date::italy (13. 467)

Via Quantum of Sollazo, we enjoyed this addendum (see previously) to close gaps in historical records between New Style and Old Style and calibrate, synchronise dates matched to when different regions adopted the Gregorian calendar, a switch very unevenly distributed. Whilst most retroactive record keeping has a certain degree of tolerance for approximation, the advent of Julian days, a cyclical count whose current epoch started at noon, New Year’s Day 4713 BCE, a event unrecorded by any contemporary chroniclers we assume, with the alignment of the twenty eight year solar cycle, the nineteen year lunar cycle and the fifteen year indication cycle of Roman tax re-assessments, imposting, used until the Renaissance to date documents. The title function adjusts the day count to reflect when Catholic Europe had taken up the new standard, with England and its colonies changing over later, to convert from the civil calendar, the non-Julian Day date to a universal, effectively linear one—like the latter secular innovation of a star date, though the useful fiction has no consistent reckoning. Just one year after the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, in order to synchronise events not only with the Protestant world but also to bring Persian and Egyptian history into the fold, chronologically underrepresented, Franco-Italian Calvinist polymath Josephus Justus Scaliger (confusingly known as Giuseppe Giusto de la Scala outside of Anglophone circles) advocated for the date count, divorced from reign or religion and predating any written historic records, now some six thousand years hence, also confusingly not named for the just deposed calendar calendar nor its namesake but rather in honour of his father, fellow scholar Julius Caesar Scaliger, whom was christened after the first Roman emperor.

day eighty-eight (13. 466)

After nearly three months of a total internet blackout, Iran has restored access to most media platforms. A day after Israel‘s most intense airstrikes, Hezbollah fighters and IDF clash on the northern bank of the border zone demarcated by the Litani river. With conflicting accounts as to the progress towards a peace deal—Tehran saying that no settlement has been reached regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz, its reserve of enriched uranium not on the agenda at all—despite Washington suggesting that it could be destroyed by IAEA authorities, insisting that no piecemeal decisions will be made without respect to unfreezing Iranian funds and reparations, countering the narrative of the Trump administration that Tehran is desperately seeking a any deal and on the contrary making Trump seem cornered. A cabinet meeting is scheduled for the White House, changing the planned venue from Camp David to discuss with officials plans to extricate themselves from this situation of their own making with a veneer of victory.

tafone (13. 465)

Though in my head I had been referring to such geologic weathering as Roadrunner and Coyote rocks, we learned that tafoni, from the Corsican pietra tafunata meaning perforated stones is bc the proper term for this sort of erosion and chemical reaction—with examples to be found worldwide in granite, limestone and sandstone and is especially prevalent on Sardinia and Corsica. 

These samples were just around the terraced campgrounds with some other particularly fantastic ones among the cliff-faces and the calanques on the coast. Though in my head I had been referring to such geologic weathering as Roadrunner and Coyote rocks, we learned that tafoni, from the Corsican pietra tafunata meaning perforated stones is the proper term for this sort of erosion and chemical reaction—with examples to be found worldwide in granite, limestone and sandstone and is especially prevalent on Sardinia and Corsica. These samples were just around the terraced campgrounds with some other particularly fantastic ones among the cliff-faces and the calanques on the coast.

synchronoptica

one year ago: what a decibel registers (with synchronopticæ)

thirteen years ago: bad operating systems,  cheese banks plus drone-patrols for vandals

fourteen years ago: Eurovision boycotts plus Centralia, Pennsylvania

seventeen years ago: jingoistic language 

calvi (13. 464)

 

day eighty-seven (13. 463)

Encouraging more countries—Egypt, Türkiye, Jordan, chief mediator Pakistan, to normalise relations with Israel, Netatayahu, campaigning on regime change in Tehran in order to secure reelection in October has squandered America’s unconditional support for the country, arguably the single most important political relationship (after both incumbents inevitably leave office and political will shifts) and is effectively locked out of negotiations for a peace settlement. World markets react with unjustified exuberance and gas prices fall on hopes of ending the frozen conflict though the toughest work remains ahead. In a seeming breach of the ceasefire, the US attacks missile launch sites in the south of Iran and boats reportedly capable of laying marine mines citing self-defence. Plans are also underway to strip guardianship of Jerusalem’s al Aqsa mosque from Jordan and Palestine and convert the complex into a multi-faith centre.

synchronoptica

one year ago: the end of an era for an emoji set (with synchronopticæ) plus a public, open-source illustration shop

fourteen years ago: a houseplant blueprint 

fifteen years ago: more on the G8 and ₿ 

sixteen years ago: captcha weeding out robots 

day eighty-six (13. 462)

 Whilst acknowledging that some progress is being made, Tehran is denying that a deal with Washington has been reached.  Trump, expressing his desire to make the settlement an even more historic event, he insists that the signing ceremonies include Saudi Arabian and Qatari assent to the Abraham Accords, recognising the state of Israel—implying stability in the region for the joint US-Israeli war of aggression might be a precondition for his Board of Peace members.  Mexico offers to host the Itanian national football team during the FIFA World Cup, though matches may still take place in Arizona.

porto, orta, ponti (13. 461)

synchronoptica

one year ago: an exploration of Kowloon Walled City (with synchronopticæ), a treasury of obscure words plus US Food and Drug Administration restricts access to vaccines

fifteen years ago: promoting electro mobility 

sixteen years ago: unsolicited budgetary advice for the eurozone 

days eighty-four and five (13. 460)

Insisting that he does not make bad deals, Trump has issued a non-update on the progress of peace negotiations with Iran, again calling out disparaging and doubtful reports to the contrary as unpatriotic and subversive.  Premature news hailed the settlement as a settled matter with an attendant and designed market rally, yet little has emerged from Pakistan’s intermediary shuttle diplomacy other than Trump trying to distinguish his concept of a deal as superior to what Tehran and Obama achieved. With the US still intransigent about unfreezing Iranian assets, reparations in exchange for a supposed longer moratorium on nuclear research and development—only amounting to a further sixty day extension to the ceasefire, something which no one wants.