A really cool photo (from an article in the Georgia Strait a couple of years ago) of my beloved brother, the actor, comedian, writer and generally Good Thing, Dylan. Hi bro. 
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
er -- can't think of one (a title that is -- why do they have to stress you out with these little requirements?)
A really cool photo (from an article in the Georgia Strait a couple of years ago) of my beloved brother, the actor, comedian, writer and generally Good Thing, Dylan. Hi bro.
Oh by the way
Isn't this a great photo of Vladika Seraphim? How come I've never seen that kickin' red mantia? Huh?
More comic goodness from 1066: this time a test
Test Paper I
Up to the End of 1066
1) Which do you consider to be the more alike, Caesar or Pompey, or vice versa? (Be brief.)
2) Discuss, in latin or gothic (but not both), whether the Northumbrian Bishops were more schismatical than Cumbrian Abbots. (Be bright.)
3) Which came first, A.D. or B.C. ? (Be careful.)
4) Has it never occurred to you that the Romans counted backwards? (Be honest.)
5 How angry would you be if it was suggested
(1) That the XI th Chap. of the Consolations of Boethius was an interpolated palimpsest?
(2) That an eisteddfod was an argricultural implement?
6) How would you have attempted to deal with
(a) The Venomous Bead?
(b) A Mabinogion of a Wapentake? (Be quick.)
7) What would have happened if (a) Boadicea had been the daughter of Edward the Confessor? (b) Canute had succeeded in sitting on the waves?
Does it matter?
8) Have you the faintest recollection of
(1) Ethelbreth?
(2) Athelthral?
(3) Thruthelthroth?
9) What have you the faintest recollection of?
10) Estimate the average age of
(1) The Ancient Britons.
(2) Ealdormen.
(3) Old King Cole
11) Why do you know nothing at all about
(a) The Laws of Infangthief and Egg-seisin?
(b) Saint Pancras?
12)Would you say that Ethelread the Unready was directly responsible for the French Revolution? If so, what would you say?
N.B -- Do not attempt to answer more than one question at a time.
Up to the End of 1066
1) Which do you consider to be the more alike, Caesar or Pompey, or vice versa? (Be brief.)
2) Discuss, in latin or gothic (but not both), whether the Northumbrian Bishops were more schismatical than Cumbrian Abbots. (Be bright.)
3) Which came first, A.D. or B.C. ? (Be careful.)
4) Has it never occurred to you that the Romans counted backwards? (Be honest.)
5 How angry would you be if it was suggested
(1) That the XI th Chap. of the Consolations of Boethius was an interpolated palimpsest?
(2) That an eisteddfod was an argricultural implement?
6) How would you have attempted to deal with
(a) The Venomous Bead?
(b) A Mabinogion of a Wapentake? (Be quick.)
7) What would have happened if (a) Boadicea had been the daughter of Edward the Confessor? (b) Canute had succeeded in sitting on the waves?
Does it matter?
8) Have you the faintest recollection of
(1) Ethelbreth?
(2) Athelthral?
(3) Thruthelthroth?
9) What have you the faintest recollection of?
10) Estimate the average age of
(1) The Ancient Britons.
(2) Ealdormen.
(3) Old King Cole
11) Why do you know nothing at all about
(a) The Laws of Infangthief and Egg-seisin?
(b) Saint Pancras?
12)Would you say that Ethelread the Unready was directly responsible for the French Revolution? If so, what would you say?
N.B -- Do not attempt to answer more than one question at a time.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Thursday, November 24, 2005
The Elizabethan age -- from a delightfully demented source
Chapter 33
Elizabeth
ALTHOUGH this memorable queen was a man, she was constantly addressed by her courtiers by various affectionate female nicknames, such as Auroraborealis, Ruritania, Black Beauty (or Bete Noire), and Brown Bess. She also very graciously walked on Sir Walter Raleigh's overcoat whenever he dropped it in the mud and was, in fact, in every respect a good and romantic queen.
Wave of Beards
One of the most romantic aspects of the Elizabethan age was the wave of beards which suddenly
swept across History and settled upon all the great men of the period. The most memorable of these beards was the cause of the outstanding event of the reign, which occurred in the following way.
The Great Armadillo
The Spaniards complained that Captain F. Drake, the memorable bowlsman, had singed the King of Spain's beard (or Spanish Mane, as it was called) one day when it was in Cadiz Harbour. Drake replied that he was in his hammock at the time and a thousand miles away. The King of Spain, however, insisted that the beard had been spoilt and sent the Great Spanish Armadillo to ravish the shores of England.
The crisis was boldly faced in England, especially by Big Bess herself, who instantly put on an enormous quantity of clothing and rode to and fro on a white horse at Tilbury -- a courageous act which was warmly appluded by the English sailors.
In this striking and romantic manner the English were once more victorious.
The Queen of Hearts
A great nuisance in this reign was the memorable Scottish queen, known as Mary Queen of Hearts on account of the large number of husbands she obtained, eg. Cardinale Ritzio, Boswell, and the King of France: most of these she easily blew up at Holywood. Unfortunately for Mary, Scotland was now suddenly overrun by a wave of synods led by Sir John Nox, the memorable Scottish Saturday Knight. Unable to believe, on account of the number of her husbands, that Mary was a single person, the Knight accused her of being a 'monstrous regiment of women', and after this brave remark had her imprisoned in Loch Lomond. Mary, however, escaped and fled to England, where Elizabeth immediately put her in quarantine on the top of an enormous Height called Wutheringay.
As Mary had already been Queen of France and Queen of Scotland many people thought it would be unfair if she were not made Queen of England as well. Various plots, such as the Paddington Plot, the Threadneedle Conspiracy and the Adelfi plot, were therefore hatched to bring this about. Elizabeth, however, learning that in addition to all this Mary was good-looking and could play on the virginals, recognized that Mary was too romantic not to be executed, and accordingly had that done.
*****
(exerpted from 1066 and All That by W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman)
Next post: a quiz.
Elizabeth
ALTHOUGH this memorable queen was a man, she was constantly addressed by her courtiers by various affectionate female nicknames, such as Auroraborealis, Ruritania, Black Beauty (or Bete Noire), and Brown Bess. She also very graciously walked on Sir Walter Raleigh's overcoat whenever he dropped it in the mud and was, in fact, in every respect a good and romantic queen.
Wave of Beards
One of the most romantic aspects of the Elizabethan age was the wave of beards which suddenly
swept across History and settled upon all the great men of the period. The most memorable of these beards was the cause of the outstanding event of the reign, which occurred in the following way.
The Great Armadillo
The Spaniards complained that Captain F. Drake, the memorable bowlsman, had singed the King of Spain's beard (or Spanish Mane, as it was called) one day when it was in Cadiz Harbour. Drake replied that he was in his hammock at the time and a thousand miles away. The King of Spain, however, insisted that the beard had been spoilt and sent the Great Spanish Armadillo to ravish the shores of England.
The crisis was boldly faced in England, especially by Big Bess herself, who instantly put on an enormous quantity of clothing and rode to and fro on a white horse at Tilbury -- a courageous act which was warmly appluded by the English sailors.
In this striking and romantic manner the English were once more victorious.
The Queen of Hearts
A great nuisance in this reign was the memorable Scottish queen, known as Mary Queen of Hearts on account of the large number of husbands she obtained, eg. Cardinale Ritzio, Boswell, and the King of France: most of these she easily blew up at Holywood. Unfortunately for Mary, Scotland was now suddenly overrun by a wave of synods led by Sir John Nox, the memorable Scottish Saturday Knight. Unable to believe, on account of the number of her husbands, that Mary was a single person, the Knight accused her of being a 'monstrous regiment of women', and after this brave remark had her imprisoned in Loch Lomond. Mary, however, escaped and fled to England, where Elizabeth immediately put her in quarantine on the top of an enormous Height called Wutheringay.
