I'm not a scholar of history or chivalry, so maybe that's why this was my first time to hear such an explanation.
One of the most fruitful encounters of Christianity with Arabism took place in northwestern Arabia, in Hijaz, the sphere of indirect Byzantine influence. The federate tribe of 'Udra lived in this region and adopted Christianity quite early in the Byzantine period. Among its many achievements was a special type of poetry, known as 'Udrl or 'Udrite, which was inspired by a special type of love, also called 'Udrn. It is practically certain that this type of love and poetry appeared under the influence of Christianity in pre-Islamic times, although it may later have had an Islamic component. It represents the fruitful encounter of the chivalrous attitude toward women in pre-Islamic Arabia and the spiritualization of this attitude through the refining influence of Christianity. Through the Arab Conquests it appeared as amour courtouis in western Christendom, whose religion had inspired it in the first place.
You can read this here under VII, number 6. It's interesting. Is it possible? Maybe you can tell me.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Leaping in a second later
Guess what? We're in for extra time this year. That's right, a whole additional 60 sixtieths of a second on 31 December 2005. For those in Central Time, set your clocks for 5:59 P.M., and enjoy the existence of 17:59:60!
It got us
11 days of being in an increasingly sick family finally set a five-month marker on my no-cold record. The last time was mid-August, when Jason and Kendra and I stayed up three nights in a row to watch Lord of the Rings and I kept getting up to work.
Ardith only enjoyed two-and-a-half cold-free days at home... probably because she generously allowed the littlest boys to snuggle close and watch her play games on her laptop.
Maybe it's a good thing Daddy is driving to Chicago this afternoon for his mandatory drivers' training. Please do remember his safety and health in your prayers.
Well, I despise colds more than almost anything, but there is one bright side. A cold is the perfect excuse to do whatever you want, all day long. You know what that means! Today will be a lovely day of indulging in all my favorite things... reading, drinking lots of tea, and starting Italian. I'll just skip the pronunciation for now.
Ardith only enjoyed two-and-a-half cold-free days at home... probably because she generously allowed the littlest boys to snuggle close and watch her play games on her laptop.
Maybe it's a good thing Daddy is driving to Chicago this afternoon for his mandatory drivers' training. Please do remember his safety and health in your prayers.
Well, I despise colds more than almost anything, but there is one bright side. A cold is the perfect excuse to do whatever you want, all day long. You know what that means! Today will be a lovely day of indulging in all my favorite things... reading, drinking lots of tea, and starting Italian. I'll just skip the pronunciation for now.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas, Part Two
Otherwise titled: How to Celebrate Christmas!
As has become tradition in our family, part of the holiday - Christmas Eve - was spent working. Mommy and Carolyn cleaned the church up the road. Daddy and Jason continued boarding up the garage. I made bread and put up some insulation in the second-floor addition. The rest must have spent the day bumming around, including Ardith, who drove up from Cedar Rapids to grace us with her presence, her laptop, her cynical comments, and a glaring lack of presents. (Fortunately for her, the beautiful music emanating from my computer and the fact that she'll be around several more days renders me incapable of coming up with more negative remarks.)
Today we celebrated Christmas by not working. Most of us got up late. Those the cold has not yet visited and those the cold has visited-and-left attended the one morning service held at church today. In the afternoon we opened Christmas presents, and in the early evening (5:30) sat down to a delicious Christmas dinner, then watched White Christmas, which Mommy had taped earlier.
That beautiful music I mentioned is Handel's Water Music... one of ten Baroque CDs ma chère maman gave me for Christmas. Wish you were here to hear it.
Merry Christmas!
As has become tradition in our family, part of the holiday - Christmas Eve - was spent working. Mommy and Carolyn cleaned the church up the road. Daddy and Jason continued boarding up the garage. I made bread and put up some insulation in the second-floor addition. The rest must have spent the day bumming around, including Ardith, who drove up from Cedar Rapids to grace us with her presence, her laptop, her cynical comments, and a glaring lack of presents. (Fortunately for her, the beautiful music emanating from my computer and the fact that she'll be around several more days renders me incapable of coming up with more negative remarks.)
Today we celebrated Christmas by not working. Most of us got up late. Those the cold has not yet visited and those the cold has visited-and-left attended the one morning service held at church today. In the afternoon we opened Christmas presents, and in the early evening (5:30) sat down to a delicious Christmas dinner, then watched White Christmas, which Mommy had taped earlier.
That beautiful music I mentioned is Handel's Water Music... one of ten Baroque CDs ma chère maman gave me for Christmas. Wish you were here to hear it.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' "
For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
John 1:1-18
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' "
For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
John 1:1-18
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
How far away is that galaxy?
"John McCain said he thinks about being president every day in the shower. I guess I will turn to the words of Star Wars: It's in a galaxy far, far away."
-Mitt Romney, Massachusetts governor, who last week announced he won't seek re-election to a second term, setting up a likely 2008 White House bid against McCain.
--U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 26, 2005 - Jan. 2, 2006.
Someone needs to reword that remark. Call me thickheaded, but I can't tell whether it's saying Mr. Romney will likely or won't likely run for president.
But that's beside the point. Here's my question. Just how many galaxies away equals never? Why can't anyone just say, "Forget it. I'm never running for president. Don't bother asking again."
Maybe telling the truth less often requires inventing more elaborate means of conveying it.
-Mitt Romney, Massachusetts governor, who last week announced he won't seek re-election to a second term, setting up a likely 2008 White House bid against McCain.
--U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 26, 2005 - Jan. 2, 2006.
Someone needs to reword that remark. Call me thickheaded, but I can't tell whether it's saying Mr. Romney will likely or won't likely run for president.
But that's beside the point. Here's my question. Just how many galaxies away equals never? Why can't anyone just say, "Forget it. I'm never running for president. Don't bother asking again."
Maybe telling the truth less often requires inventing more elaborate means of conveying it.
Teamwork with a capital T
The point to a big family is more people to do more things!
Today Mommy successfully turned her Gazillion+ Christmas letters over to the post office, helping to increase the general United States Postal Service business; and we can always hope it will force a little regret over that 2 cent hike coming soon to a town near all of us fortunate beings. She did all the long, slow, tediously creative work of writing and editing; the rest of us pitched in at the end to fold, stuff, stamp, label, and seal, and otherwise get the envelopes ready to be torn open in about three or four days.
Today's other accomplishment was Christmas Cookie Baking. Sister number two was allegedly in charge of said operation, but only mixed up three of the doughs - peppernut, gingersnap, and Chinese Chews - the rest was turned over to skilled and willing younger siblings. Ethan, Carolyn, Trevor, and Nolan (in order of contribution) rolled and baked the gingersnaps. Melinda mixed up sugar cookie dough and also pulled off the fudge. Derek and Ethan rolled, cut, and baked peppernuts. Everyone helped roll and sugar the Chinese Chews, even Jason, who managed to arrive late from a programming appointment and then turn his share over to Carolyn after about 8 balls. Although we shouldn't be too mad at him since he's happily appropriating the entire burnt first batch of gingersnaps as his personal snack property. Kendra rolled sugar cookie dough and oversaw the cutting and baking. Carolyn, Nolan, Trevor, Melinda, and Ethan (again in order of contribution) frosted the sugar cookies.
Mostly everyone helped taste-test. In fact, everyone did!
This is why big families are so much fun. And it doesn't make any difference that in a smaller family the Christmas letter would have been only 1 page instead of 4 and the quantity of Christmas cookies decreased by at least 90%. It still would have been necessary to send the letter to the Gazillion+ people and to bake at least four kinds of cookies and make fudge. So why not have a houseful to multiply the fun?
Hooray! I made the goal... I didn't use any first-person singular personal pronouns or adjectives till this sentence.
Today Mommy successfully turned her Gazillion+ Christmas letters over to the post office, helping to increase the general United States Postal Service business; and we can always hope it will force a little regret over that 2 cent hike coming soon to a town near all of us fortunate beings. She did all the long, slow, tediously creative work of writing and editing; the rest of us pitched in at the end to fold, stuff, stamp, label, and seal, and otherwise get the envelopes ready to be torn open in about three or four days.
Today's other accomplishment was Christmas Cookie Baking. Sister number two was allegedly in charge of said operation, but only mixed up three of the doughs - peppernut, gingersnap, and Chinese Chews - the rest was turned over to skilled and willing younger siblings. Ethan, Carolyn, Trevor, and Nolan (in order of contribution) rolled and baked the gingersnaps. Melinda mixed up sugar cookie dough and also pulled off the fudge. Derek and Ethan rolled, cut, and baked peppernuts. Everyone helped roll and sugar the Chinese Chews, even Jason, who managed to arrive late from a programming appointment and then turn his share over to Carolyn after about 8 balls. Although we shouldn't be too mad at him since he's happily appropriating the entire burnt first batch of gingersnaps as his personal snack property. Kendra rolled sugar cookie dough and oversaw the cutting and baking. Carolyn, Nolan, Trevor, Melinda, and Ethan (again in order of contribution) frosted the sugar cookies.
Mostly everyone helped taste-test. In fact, everyone did!
This is why big families are so much fun. And it doesn't make any difference that in a smaller family the Christmas letter would have been only 1 page instead of 4 and the quantity of Christmas cookies decreased by at least 90%. It still would have been necessary to send the letter to the Gazillion+ people and to bake at least four kinds of cookies and make fudge. So why not have a houseful to multiply the fun?
Hooray! I made the goal... I didn't use any first-person singular personal pronouns or adjectives till this sentence.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
It's a girl's right
Aristotle's Poetics, Chapter 15, on the Characters of Poetry, page 242:
"In the Characters there are four points to aim at. First and foremost, that they shall be good. There will be an element of character in the play, if (as has been observed) what a personage says or does reveals a certain moral purpose; and a good element of character, if the purpose so revealed is good. Such goodness is possible in every type of personage, even in a woman or a slave, though the one is perhaps an inferior, and the other a wholly worthless being."
Since women are perhaps inferior, they have perhaps less possibility of goodness, and therefore perhaps more excuse for badness?
A slightly different translation is here under Part XV.
"In the Characters there are four points to aim at. First and foremost, that they shall be good. There will be an element of character in the play, if (as has been observed) what a personage says or does reveals a certain moral purpose; and a good element of character, if the purpose so revealed is good. Such goodness is possible in every type of personage, even in a woman or a slave, though the one is perhaps an inferior, and the other a wholly worthless being."
Since women are perhaps inferior, they have perhaps less possibility of goodness, and therefore perhaps more excuse for badness?
A slightly different translation is here under Part XV.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Home sweet home
It's so good to be home!
Yesterday Tammy and I left at 2:00 p.m. instead of 1:00 because she had to finish an art project. Then we ran into slow traffic near Chicago. Poor Mommy had to keep shopping since we were a little late. But we finally made it to Tammy's house, and then Mommy and I arrived home around 11:30 p.m. Jason, Kendra, Derek, and Melinda, wonderful troopers that they are, helped lug all my stuff in along the narrow snowy path from the car to the house.
Today has been pleasant and profitable.
I got up at 10:00, and finished eating breakfast around 11:30, and then Carolyn and Ethan wanted to help carry all my stuff up to the room. Carolyn, Ethan, Nolan, and Trevor were my unpacking audience... the three boys had to stay on my bed since it's The Girls' Room. I enjoyed having several eager errand-runners! And I think they're enjoying their own little Narnia mini-posters.
The rest of the day I finished sorting and arranging my stuff in our room and stowing extras in the attic, made bread, enjoyed chocolate pudding for snack, finished my VISA application, did a treadmill stint, and watched a taped show with the others.
Now, if you don't mind, I'll finish reading that article about why coffee's good for you, and then figure out a movie to watch with Jason and Kendra tonight.
Yesterday Tammy and I left at 2:00 p.m. instead of 1:00 because she had to finish an art project. Then we ran into slow traffic near Chicago. Poor Mommy had to keep shopping since we were a little late. But we finally made it to Tammy's house, and then Mommy and I arrived home around 11:30 p.m. Jason, Kendra, Derek, and Melinda, wonderful troopers that they are, helped lug all my stuff in along the narrow snowy path from the car to the house.
Today has been pleasant and profitable.
I got up at 10:00, and finished eating breakfast around 11:30, and then Carolyn and Ethan wanted to help carry all my stuff up to the room. Carolyn, Ethan, Nolan, and Trevor were my unpacking audience... the three boys had to stay on my bed since it's The Girls' Room. I enjoyed having several eager errand-runners! And I think they're enjoying their own little Narnia mini-posters.
The rest of the day I finished sorting and arranging my stuff in our room and stowing extras in the attic, made bread, enjoyed chocolate pudding for snack, finished my VISA application, did a treadmill stint, and watched a taped show with the others.
Now, if you don't mind, I'll finish reading that article about why coffee's good for you, and then figure out a movie to watch with Jason and Kendra tonight.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
The blue button
The hour has arrived! I'm shutting down my computer. It won't power up again in a Grace dorm for a year and a month. More importantly and presently, tomorrow we leave for home!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Let's celebrate!
Just took my last final = just finished my fourth semester of seven semesters = 57.14285% done with my college career!
Monday, December 12, 2005
Monday night of The Week
With the termination of duty comes the beginning of delight. Now that I'm done with those annoying 20-weekly exercise points for Healthy Lifestyles, I can't wait to get up early and go to the Rec Center tomorrow... of my own volition.
I hope to post nearly every day of Christmas Break to get myself well in the habit before going overseas. Hopefully the posts will be a little more interesting (= not about me).
It's very pleasant to suddenly realize, on looking over the outline for an essay exam, that it's quite ready. No further preparation required.
62 hours and counting...
(that's till H-Hour, not the final)
I hope to post nearly every day of Christmas Break to get myself well in the habit before going overseas. Hopefully the posts will be a little more interesting (= not about me).
It's very pleasant to suddenly realize, on looking over the outline for an essay exam, that it's quite ready. No further preparation required.
62 hours and counting...
(that's till H-Hour, not the final)
Sunday, December 11, 2005
In no particular news
I was folding my laundry from last Monday and decided that while so incredibly motivated I should post. Not that I have anything much to say.
Three finals: Calculus and Healthy Lifestyles tomorrow, Old Testament Tuesday night - all moderately easy. Wednesday will be last work, packing, cleaning, and fun. Thursday move out and leave sometime around 1 p.m.
My brother will be pleased to note that I refused to see one because I'm coming home for it, and refused to watch 2, even though I had the chance, knowing my incredible restraint would increase his chances of successful Christmas plans, and deciding to practice incredible restraint because I'm such a wonderful sister. My brother will also know which one he is after successfully deciphering this perfectly clear comment, as I'm sure several other sharp persons will make sure he does.
Free time to do whatever I want is truly a marvel. Here's my free Christmas advice to you all. Leave a little time each day to do absolutely nothing. It's extremely refreshing.
Three finals: Calculus and Healthy Lifestyles tomorrow, Old Testament Tuesday night - all moderately easy. Wednesday will be last work, packing, cleaning, and fun. Thursday move out and leave sometime around 1 p.m.
My brother will be pleased to note that I refused to see one because I'm coming home for it, and refused to watch 2, even though I had the chance, knowing my incredible restraint would increase his chances of successful Christmas plans, and deciding to practice incredible restraint because I'm such a wonderful sister. My brother will also know which one he is after successfully deciphering this perfectly clear comment, as I'm sure several other sharp persons will make sure he does.
Free time to do whatever I want is truly a marvel. Here's my free Christmas advice to you all. Leave a little time each day to do absolutely nothing. It's extremely refreshing.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
By the way
Just to let y'all know, I think I may survive the semester.
:)
I hope the other college students do as well. It would be morbid to die of overstudy.
:)
I hope the other college students do as well. It would be morbid to die of overstudy.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Good things
This list began with the first two items and snowballed from there.
-My senior thesis is done!! 22 pages instead of 20. The due date had been moved from last Tuesday to this Tuesday.
-I figured out calculus problem #103 mostly all by myself. Suddenly I love calculus!
Calculus homework finished by 3 p.m.
-Time for a walk.
-Found some delicious recipes to try out when I get home.
-Forced to research the French worldview for a 9-page paper.
-Green tea and Lindt.
-This paper must use 12-point Arial font with 1.25-inch margins. I usually use 12-point
Times New Roman with 1-inch margins. This translates into roughly 1.5 fewer pages.
-This paper is nearly outlined, which means it's over 50% done.
-This paper is the last of the semester! (if you don't count a blue-book exam)
-Hearing the Messiah playing on CD in our room.
-Having Christmas lights in the window.
-Being relatively warm.
-Having about 1.5 pounds of chocolate in my drawer.
-Sleeping straight through the night 2 nights in a row.
Brought to you in no particular order courtesy of the right side of my brain, because the left side's done enough today.
-My senior thesis is done!! 22 pages instead of 20. The due date had been moved from last Tuesday to this Tuesday.
-I figured out calculus problem #103 mostly all by myself. Suddenly I love calculus!
Calculus homework finished by 3 p.m.
-Time for a walk.
-Found some delicious recipes to try out when I get home.
-Forced to research the French worldview for a 9-page paper.
-Green tea and Lindt.
-This paper must use 12-point Arial font with 1.25-inch margins. I usually use 12-point
Times New Roman with 1-inch margins. This translates into roughly 1.5 fewer pages.
-This paper is nearly outlined, which means it's over 50% done.
-This paper is the last of the semester! (if you don't count a blue-book exam)
-Hearing the Messiah playing on CD in our room.
-Having Christmas lights in the window.
-Being relatively warm.
-Having about 1.5 pounds of chocolate in my drawer.
-Sleeping straight through the night 2 nights in a row.
Brought to you in no particular order courtesy of the right side of my brain, because the left side's done enough today.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
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