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.

Feast for the Eye

Posted on September 16, 2018 by JMN

“That bastard. He’s really good.” (Picasso to Françoise Gilot, about Delacroix) “The first merit of painting is to be a feast for the eye.” (Delacroix’s last journal entry, June 1863) (Quotes from Roberta Smith, “At the Met Museum, the Grand … Continue reading →

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Rei Kawakubo: “Angry with easy fashion”

Posted on September 16, 2018 by JMN

[Adrian Joffe, Kawakubo’s husband, acts as interpreter during The Guardian interview, conversing with her in Japanese and relaying her answers to the English journalist. She seems to understand English.] “She said I should explain to you the amount of work … Continue reading →

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What to Do With Your 2-Week Vacation!

Posted on September 16, 2018 by JMN

Make french fries! Below is a quick summary of the process. For details, go to the article: Gabrielle Hamilton, “Spoil Them a Little With Homemade French Fries,” NYTimes, 9-12-18) 01. Peel-cut 5-6 russet potatoes into .25-x-.25-inch fries. 02. Refrigerate overnight … Continue reading →

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Cooperate how?

Posted on September 15, 2018 by JMN

The House of Law is built on the sands of Adverbia. On Friday, Mr. [***] broke in a big way — agreeing to cooperate “fully, truthfully, completely, and forthrightly” regarding “any and all matters” the special counsel, [***], wants him … Continue reading →

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“Soria” Wrecked: Meter and Rhyme

Posted on September 13, 2018 by JMN

“Soria” by Antonio Machado, Spanish Poet, 1875-1939 From “Campos de Castilla,” Antonio Machado, Biblioteca Anaya, 1964. (English translations by James Mansfield Nichols) Translating into meter is a lost cause, but adding a rhyme scheme escalates it to a punishing lost cause. You’re … Continue reading →

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The Blanco River, by Molly O’Halloran

Posted on September 12, 2018 by JMN

This picture captured me. The act of hand-drawing and painting a map must tap into deep reserves of disciplined obsession. I live toward the bottom of the Guadalupe-Blanco Watershed. When it rains heavily up country it’s possible the mighty Wadi-Loopy … Continue reading →

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Category 4 Adverb Storm

Posted on September 12, 2018 by JMN

This just in: Extreme preparedness for extreme wetness! “Hurricane Florence / [***] says government is ‘absolutely, totally prepared’ for storm… [***] says storm will be ‘tremendously big and tremendously wet’….“ (The Guardian, 9-12-18) [Copyright (c) 2018 James Mansfield Nichols. All rights … Continue reading →

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1987 By the way…

Posted on September 12, 2018 by JMN

[Dear Mother,] By the way: I quoted a piece about biography in my last letter, to the effect that there is always an autobiography lurking. There is a figure that I almost think I’ve dreamed up, but that I know … Continue reading →

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Darrien and Derrick Were Twins

Posted on September 11, 2018 by JMN

Darrien and Derrick Wortham were twins. They looked as much alike as any two children could look. Played varsity ball together under Spunk McGruder. Spunk replaced Moon Wattles after Moon had that little problem in the locker room. Nice boys. … Continue reading →

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This Is Akin to That: Scoping Language

Posted on September 11, 2018 by JMN

“Gun rights groups have vowed to fight such moves [to limit the unfettered sale of bullets]: ‘Raising taxes on bullets to offset the cost of gun violence is akin to putting a levy on prescription drugs to pay for the … Continue reading →

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