As Mary had already been Queen of France and Queen of Scotland many people thought it would be unfair if she were not made Queen of England as well. Various plots, such as the Paddington Plot, the Threadneedle Conspiracy and the Adelfi plot, were therefore hatched to bring this about. Elizabeth, however, learning that in addition to all this Mary was good-looking and could play on the virginals, recognized that Mary was too romantic not to be executed, and accordingly had that done.
*****
(exerpted from 1066 and All That by W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman)
Next post: a quiz.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Nice
I found this photo in my files today and I have to say I love it. Van, coffee cup, lovely facial expression -- pretty much sums me up! The location: Stanley park.
Fr Tom on education
I love this passage from the first section of Fr Hopko's recent book Speaking the Truth in Love:
Men and women who are truly theologically and spiritually educated reveal a boldness born of humility, a confidence tempered by tentativeness, a speech generated by silence, an apology inspired by charity. They resist premature closure of complex issues and superficial answers to complicated questions. They know how to live with ambiguity as they give, with meekness and gentleness, an account for the hope that is in them. They speak the truth in love with an enlightened zeal that prevents them from replacing God's righteousness with a righteousness of their own. They evangelize without seeking to convert . They witness without seeking to win. They teach without desiring to dominate. They testify to truths in which they delight and find life, whatever the cost of their convictions, because they simply cannot do otherwise. And they have infinite respect for everyone and everything.
Men and women who are truly theologically and spiritually educated reveal a boldness born of humility, a confidence tempered by tentativeness, a speech generated by silence, an apology inspired by charity. They resist premature closure of complex issues and superficial answers to complicated questions. They know how to live with ambiguity as they give, with meekness and gentleness, an account for the hope that is in them. They speak the truth in love with an enlightened zeal that prevents them from replacing God's righteousness with a righteousness of their own. They evangelize without seeking to convert . They witness without seeking to win. They teach without desiring to dominate. They testify to truths in which they delight and find life, whatever the cost of their convictions, because they simply cannot do otherwise. And they have infinite respect for everyone and everything.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Remembrance
I meant to post this poem for Remembrance Day but I was so busy around that time that I didn't get to it. It's Stephen Spender's "I Think Continually of Those Who Were Truly Great". The title is a poem in itself and good advice for us Orthodox re the saints. . .
Near the snow, near the sun, in the highest fields,
See how these names are feted by the waving grass
And by the streamers of white cloud
And whispers of wind in the listening sky.
The names of those who in their lives fought for life,
Who wore at their hearts the fire's center.
Born of the sun, they travelled a short while toward the sun
And left the vivid air signed with their honour.
(1936)
Near the snow, near the sun, in the highest fields,
See how these names are feted by the waving grass
And by the streamers of white cloud
And whispers of wind in the listening sky.
The names of those who in their lives fought for life,
Who wore at their hearts the fire's center.
Born of the sun, they travelled a short while toward the sun
And left the vivid air signed with their honour.
(1936)
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
goofy
Okay I couldn't resist this fun shot of the girls at Ella's school Hallowe'en party. The fish don't seem impressed. . .
pics from the coffee house
coffee house decor -- the theme was of course autumn, but also 'asymmetrical'
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
back fence
A night picture of some messing about with chalk I did on the garden fence, fixed up by the miracle of technology (snort). Kind of a neato image. . .the quote is from Dylan Thomas' 'Poem in October'.
hey there
Just a quick note to let my friends I am still alive!We have been soooo busy with the Icon Workshop II and then the coffee house in rapid succession -- at least it seemed rapid. Great fun though -- here is a really nifty shot (by Christian, I believe) of decorating for the coffee house. The ping pong room has never looked so hip, that's for sure. I will post other pics of the night when I get the chance, but I am off tomorrow for a few days on the Mainland.
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