I have been enjoying getting out to the various museums in New York. This weekend was the Frick Collection on 5th Avenue. Mr. Frick was an extraordinary man who made it big in the Steel boom and then after he made his millions, he collected a very intimate array of beautiful art. This place is a must see in New York.
I was completely taken back by one painting because it is so real in my life. In the below painting Paolo Veronese portrays Hercules choosing Virtue over Vice. I love the details and that he chose Virtue and "a rugged ascent leading to true happiness" Enjoy...
http://www.oceansbridge.com/oil-paintings/product/33720/allegoryofvirtueandvice1580/f52fdfe2bda6a9d9e0beeb677a19bcdf
Allegory of Virtue and Vice 1580
Paolo Veronese (c. 1528 - 1588)
Allegory of Virtue and Vice (The Choice of Hercules), c.1580
oil on canvas
86 1/4 in. x 66 3/4 in. (219.08 cm x 169.55 cm)
Henry Clay Frick Bequest.
At a crossroads, Hercules encountered Vice, who offered a path of ease and pleasure, and Virtue, who indicated a rugged ascent leading to true happiness — a moral lesson underlined by the motto on the entablature at upper left: [HO]NOR ET VIRTUS/[P]OST MORTE FLORET (Honor and Virtue Flourish after Death). The long talons of Vice have ripped the hero’s stocking. A jagged knife leans against the breast of the sphinx supporting her throne.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Founding Fathers
I have been reading about our country's founding fathers and am amazed by their words. The venerable John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had a "disdain for indolence" and a clear vision as true leaders.
It is so fun to learn about the events that took place in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington DC because I get to visit these places for work. As I read, I constantly think, "oh, there is a electrical distributor right down the street from that historical site." It is really, really fun to live in this part of the United States!
It is so fun to learn about the events that took place in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington DC because I get to visit these places for work. As I read, I constantly think, "oh, there is a electrical distributor right down the street from that historical site." It is really, really fun to live in this part of the United States!
The Devil's favorite words
Stultify:: to impair, invalidate, or make ineffective : negate b: to have a dulling or inhibiting effect on
Spurious: of falsified or erroneously attributed origin : forged b: of a deceitful nature or quality
Acquiesce: to accept, comply, or submit tacitly or passively
Spurious: of falsified or erroneously attributed origin : forged b: of a deceitful nature or quality
Acquiesce: to accept, comply, or submit tacitly or passively
Monday, June 9, 2008
Favorite Quotes
Favorite Quotes from Steven R. Covey's "The 8th Habit"
"The inspiration of a noble cause involving human interests wide and far, enables men to do things they did not dream themselves capable of before, and which they were not capable of alone. The consciousness of belonging, vitally, to something beyond individuality; of being part of a personality that reaches we know not where, in space and time, greatens the heart to the limit of the soul's ideal, and builds out the supreme of character."
-General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
"We know not of the future, and cannot plan for it much. But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure and high, we may cherish such thoughts and such ideals, and dream such dreams of lofty purpose, that we can determine and know what manner of men we will be whenever and wherever the hour strikes, that calls to noble action."
-General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Along those same lines... "To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour."
-Winston Churchill
"The inspiration of a noble cause involving human interests wide and far, enables men to do things they did not dream themselves capable of before, and which they were not capable of alone. The consciousness of belonging, vitally, to something beyond individuality; of being part of a personality that reaches we know not where, in space and time, greatens the heart to the limit of the soul's ideal, and builds out the supreme of character."
-General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
"We know not of the future, and cannot plan for it much. But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure and high, we may cherish such thoughts and such ideals, and dream such dreams of lofty purpose, that we can determine and know what manner of men we will be whenever and wherever the hour strikes, that calls to noble action."
-General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Along those same lines... "To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour."
