March 1, 2007
Dibs on that
Since it is profiled in today's NY Times, I might as well alert you to my latest internet find: the antiques site 1st Dibs.
I am preparing three movie reviews at the moment: Babel, the Departed and Flags of Our Fathers. The reviews will be posted shortly.
Posted by dag at 10:43 AM
October 19, 2006
Eames
Our Eames lounge chair and ottoman have finally arrived.
Posted by dag at 10:41 AM | Comments (1)
August 19, 2006
Mass Art: Who Says Its a Bad Thing?
I might as well introduce my readers to my latest find: modern-digital-canvas. In short, their prints range up to that dramatic, wall-statement size, are high quality and very modern without being goofy or some philistine's idea of abstract art. I particularly like "Tuscana", pictured above and which I am thinking about getting in the largest size (58"X43") to put make a statement on one particularly barren stretch of wall.
One cool feature to which I would like to draw your attention is their weekly canvases, which are available for only 7 days and are often quite compelling.
Posted by dag at 9:16 PM | Comments (0)
July 26, 2006
Clades Variana
Some time ago I was reading an article about the work to uncover the true site of the Clades Variana (The Varus Disaster) at Kalkriese. This was one of the greatest events of the classical world (in the sense of importance); it haunted the Roman empire for the rest of its days and, in the eyes of some historians, set back by roughly 2,000 years a process that would not be completed until one fine day in May, 1945, and then only by the Americans.
Pictured above is the most spectacular (I think at least aesthetically) object yet recovered from the site: a Roman cavalry officer's mask (click on it for a larger image). I can't get past it.
To me it possesses at the same time an awesome humanizing and de-humanizing energy. I would kill to have it on display in my home. I wonder whether there isn't someone who makes a respectable copy? I also wonder whether there isn't some modern sculptor who has made some sort of equally moving abstract statement inspired by it?
Posted by dag at 9:11 PM | Comments (1)
May 31, 2006
The Great Eames Debate
Well, the wife and I are thinking about getting an Eames lounge chair and ottoman. This is, after all, the 50th anniversary of this masterpiece of American design. The crucial question is: what wood?
The main contenders are:
Walnut
Santos palisander
The wife and I have differing views on the subject. What do you think? (Obviously, failure to agree with my choice will force a complete re-appraisal of my relationship with you).
Update
The wife has explored the site Justin recommended, and has thrown another contender into the ring:
Cherry
Posted by dag at 1:49 PM | Comments (6)
April 4, 2006
Cos in the Big Easy
Bill Cosby takes an expansive view of the challenge of rebuilding New Orleans.
Posted by dag at 2:33 PM | Comments (0)
November 2, 2005
The Growing Reading List
In the 5 to 7 days before Christmas, I plan a slow and purposeful courtship with my soon-to-arrive Manhattan chair and matching ottoman from Pottery Barn. I'm lining up the beverage choices (one of those days I plan to try Gravner's old Roman-style "Breg") and reading list. Here is what I want to tackle in those painfully short days of complete withdrawal from the everyday rat race:
E.L. Doctorow's The March: a novel set against the backdrop of Sherman's savage burn through the South.
Charles Mann's 1491: a story of the legends, lies and cherished myths regarding the New World that European explorers stumbled upon.
Thoma Asbridge's The First Crusade: a history of, well, the first crusade. Though I fancy myself something of a history buff, my knowledge of the crusades is embarassingly limited.
Zadie Smith's On Beauty: A novel about sense, non-sense and downright silliness in the culture wars among and between the members of two academic families.
John Sugden's Nelson: A Dream of Glory, 1758-1797: A biography of England's greatest naval hero.
Victor David Hanson's A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War : a whirlwind history of the West's very first "World War".
I know, I know: there is no possibility that life will seriously allow me the peace and quiet required to finish all of these in the allotted time.
But for now allow me the bliss of my delusions.
Posted by dag at 9:16 PM
October 30, 2005
The Lawn, Part MCMLX....
I spent today watering the lawn. Basically, I spent the entire day watering the lawn.
When I moved into this house, I had this vision of Sunday afternoons in an overstuffed leather chair, sipping some (wine/port/cognac/21 year old Glenfiddich Special Reserve aged in rum barrels....mmmmmmmmmmmmm, 21 year old Glenfiddich Special Reserve aged in rum barrels) and reading a book, some wonderful piece on the stereo (let me recommend Pierre-Laurent Aimard's truly refreshing rendition of Beethoven's Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5)...
No, no wait: this is the actual, as opposed to fantasy, life of the disgracefully aging gentleman. I spent the entire day watering the lawn. Why? Because, as I have learned (more than I have ever wanted to) about new lawns in this part of the South, they demand extra (extra) special care to grow. After all, the soil is clay, compacted and, of course (because every cake needs a frosting), we're in a drought...
Why am I writing this? I had to actually live it. Back to the fantasy life:...
Posted by dag at 10:13 PM | Comments (2)
October 27, 2005
New Blog
After a great deal of careful thinking, I have decided to bring back Aging Disgracefully.
I needed a hiatus, and have decided that Aging Disgracefully needs a new focus. Out with the current events, politics and economics: I want a refuge from all of that. I think I will now focus more on the whole lifetsyle of a disgracefully aging gentleman. Initially, the last incarnation of Aging Disgraceully had achieved some balance between its various focus areas, but somehow I drifted away from that as time passed. Therefore, I want to re-focus more specifically on the key elements that make my daily life work (and not work). As part of this, I have added a new section (My Growing-and Alarming-Attraction to Pottery Barn) to document the ongoing saga that has been our new home, including my frightening forays into my metrosexual side as I make decisions about things like interior decoration (not that there's anything wrong with that). In the next few weeks my new posts will be mingled with old ones that seemed particularly relevant to the new focus.
Though this is just the latest incarnation of Aging Disgracefully, it still it feels like a new beginning. Once again, I'm moved to quote verse:
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;
Labour and rest, that equal periods keep;
"Obedient slumbers that can wake and weep;"
Desires compos'd, affections ever ev'n,
Tears that delight, and sighs that waft to Heav'n.
Grace shines around her with serenest beams,
And whisp'ring angels prompt her golden dreams.
For her th' unfading rose of Eden blooms,
And wings of seraphs shed divine perfumes,
For her the Spouse prepares the bridal ring,
For her white virgins hymeneals sing,
To sounds of heav'nly harps she dies away,
And melts in visions of eternal day.
-Alexander Pope
Posted by dag at 8:05 PM