Oct 25 2024 - Gutenburg and Frankenstein

 

Bing has a new photo each day with a question that brings curiosity to bear.  Today's image is a beautiful mountaintop with the rising/setting sun illuminating the clouds around it with orange against the blue. Today's invitation:  "The heights of horror."  Bing has changed things, though, and there is no ability now to see the entire picture. It is blocked by their news feed, or whatever you might call it, I think news feed is overgenerous for article titles like "11 things you owned in the '00s that are now worth a small fortune." Now one is shown a tiny version (as below), that can't be expanded - attempt to expand it and instead one goes to what looks like promotions or vacation ads for the place.  Too bad, or rather Bing gone bad.

And yet, a turn of fate leads us to today's answer - Frankenstein Friday, and I take myself over to a link to Gutenberg.org and its eBook of Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley right there.   Contents start as Letters 1, 2, 3 and 4.  They are compelling.  I include the link so you can enjoy them too:  https://www.gutenberg.org/files/84/84-h/84-h.htm The letters conclude: "He then told me that he would commence his narrative the next day when I should be at leisure. This promise drew from me the warmest thanks." And then starts Chapter 1,  Frankenstein:  or, the Modern Prometheus. And wonderful that we should find ourselves enjoying this "national" day.   "Frankenstein Friday was established in 1997 by Ryan MacCloskey as a tribute to Mary Shelley and her iconic creation. Observed on the last Friday of October, this day invites enthusiasts to delve into the novel's rich themes and celebrate its lasting impact on popular culture."  Could she imagine that this would be one of the most poplar and well-known works of English literature?  Many Reddit players want to give their opinion on what makes this such a successful novel - it still sells 40,000 copies a year.   I encourage you to read the four letters and find out for yourself. Here's a picture that seems from a long time ago.  Do you remember the toilet paper factory on the QEW?  GH Wood Company "Sanitation for the Nation."  This picture was taken on that site after the building had been demolished.  The mosaic tile floor was intact, this door was there.  The entrance arch was still present.  Of course, replaced by a condo.

Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Oct 28 - 2022 Frankenstein Friday

 

Bing tells me that the last Friday in October is Frankentein Friday.  It is a celebration of the 1818 novel and the despised but beloved character of "Frankenstein".   Where did she write it?  Lake Geneva during a rainy and cold summer, We think of Frankenstein as real - that's what seems to be the case to me - lots of articles about freaky facts about Frankenstein.  And there's always a headshot of him.  That would be the Boris Karloff picture, which remains compelling. Mary Shelley  believed the name came to her in a vivid dream. In Shelley's novel, Dr. Victor Frankenstein never names his creation.   But "the creature" has a first name.  Shelley calls him Adam and "the creature" calls Victor his father,  so he is Adam Frankenstein, son of Victor. And where has the name spread to and become prevalent?  Frankenfood.  Genetically engineered food.   This is my strange tree trunk on Honsberger Road and Fifteenth Street in Vineland, now gone. It was a living Maple tree in 2019 in one of the google mapping moments.  Travel along the road, and  as you get to the corner on Google Maps it changes from July 2019 to Nov 2021 with just the trunk. This trunk disappeared in Spring 2022 - just a memory now. Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblog.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca