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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2022 6:02:09 GMT
In my reading room (read: bath) there's a bookshelf. In there I have a book about Leonardo DaVinci. I've been ignoring it for some years, because for some reason I thought I had read it. Turns out I had only read some parts of it. In any case, decided about a week or two ago to read it entire from start to finish. DaVinci was apparently quite a character. In some ways, an epic genius. In other ways, quite predictable and erratic at the same time. He finally got the station he deserved, late in life, when King Francis I brought him out of Italy to the Loire Valley, gave him a substantial house, full funding, and unquestioning artistic freedom for the last three years of his life, We should all be so lucky. You have more artistic freedom than Davinci could ever dream of, not to mention a plethora of mediums that he never knew about. Add to that generations of artists that explored myriads of new styles and subjects, completely unknown in his time. I don't know what you're complaining about. |
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Odysseus
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Post by Odysseus on Jan 16, 2022 6:39:59 GMT
In my reading room (read: bath) there's a bookshelf. In there I have a book about Leonardo DaVinci. I've been ignoring it for some years, because for some reason I thought I had read it. Turns out I had only read some parts of it. In any case, decided about a week or two ago to read it entire from start to finish. DaVinci was apparently quite a character. In some ways, an epic genius. In other ways, quite predictable and erratic at the same time. He finally got the station he deserved, late in life, when King Francis I brought him out of Italy to the Loire Valley, gave him a substantial house, full funding, and unquestioning artistic freedom for the last three years of his life, We should all be so lucky. You have more artistic freedom than Davinci could ever dream of, not to mention a plethora of mediums that he never knew about. Add to that generations of artists that explored myriads of new styles and subjects, completely unknown in his time. I don't know what you're complaining about.
Oh, I'm not complaining. In fact I've already outlived Leonardo, so there is that. And I don't claim to have his genius or artistic talent. And if I did, I would hesitate to reveal either here.
Or are you just exercising your propensity for gratuitous insult?
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Post by elmerfudd on Jan 16, 2022 13:52:38 GMT
DaVinci was an interesting dude. I read most of that really thick tome about him that came out a few or several years ago, got to skipping a lot because it told me way more than I wanted to know. Bit of a dandy, he was. Whip smart, though.
I seldom stay on the throne long enough to read more than a paragraph or two. So most of the time I do it sans reading matter. Unless I'm having intestinal issues, in which case I almost always have reading material. If I don't, it's because it was an emergency.
TMI?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2022 17:56:46 GMT
You have more artistic freedom than Davinci could ever dream of, not to mention a plethora of mediums that he never knew about. Add to that generations of artists that explored myriads of new styles and subjects, completely unknown in his time. I don't know what you're complaining about.
Oh, I'm not complaining. In fact I've already outlived Leonardo, so there is that. And I don't claim to have his genius or artistic talent. And if I did, I would hesitate to reveal either here.
Or are you just exercising your propensity for gratuitous insult?
I was just pointing out that you're many times luckier than Davinci could ever have been. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2022 18:00:31 GMT
DaVinci was an interesting dude. I read most of that really thick tome about him that came out a few or several years ago, got to skipping a lot because it told me way more than I wanted to know. Bit of a dandy, he was. Whip smart, though. I seldom stay on the throne long enough to read more than a paragraph or two. So most of the time I do it sans reading matter. Unless I'm having intestinal issues, in which case I almost always have reading material. If I don't, it's because it was an emergency. TMI? It would make it easier for you on the throne if you read something less inspiring like stu's prose for example. You know, crap in, crap out... |
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Odysseus
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Post by Odysseus on Jan 18, 2022 3:10:53 GMT
DaVinci was an interesting dude. I read most of that really thick tome about him that came out a few or several years ago, got to skipping a lot because it told me way more than I wanted to know. Bit of a dandy, he was. Whip smart, though. ...
One of the points author Walter Isaacson makes is that Da Vinci was one of the first humans to devise scientific methods to further his investigations. Those studies included such diverse things as water flow, and dissections of both animal and human cadavers, better to understand how internal structures affect outer appearance. Da Vinci also was not formally trained, so he used his intellect and intuition to figure out what was behind what he saw in the world, without being constrained by ancient and often incorrect theory. Some of his discoveries were not recognized for 200 years.
Leonardo Da Vinci, by Walter Isaacson, Simon and Shuster, 2017, ISBN 978-1-5011-3915-4/-3916-1/-3917-8; 599 pages.
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Odysseus
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Post by Odysseus on Feb 4, 2022 23:53:38 GMT
Currently I'm in the middle of "The Lone Star Ranger" by Zane Grey. It's well-written, and Grey doesn't go overboard trying to duplicate accents unlike some other works in the anthology. It does give an interesting look at life in Texas around the Big Bend area.
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Post by Mercy for All on Feb 5, 2022 14:22:41 GMT
I'm reading all kinds of things all the time. I recently read two books by Anglican theologian Lesslie Newbigin who has absolutely brilliant comprehension and perspective on western culture, informed by being both and "insider" and "outsider" (having lived in India for 2-3 decades).
