for Aunt Betty Lou
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Peace of the Orchard
I finally sat down to watch Cider House Rules last night (which, by the way, is a great story and movie) when onto the screen strutted my little sister. Well, someone who looked a whole lot like my little sister, only many years ago. She was sticking out her tongue at Tobey McGuire. (The actress, not my sister.)
As I watched, and thought about my dear sister, I began to think about my father's sister, whose light is sadly fading. And I remembered how tenderly she and father discussed the deaths of shared friends. I fear such tenderness is a dying art, as the world spirals into increasing meanness and war. I will miss basking in the light of these exemplars of our greatest generation.
After watching "Cider House", I did some research on the actress who so resembled my own sister, and soon found her name: Paz de la Huerta..."Peace of the Orchard".
May there indeed be peace in the orchard of the world, sisters. And may the light in which we have long basked, shine through us, the next generation.
Paz de la Huerta
My grandmother, shown here, looks astonishingly like my sister.
As I watched, and thought about my dear sister, I began to think about my father's sister, whose light is sadly fading. And I remembered how tenderly she and father discussed the deaths of shared friends. I fear such tenderness is a dying art, as the world spirals into increasing meanness and war. I will miss basking in the light of these exemplars of our greatest generation.
After watching "Cider House", I did some research on the actress who so resembled my own sister, and soon found her name: Paz de la Huerta..."Peace of the Orchard".
May there indeed be peace in the orchard of the world, sisters. And may the light in which we have long basked, shine through us, the next generation.
Paz de la Huerta
My grandmother, shown here, looks astonishingly like my sister.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Surprise! The billions in Drug Ad Sales works! But too well?
Ever see a Lunesta ad?
Ever spend an hour on TV where you didn't see a Lunesta ad?
The gentle butterfly will lull you to sleep...just as long as you ignore the small print.
The large print giveth, the small print taketh away...
(Any sleep medicine carries the risk of addiction.)
Now we see that there is a rash of sleeping pill addiction.
Oops Lunestacalypse!
Monday, February 06, 2006
Remnants of a Sunday Afternoon
On Sundays, we like to explore things unrelated to the mondial, quotidian, workaday world. But sometimes, midnight chimes with scores of screens gathering in huddle at the bottom of my browser. Rather than flushing them down the memory hole, today I will transfer them onto the blog for future reference. I shall let alt+tab determine the order...
"Clint Hall" CLINT, in the parish of Ripley, upper-division of Claro, liberty of Knaresborough; 2 miles from Ripley, 7 from Knaresborough, 8 from Ripon.--Pop. 412.This was anciently the seat of Sir William Beckwith, of Clint, Knight; part of the old house is yet remaining, called Clint-Hall, a very ancient stone building, with an arched portal, situated on a lofty eminence, commanding an extensive prospect. Some remains of the moat, that once surrounded this ancient mansion, are still discernible.
The Aldbrough Sundial
"Thorp Perrow"
"Thorp Perrow" images
"Millichope Park"
MASHAM:
Geographical and Historical information from the year 1890. Aldbrough Manor and estate, including Greens and Nutwith Cote, is the property of John Timothy D'Arcy Hutton, Esq., Marske Hall, The monks of Fountains possessed lands and had a grange at Aldbrough, which were seized by Henry VIII. at the Reformation. About the end of the 16th century, Aldbrough was sold to Sir Roger Beckwith, and it was purchased from this family by an ancestor of the present owner soon after 1743. The hall, situated on the banks of the Yore, about two miles from Masham, is a handsome stone building, consisting of a centre and two wings, refronted about 20 years ago. (Note: We think there is a difference between Aldbrough and Aldborough. Here we think it should be Aldborough, which is more westerly.)
Nutwith Cote, the residence of Mr. Thomas Phillips (see: Kenneth Phillips), is an ancient house, and has evidently once been the abode of some person of consequence. The walls of one room were hung with Spanish leather, bearing embossed devices and figures of angels, bacchanalians, grapes, &c., in gold, but a portion of this has been removed, and the remainder is hidden beneath coats of paint and paper. The house belonged to the Beckwiths, and was at one time the residence of Sir Patrick Mackie, a lieut.-colonel in the Scotch army, who died here in 1647. There was formerly a comb manufactory here; and upon the common is the site of a Roman camp.
