What should we talk about today? For once, I’ll let you make the choice.
Would you like to discuss the question of Why Did Human History Unfold Differently On Different Continents For The Last 13,000 Years? As Jay agrees, it’s long but rewarding.
[The Cliff’s notes version: Diamond basically correlates societal/political/technical advancement and Eurasian world domination on bio-geographical events/advantages such as Eurasia’s east-west axis allowing the transplanting of readily-adaptable and previously-domesticated plants and animals from one region to another, the rise of agriculture and advanced civiliations that agricluture allowed to develop because of this, isolation and north-south axis being disadvantageous for development. In all, a non-racial, evolutionary theory on the development of history and why Europe/Asia colonized the 3rd world vs. the opposite.]
If hypotheses on western world domination seem droll, you can join an ongoing debate on whose Requiem is better; Verdi’s or Mozart’s? While Mac opines Verdi’s version is “arguably the greatest piece of orchestra & choir music ever written,” VatulBlog reps the mad German with the dark Oriental streak … mmmm, minor chords, how delectable … and his unfinished masterpiece. Were my opponents to feel the heat of the Hades that bursts up into my chest at the first stroke of Confutatis.
Britten’s War Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Hayden’s Creation and Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem have been offered as honorable mentions. Maalox not included.
Can neither confirm nor deny this on Snopes, so I assume it’s true or a joke:
Anxious to include as many minorities, religions and disabilities as possible, the human resources department of the University of Alberta has put up a Braille poster outside its main office. The poster has been placed inside a display case with a glass front.
Let’s hope this was brought to us by the same geniuses who put braille instructions on the drive-up window at the bank. (I like to put all of my idiots in one basket – the world is much safer that way)
So, what will it be?
