Emmanuel Frémiet (sculptor)

Emmanuel Frémiet, (1824-1910) was a French sculptor, born in Paris; pupil of Rude; was first known as a sculptor of animals. He then produced a series of statues and groups, mainly equestrian, among them "Joan of Arc" (1874), at Paris; a second "Joan of Arc" (1889), at Nancy; "Velásquez" (1891), at Paris; and "Lesseps" (1900), at the entrance to the Suez Canal. Frémiet also dealt with imaginary figures and scenes such as "Gorilla and Woman" (1887).

Emmanuel Frémiet - Gorilla Carrying off a Woman - 1887 Bronze

What is a Jew's Harp?

   The Jew's Harp is a small musical instrument, a favorite with boys. It consists of a thin tongue of tempered steel with a U-shaped frame, except that the ends of the frame are brought nearer together and prolonged. It is played by placing the ends of the frame against the teeth, while the tongue is set in play by striking the free end with the finger. Shades of intensity are produced by varying the current of the breath. Changes of pitch are produced by changing the cavity of the mouth, which serves at once as a sounding board and as an organ pipe. The origin of the instrument, as well as the origin of its name, is in dispute.

Jew's Harp

What is the Superego?

   In psychoanalytic theory, superego is one of the three basic constituents of the mind, the others being the id and ego. As postulated by the Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, the term designates the element of the mind which, in normal personalities, automatically modifies and inhibits those instinctual impulses or drives of the id which tend to produce antisocial actions and thoughts. In a socially adjusted personality the opposing influences of the id and superego are in balance, allowing the individual to fulfill his instinctual needs to the extent that they do not destructively violate the environmental social and moral codes by which he has been conditioned. When the inhibitory functions of the superego are excessive, this balance is disrupted and normal impulses may be repressed, i.e., forced into the subconscious, thereby resulting in neurotic or psychotic symptoms.
   According to psychoanalytic theory, the superego develops as the child gradually and unconsciously adopts the values and standards, first of his parents, and later of his social environment. According to modern Freudian psychoanalysts, the superego includes the positive ego image, or "ego ideal", which an individual has of himself.

William James (philosopher)

William James

   William James (1842-1910), an American philosopher. He was the son of Henry James the theologian, and brother of Henry James the novelist. He was born in New York City. As a boy he attended private schools, and studied with tutors at home and abroad until nineteen years of age, when he entered the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University.
   In 1870 James was graduated from Harvard med¬ical school, and two years later was appointed instructor of anatomy and physiology at that institution. In 1876 he was made assistant professor of physiology, later assistant professor of philosophy and in 1889 Harvard created for him a new chair of psychology. The following year Professor James published Principles of Psychology which at once became, and has remained a standard text-book on that subject. In 1884 William James helped to found the American Society for Psychical Research, in the work of which he took a keen interest. In 1897 he was, at his own request, transferred to the chair of philosophy. The same year he published The Will to Believe, followed shortly by Human Immortality, Talks to Teachers and to Students and Varieties of Religious Experience. Other works are Pragmatism, A Pluralistic Universe, and the Meaning of Truth.
   As a writer William James is clear and direct, his fine imagination aiding him to make even abstruse subjects human enough to be readable. He takes high rank among philosophical writers. As a teacher and lecturer he was immensely popular. Thousands of his students are ready to declare him the most able teacher Harvard has ever had. As a philosopher William James is said to be the first American rightfully so called.

Edward Hopper (painter)

   Edward Hopper (1882-1967), was an American painter whose pictures of New York City scenes and life in small New England towns rank among the finest realistic works of his time. Hopper painted in both oil and water color, and preferred such subjects as street scenes, highways, gas stations, bridges, theaters, rail-roads, lunch stands, and lighthouses. Most of his works are strangely empty of people, but are still full of emotion. Many express a sense of loneliness and finality and convey a feeling of great space and warm sunlight. The omission of distracting detail and the geometric arrangement of his compositions give his paintings an abstract power. A good example is Nighthawks (image below).
   Hopper was born in Nyack, N.Y., and lived in New York City. He worked as a commercial artist and illustrator for many years. He was not able to concentrate fully on painting until he was past 40.

Edward Hopper (Nighthawks)

Frankie Frisch

Frankie Frisch

   Francis “Frankie” Frisch, known as the Fordham Flash, (1898-1973), American baseball player and manager, member of Baseball Hall of Fame, was born in New York City. Frisch was A graduate of Fordham University where he captained the baseball, football, and basketball teams, he played baseball with the New York Giants (1919-26) and St. Louis Cardinals (1927-37), became manager of the Cardinals (1933-38), the Pittsburgh Pirates (1936-46), and the Chi¬cago Cubs (1949). Frisch, a second baseman, had a lifetime batting average of .316. He was named the most valuable player in the National League in 1931 and elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1947.

What is a sundial?

   Sundial is an instrument for measuring time by means of the motion of the sun's shadow. Before clocks and watches became common it was in general use as a timekeeper. The art of constructing sundials to suit any place and situation was an important branch of mathematical study.
   A sundial consists of two parts: the stile, or gnomon, usually the edge of a plate of metal, made parallel to the earth's axis, and pointing toward the pole; and the dial plane, on which are marked the several hours of the day, their halves, quarters, etc. Sundials receive various names, according to the positions they are constructed to occupy. When the sundial is level it is called a horizontal sundial; when perpendicular to that plane, a vertical sundial An equinoctial sundial is one whose plane is parallel to the equator. There are others. the south sundial, north sundial, east sundial, west sundial, polar sundial, and declining sundial.