Word: background
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...ordinary Buddhist temple, as distinguished from a "Zen Buddhist temple," as he described it. Finally, however, I caught the subtle clue to Tapies' entire revelation. I saw that had Tapies but an ordinary Buddhist temple to suggest, he would have used only eleven parallel lines against a background of mud. Actually, he employed twelve such lines, the twelfth line, of course, signifying...
Once you get the hang of interpreting these things, it is like having a new world laid out before you. You know, for example, that 13 lines against a background of mud, colored not too dark, nor yet too light, would depict a carelessly raked garden, planted heavily to leeks, in a Tibetan lamasery...
Christofilos heads a team of 12 to 15 scientists. He still has no degree in physics, and his Greek accent, Greek volubility and love of passionate argument keep him an outsider. (Asked for background on Christofilos, one top U. of C. scientist remarked frostily: "Well, my contacts have been with other members of the scientific fraternity, and Christofilos really isn't a member.") Christofilos takes his position in stride. For relaxation he drives his car (a 1957 Pontiac) or plays the piano loud. "For Nick," says a colleague, "all pieces are written fortissimo...
...prime mover of both Universal and General. Lou Chesler came to the U.S. three years ago with $4,000,000, has since run up a paper profit of $70 million on his Universal and General holdings alone. Yet few Wall Streeters know him, since he keeps in the background, trains the limelight on his U.S.-born junior partners...
Despite the new freedom, the Japanese girl has a terrible time meeting a man socially; and when she does, etiquette forbids her probing his family background and prospects. Even among the most emancipated there is a gradual drift back to the miai, or formal meeting preparatory to an arranged marriage. But there is a big difference: instead of parents' having the final say, the young men and women have obtained a reasonable veto power, and, after a miai, will often see each other for several months before making a decision. Says an observer: "A lot of things are changing...