Another Planet enjoys constant Peace, without the delights of Love, which must render their Lives very irksom. In fine, Nature has done to the several Worlds in great, as she has done to us Mortals in little; by making some happy, others miserable. Yet she has never forgot her admirable Art in varying all things, tho she has made some equal in some respects, by compensating the want of any one thing, with another of equal value.
Are you satisfi'd, said I, Madam, very gravely; have not I told you Chimeras in abundance? Truly, I find not so much difficulty to comprehend these differences of Worlds; my Imagination is working upon the Model you have given me. And I am representing to my own Mind odd Characters and Customs for these Inhabitants of the other Planets. Nay more, I am forming extravagant shapes and figures for 'em: I can describe 'em to you; for I fansie I see 'em here. I leave these shapes, said I, Madam, to entertain you in Dreams this Night.
1st image from here
The Plurality of Worlds here
images unless otherwise noted are from the original text of Fontenelle
.
In 1680 a fiery comet caused superstitious panic in Europe. Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle (1657–1757) wrote a comedy making fun of such fear. In 1686 he responded again by reporting the latest news about the cosmos, the findings of Copernicus, Galileo, and other scientists, in a book that any common reader could understand, Entretiens sur la pluralité des mondes (Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds). No work was more influential in popularizing the facts and the philosophy empowered by the microscope and telescope.-from the Norton Anthology of English Literature
from Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds by Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle
( selections below are from 1688 English translation, a free and stylish version, by Aphra Behn, A Discovery of New Worlds)
We went one Evening after Supper to walk in the Park. * * * Do not you believe, madam, said I, that the clearness of this Night exceeds the Glory of the brightest day? I confess, said she, the Day must yield to such a Night. * * * I love the Stars, and could be heartily angry with the Sun for taking them from my sight. Ah, cry'd I, I cannot forgive his taking from me the sight of all those Worlds that are there. Worlds, said she, what Worlds? And looking earnestly upon me, asked me again, what I meant? I ask your Pardon, Madam, said I, I was insensibly led to this fond discovery of my weakness. What weakness, said she, more earnestly than before? Alas, said I, I am sorry that I must confess I have imagined to my self, that every Star may perchance be another World, yet I would not swear that it is so; but I will believe it to be true, because that Opinion is so pleasant to me, and gives me very diverting Idea's, which have fixed themselves delightfully in my Imaginations, and 'tis necessary that even solid Truth should have its agreeableness. Well, said she, since your Folly is so pleasing to you, give me a share of it; I will believe whatever you please concerning the Stars, if I find it pleasant. * * *
Here our Reason is form'd and made perfect by Experience. In another Place, Experience adds little or nothing to Reason. Further off, the old know no more than the young. Here we trouble our selves more to know what's to come, than to know what's past. In another Planet, they neither afflict themselves with the one nor the other; and 'tis likely they are not the less happy for that. Some say we want a sixth Sense by which we shou'd know a great many things we are now ignorant of. It may be the Inhabitants of some other Planet have this advantage; but want some of those other five we enjoy; it may be also that there are a great many more natural Senses in other Worlds; but we are satisfi'd with the five that are fal'n to our Share, because we know no better. Our Knowledge is bounded to certain limits, which the Wit of Man cou'd never yet exceed. There is a certain point where our Ingenuity is at a stand; that which is beyond it is for some other World, where it may be some things, that are familiar to us, are altogether unknown. Our Globe enjoys the Pleasure of Love; but is destroyed in several places by the fury of War. Another Planet enjoys constant Peace, without the delights of Love, which must render their Lives very irksom. In fine, Nature has done to the several Worlds in great, as she has done to us Mortals in little; by making some happy, others miserable. Yet she has never forgot her admirable Art in varying all things, tho she has made some equal in some respects, by compensating the want of any one thing, with another of equal value.
Are you satisfi'd, said I, Madam, very gravely; have not I told you Chimeras in abundance? Truly, I find not so much difficulty to comprehend these differences of Worlds; my Imagination is working upon the Model you have given me. And I am representing to my own Mind odd Characters and Customs for these Inhabitants of the other Planets. Nay more, I am forming extravagant shapes and figures for 'em: I can describe 'em to you; for I fansie I see 'em here. I leave these shapes, said I, Madam, to entertain you in Dreams this Night.
Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle
© Collection Jean-Jacques Monney, Geneva
1st image from here
The Plurality of Worlds here
images unless otherwise noted are from the original text of Fontenelle
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until tomorrow, His Coy Mistress
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Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, lady, were no crime...
This coyness, lady, were no crime...
We would sit down and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love’s day;
Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side
Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the Flood;
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
To walk, and pass our long love’s day;
Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side
Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the Flood;
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.
Vaster than empires, and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.
Baron de Meyer
Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may;
And now, like am’rous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour,
Than languish in his slow-chapp’d power.
Let us roll all our strength, and all
Our sweetness, up into one ball;
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Thorough the iron gates of life.
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may;
And now, like am’rous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour,
Than languish in his slow-chapp’d power.
Let us roll all our strength, and all
Our sweetness, up into one ball;
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Thorough the iron gates of life.
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
Andrew Marvell 1681
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threatening tulips
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I threatened--------- most of the day,
to gather my tulips.
velvet dark night & almost lavender, but pink.
The storm threatened all day.
I gathered.
It started raining.
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from one augur to another
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The Burning of Rome by George Seeley, 1906 -at the Met
So, Calchas, on the sacred Palatine,
You thought of Mopsus, and o'er wastes of sea
A flower brought your message. I divine
(Through my deep art) the kindly mockery
That played about your lips and in your eyes,
Plucking the frail leaf, while you dreamed of home.
Thanks for the silent greeting! I shall prize,
Beyond June's rose, the scentless flower of Rome.
All the Campagna spreads before my sight,
The mouldering wall, the Caesars' tombs unwreathed,
Rome and the Tiber, and the yellow light,
Wherein the honey-colored blossom breathed.
But most I thank it--egoists that we be!
For proving then and there you thought of me. Emma Lazarus
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The Burning of Rome by George Seeley, 1906 -at the Met
So, Calchas, on the sacred Palatine,
You thought of Mopsus, and o'er wastes of sea
A flower brought your message. I divine
(Through my deep art) the kindly mockery
That played about your lips and in your eyes,
Plucking the frail leaf, while you dreamed of home.
Thanks for the silent greeting! I shall prize,
Beyond June's rose, the scentless flower of Rome.
All the Campagna spreads before my sight,
The mouldering wall, the Caesars' tombs unwreathed,
Rome and the Tiber, and the yellow light,
Wherein the honey-colored blossom breathed.
But most I thank it--egoists that we be!
For proving then and there you thought of me. Emma Lazarus
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The New Colossus
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(all photographs credit below)
Not (but of late) like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name, Mother of Exiles.
From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she with silent lips.
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name, Mother of Exiles.
Men seek to keep her chained-just burning dull ember.
From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she with silent lips.
Yet is it pomp We now seek?
What will become of words that once beckoned All?
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these,
the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
The Big Lie will be heard again- and if it is heard long enough- like all lies-it gathers believers. This is what the Senator is hoping, but for the moment, Planned Parenthood carries on- until the next fight.
The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus & to Emma Lazarus questions about the future
photographs in order:
HELEN LEVITT
N.Y.C 1940 Phillips de Pury & Company
DESIREE DOLRON
Xteriors XI, 2001-2002 Phillips de Pury & CompanyROBERT MAPPLETHORPE
Sonia Risika 1988 Christie's
NOBUYOSHI ARAKI
Untitled from Bondages, 1998 Phillips de Pury & Company ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE
Lisa Lyon, 1982 Phillips de Pury & CompanyLINKS TO READ
Where Government places the District in the palm of its hand and bargains with it The Washington Post blogWhat do you know about Emma Lazarus?
FactCheck.org on abortionthe Hyde Amendment
spirit
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When you see a fish you don't think of its scales, do you?
You think of its speed, its floating, flashing body seen through the water...
If I made fins and eyes and scales, I would arrest its movement, give a pattern or shape of reality.
I want just the flash of its spirit.
