tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5016510789306208693.post1230423420675898904..comments2023-10-15T09:39:01.906+02:00Comments on On Familiar Things: Jans Davidsz de HeemHermann Wundrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409802079503426677noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5016510789306208693.post-12545925134718813352009-01-28T05:03:00.000+01:002009-01-28T05:03:00.000+01:00I am reminded of de Heem's Mad Lib of 1633, titled...I am reminded of de Heem's Mad Lib of 1633, titled Driver's Checklist, in the collection at Utrecht. <BR/><BR/>DRIVER'S CHECKLIST<BR/><BR/>Before you follow the open road to a/an (soft / ADJECTIVE) adventure, don't forget to:<BR/><BR/>1. Have a/an (damp / ADJECTIVE) mechanic give your (bees' wax / NOUN) a/an (brilliant / ADJECTIVE) tune-up. <BR/><BR/>2. Make sure there is sufficient air in all four (candles / PLURAL NOUN) as well as in your spare (wheel of Leyden cheese / NOUN)<BR/><BR/>3. Make sure your windshield (grains of rice / PLURAL NOUN) are functioning (languidly / ADVERB)<BR/><BR/>4. Be sure to have a flash (linen / NOUN), some bottled (melted butter / LIQUID) and an emergency (bookpress / NOUN) kit in your glove (plate of hete bliksem / NOUN)<BR/><BR/>5. For safety and the safety of other (slices of peperkoek / PLURAL NOUN) don't even think about getting behind the (raspberry pudding / NOUN) of the car without getting a good night's sleep of at least (1633 / NUMBER) hours.Hermann Wundrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17409802079503426677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5016510789306208693.post-10431234910134578972009-01-26T21:03:00.000+01:002009-01-26T21:03:00.000+01:00Life, it often seems to me, is a Mad Lib: we live ...Life, it often seems to me, is a Mad Lib: we live each day with lives wide open, so structured in a way (as we commute to our jobs and schedule our reading times) but riddled with vast open spaces, at any time able to accommodate sadness, adventure, or hilarity. <BR/><BR/>De Heem's own collection of completed Mad Libs, housed at the University of Utrecht's rare book and manuscript library, reveals much of the mind of a rabidly talented, sensitive man.Jan Peetershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10692242013252009637noreply@blogger.com