Thursday 27 December 2012
Wednesday 12 December 2012
12-12-12 - Another pseudo-mathematical date
12-12-12
If one skips the century nominator (whether at the beginning or the end), then one ends up with a numerically repetitive date - theoretically not happening again until New Year's Day on 2101, (ie 1/1/1).
This meant that many people decided to get married on this date, even down to the time (12:12), so that they could remember their wedding anniversary.
If one skips the century nominator (whether at the beginning or the end), then one ends up with a numerically repetitive date - theoretically not happening again until New Year's Day on 2101, (ie 1/1/1).
This meant that many people decided to get married on this date, even down to the time (12:12), so that they could remember their wedding anniversary.
Wednesday 21 November 2012
Wednesday 6 June 2012
Monday 19 March 2012
A nice little blog post from Dyneslines explains a common misquotation from Nietszche bandied around a lot nowadays:
As it often the case, the precept becomes more understandable when we turn to the original text, which reads: “Aus der Kriegsschule des Lebens - Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich härter.” This observation stems from The Twilight of the Gods (Götzendämmerung) of 1888. It appears as number eight in a series of aphorisms that stand at the beginning of the book, so that it is not possible to deduce much context.
Still, the precept should be faithfully rendered. Yet the common English-language version incorporates a subtle, but serious error, for the last word is not “stronger” but “harder.” Thus what Nietzsche seems to be saying is that, even after contracting a terrible disease (AIDS for example), or being crippled in a car accident, we still need not despair. We can rise to the occasion by becoming “harder.” This does not mean that we are “stronger,” just more firmly resolved to deal with our lot.
As it often the case, the precept becomes more understandable when we turn to the original text, which reads: “Aus der Kriegsschule des Lebens - Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich härter.” This observation stems from The Twilight of the Gods (Götzendämmerung) of 1888. It appears as number eight in a series of aphorisms that stand at the beginning of the book, so that it is not possible to deduce much context.
Still, the precept should be faithfully rendered. Yet the common English-language version incorporates a subtle, but serious error, for the last word is not “stronger” but “harder.” Thus what Nietzsche seems to be saying is that, even after contracting a terrible disease (AIDS for example), or being crippled in a car accident, we still need not despair. We can rise to the occasion by becoming “harder.” This does not mean that we are “stronger,” just more firmly resolved to deal with our lot.
Friday 9 March 2012
Dullards know not goodness
Ay, let them laugh and revel o'er his fall!
Perchance, albeit in life the missed him not,
Dead, they will cry for him in straits of war.
For dullards know not goodness in their hand,
Nor prize the jewel till 'tis cast away.
-- Sophocles, "Aias"
Saturday 25 February 2012
Kennst du die Sängerin mit Stimme klar und rein
I saw a classical recital this afternoon, which I rather enjoyed.
It prompted me to pen a short poem, in the style and language of an untitled poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), from Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, Book III, Chapter 1, but sometimes referred to as "Mignon", variously put to music, by Ludwig Van Beethoven and others (see recmusic for more details).
Here is the poem:
Kennst du die Sängerin mit Stimme klar und rein
Insgesamt Freude zusammen zu sein
Die besten Freunde, mit uns verkleben
Jugendlich, wunderbar, voller Leben
Kennst du ihr
Dahin, ihr
Meine Sängerin, klar und rein
A loose and rather un-poetic translation:
Do you know the songstress with the voice clear and pure
A total joy to be around
The best of friends, sticks with us
Young and wonderful, full of life
Do you know her
There, her
My songstress, clear and pure.
It prompted me to pen a short poem, in the style and language of an untitled poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), from Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, Book III, Chapter 1, but sometimes referred to as "Mignon", variously put to music, by Ludwig Van Beethoven and others (see recmusic for more details).
Here is the poem:
Kennst du die Sängerin mit Stimme klar und rein
Insgesamt Freude zusammen zu sein
Die besten Freunde, mit uns verkleben
Jugendlich, wunderbar, voller Leben
Kennst du ihr
Dahin, ihr
Meine Sängerin, klar und rein
A loose and rather un-poetic translation:
Do you know the songstress with the voice clear and pure
A total joy to be around
The best of friends, sticks with us
Young and wonderful, full of life
Do you know her
There, her
My songstress, clear and pure.
Wednesday 15 February 2012
Love
"An eye is meant to see things.
The soul is here for its own joy.
A head has one use: For loving a true love.
Feet: To chase after.
Love is for vanishing into the sky. The mind,
for learning what men have done and tried to do.
Mysteries are not to be solved: The eye goes blind
when it only wants to see why.
A lover is always accused of something.
But when he finds his love, whatever was lost
in the looking comes back completely changed."
— Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī (مولانا جلال الدین محمد رومی)
The soul is here for its own joy.
A head has one use: For loving a true love.
Feet: To chase after.
Love is for vanishing into the sky. The mind,
for learning what men have done and tried to do.
Mysteries are not to be solved: The eye goes blind
when it only wants to see why.
A lover is always accused of something.
But when he finds his love, whatever was lost
in the looking comes back completely changed."
— Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī (مولانا جلال الدین محمد رومی)
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