‘ Timid brides, you have, probably, hitherto been addressed as angels. Prepare for the time when you shall again become mortal. Take the alarm at the first approach of blame; at the first hint of a discovery that you are any thing less than infallible: – contradict, debate, justify, recriminate, rage, weep, swoon, do any thing but yield to conviction.

I take it for granted that you have already acquired sufficient command of voice; you need not study its compass; going beyond its pitch has a peculiarly happy effect upon some occasions. But are you voluble enough to drown all sense in a torrent of words? Can you be loud enough to overpower the voice of all who shall attempt to interrupt or contradict you? Are you mistress of the petulant, the peevish, and the sullen tones? Have you practised the sharpness which provokes retort, and the continual monotony which by setting your adversary to sleep effectually precludes reply? an event which is always to be considered as decisive of the victory, or at least as reducing it to a drawn battle: – you and Somnus divide the prize.

Thus prepared for an engagement, you will next, if you have not already done it, study the weak part of the character of your enemy – your husband I mean: if he be a man of high spirit, jealous of command, and impatient of control, one who decides for himself, and is little troubled with the insanity of minding what the world says of him, you must proceed with extreme circumspection; you must not dare to provoke the combined forces of the enemy to a regular engagement, but harass him with perpetual petty skirmishes: in these, though you gain little at a time, you will gradually weary the patience, and break the spirit of your opponent. If he be a man of spirit, he must also be generous; and what man of generosity will contend for trifles with a woman who submits to him in all affairs of consequence, who is in his power; who is weak, and who loves him? ‘

An Essay On The Noble Science Of Self-Justification

Then they went through space to that strangest of lands. The Taoist explained everything they saw there. All kinds of torture were being applied to those immoral writers, who, while in the world, stirred up man’s beastly nature and allured many good people to an early downfall. The stranger also showed him a stately-looking man in the palace, who had been a good, upright officer when on earth, punishing every crime that tended to disturb social and political peace, and was now superintending this department in the world below.

T’ai-Shang Kan-Ying P’ien

(1.)–It is shown that the death-rate of Small-pox patients is greatest in the first year of life, then diminishes gradually to between the 15th and 20th year, and then rises again to old age; thus following exactly the same law as the general mortality.

(2.)–The Small-pox death-rate, among over 2,000 cases, was 17.85 per cent. of the cases, closely agreeing with the general average. That of the unvaccinated was 23.20 per cent., while that of the vaccinated was only 15.61 per cent.

(3.)–This result, apparently so favourable to vaccination, is shown to be wholly due to the excess of the unvaccinated in the first two years of life,13 and to be a purely numerical fact entirely unconnected with vaccination. This is proved as follows:–Taking, first, all the ages above 2 years, the death-rates of the vaccinated is 13.76, and of the unvaccinated 13.15,–almost exactly the same, but with a slight advantage to the unvaccinated.

Alfred Russel Wallace 1885.

Societal need to share. As a cynic who gets paid to write, I have a hard time with this explanation. But it seems some people genuinely like to “share,” and this is one way.

Dvorak’s column

Is the Earth a Living Body?

Provide the players with pencil and paper. Ali sit in a circle. The leader announces that pictures are to be drawn in this manner. First, draw a head (either animal or human), fold the paper, pass it to the right.

Second–Draw a neck, shoulders, and arms.

Third–Complete the body (the former player having left two lines below the fold of the paper).

Fourth–The skirt, trousers or legs, as the case may be.

Fifth–The feet, and if you wish to add to the fun, the last one writes a name either of some one present or some noted person.

Games for everybody [1905]

Zo schreef ik vandaag deze zin, die je ooit in ‘De Zondvloed’ zult terugvinden:

Je kent dat gezicht niet en toch is het je vertrouwd.
Correctie:
Je kent dat gezicht niet, al is het je toch vertrouwd.
Correctie:
Je kent dat gezicht niet, maar het is je toch vertrouwd.
Correctie:
Je kent dat gezicht niet, maar toch is het je vertrouwd.
Correctie:
Al ken je dat gezicht niet, toch is het je vertrouwd.
Correctie:
Al ken je dat gezicht niet, het is je toch vertrouwd.

Uiteindelijk luidt de zin (voorlopig) opnieuw:
Je kent dat gezicht niet en toch is het je vertrouwd.

Ik heb nog gepiekerd of er een komma moest tussen “niet” en “en”.
Voor zowel komma als niet-komma “viel iets te zeggen”.

Het formuleren van deze ene zin kostte mij precies drie kwartier. ‘De Zondvloed’ telt op heden (ruw geschat, want moeilijk om meer precies te tellen): 440 bladzijden. Op al die bladzijden staan zinnen. Al die zinnen zijn het resultaat van oeverloos getob…Waarvoor?

Jeroen Brouwers, 18 v 1987

All cliché’s about the Netherlands were already settled in 1906
Our Little Dutch Cousin

Awards ceremonies
As of right now we’re still planning to change the positions of the winners at awards ceremonies so that American medallists always stand on the higher, central podium, regardless of whether they got the gold, silver or bronze. The extra height makes for better pictures, and reflects American resolve and strength in the face of difficult challenges. Even though the medals themselves won’t change, the IOC is not too happy about these arrangements. However the network is involved in ongoing negotiations with IOC members at the security checkpoint where they’re being held.

New Guidelines for coverage at Salt Lake City

Mijn monstertje is overleden, na een heftig leven te hebben geleid.

A Brain in our Gut?.

Wie niets van de wind merkt, heeft ‘m in de rug.

[...] ‘ Indeed, for many centuries elementary education was largely based on the idea that sparing the rod spoiled the child and that the quickest way to reach the youthful intellect was from below up. But one recalls on the other hand Rousseau’s little Emile wandering among the flowers, and the rise of the Kindergarten - the children’s garden - which has ascended from infancy up throughout our system of education. ‘

‘ I can recall from my own childhood, in the England of nearly sixty years ago, a little elementary primer called Reading without Tears. This was regarded at the time as a pleasing innovation. ‘

Stephen Leacock