-Winston Churchill
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Vocab:
I finished "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett this week and these were some of my favorite words in the book:
churlish
Main Entry: churl·ish
Pronunciation: \ˈchər-lish\
Function: adjective
Date: before 12th century
1 : of, resembling, or characteristic of a churl : vulgar
2 : marked by a lack of civility or graciousness : surly
3 : difficult to work with or deal with : intractable
apoplectic
Pronunciation: \ˌa-pə-ˈplek-tik\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Late Latin; French apoplectique, from Late Latin apoplecticus, from Greek apoplēktikos, from apoplēssein
Date: 1611
1: of, relating to, or causing stroke
2: affected with, inclined to, or showing symptoms of stroke
3: of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke; also : greatly excited or angered
surreptitious
Main Entry: sur·rep·ti·tious
Pronunciation: \ˌsər-əp-ˈti-shəs, ˌsə-rəp-, sə-ˌrep-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin surrepticius, from surreptus, past participle of surripere to snatch secretly, from sub- + rapere to seize — more at rapid
Date: 15th century
1 : done, made, or acquired by stealth : clandestine
2 : acting or doing something clandestinely : stealthy
churlish
Main Entry: churl·ish
Pronunciation: \ˈchər-lish\
Function: adjective
Date: before 12th century
1 : of, resembling, or characteristic of a churl : vulgar
2 : marked by a lack of civility or graciousness : surly
3 : difficult to work with or deal with : intractable
apoplectic
Pronunciation: \ˌa-pə-ˈplek-tik\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Late Latin; French apoplectique, from Late Latin apoplecticus, from Greek apoplēktikos, from apoplēssein
Date: 1611
1: of, relating to, or causing stroke
2: affected with, inclined to, or showing symptoms of stroke
3: of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke
surreptitious
Main Entry: sur·rep·ti·tious
Pronunciation: \ˌsər-əp-ˈti-shəs, ˌsə-rəp-, sə-ˌrep-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin surrepticius, from surreptus, past participle of surripere to snatch secretly, from sub- + rapere to seize — more at rapid
Date: 15th century
1 : done, made, or acquired by stealth : clandestine
2 : acting or doing something clandestinely : stealthy
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Madison Square Garden
I got to be in a 3 on 3 tournament last week and the final four got to play in The Garden. My team lost in the final 8 so that is why I am not in my basketball getup. It took me a few days to get over that loss. But it was really fun to go to the garden and actually be on the floor. My field goal percentage at the garden is 100% (I shot one shot and made it). John Starks, a New York Knicks Legend, was there and I talked with him for a minute. He really liked playing with Karl and John in Utah at the end of his career. It was interesting to me to see what people remember about his career. When basketball fans see or think of John Starks, they think of his BIG DUNK over the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals. That is a pretty good thing to be remembered for but I just thought it was funny because everyone mentions it to him every day. That's some serious branding power! Take a look at the BIG DUNK at MSG!
P.S. Starks wouldn't give me tickets to the last Knicks game of the season but at least I asked!
Spring in The City
It is such a great experience to be here in New York for spring. Thursday was the first really warm day and EVERYONE was out on the streets. There was a ubiquitous feeling of euphoria and appreciation for the weather among New Yorkers. It was so nice that I strapped on my roller blades and went to some of my favorite neighborhoods. The trees were as excited as the people to be welcoming spring.
Words of the week:
Ubiquitous
Euphoric
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
New Word
Tomfoolery: playful or foolish behavior This word was in the "life of Pi" and I thought it was catchy.
Enough of this tomfoolery!
Slow Down and enjoy my pictures of ice from this past winter as well as some ice pictures from the Internet.
P.S. I think this song goes well with ice imagery...
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Spring!
Ode to Spring
Owe spring you robbed me four times!
With only glimpses of you in my travels
To see the trees in this cold place
To feel their inner strength as I walk past
There is life in there!
It is waiting to burst out and love for a life
Like the sponges that expand 600 times their size
You pack the leaves and, ever growing, you await
Await those brilliant stark spring days when the world is saying to wake
You wait for those natural signs
It’s natural
Oh do not leave me again spring!
Ice
This is the first cold winter that I have had in 4 years and to tell you the truth, I cant get enough of it! I have immensely enjoyed driving around the northeast through snow and ice storms. The large picture on the front of my blog is in a beautiful canyon in West Virginia. Ice is beautiful and I am sad to see it go but now I am excited for spring!
Vocabulary
My favorite words this week are:
Derelict 1: abandoned especially by the owner or occupant 2: lacking a sense of duty
Stymie: to present an obstacle to : stand in the way of
Cantankerous: difficult or irritating to deal with
I had experiences with each of these words this week. The first was heard while listening to "Life of Pi" on an audio book while I drove between sales calls. The second was while on sales calls in New Jersey. Mike, an outside sales rep that cracks me up said that our next call was stymied by an owner in a bad mood. The third was told to me by my friend Danny last year and I heard it on a talk radio show this week as I drove.
I am really trying to expand my vocabulary and this blog will be a good way to do that. I will think, "hey, that's a good word for my blog".
Please, let me know your favorite words and why in the comment section of this post.
Derelict 1: abandoned especially by the owner or occupant 2: lacking a sense of duty
Stymie: to present an obstacle to : stand in the way of
Cantankerous: difficult or irritating to deal with
I had experiences with each of these words this week. The first was heard while listening to "Life of Pi" on an audio book while I drove between sales calls. The second was while on sales calls in New Jersey. Mike, an outside sales rep that cracks me up said that our next call was stymied by an owner in a bad mood. The third was told to me by my friend Danny last year and I heard it on a talk radio show this week as I drove.
I am really trying to expand my vocabulary and this blog will be a good way to do that. I will think, "hey, that's a good word for my blog".
Please, let me know your favorite words and why in the comment section of this post.
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