This should bring you some joy. We all need some of that. 🙂
Library of America: American Poetry: The Nineteenth Century Audio Excerpts
Joining in…
Sum up your opinion or impression of me in one word, leave it as a comment in this posting, and then post this sentence in your own journal, please.
Surprise (for somebody, not me)
“A graduate student at the University of Wisconsin studied the difficulties of former prisoners trying to find work and, in the process, came up with a disturbing finding: it is easier for a white person with a felony conviction to get a job than for a black person whose record is clean.” Of Fairness And Discrimination
The real question is why we have to wait for some study to be done to prove it. I had a federal lawsuit for discrimination against a major bank I was working for at the time. I could never work for a bank again even though I won my class action case. That’s for sure. Not only that but, just about every job rejection I’ve had I have to question its validity. Not because every rejection is problematic but, because one goes through life with the expectation that the unspoken, racism, has been a part of those decisions. Why apply for a job that you have to be over-qualified for? One the one hand you’re over-qualified, on the other, with only the necessary qualifications you’re not qualified enough.
Thank gawd, things have changed in my life. I don’t have that question arise constantly in my mind anymore. It’s only taken 50 years for it to fade away… *sigh*
Physical Attraction Test
After seeing vernnyc journal with the handsome faces I decided to try it out myself. Of course, they didn’t have faces like naylandblake or clarkelane or bitterlawngnome, all of whom I find very handsome and attractive. Anyway, what can one expect from a test designed by some company administered online?
Favorite Qualities
Your photo choices suggest a man over 55 is probably getting a little old for your tastes
You seemed interested in dating a man at least 35 or older
Round-shaped faces
Favorite Looks
You seem to like qualities often found in men some describe as “Bears.” They tend to be bigger guys, with full roundish or oval faces. Most have beards or some kind of facial hair. Typically, you can catch some chest hair peeking from under their shirts. Their nice smiles and warm expressions make them very approachable and so huggable!
You also liked a group of gray or salt-n-pepper-haired men we call “Silver Foxes.” Words like “distinguished” and “striking” often come up in describing them. These men are “aging well.” Their handsome and very masculine faces have carried age and new wrinkles well. They’re the type that is compared to fine wine that “gets better with age.” About 1 in 5 men (20%), across ages but especially over 40, found these men very appealing.
Favorite Face Type
One of your favorite face types is called “Endomorph” in scientific circles. You found something about these bigger guys especially appealing. Their faces are round, looking almost as wide as they are long. Even as young, lean guys, these men have always had full faces. They have high cheekbones and a thick jaw that curves smoothly around their chin. You like “real” men who have strong features. There is something about Endomorph men’s faces that conveys a balance between masculinity and a warm, approachable demeanor. About 5% of other men especially prefer men with this face type.
What’s your/my personality type?
Do you know how to relax? Are you satisfied with the world around you? Are you competitive? Hostile? Find out whether your drive is too extreme or well balanced by the ability to take it easy with the Type A Personality Test. This test is designed to evaluate whether you display Type A, Type B or Type C behavior.
Type A Personality Test
The Type A Personality Test: Results Your score = 41
You seem to have a Type B personality. Your personality draws characteristics from each of the other personality types, that is, Type A and Type C. Either you adjust your behavior depending on the situation, or you tend to be moderated in your attitudes. In any case, you are the most balanced of the three personality types.
Canoing the Savannas
Okay, here are some pics from Friday, and from November, 2003. They don’t look much different because the weather was about the same. The water level was higher in Nov., however. Winter is the driest time in Florida so, we haven’t had much rain. [Large images behind the cut]
Next to a park I used to visit, this location is where the train cars get moved and changed around.
Short trip
Wednesday night I realized this week had passed so, I left for my short trip upstate Thursday afternoon. I had planned to return on Saturday but, I got home earlier. I got rid of a mountain bike I had sitting around here. I gave to my friend “C” who was thrilled to get it. I was thrilled to see him. He got his cataracts removed and he can see again. His guitar playing, all self taught including reading sheet music, is proceeding well. His chordings are very nice. Anyway, seeing him is always special. I don’t normally talk about my personal relationships here but this is one man that I became friends with back in 1989 after two years of trying. I could say something about what he used to look like, but he hasn’t aged well. His body is still slim and sexy but his face is haggard. He’s about 12 years my junior, two sons, and a bitch of an ex-wife. He’s struggled with his sexuality but, in the past few years I guess he realizes that I am somebody special in his life. Any man that claims (at the time of his initial disclosure) that he dreams of you, that’s powerful. I had dreamt of him, often.
