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I always wanted to be a ‘’Renaissance Man’’...nowadays, it’s commonly known as being a ‘’polymath.’’
"Renaissance man" was first recorded in written English in the early 20th century.[9] It is now used to refer to great thinkers living before, during, or after the Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance man, a man of "unquenchable curiosity" and "feverishly inventive imagination".[10]
Many notable polymaths lived during the Renaissance period, a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th through to the 17th century that began in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spread to the rest of Europe. These polymaths had a rounded approach to education that reflected the ideals of the humanists of the time. A gentleman or courtier of that era was expected to speak several languages, play a musical instrument, write poetry, and so on, thus fulfilling the Renaissance ideal.
Well, in a way, I suppose that I am one since that is the name of the high school that I graduated from.
I do take people’s word for the fact that I seem to have some modest talent in writing which I have developed over the years.
And, actually, I do tend to do pretty good with mathematics and numbers and stuff when I run across the need to work with them...I suppose that’s something that I could further develop even now.
And I have done a beginning study of several languages (French, Latin, ancient Greek, German) but I only have the most rudimentary knowledge of French which comes and goes...and I do recognize certain words in Latin but don’t get me started on sentence structures and verb placements and whatnot...I don’t recognize them.
I think that, on the temperamental level, I probably don’t have the patience to learn languages...even though I would actually like to learn other languages...and even though I have several books to learn Spanish or French or Latin in the house.
Like many other people, I have taken to singing in the shower but take my word for it...I sound like a howling dog trying to sing a Whitney Houston song.
People who know far far more about music than I tell me that I actually have a baritone singing voice.
I do know that when I sing a very little bit of the baritone-bass parts in my favorite opera, Richard Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, I don’t sound as horrific as I do when I try to sing Whitney Houston...in fact I don’t sound bad at all…
Most of all, I do wish that I had any sort of talent to paint or draw or something...and I know that I have absolutely no talent or even aptitude for it.
Art class, for me, may have been the most frustrating class that I took in both middle and high school because of this very fact...it was never true that I didn’t try (as one art teacher accused me of); I couldn’t follow even the simplest directions in drawing a stick figure...well, I am exaggerating on the stick figures but not by much…
Sad because I greatly enjoy great or even good drawing and painting or sculpture and the like (I’ve always enjoyed comic).
But don’t even ask me to do anything like that.
Oh, last but not least, don’t ever ask me to fix anything mechanical that’s broken down...no aptitude in that area, either. Whatever you ask me to fix will become even more broke down if you ask me to fix it.
Today’s question: I do believe that everyone has a talent or an ability to do something. Is there a talent or an aptitude that you wish you had but you just don’t have it?
Our CUA team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events. We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in. If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
View Interactive Map of Daily Kos Communities in a full screen mode. The orange pinpoints are the location of each organized group of Daily Kos readers. If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links. If you'd like to start a group, kosmail navajo for instructions.
Comment if you have events that would be of interest to the readers of Daily Kos in your city or state?
navajo maintains this event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries about your event or if you have changes or additions to events listed below.
We are pleased to announce that Daily Kos Staff member, peregrine kate, will be visiting the DKos Ashevillians on Sunday, September 24th from 1:00 PM — 8:00 PM.
Kate is the Co-chair of the Precinct Organizing Committee for her county Democratic Party and founder of Motor City Kossacks. RSVP to randallt for details. His diary about it is here.
RSVPS
1. peregrine kate
2. randallt
3. joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. Lamont Cranston
6. Otteray Scribe
7.
MAYBEES :
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Saturday, October 1st, a brunch meet-up before the Broncos/Raiders game for Smileycreek and Paradise50 who are going to be in town visiting. Location: TBD, likely a restaurant. Time: TBD. Kosmail ColoTim to RSVP.
L-R: Daily Kos Readers represented by Tom Sullivan, Denise Oliver-Velez, Fish out of Water, Chris Reeves, peregrine kate, MsSpentyouth, Doc Dawg and Neeta Lind aka navajo at the Data & Democracy Conference
See this photo diary about this event: www.dailykos.com/...
DKos Asheville at top of Mount Mitchell, NC on August 12th in an attempt to challenge the EPIC Glacier Park Event. L-R: SteelerGrrl, SteelerGuy, Connie Norton, Gary Norton, randallt, Joieau, Otteray Scribe, Gordon20024 and Lamont Cranston
Rescue Rangers Dinner
Standing L-R: Neeta, Besame, dopper, Susan Grigsby, Thinking Fella & mommyof3
Kneeling L-R: grog & watercarrier4diogenes
Partners & Mentors Dinner
Back row L-R: Meteor Blades, side pocket, Jon Sitzman, Chrislove, BeninSC
Front row L-R: Neeta, peregrine kate, paradise50, smileycreek, TrueBlueMajority and Wee Mama
Daily Kos Cheers & Jeers Party!
VIRGINIA KOSSACKS!
L-R: Standing, Cindy from CodeBlue, Clio2, Linda, Elizabeth, Squireforyou, Andy, AnacharsisClootz
Kneeling: DrLori, Barkley and Gordon20024
State Senator Dr. Irene Aguilar (in orange) chatting with Kossacks and neighbors. Jenn (next to Senator Aguilar) and Leftcandid (on the right in blue shirt) started the Caffeinating Liberally group.
L-R: Some Fella, Mr. Maudlin, Ojibwa, state of confusion,
Mrs. Mhosz, Mhosz, Mother Mags,
(photographer; Maudlin)
E P I C - E P I C - E P I C ! ! !
Colorado: Monday Evenings, Michigan: Thursday evenings, North Carolina: Sundays, 1:00 PM Eastern, Missouri: Wednesday Evenings, Kansas: Monday Evenings