Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Snippets:
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Saying: 'You want it bad, you get it bad'
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Photography: Small-Town America (1850-1920). Robert N. Dennis Collection of Stereoscopic Views at the New York Public Library.
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Literature: Writer Nicole Krauss married writer Jonathan Safran Foer in 2004.
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Video: Amistad (1997). Directed by Steven Spielberg; w/ Matthew McConaughey (Baldwin), Djimon Hounsou (Cinque), Morgan Freeman (Joadson), Anthony Hopkins (John Quincy Adams). Story of the 1839 revolt by Africans on the slave ship 'Amistad'. Important, serious topic. Presented in Hollywood style: melodramatic, kitschy, sappy. Overdone. Overall rating: 4 out of 10.
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DVD: Time Life's Lost Civilizations (2002). Part 1 of 4: Mesopotamia (Return to Eden), Ancient Egypt (Quest for Immortality), Aegean (Legacy of Atlantis). Reportage on the Babylonian, Assyrian, Sumerian, Jewish, Egyptian, and Greek civilizations. Informative, although sometimes a bit too lurid. On Thera, a small island in the Aegean just north of Crete, the Volcano Santorin erupted ca. 1628 BC. Apparently the people were able to evacuate in time, but never returned. The video considers it as the Atlantis described by Plato (in his 'Timaeus' and his 'Critias'). The Sumerians inhabited the land of Mesopotamia around 3500 BC. It is considered to be the oldest civilization. More about Sumer
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Web: Photo storage for Blogger: Hello.
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Saturday, April 23, 2005

Is it true that German was almost one of the official languages of the U.S.A.? (Brian Zahn)

This is one of those legends that is continually passed along as if it were fact. Unfortunately, the facts just don't substantiate it. Here are some facts: Introduction: German as the official language of the United States of America?" in "Die deutschsprachige Presse der Amerikas / The German Language Press of the Americas," 3 (München: K. G. Saur, 1980), 1942.

There was never an attempt to make German the official language of the United States, although (1) there was a failed attempt in Congress in 1794, based on a petition of German residents of Augusta Co., Virginia, to have "a certain proportion" of the laws of the United States printed in German as well as English, and (2) beginning in 1828 ["Deutsche Sprache in Nordamerika", "Das Ausland" (Stuttgart: Cotta), 1 February 1828, 126127, and 2 February 1828, 130131], reports were circulated in the German, English, and American press of an attempt to make German an official language (alongside English) of Pennsylvania, an attempt that was supposedly defeated by only one vote (Arndt, however, was unable to find any bill or resolution proposing to make German the or an official language of the state of Pennsylvania). It is also known as the Mühlenberg legend. In "The German Americans: An Ethnic Experience" by Willi Paul Adams it reads as follows: At the root of the so-called "Mühlenberg legend" lies rather a disappointment that German was not able to hold its ground as a language of daily usage even in Pennsylvania, except within small Mennonite, Amish and other sectarian communities. During both the War of Independence and the War of 1812, at times when anti-German feelings were running high, Americans of German descent comprised less that 9% of the total population of the United States. And even in Pennsylvania, where the Germans had settled most densely, they amounted to only a third of the entire population. Colonial speakers of English fought only for their political independence. They had not stomach for an anti-English language and cultural revolution. When German language farmers in Augusta County, Virginia petitioned the U.S. House of Representatives in 1794 for a German translation of the booklet containing the laws and other government regulations copies of which had been distributed free in the English language officials simply ignored them. Even the bilingual Speaker of the House of Representatives, Frederick Augustus Conrad Mühlenberg, refused to support their modest request, arguing that the faster the Germans became American, the better. No doubt, disappointment with his negative, though realistic, posture contributed a generation later to the birth of this legend. (p.25/26)


Snippets:
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Philosophy: Hans Kueng (b. 1928), Swiss theologian, and a prolific author; formerly Roman Catholic theologian until the Vatican rescinded his authority to teach Catholic theology in 1979; rejects the doctrine of papal infallibility; initiated a project called 'Weltethos' (Global Ethic), which is an attempt to describe what the world religions have in common.
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DVD: Ocean's Eleven (2001). 117 min. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Sex, Lies, and Videotape). w/ George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts. Gang plans to rob Las Vegas casino with a skillful approach. Entertaining, has some good ideas, but story too one-sided. Overall rating: 5 out of 10.
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Art: Painter: Steve Hanks; American; contemporary. Portraits of women and children.
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Greek Mytology: Calypso (retold by James Hunter): Calypso was a nymph, the daughter of the Titan Atlas. She lived on the island of Ogygia. After the last of Odysseus' men had perished at sea, Odysseus himself was washed ashore on Ogygia, where Calypso became enamored of him, taking him as her lover and promising him immortality if he would stay with her. Odysseus refused her offer, wishing to return home to Ithaca and to his wife, Penelope. But Calypso refused to let him leave, and held him prisoner for seven years. Finally Athena complained of Odysseus' plight to Zeus, and Zeus sent Hermes to Ogygia to order Calypso to set Odysseus free. Calypso complied reluctantly, allowing Odysseus to construct a small boat and set sail from the island. More details.
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Art: William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905): French academic painter. Realistic genre paintings and mythological themes. Gallery.
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DVD: Mulholland Drive (2001). Directed by David Lynch. w/ Naomi Watts, Laura Harring. Jealous lesbian girl kills her less serious girlfriend. Reality and fantasy mingle. Movie is not chronological. Not easy to understand by itself. Find some help at The Modern Word. Once you've made it through the quagmire, most of it makes sense, though. Overall rating 7 out of 10.
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Music: Judith Holofernes (real name: Judith Holfelder von der Tann): Singer and song writer of the German band 'Wir Sind Helden'. Her stage name is a reference to Judith and Holofernes.
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Religion: Bible: Judith and Holofernes: from the apocryphic Book of Judith in the Old Testament. Judith, a mature and beautiful woman, saved the Jewish city Bethulia by decapitating Holofernes, an invading general of Nebuchadnezzar's army with his own sword while he was drunk. Popular subject in paintings, e.g, by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Gustav Klimt (Judith I), and Artemisia Gentileschi.
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DVD: Le Boucher (The Butcher, 1970). 93 min. French with English subtitles. Directed by Claude Chabrol. w/ Stephane Audran (Helene), Jean Yanne (Popaul). In a small French village, a butcher meets the respectable, pretty school teacher Helen. Then a girl is murdered, and Helen finds a clue, endangering her own life. Minimalist story, a master piece of classic suspense. Predictable, slow plot, but the pictures are enjoyable. Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
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Art: Web Gallery of Art: Virtual museum and searchable database of European painting and sculpture from 12th to mid-19th centuries. Dual view possible allows comparisons. Large images. Rich collection, but unfortunately the second half of the 19th and the 20th century are not covered.
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Saturday, April 09, 2005

Snippets:
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Book on Tape: Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu. Translated by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English. Read by Jacob Needleman. Translation by D.T. Suzuki & Paul Carus with comments at Sacret Texts. Other translations.
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Web: World Wide Web Virtual Library. Many links to various topics.
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DVD: The Passion of the Christ (2004).126 min. Aramaic/Latin/Hebrew with English subtitles. Directed by Mel Gibson. w/ James Caviezel. Also Monica Bellucci as Magdalen. Retells the final hours of Jesus, including his crucifiction. Kept close to the biblical text. Gory representation. Unfortunately leaves nothing to the imagination of the viewer. Overall rating: 3 out of 10.
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Video: Battleship Potemkin (1925). 74 min. Silent movie. Directed by Sergei Eisenstein. Version of 1988 with a score composed by Dmitri Shostakovich. Influential Russian revolutionary propaganda film. Fictional story meant to glorify a real-life event that occurred in 1905, 'Battleship Potemkin uprising' that later came to be viewed as an initial step towards the Russian Revolution. Most famous scene from the movie is the massacre on the Odessa Steps. Probably a great accomplishment for its time, but story too simple for today. Overall rating 4 out of 10.
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Language: Potemkin village (German: Potemkinsche Doerfer): Something that appears elaborate and impressive, but in actual fact lacks substance; hollow or false construct, physical or figurative, meant to hide an undesirable or potentially damaging situation. Named after Grigori Aleksandrovich Potemkin (1739-1791), who reputedly had elaborate fake villages constructed to impress Catherine the Great (Empress Catherine II) during her visit of the Ukraine and the Crimea in 1787.
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DVD: Nowhere in Africa (German: 'Nirgendwo in Afrika'; 2002). 142 min. Directed by Caroline Link. w/ Juliane Koehler, Merab Ninidze. After the novel by Stefanie Zweig. German movie; won the Oscar for best foreingn language film in 2002. Jewish family flees from Nazi Germany to Kenya and tries to survive there on a remonte farm. Has some stunning pictures of Africa and the people there. Not as dreamlike as 'Out of Africa', more realistic, more down to earth, and still full of beauty. And the story has a lot to give, not as clear cut as some of the Hollywood movies, more ambiguous, more unpredictable. Like the times. Like the country. Nazis against Jews, Blacks against Whites, man against woman, drought against rain. Overall rating: 8 out of 10.
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DVD: Botherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte des Loups, 2002). 144 min. Directed by Christophe Gans. w/ Samuel Le Bihan, Mark Dacascos, Monica Bellucci. In a village in 18th century France, Chevalier de Fronsac (Gans) is hunting a furious murderous beast, but learns that it is not an animal he is loking for, but a man. Flat, hokey plot, predictable, plenty of inconsistencies. Acting okay. Overall rating: 4 out of 10.
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Sunday, April 03, 2005

