Because I once was an agnostic who thought he was a realist, this caught my attention (emphasis added): It is not miracles that bring a realist to faith. A true realist, if he is not a believer, will always find in himself the strength and ability not to believe in miracles as well, and if […]
The Meditator (or The Contemplator) by Ivan Kramskoy, 1876 In The Brothers Karamazov (Bk 3, Ch 6), Dostoevsky makes reference to the above painting in describing Smerdyakov: Yet he would sometimes stop in the house, or else in the yard or the street, fall into thought, and stand like that even for ten minutes. A physiognomist, studying him, […]
In looking for more information about the Russian portrait painter Ivan Kramskoy (see previous post), I discovered one his more famous paintings: Christ in the Desert by Ivan Kramskoy, 1872
Bee Keeper by Ivan Kramskoy, 1872 Here is another painting by Russian portrait painter Ivan Kramskoy with a similar contemplative stare as the previous two posts. I seem to be drawn to this one more than the other two. Maybe it is as simple as the background or the details in his clothes. Or it could be that […]
It is fairly obvious that the names Dostoevsky uses for the characters in The Brothers Karamazov are important. Names are not only labels for identifying characters, but the meaning of names also point to their type of character or role in the overall theme of the story. For example, the name of the hero Alexei […]
I think there is a choice possible to us at any moment, as long as we live. But there is no sacrifice. There is a choice, and the rest falls away. Second choice does not exist. Beware of those who talk about sacrifice. — Muriel Rukeyser She is mostly correct, but her warning needs clarification. […]
The You journal has been merged back into the revived CowPi Journal.
After considerable mulling over, I have decided to bring back the old CowPi Journal. (I hope to write about the reasons later.) All of the post from my You journal have been merged into this one. (Links should redirect here too.) Lots of work still needs to be done. I haven’t yet decided on the design […]
I recently rediscovered a rare moment of inspired creativity I had left as a comment to this article back in March, 2008, “No Resistance is Futile”. The form of haiku— Like banks of a river flows Creativity The point of the article, and the website too, is that limitations, restrictions, or boundaries narrows ones focus […]
If I had a theme song for this summer, it would be Keith Urban’s upbeat and bouncy, “Somebody Like You”. (Listen) The first stanza, especially the third line, is what caught my attention when I heard this song on the radio this morning. It is full of energy and joy. Except for the third line […]