Chesterton again... but given the current state of illogic, it applies The Latest School See the flying French depart Like the bees of Bonaparte, Swarming up with a most venomous vitality. Over Baden and Bavaria, And Brighton and Bulgaria, Thus violating Belgian neutrality. And the injured Prussian may Not unreasonably say "Why, it cannot be … Continue reading Poem of the day 31
Month: December 2015
Safety requires hard words.
It is very clear, at least in the USA, that one's opinions can lead to termination of employment. This is (as one of the commentators from the dread ilk pointed out) a form of economic terrorism. However, there are other risks associated with this: one is that the steps that one can take to ensure … Continue reading Safety requires hard words.
Planning and Patience [James 4,5]
I said yesterday that I plan about 10 months in advance. But each day goes a bit chaotic. Consider yesterday: my sons had to meet with their maternal grandfather: my ex-wife went to the wrong pick-up point, and I got the message to pick them up about two hours earlier than I expected, while visiting … Continue reading Planning and Patience [James 4,5]
Poem of the day 30
In the dog days of 2015, and at the end of the first month of this daily poetry, I return, again, to Eliot. If Caedmon was the beginning of English Poetry, were Eliot and Pound the end? The post war poets: Larkin and his ilk, are but pale imitators: the only things that are new … Continue reading Poem of the day 30
Why I wipe the OS and install Linux.
Simply put, I don't trust Microsoft. Or Apple. The latter (Apple) worries me more, because the only place I use Windows is in hospitals. I can let the hospital have the lawsuit when (not if) the NSA hoovers up confidential medical data, and then are hacked.... I tend to use Fedora based distros now: Debian … Continue reading Why I wipe the OS and install Linux.
The seduction of the title [I John 3]
I return to Dunedin and work in the new year, and as I do my Mum asked me what was going on this year. I mentioned conferences, that this year the promotion cycle turns around, and where the boys will be. I have to plan my year about ten months in advance. Part of me … Continue reading The seduction of the title [I John 3]
Middle-Earth: Poem of the day 29.
This is the most documented work of Caedmon: It was written in Old English, Transliterated into Latin by St Bede, and variously translated. Tolkien knew his poets, and knew the resonance of Middle-Earth: heaven above to attain to, and Hades below. If you want to know where he got his ideas, learn Old English, Icelandic … Continue reading Middle-Earth: Poem of the day 29.
A naked elite.
The emperor proclaims to be liberal, to be rich, to be the height of fashion: to be wise, and to guide the feckless and superstitious into the light. Yeah, right. The emperor is fascist, poor, frumpy, foolish, and promotes the implosion of the peoples of his nation. For the nation is not the dirt, but … Continue reading A naked elite.
Akin to the mighty men [II Sam 23]
It is God who trains our hands for battle. It is God who made men with a greater aggressive drive, and a sense of combativeness that does not diminish as we grow weary. If you do not believe that, play cards with your father, or visit a bowls club. And when we were made, God … Continue reading Akin to the mighty men [II Sam 23]
Poem of the day 28.
I did not know of George Herbert. I was thinking of Andrew Marvell, who was a puritan, but most of the Puritan poets are a generation or so later: the English schoolteacher would call him a metaphysical poet, and in his day the best known. Donne was barely published. Love Poem LOVE bade me welcome; … Continue reading Poem of the day 28.