16: Borgo Pass, by Alan
Alan is taking a Two Dimensional Design class, and explains his art piece thusly:
[Double click photo to enlarge!]
"Borgo Pass was where Jonathan Harker, the protagonist of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" was told to meet Count Dracula's carriage--as indeed he did. His wife's maiden name was [Wilhel]mina Murray. When the count's carriage comes flying up and halts alongside the stagecoach (diligence?) at the top of the pass just after sundown, one of the passengers sotto voce quotes a line from the then well-known poem "Lenora:" "Denn die Todten reiten schnell" [For the dead ride fast]. The scientist-like character in the story was Abraham van Helsing, and Max Schrenk played the vampire in "Nosferatu," the second and oldest remaining movie version of the book. "Beyond the forest" is the English translation of "Transylvania." I find it odd that none of the movie versions of Dracula after "Nosferatu" portray the encounter at the top of Borgo Pass; it is one of the most dramatic parts of the original novel. I read (and still have in my library) "The Annotated Dracula" (1975). I remember reading the conclusion--in broad daylight(!) on a warm beautiful afternoon outside the little house where I lived in Santa Cruz--and it was very exciting. I think an annotated version is helpful to a modern reader. I wouldn't call it horrifying; but certainly exciting!"
Alan has Firsties!
ReplyDeleteTypographical error I didn't fix because (1) probably no one would catch it, and (2) I was out of the yellow construction paper on which it was printed: "Max Schrenk" should be "Max Schreck."
DeleteAlan
Oh, and it is a "Two Dimensional Design" class--essentially Art 1A. Next semester drawing, and after that watercolor.
DeleteAlan
I agree, Alan, the beginning of Dracula is interesting, dramatic and exciting. I've read the novel several times and always find it a good read.
DeleteThanks, Alan. I updated the name of your class, out front.
DeleteBernie suggests discussions will take place between like-minded 2020 candidates (such as Sanders and Warren), so to not split the vote.
ReplyDeletehttps://politicalwire.com/2018/10/20/sanders-hints-at-reckoning-with-warren-over-2020-plans/
The New York Post is saying Hillary will run again. I hope it's just another whimsy by the unreliable Post.
Deletehttps://nypost.com/2018/10/20/count-on-hillary-clinton-running-again-in-2020/?utm_source=NYPFacebook&utm_medium=Native&utm_campaign=NYPFacebook&fbclid=IwAR2qWltyOqq8NPwEPP0elGsYgg1zs22cp1824AsDdNz-zBCFItewPzwOeIM
Of course, I've also recently heard that HRC claims her husband did not commit sexual abuse because ML was over 18. Never mind that he was President and she was an intern.
That was the first reason I knew I could not trust her judgment...that she took him back despite his philandering. That she does not seem to recognise a fiduciary relationship.
Running for President three times did not work out well for William Jennings Bryan--and he was a far better public speaker than HRC. He also had better campaign slogans--although better than HRC's is a low bar IMO.
DeleteAlan
Several weeks ago someone wrote an opinion piece that it was ineveitable thatSanders and Warren would work things out for 2020.
ReplyDeleteThe photographer taking the Twitter war to Trump [Click]
Khashoggi murder exposes Trump administration's dependency on Saudis [Click] And if Saudi Arabia executes Khashoggi’s murderers, what loyalty could the Crown Prince and King expect from their minions?
A party at war: could Brexit split spell end of the Tories? [Click] And quite possibly the reunification of Ireland, perhaps even the independence of Scotland.
—Alan
Irish reunification. Scottish independence. Heady ideas.
DeleteBTW what about Gibraltar? They voted no and for a time there was talk of them forming a confederation or some such with Scotland for purposes of remaining. What's going on with that, do you know?
I don't know what is going on with Gibraltar, Cat. I saw something about it recently, but it didn't stick in my memory. But as is typical with border regions, its culture and economy is strongly intertwined with that of the area on the other side.
DeleteAs memory serves me, part of the Good Friday Accord is that the UK Secretary for Ireland is able to call a vote on reunification at any time, for any reason or no reason. The longer that is delayed, the better the chance of reunification, it seems to me. I wonder if the Dail has seats (or space for them) set aside for representatives of Ulster. Likewise office space. And what would become of Stormont? It is awfully big for a museum, but that would seem appropriate in the event.
Alan
Make that the UK Secretary for NORTHERN Ireland.
DeleteAnd here are some recent Gibraltar-Brexit articles from The Guardian:
16th March 2018 [Click]
5th April 2018 [Click]
24th July 2018 [Click]
--Alan
I knew what you meant. Thanks for the articles.
DeleteTHIS is Vermont.
ReplyDeleteAnd it could be the whole nation.
Political rivals stun voters by playing a duet together at the end of their debate.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lucy-rogers-vermont-political-rivals-stun-voters-with-unexpected-duet-zac-mayo/?fbclid=IwAR1mCF0OTFGRdxDaFqvjtuhhgMrMyXsUdIdeCSPCDAVPAjxW_WY__y_l4Y8
Well, gee!
DeleteAlan
Alan, really, really like your art piece.
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you, Susan.
DeleteAlan
High for the day: 36°. Merry Christmas, all.
ReplyDeleteI took a bucket of soapy water and a rag and cleaned up the Andrew Janz sign I put back up yesterday. Took a small sledge hammer and persuaded the stakes a little farther into the ground. The sign looks OK now.
ReplyDeleteAlan
That was a really good piece of work you and your neighbor did, Alan. Thanks for doing it, and for taking the extra effort to clean up the sign.
DeleteHave finished the twelve books of the Swallows and Amazons series, and wish there were more! Now into the Green Knowe series. Actually, I've already finished the first book, The Children of Green Knowe, and am well into the second, The Treasure of Green Know. Particularly enjoying this one, because the main character is a little blind girl.
ReplyDelete