We’re beginning every month this year with a haiku (or a longer poem made of haiku) relevant to the month.
leaves soak summer sun
rustling wind sings song of green …
still shade serenades
[Subimal Sinha-Roy ]
All the poems can be found online at http://www.haikupoemsandpoets.com.
Once again we come to our monthly collection of links to items you missed the first time round and which you’ll find interesting. This month we have a well packed collection (lots of science and lots of history), so it’s straight in the deep end.
Science, Technology, Natural World
Astronomers still think there’s a large planet out beyond Pluto, so of course they’re still hunting for it (artist’s impression above).
So when you have this new vaccine how are you going to package it? Pharmaceutical Chemist Derek Lowe takes a look.
Many plants have stingers (think, stinging nettles), and it seems they have achieved optimal pointiness. [£££]
Oh dear! It seems likely the world’s smallest dinosaur is a lizard. [£££]
Ornithologists are revealing the long-distance travels and longevity of British birds.
Scientists still don’t know how birds navigate, though it is likely magnetic and they’re narrowing down the options.
30 years ago Red Kites were reintroduced to the Chilterns to the west of London, and this has proven to be a huge conservation success. (I’m 30 miles east of the release area, and in suburban London, and I now regularly see Red Kites over this area.)
Where have all our swifts gone? Are they on the Grand Tour?
There’s a growing realisation that old paintings can provide valuable information about agriculture both livestock and arable. [£££]
Here’s a brief look at the chemistry of cat allergies, catnip and cat pee.
Health, Medicine
How on Earth do you do surgery in the weightlessness of space without having bits of body floating around?
I find this hard to believe, but seemingly damaged human lungs can be revived for transplant by connecting them to a pig. [£££]
Researchers are worried that a new swine flu identified in China has pandemic potential.
Researchers are also looking at the potential for using magic mushrooms to help ex-soldiers overcome trauma.
Art, Literature, Language
Where are the bones of Hans Holbein? Jonathan Jones went looking, but we still don’t know. [LONG READ]
An astronomer has finally(?) pinpointed the exact date and time of Vermeer’s “View of Delft” (above).
The British Library has acquired an important archive of Mervyn Peake‘s original illustrations, preliminary drawings and unpublished early works (example below).
History, Archaeology, Anthropology
Archaeologists have uncovered stone tools which they believe show that humans occupied the Americas around 33,000 years ago – that’s over 10,000 years earlier than previously thought.
Work on the UK’s HS2 rail link has unearthed the skeleton of a possible iron age murder victim.
Drinking games have a long history. Michael Fontaine, in History Today, takes a look.
So how old is the Cerne Abbas Giant (right)? New archaeological thinking by the National Trust suggests it is not prehistoric.
Our favourite medieval historian, Dr Eleanor Janega, takes a look at colonialism, imperialism, and the perils of ignoring medieval history. [LONG READ]
Going Medieval also take a brief look at the medieval obsession with the Moon.
A look at the symbolism of the medieval haircut. Scissors or sword, Sir?
Coming closer to our time, apparently Georgian London was a haven for sexual diseases.
Even closer to home, a look at what happened on the morning of the first nuclear test in 1945. [LONG READ]
And almost up to date, the purrrplexing story of the British Museum cats.
ARCHI is a UK archaeological site containing old maps (largely Victorian, it seems) which you can overlay on the current map to see what was there before we were.
London
Here are two pieces from the History of London on the area to the east of the Tower of London. First, the St Katherine’s area, and second the development of the area around Stepney.
Going Medieval (again) introduces us to the magnificent Agas Map of London (it’s detailed and zoomable!) as well as the lfe of medieval and early modern cities. [LONG READ]
Lifestyle, Personal Development, Beliefs
And finally for this month … Dungeness is one of my favourite places and the late Derek Jarman’s cottage and garden (thankfully saved for the nation) is an absolute delight (below). Now there’s an exhibition about Jarman’s garden at the Garden Museum in London.
Here is this month’s selection of interesting or amusing quotes. In no particular order …
Grassi, in theorizing about heat, relied on … ancient authors when he claimed that Babylonians could cook eggs by whirling them around at the ends of slings … Galileo’s retort … translates to: “If we do not achieve an effect which others formerly achieved, it must be that we lack something in our operation which was the cause of this effect succeeding, and if we lack one thing only, then this alone can be the true cause.”
The ball thus teed up, Galileo swings away: “Now we do not lack eggs, or slings, or sturdy fellows to whirl them, and still [the eggs] do not cook, but rather cool down faster if hot. And since we lack nothing except being Babylonian, then being Babylonian is the cause of the egg hardening.”
[Steve Mirsky; Scientific American; 07/2020]
What is to be expected of [the English ruling class] is not treachery, or physical cowardice, but stupidity, unconscious sabotage, an infallible instinct for doing the wrong thing. They are not wicked, or not altogether wicked; they are merely unteachable.
[George Orwell, 1941]
Mr Speaker the figures I gave that the Prime Minister says are inadvertently misleading are the slide at his press conference yesterday!
[Keir Starmer MP, at PMQs, 24 June 2020]
To think that we are supposed to live this life without asking for help and without being interconnected is insanity.
[Amanda Palmer]
There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.
[George Santayana (1863-1952)]
O sophisticated drinkers –
you unthirsty thyrsus-linkers
down your rounds, ignore the blinkers,
bent on being wineglass-clinkers! …
If you can’t brook a libation,
get out of our celebration!
Out! Begone! Why in tarnation
Stay? We don’t host moderation.
[Carmina Burana]
The custom of shaking hands originated in the ancient and universal practice of grasping the weapon hand during a truce as a precaution against treachery. So we see that from a comparatively dark and illiterate period a custom having a rational origin, which rationale dwindled into nothingness during its spread and migration through successive centuries, was ushered into our glorious civilization, unnecessary in its essence, devoid of all intelligence, and positively injurious to public health.
[Nathan Breiter, Medical Record, 1897]
Extremely into this explanation of sinning by senses from the 15th century Krumlov Miscellenea: “[I have sinned b]y my hands, touching my body wrongly and vainly or touching other persons’ breasts or crotch forcing to commit an evil act, arousing myself or someone else to sin.”
It’s a great reminder of the idea of the conception of the contagious nature of sex. You grab someone’s crotch and BLAM, they pretty much have to have sex because that is just way too hot. (At least that is what happens when I do it.)
But it is also a great reminder of the medieval conception of sodomy, (or what we would call foreplay cuz we basic), as medieval people were like “Hell yeah hand stuff? That is the sex worth risking the death of my immortal soul for.”
[Dr Eleanor Janega, @GoingMedieval, on Twitter]
I think there’s something fundamentally disrespectful about someone who can’t be bothered to take their socks off if they think they’re going to get some.
Make a bloody effort … It’s all very well jumping on your Raleigh Chopper with a come hither look in your eye, but if … you’ve got your football socks and Birkenstock on, it’s a stone cold passion killer and no mistake.
[Katy Wheatley]
It does not make any difference how beautiful your guess is. It does not make any difference how smart you are … if it disagrees with experiment it is wrong.
[Richard Feynman]
The whole country was lighted by a searing light with the intensity many times that of the midday sun. It was golden, violet, grey and blue. It lighted every peak, crevasse and ridge of the nearby mountain range with clarity and beauty that cannot be described but must be seen to be imagined.
[Brigadier General Thomas Farrell, on the Trinity nuclear test, 1945]
Being wrong is not a bad thing like they teach you in school. It is an opportunity to learn something. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial and error.
If you cannot explain something in simple terms, you don’t understand it. The best way to learn is to teach.
[Richard Feynman]
Today is Day 125 of my house arrest. Yet again not a lot has changed since my report on day 100.
At a country level we continue our journey to Hell in a handcart, thanks to the lies and selfishness of our so-called government. Yes, you’re right, I have absolutely no respect or trust in any of them. And a large swathe of the British public continue in their stupidity. But hey, we’re doing well; the USA is far worse, they’re totally out of control is what it looks like from here.
At a more personal level we continue muddling along through lockdown. Procrastination and depression seem to be the order of the day, although nice sunny days do bring some noticeable relief, even if it is temporary. Nonetheless too many things are not getting done, and it seems to be impossible to unlock the wheels.
So, a few things (good and not so good) that have happened since my last report on day 100.
| Good | Not So Good |
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Talking to people in the healthcare arena they’re saying that little is going to loosen up (at least in terms of the way healthcare is operating at present) until there is a good Covid-19 vaccine in widespread use. Their, and my, assessment is this isn’t going to be until at least the end of 2021. So don’t hold your breath.
I still reckon we’re going to see quite a bit in the way of a second wave starting in August; fuelled by the indigenous idiots going out on the town (restrictions now having been eased); returning from holiday in “who knows where”; and schools going back in September. This second wave could well continue up until Christmas. I just hope I’m wrong!
So, like many, I’m getting to the point where the outside world is just too scary; and all in all I expect to stay in isolation for a while to come.
But with luck things might have improved by the time of my next report, which I’m scheduling for Day 150. Meanwhile, be good and enjoy the summer as best you can in safety.
This is number 3 in the “rusticated tart” recipe series; see Rusticated Fruit Tart and Rusticated Veggie Tart.
It is worth using your pastry offcuts, especially if you’re doing a big bake and have a number of offcuts.
Although re-rolling the pastry doesn’t do it many favours, it doesn’t matter too much for these free-form, informal, snacks. I’m assuming puff pastry, but shortcrust would work too; obviously you’d not want to re-roll filo pastry sheets.
I guarantee these will not hang around for long – hence no pictures!
Here are two options:
Mini Fruit Turnovers
They make a nice little amuse bouche with your morning coffee.
Simple Cheese Palmiers
These make a yummy snack at any time!
Enjoy!
So following on from yesterday’s recipe for Rusticated Fruit Tart, here’s how I did a veggie version. It’s quite like the fruit tart, but obviously not sweetened.
Serves: 4 as a main course or 6-8 as a starter
Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes
Cooking Time: 30-40 minutes
Ingredients
For the veg I used 2 yellow peppers, 8-10 cherry tomatoes, a fennel, 3 large mushrooms, small red onion, 2 cloves of garlic. You could also use chopped fresh herbs (thyme would be good), aubergine, courgette, celery, leeks. Of course, if you want a non-veggie version you could always add some chopped bacon.
Go easy with the cheese but don’t be mean. While you want enough for good flavour, too much cheese will make the tart too greasy.
Instructions
Here’s one I made earlier, fresh from the oven.
Tomorrow, what to do with those pastry offcuts.
An easy to make free-form fruit tart. The advantage here is that you don’t need a flan/quiche tin nor does the fruit have to be arranged in pretty patterns (though you could if you wish).
You can use almost any fruit. Gooseberries work well, as should any other berries. Rhubarb is also good; cut it into 1-2cm pieces. Stone fruit work well too, as would apples or pears. Citrus probably not so good, although YMMV.
I use puff pastry (and I can’t be bothered to make it) but you could use shortcrust or even filo pastry.
Serves: 6-8 as a sweet course
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
Instructions
Here’s a (red) gooseberry tart I made earlier, still on the baking sheet and guarded by four mini rustic apple turnovers (more about that later!).
Tomorrow I’ll tell you how I made a yummy veggie version of this tart. And the day after that what to do with those pastry offcuts.
This year our Ten Things series, on the tenth of each month, is concentrating on things which are wackier than usual, if not by much. From odd road names to Christmas carols by way of saints and scientists. So here goes with July …
Ten Pieces of Weather Lore
Onion skins very thin,Today a cow is eating grass; tomorrow cow dung will make good fertilizer.
[Zen proverb]
We’re beginning every month this year with a haiku (or a longer poem made of haiku) relevant to the month.
through dawn fuzzy haze
soused in sunrise cointreau rays
sits the woozy moon
[Viv Wigley]
All the poems can be found online at http://www.haikupoemsandpoets.com.