huff huff, this also plays into my crackpot theory that just. might. work.

reading this now

https://theweek.com/articles/451866/science-behind-antiredhead-prejudice

Why do I have this creative urge to write?

Perhaps my brain's rejoicing at being freed from babysitting an office for a local lawn care company.

Anyhoo...

Why are there no red autumn leaves in Europe? The cro-magnon wiped them out like they wiped out the neanderthal.

( continue with mister raisinbottom's wild ride )

So why was ancient Greece so prosperous compared to its contemporaries? In his new book, The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece, Ober links this unexpected prosperity to a relatively democratic, decentralized state system that allowed for innovation and cultural development.Also ( Read more... )

Back in March, a history blog put out a call for the oldest phrase still quoted in modern times.

I believe I found it, going back to the Code of Hammurabi from 1780 B.C.E.. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." The blog's owner felt it was a depressing commentary on humanity. Having sent him a hopeful email as he bemoaned the horror of history ( Read more... )

It is pretty exciting to see this (surely Platonic) idea emerging in the ninth century, and it extremely frustrating to have to learn about it from an Aristotelian dunce: but that’s the Carolingian Renaissance for you.

Oh, I love Dr. Beachcombing.