(1) Rachel Field

“Field also wrote the English lyrics for the version of Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria used in the Disney film Fantasia (film).”

(1a) Walt Disney’s Ave Maria

(2) Generation Limbo

“And there are plenty of this Lost Generation who, rather than turning to literature or the arts or even booze, dull the pain by worshipping the cult of celebrity, wondering why their own specialness doesn’t translate into hefty paychecks.”

(2a) Did I Say That? — Doing what needs to be done

(3) Euro-Collapse

(4) Quotable I

This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses.

– Macbeth

(5) The Online Gallery Of Artist Kevin Conklin

(6) Quotable II

There was a duality in medieval philosophy between the “active life” and the “contemplative life,” where one way of engaging with the world was to change it actively and another was to stand back and consider it from a distance. Is that image a good analogy for the roles of the architect and of the writer (or writing architect)?

I probably would not divide the making of architecture into two; designing buildings and writing about buildings. Certainly you can write in a way or build in a way that cancels the other out. You can write in way and not build, and implore other people to follow that way, and you can do the opposite: you can build and say, “By my buildings you understand my philosophical position.”

Michael Graves in ‘Unpacking My Library: Architects and Their Books’ by Jo Steffens

(7) In the Land of Macbeth

(8) Quotable III

Let me now sing of my friend, my friend’s song concerning his vineyard. My friend has a vineyard on a fertile hillside; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. Then he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard: What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done? Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? Now, I will let you know what I mean to do to my vineyard: take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled! Yes, I will make it a ruin: it shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it. The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his cherished plant; he looked for judgement, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!

– Is 5:1-7