Michael 🖖🏻💙🎶🎨🇵🇸🐈

Painting by John Singer Sargent of Bedouin people sitting under a large tent in Syria.

A Syrian Encampment (1906), by John Singer Sargent

Pastel drawing by Zinaida Serebriakova of the head and nude torso of a reclining young woman, with her arms raised behind her head as she Smike’s towards the viewer.

Nude (1929), by Zinaida Serebriakova

Painting by Claude Monet of his wife Camille wearing a black, fur-trimmed jacket and a long black and green striped skirt, against a dark brown background.

Camille (1867), by Claude Monet

I would also love a Bajoran orb as a bedside lamp (one that changes colour from blue light to yellow if you want it - more cozy!). The recreation in “Series Acclimation Mil” was absolutely gorgeous! #StarfleetAcademy

Wonderful passage! And I’ve always loved that Tolkien, feeling bored while marking exam papers, found himself writing on the back of a student’s work: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” And then he had to find out what a hobbit was!

Letter from Tolkien to WH Auden, June 1953

Stories are like gardens that are nurtured — twisting along unanticipated paths, as they reveal themselves to even the authors.

If you relinquish all choices too early, give them up in the name of efficiency, fully formed from the outset — you lose something.

Wander curiously.

I thought of you with this one! 😊

Yes, I’ve read both of his short story collections. He’s definitely a unique, very good writer. I think I love the film even more than the story, but I was certainly impressed when I read it.

YouTube video by FatCat Records Catalogue Vashti Bunyan - Here [Heartleap]

#ExitMusic
#MusicChallenge

7: Vashti Bunyan - Here (2014) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZENT...

One of Vashti’s most haunting songs. The brief coda is very simple, with the magical sound of a dulcitone - an instrument rarely played because its dynamic range is so limited. Which makes it perfect here!

YouTube video by Jay M Arrival - Opening Scene

#100Years100FaveFilms
#Filmsky

Day 93: Arrival (Denis Villeneuve, 2017) www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNpd...

The most moving first contact film I’ve ever seen - a deceptively simple but deeply layered story that haunts you afterwards, with a central performance by Amy Adams of wonderful interiority.

Wow!!!

In my case it may be partly recency bias, but I think it’s my favourite too. Such a refreshing show! I love the others too, but there’s something so extra special & fun & hopeful about this one.

Like I’ve always called a sweater a sweater, but for many Brits “jumper” is more common.

Here in England they can be either rubber bands or elastic bands. In my family we grew up calling them the latter.

Same!

Have you seen The Return, with Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus & Juliette Binoche as Penelope? It concentrates on the Ithaca part of the epic, dispensing with Athena and the prior adventures. Looks like a story about the trauma of war as much as anything. Might be good? I bet the acting’s great, at least!

“For me, the most ironic token of [the first human moon landing] is the plaque signed by President Richard M. Nixon that Apollo 11 took to the moon. It reads: 'We came in peace for all Mankind.' As the United States was dropping 7 ½ megatons of conventional explosives on small nations in Southeast Asia, we congratulated ourselves on our humanity. We would harm no one on a lifeless rock.” — Carl Sagan

[Exit Bigot.]

😂

Painting by Henri Martin of a garden wall with a small gate in the middle and a pergola behind, in bright sunshine.

Portillon donnant sur le potager de Marquayrol, vu du potager, by Henri Martin

Black and white photograph by Elliott Erwitt of an elderly man in a suit and hat, sitting in profile in a New York park, with his face lifted towards the sun. In the background there are various other people, as well as pigeons on the ground.

New York (1948), by Elliott Erwitt

Painting by George Bellows of white houses in a rural landscape on a sunny day. The house in the foreground has red vine leaves on the roof, and a woman is hanging out laundry in the garden.

The Red Vine, Matinicus Island, Maine (1916), by George Bellows

T'Pol from Enterprise is pictured. She's standing in a cargo bay, camera is looking up at her. She looks serious, as per usual. Closed caption reads, "How's your dog?" (Also everything is very blue because I suck at taking TV screenshots)

Paddington in Star Wars Revenge of the Sith (2005)

I Photoshop Paddington into a movie, TV show, or pop culture until I forget: Day 1814

Quote with a gif of a powerful woman.

How about two powerful women? 😊

Viking oil lamp made of soapstone, with a flame burning inside.

I was thinking of something like those Viking age soapstone lamps, like one I saw in Orkney on Time Team once!

It’s very moving. Also not very long - only 80 minutes. I think you’d love it!

YouTube video by Sir Charles MacKerras - Topic Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98: I. Allegro non troppo

#ExitMusic
#MusicChallenge

Day 6: Brahms - Symphony No 4 in E minor (I: Allegro non troppo) www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ah_...

The whole movement’s build-up is tremendous, but the final extended climax (9:45 onwards) is quite shattering. When Brahms really lets go he reaches sublime heights.

YouTube video by Screen Themes The Red Turtle (2016) - 'The Girl' scene [1080]

#100Years100FaveFilms
#Filmsky

Day 92: The Red Turtle (Michaël Dudok de Wit, 2016) www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuVU...

Co-produced by Studio Ghibli, & reminiscent in spirit but visually quite different. No dialogue, just lovely animation & a simple story that’s mysterious & deeply affecting. Sublime!

“Well, that’s a design flaw.” 😂

#StarfleetAcademy #StarTrek