Wednesday: Hili dialogue

October 25, 2017 • 6:30 am

It’s Wednesday, October 25, 2017, the 298th day of the year, and I’m heading back to Chicago this morning. In all probability, I’ll be cooling my heels at Logan Airport when you read this. So it’s time for another poll!

Posting will be light today as I’ll be traveling, so bear with me until tomorrow late morning.

It’s National Greasy Food Day, so go have a burger and fries in the meantime.

On this day in 1415, according to Wikipedia, “Henry V of England and his lightly armoured infantry and archers defeat the heavily armoured French cavalry in the Battle of Agincourt on Saint Crispin’s Day.” In 1940,  Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. became the first African American general in the U.S. Army.  And on October 25, 1971, the United Nations expelled the Republic of China (Taiwan) and seated the People’s Republic of China as the official delegation from China.

Notables born on this day include Johann Strauss II (1825), Georges Bizet (1838), Pablo Picasso (1881), Minnie Pearl (1912), Anne Tyler (1941) and James Carville (1944). Here’s a nice Picasso featuring a cat:

Cat Devouring a Bird (1939), said to be an allegory of the Spanish Civil War

Those who died on October 25 include Bat Masterson (1921), Virgil Fox (1980), Mary McCarthy (1989) and Vincent Price (1993). Here’s a wonderful version of Fox playing Bach’s Fugue in G Major (“Gigue Fugue”):

Meanwhile in Dobrzyn, Hili is having an arcane talk with Andrzej. I asked for an interpretation, and Malgorzata said this:

Hili tries to get an additional portion of something delicious. She explains to Andrzej that if she is to follow Seneca the Younger’s idea about creating the past (she knows Andrzej is happy when she learns philosophy) she would need additional energy derived from an additional meal.
Here it is:
Hili: Seneca the Younger argued that we are creating the past.
A: And what about it?
Hili: It requires energy.
In Polish:
Hili: Seneka twierdził, że tworzymy przeszłość.
Ja: I co w związku z tym?
Hili: To wymaga energii.

Here’s a tw**t showing an old Penguin book with a curious cover. The title is embossed over the black bars, but you can’t read it from this angle. From that alone you might be able to guess the book. Matthew, who found the tweet, gives two clues. The answer will be posted in the comments later this afternoon.

A) Its a retro cover so not modern
B) Synonymous with redaction/rewriting of history

And another tw**t sussed out by Matthew: a great example of crypsis (camouflage), an adaptation that Matthew and I much admire. Spot the grasshopper!

A cat tweet found by Heather Hastie (a metaphor for trying to organize atheists):

Also from Heather, a powerful statement from Michelle Obama, apparently made during the last Presidential campaign, about Trump’s attitude toward women. It’s even more relevant today:

 

EDIT: The answer to book quiz above is, of course, ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ by George Orwell. In fact, the title is embossed in the black redacted patches, so if you turn the book to the light you can just make it out. Still a neat piece of marketing!

 

40 thoughts on “Wednesday: Hili dialogue”

    4. That came down the tubes to me too, before I scrolled to the reveal.
      By “redacting” are we seeing a linguistic move from the general usage in Europe (Germanic-family languages in particular) of being an editor (choosing stories, assigning resources like journalists, photographers etc) to specifically being the process of putting a black pen through things you don’t want people to read in documents that you are compelled to release.

  2. … the Battle of Agincourt on Saint Crispin’s Day.

    The speech William Shakespeare puts in the King’s mouth in Henry V, given just before the battle commences, is the source of the famous line “we few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”

  3. A great speech by Michelle a year ago. Maybe they start listening yesterday? Even the psychological professionals no longer stay silent because they have the duty to warn.

        1. I would love to see her as president; unfortunately she has categorically denied the possibility. How about Elizabeth Warren or Sally Yates instead?

        2. I’m so sick of dynasty families for President. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t want Hillary to get the nomination. If we want a woman for President, Warren is a much better idea (though I’m not convinced she’s viable in a general election).

        1. That’s so impressive, his feet float over the pedals! What a fantastic organ that is. I play piano and harpsichord but have occasionally substituted for church organist friends. My brain obviously does not extend to my feet.

    2. As Peter Gammond wrote in “A Bluffer’s Guide to Music”:

      Do not mess with organists. They are a race apart and their music is not of this world.

    3. Here’s a wonderful version of Fox playing Bach’s Fugue in G Major

      I suppose one has to be the most wonderful version of oneself to play something like this.

  7. I love this part: “The men in my life don’t talk about women like this.” And, “… strong men don’t need to put down women to make themselves feel powerful.”

    So true.

    Well said Michelle Obama.

    1. HAHA ,what is the matter with the white one at the far right ,it seems to have trouble with its back legs not getting a grip on the wooden floor .

  11. I voted no last time but yes this time. Hopefully not, though. I like this one by Picasso. I also like Violin and Grapes.

  13. The second I saw the cover I knew exactly which book it was. It just made sense. And clue B makes things way too easy.

  17. I think Jerry forgot to mention a very significant event: it was 100 years ago today that the Bolshevik’s stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd marking the Marxist takeover of the Russian government. Now I’m not much for celebrating Marxism but this event changed the world, whether you like it or not!

  18. “Here’s a nice Picasso featuring a cat:”

    … and somebody said Henri Rousseau’s cats were unrealistic. Ummm.

    cr

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