Althouse: Tulipa Lilac Wonder.

May 17, 2014

Tulipa Lilac Wonder.

Photographed today at Olbrich Gardens.

11 comments:

Fandor said...: Very beautiful.

"The world is so full of wonderful things, I'm sure we should be as happy as kings".

-Robert Louis Stevenson; 5/17/14, 5:05 PM
traditionalguy said...: King Solomon is probably jealous of this flower of the field's clothing designer.; 5/17/14, 6:03 PM
TMink said...: Is there a Biggie Small's tulip as well?; 5/17/14, 7:35 PM
mesquito said...: During the Mexican-American war, Irish volunteers served with the the Mexican army, mostly out of Catholic fellow-feeling. Often during the evenings they would sit around their campfires and sing "Green Grow The Lilacs."

The Mexicans came to call them "gringos."; 5/17/14, 7:46 PM
Ambrose said...: They look like fried eggs to me - maybe I am just hungry.; 5/17/14, 8:45 PM
grackle said...: Another dietary truth revealed to be invalid. The scientist that performed the research that helped to touch off the recent trendy avoid-gluten frenzy decided to do a second, more rigorous study. Result? Gluten doesn't seem to do anything at one way or another for 99.99% of the population. Kudos to that rare scientist who actually checks his OWN research.

http://tinyurl.com/lozuzkv

An earlier article on the same subject:

http://tinyurl.com/lnxa8x4

An interesting article about why many "studies" are self-serving crap.

http://tinyurl.com/yk85sxj

Extrapolate this to social sciences where it is almost impossible to control variables or employ a rigorous methodology. In the physical sciences it is easier to ascertain validity, unless of course, data is "lost," outright invented or the data kept from public scrutiny.

Be aware that correlation is meaningless and proves nothing unless a causal link is proved, something that is difficult to do, especially in social research. The link below leads to an amusing website.

http://www.tylervigen.com

As one of my professors told my statistics class, "The number of births in St. Louis, MO inversely correlates almost precisely with the rise and fall of the Mississippi river but no one in their right mind would claim that one caused the other."; 5/18/14, 12:43 AM
grackle said...: And now for an attempt to amuse those who may like poetry:

Stalker

As in a horror movie
something shadowy
and evil draws near,
moves like a spider,
inspires rigid fear.

With backward glances
I dodge its advances,
fleeing like a draftee
from a sniper's eye
until I chance to see
the spectre is only me
wanting to say hi.

I don't wear a homburg
and look a bit like Sandburg,
though he wrote full-time
and refused to rhyme.
No longer anxious
I shake hands with Cure:
Hello, Mr. Subconscious.
Pleased to meet you, I'm sure.; 5/18/14, 12:52 AM
Anonymous said...: The Voices Beneath the Floor Say:

We are speaking to you in steady, measured words: the voices will never get too quiet, will never get too loud. The monotone syllable syrup should soothe you, reassure you, even though the words themselves may be dark. We hear the words you say to yourself when you believe no one is listening; we can hear your heartbeat above the din of the music, the dishwasher, the washing machine, the distractions you have set into motion to cover the silence. You are becoming aware that the path you are on is becoming narrower, and that you don't even remember actually choosing this path: this is the way motion goes without guidance. You sense that The Light is behind you now, that you are forever walking into your own shadow as it grows ever longer. You fear this, and it is True. Big Things can Happen, but you will wait in the faint Hope that these Big Things come to you: you will not alter your path to seek them out, your shadow will grow even longer, it envelops you and you have grown accustomed to this dim world. Turn the volume of the music up slightly louder: they are songs you have heard countless times before, meaning has been leached from them through reassuring familiarity. We are speaking to you in steady, measured words: we do not wish to disturb you from you path.; 5/18/14, 5:38 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: The Old Walking Song
J.R.R. Tolkien

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet."; 5/18/14, 9:33 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Now if I had been Tolkien (heh) I woulda written me "toward" instead of "towards" but I ain't no damn near-Shakespeare like J.R.R.

I might have written "towards the lighted inns" as there are plural plural words resulting in harmony.; 5/18/14, 9:38 AM
grackle said...: I'm paying more attention to your composition. Diagonals add drama. That's one of the things that make this a good photo. The contrast between the green background and the flowers' purple, which are opposites on the color wheel, draws interest immediately. I wonder: Is this intuitive or have you inculcated these principles of composition?; 5/18/14, 9:08 PM