G Stanley Hall publishes his seminal work, "Adolescence"
and coins the phrase "storm and stress" to describe the characteristic features of this phase of human development. An American psychologist, Hall also studied male and female differences and "racial eugenics;" understandably, his work no longer enjoys the popularity it once did.
They look so innocent, don't they. Detail, "The Daughers of Edward Darley Boit" by Sargent, 1882, Boston.
Dear Reader, I had the kind of evening we all have so often, getting caught up on the last 4 "Big Love" episodes, reading Angus Wilson's "Hemlock and After" (can't put it down!), and listening to Schwartzkopf (on continuous repeat) singing the finale of "Der Rosenkavalier" -- yes, life is good.
Oh of course I'm currently at the mercy of a certain teenager's evil plotting, a pawn in this young girl's hand, victim of her coercive machinations, caught in the crossfire as she ruthlessly pits parent against parent, thereby wreaking havoc with my own personal-made-Blog-public Life. But hey, these kids today, right?
Then I woke up this morning and thought, I'm out of my mind. I'm out of touch with the rest of the Blog-noscenti, the Bloggeratti, the Pajama-hadeen. So to make sure, and while I wait for my adorable technician to get here to assist in the sound studio set-up (pod-casting just around the corner!), I thought I'd do a little Blog-Site-Seeing. And from the links of my favorites to their links, to their links to ...
Trust me, you won't have to go far before you're utterly horrified and bemused (oh yes you can be both at the same time, and don't pretend you haven't). You can explore in your own fashion and cast your own breadcrumbs along the way, (no URLs embedded) but before too long I think you may also stumble on:
an overseas banker engaged in a menage-a-trois or quatre, (unclear, must revisit)
an opera enthusiast building a house in the barren wilds of New Hampshire (sweet, hot)
a fellow who posts nothing but photographs of himself in white underwear
a fellow who posts nothing but photographs of other people in underwear, or less, and gets into trouble for it
a midwestener who drives around in a jeep talking about things
a bunch of guys who lived together in a house in San Francisco and drank prodigiously and frequently disrobed. Some may still do (also unclear, to revisit)
So, there. For those of you who think I may be overreaching, a little too "out there" maybe -- look around.
As Justin pointed out the other day, quoting the ultimate authority Jayne Mansfield: "If you're going to do something wrong, do it big, because the punishment is the same either way."
Words to Live By.
And for a real treat, visit World Class Stupid for an on-going lesson on Big Galoots. Brilliant.
They look so innocent, don't they. Detail, "The Daughers of Edward Darley Boit" by Sargent, 1882, Boston.
Dear Reader, I had the kind of evening we all have so often, getting caught up on the last 4 "Big Love" episodes, reading Angus Wilson's "Hemlock and After" (can't put it down!), and listening to Schwartzkopf (on continuous repeat) singing the finale of "Der Rosenkavalier" -- yes, life is good.
Oh of course I'm currently at the mercy of a certain teenager's evil plotting, a pawn in this young girl's hand, victim of her coercive machinations, caught in the crossfire as she ruthlessly pits parent against parent, thereby wreaking havoc with my own personal-made-Blog-public Life. But hey, these kids today, right?
Then I woke up this morning and thought, I'm out of my mind. I'm out of touch with the rest of the Blog-noscenti, the Bloggeratti, the Pajama-hadeen. So to make sure, and while I wait for my adorable technician to get here to assist in the sound studio set-up (pod-casting just around the corner!), I thought I'd do a little Blog-Site-Seeing. And from the links of my favorites to their links, to their links to ...
Trust me, you won't have to go far before you're utterly horrified and bemused (oh yes you can be both at the same time, and don't pretend you haven't). You can explore in your own fashion and cast your own breadcrumbs along the way, (no URLs embedded) but before too long I think you may also stumble on:
an overseas banker engaged in a menage-a-trois or quatre, (unclear, must revisit)
an opera enthusiast building a house in the barren wilds of New Hampshire (sweet, hot)
a fellow who posts nothing but photographs of himself in white underwear
a fellow who posts nothing but photographs of other people in underwear, or less, and gets into trouble for it
a midwestener who drives around in a jeep talking about things
a bunch of guys who lived together in a house in San Francisco and drank prodigiously and frequently disrobed. Some may still do (also unclear, to revisit)
So, there. For those of you who think I may be overreaching, a little too "out there" maybe -- look around.
As Justin pointed out the other day, quoting the ultimate authority Jayne Mansfield: "If you're going to do something wrong, do it big, because the punishment is the same either way."
Words to Live By.
And for a real treat, visit World Class Stupid for an on-going lesson on Big Galoots. Brilliant.
Where are these kinky blogs? All I find is like minded older women, no underpants mentioned...I have a post dedicated to you today!
[1904 Replies: Now, Sue, I'd never be able to retrace my steps, so you'll just have to do what I did: try out the links of the links of the links. It is, after all, how I found YOU, by way of Conrad at Varieties, wasn't it? I do love that man, but he plows a lonely furrow, that one. I have no idea most of the time what he's talking about. Still, great fun, and I come away feeling improved, you know?
Your Post on Thoughts From Middle Age of course, I thoroughly enjoyed.]
Mein Kind,
The Germans developed the concept of Sturm und Drang (and lived it to the hilt) long before it hit picket-fence America. Think Werther (and all the youthful suicides it inspired), think Caspar David Frederich, etc., etc.
J.
[1904 Replies: which is of course where ol' Doc Hall got the idea, admittedly losing something in the translation, but from there it was but a small step to Art Linkletter's "Kids Say the Darndest Things" and the complexity of family dynamics found in "Father Knows Best."
The Sorrows of Young Werther become the Squabbles of Bud and Princess.]
Stunning. Goethe to Art Linkletter. It all makes sense. No wonder Diane Linkletter took acid & jumped out of a window.
Thank you for tying it all together.
[1904 Replies: It was the least I could do in return for your generous sharing of Bess Truman's "Hawaiian Holiday Salad" which in a sense brings us full circle once again, n'est-ce-pas? Old Europe gave us mayonaise and cheddar, and America gives back Miracle Whip, Velveeta, and Defenestration on recreational drugs.
They say it was the lead in the cookware brought down the Roman Empire. With us, I fear it may be the Melmac. Well, call me old-fashioned, but if a better presentation for iceberg lettuce and a Dole pineapple ring exists, I'm sure I don't know what it would be. ]
"I do love that man, but he plows a lonely furrow, that one."
I'm touched. Perhaps I could request this for an epitaph...?
"Pajama-hadeen"
Ha!
I remember my astonishment at discovering that Sargent a) was American and b) died in 1925. I mean, he's a relic! The more monochrome canvases work better I think.
[1904 replies: "... he plows such a lonely furrow..." is the exact phrase, one my mother often used and I feel certain it was meant in the nicest possible way. Although I can't help feeling it's rather sad as an epitaph, don't you agree? Or else one that winds up being bestowed posthumously, as those things go. Something much better will come to mind I'm sure.
Preparatory to anything else, I've so enjoyed the Etymologies posts, but alas, too timid to join the fray. Still on the comstones, you know. Haven't given that up. Profound meaning there, I'm convinced. Yes, Sargent better off when he used lots of black, with best regards as I remain, your humble servant, ]