Archive for the ‘old dead white guys’ Category
d’Alembert’s Dream
February 25th, 2010
I would call Denis Diderot’s essay d’Alembert’s Dream a study in 18th-century cognitive science.
Also it’s my birthday! I’m older now.
Keynes-Hayek Rap Battle
January 25th, 2010
This is something I’ve dreamed about for years. I never thought it would actually exist.
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Well quipped, Dr. Bohr
January 14th, 2010
Neils Bohr was once visited at his country house by a friend of his, another scientist. The friend was astonished to see that Bohr had a horseshoe nailed up above his front door. He asked, “Do you really believe that that brings you luck?”
Bohr said, “No, of course not… but I’m told that they work even if you don’t believe in them.”
Take-Away Shows
January 11th, 2010
Did you see this collection of bands playing impromptu public performances? Quite a few good indie bands make appearances: Phoenix, Yo La Tengo, Fleet Foxes, Sigur Rós, The Walkmen, and so on. Produced/organized by la Blogotheque.
On the subject of Lisztomania:
After 1842 “Lisztomania” swept across Europe. The reception Liszt enjoyed as a result can only be described as hysterical. Women fought over his silk handkerchiefs and velvet gloves, which they ripped to shreds as souvenirs. Helping fuel this atmosphere was the artist’s mesmeric personality and stage presence. Many witnesses later testified that Liszt’s playing raised the mood of audiences to a level of mystical ecstasy.
Behemoth
December 14th, 2009
While reading through Borges’ Seven Nights, I came across a reference in his discussion of the Kabbalah in which he mentions that Behemoth is actually plural, meaning “the animals.” Looking this up in the ever-reliable Wiktionary, I learned that
It may be an example of pluralis excellentiae, a Hebrew method of expressing greatness by pluralizing a noun; it thus indicates that Behemoth is the largest and most powerful animal.
Behemoth is so big that it has to be plural. Language is great.
Visualizing Empires’ Decline
November 26th, 2009
Charles II
November 20th, 2009
A description of Charles II of Spain, according to the Durants:
“short, lame, epileptic, senile, and completely bald before thirty-five, he was always on the verge of death, but repeatedly baffled Christendom by continuing to live.”
Of course he had problems; the guy’s family tree is a braid.
The Encyclopédie
September 3rd, 2009
French writer/philosopher Denis Diderot is probably best known for editing the Encyclopédie, a series of collaboratively-written books meant to compile all the knowledge of late-1700’s Europe. I just learned that the University of Michigan hosts a hypertext-ed translation of the whole thing. You can read a blurb about the project here. Some highlights:
Aside from some offensively dated ideas about race, I’m really impressed with how modern most of the thinking is. Compare that with, say, the Pseudodoxia, written just a century earlier. Way to go, Enlightenment.
Salvador Dalí’s Napping Tips
August 16th, 2009
From Lifehacker:
The painter Salvador Dali used to employ the following trick to have the best nap ever:
- Hold a coffee spoon (or something else—use your imagination) in your hand
- Sit and relax on a comfy couch or chair with your arm hanging
- When you go into deep sleep (after about 20-30 minutes) your hand will relax and release the spoon, and the sound of the spoon falling will wake you up
That is the perfect timing for the best nap ever.