…on this, the 1645th anniversary of the murder of Flavius Claudius Iulianus, better known to history as Julian the Apostate – last pagan emperor of Rome. I may still do one – focusing not so much on his history (which is VERY interesting!) but on his literary works and intellectual development.
The reason I’m not making a voice post about his life is because I simply cannot do it better than Lars Brownworth, who is a professional historian that has an extremely entertaining and damnably informative podcast series on the emperors of Byzantium, which I cannot recommend highly enough! (That link will open in iTunes.)
Please do yourself a favor and listen to his podcast on Julian, and indeed to the rest of the 18-part series. THIS, I think, sets the bar for historical podcasts. He relies heavily on Norwich for the history in this series, but that is not at all a bad thing. (I do recommend the books of John Julius Norwich for those who are interested in the later Roman empire.)
Even if you’re not normally a history fan, do give it a try. This means all of you. :P
This is a response to one of the metaphors at the end of Stef’s new book – Practical Anarchy. The book, if you’ve not read it, is 36,000 varieties of awesome. You owe it to yourself to read. (Will link to the free book once it’s finally released to more than D+ donators.)
Here’s what Stef says:
I am also acutely aware of the reality that had I been born and lived in a different time – a later time, or an earlier one – I would have been peddling a bicycle with a broken chain, if you understand me. The power of the conversation that I have initiated and am involved in is what gives my mind traction, links and engages it in the real world; it is the other stick that brings the new fire.
Thus for me it is an irreplaceable privilege to be doing what I am, where I am, during this time in history. I am a man who is excited by navigation, not the unloading of cargo. I live to explore, not to settle and consolidate. I live for battle, not administration.
Amen, brother. My dear brother, amen.
The entire book is beautiful. One section at the beginning and two sections at the end, even more so. If the amount of tears shed by the reader equals the amount shed by the writer… I can see why writing this took so much out of Stef.
So, without further ado…
Filed under: vie quotidienne
Made me dizzy and sick to my stomach.
That is all.
Filed under: dreams, self-work, voice blog | Tags: dreams, self-work, voice blog
An odd dream, in context. Or perhaps… not so odd.
Filed under: vie quotidienne
Interesting night tonight. Interesting things in play. Perhaps more after therapy tomorrow. But I think I… saw something. Something I can work on fixing. Can’t wait for it! :)
Filed under: vie quotidienne
I really am in a terrible lot of pain. Physical, a lot of it. Can’t sleep therefore. Feels like… like I’m being pulled apart on a rack, frankly.
I made a recording which… I shan’t release. I don’t want you all to feel what I’m feeling now. It can’t help me any – quite the opposite – and it won’t help you either.
Maybe I’ll re-record the only good part – a reading of my favorite passage from Newton’s Principia in English and then again in the original Latin – tomorrow.
Just wanted to let you all know I’m thinking of you.
So… this weekend wasn’t bad! At least, my fears vis a vis depression, etc did not come true. Now, am still waiting to see what feelings will kick in when I hear people talking excitedly about what happened – and will work through those when/if/as they come. I had a problem with my sugar intake on Friday and yesterday (a sure sign of latent FOOgoo activity) but this was generally taken care of with a discussion with myself as I laid in bed last night. Today, have been assez productive – cleaned my room (still need to finish) and worked out for 2 hours (the gym – as I don’t have air conditioning yet and it’s 90 freaking degrees out – is the closest air conditioned place I can go) and will make lunches for the week this evening, once it’s cool enough outside to where I can cook in the kitchen without making the apartment like an oven. (It’s 4 now, and the heat won’t subside until after about 6.)
I’m feeling pretty good and pretty productive, though a bit wobbly from the gym. My hands have stopped shaking, though, which is good. Need to go eat something fairly protein-laden now. Met a nice young fellow at the gym, and we swapped round on the bicep and tricep machines for about 10 minutes. Note to self: lifting far more than you normally do out of vanity, and to compete with a man who is obviously much stronger than you is silly. I cured myself of that fairly quickly, though. I’m not going to bloody well injure myself just for a competition that only exists within my head. THAT I should investigate more! Actually… that plays into a lot of other issues. I think I have a topic for session on Tuesday now. :)
Still haven’t finished The God Delusion, but will do that at the laundromat tomorrow. Applied for free tickets for Shakespeare In The Park (they’re doing Hamlet! yay!!!) both days but have not been chosen. Will keep trying. May line up outside the theatre at 8am Wednesday morning to see if I can get in. Just need to find someone to take with me.
Am expecting my friends to show up online at various times tonight and tomorrow. Will be glad to see you back, my dears. :)
Listing some of my old books on eBay. Clothes to follow later. Not sure any of you would really be interested in any of my books. :D Am listing 10 so far, but am trying to convince myself to sell even more. I have my eye on a full set of the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian, which is 20 books long! So if I can get rid of 20, I’ll have space on my shelf for 20 more.
Here’s an apropos lolcat:
