The raspberries, that is. In the darkness before dawn, I can hear my youngest son flapping his lips and practising that most amusing of sounds: the raspberry.
It is sunrise, and sonrise. The beauty of the dawn is only accentuated by Xiaolong's raspberries.
The image is from sunset, in Nevada. It's fair to say that I love the beauty of Nevada, but that the human settlements are some of the worst eyesores I have ever experienced. Never has the contrast between natural beauty and artificial monstrosity been so marked.
I looked past the human settlement, and enjoyed the sunset over the (distant) mountains. I was tempted to blow a raspberry.
Going to London feels, to me, like walking through a history book. So much in my country that is significant has happened in London, and it is all around you to see. It is a "world city", with all that is good and bad along with it, but it is a very special place. There is so much life in London that I simply cannot comprehend it - to me, Oxford is a "big city", and London, when I go there, is something otherworldly. A Megacityone. Yet, the centuries make themselves heard - all the way back to William the Conquerors fortress that started it all (the Tower of London).
Nevada, by comparison, seems to me like the land that civilisation has foresaken. I was in Lake Tahoe - the lake itself (i.e., the water) is beautiful, and yet it is surrounded by so much that I found uncomfortable and ungainly. I was happy to leave; the 3,000-person conference (NIPS) that I attended seemed to be in agreement with me: the delegates complained so much about Nevada that the conference has broken its contract with the venue, and will instead move to Montreal for next year.
I heartily recommend the Wikipedia page on the subject, and especially for the video, to learn of the timeless classic that is the raspberry. I'd love to know what this is called in your culture, as I have observed that children from all cultures know how to make this sound. :)
Thanks for the explanation. I don't think there is a specific word for it in German.
Given that you find Nevada to be "uncomfortable and ungainly", I'm surprised that you don't seem to have major complaints about China, but perhaps a readily available, wide variety of pu erh and other teas makes up for some of the shortcomings. :D
They come at night. Mostly.
ReplyDeleteThe raspberries, that is. In the darkness before dawn, I can hear my youngest son flapping his lips and practising that most amusing of sounds: the raspberry.
It is sunrise, and sonrise. The beauty of the dawn is only accentuated by Xiaolong's raspberries.
The image is from sunset, in Nevada. It's fair to say that I love the beauty of Nevada, but that the human settlements are some of the worst eyesores I have ever experienced. Never has the contrast between natural beauty and artificial monstrosity been so marked.
I looked past the human settlement, and enjoyed the sunset over the (distant) mountains. I was tempted to blow a raspberry.
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
Welcome to the state of deserts and strip malls, but London is far more depressing in different ways imo. :D
ReplyDeleteI still have no idea what you mean with raspberries btw.
Going to London feels, to me, like walking through a history book. So much in my country that is significant has happened in London, and it is all around you to see. It is a "world city", with all that is good and bad along with it, but it is a very special place. There is so much life in London that I simply cannot comprehend it - to me, Oxford is a "big city", and London, when I go there, is something otherworldly. A Megacityone. Yet, the centuries make themselves heard - all the way back to William the Conquerors fortress that started it all (the Tower of London).
ReplyDeleteNevada, by comparison, seems to me like the land that civilisation has foresaken. I was in Lake Tahoe - the lake itself (i.e., the water) is beautiful, and yet it is surrounded by so much that I found uncomfortable and ungainly. I was happy to leave; the 3,000-person conference (NIPS) that I attended seemed to be in agreement with me: the delegates complained so much about Nevada that the conference has broken its contract with the venue, and will instead move to Montreal for next year.
I heartily recommend the Wikipedia page on the subject, and especially for the video, to learn of the timeless classic that is the raspberry. I'd love to know what this is called in your culture, as I have observed that children from all cultures know how to make this sound. :)
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
Thanks for the explanation. I don't think there is a specific word for it in German.
ReplyDeleteGiven that you find Nevada to be "uncomfortable and ungainly", I'm surprised that you don't seem to have major complaints about China, but perhaps a readily available, wide variety of pu erh and other teas makes up for some of the shortcomings. :D