Enjoy the extended Labor Day weekend. What a week it's been.
I'll be taking Monday off and will be back on Tuesday, September 2nd. See you then.
Friday, August 29, 2025
Dogs
"Dogs recognize distress in their owners and will offer consolation, often by nuzzling their heads into their owners' laps, licking their faces, or gently leaning against them. This empathetic response is rooted in their deep bond with humans and their ability to interpret our body language and vocal cues, such as crying or heavy sighs. Studies show that a dog's heart rate may even increase in sync with their owner's when they're upset, demonstrating a physiological connection to our emotional states. They're not just reacting to our sadness; they're actively attempting to soothe us, often with behaviors that we find comforting."
Zoogeochemistry
"Zoogeochemistry is the study of the interactions between animals and the chemical cycles of the Earth. It focuses on how animals affect the distribution and transformation of chemical elements in various ecosystems, including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Essentially, it's a field that bridges zoology and geochemistry."
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Parker
"You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think."
"If you wear a short enough skirt, the party will come to you."
"I don't care what is written about me so long as it isn't true." Dorothy Parker
"If you wear a short enough skirt, the party will come to you."
"I don't care what is written about me so long as it isn't true." Dorothy Parker
Song
Song ("I almost went to bed ...") by Leonard Cohen
I almost went to bed
without remembering
the four white violets
I put in the button-hole
of your green sweater
and how i kissed you then
and you kissed me
shy as though I'd
never been your lover
I almost went to bed
without remembering
the four white violets
I put in the button-hole
of your green sweater
and how i kissed you then
and you kissed me
shy as though I'd
never been your lover
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Animals - Empathy
"Other animals exhibit other elements of morality—including empathy. Mice, for instance, can share the emotional state of another individual, exhibiting increased sensitivity to pain if they see a companion showing signs of pain. Dogs recognize distress in their owners and will offer consolation. Rats will sacrifice their own gains to alleviate the suffering of a conspecific, forgoing a food reward if taking the food means inflicting pain on another rat." Kate Wong
Radio
What happens here is the Spotify algorithms pair my work with artists that likely appear on the same playlists that my work is also on.
Russel
“As soon as we abandon our reason and are content to rely on authority, there is no end to our troubles.” Bertrand Russel
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Hesse
"To hold our tongues when everyone is gossiping, to smile without hostility at people and institutions, to compensate for the shortage of love in the world with more love in small, private matters; to be more faithful in our work, to show greater patience, to forgo the cheap revenge obtainable from mockery and criticism: all these are things we can do." Herman Hesse
Syndrome
And now for something a little different: I was reading through a psychology book and stumbled across this disorder, and yes, it's rare. But, I might add, we live in a time when mental disorders are very present, shocking, and dominate the news cycles.
From Ai Gemini:
"Cotard's Syndrome is a rare psychiatric condition where a person holds a delusional belief that they are dead, do not exist, are decaying, or have lost their blood or internal organs. It is also known as "walking corpse syndrome.""
From Ai Gemini:
"Cotard's Syndrome is a rare psychiatric condition where a person holds a delusional belief that they are dead, do not exist, are decaying, or have lost their blood or internal organs. It is also known as "walking corpse syndrome.""
Depend
"Ecosystems around the world, from mountain streams in Ecuador to lakes on the edge of the Arctic, depend on insects to break down and disperse nutrients. Many of these arthropods are not much bigger than punctuation marks - some the size of a comma, others the size of an exclamation point." Joe Roman
Monday, August 25, 2025
Friday, August 22, 2025
Cakes
From Ai Gemini
Here is a 'keto' fishcake recipe using haddock and almond flour, based on common practices for low-carb cooking. This recipe is designed to be a keto-friendly alternative to traditional fishcakes, which often use potato or breadcrumbs as a binder.
Keto Haddock Fishcakes
This recipe uses cooked haddock and combines it with a low-carb binder, flavorful additions, and a coating of almond flour for a crispy exterior.
Yields: Approximately 6-8 patties
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients
1 lb (450g) haddock fillets (or other flaky white fish like cod)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup (50g) almond flour, plus extra for coating
1/4 cup finely chopped onion or scallions
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 clove minced fresh garlic)
Salt and black pepper to taste
2-3 tablespoons avocado oil, coconut oil, or ghee for frying
Instructions
1. Cook the haddock: Pat the haddock fillets dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Heat a pan with a little oil over medium-high heat. Cook the haddock for 2-3 minutes per side, or until it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Transfer the cooked fish to a bowl and let it cool slightly.
2. Prepare the fish mixture: Once the haddock is cool enough to handle, use a fork to flake it into small pieces in the bowl.
3. Mix the ingredients: Add the eggs, 1/2 cup of almond flour, chopped onion/scallions, parsley, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the flaked fish. Mix everything together until it is well combined. If the mixture seems too wet and won't hold its shape, you can add another tablespoon or two of almond flour.
4. Form the patties: Scoop out portions of the mixture (about 1/4 cup each) and form them into patties, about 1/2 to 1 inch thick.
5. Coat the patties: Place some additional almond flour on a separate plate. Gently press each fishcake into the almond flour, coating both sides. This will help create a nice, golden-brown crust when you fry them.
6. Chill (optional but recommended): For best results and to help the patties hold their shape, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill them in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. This helps firm them up before frying.
7. Fry the fishcakes: Heat the oil or ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, carefully place the fishcakes in the skillet, leaving some space between them.
8. Cook until golden: Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until the exterior is golden brown and crispy and the patties are cooked through. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary.
9. Serve: Transfer the cooked fishcakes to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain any excess oil. Serve immediately with a keto-friendly tartar sauce or a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Enjoy your delicious and low-carb fishcakes!
Here is a 'keto' fishcake recipe using haddock and almond flour, based on common practices for low-carb cooking. This recipe is designed to be a keto-friendly alternative to traditional fishcakes, which often use potato or breadcrumbs as a binder.
Keto Haddock Fishcakes
This recipe uses cooked haddock and combines it with a low-carb binder, flavorful additions, and a coating of almond flour for a crispy exterior.
Yields: Approximately 6-8 patties
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients
1 lb (450g) haddock fillets (or other flaky white fish like cod)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup (50g) almond flour, plus extra for coating
1/4 cup finely chopped onion or scallions
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 clove minced fresh garlic)
Salt and black pepper to taste
2-3 tablespoons avocado oil, coconut oil, or ghee for frying
Instructions
1. Cook the haddock: Pat the haddock fillets dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Heat a pan with a little oil over medium-high heat. Cook the haddock for 2-3 minutes per side, or until it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Transfer the cooked fish to a bowl and let it cool slightly.
2. Prepare the fish mixture: Once the haddock is cool enough to handle, use a fork to flake it into small pieces in the bowl.
3. Mix the ingredients: Add the eggs, 1/2 cup of almond flour, chopped onion/scallions, parsley, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the flaked fish. Mix everything together until it is well combined. If the mixture seems too wet and won't hold its shape, you can add another tablespoon or two of almond flour.
4. Form the patties: Scoop out portions of the mixture (about 1/4 cup each) and form them into patties, about 1/2 to 1 inch thick.
5. Coat the patties: Place some additional almond flour on a separate plate. Gently press each fishcake into the almond flour, coating both sides. This will help create a nice, golden-brown crust when you fry them.
6. Chill (optional but recommended): For best results and to help the patties hold their shape, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill them in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. This helps firm them up before frying.
7. Fry the fishcakes: Heat the oil or ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, carefully place the fishcakes in the skillet, leaving some space between them.
8. Cook until golden: Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until the exterior is golden brown and crispy and the patties are cooked through. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary.
9. Serve: Transfer the cooked fishcakes to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain any excess oil. Serve immediately with a keto-friendly tartar sauce or a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Enjoy your delicious and low-carb fishcakes!
36 Hour Fast
From Ai Gemini:
A 36-hour fast is a type of intermittent fasting where you abstain from all food and calorie-containing beverages for a 36-hour period, typically once or twice a week. While research is ongoing, and more human studies are needed, a 36-hour fast may offer several potential benefits.