Snippets:
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Literature: Reiner Kunze, German poet.
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Geography: Aleutian Islands: a string of islands off the Southern coast of Alaska. In the 2000 census, there was a population of 8,162 on the islands, of which 4,283 were living in the main settlement of Unalaska. The islands are part of the Ring of Fire, a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that encircles the basin of the Pacific Ocean.
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Photography: Dirk Westfall, Anchorage, AK. Outdoor Photography. Some stunning pics!
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DVD: Man of La Mancha (1972). 129 min. w/ Peter O'Toole, Sophia Loren. Directed by Arthur Hiller. Film version of the Broadway musical of 1965. After the novel 'Don Quixote' (Pt. 1: 1605, Pt. 2: 1615) by Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra. Text in translation by John Ormsby (London 1885) also at Project Gutenberg. Spanish gentleman gets deluded by reading too many books on knights and chivalry. With the help of his servant Sancho Panza, he fights for the heart of his beloved Dulcinea. Together, they dream the impossible dream: To dream the impossible dream / to fight the unbeatable foe / to bear with unbearable sorrow / to run where the brave dare not go // To right the unrightable wrong / to love pure and chaste from afar / to try when your arms are too weary / to reach the unreachable star. Poor singing. Overall rating: 4 out of 10.
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Medicine: From Diabetes In Control, 3/29/05: A new generation of physicians believe maggots are one of the most effective ways of treating wounds infected by the superbug methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Maggots are remarkably efficient at cleaning up infected wounds by eating dead tissue and killing off bacteria that could block the healing process. Maggot medicine has a long history: Napoleon's battle surgeon wrote of the healing powers of maggots 200 years ago, and they were put to work during the American Civil War and in the trenches in World War One. With the arrival of modern antibiotics in the 1940s, however, maggots were consigned to the medical dustbin. In a bid to prove the case for maggots conclusively, Dr. Pauline Raynor of the University of York is now recruiting 600 patients across Britain for the world's biggest ever maggot trial.
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DVD: Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003). 105 min. w/ Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Demi Moore. Directed by McG. No story. Poor acting. Some good special effects. Eye candy. Overall rating: 3 out of 10.
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DVD: Big Fish (2003). 125 min. Directed by Tim Burton (Batman, Sleepy Hollow). w/ Ewan McGregor (Ed Bloom (Young)), Albert Finney (Ed Bloom (Senior)), Billy Crudup (Will Bloom), Jessica Lange (Sandra Bloom), Helena Bonham Carter (Jenny (Young & Senior) & The Witch). Dying old man tells fantastic stories of his life; his son wants to find who is father really is. Truth and fiction mingle. Great story touching on many topics the audience can relate to. Overall rating: 8 out of 10.
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Book: Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis (c. 1380-1471). First published anonymously in A.D. 1418. Popular book of Christian faith, second only to the Bible. Meditations on the life and teachings of Jesus. Also at Project Gutenberg in a translation by William Benham (1831–1910). More info (in German).
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