Source: Hubblesite.org
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Crab Nebula
The crab nebula, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Just because.
"In 1054 AD, Chinese astronomers were startled by the appearance of a new star, so bright it could be seen in broad daylight for several weeks. Today, the Crab Nebula is what's left of the supernova explosion they witnessed." --From NASA
Source: Hubblesite.org
"In 1054 AD, Chinese astronomers were startled by the appearance of a new star, so bright it could be seen in broad daylight for several weeks. Today, the Crab Nebula is what's left of the supernova explosion they witnessed." --From NASA
Source: Hubblesite.org
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Sunset moods
This is a test of the "blog this" function, and a getting-my-feet-wet post in Geezewords. I want to try blathering on for a few minutes in the monring, when my noggin usually feels it's spryest. The photo is from the Oregon coast, near Yachats, June 2011. We saw gray whales there, spouting and carrying on.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Invisible Republic
I just started this. It's really interesting so far...
Update: This turned out to be NOT really about Bob Dylan's Basement tapes, and mostly a way for Marcus to riff on his vaast knowledge of American musical culture, along with his glib way with words which in the end really seem to go nowhere at all. He needs an editor. I quit maybe a little over half-way through.
Rob
Update: This turned out to be NOT really about Bob Dylan's Basement tapes, and mostly a way for Marcus to riff on his vaast knowledge of American musical culture, along with his glib way with words which in the end really seem to go nowhere at all. He needs an editor. I quit maybe a little over half-way through.
Rob
Monday, May 9, 2011
Through the Looking Glass
I just finished this great book. Jabberwocky seems really relevant these days. What do you think?
JABBERWOCKY
Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Don Wakes Up in 1953
Cut to beach scene. A younger Don's on a beach towel in Venice Beach, California. The weather's perfect: a breeze blows gently in off the waves. Apparently it's the early fifties, since women walk by on the beach with one-piece swimming suits in the style of that period. Behind on the street, people are roller skating and early fifties cars are going up and down the street. Don's with a boy, apparently his younger brother. He calls Don "Jethro".
Don's Brother: Aw Jethro, why don't you just come on back home? This plan's plumb crazy!
Don (hissing the words): Quit calling me Jethro. I told you. It's Don. Don Curtainer. You keep doing that, and I'll make you wish you hadn't!
Don's Brother: OK, ok. So it's "Don". And I'm Abraham Lincoln!
Don: The main thing is, you've gotta get out of here. I've got things to do!
Don's Brother: Like what? (he makes an up and down motion with his hand)
Don: That's it! I'm outta here. (Don get's up, grab's his towel, and walks up the beach fast. His brother stays behind.
Don's Brother: That's it, Jethro! Run fast! Just like you always do.
Don's Brother: Aw Jethro, why don't you just come on back home? This plan's plumb crazy!
Don (hissing the words): Quit calling me Jethro. I told you. It's Don. Don Curtainer. You keep doing that, and I'll make you wish you hadn't!
Don's Brother: OK, ok. So it's "Don". And I'm Abraham Lincoln!
Don: The main thing is, you've gotta get out of here. I've got things to do!
Don's Brother: Like what? (he makes an up and down motion with his hand)
Don: That's it! I'm outta here. (Don get's up, grab's his towel, and walks up the beach fast. His brother stays behind.
Don's Brother: That's it, Jethro! Run fast! Just like you always do.
Jed and Don's dirty little secret
Jed: (darkly) Why, I've always been here, boy. You know that.
Don: (nods slowly) I guess I do.
(They continue driving, far out into the country. In the distance, the glow of lights can be seen and
the indistinct noise of a crowd. Or a mob.)
Don: Seems to be something going on up ahead.
Jed: (tickled by this) Hee, hee, I'd say so. (turning serious) Stop here, so we can get ready.
(Don stops the car and looks at Jed meaningfully)
Don: Get ready?
(Jed reaches down between his legs and retrieves two white hoods, one of which he gives to Don)
Jed: (putting on his hood and getting out of the car) We'll leave the car here and walk the rest
of the way. Wouldn't be seemly to have the cruiser there.
Don: (looking at his hood for a moment and then donning it): No, it wouldn't.
(As they walk on into the darkness, the glow of lights grows as does the sound of the mob. When
they turn a corner, the whole panorama comes into view: 50 or a hundred people, men women and children, all clad in white gown and white hoods. Nearly all carry torches as they form a semi-circle around a lone black man, feet and hands bound, standing on the hood of a battered pick-up, a noose about his neck. A cigarette is between his lips and we see that it is the same negro from the bar in scene one. The camera zooms in for a close-up on his face as the negro leans forward to light his cigarette from one of the nearby torches.
Negro: (taking a deep drag and then sighing with satisfaction): Ah, now that's freshness! (to audience) When it comes time for your final smoke, don't just take any old butt. Tell 'em 'it's a Jigaboo or nothin!' (he takes another drag, inhales deeply and smiles with pleasure) You'll be glad you did!
Don: (nods slowly) I guess I do.
(They continue driving, far out into the country. In the distance, the glow of lights can be seen and
the indistinct noise of a crowd. Or a mob.)
Don: Seems to be something going on up ahead.
Jed: (tickled by this) Hee, hee, I'd say so. (turning serious) Stop here, so we can get ready.
(Don stops the car and looks at Jed meaningfully)
Don: Get ready?
(Jed reaches down between his legs and retrieves two white hoods, one of which he gives to Don)
Jed: (putting on his hood and getting out of the car) We'll leave the car here and walk the rest
of the way. Wouldn't be seemly to have the cruiser there.
Don: (looking at his hood for a moment and then donning it): No, it wouldn't.
(As they walk on into the darkness, the glow of lights grows as does the sound of the mob. When
they turn a corner, the whole panorama comes into view: 50 or a hundred people, men women and children, all clad in white gown and white hoods. Nearly all carry torches as they form a semi-circle around a lone black man, feet and hands bound, standing on the hood of a battered pick-up, a noose about his neck. A cigarette is between his lips and we see that it is the same negro from the bar in scene one. The camera zooms in for a close-up on his face as the negro leans forward to light his cigarette from one of the nearby torches.
Negro: (taking a deep drag and then sighing with satisfaction): Ah, now that's freshness! (to audience) When it comes time for your final smoke, don't just take any old butt. Tell 'em 'it's a Jigaboo or nothin!' (he takes another drag, inhales deeply and smiles with pleasure) You'll be glad you did!
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