Key Benefits
- Autophagy: This is a major benefit often associated with longer fasts. Autophagy is a cellular "self-eating" process where the body cleans out and recycles damaged or dysfunctional cells and components. Think of it as a deep spring-cleaning for your body's cells. This process may be crucial for longevity and overall well-being. While some autophagy can begin in shorter fasts, a 36-hour fast is considered by some to be a good duration to trigger a more significant autophagic response.
- Weight and Fat Loss: During a fast, your body uses up its stored glucose (glycogen) and then shifts to burning fat for energy in a process called ketosis. This can be an effective way to reduce body fat, and some studies have shown that it can be as effective as daily calorie restriction for weight loss. A 36-hour fast can also help regulate hormones like ghrelin (the hunger hormone), which may reduce overall appetite.
- Metabolic Flexibility: Fasting trains your body to become more "metabolically flexible," meaning it can efficiently switch between using glucose and fat for fuel. This can improve insulin sensitivity, which is vital for managing blood sugar levels and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Hormonal Regulation: A 36-hour fast can have a positive impact on hormone levels. It can improve insulin sensitivity and may lead to an increase in human growth hormone (HGH), which plays a role in muscle preservation and fat metabolism.
- Cellular Repair and Regeneration: The processes triggered by fasting, like autophagy, can lead to the regeneration of new, healthy cells. This can have anti-aging effects and potentially reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
- Reduced Inflammation: Chronic inflammation is linked to various health issues. Fasting can help reduce inflammatory markers in the body, which may contribute to a lower risk of conditions like heart disease and autoimmune disorders.
- Cognitive Function: Fasting has been linked to improved brain function and mental clarity. When the body enters ketosis, it produces ketones, which serve as an alternative fuel source for the brain. This may lead to enhanced focus and concentration.
Important Considerations
- While there are potential benefits, it's important to approach a 36-hour fast with caution. It is an intense form of intermittent fasting and may not be suitable for everyone. Potential side effects can include hunger, fatigue, headaches, and irritability, which usually subside as your body adapts. It's crucial to stay well-hydrated during the fast and to eat healthy, nutrient-dense meals on your non-fasting days to ensure you get the vitamins and minerals you need.
- It's highly recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new fasting regimen, especially if you have an underlying health condition like diabetes or a history of disordered eating.
A 36-hour fast is a type of intermittent fasting where you abstain from all food and calorie-containing beverages for a 36-hour period, typically once or twice a week. While research is ongoing, and more human studies are needed, a 36-hour fast may offer several potential benefits.
Key Benefits
- Autophagy: This is a major benefit often associated with longer fasts. Autophagy is a cellular "self-eating" process where the body cleans out and recycles damaged or dysfunctional cells and components. Think of it as a deep spring-cleaning for your body's cells. This process may be crucial for longevity and overall well-being. While some autophagy can begin in shorter fasts, a 36-hour fast is considered by some to be a good duration to trigger a more significant autophagic response.
- Weight and Fat Loss: During a fast, your body uses up its stored glucose (glycogen) and then shifts to burning fat for energy in a process called ketosis. This can be an effective way to reduce body fat, and some studies have shown that it can be as effective as daily calorie restriction for weight loss. A 36-hour fast can also help regulate hormones like ghrelin (the hunger hormone), which may reduce overall appetite.
- Metabolic Flexibility: Fasting trains your body to become more "metabolically flexible," meaning it can efficiently switch between using glucose and fat for fuel. This can improve insulin sensitivity, which is vital for managing blood sugar levels and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Hormonal Regulation: A 36-hour fast can have a positive impact on hormone levels. It can improve insulin sensitivity and may lead to an increase in human growth hormone (HGH), which plays a role in muscle preservation and fat metabolism.
- Cellular Repair and Regeneration: The processes triggered by fasting, like autophagy, can lead to the regeneration of new, healthy cells. This can have anti-aging effects and potentially reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
- Reduced Inflammation: Chronic inflammation is linked to various health issues. Fasting can help reduce inflammatory markers in the body, which may contribute to a lower risk of conditions like heart disease and autoimmune disorders.
- Cognitive Function: Fasting has been linked to improved brain function and mental clarity. When the body enters ketosis, it produces ketones, which serve as an alternative fuel source for the brain. This may lead to enhanced focus and concentration.
Important Considerations
- While there are potential benefits, it's important to approach a 36-hour fast with caution. It is an intense form of intermittent fasting and may not be suitable for everyone. Potential side effects can include hunger, fatigue, headaches, and irritability, which usually subside as your body adapts. It's crucial to stay well-hydrated during the fast and to eat healthy, nutrient-dense meals on your non-fasting days to ensure you get the vitamins and minerals you need.
- It's highly recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new fasting regimen, especially if you have an underlying health condition like diabetes or a history of disordered eating.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Kierkegaard
From Ai Gemini:
A famous and thought-provoking quote on the topic of regret comes from the Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard. He wrote:
"Marry, and you will regret it; don't marry, you will also regret it; marry or don't marry, you will regret it either way."
This quote is part of a larger passage from his work 'Either/Or', in which he explores the idea of the "aesthetic" and "ethical" ways of life. The quote suggests that in the aesthetic sphere, where choices are made on whim and without a guiding principle, any choice will lead to regret because you will always wonder about the alternative. It's a powerful statement on the nature of choice and the human condition.
A famous and thought-provoking quote on the topic of regret comes from the Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard. He wrote:
"Marry, and you will regret it; don't marry, you will also regret it; marry or don't marry, you will regret it either way."
This quote is part of a larger passage from his work 'Either/Or', in which he explores the idea of the "aesthetic" and "ethical" ways of life. The quote suggests that in the aesthetic sphere, where choices are made on whim and without a guiding principle, any choice will lead to regret because you will always wonder about the alternative. It's a powerful statement on the nature of choice and the human condition.
Einstein
"I have never belonged wholeheartedly to a country, a state, nor to a circle of friends, nor even to my own family. When I was still a rather precocious young man, I already realized most vividly the futility of the hopes and aspirations that most men pursue throughout their lives. Well-being and happiness never appeared to me as an absolute aim." Albert Einstein
Monday, August 18, 2025
Consent
A brief history lesson on the age of consent from Ai Gemini.
The statement "Early 18th Century: Many European countries, including England and Italy, had common law rules around the age of consent, often linked to marriage and puberty, with girls considered marriageable around 11 or 12 years old", is largely true, but with important nuances.
Here's a breakdown based on historical context:
- Common Law and the Age of Marriage: In England, common law had long established the minimum age for a girl to consent to marriage at 12 years old. For boys, it was 14. This was indeed linked to the idea of puberty and the ability to procreate.
- The Age of Consent (for Sexual Intercourse): This was a separate legal concept from the age of marriage. In England, the age of consent for sexual intercourse was set at 12 in the 13th century, then lowered to 10 in the 16th century, and remained there until it was raised again in the 19th century. So, while a girl could legally marry at 12, her age of consent for sexual acts was even younger in the 18th century.
- Italy and Other European Countries: In the 16th century, some Italian and German states set an age of consent at 12 years. By the late 18th century, other European nations, influenced by the Enlightenment and the Napoleonic Code, began to establish or formalize their own ages of consent, which were often around 10-12 years.
- Average vs. Legal Age: It's crucial to distinguish between the legal minimum age and the average age of marriage. While the law permitted marriage at very young ages, particularly for girls, the average age of first marriage in places like England was considerably higher, often in the mid-to-late twenties. Factors like the need to save money for a new household and social customs contributed to this later average age.
In summary, the statement is correct in that the legal minimum age for marriage and consent was very young in the early 18th century, often around 11 or 12 for girls, and was indeed tied to common law and the concept of puberty. However, it's an oversimplification to assume that this was the common age at which people actually married.
The statement "Early 18th Century: Many European countries, including England and Italy, had common law rules around the age of consent, often linked to marriage and puberty, with girls considered marriageable around 11 or 12 years old", is largely true, but with important nuances.
Here's a breakdown based on historical context:
- Common Law and the Age of Marriage: In England, common law had long established the minimum age for a girl to consent to marriage at 12 years old. For boys, it was 14. This was indeed linked to the idea of puberty and the ability to procreate.
- The Age of Consent (for Sexual Intercourse): This was a separate legal concept from the age of marriage. In England, the age of consent for sexual intercourse was set at 12 in the 13th century, then lowered to 10 in the 16th century, and remained there until it was raised again in the 19th century. So, while a girl could legally marry at 12, her age of consent for sexual acts was even younger in the 18th century.
- Italy and Other European Countries: In the 16th century, some Italian and German states set an age of consent at 12 years. By the late 18th century, other European nations, influenced by the Enlightenment and the Napoleonic Code, began to establish or formalize their own ages of consent, which were often around 10-12 years.
- Average vs. Legal Age: It's crucial to distinguish between the legal minimum age and the average age of marriage. While the law permitted marriage at very young ages, particularly for girls, the average age of first marriage in places like England was considerably higher, often in the mid-to-late twenties. Factors like the need to save money for a new household and social customs contributed to this later average age.
In summary, the statement is correct in that the legal minimum age for marriage and consent was very young in the early 18th century, often around 11 or 12 for girls, and was indeed tied to common law and the concept of puberty. However, it's an oversimplification to assume that this was the common age at which people actually married.
Friday, August 15, 2025
August
Hard to believe, but September is closing in on us. Students are preparing for going back to school, and soon we will have chalked up another Summer. Enjoy your weekend, rest, have fun. See you on Monday.
Huxley
“Wherever the choice has had to be made between the man of reason and the madman, the world has unhesitatingly followed the madman.” Aldous Huxley
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Truth
"Though feelings of isolation can compound our suffering and sense of being overwhelmed or inadequate, the bedrock truth is that we are not separate. The separation we feel in our daily lives is artificial, a construct of our minds." Brother Phap Xa and Brother Phap Luu
Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis
One example of a parasitic fungus is Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as the "zombie-ant fungus."
- Host: Carpenter ants (specifically those in the genus Camponotus).
- Mechanism: The fungus infects the ant, controlling its behavior. It compels the ant to climb a plant stem and bite a leaf or twig, where it locks its mandibles in a "death grip." The fungus then kills the ant and grows a stalk out of its head.
- Purpose: This stalk releases spores that rain down on the forest floor, infecting other foraging ants and continuing the cycle.
- Significance: It's a classic example of a parasite manipulating its host's behavior to enhance its own reproductive success.
(Jim here, this reminds me of politics in the 21st Centruy.)
Learn
"Often things which we think are very unfortunate turn out to be the best thing which happened. And likewise, things which we think are great actually didn’t lead to anything much. So we shouldn’t therefore always judge things in accordance with whether they’re comfortable or uncomfortable for our ego, but we should ask ourselves, “What can I learn from this, what is this going to teach me?”" Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Balancing On One Leg With Eyes Closed
From Ai Gemini:
Balancing on one leg with your eyes closed is an advanced balance exercise that offers significant health benefits by challenging your body's proprioceptive system. This system is your body's internal sense of its position and movement in space. When you close your eyes, you remove visual cues, forcing your brain to rely more heavily on information from your inner ear (vestibular system) and the sensory receptors in your muscles and joints.
Here are some of the key health benefits of this exercise:
- Improved Proprioception and Overall Balance: By removing the visual component, you strengthen your body's proprioceptive system. This makes you more attuned to subtle shifts in your weight and position, improving your overall stability and coordination. This is particularly important for preventing falls, especially as you age.
- Enhanced Core Strength and Stability: To maintain your balance on one leg, your core, hip, and lower body muscles must engage to keep you steady. This strengthens your abdominal muscles, obliques, and glutes, which are crucial for good posture and injury prevention.
- Boosted Brain Health: Balance exercises stimulate the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for coordinating movement. Regularly challenging your balance can help keep these neural connections strong, which may improve cognitive function and slow cognitive decline.
- Improved Joint Health: Balancing on one leg strengthens the muscles that support your joints, reducing the risk of injuries and conditions like arthritis. It also improves joint proprioception, which is your body's ability to sense the position and movement of your joints.
- Longevity and Healthy Aging: Research has shown a correlation between the ability to balance on one leg for a certain period of time and a lower risk of death from all causes. While not a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it suggests that maintaining good balance is a reliable indicator of overall health and can contribute to a longer, healthier life.
How to Start and Progress:
- Begin with eyes open: If you are new to balance exercises, start by balancing on one leg with your eyes open, holding onto a chair or wall for support if needed.
- Gradually increase difficulty: Once you can comfortably balance with your eyes open for 30 seconds, you can begin to challenge yourself by trying it with your eyes closed.
- Progress safely: Always practice near a stable surface you can grab onto in case you lose your balance. You can also try other variations like standing on an unstable surface (like a pillow) or moving your arms to further challenge your stability.
Balancing on one leg with your eyes closed is an advanced balance exercise that offers significant health benefits by challenging your body's proprioceptive system. This system is your body's internal sense of its position and movement in space. When you close your eyes, you remove visual cues, forcing your brain to rely more heavily on information from your inner ear (vestibular system) and the sensory receptors in your muscles and joints.
Here are some of the key health benefits of this exercise:
- Improved Proprioception and Overall Balance: By removing the visual component, you strengthen your body's proprioceptive system. This makes you more attuned to subtle shifts in your weight and position, improving your overall stability and coordination. This is particularly important for preventing falls, especially as you age.
- Enhanced Core Strength and Stability: To maintain your balance on one leg, your core, hip, and lower body muscles must engage to keep you steady. This strengthens your abdominal muscles, obliques, and glutes, which are crucial for good posture and injury prevention.
- Boosted Brain Health: Balance exercises stimulate the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for coordinating movement. Regularly challenging your balance can help keep these neural connections strong, which may improve cognitive function and slow cognitive decline.
- Improved Joint Health: Balancing on one leg strengthens the muscles that support your joints, reducing the risk of injuries and conditions like arthritis. It also improves joint proprioception, which is your body's ability to sense the position and movement of your joints.
- Longevity and Healthy Aging: Research has shown a correlation between the ability to balance on one leg for a certain period of time and a lower risk of death from all causes. While not a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it suggests that maintaining good balance is a reliable indicator of overall health and can contribute to a longer, healthier life.
How to Start and Progress:
- Begin with eyes open: If you are new to balance exercises, start by balancing on one leg with your eyes open, holding onto a chair or wall for support if needed.
- Gradually increase difficulty: Once you can comfortably balance with your eyes open for 30 seconds, you can begin to challenge yourself by trying it with your eyes closed.
- Progress safely: Always practice near a stable surface you can grab onto in case you lose your balance. You can also try other variations like standing on an unstable surface (like a pillow) or moving your arms to further challenge your stability.
Meditation
I've got a new track out on September 12th 2025. I'm back to multi-tracking, it's classical guitar and piano.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Li Bai
The River-Merchant’s Wife: A Letter by Li Bai
translated from the Chinese by Ezra Pound
While my hair was still cut straight across my forehead
I played about the front gate, pulling flowers
You came by on bamboo stilts, playing horse,
You walked about my seat, playing with blue plums.
And we went on living in the village of Chokan:
Two small people, without dislike or suspicion.
At fourteen I married My Lord you.
I never laughed, being bashful.
Lowering my head, I looked at the wall.
Called to, a thousand times, I never looked back.
At fifteen I stopped scowling,
I desired my dust to be mingled with yours
Forever and forever, and forever.
Why should I climb the lookout?
At sixteen you departed,
You went into far Ku-to-Yen, by the river of swirling eddies,
And you have been gone five months.
The monkeys make sorrowful noise overhead.
You dragged your feet when you went out.
By the gate now, the moss is grown, the different mosses,
Too deep to clear them away!
The leaves fall early this autumn, in wind.
The paired butterflies are already yellow with August
Over the grass in the West garden,
They hurt me.
I grow older,
If you are coming down through the narrows of the river Kiang,
Please let me know beforehand,
And I will come out to meet you,
As far as Cho-fu-Sa.
translated from the Chinese by Ezra Pound
While my hair was still cut straight across my forehead
I played about the front gate, pulling flowers
You came by on bamboo stilts, playing horse,
You walked about my seat, playing with blue plums.
And we went on living in the village of Chokan:
Two small people, without dislike or suspicion.
At fourteen I married My Lord you.
I never laughed, being bashful.
Lowering my head, I looked at the wall.
Called to, a thousand times, I never looked back.
At fifteen I stopped scowling,
I desired my dust to be mingled with yours
Forever and forever, and forever.
Why should I climb the lookout?
At sixteen you departed,
You went into far Ku-to-Yen, by the river of swirling eddies,
And you have been gone five months.
The monkeys make sorrowful noise overhead.
You dragged your feet when you went out.
By the gate now, the moss is grown, the different mosses,
Too deep to clear them away!
The leaves fall early this autumn, in wind.
The paired butterflies are already yellow with August
Over the grass in the West garden,
They hurt me.
I grow older,
If you are coming down through the narrows of the river Kiang,
Please let me know beforehand,
And I will come out to meet you,
As far as Cho-fu-Sa.
Monday, August 11, 2025
Friday, August 08, 2025
Nietzsche
"Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed." Friedrich Nietzsche
Thursday, August 07, 2025
Every Night
“Every night, trillions of aquatic organisms - from tiny copepods, a million of which could fit in a coffee cup, to sand lance, six-inch long fish that bury themselves in the seafloor - move from the relative safety of deeper waters, where they can move about unnoticed in the dark, to the surface. Here the herbivorous zooplankton, like copepods and krill, feed on phytoplankton, and the carnivores, forage fish such as sand lance and herring, feed on the zoops. This daily vertical movement of a hundred feet or more is the largest migration on the planet, dwarfing that of blue whales and wildebeests in terms of sheer number and biomass.” Joe Roman
Brooks
The Crazy Woman by Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks
I shall not sing a May song.
A May song should be gay.
I'll wait until November
And sing a song of gray.
I'll wait until November
That is the time for me.
I'll go out in the frosty dark
And sing most terribly.
And all the little people
Will stare at me and say,
"That is the Crazy Woman
Who would not sing in May."
I shall not sing a May song.
A May song should be gay.
I'll wait until November
And sing a song of gray.
I'll wait until November
That is the time for me.
I'll go out in the frosty dark
And sing most terribly.
And all the little people
Will stare at me and say,
"That is the Crazy Woman
Who would not sing in May."
The Comet By JS
The Comet by JS
It was a happy comet, presently celebrating visiting the solar system for the three-billionth time.
The well known celestial tourist sites never grew old, a personal favorite was Saturn with its vivid rings.
Neptune was a great place to lay low, relax, and not really be bothered by all the other interstellar traffic.
Mars was recently becoming more animated with lively robots roaming over the surface.
The place was no longer a dreary eye sore.
Ah, but for real warmth and sunlight especially after the slog past Earth, there was Venus and Mercury, better than relaxing by the pool.
It was a happy comet, presently celebrating visiting the solar system for the three-billionth time.
The well known celestial tourist sites never grew old, a personal favorite was Saturn with its vivid rings.
Neptune was a great place to lay low, relax, and not really be bothered by all the other interstellar traffic.
Mars was recently becoming more animated with lively robots roaming over the surface.
The place was no longer a dreary eye sore.
Ah, but for real warmth and sunlight especially after the slog past Earth, there was Venus and Mercury, better than relaxing by the pool.
Wednesday, August 06, 2025
Frost
A Boundless Moment by Robert Frost
He halted in the wind, and - what was that
Far in the maples, pale, but not a ghost?
He stood there bringing March against his thought,
And yet too ready to believe the most.
"Oh, that's the Paradise-in-bloom," I said;
And truly it was fair enough for flowers
had we but in us to assume in march
Such white luxuriance of May for ours.
We stood a moment so in a strange world,
Myself as one his own pretense deceives;
And then I said the truth (and we moved on).
A young beech clinging to its last year's leaves.
He halted in the wind, and - what was that
Far in the maples, pale, but not a ghost?
He stood there bringing March against his thought,
And yet too ready to believe the most.
"Oh, that's the Paradise-in-bloom," I said;
And truly it was fair enough for flowers
had we but in us to assume in march
Such white luxuriance of May for ours.
We stood a moment so in a strange world,
Myself as one his own pretense deceives;
And then I said the truth (and we moved on).
A young beech clinging to its last year's leaves.
Tuesday, August 05, 2025
Kimba Fruit
In different regions, the term "Kimba" can refer to different fruits or plants.
Here are some of the most common English equivalents:
- In Himachal Pradesh, India, Kimb or Muska is a large, fragrant citrus fruit, known for its extreme sourness. It is sometimes considered to be the original citrus fruit from which others developed.
- In Nepal, Kimbu refers to the Mulberry.
- In some parts of Africa, specifically Cameroon, "Kimba" is the local name for the plant Xylopia aethiopica. This plant's seeds are also known as Grains of Selim or Ethiopian pepper, and have a musky flavor, often used as a spice or pepper substitute.
The most appropriate English equivalent for "Kimba fruit" depends on the specific region or context you are referring to.
Here are some of the most common English equivalents:
- In Himachal Pradesh, India, Kimb or Muska is a large, fragrant citrus fruit, known for its extreme sourness. It is sometimes considered to be the original citrus fruit from which others developed.
- In Nepal, Kimbu refers to the Mulberry.
- In some parts of Africa, specifically Cameroon, "Kimba" is the local name for the plant Xylopia aethiopica. This plant's seeds are also known as Grains of Selim or Ethiopian pepper, and have a musky flavor, often used as a spice or pepper substitute.
The most appropriate English equivalent for "Kimba fruit" depends on the specific region or context you are referring to.
Monday, August 04, 2025
Purloin
purloin:
transitive verb
1. To steal, especially in a stealthy way. synonym: steal.
2. Similar: steal To take or carry away for one's self; hence, to steal; to take by theft; to filch.
3. Similar: purloined
intransitive verb
1. To practice theft; to steal.
transitive verb
1. To steal, especially in a stealthy way. synonym: steal.
2. Similar: steal To take or carry away for one's self; hence, to steal; to take by theft; to filch.
3. Similar: purloined
intransitive verb
1. To practice theft; to steal.
Like This
She loved the sky when it was like this
And out of the water leapt a big blue fish
It rose up high into the sky
The sky she loved when it was like this
And out of the water leapt a big blue fish
It rose up high into the sky
The sky she loved when it was like this
Autumn
Autumn by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Thou comest, Autumn, heralded by the rain,
With banners, by great gales incessant fanned,
Brighter than brightest silks of Samarcand,
And stately oxen harnessed to thy wain!
Thou standest, like imperial Charlemagne,
Upon thy bridge of gold; thy royal hand
Outstretched with benedictions o'er the land,
Blessing the farms through all thy vast domain!
Thy shield is the red harvest moon, suspended
So long beneath the heaven's o'erhanging eaves;
Thy steps are by the farmer's prayers attended;
Like flames upon an altar shine the sheaves;
And, following thee, in thy ovation splendid,
Thine almoner, the wind, scatters the golden leaves!
Friday, August 01, 2025
Nature
Nature 1878 by Henry Wdsworth Lonfellow
As a fond mother, when the day is o’er,
Leads by the hand her little child to bed,
Half willing, half reluctant to be led,
And leave his broken playthings on the floor,
Still gazing at them through the open door,
Nor wholly reassured and comforted
By promises of others in their stead,
Which, though more splendid, may not please him more;
So Nature deals with us, and takes away
Our playthings one by one, and by the hand
Leads us to rest so gently, that we go
Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay,
Being too full of sleep to understand
How far the unknown transcends the what we know.
As a fond mother, when the day is o’er,
Leads by the hand her little child to bed,
Half willing, half reluctant to be led,
And leave his broken playthings on the floor,
Still gazing at them through the open door,
Nor wholly reassured and comforted
By promises of others in their stead,
Which, though more splendid, may not please him more;
So Nature deals with us, and takes away
Our playthings one by one, and by the hand
Leads us to rest so gently, that we go
Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay,
Being too full of sleep to understand
How far the unknown transcends the what we know.
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