Starting the Day (Poetry)

An Illustration by Edmund Dulac of the Rubayyat of Omar Khayyam. This was done in 1909.

Here is the verse that goes with it from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam translated by Edward Fitzgerald:

Look to the blowing Rose about us-- "Lo
Laughing," she says, "into the world I blow,
At once the silken tassel of my Purse
Tear, and and its Treasure on the Garden throw."




I've finished reading Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy. The next thing for me to do is go back through it and take notes on a few different points so I can write the review. I usually like writing long hand notes for the review, not on the computer. Then I put it into the computer.

I put Rumi: The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and Longing on reserve. I am more interested in the poetry than the religious writing. I like some religious writings for their poetic content. I'll read the Tao Te Ching for example in a secular sense because I enjoy the poetry. My favorite part of the old testament is The Song of Solomon for the same reason. I really enjoy the poetic quality of the writing. Very philosophical poetry is deeply interesting to me, De Rerum Naturae (The Nature of Things) by Lucretius is one of the books which I have read several times. Right now, I have the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam rendered into english verse by Edward Fitzgerald in front of me. It is appropriately illustrated by Edmund Dulac, one of my favorite illustrators.

I feel as if I am just waking up for the day. I'll write a few more lines as I think of other things.

I've spent quite a bit of time today ordering phone books from Verizon and Yellow Book. Verizon will charge for certain books outside of the county where I work so I have to be careful which books I order. Yellow Book charges if you order more than two different books, $2.50 per additional book past the first two titles. I have a selection list from the last time I ordered phone books. There is a law about how many phone books you can order for a specific location listed in the New York Code of Rules and Regulations. Some people still prefer to use the phone book to look up local numbers. They don't want to use the internet.

I also spent a lot of time requesting annual reports over the internet. I usually first contact the company from their website. If there is no email or standard computer request form for annual reports I'll end up calling them. Requesting annual reports by email is much easier to do than phoning the companies. You don't have to deal with call waiting. Most of the companies are in the New York area. I still have quite a few to contact. In a way it seems to be a waste. Every company has reports online now.

I read a bit more of the Fables graphic novel series. I am going to give some spoilers. Gepetto who made Pinocchio is the adversary. Pinocchio makes a very interesting character, Pinocchio is stuck permanently as a small boy. The art is very colorful. There are a lot of very bright colors used. They are bringing in different settings to the story now. There is the land of the Cloud Giants and the Arabian Nights. You also have some tales set during different historical periods. Hansel is a witchhunter. Bigby Wolf (The Big Bad Wolf) helps the allies in World War II. Fables has won quite a few Eisner awards.

Some Philosophy Books, And A Bit On Widgets

Marcus Aurelius Emperor of Rome

Today is Thursday, I am not quite sure what to write about. I was thinking of mentioning some religious or philosophy books which I have. My father gave me a copy of The Holy Bible designed and illustrated by Barry Moser. The woodcuts throughout are very beautiful. I occassionally like to the read the Psalms and Proverbs.

I used to work in the History, Biography, and Religion department of a large central library at one point. I would order the eastern religion books and mystical christianity books. I don't spend as much time as I used to focused on this type of writing.

I also keep a copy of the Tao Te Ching, and the Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi which I read on occassion. They both have a certain poetry to them. Although, I don't keep a copy, Sun Tzu's The Art of War can teach you a lot as well.

If you are looking for a superb piece of esoterica with all kinds of beautiful illustrations throughout, you might want to look at Manly P. Hall Secret Teachings of All Ages. It is a very interesting book.

We get a lot of questions about religion, especially christianity where I work. One thing I can say about some of the christian books is that some of them have a positive attitude. Attitude can get you to the right places in life sometimes. Although many people do not consider it a christian book, Norman Vincent Peale -- The Power of Positive Thinking can help you get pointed in the right direction towards less negativity in your life.

A lot of people have lost their sense of the Greek and Roman philosophers takes on life. A little book which has helped many people keep focus is the Enchiridion by Epictetus, it is the stoics guide on how to live. Another book is the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius who was the emperor of Rome. These are both precursors to a large portion of St. Augustine's philosoophy. Stoicism teaches that the self denial is the highest pleasure.

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I have added a few widgets, namely a bestseller widget, a graphic novels widget, and an audiobook widget. I am still looking for an ebook widget. I haven't found a decent one yet.
I also put in a fish tank widget. It reminds me of fish tv, a popular show on cable, where people have simply put a camera in front of a fish tank the fish swim around.

Anyways, I am still reading A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin, I'll probably finish it today, maybe tomorrow. One of my favorite characters so far is Brienne the Maid of Tarth who is one ugly warrior woman. The writing is crisp and clean, it is very easy to read and enjoyable. The ironmen very much remind me of the vikings in their longships with their raiding, pillaging, and slave taking. This is really well worth reading.