Have an excellent weekend, the first Fall weekend. See you bright and early Monday morning.
Friday, September 25, 2026
Jim Sande - 'Air'
My new solo classical guitar release on G2 Records & Publishing. 'Air' was written by Denis Gaultire 1603-1672. This is high Renaissance era verging on Baroque era music. It's a slow love song.
L. Tilcayo
National Geographic: Meet The First New Cat Species Discovered in 100 Years by Jason Bittel
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Tasmania
From AI Gemini:
The Tasmanian genocide — often referred to in the context of the Black War (1820s–1832) - refers to the near-total destruction of the Indigenous Aboriginal population of Van Diemen's Land (modern-day Tasmania) by British colonists, soldiers, and convict settlers during the early 19th century.
Between British arrival in 1803 and the mid-1830s, the Indigenous population plummeted from an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people down to fewer than 300 individuals, driven by violent conflict, state-sanctioned exile, and introduced diseases.
---
Key Phases and Drivers
- Land Seizure & Frontier Conflict (1803–1820s): British settlement rapidly converted traditional Aboriginal hunting grounds into pastoral farms for sheep grazing. As resources dwindled, direct clashes escalated between settlers and Indigenous nations defending their land.
- The Black War & Martial Law (1828–1832): Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur declared martial law in 1828, giving colonists explicit authority to shoot or arrest Aboriginal people on sight. In 1830, Arthur organized the "Black Line" — a military effort using over 2,000 armed men forming a human chain across the island to drive the remaining Indigenous population out of settled districts.
- Forced Exile to Wybalenna (1830s): Preacher George Augustus Robinson led a government-funded "Friendly Mission" to round up surviving Aboriginal people with promises of protection. Around 200 survivors were exiled to Wybalenna on Flinders Island. Poor sanitation, malnutrition, depression, and respiratory illness decimated the population further.
- Oyster Cove Settlement (1847): The 47 remaining survivors were moved back to the Tasmanian mainland at Oyster Cove under bleak conditions. By the late 19th century, colonial authorities incorrectly declared Tasmanian Aboriginal people "extinct."
---
Modern Context and Legacy
- Genocide Debate: Most modern historians (including Lemkin, who coined the term "genocide") classify the campaign as an intentional act of genocide, pointing to official government policies aimed at total removal and eradication.
- Contemporary Community: The narrative that Aboriginal Tasmanians became entirely extinct is false. Today, thousands of descendants—known collectively as the Palawa people, actively preserve their culture, land rights, and language traditions in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian genocide — often referred to in the context of the Black War (1820s–1832) - refers to the near-total destruction of the Indigenous Aboriginal population of Van Diemen's Land (modern-day Tasmania) by British colonists, soldiers, and convict settlers during the early 19th century.
Between British arrival in 1803 and the mid-1830s, the Indigenous population plummeted from an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people down to fewer than 300 individuals, driven by violent conflict, state-sanctioned exile, and introduced diseases.
---
Key Phases and Drivers
- Land Seizure & Frontier Conflict (1803–1820s): British settlement rapidly converted traditional Aboriginal hunting grounds into pastoral farms for sheep grazing. As resources dwindled, direct clashes escalated between settlers and Indigenous nations defending their land.
- The Black War & Martial Law (1828–1832): Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur declared martial law in 1828, giving colonists explicit authority to shoot or arrest Aboriginal people on sight. In 1830, Arthur organized the "Black Line" — a military effort using over 2,000 armed men forming a human chain across the island to drive the remaining Indigenous population out of settled districts.
- Forced Exile to Wybalenna (1830s): Preacher George Augustus Robinson led a government-funded "Friendly Mission" to round up surviving Aboriginal people with promises of protection. Around 200 survivors were exiled to Wybalenna on Flinders Island. Poor sanitation, malnutrition, depression, and respiratory illness decimated the population further.
- Oyster Cove Settlement (1847): The 47 remaining survivors were moved back to the Tasmanian mainland at Oyster Cove under bleak conditions. By the late 19th century, colonial authorities incorrectly declared Tasmanian Aboriginal people "extinct."
---
Modern Context and Legacy
- Genocide Debate: Most modern historians (including Lemkin, who coined the term "genocide") classify the campaign as an intentional act of genocide, pointing to official government policies aimed at total removal and eradication.
- Contemporary Community: The narrative that Aboriginal Tasmanians became entirely extinct is false. Today, thousands of descendants—known collectively as the Palawa people, actively preserve their culture, land rights, and language traditions in Tasmania.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Yeats
A Coat by William Butler Yeats
I made my song a coat
Covered with embroideries
Out of old mythologies
From heel to throat;
But the fools caught it,
Wore it in the world’s eyes
As though they’d wrought it.
Song, let them take it
For there’s more enterprise
In walking naked.
I made my song a coat
Covered with embroideries
Out of old mythologies
From heel to throat;
But the fools caught it,
Wore it in the world’s eyes
As though they’d wrought it.
Song, let them take it
For there’s more enterprise
In walking naked.
Howitt
The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt
"Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
"'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to shew when you are there."
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."
"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"
Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, "Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome–will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"
"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."
The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple–there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"
Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue–
Thinking only of her crested head–poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour–but she ne'er came out again!
And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.
"Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
"'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to shew when you are there."
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."
"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"
Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, "Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome–will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"
"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."
The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple–there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"
Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue–
Thinking only of her crested head–poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour–but she ne'er came out again!
And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)