I just started The Brothers Karamazov for the first time.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2022 21:36:27 GMT
"Anglican theologian"? Color me surprised.
Personally, I read something from an "anglican theologian" every time I get a heart transplant by an inebriate guatemalan witch doctor.
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Odysseus
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Post by Odysseus on Feb 7, 2022 23:35:26 GMT
Currently I'm in the middle of "The Lone Star Ranger" by Zane Grey. It's well-written, and Grey doesn't go overboard trying to duplicate accents unlike some other works in the anthology. It does give an interesting look at life in Texas around the Big Bend area.
Finished "The Lone Star Ranger". The ending was a bit of a disappointment. Happy ending and all that.
Next one I'm currently reading is "The Mysterious Rider" also by Zane Grey in same anthology. It's similar in tone and subject matter to the Lone Star Ranger, which is a good thing. We'll see how it ends.
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rmwa
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Post by rmwa on Feb 14, 2022 0:30:05 GMT
I'm reading The Portable Jung. It's 1% baby, 99% bathwater. And even the part that's baby I don't think he gets right.
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Post by Mercy for All on Feb 14, 2022 3:01:06 GMT
I'm reading The Portable Jung. It's 1% baby, 99% bathwater. And even the part that's baby I don't think he gets right. What is it? A condensation of Jung's writing? |
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rmwa
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Post by rmwa on Feb 14, 2022 4:58:39 GMT
I'm reading The Portable Jung. It's 1% baby, 99% bathwater. And even the part that's baby I don't think he gets right. What is it? A condensation of Jung's writing? It's excerpts, mostly chapters from his books. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2022 21:17:10 GMT
I'm reading The Portable Jung. It's 1% baby, 99% bathwater. And even the part that's baby I don't think he gets right. What is it? A condensation of Jung's writing? CliffsNotes, is more like it. |
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Odysseus
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Post by Odysseus on Feb 15, 2022 21:59:53 GMT
What is it? A condensation of Jung's writing? CliffsNotes, is more like it.
Or, graffiti.
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Post by Mercy for All on Nov 18, 2022 0:17:43 GMT
I'm always reading 3-4 books at a time, but I just picked up The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization, on the recommendation of a friend. It's new, published in 2022, and I think makes the case that globalization, based on shipping, will be coming to an end, based on American reluctance to continue to protect the oceans, etc., with its military power. The United States, given its natural resources and easy access to internal distribution, will emerge unscathed from any international disruption.
This is the kind of book I think demos would be really interested in.
Here's one footnote that jumped out at me, because I thought it was funny:
"Fun fact: the Trump administration's efforts to build a meaningful border wall first required the establishment of a web of roads for the wall's construction and maintenance. The new infrastructure made drug smuggling and illegal immigration easier, not more difficult."
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Post by jasmine on Nov 18, 2022 3:06:04 GMT
I am currently reading “StarGirl: The Lost Children.” It’s a six-part mini-series that chronicles StarGirl’ quest to solve the mystery of the disappearance of all the superhero sidekicks from the “Golden Age” of the 1940s. The series will eventually introduce a bunch of de-aged young heroes to the modern world. It’s a fun story and the art is really cool. StarGirl (Courtney Whitmore) is a really fun character.  |
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Post by Mercy for All on Nov 18, 2022 3:09:39 GMT
I am currently reading “StarGirl: The Lost Children.” It’s a six-part mini-series that chronicles StarGirl’ quest to solve the mystery of the disappearance of all the superhero sidekicks from the “Golden Age” of the 1940s. The series will eventually introduce a bunch of de-aged young heroes to the modern world. It’s a fun story and the art is really cool. StarGirl (Courtney Sizemore) is a really fun character. View AttachmentIs that the StarGirl that PrimeVideo made a show about? It tried watching it but didn't make it through the first episode. |
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Post by jasmine on Nov 18, 2022 3:46:31 GMT
I am currently reading “StarGirl: The Lost Children.” It’s a six-part mini-series that chronicles StarGirl’ quest to solve the mystery of the disappearance of all the superhero sidekicks from the “Golden Age” of the 1940s. The series will eventually introduce a bunch of de-aged young heroes to the modern world. It’s a fun story and the art is really cool. StarGirl (Courtney Sizemore) is a really fun character. View AttachmentIs that the StarGirl that PrimeVideo made a show about? It tried watching it but didn't make it through the first episode. I think so. Yeah, that show sucked. The comic book is so much better! |
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bama beau
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Post by bama beau on Nov 18, 2022 5:56:46 GMT
Currently I'm in the middle of "The Lone Star Ranger" by Zane Grey. It's well-written, and Grey doesn't go overboard trying to duplicate accents unlike some other works in the anthology. It does give an interesting look at life in Texas around the Big Bend area.
Finished "The Lone Star Ranger". The ending was a bit of a disappointment. Happy ending and all that.
Next one I'm currently reading is "The Mysterious Rider" also by Zane Grey in same anthology. It's similar in tone and subject matter to the Lone Star Ranger, which is a good thing. We'll see how it ends.
My mom's dad loved Zane Grey. Somewhere, I think I still have his comprehensive library. Thanks for the reminder. |
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