Friday, July 3, 2020


The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the country and leads the judicial branch of the federal government.  It is often referred to by the acronym SCOTUS.  The court's yearly term begins on the first Monday in October and lasts until the first Monday in October the following year.  The court generally releases the majority of its decisions in mid-June.  As of June 30, 2020, the court had issued decisions in 52 cases this term.  Link to cases from October 7, 2019 through June 30, 2020 at

The word "alchemy" comes from the Arabian al-kimia, referring to the preparation of elixir by the Egyptians.  The Arabic kimia, in turn, comes from the Coptic khem, which refers to the fertile black Nile delta soil as well as the dark mystery of the primordial First Matter (the Khem).  This is also the origin of the word "chemistry."  In alchemy, symbols were created to represent different elements.  For a time, the astronomical symbols of the planets were used.  However, as alchemists were persecuted—particularly in medieval times—secret symbols were invented.  This led to a great deal of confusion, as there are often many symbols for a single element as well as some overlap of symbols.  The symbols were in common use through the 17th century, and some are still in use today.  The Philosopher's Stone was represented by the squared circle.  The alchemy symbol for platinum combines the crescent symbol of the moon with the circular symbol of the sun.  This is because alchemists thought platinum was an amalgam of silver (moon) and gold (sun).  "Philosopher's wool" was zinc oxide, sometimes called nix alba (white snow).  Anne Marie Helmenstine  Find many symbols pictured at https://www.thoughtco.com/alchemy-symbols-and-meanings-4065063

In traditional Japanese culture, suiseki are small naturally occurring or shaped rocks which are appreciated for their aesthetic or decorative value.  They are similar to Chinese scholar's rocks.  Chinese scholar's rocks called gongshi influenced the development of suiseki in Japan.  The history of suiseki in Japan begins during the reign of Empress Suiko.  The small objects were brought to Japan as gifts from the Chinese Imperial court.  Suiseki are usually presented in two different ways:  The stone is provided with a wooden base (daiza).  The stone is placed in a waterproof tray or bowl of ceramic (suiban) or bronze (doban).  These stones are not just any stones which can be found in nature; they must be expressive stones and have a special shape, color and texture to be categorized as suiseki.  There is a distinction between landscape and object stones.  The former reflect landscapes such as mountains, lakes or rivers, while other stones have object shapes that resemble animals or sculptures.  The stones are of natural origin and are found in rivers, oceans and karst areas.  They are not allowed to be reshaped.  An exception is the cutting of stones to have a flat base, so they can be placed stably on a daizasuiban or doban, to be displayed properly.  However, this diminishes their value in the eyes of some enthusiasts.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suiseki

March 9, 2015  Dick Tracy made his debut in 1931 in a comic strip that still runs today.  He’s a tough-talking crime fighter who often uses technology to nab the bad guys.  And in 1946, he started using a state-of-the-art two-way wrist radio while fighting crime.  Erin Blakemore  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-dick-tracy-invented-smartwatch-180954506/  The noun "dick" in the "detective" sense started around 1864.

Sparkle Plenty Tracy first appeared as the baby of two homely-looking parents (B.O. Plenty and Gravel Gertie) who surprised the world with her beautiful appearance in a 1947 Dick Tracy comic strip.  Immediately the world fell in love with her.  Her picture made the cover of numerous magazines, including the new publication "Glance".  https://dicktracy.fandom.com/wiki/Sparkle_Plenty

Sparkle Plenty was developed in 1903 by a major crystal manufacturer in Austria as an in-house cleaning product.  Still in use for that purpose, the product was brought to the U.S. in the 1960's and marketed as Sparkle Plenty Chandelier Cleaner.  https://www.sparkleplentyinc.com/about

AUTHENTIC GAZPACHO (a Spanish-style soup made from tomatoes and other vegetables and spices, served cold) takes 15 minutes  4-6 servings  posted by Ali  https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/about/

Gazpacho Sauce Spaghetti is like a melding of two Mediterranean food cultures--Italian and Spanish.  Simply cook the spaghetti to al dente.  As the pasta cooks, blend tomatoes, pepper, garlic and onion in a blender and add sherry vinegar and Tabasco sauce for a slight kick.  Taste as you go and add more Tabasco if you like it hot!  Once the spaghetti is drained, mix with the sauce and toss well.  Serve with loads of fresh basil.  Jelena Mardere  https://cook.me/recipe/gazpacho-sauce-spaghetti/

In psychology, “automatism” refers to involuntary actions and processes not under the control of the conscious mind—for example, dreaming, breathing, or a nervous tic.  Automatism plays a role in Surrealists techniques such as spontaneous or automatic writing, painting, and drawing; free association of images and words.  https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/surrealism/tapping-the-subconscious-automatism-and-dreams/

Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) or self-education (also self-learning and self-teaching) is education without the guidance of masters (such as teachers and professors) or institutions (such as schools).  Generally, autodidacts are individuals who choose the subject they will study, their studying material, and the studying rhythm and time.  Autodidacts may or may not have formal education, and their study may be either a complement or an alternative to formal education.  Many notable contributions have been made by autodidacts.  The 1997 drama film Good Will Hunting follows the story of autodidact Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon.  Hunting demonstrates his breadth and depth of knowledge throughout the film but especially to his therapist and in a heated discussion in a Harvard bar.  One of the main characters in The Elegance of the Hedgehog (2006), by Muriel Barbery, is an autodidact.  The story is told from the viewpoint of Renee, a middle-aged autodidact concierge in a Paris upscale apartment house and Paloma, a 12-year-old daughter of one of the tenants who is unhappy with her life.  These two people find they have much in common when they both befriend a new tenant, Mr. Ozu, and their lives change forever.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodidacticism

EASTER BEANS  Slightly spicy and tangy but also buttery like a gigante bean, lupini are a refreshing alternative to the omnipresent garbanzo and cannellini.  Lupini are similar to fava beans in size and shape, but more closely resemble soy beans in savory taste and silky texture with a higher protein density per calorie than not only soy but most other crop plants in the world.  Lupini are a seriously high-maintenance bean.  Also known as the Easter bean, lupini are typically reserved for special occasions due to the extremely lengthy preparation process.  Beans, in general, require patience.  Overnight soaking, use of pressure cookers, and hours of slow simmering are to be expected.  What lupini require, however, far exceeds mere patience.  If not prepared correctly, lupini beans are extremely bitter, indicative of toxicity, known as lupin poisoning.  Lupin poisoning is relatively common with legumes high in alkaloids, like lupini beans, and can temporarily impair nervous system responsiveness and cause digestive discomfort.  Thorough soaking and dutiful rinsing is crucial to ensure alkaloids are removed and the beans are “debittered.”  KaitlinThornton  https://www.foodrepublic.com/2016/02/19/move-over-edamame-lupini-beans-are-the-new-power-snack/

A THOUGHT FOR JULY 29  A book must be an axe for the frozen sea inside of us. - Franz Kafka, novelist (3 Jul 1883-1924)

http://librariansmuse.blogspot.com  Issue 2294  July 3, 2020

No comments: