Head-dibs

Remember to set your bathroom scale back 10 pounds!

  I’m curious to see the new Gladiator movie coming out. The trailer looks amazing—but there’s this huge question about the rhinoceros in the “games.” Just this morning, reading some epigrams of Martial (38-104 AD), I came across this paragraph in his description of what we know as The Colosseum. Martial writes, “Shown along thy Arena's floor, O Caesar, a rhinoceros afforded thee an unpromised fray. what dreadful rage fired he with lowered head! How great was the bull to which a bull was as a dummy!” (Epigram ix, “On The Spectacles”)

  Even before the nuclear facility at Chernobyl was built, it was a disaster waiting to happen, and once it happened, it just wouldn’t stop. It still hasn’t stopped. The explosion was the result of human error—but which human? And which error? Everyone played their Communist-party assigned roles and read from their scripts so well. This powerful, sleepless, relentless page-turning account perfectly mirrors the 2019 HBO limited series, and fills many gaps left by the show. It is the story of what happens when pride collides with fear under pressure and blooms into a mushroom cloud of lies. It’s the end of an era.

Since I have to work on Thanksgiving Day, I’m posting this now. Celebrating early this year. 

  “ Booker T. Washington, the most recognized national leader, orator and educator, emerged from slavery in the deep south, to work for the betterment of African Americans in the post Reconstruction period. "Up From Slavery" is an autobiography of Booker T. Washington's life and work, which has been the source of inspiration for all Americans. Washington reveals his inner most thoughts as he transitions from ex-slave to teacher and founder of one of the most important schools for African Americans in the south, The Tuskegee Industrial Institute.” (Goodreads)

  Nymph, nymph, what are your beads? Green glass, goblin. Why do you stare at them? Give them me. No. Give them me. Give them me. No. Then I will howl all night in the reeds, Lie in the mud and howl for them. Goblin, why do you love them so? They are better than stars or water, Better than voices of winds that sing, Better than any man's fair daughter, Your green glass beads on a silver ring. Hush, I stole them out of the moon. Give me your beads, I want them. No. I will howl in the deep lagoon For your green glass beads, I love them so. Give them me. Give them. No. - Harold Monro (1879 - 1932)

 

 Feeling “Lightfoot” lately The oceans of the world were the home of Big Blue He was the greatest monster that the world ever knew And the place that he loved best Was the waters to the west Around the blue Pacific he did roam Big Blue moved alone for a mighty blue was he And the battles of the whales was an awesome sight to see And he took them one by one and he drove them all away In the mating of the day he was the king Big Blue had fifty wives and he sired forty sons Though most of them fell victim to the cruel harpoon guns Ah but he was too much wise to get caught by the gunners' eyes And so he lived at sea a hundred years His mouth was as large as a tunnel so they say His hide was thick as leather and his eyes quick and small And his back was all scarred by the times he got away And he knew the smell of whalers did Big Blue Big Blue passed away to his natural decay Beside the Arctic Circle as he travelled up that way And there never was a man who was born with a gunner's ...

 I love this song. Let’s sail. Take me away . . . 

  I’d like to say I’ve finished reading “On The Revolutions Of The Heavenly Spheres,” by Copernicus (1473-1543), but I haven’t. I have, however, completed the “Dedication of the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies: to Pope Paul III” (1543), as well as the commentary and reading guide. A guided tour of the work seemed more suitable for this tired old man than an all-out trek.   Copernicus knew he was onto something so controversial that the first printed copy of his work was not available until he was on his deathbed (note: the printing press was only 30 years old). The Dedication opens, “I can easily conceive, most Holy Father, that as soon as some people learn that in this book which I have written concerning the revolutions of the heavenly bodies, I ascribe certain motions to the Earth, they will cry out at once that I and my theory should be rejected. . . when I considered this carefully, the contempt which I had to fear because of the novelty and apparent absurdity of my vi...

  Finished reading the 1752 edition of “The Spirit of Laws” by Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieux. This concludes the 10th reading in the “The Development of Political Theory and Government” reading guide. A few highlights and timely observations: Montesquieux notes this work took 20 years to write, the product of careful study of mankind and the absolutes of self-evident truth. He held that a republic should be a small state, consisting of people who can manage because they are familiar with one another. A large state, or empire would be despotic while an intermediate state should be monarchical. He also held that mankind should make every effort to maintain peace but be ready for war, if necessary—and ready to restore peace. Public voting is necessary (show of hands) whereas secret ballots lead to fraud.   This translation was clear and the assisting footnotes provided helpful commentary. 

  Finished reading Book 1 (Sections 1-8) and Book 3 of The Almagest by Ptolemy (c 100. - 170 AD).    Ptolemy, known for his contributions in the fields of mathematics, geography and astronomy is perhaps most well known for the idea of an earth-central universe though the idea was not unique to him. While Ptolemy was wrong in some areas of astronomy, he should be credited for the depth and breadth of the science his attempts. For example, his argument for the spherical shape of the earth is held against the possibility that the earth could be no other shape: flat, square, pyramid or cylindrical. Ptolemy held that our seasons are controlled by the proximity of the sun to the earth as it circles the earth—closer in summer than in winter. Contrasted against Aristotle who held that heavenly bodies consisted of four elements (earth, air, fire, water), Ptolemy recognized differences in    stars and planets    they orbit, fixed in their enveloping shell.