Footnotes to a Conversation, May 16, 2023
“Walking is a virtue, tourism is a deadly sin.” – Bruce Chatwin
It’s good to be home once more in Victoria and to walk by the ocean with the mountains so clear along the horizon.
Look Up … Way Up
Visit the Vatican in Rome or a stately home in England or France, and you’re sure to find ceiling paintings, albeit not all as well known as the one by Michelangelo. Ceiling art had gone out of fashion, but perhaps it has been resuscitated by the bold colours and lines of Verve, a ceiling painting by Lucinda Riley at the British School at Rome. It’s an intriguing artwork, made even more exciting given it was created by a woman artist aged 92. [ArtNet]
I’m So Tired!
Get a group of people together and sooner or later someone will bring up how hard they find it to either get to sleep or to stay asleep. The media is full of recommendations for getting a good night’s sleep, but one journalist is convinced that we’re sidestepping the real problem:
“The real story of sleep is not one of personal responsibility, but of social and economic privilege. Sleep loss epidemics are real – but they’re playing out among shift workers and those with caring responsibilities, not across the population as a whole. Those on lower incomes are more likely to sleep less, as are minorities. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with sleep disorders than men. Our sleep reflects not the bedtime tea we drink or what type of light our phone screen emits, but what is demanded of us in our waking lives. Those who chronically lack sleep are either suffering from a genuine condition, or from an economy that refuses to let them rest.” [The Guardian]
Purrfect
Cats generally purr when they’re feeling good, but not always. Purring also helps kittens stay close to their mother and creates a maternal bond. Cats may also purr to get what they want or even to indicate stress. [Live Science]
Postscript
Today’s quote is somewhat provocative. Feel free to provide feedback.
Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also post occasional articles on other dates, including frequent book reviews and travel tales.
If you share my love of nature, check out EcoFriendly West, an online publication encouraging environmental initiatives in Western Canada, and Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces.