Snippets:
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From September 17 to 25, 2005, from 8 am to 8 pm every day, the Whitney and Minetta Brook, a New York-based arts organization that presents innovative public art projects, launched 'Floating Island to Travel Around Manhattan Island' by Robert Smithson. Never realized during Smithson’s lifetime, although attempts were made, Floating Island is a project that involves a 30-x-90-foot barge, landscaped with earth, rocks, and native trees and shrubs that will circumnavigate Manhattan. The fabricated "island," towed by a small tugboat, was on view two weekends in September, visible to millions of residents, commuters, and visitors along the Hudson and East Rivers. Smithson developed the concept for Floating Island in 1970 —the same year he created his best- known work, the ambitious earthwork Spiral Jetty at Utah’s Great Salt Lake.
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Photography: Daniel Forster. Some awsome sailing pics. Mirror at Yachtphoto.com
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Music: David Byrne web site, including info on his music and films, and an online journal.
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Philosophy: Steven Galt Crowell, Rice University, Houston, TX. Currently Joseph and Joanna Nazro Mullen Professor of Philosophy and Professor of German Studies. Wrote chapter on Existentialism at Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
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Video: Giant (1956). 201 min. w/ Elizabeth Taylor (Leslie Lynnton Benedict), Rock Hudson (Jordan 'Bick' Benedict Jr.), James Dean (Jett Rink). Directed by George Stevens. After the novel by Edna Ferber. Won Oscar (Best Director: George Stevens). Saga of a family on a ranch in Texas in the mid 20th century. Remarkably modern, touching on racial and women's rights issues, but also telling the story of a father trying to follow family tradition. James Dean plays the antagonist who rises to fame and fortune first, but can't find happiness. Overall rating: 6 out of 10
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Computer: Podcast search engines and directories: 1.) Podcast Bunker 2.) Odeo 3.) Podcast Charts 4.) Yahoo Podcasts 5.) Podcasting News 6.) Podcast.net 7.) Learn Out Loud 8.) Small World Podcast
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Music: Red Raspus Radio. Includes Seattle Jazz Scene.
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Literature: Icelandic Sagas. The word 'saga' originallly described a prose narrative recorded in Iceland in the 12th and 13th centuries of historic or legendary figures and events of the heroic age of Norway and Iceland.
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Literature: Online Medieval and Classical Library (OMACL): Collection of some of the most important literary works of Classical and Medieval civilization.
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Science: Science & the City by the New York Academy of Sciences. Exhibits, Lectures, Art, Film, Performance etc.
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Poetry: Representative Poetry Online (RPO), hosted by the University of Toronto Libraries. Collection of poems, neatly organized.
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Quotation: "[...] much of the force as well as grace of arguments or instructions, depends on their conciseness." Alexander Pope (1688-1744) in the explanation to 'An Essay on Man'.
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Mythology: Tiresias (also transliterated as Teiresias) was a blind male prophet in Greek mythology. While he could still see, he was transformed into a woman for seven years. In Oedipus the King (by Sophocles) Oedipus calls upon Tiresias to aid in the investigation of the killing of his father Laius. Tiresias refuses to give a direct answer and instead hints that the killer is someone Oedipus really does not wish to find. Tiresias is also mentioned in 'The Cinema Show' by Genesis: "Take a little trip back with father Tiresias / Listen to the old one speak of all he has lived through / I have crossed between the poles, for me there's no mystery / Once a man, like the sea I raged / Once a woman, like the earth I gave / But there is in fact more earth than sea."
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Video: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). w/ Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst. Directed by Michel Gondry. Written by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry. Man falls in love with woman. When woman has all memories of him erased (a leap into sci-fi), he is heart-broken and wants to do the same, but changes his mind during the procedure. Film scences are not chronological, making it somewhat interesting but also harder to follow. Great idea, but dwells too long on the same theme. Acting is as good as you can expect from the main cast. Overall rating: 5 out of 10. The movie title is a line from the poem 'Eloisa to Abelard' (1717) by Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Commentary on the poem at The Literary Encyclopedia.
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Art: The artist and designer Roger Dean painted most of the album covers for the rock band 'Yes'.
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Music: Alan Ferber, trombone, from the San Fracisco Bay area. Some intriguing tunes on his album "Scenes From An Exit Row" (Alan Ferber Nonet)
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DVD: Discoveries...America: Pennsylvania. Bennett-Watt HD Productions. Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Wharton Esherick, Covered Bridges, Pittsburgh, Lake Erie, Painted Barns, Amish Lifestyle.
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