Constantin Brancusi
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When you see a fish you don't think of its scales, do you?
You think of its speed, its floating, flashing body seen through the water...
If I made fins and eyes and scales, I would arrest its movement, give a pattern or shape of reality.
I want just the flash of its spirit.
Constantin Brancusi
Howard Schatz has been taking underwater photographs for over 20 years-these new photographs show floating nymphs taken for Brizo, maker of bath and kitchen products.
Howard Schatz here
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of note BHL
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worth reading and always - the Wall Street Journal on line here
Fashion communicates a relationship to the world, to one's body. What is the reply to the old philosophical inquiry between soul and body: Are they at war? Are they in harmony? Are they friends or enemies? There are moments in life, in the day, where the two are at war, moments where they are in harmony, days when you feel at war with your body, and days your body is your friend. Fashion says that. Style says that. Edited from Katie Roiphe's interview with Lévy
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worth reading and always - the Wall Street Journal on line here
Fashion communicates a relationship to the world, to one's body. What is the reply to the old philosophical inquiry between soul and body: Are they at war? Are they in harmony? Are they friends or enemies? There are moments in life, in the day, where the two are at war, moments where they are in harmony, days when you feel at war with your body, and days your body is your friend. Fashion says that. Style says that. Edited from Katie Roiphe's interview with Lévy
.
about ART
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"Any great work of art revives and readapts time and space, and the measure of its success is the extent to which it makes you an inhabitant of that world." Leonard Bernstein
recent comments about some of the Art here being inappropriate- I say what Bernstein said.
Art is powerful
& It is Feared by those in power.
the republican led the House votes to de fund NPR
.
"Any great work of art revives and readapts time and space, and the measure of its success is the extent to which it makes you an inhabitant of that world." Leonard Bernstein
Picasso's Guernica
recent comments about some of the Art here being inappropriate- I say what Bernstein said.
Art is powerful
& It is Feared by those in power.
the republican led the House votes to de fund NPR
.
Preen
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Elizabeth I hawking, 1575.from the "Booke of Faulconrie" by George Turbevile..
images within this collage are Valentino Fall 2011 from Vogue.com.
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"Youre hawke proynith and not pikith and she prenyth not bot whan she begynnyth at hir leggys, and fetcheth moystour like oyle at hir taill." [ "Book of St. Albans," 1486]
SONNET XCI
William Shakespeare
Some glory in their birth,ſome in their skill ,
Some in their wealth,ſome in their bodies force,
Some in their garments though new-fangled ill:
Some in their Hawkes and Hounds,ſome in their Horſe.
Some in their wealth,ſome in their bodies force,
Some in their garments though new-fangled ill:
Some in their Hawkes and Hounds,ſome in their Horſe.
And euery humor hath his adiunct pleaſure,
Wherein it findes a ioy aboue the reſt,
But theſe perticulers are not my meaſure,
All theſe I better in one generall beſt.
Thy loue is bitter then high birth to me,
Richer then wealth,prouder then garments coſt,
Of more delight then Hawkes or Horſes bee:
And hauing thee,of all mens pride I boaſt.
Wretched in this alone,that thou maiſt take,
All this away,and me moſt wretched make.
Wherein it findes a ioy aboue the reſt,
But theſe perticulers are not my meaſure,
All theſe I better in one generall beſt.
Thy loue is bitter then high birth to me,
Richer then wealth,prouder then garments coſt,
Of more delight then Hawkes or Horſes bee:
And hauing thee,of all mens pride I boaſt.
Wretched in this alone,that thou maiſt take,
All this away,and me moſt wretched make.
"to trim, to dress up," late 14c., perhaps a variation of prune (v.), or from O.Fr. poroindre "anoint before," and O.Fr. proignier "round off, prune." O.E. preon meant "to pin,"
1480–90; late Middle English prene, variant of Middle English prunen, proynen perhaps by association with prenen, to stab, pierce, from the pricking action of a bird's beak in preening
Elizabeth I hawking, 1575.from the "Booke of Faulconrie" by George Turbevile..
images within this collage are Valentino Fall 2011 from Vogue.com.
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