Dictum Diei: Bacon on prejudice

"Men become attached to certain particular sciences and speculations, either because they fancy themselves the authors and inventors thereof, or because they have bestowed the greatest pains upon them and become most habituated to them. But men of this kind, if they betake themselves to philosophy and contemplations of a general character, distort and color them in obedience to their former fancies; a thing especially to be noticed in Aristotle, who made his natural philosophy a mere bond servant to his logic, thereby rendering it contentious and well nigh useless."

- Francis Bacon from The New Organon

Verseday Thursday: Milton

On His Blindness - John Milton (1608-1674)

When I consider how my light is spent
     Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
     And that one Talent which is death to hide
     Lodge with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
     My true account, lest He returning chide,
     "Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
     I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
     Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best
     Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,
     And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
     They also serve who only stand and wait."

News to Know: White people are going to hell, Kill lists, & Injustice in Iran

OBAMA:

1. Within hours of reelection, Obama backs UN gun-grab treaty
2. Obama's inauguration reverend: All whites are going to hell
3. Video: Obama's kill list is constitutional, says Republican congressman

AMERICAN FREEDOM:

1. Supreme Court skeptical of harm caused by warrantless wiretapping 
2. U.S. Slips in report's ranking of free economies
3. Economic freedom in the U.S. plummets to an all-time low
4. Federal Judge ban's firearms sales to those under 21 - (But you can join the army at 17. Go figure.)

INTERNATIONAL:

• Same-Sex Marriage Ten Years On: Lessons from Canada - Same-sex civil marriage in Canada has resulted in restriction on free speech rights, parental rights in education, and autonomy rights of religious institutions, along with a weakening of the marriage culture

Demand justice today.







MISCELLANEOUS:

• Sandy Aftermath: New Jersey town turns away Alabama volunteer utility workers because they're non-union

Dictum Diei: A Virgin Mind

"It is preferable to have a virgin mind than a virgin body."

- St. Ambrose, Concerning Virgins, Book II.

Context: Ambrose recounts a case in which a virgin at Antioch, having refused to sacrifice to idols, was condemned to a brothel.

News to Know: Tyranny, American Style

• Former Obama Press Secretary defends drone killing 16-year-old American 

• Obama changes war-time "kill list" into permanent foreign policy

• Obama executive order expands Homeland Security reach into local law enforcement

• Mom found guilty of disorderly conduct after refusing TSA pat-down

No Shave November: I'm out, but Shakespeare's in

I was planning on participating in "No Shave November," which to be fair, was in my case "No Trim November," since I don't exactly shave. Well, it's only the 12th of the month, and I've already disqualified myself. I broke down and trimmed half an inch off my mustache. The redeeming news, however, is that my mustache is still over an inch long. As you might guess, it was getting awfully difficult to eat neatly.

But for all those who are still in the beard race, I offer this sonnet from Shakespeare.

That time of year thou mayst on me behold
When yellow hairs, or red, or brown, do hang;
Upon these cheeks which shake not in the cold,
Beard covered flesh, where late the chill wind sang.
On me thou see'st the mustache of such size
That clearly points like compass east and west;
Which by and by may very well surprise
When it in glory lies untrimmed, unpressed.
On me thou see'st the growing of beard fire,
Bright reddish hairs, when in the sun they lie:
A deathbed whereon en'vious hearts expire,
Wishing they had beards in which to sigh.
     This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy beard more strong,
     To grow that well which thou must wear quite long.

Admittedly, it's not his best sonnet, but that's perhaps only because, for once, even his genius was no match for such an elevated topic.

Dictum Diei: Cheese

"Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese."


- G. K. Chesterton 

from his essay, "Cheese."

• Someone took the trouble to type up the entire essay, which you can find here.
• Also, here's a column from The Columbia Daily Tribune: In an homage to fromage, poets break the silence on the subject of cheese.