Death of photography?
Guardian Unlimited: False witness Last week David Hockney declared the end of photography in these pages: the rise and rise of digital cameras, and the concomitant ease with which images can be distorted and manipulated, have put paid to the notion of photography’s truthfulness, he argued. Joel Sternfeld, winner of the Citigroup photography prize (for which the Guardian is media partner) begs to differ. Photography has always been capable of manipulation in one way or another. The process of photography itself, with its variables in materials and chemistry, make it capable of manipulation without intention. The camera, even with a wide angle lens, takes in a partial view of the world. Moving the camera changes that view. Developing film with different chemicals is manipulation. The same goes for making a print. Because it has now become easier to do for the less skilled, does that mean photography’s death?
The camera today? You can’t trust it. Hockney sparks a debate.
Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale – Enrique Martinez Celaya – “October Cycle”
In between working on getting the calendar going again, dealing with MaeX’s email list, doing web design and maintainence, I visited two exhibitions that may be of interest. Here’s one of them.
A couple months ago I got an email from Daniel Siedell, curator of the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, asking me to check out the work of Enrique Martinez Celaya he curated heading for the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale. I’ll admit I was skeptical. He offered to send a catalogue so I could understand his passion for this work. I agreed to both ideas but found the prospect somewhat awkward since the museum has in recent years abraded me in the wrong way. Most of it doesn’t not need to be shared however, I will say the Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale needs to reexamine their admission fee policy (*hint*). I was treated with much respect on this occasion.
The first thing you see at the top of the stairs is a huge wall drawing. Scrolled in handwriting are Celaya’s words, “You may read other things about the “October Cycle” but you shouldn’t trust them including whatever I’ve said.” After leisurely strolling the gallery spaces, with beautiful high ceilings, I wandered around trying to position myself to SEE the paintings.
From the “October Cycle” texts:
My work consists of poems, paintings, photographs, works on paper, sculptures, performances, and writings.
My approach to art relies on my interests in science, philosophy, and literature. Although, I began to paint very early, I intended to become a scientist.
The October Cycle is an extended metaphor exploring the relationship between the seasons and the transitions in human life. The emulsified tar on canvas combined with oil paint and solvents generates a compelling surface with colors ranging from blacks and browns to warm, rich tones of amber and rose.
The average viewer of the work wouldn’t know what those words are unless they were previously familiar with Celaya’s work or had any of his texts on hand. Celaya is of Cuban ancestry but, he’s not well known here in S. Florida.
It was a good thing I had the catalogue ahead of the show because it seemed two things were going on there: 1), the work was not as interesting as it appeared in the catalogue or, 2), the Museum’s installation didn’t allow me to get past the surface of the paintings.
The paintings were reliefed with lumpy tar and heavy brush strokes however, the glaring lights forced me the find an angle where I could see something beyond that glare. I tried over and over but found only that frustrating glare from the textured surface and, with paintings as large as these it left a lot of painting not seen. The images in the catalogue allowed me to see nuances that I couldn’t see in person.
The Univ. of Nebraska’s site has the images but, they are so dark they cannot be seen very well. Black paintings and drawings are extremely difficult to photographically capture well. They should have used the same scanned images as were made for the catalogue.
Needless to say it was a disappointing experience.
from: © MAeX Art Blog
Update
After a month of server headaches things have improved. Miamiartexchange.com was being hosted by a company that changed hands but didn’t give their clients notice, lost emails during their so-called server migration, had a misfunctioning email system, and worst of all, had the worse customer service I’ve heard of. They destroyed much of my scripting yet told me to fix it myself, although it was going to cost me to hire somebody to do it. I gave them until 21 Feb. to fix it, which was 10 days past their designated completion date, or I would consider it a breach of contract. Anyway, things are better now thanks to jeffbearnyc.
Finally, I got to a few gallery openings last night. My friend Pablo, who was supposed to be my partner working on Miamiartexchange but backed out at the last minute, was there with a couple friends. One of them was looking mighty fine. I had seen him walking the streets going to different galleries. He ended up sitting right in my view. No way I could pass this pic up. He was fine.
