From The Christian Science Monitor, a selection of photographs of supernovas.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Billy the Kid for $2.3 Million
A tintype of Billy the Kid, has sold for $2.3 Million, including seller's fee. This is the only authenticated photographic image of him.
Here is an article on the sale, and below is a video of the auction.
Here is an article on the sale, and below is a video of the auction.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Indian\Settler Conflicts
A post on two books I have recently read about the conflict between white settlers and native Americans.
Peaceable Kingdom Lost: The Paxton Boys and the Destruction of William Penn's Holy Experiment, by Kevin Kenny, covers the conflicts that finally pushed the Indians out of Pennsylvania. Penn, a Quaker, was determined to live peaceably with the native Americans. He would only allow settlement on land that he had previously purchased from the Indians. This was partially to prevent conflicts, and partially so he could control the growth of settlements. Penn's heirs rejected his Quakerism, and over the years Quaker influence waned as many Scotch-Irish Presbyterians migrated into Pennsylvania. Prompted by the belief that the land was being "wasted" by the native American, and that it should rightfully be taken by Christians, the Indians were brutally dispossessed, and eventually pushed out of Pennsylvania.
The book also covers one of the most intriguing incidents in American History, the war between Connecticut and Pennsylvania in the last half of the 1700's. Deciding that Connecticut was running out of room, a group of men from that state decided that they should just take part of northern Pennsylvania. The conflict that ensued lasted for years, and was not settled until after the American Revolution.
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S. C. Gwynne, is set in Texas, and the Great Plains. The book is structured around the events that resulted from the 1836 Commanche kidnapping of nine year old Cynthia Ann Parker in a raid on her families Texas settlement. Parker assimilated into the Commanche tribe, married a prominent leader and bore three children, before she was then kidnapped back by the whites. (These events were the real life inspiration for the John Wayne's 1956 film, The Searchers.)
Parker's eldest son Quanah was left behind during her second kidnapping, and he went on to become one of the most influential Commanches, leading resistance to white take over of the Plains. Quanah retained his influence after the Commanches were settled to a reservation, but by this time his mother had died, so he was never to see her again.
Here is clip of the author discussing the book.
Peaceable Kingdom Lost: The Paxton Boys and the Destruction of William Penn's Holy Experiment, by Kevin Kenny, covers the conflicts that finally pushed the Indians out of Pennsylvania. Penn, a Quaker, was determined to live peaceably with the native Americans. He would only allow settlement on land that he had previously purchased from the Indians. This was partially to prevent conflicts, and partially so he could control the growth of settlements. Penn's heirs rejected his Quakerism, and over the years Quaker influence waned as many Scotch-Irish Presbyterians migrated into Pennsylvania. Prompted by the belief that the land was being "wasted" by the native American, and that it should rightfully be taken by Christians, the Indians were brutally dispossessed, and eventually pushed out of Pennsylvania.
The book also covers one of the most intriguing incidents in American History, the war between Connecticut and Pennsylvania in the last half of the 1700's. Deciding that Connecticut was running out of room, a group of men from that state decided that they should just take part of northern Pennsylvania. The conflict that ensued lasted for years, and was not settled until after the American Revolution.
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S. C. Gwynne, is set in Texas, and the Great Plains. The book is structured around the events that resulted from the 1836 Commanche kidnapping of nine year old Cynthia Ann Parker in a raid on her families Texas settlement. Parker assimilated into the Commanche tribe, married a prominent leader and bore three children, before she was then kidnapped back by the whites. (These events were the real life inspiration for the John Wayne's 1956 film, The Searchers.)
Parker's eldest son Quanah was left behind during her second kidnapping, and he went on to become one of the most influential Commanches, leading resistance to white take over of the Plains. Quanah retained his influence after the Commanches were settled to a reservation, but by this time his mother had died, so he was never to see her again.
Here is clip of the author discussing the book.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Vivian Maier - Self Portraits
I did a previous post on the street photographer Vivian Maier. There is new set of self portraits up on her website, including this one. I did not know that images like this existed before mobile phones with cameras.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Norman McGrath's Architecture Photographs
From the Lens on the New York Times site, a set of black & white architectural photographs by Norman McGrath. Included is this photograph of Mies van der Rohe's One Charles Center in Baltimore. This must be an older photograph, because I don't think these stairs are there anymore.
This building was the last headquarter of the Chessie System, before it was subsumed into CXS. It now is the worldwide headquarters of Peter Angelos.
This building was the last headquarter of the Chessie System, before it was subsumed into CXS. It now is the worldwide headquarters of Peter Angelos.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Food on Film
Today I am posting my three favorite film scenes that focus on food. The clips below are all in different languages, but I don't think you need to have any idea what is being said to appreciate the what is going on.
Big Night (1996) with Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini.
Babette's Feast (1987) - Based on a short story by one of my favorite writers, the Baroness Blixen, AKA Isak Dinesen. With the winnings from a lottery, Babette prepares a lavish feast for members of an austere religious sect who gave her refuge.
The Leopard (1963) directed by Luchino Visconti based on the book by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. The film has an international cast, including Burt Lancaster. Where the other two films are intimate, this one is vast. This is probably one of the most lavish banquet scenes ever filmed.
Big Night (1996) with Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini.
Babette's Feast (1987) - Based on a short story by one of my favorite writers, the Baroness Blixen, AKA Isak Dinesen. With the winnings from a lottery, Babette prepares a lavish feast for members of an austere religious sect who gave her refuge.
The Leopard (1963) directed by Luchino Visconti based on the book by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. The film has an international cast, including Burt Lancaster. Where the other two films are intimate, this one is vast. This is probably one of the most lavish banquet scenes ever filmed.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Ken Burns and the Civil War
Ken Burns' 1990 documentary The Civil War was ground breaking. It has had a huge impact on both documentary film making, and current perceptions of the Civil War. Below is a video of Burns discussing the film.
That being said, I have to agree with James M. Lundberg's article in today's slate, "Thanks a Lot, Ken Burns". While the film did manage to engage an audience of millions for 11 hours, it is not very good history. When an event that killed hundreds of thousands of people gets turned into a warm and fuzzy story, you have to think that somewhere something is being warped.
That being said, I have to agree with James M. Lundberg's article in today's slate, "Thanks a Lot, Ken Burns". While the film did manage to engage an audience of millions for 11 hours, it is not very good history. When an event that killed hundreds of thousands of people gets turned into a warm and fuzzy story, you have to think that somewhere something is being warped.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Baltimore Oriole
Not quite the eagle cam, but an incredibly clear video of a Baltimore Oriole. In the middle of the video there is another bird, but I am not sure what that one is.
[Added 6/7/11 - The second bird is a Red-Bellied Woodpecker.]
[Added 6/7/11 - The second bird is a Red-Bellied Woodpecker.]
Baltimore Orioles with GoPro Hero HD from Rob Lavoie on Vimeo.
Goldfish Pond
A photograph I took today at Georgetown University. This is the only photograph in this set so far.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Dripped
I have not posted any animation for a while. Here is Léo Verrier's homage to Jackson Pollack, Dripped.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
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