September 2009
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Winston Churchill on Dead Languages
“…Being so long in the lowest form I gained an immense advantage over the cleverer boys. They all went on to learn Latin and Greek and splendid things like that. But I was taught English. We were considered such dunces that we could learn only English. Mr. Somervell — a most delightful man, to whom my debt is great — was charged with the duty of teaching the stupidest boys...
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CUIVIS DOLORI REMEDIUM EST PATIENTIA.
“Endurance is the remedy for any grief.”
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A treat
Something that’s completely good and of course totally unhealthy:
Fudge Shoppe Half-Dipped Fudge Grahams spread with Nutella, and topped with buck wheat honey.
A sustenance before I trek to Memorial Library and lock myself in the Greek & Latin reading room for the night.
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midnight-radio:
Leonard Nimoy - Sunny
(Lyrics...
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My Personality Type: Reliable Realist →
“Adjectives which describe your type: introverted, practical, logical, planning, tradition-conscious, organised, persistent, objective, tidy, conscientious, cautious, loyal, peace-loving, sensible, down-to-earth, responsible-minded, reserved, careful, independent, punctual, precise, demanding, ability to concentrate, trustworthy, pedantic, reliable, persevering”
Yeah, this in general...
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“I am engaging my cerebral capacities to the uttermost, dear colleagues, in the pursuit of the Hellenic tongue, that I may triumph over future examinations in a specifically numerical sense and indeed in the primary sequence following a present progressive verb of engagement.”
My teacher included this in an email discussing differences between “may” and “might”...
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Classics Society I
Wednesday marked the first Classics Society official meeting, and today a number of us got together and played a game of volleyball. The match: Datives versus Ablatives. I was Dative of Reference. Game score: Datives 2, Ablatives 1.
Afterward, I made my way home with two fellow members, who also happen to be neighbors. Before reaching my own door, we spend a good two hours talking in the...
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Saturn Devouring His Children (1819-1823) Goya.
sisterspock:
defeatist:
vanessayvonne:
Beauty.
NOT! It is a mildly disturbing art piece (which is why I’m not going to post it) but its what I’m reading about right now. That and the myth behind it. Errr 12 more pages than sleep! :D
so I googled it because I was curious. I knew about Saturn eating his kids because I did a report on it in 7th grade, Roman/Greek mythology and such. BUT...
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Semi-Deponents
My Latin instructor referred to semi-deponents as “bisexual verbs” today.
Semi-deponent verbs: verbs which have active forms in some tenses, but passive in others. Hence the “going both ways.”
e.g. fio, fieri, factus sum- “be made”/”become” audeo, audere, ausus sum- “dare” gaudeo, gaudere, gavisus sum- “rejoice” soleo,...
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SPQR Blues
An Ancient Rome webcomic you say?? Classics nerdtastic!!
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Be not cynical about love
Love does happen Like a touch Of grace
It falls Into place Where there used To be Empty space
When I hold your Face In my hands I ask How did this happen To me?
-Leonard Nimoy
post scriptum: And when will it happen to me?
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Flamma
I love your eyes, my dear Their splendid, sparkling fire When suddenly you raise them so To cast a swift embracing glance Like lightning flashing in the sky But there’s a charm that is greater still When my love’s eyes are lowered When all is fired by passion’s kiss And through the downcast lashes I see the dull flame of desire
-Fyodor Tyutchev
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Dissertation Haiku →
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Rogue Classicism →
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The "F.U." Declension
4th-declension neuter Latin nouns: e.g. gelu, gelus “frost”
(Case. singular, plural)
Nom. gelu, gelua
Gen. gelus, geluum
Dat. gelu, gelibus
Acc. gelu, gelua
Abl. gelu, gelibus
My teacher referred to this as the “F.U.” declension in class today, indicating the “four U’s” of the singular cases. Will be using said memonic device herein.
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“We are the products of a billion year lineage of wandering stardust. We, all of...”
– Jill Tartar, SETI astronomer
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WatchJill Tartar is the SETI astronomer whom Carl Sagan drew inspiration for the character Ellie Arroway. This year she is a recipient of the TED Prize for her wish, “I wish that you would empower Earthlings everywhere to become active participants in the ultimate search for cosmic company.” Watch her engaging, lovely presentation (and listen for “Contact” quotes!).
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More ways with which grad school is eating my...
eush:
My translation work is taking up so much of my brainpower that my mind can’t handle listening to more than one song multiple times in a row.
Which means I’ve been listening to Better than Heaven for about two hours straight now, while reading Lucian’s essay about how he chose the path of Education and Culture over Sculpture and Industry. In a dream, Sculpture (represented as a manly,...
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Meam vitam:
“Abby is awesome Even if she is smitten With some Greek TA”
-Drew Williams
(Shhhh this is a secret…)
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“I was… Empty, incomplete, and searching. Logic and emotion are not enough.”
– Spock, Star Trek: The Motion Picture 