January 2, 2018

At the Dear Moon Café...



... you can talk all night.

The picture is a study of the moon from Robert Hooke's Micrographia, 1665, from the Wikipedia page on "Selenography."

This is the second "café" of the day, but let me remind you another time to remember the Althouse Portal to Amazon.

22 comments:

Big Mike said...

Now can we discuss how the SEC lost most of its bowl games but still found themselves with an all-SEC national championship matchup? For that matter, did the Gamecocks beat the Maize and Blue, or did Michigan beat itself?

Etienne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Humperdink said...

Not curry favor dear hostess, but I resolved to use your portal more often this year, which I did today.

Ann Althouse said...

Thanks, Humperdink.

FullMoon said...

The FBI’s 2-Year Investigation Into a Fictional Anti-Goth Cult
It took awhile, but they finally got that it was a parody.

Are you shittin' me?

jwl said...

I am reading Clockwork Universe by E Dolnick, which is about early science in England, and Robert Hooke was considered England greatest scientist other than Newton.

Hooke had a few good ideas but he also believed that plants were kept in their place by God, he believed plants would develop ability to move and go somewhere more interesting if not for a deity keeping them in place.

Scientific method is one of humanity greatest ideas, humans should use it more.

mockturtle said...

Micrographia is a medical term for tiny handwriting, sometimes seen in Parkinson's patients.

Michael K said...

One of the great science stories is that of Michael Faraday,

He was self taught beginning as an apprentice to a book binder.

At the age of 14 he became an apprentice to George Riebau, a local bookbinder and bookseller in Blandford Street.[11] During his seven-year apprenticeship Faraday read many books, including Isaac Watts's The Improvement of the Mind, and he enthusiastically implemented the principles and suggestions contained therein.[12] He also developed an interest in science, especially in electricity. Faraday was particularly inspired by the book Conversations on Chemistry by Jane Marcet

His discoveries are amazing.

David said...

Is that really the moon? Hooke's book was a study of very small objects, made possible by development of the microscope. The book was a sensation at the time, and deservedly so. I have a (reprint) copy of the book but can't access it right now b/c I'm in Seattle. In a rush so can't look it up on the interethers right now.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Big Mike said...

Now can we discuss how the SEC lost most of its bowl games but still found themselves with an all-SEC national championship matchup?

Yes, we can.

By having the two best teams in the country.

End of discussion.

David Baker said...

"Micrographia is a medical term for tiny handwriting..."

In handwriting analysis, indicating tunnel vision. The smaller, the more acute.

Paddy O said...

Watched the Rose Parade twice yesterday. First, I watched the KTLA live streaming broadcast (I'm not in LA anymore so can't watch channel 5). I miss Bob and Stephanie. They were wonderfully earnest and knew so much about the parade history. They also loved the parade, and their love was infectious. The new team, Leeza Gibbons and some guys, took over and while they did a decent job of talking about the parade, their sappy comments about being inspired were clearly scripted. They didn't show any real love for the parade. It was a job for them. But, it took the parade seriously for what it was.

Next, and right after, I watched the Amazon re-broadcast of the parade hosted by Cord and Tish. It was basically a parody of Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards. Not directly mimicking them, but taking up that exact tone. Hilarious, especially as I saw the parade itself just before, and so totally enjoyed their commentary. Even more funny, is the amazon reviews about the broadcast. Some people didn't get that it was a parody, supposed to be funny, and so give it 1 star reviews for the bad hosts that kept interrupting the parade.

Quaestor said...

"Micrographia is a medical term for tiny handwriting..."

It also often pairs up with hypergraphia or graphorrhea, a common symptom of schizophrenia.

Flat Tire said...

That drawing looks like a charcuterie board from one of our local wine country restaurants.

Jon Ericson said...

Well, is everyone in agreement?
Disengage until focus.

chickelit said...

The sketch looks inspired by English physician William Harvey -- a contemporary of Hooke. Harvey observed circulating blood through dissections of his father's and sister's bodies. Note how Hooke's craters -- which look like the ends of sliced blood vessels, look linked to subsurface vascular structures.

Michael K said...One of the great science stories is that of Michael Faraday

Sometime in the 19th century, a delegation of government dignitaries visited Michael Faraday to view his electric motors and other inventions. One said 'This is all very interesting, but of what possible use are these toys?' Faraday responded: 'I cannot say what use they may be, but I can confidently predict that one day you will be able to tax them.' link

Etienne said...

This should be a lesson to "white people" that the "er" will "always get you in trouble."

Jeopardy took all the money from Nick, when he said Gangster's Paradise and not the correct Gangsta's Paradise.

Coolio joked to TMZ about the sad state of er words...

Kevin said...

I'm trying to find a way to help a friend realize he's really a Democrat even though he's lived his whole life as a closeted Republican. So I've started reading articles about how you might help your friend realize his ... inclinations ... and help him recognize the truth.

Then he can live the rest of his life loud and proud pussy-hatted #metoo-er.

This one really hit the mark:

4. His Eyes: If there is a guy that you suspect is dem pay attention to his eyes. Also, pay attention to his eyes shift. If you are having a conversation about any normal topic and yet he keeps turning the conversation to Trump, or birtherism, or some guy named Lawrence, then it would mean he's into that dude hard - like can't stop thinking about him. For example, I am at a restaurant with my friends and some random guy walks in and I shift the entire group's focus onto Trump. It gives my friends the indication that I want a donkey to take me from behind until I'm braying.

Kevin said...

Jeopardy took all the money from Nick, when he said Gangster's Paradise and not the correct Gangsta's Paradise.

What's next, some answer about Snoop where the question is: What is shizzle my nizzle?

I'm sorry, you said sizzle, not shizzle.

And have you notice the marijuanazation of TV? It's like every show has to have some connection to weed these days. Family Feud, Joker's Wild, I'm waiting for Jeopardy with bong hits.

tim in vermont said...

For the first time, investigators say they have secured written evidence that the FBI believed there was evidence that some laws were broken when the former secretary of State and her top aides transmitted classified information through her insecure private email server, lawmakers and investigators told The Hill.

That evidence includes passages in FBI documents stating the "sheer volume" of classified information that flowed through Clinton's insecure emails was proof of criminality as well as an admission of false statements by one key witness in the case, the investigators said.

The name of the witness is redacted from the FBI documents but lawmakers said he was an employee of a computer firm that helped maintain her personal server after she left office as America's top diplomat and who belatedly admitted he had permanently erased an archive of her messages in 2015 after they had been subpoenaed by Congress.

The investigators also confirmed that the FBI began drafting a statement exonerating Clinton of any crimes while evidence responsive to subpoenas was still outstanding and before agents had interviewed more than a dozen key witnesses.
- The Hill

Fucking bastards, the stench of all of the buried bodies, the reeking out gassing from all the FBI corruption, not to mention the fetid ooze from Foggy Bottom are starting to spill onto the streets. People are still politely refusing to acknowledge the odor, however.

mtrobertslaw said...

Answer to Big Mikes's question: Michigan beat itself. There's something wrong with Harbaugh's coaching philosophy.

Kevin said...

The investigators also confirmed that the FBI began drafting a statement exonerating Clinton of any crimes while evidence responsive to subpoenas was still outstanding and before agents had interviewed more than a dozen key witnesses. - The Hill

In other news, Bannon said a meeting whose details were known months ago was "treason"....

Guess which one interests the media?