Vicky got goosed, so I take a gander – Feminism meme

Vicky tagged me to do the 5 Things Feminism Has Done For Me meme, so here goes, Loyal Readers

1. Katherine plays with Thomas the Tank Engine rather than a doll based on a prostitute.

2. Vicky and I can work and play together as equals, with none of this nonsense about gender-based divisions.

3. I grew up with the notion of gender equality. I have a memory of, as a very small child, asserting to my parents and big sister that there were certain jobs that women couldn’t do. The example I came up with was mining. “Why couldn’t a woman be a miner?” they asked. I didn’t have an answer. Still don’t.

4. I can discourse at great length and in more detail than you’d really care to know about batting, backing, binding, basting and a whole bunch more quilting thingamajigs that don’t begin with “B.” Wanna hear all about the snippet technique? I’m your man.

5.  Katherine will grow up in a world fettered only by her own imagination.

On this day, Part II

With all the kerfuffle about mining, oil, mineral rights and other such in the media these days, it seems appropriate that. . . . . .

On October 16, 1839, Sir James Pearl (of Mount Pearl fame), received a Crown grant covering the Shoal Bay copper mine.  Didn’t prove a wise business move, though; Pearl died in 1840.  The Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Website has quite an in-depth article.

In other news, in 1472 a Danish navigator named Dietrich Pining claimed to have discovered Newfoundland, sailing on one of Corte-Real’s voyages.

Finally,  in 1040, a wee man named Macbeth became King of Scotland.  Somebody wrote a play about it later on.

You know you’re tired when. . .

Vicky:  “Open brain, insert foot.”

Pause.

V:  “No, that’s not right. . .”

I think it’s bedtime for overworked fibre artists.

Book meme

Helmut did it there awhile ago, so it must be good, right?  Actually, I’ve got no freakin’ idea exactly what a meme is, but I like books and this looked cool.  Anybody who can tell me what a meme is, let me know. . . . . .
1.     One book that changed my life.

There are two:  Howard Pyle’s The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood and Henry Gilbert’s King Arthur, both gifts from my parents when I was but a wee tot.  Got me hooked on historical/fantasy literature and I’ve never recovered.

2.    One book I have read more than once.

The Lord of the Rings, by Professor Tolkien.  I’ve read it every year for the past 20 years.  It’s rather like taking baths; once a year whether you need it or not.  Seriously, there’s a richness and depth to Tolkien’s writing from which I draw something new each time I read him.
3.    One book that I would want on a desert island.

The Riverside edition of Shakespeare.  Pure entertainment and you can use a 15 lb book for any number of things. . . .

4.    One book that made me laugh.

Anything by James Herriot and Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe stories

5.    One book that made me cry.

Hmm.  Not too many books do that.  Probably the book that engendered the strongest feeling of sadness/overwhelmedness is Night, by Elie Wiesel.  It’s the story of his experiences in the Nazi concentration camps.  Powerful stuff.

6.    One book that I wish had been written.

The Lord of the Rings, Part IV – everything in the Tale of Years that happened after Ringbearer sailed West should have been told properly, not just in a chronology.

Something new from Harper Lee would be nice.

7.    One book I wish had never been written.

Lineages of the Absolutist State, by Perry Anderson.  A denser and less obfuscating and confusticating book you will never find.  Yick.

8.    One book I am currently reading.

Sanctuary, by Mercedes Lackey
9.    One book I’ve been meaning to read.

Churchill’s History of the English-Speaking Peoples.  I’ll get there someday.

In the “very cool” department…….Labrador Inuit digital archive

The acamedic community (idea doctors) have come up with another goodie.  MUN, U of T and Laval have all pooled their resources to create a huge online archive of their holdings related to the Moravian mission in Labrador and their interactions with the Inuit people.  This is a truly fascinating, monumental work.  They’ve got videos, audio files, over 900 photographs, maps and more.

For anyone interested in Newfoundland history, old photos, glimpses into a time for removed from ours and yet so close, this is a treasure trove.

I think my favourite so far is the video of the four guys building a boat.  The way one of them holds up his axe and waves it for the camera makes it clear that everyone’s having a great time.

Why are you still reading this?  Go check out The Labrador Inuit Through Moravian Eyes

Double standards

Recently, whilst busily sweeping out the living room, I broke wind rather nosily.  That’s the lovely thing about home ownership – you can fart whenever you want to.   There were little ears (and noses) listening, though. . . . .

Katherine:  “What do you say?”

Me: “Oh. Right. Excuse me.”

Some time passes.  Supper is gotten and eaten.  Katherine burps.  Loudly.  In my ear.

Me, looking forward to giving the Darling Child some of her own medicine: “What do you say?”

K: “Boy, that was a zinger!”

Somebody’s corrupting this youth.  I blame the government.

On this day, Part I

Ever read The Timetables of History, by Bernard Grun? Marvellous work. It presents the highlights of world history in a chart format, and I thought I’d share little excerpts that are chronologically relevant or just plain neat. Let’s begin. . . . .

5000 years ago in -3000 B.C.E. (before common era) – They domesticated dogs in Egypt.

4000 years ago in -2000 B.C.E. – There was social unrest in Egypt. Not enough dogs.

3000 years ago in -1000 B.C.E. – They start using iron in Greece.

2000 years ago in 6 C.E. (common era) – Judea became a Roman province.

1000 years ago in 1006 C.E. – Muslims settled in northwestern India.

500 years ago in 1506 C.E. – Machiavelli created the first national army in Italy, the Florentine militia (first since the Roman army, I s’pose).

The dates may get a tad more precise as we go along. I’m thinking of doing this once a week. It may simply turn into “Weird crap from history.” The jury’s still out.

Milestones

Around 4:00 a.m. this morning, something happened. I didn’t notice at the time and it didn’t even wake me up.

I got older. One year older, to be exact. I’m now 33. This is kind of a nifty age.

I’m conveniently divisible by 11.

In 4 months I will be exactly one-third of a century old.

And most importantly, in Hobbit years, I will have just survived adolescence. To wit:

At that time Frodo was still in his ‘tweens,’ as the hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and the coming of age at thirty-three.
The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 1.

I wonder if there’s any mission-quest-things in the future.

Don’t panic

My daughter is a hitchhiker.  “How do you know?”, you may ask.

And well you might.  It is not because she has a copy of the Encyclopaedia Galactia.  It is not because she has a Sub-Etha Sens-o-Matic or an electronic thumb.

It’s because she carries a towel with her everywhere she goes.  It’s small and blue, slighty tatty, and she uses it for everything.  Wrapping up stray purple kittens, tying around her head, putting beads in and snuggling under.  For all I know, she uses it for flagging down passing spaceships

I think I should really take her to see the fiords soon.

Find your inner elf

The results are in from the AD&D Character Test! I’m so proud!

I Am A: Chaotic Good Elf Ranger Cleric

Alignment:
Chaotic Good characters are independent types with a strong belief in the value of goodness. They have little use for governments and other forces of order, and will generally do their own things, without heed to such groups.

Race:
Elves are the eldest of all races, although they are generally a bit smaller than humans. They are generally well-cultured, artistic, easy-going, and because of their long lives, unconcerned with day-to-day activities that other races frequently concern themselves with. Elves are, effectively, immortal, although they can be killed. After a thousand years or so, they simply pass on to the next plane of existance.

Primary Class:
Rangers are the defenders of nature and the elements. They are in tune with the Earth, and work to keep it safe and healthy.

Secondary Class:
Clerics are the voices of their God/desses on Earth. They perform the work of their deity, but this doesn’t mean that they preach to a congregation all their lives. If their deity needs something done, they will do it, and can call upon that deity’s power to accomplish their goals.

Deity:
Solonor Thelandria is the Chaotic Good elven god of archery and the hunt. He is also known as the Keen Eye, the Great Archer, and the Forest Hunter. His followers respect nature, and only hunt when needed, but are quick to defend the forest from intruders. Their favorite weapon is the bow, and they tend to be extremely talented with it. Solonor Thelandria’s symbol is an arrow with green fletchings.

Find out What D&D Character Are You?, courtesy ofNeppyMan (e-mail)