Monthly Archives: July 2012

End of July snapshots

Posted on July 31, 2012 by jyourist
Posted in nature, photography | Tagged , | 3 Comments

“The Fish Tank” by Lydia Davis

Posted on July 30, 2012 by jyourist

I stare at four fish in a tank in a supermarket. They are swimming in parallel formation against a small current created by a jet of water, and they are opening and closing their mouths and staring off into the … Continue reading →

Posted in writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

“What’s goin on?”

Posted on July 29, 2012 by jyourist

I was on a roll, cleaning the house. I had just begun to mop the floors when the mophead flew off. It had totally rusted through and disengaged itself from the long handle. JB asked, “What’s going on?” when he heard … Continue reading →

Posted in music | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Context is everything

Posted on July 28, 2012 by jyourist

Marcel Duchamp, whose birthday it is today (1887), created the most influential piece of art of the 20th century- Fountain (pictured above), signed “R. Mutt,” created when he was 29. It is a urinal and was placed upside down on … Continue reading →

Posted in art, artist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Furniture alive

Posted on July 27, 2012 by jyourist

Lila Jang, Korean artist and designer, creates playful and anthropomorphized furniture, riffing off of classic French Baroque. She is interested in pushing the limits of practicality and entering the realm of whimsy while still maintaining at least a sliver of … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Birthday Princess

Posted on July 26, 2012 by jyourist

Today is my mother and her twin’s birthday. 85 years old. My mother has had Parkinson’s for some time now. She has lost her independence in the world. Now she is confined, for the most part, to a wheel chair, needs … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, family, transformation, twins | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Amelia Earhart speaks to Sally Ride

Posted on July 25, 2012 by jyourist

Sally Ride died two days ago, the day before Amelia Earhart’s birthday 115 years ago (July 24, 1897). Ride was the first American woman in space. Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. A year ago, Emily … Continue reading →

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November’s choice

Posted on July 24, 2012 by jyourist

I am no expert at critiquing political campaign ads, but I was so comforted by the clarity  in this Obama one. It’s a minute long, twice the normal length of such spots. It doesn’t beat up the opposing candidate. It … Continue reading →

Posted in democracy, politics, voting | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Don’t Tell Anyone by Tony Hoagland

Posted on July 22, 2012 by jyourist

xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx We had been married for six or seven years when my wife, standing in the kitchen one afternoon, told me that she screams underwater when … Continue reading →

Posted in poetry | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments