life, the universe, and everything

So if you know not to panic, and to bring a towel... then you certainly get the reference in the title.  I loved all five books in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe trilogy - yes you read that correctly.  And I rarely go to the beach without murmuring "so long and thanks for all the fish" (the note the whales left when they "disappeared" from earth.)

In this hilarious series, which I later convinced a number of my friends to read- probably not 42 friends but a number, the answer to the question of the meaning of life was finally revealed... and why, you may ask, am I raving like this? Because today we attended an Einstein's Circle lecture on "Is there intelligent life in the Universe?" moderated by the terrific Jeff Rodgers of the Bishop Planetarium (formerly of the Hayden Planetarium)

So of course we already knew that in general the answer to that question is NO- but if we didn't know it before we certainly have learned it this election cycle. This afternoon we got to address the essential mediocrity of the planet earth's place in the universe-  and about now I think I should throw in one of my star pictures to keep those of you who need visual aids, interested in some of the "deep thoughts" I am about to impart.

pretty good one huh?

anyway- back to the lecture- LOL- I could spend hours trying to recreate the esoteric nature of the discussion but instead I will leave you with the equivalent of hieroglyphics- better known as my notes... you would think from how lacking in actual enlightenment they are - that I had written them in the dark.  But NO- the lights never went down - the dark was only virtual - not literal...

only these two photos are mine the rest came from the internet- just so I don't take credit for them...

Mediocre or unique greatness
Equation Sagan and Drake on how likely there is life out there...
Multiverse vs universe
Quantum world / Planck space
Our universe went from the size of  a grapefruit to 62 million light years across in less than one second.
When there is an infinite number of suits in the shop you can find one that fits perfectly which is how earth is for us...
Parallel universe/many universe /string theory (other dimensions)
Dogon people -visited by others before? (here I am resorting to wikipedia - as I have never heard of these folks who are alleged to have been visited by aliens and endowed with superior alien knowledge- Certain researchers investigating the Dogon have reported that they seem to possess advanced astronomical knowledge, the nature and source of which have subsequently become embroiled in controversy.)
Disappearing garbage cans that the aliens stole in NYC. Fermi- Where is everyone? In our mediocre universe. Fermi paradox...
Run the Drake equation. N= 0.8 per Jeff's calculation this year
Sagan ran it - said n= millions "but it could be lower"
Probable? then where are they ?
Great filter theory....we don't see them b/c all levels must be exactly met in order to have life. That creates animals with big brains who make tools. Colonize solar system. And then beyond.
Cosmic zoo -  pay attention to certain milestones. If we become responsible citizens then all will be revealed.
Other side - dangerous to interact one side always loses (Spanish and new world decimation of native population)
Actively looking SETI and other missions seeking information - we're listening and watching found zippo...
why the one star's light flickers of and off- theory "Dyson sphere" to theoretically harness energy of their sun/star. (OK here I am going to add the wiki definition for the 99.9% of us who never heard of this concept before - A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure that completely encompasses a star and captures most or all of its power output.)
What existed before the big bang? Just because we don't know doesn't mean we have to insert the supernatural.
Intelligent communicative life = 0.8 (Jeff's Drake equation number for this year)
He says he is a "rare earther" and thinks we may be it-
Great filter - a bottleneck along the way and maybe there are others who got to their end limit. Or the process ends in destruction and we just haven't gotten to the filter yet...

insert another stunning photo here as conclusion - LOL

So what did we learn? we don't know - we may never know- we don't really need to know- or maybe I just wasn't paying close enough attention LOL...

In youth, I didn't go to this class- I went to the Ram Das class and learned to "Be Here Now" (and am probably the happier for it...)

So I am going with 42 as my answer because I always admired Douglas Adams... if another answer comes to me in a dream state I will get back to you! meanwhile- enjoy your life during this period of the universe expanding... because I am going to fall back on a quote I heard from Dr. William Glaser the father of "reality therapy", which was one of the various modalities of therapy we studied in my Master's program.  In the film we saw in class, he was asked by the interviewer about death and "was there something else out there?" - his response- a direct quote easy to remember- LOL

"when you are dead you are fucking dead"  - So I figure when the universe is done expanding - it could be like Porky Pig's ending for every Looney Tunes cartoon I watched as a kid

"That's all folks!"

so long and thanks for all the fish!

this week

Our week has been pretty darn busy- we think we had reached agreement on two real estate deals (hopefully including our house) and we between us - started three new classes at USF-SM and got together with friends Al & Carol for dinner, tried a new lunch place, had a "farewell" dinner with our favorite sommelier in town, James at Michael's on East (he's headed off to Portland with wife and child to start a new life) and we ended our week with the symphony.

and next week things get really busy-  classes, theater, lecture, baseball (spring training game in Lakeland with CBGB) and then we are off to visit Angela & Lee for the weekend (Durham NC)

never a dull moment- oh and yeah, I forgot - the tickets for the Sarasota Film Festival go on sale on Thursday!!!! which means a lot of picking and planning on Thursday before we head out of town....

so here are a few photos/scans from the week-

dinner venue with Al & Carol-

I did a whole post about lunch but here is the reminder of the place- go back a post or two and you can read the whole thing-

text book for my 1890's history class- which seems like it will be extremely interesting - Phil's class is on the civil war and my other class is on the middle ages-

food from terrific dinner at Michael's on East- shrimp tempura and wedge salad appetizers

one bite- amuse of halibut (overcooked but one bite so who cares? LOL)

tuna- with the forbidden rice- for me and sea bass for Phil-

this is the perfect dessert- one layer of coffee (espresso) ice cream for me and the other layer vanilla with heath bar crunch for Phil- he also gets the fudgy topping LOL - Oh and the chocolate stick- he is the chocoholic in this household...

and tonight- the orchestra - playing a nice selection of classical and more contemporary works - Copland, Brahms, and Dvorak. (below the conductor Anu Tali, and soloist from tonight's concert)

our time is drawing near for the end of the winter- and we have only two plays and one more orchestra concert scheduled- but who knows how long we will be here if the house sells per the agreed upon closing date of 4/14.... we will see how that goes...

home again!

So our flight out of Jose Marti airport in Havana was delayed by nearly four hours putting us right in the teeth of the Miami rush hour - which we really didn't want to be in on December 23rd.... but at least we knew we would be home that night - some of our group had further flights heading to various parts of the U.S.

We got home by 9 PM and greeted our cats who had been well cared for with twice a day visits from Penny's Purrfect Petsitting... started laundry and were thrilled to be home to our own pillows and bedding and showers! (Travel is a great teacher of appreciation in many ways - not just what you see when traveling but also how you see your own country/city/home when you return)

The following day- which was Christmas Eve- we headed to the Feast of the Seven Fishes at one of our favorite restaurants (a good old fashioned Italian place in Sarasota called Cafe Baci).  Roberto, the owner had warned us away from it before but we were intrigued and insisted on going this year. Never again! He was right- we should have stayed away... the place was a zoo- serving over 500 dinners... the food was fine for a set menu and mass produced meal but the chef is capable of really great food - just not on this night...

here is the menu and a few photos of the food-

The flounder was the winner of the three fish entree. And the panna cotta (despite no photo) was very very good. The service (Henry) was excellent but the place was a zoo and our chairs got bumped every time a server went in or out of the tables behind us which had seatings of 10 and 12 people..

we did manage to drown our sorrows in the champagne we brought- LOL

so we finally got to find out about the feast of the seven fishes and once was enough...

we had a very nice meal last night on the roof terrace of the Beach Street Bistro- the photos are terrible because they have these yellow lights (bug repelling I guess) outside on the terrace but we had lobster fritters and ahi tuna apps and then grouper for me and seafood tower for Phil- a shared dessert of three mini creme brulees- which escaped the photo... the downtown traffic circle was festively lit for the holidays but the parking was over flowing with tourists here for the Christmas week and everywhere has been annoyingly overly full... alas that is a price you pay for living in paradise... everyone wants to have a piece of it...LOL

and soon classes begin for winter term-

I am signed up for one class and a lecture (as is Phil) and then for spring term I have two classes and a lecture---

here is the back to school detail- my class and the lecture we are attending at the local Museum along with local friends John & Barb, and my friend Maryanne, who is visiting that week!

THE COLD WAR: WORLD BIOGRAPHIES – 1945-1991
The Cold War was not only America’s longest war, but it constituted the most dangerous period in modern world history. Exploring this essential part of our history can help us understand the world we live in today. Our guides will be the key players of those years, figures like Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Khrushchev, Reagan, and Gorbachev, among others. Through their policies and actions, we’ll examine many different aspects of this fateful era, from its guiding ideologies to programs like the Marshall Plan and iconic events like the Berlin blockade. We’ll also look at the Cold War’s bloodiest chapters, Korea and Vietnam.

“Life, the Universe, and Everything at the South Florida Museum” with Jeff Rodgers
you’ll take off on a journey to the edge of space using the Bishop Planetarium’s 3D map of the observable universe. Follow that up with a walking tour of the museum’s exhibitions, tracing the natural history of life and of Florida back to 500 million years ago. We promise that you’ll walk away with a new perspective of your place in the universe and a new sense of wonder for our beautiful state.

then my spring term looks like this-

AMERICA IN THE 1890s
An overseas war that divided the country. An economic depression that increased income inequality. Sound familiar? The 1890s are perhaps not as remote as we think. This decade also witnessed the rise of the Populists—a third party whose name is now synonymous with popular protest—and a bitter presidential election that pitted a silver-tongued Democratic congressman against a gold-plated Republican governor. Chicago hosted a shimmering world’s fair and a prolonged strike that closed down its Pullman car works. These are a few of the events we will cover in this course—events which contributed to the making of modern America.

THE MIDDLE AGES 400-1500
The Middle Ages was a turbulent, formative time in the history of Europe. This class will explore the period from the fall of the Roman Empire to the dawning of the Age of Discovery. Looking at social structures and the everyday lives of the people, we’ll focus on the rise and fall of Central-, East-, and West Europe, England, and the Byzantine Empire. Much was lost during this period, but we’ll marvel at the new and inventive technologies that were gained. Our goal will be to shed some light on these “dark ages.”

and the lecture John & Barb and Phil & I signed up for- 

“Little Known Clever Creatures of Florida” with Florida Master Naturalist Alice Newlon 

We discover some of the good, the bad, and the clever creatures that make up Florida’s wildlife. You’ll learn to look at Florida’s unique birds, frogs, and turtles in a whole new light.

so we are back in the swing of things - planning on a NY Eve at home with stone crabs and foie and duck rillettes etc... and I - of course - have started to comb through my 2500 Cuba photos to bring you the best pictures and stories from our trip... so stay tuned because those posts start any day now...

here are a few photos of some of the members of the dance company we met with while in Cuba- 

we had people to people cultural exchanges one to three times daily, so there are many more photos to follow- stay tuned-  and find out who this mystery cowboy is and what he does --- and meanwhile you can be working on why the N is backward when used in KING and RANCH on his hat...LOL - 

aesthetic arrest

This morning my Arts Class did the session on Palm Avenue - a gallery walk with our instructor, Judy Levine. As usual, it was an interesting morning and as usual, I learned something new.  so let's get into the information- what I learned today was the term "aesthetic arrest" which is apparently the name Joseph Campbell gave for that moment when we go along viewing art and suddenly are stopped by something that "speaks" to us. This concept is brilliant because, to me, it encapsulates the essence of why I will LOVE something absolutely LOVE it- MUST have it, and my husband will be either only neutral - or worse- dislike it.

Case in point- a painting I bought last year that I LOVE and he really doesn't like. (I feel somewhat vindicated by the fact that friends of ours reacted in the same way to the work that I did.)  It is large 43x 52 (Phil thinks it is too big) and bold- but the minute I saw it I knew it was mine...LOL - I felt it was perfect for city-dwellers like ourselves who live in a house on a city lot 25 feet wide...LOL everything in our lives is vertical...like the painting- so it hangs in the stairwell, a compromise location.... but I get to enjoy it each day we are in Chicago.

Cityscape by Stuart Yankell, 1988

so I learned that term this morning at one of the four galleries we visited - and I have to say I had my moments this morning - and had I not promised Phil I would stop collecting - well I may have come home with two things that "spoke" to me.  We met near the Dabbert Gallery and because I was early I had a few minutes to take a few photographs of Palm Avenue...

the last photo was some art on the side of a bank building and had no nearby plaque to identify it...

so Judy gave us an update on some of the events around the area and then the Gallery owner came to welcome us into his wonderful gallery...he spoke to us about pricing for art work- and commission structure and gallery space and representing artists... all very informative.  I really liked his selection of artists/works exhibited - and here are things we saw- 

 and another - whose work I really really really liked- LOL

and the above painting is one that called out to me- and I commented to classmates that it is hard to stop collecting once you start- and I laughed at myself - when I got home- yes of course I loved "Sentinel" (above) because it was reminiscent of a Keith Oehmig painting I bought called "OGUNQUIT BEACH"  The first Keith Oehmig (born in Tennessee, now residing in Brunswick, Maine) we purchased ten years ago on a visit to Maine.  Oehmig's works are infused with light and color, and his impressionistic style is well suited to capturing the natural landscape throughout Maine, as well as the Florida beaches and French and Italian countryside, all of which he paints. And when I saw this one (below) on the website of the gallery (which thoughtfully had kept up with me - LOL) I fell in love with it and called to ask about its availability. So here is my similar sized version of the blue sky white cloud beach painting - now hanging in our Florida living room...

so despite my desire to make Sentinel a part of my own collection- I kept my promise to Phil... at that gallery...

we went on to another - 

This gallery had amazing glass works and bronze sculptures and several very appealing artist working on canvas and aluminum.  Then we ventured on to the Allyn Gallup Gallery where I had a weak moment- and even went so far as to inquire about the Jean Blackburn paintings they held in their inventory...but pulled myself together LOL-Their current exhibit was of Lynn Davison.

 

 then on to Art Uptown- 

I escaped the gallery walk without breaking my promise to not buy anything- LOL but went home to some of my favorite works as a consolation LOL- two large format paintings- 

I learned the one below "MOMENTUM" by Diane Reiger has what they call gallery wrap - the canvas is painted on the side so as to hang it without framing - which I have done.  But the above one I did have framed with a gallery level framing - it is called "NEAR POINT CARMEL SURF"  the cresting California surf by Helen Gleiforst (1903-1997). Gleiforst is a listed California impressionist whose teachers included Nicolai Fechin, George Melcher, and John Hubbard Rich. Dedrick Stuber influenced her landscapes and Nell Walker Warner influenced her floral paintings.

another favorite- "EVENING, RIO DEL MAR BEACH, 2004" A substantial modernist oil coastal landscape showing a view of Northern California's Rio Del Mar beach softly illuminated by a lilac and cornflower-blue sunset. Signed lower right, "C.W." for Colin West (American, 20th century).

You may not have "aesthetic arrest" about these paintings- LOL but that is why art is in the eye of the beholder! And I hope you find some art that "speaks" to you at some point- whether in a gallery on Palm Avenue or a local museum or when traveling the world...  

Last year President Obama got into trouble for dissing the Art History majors in liberal arts education but both my husband and I were art history minors (and yes that is part of the reason we went to law school :-( ) and just last week we were discussing how much a knowledge of art has enriched our lives. We have a couple of trips planned for overseas destinations this year that are focused on art and museums we want to (re)visit.  It is a part of why we travel.  So visit a local museum or gallery and find your own "aesthetic arrest"....  for next week's class a visit to the Circus Arts Conservatory- now that should be super fun! 

And tonight we saw a kick-butt play at the Asolo "Good People" which I will tell you more about tomorrow.  And tomorrow, I am scheduled to see "Both Your Houses" (again at Asolo) which I saw last fall in a Chicago production...  So more - of course - always more.....