The earliest provision for educational purposes was the bequest of Isabel Beckwith, of Well, who, by will dated 14th June, 1735, left the sum of £100 for the benefit of a Free School at Masham for teaching five poor boys, preference being given to such as bear the name of Beckwith.
"Duncombe Park" (Note the Palladian architecture, and its similitude wih Tayloe's Mt. Airy in Virginia. They also have Alcibiades' Dogs.
Duncombe Park images
Newby Hall from the River Ure
"Newby Hall" images
Basildon Park (note the dogs)
alcibiades dog
The Barberini Venus, Newby Hall
Sculpture Gallery, Newby Hall
Sterne's Coxwold - Shandy Hall (See "Tristram Shandy" by Laurence Sterne...soon to be released as a movie.)
The Borthwick Institute of Historical Research at the University of York.
"Clint Hall" CLINT, in the parish of Ripley, upper-division of Claro, liberty of Knaresborough; 2 miles from Ripley, 7 from Knaresborough, 8 from Ripon.--Pop. 412.This was anciently the seat of Sir William Beckwith, of Clint, Knight; part of the old house is yet remaining, called Clint-Hall, a very ancient stone building, with an arched portal, situated on a lofty eminence, commanding an extensive prospect. Some remains of the moat, that once surrounded this ancient mansion, are still discernible.
The Aldbrough Sundial
"Thorp Perrow"
"Thorp Perrow" images
"Millichope Park"
MASHAM:
Geographical and Historical information from the year 1890. Aldbrough Manor and estate, including Greens and Nutwith Cote, is the property of John Timothy D'Arcy Hutton, Esq., Marske Hall, The monks of Fountains possessed lands and had a grange at Aldbrough, which were seized by Henry VIII. at the Reformation. About the end of the 16th century, Aldbrough was sold to Sir Roger Beckwith, and it was purchased from this family by an ancestor of the present owner soon after 1743. The hall, situated on the banks of the Yore, about two miles from Masham, is a handsome stone building, consisting of a centre and two wings, refronted about 20 years ago. (Note: We think there is a difference between Aldbrough and Aldborough. Here we think it should be Aldborough, which is more westerly.)
Nutwith Cote, the residence of Mr. Thomas Phillips (see: Kenneth Phillips), is an ancient house, and has evidently once been the abode of some person of consequence. The walls of one room were hung with Spanish leather, bearing embossed devices and figures of angels, bacchanalians, grapes, &c., in gold, but a portion of this has been removed, and the remainder is hidden beneath coats of paint and paper. The house belonged to the Beckwiths, and was at one time the residence of Sir Patrick Mackie, a lieut.-colonel in the Scotch army, who died here in 1647. There was formerly a comb manufactory here; and upon the common is the site of a Roman camp.
The earliest provision for educational purposes was the bequest of Isabel Beckwith, of Well, who, by will dated 14th June, 1735, left the sum of £100 for the benefit of a Free School at Masham for teaching five poor boys, preference being given to such as bear the name of Beckwith.
"Duncombe Park" (Note the Palladian architecture, and its similitude wih Tayloe's Mt. Airy in Virginia. They also have Alcibiades' Dogs.
Duncombe Park images
Newby Hall from the River Ure
"Newby Hall" images
Basildon Park (note the dogs)
alcibiades dog
The Barberini Venus, Newby Hall
Sculpture Gallery, Newby Hall
Sterne's Coxwold - Shandy Hall (See "Tristram Shandy" by Laurence Sterne...soon to be released as a movie.)
The Borthwick Institute of Historical Research at the University of York.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
"Sunrise" over Super Bowl
If you're not planning on watching the Super Bowl, Turner Classic Movies has a wonderful option. Watch FW Murnau's "Sunrise".
"One would hesitate to call any film the finest of its era," wrote William K. Everson in his influential book American Silent Film, "though as a climax to the art of silent film, one could certainly defend that statement if it were applied to Sunrise."
As a rare gem, Sunrise also lends itself well to taping for your archives. Great film, great director.
"One would hesitate to call any film the finest of its era," wrote William K. Everson in his influential book American Silent Film, "though as a climax to the art of silent film, one could certainly defend that statement if it were applied to Sunrise."
As a rare gem, Sunrise also lends itself well to taping for your archives. Great film, great director.
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