Monday, October 14, 2024

Happy Columbus Day!

 


Decades ago, I was poking around in an old book shop in Miami, and the store owner, knowing my interest in history, showed me an edition of one of Christopher Columbus' journals. It was in Spanish and had been published in Spain in, I believe, the 18th century, and reportedly had previously been owned by one of Columbus' descendants. I would have loved to add the book to my collection, but it was prohibitively expensive. I believe that was the same day the gentleman showed me a tiny, micro-Bible - its cover was barely larger than my thumbnail - and I promptly dropped it on the floor, where it bounced I knew not where. I was gripped with panic, but, fortunately the owner had momentarily begun chatting with another customer, and I finally found the book before he knew I had dropped it.

Fascinating

This satire from the Babylon Bee cuts pretty close to the supposedly "serious" ad featuring "manly men" for Harris released a couple of days ago.

Stick around for the "benediction" at the end

Courtesy of friend and commenter JeffS.


Classical corner

 Prokofiev's Visions Fugitives, a cycle of piano miniatures. Here's more than you probably ever wanted to know about the composition.