It is so encouranging to know that the renaissance isn’t over yet! Fred Smith is carrying on what Da Vinci started.
[quote=“AAF”]It is so encouranging to know that the renaissance isn’t over yet! Fred Smith is carrying on what Da Vinci started.
fredsmith.com/[/quote]
Da Vinci was not a Renaissance man, as he had no interested, or even feeling, for music, not talent for writing. A genius of the highest order, certainly, but not a Renaissance man.
[quote=“Muzha Man”][quote=“AAF”]It is so encouranging to know that the renaissance isn’t over yet! Fred Smith is carrying on what Da Vinci started.
fredsmith.com/[/quote]
Da Vinci was not a Renaissance man, as he had no interested, or even feeling, for music, not talent for writing. A genius of the highest order, certainly, but not a Renaissance man.[/quote]
I beg to differ. It’s my understanding that a renaissance man means one skilled in many areas, in particular in the arts and sciences. Da Vinci clearly meets – or epitomizes – that definition.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci
Here’s a sample of his art:
And his science:
No, a renaissance man must have facility with letters and music since they were among the most valued talents of the Renaissance age. I don’t know about your citation but according to Jacque Barzun, and other sources, Da Vinci had no interest in music or letters. His knowledge of history was poor, his curiosity of ancient cultures or mythology was limited (interest in greek and roman culture was essential for a renaissance man). Furthermore, a true renaissance man should have the manners of a courtier as defined by Castiglione. Da Vinci was sour and solitary.
I thought Fred Smith was CEO of Federal Express. In trying to confirm this at wikipedia, I stumbled across this. mbaa.fuqua.duke.edu/socialimpact … graphy.htm
Mr. Smith is also a frequent guest on national television and radio programs to discuss and debate regulatory initiatives and topical policy issues. Providing both analytical and political insights, he has appeared on CNN’s “Crossfire,” PBS’s “News Hour with Jim Lehrer” and “Now with Bill Moyers,” ABC’s “20/20” and “This Week,” NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” and “The Diane Rehm Show,” and “The G. Gordon Liddy Show,” among many others. A prolific writer, Mr. Smith’s works have been published in leading newspapers and magazines such as the Wall Street Journal, National Review, Economic Affairs, and the Washington Times.
What’s not clear to me is why he now gets his kicks toying with the young minds at Forumosa.
I don’t know who to believe. 
Its still strange. I mean, his avatar is similar, the same smug-ass grin, the smugness of one who has sold their ass to the oil companies and is killing millions by lying for a living about clean air. But why come to Taiwan? The air here is plenty dirty already… Maybe he’s just here to poison the well of public discourse here on Forumosa. First poison the air, next poison the water…
I don’t either. Mucha Man appears to have read something on the subject or listened to a professor giving his opinion, but I don’t know if it’s true or not. First, I don’t know if one needs to be skilled in music or writing to be considered a renaissance man – why shouldn’t art suffice? Second, I don’t know if Da Vinci lacked talent in music and writing. He certainly kept fantastic notebooks. And, many claim he was talented in music, though I have no idea if they’re correct or not.
[quote]There is quite a bit of truth in the stories that Leonardo was a skilled poet, singer and practiced musician. Vasari described him as an “excellent musician” and tells us that Leonardo attended other schools apart from Verrocchio’s workshop, one possibly being a music school.
We know he played a number of musical instruments including the lira da braccia and the lyre. Time and again biographers speak of how he designed a silver lyre in the shape of a horses head which was said to be more resonant and have a more beautiful sound than conventional wooden lyres.
There is no sound basis for the belief that Leonardo invented the violin though he certainly drew up plans for many new musical instruments including various flutes and the viola organista (a complicated keyboard instrument with strings which were sounded by the means of a wheel, horsehair strap and a bow). This was never built.
Another area explored was that of how to improve musical instruments. Leonardo created a mechanism which would allow drummers to tighten or slacken skins with one hand and move the drumsticks using a system of cogs. He worked very extensively on the mechanisation of the hurdy-gurdy and designed improved mechanisms for keyboards so they would be easier to play. This also enhanced the tonal quality of the instruments.
It is considered Leonardo thought music second only to painting in his range of artistic talents, however history has left us with little in the way of written evidence regarding his music[/quote]
lairweb.org.nz/leonardo/music.html
[quote=“Toe Tag”]Its still strange. I mean, his avatar is similar, the same smug-ass grin, the smugness of one who has sold their ass to the oil companies and is killing millions by lying for a living about clean air. But why come to Taiwan? The air here is plenty dirty already… Maybe he’s just here to poison the well of public discourse here on Forumosa. First poison the air, next poison the water…[/quote]I thought this poster was banned?
Nice try TC. Ya’ cain’t fight my insightful reasoning, so you attack the messenger…
… and rip off my porn-star avatar idea. Still, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
That was Toe Save that was banned, not Toe Tag. No relation.
You and other cop wannabe’s might want to review the rule about “don’t play moderator”.
Where is the attack on your person? :s
[quote=“Toe Tag”]Nice try TC. Ya’ cain’t fight my insightful reasoning, so you attack the messenger…[/quote]No attack, just a simple question.[quote=“Toe Tag”]… and rip off my porn-star avatar idea. Still, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.[/quote]I was not aware that you had used a Ron Jeremy avatar. May I see it? When did you use Ron Jeremy as an avater?[quote=“Toe Tag”]That was Toe Save that was banned, not Toe Tag. No relation.[/quote]Toes look all the same to me. Are you saying that you are not the same person as “Toe Save”?
Given that Smith is the most popular surname in America I wasn’t surprised to find over 47 million hits on google.
This one looked interesting. Fred “Sonic” Smith
Why are you talking about Fred Smith?
This thread’s about Toe Save. 
I don’t either. Muzha Man appears to have read something on the subject or listened to a professor giving his opinion, but I don’t know if it’s true or not. First, I don’t know if one needs to be skilled in music or writing to be considered a renaissance man – why shouldn’t art suffice? Second, I don’t know if Da Vinci lacked talent in music and writing. He certainly kept fantastic notebooks. And, many claim he was talented in music, though I have no idea if they’re correct or not.[/quote]
I am recalling what I read recently in Jacques Barzun’s masterpiece From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Civilization. Interestingly enough, Barzun takes the time to actually address the question of Da Vinci’s renaissance man status. He concludes that, as the word is used historically (and accurately), Da Vinci comes up quite short. Again, this does not diminish his genius.
I’ll take Barzun’s considered and erudite passage over superficial web entries any day, thank you very much. 
I am offering the suggestion and reminder that posters do not attack other posters. Keep within the rules folks.
jdsmith
in mod capacity
btw, the ignore button is now working again.
peace
I still didn’t notice an attack. You should check out the “TRA girls only car” thread if you want to see attacks. There’s far worse on this forum, jd, just curious as to why you decided to give your reminder here.
Well, the open mods may be busy at the moment, and I’m a moderator, so no one can accuse me of backseat moderating.
I haven’t been in the TRA girls only car" thread, but if you have seen something that breaks the rules, please PM a mod for that forum.
Thanks
jdsmith
Well, as can be seen from the lack of stars under my avatar, I am a relative newbie here and it becomes a little difficult to know where the boundaries are when certain things are deemed accaptable while other seemingly less offensive things receive a warning.
I would actually like to know what past posters (toe save for example) have done to be banned. Although I suppose it doesn’t really matter as I have read the rules and don’t mind following them even while others don’t.
Employing such metaphors as “a big turd in a small bowl” in regards to fellow posters is a definite no-no so avoid such behaviour at all costs if your upbringing and natural disposition allow it.