Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Skyward, some Cosmic Thoughts from our Guest Blogger, Dr. David H. Levy

 

Skyward is below.  Some updates on Erzebet, she appears in my book Capital Punishment in Popular Culture, Toys, Games, and Nursery Rhymes-Toying with Death, Cambridge Scholars Publishinghttps://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-0116-4. She will appear in my book War Paint-Ethics in Beauty, Press, December 2025 or 2025. https://ethicspress.com/search?q=tsagaris






Skyward for December 2024

Cosmic Thoughts

David H. Levy

  Torah study, a meeting among friends and members, takes place on most Saturday mornings.  It is the only time that I try to awake before noon.  It is a program of Beth Shalom Temple Center, our synagogue.  During each two-hour session we continue our discussion of the Torah, which is composed of the first five books of the Bible.   I am a bit uncertain as to my role there.   I do begin each session with a poem from my collection of night sky-related poetry.  But once when it was my turn to read from Genesis,  a passage described  how a group of people stayed on the someone’s land one night:  “Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.”(Genesis 31.54)  Without really thinking about it, I added, “And while they were there, they set up their telescopes and enjoyed a lovely evening of stargazing.”  Most laughed, some were stunned, and possibly one just left.

                I love the relationship that the Torah points out that developed between God and Moses.  I had the feeling that they became friends.  It appeared that God’s anger was kindled frequently, with good reason. and that, as our Rabbi pointed out, Moses tried to calm him down.    Even though I consider myself agnostic—we cannot know if God even exists—I do take my faith quite seriously.  I find it appropriate to think that God has a temper, and even a sense of humor.

                As our discussion went on week after week, I suggested the idea that other people might have a similar, personal relationship with God.  I suspect that my late wife Wendee did.  But before I get to the story I want to tell, it is time to relate just how special Wendee was.   Except for eclipses of the Sun and the Moon, Wendee did not come into our marriage with a passion for the night sky, but she built it as time passed.  She never tired of urging me to continue and expand my early morning comet hunting sessions.  On occasion, as I looked eastward in anticipation of closing the observatory roof, I would see her smiling face.    She did not like to climb out of bed before dawn, but when I asked her if she would like to arise early the morning after I discovered my most recent comet in 2006, Wendee replied that she wouldn’t miss that opportunity for the world.

                Wendee’s passion was not at all limited to looking outward, to the sky.   She also encouraged me to look inward.  Joining the Torah study was her idea.  It began my weekly Saturday early rising.  Right from the start I did considerable reading of the Genesis and Exodus chapters, and I began a tradition of reading a poem at the start of each session which I still do.  The Torah study is an activity that remains close to my soul, and I look forward to it always.

                Wendee’s role in Torah study did not affect just me.  “She always had profound words to say,” relates Dr. Martin Cohen, the leader of our Torah study group.  “I will always remember her insights intro scripture and what she felt when she looked up into the heavens, and the potentials she saw in all of humanity.” 

Now for my purpose in writing this article. I like to think that she used that friendship to her advantage on April 8, 2024, during the total eclipse of the Sun. On April 8, we did catch portions of the incoming partial eclipse.  But as the dark umbral shadow of the Moon rushed towards us, the clouds thickened and we could not see the Sun.  The sky was darkening quickly, and the temperature was plunging so fast that I could feel it plummet.  It seemed obvious to me that we were not going to see the total phase of this eclipse. Then I imagined that in Heaven, Wendee turned to God:

 “God,” she said, “Why won’t you let Doveed see the eclipse?”

“Well,” God smiled as he replied, “Doveed hasn’t been that good a boy lately.   For example, he still doesn’t have a handle on my third commandment.  He may be trying, but he hasn’t got it yet.”

“So what?” snapped Wendee. Let him see the damned eclipse!”

“OK. You’re the boss.”

In the next minute I saw by far the most dramatic total eclipse I have ever witnessed. The clouds parted magically. There was a spectacular corona, and a lovely prominence at the lower limb of the Sun.

After the total phase of the eclipse was over, I witnessed a spectacular display of sunlight glimpsing its way through valleys on the edge of the Moon, an effect called Bailey’s Beads. Wendee approached God again and said, “Actually, God, you’re the boss.”

The smile vanished as God replied, “Yes, I am the boss. But I have tasked you with taking care of Doveed.”

I cannot forget that incident.  And in a sense, it doesn’t matter if it really happened that way or not.  It will always live in my memory.   I miss Wendee terribly, and wonderfully.  She gave me a significantly richer sky, and a much happier life.


