never-ending gallery

[LisaLCFan]

...i too have noticed how pleasant it has become here in recent days; people joining in and sharing pictures. a good atmosphere will always be something to aim for.
i appreciate that you feel strongly about what i wrote. people do not always agree on everything, and perhaps life would be dull if they did. as long as there exists communication there exists hope...

There are two things that I cannot tolerate in other people: egregious stupidity and selfish ignorance. Anti-vaxxers fall into both categories, they are a scourge on society, and I have absolutely no respect for them.

Vaccinations have prevented millions of unnecessary deaths and have nearly eradicated many diseases and illnesses that used to wipe out vast numbers of people. Individuals who choose not to get vaccinated not only put themselves at risk (which is actually fine with me, for if they want to suffer and die from preventable illnesses, chalk up one for Darwin!), but the problem is that it is not all about them! They put the health of others at risk, too, for when those who refuse to get vaccinated catch something, they can easily pass it on to responsible vaccinated people who may not have strong immune systems, and which may then cause serious illness or even death in those unfortunate people.

There is also the issue of unvaccinated people getting sick with whatever they could have avoided if they'd had sense enough to get vaccinated, taking up valuable beds in hospitals due to their selfish ignorance. That was a scenario that happened in recent history with all those anti-vaxxers who caught Covid-19 and clogged up hospitals, postponing necessary surgeries and treatments -- and thus prolonging suffering -- for countless others. As I recall, Geoffrey, you were one of those anti-vaxxers who ended up being hospitalised: you seemed to trust medical science to take care of you and treat you when you collapsed, unable to breath because of your severe respiratory infection, and yet you apparently distrust medical science when it comes to preventable measures. Total hypocrisy!

It is bad enough to be against vaccinations, but to boast about it betrays a profound ignorance and arrogance, and a complete disregard for science, intelligence, and the welfare of others. I wonder how many people have been infected, suffered and died because of the thoughtless and irresponsible actions of those who refuse to get vaccinated? I hope that that thought makes anti-vaxxers feel proud of themselves when they gloat about not being vaccinated.

I am truly disgusted by this revelation, Geoffrey. To brush off my rejection of your anti-vaccination stance as a mere "disagreement", implying that it is simply a personal and subjective matter akin to what foods people like or what music they enjoy, and suggesting that failure to agree on such things makes life less dull, is shockingly reprehensible. Yes, life would be so much duller if fewer people got sick and died from preventable illnesses, but anti-vaxxers want more spice in life, so let's disagree about proven scientific and medical advancements, and bring on more needless suffering! There is no hope for people who boast about not being vaccinated (and who actually advocate it!), and no point in trying to "communicate" with them, for I am absolutely certain that they will completely ignore and disregard everything that I have written above. And yet, I feel that I have to say something against such willful and harmful ignorance. I see no reason to be nice for the sake of promoting a pleasant and good atmosphere, when toxic bullshit about vaccines is cavalierly being flung about.

[its4inthemorning]

G,

Please note that I totally disagree with your abstinence from pork (bacon--yum, yum), and mostly disagree with your decision to avoid vaccinations (although I am leery of vaccinations if the agents have not gone through rigorous testing).

But I would never characterize your exercise of free speech in these regards as being either stupid or ignorant. They are merely your opinions, just as what I have written here are my opinions.

4

[Geoffrey]

LisaLCFan wrote:
>There are two things that I cannot tolerate . . .

thank you for this, lisa. you write with a passion, that's for sure - and with many good points. i posted the same message on facebook, the vast majority agreeing with what i wrote. i think it's just a matter of opinion, with people being allowed to choose what they believe is best. i can assure you i am in fine health, you do not need to be anxious - i will survive

its4inthemorning wrote:
>. . . I would never characterize your exercise of free speech in these regards as being either stupid or ignorant.

it is so kind of you to write this; it means a lot to me. strong language can be hurtful, but usually it goes over in time. we are individuals, with different views and personalities - and it's not always easy to respect one another when emotions are involved.

i used to eat bacon, but decided to cut it out. partly because i am suspicious of its benefits, and partly because there is so much other delicious food to choose from. stay well
--------------------------------------------
yesterday i finally bought a new sketchbook

gentleman observed at a nearby bus station

[Geoffrey]

in the late 1990s leonard wrote 'a thousand kisses deep'. during the hospital scene in luc besson's 2014 movie 'lucy' scarlett johansson says to her mother: "i want to thank you for the thousand kisses that i can still feel on my face!" if these thoughts interest you for even a moment you are lost.

https://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/kisses.html

two local people

UPDATE: (saturday 18 nov '23)
wishing everyone a lovely weekend, and a great 'black' week

[Geoffrey]

had a dylan fan visiting yesterday who loved this old painting
found in my back room - now on its way down to bergen

earlier used by a rock group as part of a stage 'backdrop'

AI (artificial intelligence)

an anti-religion song is good to have these days, although the opening lines are incomprehensible.
imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you trah.
no hell below us, above us only skah.
also, notice the gum chewing. to us psychologists it means one remains in the oral stage, like nail-biting - the suckling infant.
https://youtu.be/QfgVhE1M6ns?si=7qdLV0m9Jh40LfC3

[Geoffrey]

many people are fearful of AI regardless of how good it is, but that is often normal with new ideas/inventions.
here is a second one, followed by a couple of ordinary pencil sketches. stay well

[Geoffrey]

1814 was not a good year for beethoven. it was long before hearing aids were invented, and he was becoming completely deaf. when he gave concerts he had no idea that his piano was way out of tune, and it was sad to see a great composer humiliate himself. leonard cohen couldn't have said it better when he sang 'wasn't it a long way down!'

leonard frequently listened to beethoven, and actually mentions him several times in his writings. he even starts one of his poems with "it is late afternoon. i have put beethoven on."

1814 was also the year that artist louis letronne's painting of the composer was criticised and dismissed by engraver blasius höfel, who had to adjust it in order for it to be acceptable. below one can compare the two portraits: letronne's in colour, höfel's the monochrome.

that is the end of today's lesson on interesting information. now you can go away having learned a little snippet that will impress people should the subject of art or classical music come up in conversation. no need to thank me, that's why i'm here

[its4inthemorning]

Interesting miscellany for (those of us in the US) Thanksgiving Day. I have a lot of classical albums (they were my father's, he loved music of all kinds), but I play them only rarely since my old turntable is quirky. I do have some classical music stored in my 300-disk CD player, however, and they include all of Beethovan's symphonies.

For some real miscellany, listen to this recording of Beethovan's "Moonlight Sonata" played backwards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIHFLrjzgbA

Now I am no classical music expert, but except for a few "clunky" patches, I find I enjoy the backwards "Moonlight Sonata." Do others have opinions or comments?

Well, it is time to begin Thanksgiving meal preparation--roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and brussels sprouts with shallots and (sorry Geoffrey) bacon. Hope everyone has a great day.

4

[LisaLCFan]

...listen to this recording of Beethovan's "Moonlight Sonata" played backwards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIHFLrjzgbA

Now I am no classical music expert, but except for a few "clunky" patches, I find I enjoy the backwards "Moonlight Sonata." Do others have opinions or comments?...

I am a classical music expert. First, it is "Beethoven", and technically, the recording is only of the first movement. The full title of the piece is "Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, 'Quasi una fantasia', Op. 27, No. 2". "Moonlight Sonata" is a published title given to it most likely after Beethoven's death -- and it has three movements, although the first movement is certainly the most well-known beyond classical music circles. Of course, the entire sonata is well worth listening to (played in the proper direction, please), the last movement being a virtuosic thrill-ride!

As for the backwards rendition in that video, it is played far too quickly, at under 4 minutes: it is most commonly played at a tempo that takes 6 to 7 minutes. I found the whole thing to be "clunky" insofar as the pianist lacks finesse and subtlety: the arpeggiated accompaniment chords are meant to be played very softly and quietly, so that it sounds like they are moving in the distance like gossamer clouds drifting across the moon, while the melody notes should be a bit more in the foreground, but only slightly more opaque -- the piece should be played very delicately and dreamily, even somewhat sadly and introspectively, and I did not detect those things in the backwards rendition, all of which is pounded out with no gracefulness at all.

Also, the backwards rendition has little to no dynamics variation, meaning, it was played at roughly the same volume throughout (too loud!), whereas the volume should ebb and flow (crescendo and decrescendo), with purpose and subtlety, at appropriate places, to create and release tension in the music. Good pianists can also vary the tone colours of each note -- this is done by the way they strike the keys and with the use of different pedals, so that the sound of the notes can be given a different flavour or depth or richness or fullness or thinness, etc., but that takes skill and talent, and it was not evident in the backwards recording in which each note was played almost exactly like every other. Furthermore, good pianists would employ some rubato, meaning that they would vary the tempo ever so slightly, speeding up a little bit here, and slowing down a little bit there, rather like the way that one breathes, steadily but with minor variations, sometimes even pausing to catch one's breath for a moment. The backwards pianist played it like a human metronome -- in fact, it sounded to me like a midi-file -- i.e. played by a computer -- rather than a person playing it, due to its complete lack of musicality, emotion, and phrasing (i.e. shaping sections of the music using the aforementioned techniques).

