Breathing Curiosity
Hardly any other fruit epitomizes the past, like the avocado. Giant mammals delighted on these fruits millennia ago, bitting them directly from the trees where they grow in pairs. Growing in pairs appears to be the reason they are called avocados, from the Nahuatl word for testicles. Persea americana Miller
Anne Frank, born Annelies Marie Frank, June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, February/March 1945, is the girl whose diary of her family’s two years in hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands became a classic of war literature.Early in the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler, Anne’s father, Otto Frank (1889–1980), a German… Continue reading The Life You Give: Anne Frank *1929
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918. His father was Hendry Mphakanyiswa of the Tembu Tribe. Mandela himself was educated at University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand where he studied law. He joined the African National Congress in 1944 and was engaged in resistance against… Continue reading Nelson Mandela — April 20 1964 / The Rivonia Trial
Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., is the poet, memoirist, and actress whose several volumes of autobiography explore the themes of economic, racial, and sexual oppression.Although born in St. Louis, Angelou spent much of her childhood in the care of her paternal grandmother in rural Stamps,… Continue reading The Virtuous Black IX: Maya Angelou
Arborio rice, saffron, sugar, vanilla, milk, wait, serve…
During the month of February, in addition to our regular programming. The Aristipposian Poet, and Opera, Blood, and Tears are celebrating Black History Month, by holding a room series entitled THE VIRTUOUS BLACK While there are always substantial reasons to protest unfairness, we intend to focus on celebrating twenty-eight individuals who, while being black, have… Continue reading Black History Month on Clubhouse
Aretha Franklin, born Aretha Louise Franklin, on March 25 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A., is the singer who defined the golden age of soul music of the 1960s.Franklin’s mother, Barbara, was a gospel singer and pianist. Her father, C.L. Franklin, presided over the New Bethel Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan, and was a minister of… Continue reading The Life You Give — Aretha Franklin *March 25 1942
There’s something mysterious– even alchemical— about the qualities that have to come together to yield the ideal croissant. It needs to be buttery and tender, but never mushy or overly moist. It requires a delicate flakiness-to-slight-chewiness ratio, and the layers of all-butter puff pastry should be well differentiated, without falling apart into a crumby mess… Continue reading Another Croissant with rolled vegetables (commonly known as cigars) — celebrating the National Croissant Day / January 30th
Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, born January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, is the composer, widely recognized as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music. With Haydn and Beethoven he brought to its height the achievement of the Viennese Classical school. Unlike any other composer… Continue reading The Life You Give: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart *1756
George Balanchine, born Georgy Melitonovich Balanchivadze on January 22 [January 9, Old Style], 1904, in St. Petersburg, Russia, was the most influential choreographer of classical ballet in the United States in the 20th century. His works, characterized by a cool neoclassicism, include The Nutcracker (1954) and Don Quixote (1965), both pieces choreographed for the New… Continue reading The Life You Give: George Balanchine *1904
In drama and music, the chorus refers to those who perform vocally in a group as opposed to those who perform singly. The chorus in Classical Greek drama was a group of actors who described and commented upon the main action of a play with song, dance, and recitation. Greek tragedy had its beginnings in… Continue reading The Chorus
Edgard Varèse: The Idol of My YouthBy Frank ZappaStereo Review, June, 1971I have been asked to write about Edgard Varèse. I am in no way qualified to. I can't even pronounce his name right. The only reason I have agreed to is because I love his music very much, and if by some chance this… Continue reading “The Idol of My Youth” (Zappa on Varèse)
Nostradamus (Michel de Notredame, born December 14, 1503, Saint-Rémy, France, was an astrologer and physician, and the most widely read seer of the Renaissance.Nostradamus began his medical practice in Agen, sometime in the 1530s, despite not only never having taken a medical degree but also apparently having been expelled from medical school. In 1544 he… Continue reading The Life You Give: Nostradamus *1503
First woman with one Nobel Prize, first human with two.
Composed and written by Alexander Borodin (1833-1887), adapted from the ancient Russian epic The Lady of Igor’s Host, the opera was completed posthumously by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov, and premiered on November 4 1890, at the Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg. Join us today — November 4th — in celebration, listening to the complete work… Continue reading Prince Igor, opera by Alexander Borodin
The Metropolitan Opera opened on October 22 1883
Sila Blume 