Even bloggers have to retire

This blog is officially retired.  This blog, although I am proud of it — I think it is something beautiful, if purely amateur — has run the race.  The time to go home has arrived.

Posting my always right (or always self-righteous) opinions has been amusing.  Sharing my discoveries, and tastes in art, literature, music, and cuisine has reaped great rewards.  Others have shared with me, and my tastes have expanded (I wouldn’t say changed), my interests have broadened considerably, and my knowledge, even of my core interests has deepened.

I’ve often gone exploring for material to embellish this blog, and made some delightful discoveries thanks entirely to the very simple, easy research just to find a picture, or a citation.  There is so much on the Internet, and combined with what was once known as the “real world”, one can grow in knowledge without being a pedant.

I started blogging with help, and the encouragement of Sledpress, one of my closest friends. Without that friendship, this blog would never have entertained, and annoyed so many readers with time to waste.  It is a friendship that has steered me to hundreds of books over the years, perhaps thousands of web links, and a love of Baroque Era opera, truly an expansion of my deep love for all things Baroque, and Rococo.  Yes, I said opera.

My stats show that this blog has a small, faithful following.  That’s not surprising.  I have never sought a large audience, nor an audience of Zeus clones.  The first requires a different type of blogging with massive ratings as the primary aim.  I could do that, but I wouldn’t have posted what you have seen.  The other is just a lonely echo chamber, and who needs that?  One could just stay in a room and talk at a wall, no typing skills or electricity required.

I plan to leave this blog up for at least another several months as a resource for the many, many visitors to the science, penmanship, art, and literature postings.  I seem to get a lot of hits on my posts about Turgenev, Zola, French-ruled paper, Gentileschi, astrolabes, and a few other tags and topics.  It pleases me greatly to know that some of my postings have become regularly accessed sources of information about topics that are meaningful to me, and apparently to others.  Please, make use of the embedded links.

I am also keeping the email address for this blog active.  I’ve met some wonderful people through this blog, and I’d love to keep in touch.  Please write to me anytime.

This has been rewarding, thanks entirely to you, dear readers. I’ve met interesting people, and these interesting people have taught me much, and perhaps made me a little better as a person.  Thanks again.

 

Putain ça fait du bien d’être un gangster

There is something elegant, beyond cool, about the gangster films that come of the Melville/Delon pairing.   “Le Samourai” creates a criminal and cop who are duelists.  There will be an end, even a predictable end, but the duel is carried out with resolve, precision and care by both criminal and lawman.

I viewed “Le Cercle Rouge” earlier this year and enjoyed that film too.  This is an era in French film-making that appeals to me.

 

If You Like Dry

Hera and I both like dry wines.  To accompany last night’s dinner of baked fish, roasted peppers, and roasted, chopped yellow squash, this light tasting, chilled wine was a fine choice.  Georgian wines are wonderful, and easily available here in the Ft. Myers — Naples area.  One of my favorite sources for Georgian wines is Camilla Eastern European Market in Naples.

A blog posting about Tsinandali.

 

 

A worthy companion to a song I love

 

Caravaggio, The Artist of the Month for July, MMXI

Artcyclopedia’s links to resources about this painter.

Wikipedia’s article about this painter.

 

A Vivaldi Violin Concerto

 

The system works

I was wrong.  I thought the jury would be deadlocked, and we were looking at a retrial.  “Whatever brings the tourists, and the dollars to Florida” I had cynically opined.  My sister thought (she was adamant) that the jury would find Miss Anthony not guilty.  She was right.  I now have to find ways to avoid paying the one dollar I owe her.

Twelve, with not one holdout, but twelve jurors reached an unambiguous verdict on all the major counts in this case.  They said “not guilty.”  They didn’t say they thought the woman was innocent.  They said that based upon the evidence, and testimony presented in a court room (and the jury instructions too) by trained, qualified, government authorized, tax-payer salaried prosecutors, that they could not convict Miss Anthony of any but the least serious crimes of which she stood accused.

I’ve done jury duty before.  I’ve been part of a couple of juries that simply could not reach a unanimous verdict, and the juries deadlocked. Those cases could be retried, I don’t know if they were, but I would think they were.

Angry ex-lawyers on TV, court TV watchers, and know it all bloggers second guessing this jury (just as happened after the O. J. Simpson trial) are free to do so, but they are also way out of line. If the State of Florida couldn’t persuade twelve jurors, jurors of whom the prosecution played a role in selecting let us not forget, then the Sunshine State didn’t have a case for whatever reason.

Remember, the prosecution had nearly three years to get a solid case together.  They didn’t, and the result was a not guilty vote.  Florida couldn’t even convince one juror.

A court of law isn’t the same as the public meeting, not even that greatest of public meetings, Cyberspace.  We are a free people only because the rule of law does not bend to the feelings of the mob, the blogosphere, or the consensus of “experts” on TV.  If adherence to that rule of law results in a verdict like this (and the OJ verdict), I’m actually grateful. I didn’t say I thought Miss Anthony didn’t do it, but I am grateful that when a jury couldn’t be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt in a death penalty case, that the jury reached the only correct verdict. Of that I am very grateful.

For my freedom’s sake, for your freedom’s sake, the State needs to prove guilt in criminal cases beyond a reasonable doubt.  Since we insist upon retaining, and employing the death penalty in Florida, it is crucial, indeed necessary that the State satisfy a very, very high burden of proof before putting anyone to death.

 

A lovely film by Eric Rohmer

Regular readers know well my love for the works of the late film director Eric Rohmer.  I borrowed a copy of “The Romance of Astrea and Celedon” from our local library system.  I hadn’t seen it before (unlike other films by Rohmer that I’ve probably viewed a half-dozen times).  I really enjoyed this film.

A review of this film by a critic for the Independent. The critic obviously missed a couple of Rohmer’s short, early films (“The Curve” a short film in which Rohmer was certainly involved, comes to mind right away), but I think the critic appreciates this film.

 

In Congress, July 4, 1776

 

Today’s Enlightenment Era reading.

 

I love this song

 

 

Francesco Antonio Rosetti

 

 

Recent Reads

DARES OF PHRYGIA’s History of the Fall of Troy  Two thumbs up

DICTYS OF CRETE’S Journal of the Trojan War Two thumbs up

These two Roman works, probably from the period 200 — 500 AD are retellings of the Trojan War.  They are probably never going to displace the Iliad, but they are interesting to read, and neither is very long.

I’ve found that I can discipline myself to read shorter books on the computer.  Theoi’s site is also easier on the eyes (my eyes at least), than others.  I’m not ready for an electronic book reader, but eventually I’ll make the move to e-books.

 

I’m an unstable one

My bicycle after a very short practice ride

I finally live in a place that is flat enough to safely (well, sort of safely) ride my penny farthing again. I’ve owned this machine for many years, but I relocated to a place where this bike was unsuitable for use, i.e. hills, sharp turns.  It is like starting all over again.  I ride with a helmet, and only on flat surfaces, in quiet places.

This sort of bike (also called an “ordinary”) is inherently unstable, and it takes both care and practice to operate “safely”.  I’ve spent the last couple of evenings scooting around on the mounting peg over the back tire, making adjustments, and going only up and down the quiet street in front of my house, always ready to bail if there is a problem, and I had a couple of problems yesterday evening.

Hopefully, the problems that usually arise from sitting unused for a very long time are resolved, but I continue to be very cautious.  One should always be cautious on a bicycle of any kind.

 

The blacksmith of the gods

Hephaestus, divine metal worker

The searing flames of loss are your fire.

At your smith a broken heart is reworked in the forge.

A grieving heart is soft iron

Hammered by loss and quenched in waters of despair.

A new life takes shape beneath your tools.

When gifts from Venus and Eros are taken back by these cruel gods,

A crushed soul, denied lover’s eyes and lips

Is remade in your care.

 

Louis Couperin

Wikipedia’s entry about this composer.

Trinitrotolaissance’s Couperin playlist, a harpsichord lover’s must.