Moon, Jupiter and Saturn



 

               

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Bathory on Google Sholar

Below is a list of partial sources from Google Scholar on Erzebet and her link with Snow White. I am using them in my research for my latest book on ethics and cosmetics. Erzebet is in the book, as well as a brief history on blood used in cosemtics, before, during, and after Erzebet's life time.
[PDF] The Bloodlust of Elizabeth Báthory: From the Brothers Grimm to American Horror Story T Fajardo - ACADEMIA LUNARE - repository.falmouth.ac.uk … historic Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Báthory through her … the stepmother of their Little Snow White, was also influenced … Both the stepmother, as well as Snow White, emphasise the … Save Cite Related articles All 4 versions [PDF] srce.hr The symbolic construction of the monstrous–the Elizabeth Bathory story L Kürti - Narodna umjetnost-Hrvatski časopis za etnologiju i …, 2009 - ceeol.com … In the history of East European monstrosities, the story of Countess Elizabeth Bathory has a prominent place. Proclaimed to be the most prolific murderess of mankind, she is accused of … Save Cite Cited by 9 Related articles All 7 versions [BOOK] The Countess: A Novel of Elizabeth Bathory R Johns - 2011 - books.google.com … The huntsman obeyed and took Snow-White into … Snow-White's death. The cook had to boil them with salt, and the wicked woman ate them, supposing that she had eaten Snow-White's … Save Cite Cited by 3 Related articles All 3 versions [PDF] academia.edu It's not all about Snow White: The Evil Queen isn't that monstrous after all C Santos - Monsters in society: An interdisciplinary perspective, 2014 - brill.com This chapter seeks to examine the depiction of the evil step-mother Queen in Snow White. The focus will be on examining the characterisation of the Queen as both step-mother and evil … Save Cite Cited by 3 Related articles All 4 versions [PDF] utb.cz Snow White in American Movies and TV Series M Foldynová - 2012 - digilib.k.utb.cz This thesis deals with film adaptations of the Snow White folk-tale. The original text used is taken from Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm‘s collection of fairy-tales Children's and Household … Save Cite Related articles All 2 versions [PDF] umn.edu The Trial of Countess Elizabeth Báthory: Developing a Defense for Dame Dracula and Deconstructing Dominant Dames R Lawhead - 2019 - conservancy.umn.edu … On the night of December 29th, in the year of our Lord sixteen-hundred and ten, the snow … white men. The idea of a strong woman speaking her truth reminded me of Elizabeth Báthory, … Save Cite Related articles [PDF] academia.edu [PDF] Evil is in the Eye of the Beholder: Snow White and the Evil Queen C Santos - The Monster Stares Back: How Human We Remain …, 2015 - academia.edu … Queen in Snow White, one will note that evil too, is in the eye of the beholder. In her role as … fairy tale and subsequent revisions in the short stories:‘Blancanieves’(Snow White) by … Save Cite Cited by 2 Related articles [BOOK] The Blood Countess: A Novel A Codrescu - 2015 - books.google.com … The details of Elizabeth Bathory's life as they appear in this … under the still-falling snow, Elizabeth felt a cold flame rise within … When all the shards succumbed to a fresh blanket of snow, … Save Cite Cited by 34 Related articles [PDF] academia.edu [PDF] 'Your Tale Merely Confirms that Woman are Mad and Vain': The Uncanny Rendering of Countess Elizabeth Báthory's Life as a Vampire Legend JS Robinson - Dracula's Daughters: The Female Vampire on Film, 2014 - academia.edu … In addition, the myriad incantations of Elizabeth Bathory’s … the enduring relevance of Elizabeth Bathory’s mythological … kill her competition, the lovely, young Snow White (a name that … Save Cite Cited by 2 Related articles [DOC] uca.ac.uk " This is how I lied about coming up with the idea for writing about The Brothers Grimm [2005]": incoherent narration in Terry Gilliam's Adaptation W Clayton - 2018 - research.uca.ac.uk … kill Snow White, yet the huntsman can’t bring himself to perform the act, letting Snow White … her youth is suggestive of the story of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, a 16 th and 17 th Century … Save Cite Related articles All 4 versions Related searches story of snow whitetale of terror snow whitecolour symbolism snow whiteamerican movies snow whitefemale power snow whiteeight elements snow whitemirror mirror snow white

Monday, February 19, 2024

Museum Purpose

The more I run the American Doll and Toy Museum, the more I realize a lot of people of all ages have no clue what a museum is. “What is the purpose of this?” asked one woman in her seventies or early eighties. She grew up in our area, which has several museums besides ours, including The Putnam Museum, The German American Heritage Center, The Hauberg Indian Museum, and The Rock Island Historical Society, to name just a few. I don’t think she has been in any. She wanted to know if we bought and sold dolls and other things. No, I answered, we aren’t retail. Our purpose is to educate, and to tell the story of humanity through dolls and toys. Our collection represents Prehistory to the Present. Many of our artifacts also represent the ethnicities or our community. They tell the progress of immigration in our area. We also curate to preserve, even things no one else may want. We have several libraries of books about our objects, but also about them. Our best visitors are children twelve and under. They are fascinated by the antiques, and delight when they find something they recognize. They behave well, and aren’t jaded. Their favorite exhibits are Polly Pockets, My Little Pony, and Disney Princesses. I direct those who want to know more about to museums to the blog, “The Future of Museums.” My cousin who is a pastor, calls the museum a ministry for children, both because we try to preserve objects for posterity, but because we are dedicated to childhood and its pursuits, to a time more innocent than today. We a 501c not for profit; we do not make money in this venture, far from it. Dolls and toys are humanity’s historians. Dolls are often the only thing left to us from civilizations long gone from the earth, and are portraits of their creators. Brick and mortar museums exist to teach as well as entertain. There museums for kitchen utensils, washing machines, tractors, trucks, textiles and mores. What is our purpose? Come see us to find out, but if you have to ask, well . . .

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

From Dr. David H. Levy, Skyward November 2023, our Guest Blogger

Here is Skyward for this month, by noted astronomer David Levy. It is Halloween again, up till today, nights are cold, dark and clear, and we have done some amazing observing from country side observation posts. It is easy to beleive in spirits, when evenings darken early, and the air is crisp!
Skyward for November 2023 By David H. Levy As a youngster growing up in Montreal, Canada in the early 1950s, I was impressed by the seeming simplicity of Montreal’s weather. It appeared to me as though there were just two kinds of weather, in wintertime a grey sky, and in summertime a blue sky. I wasn’t completely wrong about this. In 1961, while trying to run a small astronomy club for young people, I counted an unbroken string of cloudy Friday nights that lasted for months. And sure enough, when the weather began to moderate the following spring, we were treated to, at last, a clear night. As I grew older, my thoughts turned to finding a different locale where the sky would be clear more often. In September 1979, I packed my bags and telescopes and headed for the American southwest. I was rewarded immediately. My first season here, the Autumn of 1979, was punctuated by a virtually unbroken string of more than 50 clear nights in a row. There was a specific reason for my wanting more clear nights. In the fall of 1965 I was planning a search program for comets, and it began on December 17 of that year, just before midnight. I used the largest telescope I had at the time, the 8-inch reflector named Pegasus. Less than a year later, Miss Isabel K. Williamson, director of observations of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Montreal Centre, wrote this in the November 1966 issue of the center’s newsletter Skyward: “The increase in the number of observations over the previous year can be attributed to David Levy who has made the search for and observation of comets and novae his main astronomical project. In addition to patrolling assigned areas, he has made a total of 360 observations of the dome, the twilight horizon and the sky in the sun’s vicinity, and on 33 nights spent a total of 48 hours at the eyepiece of his telescope, sweeping the sky for comets.” Miss Williamson’s words from all those years ago remain among the highest compliment I have received from anyone. And I still use Pegasus for some of my comet hunting, including the evening of October 11, 1987, when I used Pegasus to find my third comet, 1987 T1. In fact, to celebrate the completion of this article, I went outdoors and used Pegasus for a short comet search this very evening. I may have been right about my childhood weather forecast. Southern Arizona offers many more clear nights than one can appreciate from the frequently cloudy sky over Montreal, Canada. And from the Chiricuaha Astronomy Complex, a two-hour drive southeast of my Vail, Arizona home, observers are treated to one of the darkest sky locations in the world. It is well worth loading Pegasus into a van and using it at that wonderful CAC dark site. Whether I am down there or right here, placing my eye at the eyepiece of this beloved telescope warms my heart and pierces my soul.

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Women and CSI

Below is a link to some information on the foremost woman in forensics: a href="http://ourwildestdreams.blogspot.com/2013/03/fan-letters-for-frances-glessner-lee.html?spref=bl">Our Wildest Dream: A True Crime Blog of Filmmaking: Fan Letters for Frances Glessner Lee: While researching some recently unearthed Frances Glessner Lee's files, we came across some gems. Like this folder of fan mail to Fran...