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Capsule (Full commentary found immediately below Lead Picture):
Sunday, August 25, 2019
So Kat still asks my advice.
Although she no longer cries out, “Daddy, just tell me what you would do!”
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Lead Picture (Story below in Thumbnail section)
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Napoleon Crossing the Alps
Jacques-Louis David - Google Art Project
Read more on the blog www.existentialautotrip.com
The blog? A daily three to four-minute excursion into photos and short texts to regale the curious with an ever-changing and diverting view of a world rich in gastronomy, visual art, ideas, chuckles, stories, people, diversions, science, homespun, and enlightenment.
Observing with wit and wisdom, Dom Capossela, an experienced leader, guides his team of contributors and followers through that world, an amusing and edifying conversation to join.
Note that the blog also publishes the "Hey, Dom!" and the "Hey, Dom! How're doin?" series of videos.
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Commentary
Sunday, August 25, 2019
I’m very proud that my daughter seeks out my opinions on matters, political, personal, and, recently, culinary.
From her childhood.
Attending her basketball games at school, I took notes on specific plays and players.
After the game, she sought me out to sit with her, apart from the others, and to review the game play-by-play.
That was edifying enough.
What was stunning was that she took my observations to heart and next game, put them into practice.
I guess that I rarely express an opinion as to the definite way to proceed but only one of several options for her action or behavior.
Often to her chagrin: “Daddy, just tell me what you would do!”
I resist.
Her life.
Her decision.
I think long term that way has worked well for us.
To this day, when she has so many qualified people surrounding her who can and do advise her, she still seeks me out; still listens attentively.
Why?
A parent knows his child better than anyone.
Can see his child’s reaction to different situations better than anyone.
Has her interest as his primary better than anyone.
His perspective unique.
So Kat still asks my advice.
Although she no longer cries out, “Daddy, just tell me what you would do!”
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A “Hey, Dom!” video.
Publication Date: Sunday, August 25, 2019
Name: A Trio
Length: 59 seconds
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Friday’s Dinner posted on
Sunday, August 25, 2019
A Tuna Fish Sandwich using a jar of the more expensive kind.
I love the crunch of fresh celery and red onions and the opulence of the olive oil and mayonnaise combination.
I love the tuna, so different from raw tuna but delicious in its own right.
Of course, as with all sandwiches, the glory of the bread, in this case, a sesame ficelle from Iggy’s, long and thin with a crisp crust and soft interior.
MmmmM!
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We love getting mail.
Contact me at domcapossela@hotmail.com
Sunday, August 25, 2019
This from Sally C:
Dear Dom,
Yes, the doctor stories couldn't be contained in a 5,000-post blog!
I will limit my comments to remarking that until more recent medical times, a good doctor came out of his office to meet the next patient, walked up to him or her, observing the whole body on approach, reached out to shake hands, noted the texture, warmth, and strength of the handshake, leaned in close to smell the patient's breath and look into the eyes, observe the color and texture of the skin.
By the time the doctor and patient had entered the office or exam room, the doctor was already assembling a diagnosis.
It wasn't so long ago that doctors made house calls - our family physician did when I was a child.
Even as late as the 1980s, one of my father's doctors, late in my father's life, came with his wife on occasional Sundays to examine my father, but my mother suspects strongly that was mostly so he could get his fill of my mother's biscuits at Sunday dinner.
After he examined my father, whose rheumatoid arthritis often made an hour-and-a-half trip into Boston uncomfortable at best, and the four of them had dinner, he and my father would talk engineering for a few hours, my mother and the doctor's wife equally engaged in talking about common interests.
These days, no doctor gets close to the patient, missing out on all kinds of valuable information, and remains separated from the patient by at least a thin nitrile glove.
Most of the observations are made by the assisting medical staff.
Sally
Web Meister responds: Nicely spoken. Thank you, Sally.
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A tip o' the hat (U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, 1924
Acknowledgements
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Thanks to Sally for her comments on doctors.
And to the Microsoft team at the Prudential Center for their unflagging availability to help with a constant flow of technological problems.
Always thanks to Wikipedia, the Lead and the Thumbnail sections of the Blog very often shaped from stories taken from that amazing website. They are truly worthy of public sup
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Chuckle of the day:
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Michael’s parrot learned obscenities at the pet store but Michael bought him convinced that his own quiet, polite demeanor would change the parrot.
After six months, it hadn’t.
Michael tried a variety of more assertive punishments, to no avail.
Out of desperation, on the advice of a friend, Michael put the parrot in the freezer for sixty seconds.
For half the minute the bird squawked and kicked, and then fell silent.
After the full sixty seconds, Michael opened the freezer door.
The parrot calmly stepped out and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'll endeavor at once to correct my behavior. I really am truly sorry and beg your forgiveness."
Michael was astonished the change in attitude and quickly forgave the parrot: “Thank you. All is forgiven.
And the parrot said, "May I ask? What did that chicken do?"
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Today’s Thumbnails
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Napoleon Crossing the Alps, the Lead Picture, is the title given to the five versions of an oil-on-canvas equestrian portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte, painted by French artist Jacques-Louis David between 1801 and 1805.
Initially commissioned by the King of Spain, Charles IV, the composition shows a strongly idealized view of the real crossing that Napoleon and his army made across the Alps in May 1800, through the Great St Bernard Pass in Switzerland.
Having taken power in France during the Coup of 18 Brumaire in November 1799, Napoleon was determined to return to Italy to reinforce the French troops in the country and retake the territory seized by the Austrians in the preceding years.
The Austrian forces, under Michael von Melas, were laying siege to Masséna's troops in Genoa; Napoleon hoped to gain the element of surprise by taking the trans-Alpine route.
By the time his troops arrived, Genoa had fallen, but he pushed ahead, hoping to engage the Austrians before they could regroup.
Lejeune - Bataille de Marengo
Louis-François, Baron Lejeune - Unknown
The Reserve Army fought a battle at Montebello in June before eventually securing a decisive victory at the Battle of Marengo.
The lead picture is the fourth version of the painting, produced by David in 1803 for the palace of the Cisalpine Republic in Milan.
It was confiscated by the Austrians in 1816 and later installed in the Belvedere, Vienna, where it is now part of the collection of the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere.
The Battle of Marengo was fought on 14 June 1800 between French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte and Austrian forces near the city of Alessandria, in Piedmont, Italy.
Near the end of the day, the French overcame Gen. Michael von Melas's surprise attack, driving the Austrians out of Italy and consolidating Napoleon's political position in Paris as First Consul of France in the wake of his coup d’état the previous November.
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Good Morning on this Saturday, the twenty-fourth day of August, 2019
Dried horse dung is considered very lucky.
And a piece of Josephine’s from the battlefield of Marengo?
And now? Gotta go.
Che vuoi? Le pocketbook?
See you soon.
Your love.