DAILY PHOTO: Oktogon, Budapest
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Helen of Troy [Limerick]
There was pretty lady named Helen whose beauty had all the boys yellin'. No arrows from Cupid; her glance made 'em stupid. But did her face split a thousand melons?
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BOOK REVIEW: Rilke: The Last Inward Man by Lesley Chamberlain
Rilke: The Last Inward Man by Lesley ChamberlainMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
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This book surveys the influences on Rainer Maria Rilke’s poetry, and makes the argument that Rilke was the last vestige of a mystically spiritual [Romantic or Romantic-esque] poetic line. Poetry was becoming more political and more influenced by nihilistic philosophies that eschewed inward investigations of meaning and self-realization, constructs that were seen as artificial and empty. Rilke bucked the trend, and while he did become an important poet, Chamberlain believes he paid a price.
The book discusses the influence of sexuality, spirituality, and artistic obsessions on Rilke’s poetry in great detail. It also talks about his life as an influence, both his family life (or lack, thereof) and the key years he spent in Paris. The last couple chapters tie the story together by clarifying what Rilke achieved and how it contrasted with prevailing trends.
If you’re interested in understanding more about the philosophical and spiritual forces impacting Rilke’s work, this is an interesting read. It’s not a biography, strictly speaking, but does unavoidably discuss Rilke’s life in some detail (though always through a literary / philosophical lens.)
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BOOK REVIEW: Introducing Fractals: A Graphic Guide by Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon & Will Rood
Introducing Fractals: A Graphic Guide by Nigel Lesmoir-GordonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Fractal Geometry is a school of mathematics that contends with the kinds of shapes seen in nature, shapes which often appear irregular (at least on some scale,) but which are also frequently self-similar (i.e. the twig looks like the branch looks like the whole tree.) One problem that led to the discipline’s development was determining the distance of a coastline. The distance between measurements vastly alters the final measurement one gets. From the discipline’s origins in observation of the natural world and the problems found in nature, fractal geometry was put to use for problems in ecology, finance, technology, and art and music. The book touches upon this sprawl of the subject, as well as relating fractal geometry to Euclidian Geometry, Calculus, and theories of Chaos and Complexity.
This book offers a simple and cursory overview of the subject. A reader expecting to learn how to employ Fractal Geometry will come away disappointed, but one who just wants to know the kind of problems its useful for and get a basic and intuitive explanation of why it’s useful can gain a great deal from the book. As the subtitle suggests, the book is illustrated and the graphics are far more useful in this volume than in most of the “Graphic Guide” series. That probably comes as no surprise as the subject is inherently more visual than average.
If you’re starting from ground zero, I’d highly recommend this book. Those with a mathematical background may yearn for more depth.
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Wood Strong [Haiku]
Stone Birds [Haiku]
two stone birds carved into a temple plinth: still impermanent!
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DAILY PHOTO: Modhera Sun Temple
Anti-Social Media [Limerick]
There once was an evil internet troll who spouted like the proverbial blowhole. He snarked to the void like a flaming hemorrhoid, but remained an anonymous A-hole.
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DAILY PHOTO: Chicago
Loss; or, 21st Century Kafka [Free Verse]
They claimed theft, but what was stolen? They could not name it, but said they felt its loss. They demanded recompense, but weren't sure to whom they should send the bill, and so they just shouted the demand out to the universe. This thing which could not be named or described could be missed; its loss felt deep within. They would rage for it (if in vague terms) by violent means if necessary.
Tiger Riding for Beginners 