Aphorism, Number Five!

Here is the next aphorism (from the work of Baltasar Gracian, the 17th Century Spanish Jesuit and baroque prose writer and philosopher).

“Create dependents. The idol is not created by the gilder, but by the genuflector; he who knows, desires more that man shall need him than thank him. To hold them expectant is the art of the courtier, to rely upon their thankfulness, the art of the peasant, for the first remembers as the second forgets. More is to be gained from dependence than from courtesy; he shortly turns his back upon the well who has drunk his fill, and the squeezed orange falls from a golden salver into the dung. When dependence goes , decent deportment goes, and with it respect. Let it be a lesson and the first from experience, to keep hope alive but never satisfied, remaining necessary always even to the crowned head, but do not carry this to the point of silence that he may commit error, or so far as to make incurable the mischief of another, for your personal profit.”

Source: The Art of Worldly Wisdom: a Collection of Aphorisms from the Work of Baltasar Gracian (translated by Martin Fischer).

Aphorism, Number Four!

Here is the next aphorism (from the work of Baltasar Gracian, the 17th Century Spanish Jesuit and baroque prose writer and philosopher).

“Wisdom, backed by courage make great: because immortal, they immortalize: each is as great as his mind, and to him who knows everything is possible. A man without knowledge, a world in darkness. Understanding, and, will, they are the eyes and the hands; without courage the mind is dead.”

Source: The Art of Worldly Wisdom: a Collection of Aphorisms from the Work of Baltasar Gracian (translated by Martin Fischer).

Aphorism, Number Three!

Here is the next aphorism (from the work of Baltasar Gracian, the 17th Century Spanish Jesuit and baroque prose writer and philosopher).

“Maintain an air of uncertainty about your business. Admiration for the new is what bestows value upon the accomplished. to play with cards exposed is neither useful, nor in good taste. Create anticipation by not declaring your purpose, and especially where the height of your office commands public attention display a bit of mystery about everything, and by it further the respect in which you are held: even when you show your hand escape the obvious, just as in the daily round you do not disclose your inner self to everyone. A prudent silence is the sacred vessel of wisdom. Purpose declared was never highly esteemed and commits itself to criticism in advance, therefore, the ways of God in order to keep those about you watchful, and alert.”

Source: The Art of Worldly Wisdom: a Collection of Aphorisms from the Work of Baltasar Gracian (translated by Martin Fischer).

Aphorism, Number Two!

Here is the next aphorism (from the work of Baltasar Gracian, the 17th Century Spanish Jesuit and baroque prose writer and philosopher).

“Mind and spirit. The two poles upon which rests the firmament of our faculties: the one without other, a happiness by half: mind is not enough, spirit is necessary. The lot of a fool, to fail in his calling, professional, commercial, political, social.”

Source: The Art of Worldly Wisdom: a Collection of Aphorisms from the Work of Baltasar Gracian (translated by Martin Fischer).

An Aphorism!

I am going to start a new series of aphorisms (from the work of Baltasar Gracian, the 17th Century Spanish Jesuit and baroque prose writer and philosopher) from the book The Art of Worldly Wisdom.

aphorism [ af–uh-riz-uhm ], noun

a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton).

Here’s the first one . . .

“Everything today has its point, but the art of making yourself count for something the greatest: more is demanded to produce one wise man today, than seven formerly, and more is needed to deal with a single individual in our times, than with a whole people in the past.”

Source: The Art of Worldly Wisdom: a Collection of Aphorisms from the Work of Baltasar Gracian (translated by Martin Fischer).

It’s Element-ary, Number Thirty-Four!

This month we move on to the next of the transition elements: cadmium. Camium is a very stable element. When you mix it into steel, this helps keep the steel from corroding while at the same time, when cadmium atoms combine with other atoms, bright colors result (bright reds, yellows, and greens) — these make for great paints. Cadmium also teams up with nickel in rechargeable batteries.

cadmium – discovered in 1817 A.D.

Symbol: Cd
Atomic number: 48
Atomic weight: 112.41
Density: 8.65 g/cm³
Melting point: 321.07°C (609.93°F)
Boiling point: 767°C (1,413°F)
Color: bluish silver-gray
Standard state: solid at 25°C (77°F)
Classification: metallic

Source: The Complete Periodic Table: Elements with Style, by Adrian Dingle and Dan Green.

Fallen Officer Table!

Today we honor the fallen officers of the Tulsa Police Department at our annual Tulsa Police Officers’ Memorial Service.

The Fallen Officer Table!

“We knew them, we’ll remember them, and they will never be forgotten.”

To our fallen officers:

Place Setting:
You may have noticed the table set for one that is off on its own — it is reserved to honor our fallen Officers in arms. This symbolizes that they are with us, here in spirit. We should never forget the brave men and women who answered our City’s call to serve, to protect, and to preserve life and liberty in a special way. We are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice. We are compelled to never forget that while we enjoy our daily pleasures, there are others who have endured the agonies of pain and deprivation and death.

• The table is round — to show our everlasting concern for our fallen Officers.
• The tablecloth is white — symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.
• The single red rose, displayed in a vase — reminds us of the life each of our fallen Officers, and the loved ones and friends of these Officers who keep the faith.
• The vase is tied with a blue ribbon — symbolic of our continued determination to remember our fallen Officers.
• A slice of lemon on the bread plate — to remind us of the bitter fate of those who will never return.
• A pinch of salt — symbolizes the tears endured by the families of those who have sacrificed it all.
• The Holy Book — represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our midst.
• The glass inverted — for they cannot toast with us at this time.
• The chair is empty — because they are no longer with us.
• Let us remember — and never forget their sacrifice.

“May they and their families ever be watched over and protected.”

The American Bison!

Happy Saturday!  I have long been a fan of the American Bison, so here is an easy origami design (courtesy of the World Wildlife Fund) that you can use to create your own herd of these magnificent creatures.  Happy folding!  Here are the actual folding directions (in pdf format).

Necktie of the Month – September 2017!

This month’s tie is an acquisition from my recent trip (the Annual Conference of the Special Libraries Association) to Phoenix, Arizona back in June.  Yes, I was there during a recent “heat wave,” but surprisingly enough, it was not record setting.  Regardless, I opted to stay an extra day, “post-conference,” to take in a few sights and to visit my nephew (Matt) and his finacee (Korrin).  To escape the heat of the day, I  ventured forth to the Phoenix Art Museum (they had a wonderful exhibit of Samurai Armor).  Well, no visit to an aart museum is ever complete with out meandering through the gift shop . . . an voila! . . . I was able to find and acquire a couple of new neckties.  This one is based on the design and style of Gustav Klimpt.  Shown here on my golden yellow shirt, this tie will pair equally well with my light or bright orange shirts as well as my bright yellow or even my beige and brown-toned shirts.  Ah, the versatility!

Groan Before Reading!

I’m going to warn you in advance . . . here are some limericks that are real groaners.  And, they all have to do with mathematics.  Enjoy!

The Möbius strip is a thing,
Which somewhat resembles a ring.
But given the strength,
To travel its length,
You still haven’t done anything.
OKIE POKE

An arithmetic teacher names Jones,
Was reduced by the new math to groans.
And shortly expired,
Since he has not retired,
He now serves as Napier’s Bones.
EDWIN A. ROSENBERG

A little old lady from Becimal,
Arrested for stealing a decimal,
Was thrown in the joint,
The judge missed the point,
The sentence was infinitesimal.
M.L. GOODELL

To measure one really must try,
To learn about deci and centi,
Cause butter you know,
Will sell by kilo,
And a liter of bread you can’t buy.
OKIE POKE

Great mathematicians ’tis true,
Don’t think like both me and you,
They often abhor,
The idea that four
Is as simple as two plus two.
OKIE POKE

A modern mathematician,
When asked to do an addition,
Responded at once,
“Me add, you dunce!
That’s only a part of tradition.”
OKIE POKE

The calculator, per se,
Is always right in its way.
The problem you see,
Is usually me,
‘Cause the dern thing does what I say.
OKIE POKE

A mathematician so keen,
While programming a super machine,
Made an extension,
To an unknown dimension,
And never again was seen.
OKIE POKE

Source: “Mathematics and Humor,” Aggie Vinik, Linda Silvey, and Barnabas Hughes (eds.), p. 50.