So, no, I did not enjoy that backwards recording. Perhaps if it were played better, then a backwards version might be minutely enjoyable for its curiosity value, although honestly I really fail to see the point, when the original is one of the most timeless and hauntingly beautiful masterpieces of music ever composed. (Oh, I know, Leonard did it in The Great Event...). You did ask for comments! (Please note that, other than saying that I did not enjoy it, which is a subjective opinion, my comments on the quality of the playing are not subjective opinions but objective statements of fact based on well-established musical skills and techniques that one can learn and use in their playing, but which were absent in that recording.)

For comparison, here is a very good version of the first movement played (in the right direction) by an exceptional pianist name Seymour Bernstein, who worked on and refined the piece for his entire life before making this recording at the age of 93. The musical techniques that I mentioned above can be heard in his playing, if one listens carefully.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H3EOEO2W7c

Cheers!

[its4inthemorning]

Lisa,

Thanks so much for taking the time to educate me on the skill and nuance that pianists employ in their work, and for your critique of the backwards version pointing out the many ways that it falls short. Listening to Seymour Bernstein's version right after reading your explanation made all of your points very evident. It would be interesting if someone like Bernstein applied the techniques you mentioned to the backwards version just to hear the result, but as you alluded, other than curiosity, there would be no point.

4

[LisaLCFan]

Lisa, Thanks so much for taking the time to educate me on the skill and nuance that pianists employ in their work, and for your critique of the backwards version pointing out the many ways that it falls short. Listening to Seymour Bernstein's version right after reading your explanation made all of your points very evident. ..

Hey 4, I'm so glad that you were able to take something from what I wrote, and that you could hear the nuances and techniques that I described when you listened to Seymour Bernstein's sublime performance! I think that knowing about these things can greatly enhance a person's enjoyment and appreciation of exquisitely played solo classical music (or any classical music!).

Classical instrumental music -- and especially solo piano music -- is a huge passion of mine, and so I always enjoys talking about it! As you can understand, there is so much more to the music than simply playing the right notes, for how one plays them makes all the difference in the world. Exceptional instrumentalists are able to bring the music to life, for they give it passion, a soul, a heart, infusing it with emotion, creating worlds of sound and even new dimensions of experience in which the listener can get swept away and become happily lost, wandering through its beautiful and nuanced landscape, taking in all of its wonders, be they subtle or bold, never knowing what may lie around the next corner, and hanging on every note in anticipation of what may follow! Listening to truly fantastic instrumental classical music, played by outstanding musicians, is such a rich and rewarding experience, and one may frequently find that, no matter how often they listen to a piece, they may always hear something new and different that they may not have noticed before, for there is so much depth to the music itself and, in the hands of an extraordinary instrumentalist, so many layers in their playing and interpretation of the music. It is an endless source of joy and enrichment for me!

Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner! All the best!

[Geoffrey]

so educational to see these messages between 'its4inthemorning' and 'LisaLCFan'. they should really be read by more people than just those of us here, and especially by beethoven aficionados. i thank you both

hope you enjoyed your thanksgiving meal, 4 - a celebration of which i know only a little. i will have to google it.
concerning bacon: we make our individual choices. would be strange if we all thought and did the same

g
--------------------------------------
the nervous girl

[AlanM]

And as requested, here’s my contribution to the Never-Ending Gallery.

IMG_0017.jpg

You know, I’ve always been influenced by light and shadow in making my artworks. To me they are the essence of all.

I thought of posting this way back then, but couldn't find it.
It is just a serendipitous reflection off the tap spout in my kitchen.
The vertical line on the left is the grout between 2 tiles on my splash-back, or back-splash depending on which English you speak.

Alan

[Geoffrey]

AlanM wrote:
>It is just a serendipitous reflection off the tap spout in my kitchen.
-----------------------------
hei alan.

your picture has all the qualities of a quasar, a cosmic burst of spiraling light. you have captured and exposed a dimension to which the eye would not normally pay a lot of attention. it shows that there can be an exciting universe hidden even in something so mundane as a kitchen tap. so glad you managed to find this image again and share it here. along with the little bird perched momentarily on a finger, or the thermometer being hit by a ray of sunshine, it is these unplanned photos that have the potential to fascinate more than any drawing. if there are any more where this came from, remember there is plenty of space on the walls of this gallery

great to hear from you again!

[LisaLCFan]

...It is just a serendipitous reflection off the tap spout in my kitchen.
The vertical line on the left is the grout between 2 tiles on my splash-back, or back-splash depending on which English you speak...

What a fantastic picture! It is, indeed, always exciting to see something like that, when random elements suddenly come together and create something wondrous and beautiful!

I was not familiar with the term splash-back or back-splash to denote the wall behind a kitchen sink -- in fact, I did not know that it had a special name at all, for I have always simply thought of it as "the wall behind the sink"! A quick Google search reveals that there are an extraordinary number of articles and videos on the subject of backsplashes/splashbacks, and, thus, clearly it is a portion of one's home that many people apparently make quite a fuss about, but which I had never given a second thought (let alone a special name!).