Category Archives: Books
Sideways
An awesome slideshow accompanies the Times’ review of Michael Benson’s Far Out: A Space-Time Chronicle, a new compilation of space images notable because Benson has, based on our now more accurate knowledge about the chemical makeup of many phenomena, redone … Continue reading
Filed under Books, New York Times, Space
“Where’s the beef?”
I went to the non-library section of the Clark the other day for the first time in months to see “Dove/O’Keeffe: Circles of Influence“. Aside from its frankly dull title, it was a perfectly diverting show. I’d never really seen … Continue reading
Filed under Art, Books, musems, Ridiculous quotes
A Terrible Ordeal
A man who knows not how to write may think this no great feat. But only try to do it yourself and you shall learn how arduous is the writer’s task. It dims your eyes, makes your back ache, and … Continue reading
Filed under Books, Things that should be easy but aren't
Wintry Mix
I’ve been continuing work on my preliminary paper for my art history thesis this year. I’ve been reading the literature for months, so now I’m down to looking closely through the major catalogues to figure out what images I’ll want … Continue reading
Filed under A Cappella, Art, Art History, Books, Food, Friends, Research
Spoons! What are they?
“It was the advent of the salver spoon which changed so much about seventeenth-century Europe. Up till then, it was a backward province; a place of love, but not of lust; a place of culture, but not of high culture. With … Continue reading
Filed under Art History, Books, Christmas, Family, Food, Memorials, Press Enterprise, Research
Water Damage
A fairly quiet week after a low-key but beautiful weekend trip to Maremma. I had adventures with PosteItalia and TrenItalia but everything seems set for the next few weeks. This Saturday I’m making another trip to the studio of my … Continue reading
Filed under Books
I was talking to the Malaysian prime minister…
Written Sunday night – I’m currently watching a dubbed episode of Dottore House. I have not yet learned Italian for “lupus”, but I’ll make sure to keep you posted. Today I had what was possibly the most pleasant day that … Continue reading
Filed under Books, Food, Office Supplies, Oragami
Italo Calvino
Here (finally) is something in response to some friends’ study-abroad panic attacks, from Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities: “And yet I know,” he would say, “that my empire is made of the stuff of crystals, its molecules arranged in a perfect … Continue reading
Don’t get cake on the Amalfi!
I have to admit my birthday has been rather lackluster for the past two years, falling one week before spring break at Williams, and thus right the middle of midterm exams. Everyone (including myself) is too stressed out to think … Continue reading
