Monday Miscellany

_____________________________

_____________________________

Email from Nick K in respect of last week’s post about ugly buildings:

Dear Otto,

I hope you're well, mate. Whilst there may be such a thing as objective beauty, your email makes me doubt it.

I like every one of those buildings except for 432 Park Ave. I agree with the criticism that it is jarring and aesthetically meritless. It reminds me of the celebrated architect, Harry Seidler's Blues Point Tower, which I once heard (accurately) described as "an 'up yours' to Sydney and its Harbour".

Thanks for all the interesting bytes.

Nic. 

Thanks for the email, Nick.

It is true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a sentiment expressed as early as the third century BC by the Greeks but put into its modern form of expression by Margaret Wolfe Hungerford in her book “Molly Bawn” (1878). 

Margaret Wolfe Hungerford

The Bytes post that Nick is referring to can be read by clicking on the following link:

http://bytesdaily.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/more-ugly-buildings-us.html

The building which his eye beholds as “aesthetically meritless” (and which I simply called ugly), is:

I have previously mentioned Blues Point Tower in my list of ugly Sydney buildings. The building is an eyesore in one of Sydney’s most beautiful spots:

To read about it, click on:

http://bytesdaily.blogspot.com.au/search?q=seidler

Does anyone remember the classic Twilight Zone episode called The Eye of the Beholder? 

Opening narration:

Suspended in time and space for a moment, your introduction to Miss Janet Tyler, who lives in a very private world of darkness, a universe whose dimensions are the size, thickness, length of a swath of bandages that cover her face. In a moment, we'll go back into this room, and also in a moment, we'll look under those bandages, keeping in mind, of course, that we're not to be surprised by what we see, because this isn't just a hospital, and this patient 307 is not just a woman. This happens to be The Twilight Zone, and Miss Janet Tyler, with you, is about to enter it.

The episode tells the story of Janet Tyler, who is in hospital waiting for her bandages to come off after her 11th op to try to make her look “normal”, like everyone else. This is a society where the State mandates conformity and where speaking of anything contrary (as does the doctor who questions why being different is wrong) is considered treasonous. Desperate to look like everyone else, she recalls some of her earliest childhood memories of people looking away, horrified at her appearance. If not successful, she will be segregated with a colony of similar looking people. The bandages come off and her appearance is revealed:

The doctors and nurses are dismayed, the operation has been another failure. Their faces, which have hitherto been in shadow, are revealed:

Closing narration:

Now there are questions that come to mind. Where is this place, and when is it? What kind of world where ugliness is the norm and beauty the deviation from that norm? You want an answer? The answer is, it doesn't make any difference. Because the old saying happens to be true. Beauty "is" in the eye of the beholder, in this year or a hundred years hence. On this planet or wherever there is human life, perhaps out amongst the stars, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Lesson to be learned - in The Twilight Zone.

_____________________________

From Tobye P in respect of last week's Funny Friday:

Hilarious Bytes today Otto-and a great quote!  

Thanks, and have a great weekend! 

Regards, Tobye 

Thanks Tobye.

The quote referred to is:

_____________________________

Email from Leo M in respect of the post containing the transcript of the defendant abusing the judge:

Otto,

We need a follow-up to this. We need to know what happened at the trial. It will probably be better than the funnies.

Thanks, Leo.

That original post can be read by clicking on:

http://bytesdaily.blogspot.com.au/search?q=daubney

Leo, the trial did go ahead, resulting in David Allan Baldwin, aka Barker, 53, being found guilty of attempted murder. It would appear from the report in Brisbane’s Courier Mail that he was retried in 2014 and again found guilty. He was sentenced to 15 years jail.

The report on the attempted murder, appeal and sentencing can be read at:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/order-order-order-me-a-pizza/news-story/b73d89dad3083f4d090ea88dbb8225a7?sv=cb55a40a8d57ba320f5cb2d232e10495

According to the report, Baldwin’s expletive laden tirade against Justice Daubney, done to seek to secure delay of his trial, was not repeated.

Baldwin had drunk tea and chatted amiably with his former lover moments before he pulled her close, felt her ribs with his fingers and then thrust a double sided knife between them, stabbing her three times through the heart.  She survived.

He will have to serve at least 80% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

_____________________________

From Wayne B in respect of the post on Amazing Statues:

Loved this one - the images are magical

Wayne B

Thanks Wayne.

_____________________________

Kate Update:

Kate’s arm is healing. Although the bones are not joined, they are aligned and calcium will fill the gap. Off for a possible fibreglass splint, physio etc on Tuesday.

Last Friday’s x ray: