Blog Archives

Pisa's Prize

7/30/2016

      Imagine the internal feelings of the designer of the Tower of Pisa the first time someone told him the tower looked a little tilted. I'm sure he hoped they were mistaken, and had to see for himself.
      When the third tier was completed—about five years into the project—progress stopped on the building. Nearly a hundred years later, construction resumed. The architect could have felt vindicated had he known. And, he could feel most proud now because the structure is known worldwide—over 800 years later.
     Two important facts sometimes get overlooked because of the tilt of the building. A lot of care has been taken to keep the structure standing, and the design is beautiful.
Photo credit: Fotolia

Star of India

7/22/2016

How could a responsible man put his family on a 19th century sailing vessel? I didn't understand it until I stepped onto the Star of India and saw the dining table and felt the gentle roll of the ship. Sailing was more appealing than I realized. Risky, yes. But an adventure—albeit one with poor plumbing facilities.

Imagine sharing a bathroom, not with just your family, but with most of the crew and passengers aboard the ship. And no porthole in the bathroom--just a place to hang the lantern. Once the doorway was shut in that tiny facility, light couldn't seep in except through the door. You couldn't even stretch out your elbows and you probably had to be careful to keep from burning yourself with the lantern.

Plus, you really shouldn't drop the light. Fire, fuel and wooden, rocking boat... Plenty of risk.

But amazing possibilities over the horizon.

Note: The Star of India is docked at San Diego, California, USA.

Theater Snacks...Mr. Shakespeare?

7/5/2016

     Hazelnuts while you're watching the play? Or what about a nice warm beer? According to author Norrie Epstein, theater visitors could have expected these refreshments at the Globe in Shakespeare's world. Even gingerbread might be sold—and water—which I'm sure felt overpriced to the folks seeing the plays.
     Shakespeare was one of the seven actors who invested to build the structure, so he could have had a say in what vendors sold on the property.
     Imagine being one of the owners of the theater, writing the plays and then perhaps acting in one of the minor parts. And then imagine also having vendors who sold apples which could be thrown at the stage if things weren't going well. Up to three thousand people could attend a performance, and they weren't likely to sit quietly if they weren't entertained.
     Shakespeare had a lot of motivation to write, and he had the ability to see exactly what the audience responded to and how they responded at specific points—a wonderful experience for an author.
       And if the audience didn't respond as he wished, he could have increased the mark-up on the apples.

                                                                                          Photo Credit: Fotolia

Oklahoma Wildflower Garden

7/4/2016

Photos from the acreage behind my house. The top plant is, to me, an incredibly ugly weed when it's in the field—but as a photo subject, I like it.

Pisa's Prize

Star of India

Theater Snacks...Mr. Shakespeare?

Oklahoma Wildflower Garden

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