Author Archives: JMN

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About JMN

I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.

More Wit, Less Affirmation!

Posted on June 4, 2019 by JMN

Jessa Crispin cites two writers to illustrate the distinction she draws between aphorism and affirmation. Aphorism: “He who fears death will never do anything worthy of a man who is alive.” (Seneca) Affirmation: “I do not need the kind of … Continue reading →

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Poetry for the Kitchen Slops Bucket

Posted on June 4, 2019 by JMN

Lucasta Miller is the author of “L.E.L.: The Lost Life and Scandalous Death of Letitia Elizabeth Landon, the Celebrated ‘Female Byron.’” Landon’s “scandalous” death occurred at her own hand with prussic acid at age 36. Even today, Letitia Landon provokes … Continue reading →

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Guide by the Perplexed — No Money Shot

Posted on June 3, 2019 by JMN

An old advertising tag-line for an investment firm was voiced by the British-American actor John Houseman: “We make music the old fashioned way; we earn it.” Houseman, of course, said “money,” not “music.” In my effort to show with strong, … Continue reading →

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Francophilia

Posted on June 1, 2019 by JMN

Where I live I have not encountered in recent memory an American who knows, or wants to know, French. Roger Cohen’s encomium to the language and culture is touching. It’s poignant to share French love with another outsider. To be … Continue reading →

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Second Take

Posted on June 1, 2019 by JMN

Learning something about a picture — how it’s made or its origin, for example — can trigger or enhance appreciation. I wonder if an artist really wants that? Wouldn’t he or she prefer that the work commune directly and totally … Continue reading →

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Pursuant There Two

Posted on June 1, 2019 by JMN

The threads of spirituality and of blogging are starting to intersect for me. The bedrock of my spirituality is the intuitive knowledge (not faith) that what made me made every virus. If I were assisted by something religious it would … Continue reading →

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Cricket Talk

Posted on June 1, 2019 by JMN

[Paraphrase] The bowlers were boys from the groundstaff. One had the temerity to bowl a beamer at Viv Richards. Viv shot the kid an icy glare. The kid bowled him an apologetic delivery. Richards creamed it for four into the … Continue reading →

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Two Takes

Posted on May 29, 2019 by JMN

If there were a muse named Ironia, it strikes me that she would be an inspiration for Rutene Merk and Lynn Hershman Leeson. The two images below have little in common other than depicting females. They both incite interest, however, … Continue reading →

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“Strangeness”

Posted on May 28, 2019 by JMN

Science, art and language collide a lot in the field of theoretical physics, it seems. There are appealing language touches in the work of Nobel laureate Murray Gell-Mann profiled in this article. He “mischievously” named his theory of elementary particles … Continue reading →

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Parting Looks — Jack Moore

Posted on May 27, 2019 by JMN

[Transcription] The Civil War battle scenes made in the oak forest on the Anita Baldwin ranch were made for stock use in any Civil War battle sequence for M.G.M. In the eighteen days of battle scenes on the “set” more … Continue reading →

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