grimthorpe (13. 443)

Named for King’s Council, Edmund Beckett, the title of peerage created within the county of York in 1886 for the controversial barrister, architect and horologist, elevated from the rank of baronet to baron, the eponym (see also), we learn via Curious Notions, was came about in the press in reference to his oversight role in the renovation of the much beloved Norman era cathedral of St Albans, the abbey dedicated to Britain’s first Christian martyr. Fiercely criticised at the time and causing a public outcry for alterations to the transept and the roofline, grimthorping is remodelling without sympathy, whilst lavish and expensive, not considered in keeping with the historical character of the building. So honoured for his earlier achievement as a clockwork engineer for his design of the mechanism of the chimes of Big Ben and quoted as saying “I am the only architect with whom I have never quarrelled,” Grimthorpe is buried in the churchyard of St Albans. The addition of the ensemble of the evangelists at the western entrance include St Matthew sculpted with Grimthorpe’s visage.

vox humana (13. 442)

Severely traumatised during his conscription during World War I as a stretcher-bearer and subsequently diagnosed with shell-shock, haunted by from persistent auditory hallucinations of the screaming of injured and dying soldiers, Alfred Wolfsohn did not respond well to treatments offered. We learn, courtesy of Weird Universe, taking his health and mental well-being into his own hands by vocalising an extreme range of sounds, the timbre and flexibility of his voice dramatically augmented by his practise of self-therapy, eventually resulting in what was described as exorcism and catharsis. Amazed that he was able to mitigate his suffering despite no formal training as a singing teacher or psychologist, though well read in Jungian thought, Wolfsohn—fleeing Nazi Germany—wanted to help heal others with his techniques, believing that the added expressiveness to the voice corresponded to increased potential, aptitude in all areas of life. His pedagogy and later performance pieces were considered highly influential and counted Aldous Huxley, R D Laing among others.

day seventy-nine (13. 441)

According to Amnesty International, the Iranian regime has executed a record number of dissidents this year, using the war as cover for sham trials of protesters. Saudi Arabia incepts drones coming from Iranian territory, whilst a strike seems to have started a fire at a nuclear power plant in the Emirates, in possible retribution for hosting secret meetings with Israeli leadership. Trump is losing patience as hardliners in Tehran look to sabotage any deal with the US, the fragile ceasefire unravelling. Waivers on Russian oil at sea are allowed to expire with American sanctions reimposed. Hezbollah deploys wired, fibre optic drones against the IDF, impervious to jamming and detection.

synchronoptica

one year ago: a revivalist Rosicrucian (with synchronopticæ) plus NYC’s Subway Sun

twelve years ago: ocular floaters, chameleon ivy plus outrageous baby names

thirteen years ago: German breads 

fourteen years ago: more on Greek sovereign debt 

fifteen years ago: know your allergens plus translations needing a second opinion  

seventeen years ago: moving house and home 

bi-stable curious (13. 440)

Celebrating the return of his favourite recurring character with his latest panel, frequent cartoon contributor to the New Yorker Paul Noth, as we are informed by Things magazine, shares his fascination with optical illusion, including his signature duck-rabbit, first appearing in the humour publication Fliegende Blätter by an anonymous artist in 1892 and soon being ensconced in common parlance by Ludwig Wittgenstein, describing the phenomenon as a bi-stable (or multi-stable) percept, philosophically put “seeing that” versus “seeing as” with an intermediate study in psychology and the original paradigm shift. Much more at the links above.

day seventy-eight (13. 439)

As former leader Raul Castro faces possible indictment, charged in absentia, the Cuban people brace for imminent invasion by the US as the country runs out of oil. The aircraft carrier group, the USS Gerald Ford, leaves the Persian gulf to return to the Americans. Pakistani interior minister Moshin Naqvi travels to Iran to resume indirect talks with America. Taiwan reiterates its de facto independence after Trump warns Taipei not assert itself separate from mainland China. Counter-rallies occur in London as marches to commemorate Nabka Day, the displacement of the Palestinians, are met with far-right, ethnonationists Unite the Kingdom demonstrations, with calls to prepare for the second battle of Britain.  Putin and Xi will meet next week.  Israeli defence minister Katz criticises Spain and other European nations for boycotting the Eurovision song contest over his country’s participation.

synchronoptica

one year ago: a Baywatch spinoff (with synchronopticæ), assorted links, Trump in the Middle East plus former FBI director James Comey accused of threatening the president’s life

twelve years ago: generative journalism, immortal jellyfish plus the motivating factors of video game scores

thirteen years ago: EU assault on communal condiments

fourteen years ago: letterpress cities plus EU-US tax treaties

fifteen years ago: puritanical essences

bat habitat (13. 438)

There was a nice community project in the village finished a couple weeks ago, in view from our balcony, that I had meant to post about but forgot about until the previous related entry—maybe we could establish our own fortune-telling fountain—in converting the Trafoturm (electricity substation) into an Insect Motel. A gap between the exterior wall and the wooden façade provides a roost for bats with the attic space open for birds and an overwintering spot for other pollinators.  It is also decorated with a mural of scenes of the little hamlet.  We see bats (Fledermäuse, flying mice) often flitting about in the twilight hours and have a couple of times—not eager to check regularly and avoid the mutual shock—have found them hanging behind our door and window shutters, which are permanently opened. It seems we started a trend with other nearby communities doing the same with their transformer towers.

batcloud (13. 437)

Presented—perennially it seems—with another rather baffling online oracle courtesy of Web Curios, we are directed to a tarot reading delivered by a bat colony outside of Tulum in Quintana Roo. There’s of course the wisdom of the masses but it may not be advisable to stake one’s fortunes betting on a geopolitical outcome, now that one can wager on everything, based on the answers of chiroptera since scientists believe that the major share of their chatter is squabbling about what’s for dinner. This project is sponsored by a local museum in the ancient Mayan city as a mutual beneficial interspecies encounter, the installation providing offerings to the bats in the form of food and water in exchange for the chance to consult them with a yes/no question that isn’t really answered with a binary response with the help of AI especially attuned to the conversation of bats as interpreter. For those unable to visit in person, there’s a virtual experience. Reminiscent of the custom of telling the bees, what would you ask the bats?

casemod (13. 436)

An homage to classic LEGO consoles and control panels (previously), we appreciated this workstation from design studio Watt IV for an Apple Mini with the housing palette referencing both the 1979 space line of playsets and the 1984 Macintosh 128K. The sloped brick features a touch-screen display and is meant to be used an extension to one’s desktop for instance as a dedicated interface and monitoring station for the life support systems of one’s smart home. More from DesignBoom at the link above, including instructions on how to make one’s own dashboard.