synchronoptica
one year ago: Press Your Luck (with synchronopticรฆ) plus historical crippling tariffs
twelve years ago: roadside minions, the resiliency and fragility of the mind plus censorious social networks
thirteen years ago: the son of Hibachi plus a visit to Hofheim
fourteen years ago: public art
fifteen years ago: the illusion of time
sixteen years ago: returning from Alsace
As our faithful chronicler reminds, the Simple Minds’ song reached the top of the US Billboard charts on this day in 1985. .jpg)
Commissioned specifically for The Breakfast Club, the track written and arranged by record producer Keith Forsey, previously percussionist for Udo Lindenberg, several Italo-Pop pioneers, Boney M, Blondie and Giorgio Moroder, the Scottish group at first rejected the power ballad, preferring to play their own material and expressing no interest in the teen movie but eventually relented. Inspired by the preview of a scene in which a high school bully and an introvert bond with no one else watching, Forsey intended the number to serve as a reminder for their commonality and not forget it in the schoolyard. The placeholder lyrics (see also) of na-la-la-la made the final cut, and the 1980s anthem became a breakout hit for the band.
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.
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.
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 synchronopticรฆ) 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
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 Blรคtter 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.
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.
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 faรงade 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 (Fledermรคuse, 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.
