The golden age of Gaelic Scotland
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Author Archives: gmcdavid
A note on classical literary Gaelic/Early Modern Irish
In last Monday night’s Irish class we talked about Classical Gaelic Poetry from the
early modern (1200-1650 AD) period. I mentioned that I had run across a description
of some of the rules. I found it in
Gàir Nan Clàrsach – The Harps’ Cry: Anthology of 17th Century Gaelic Poetry. The
book is about Scottish Gaelic, but this form of poetry, and the language was common to
both Gaelic Scotland and Ireland in the period. The poets who produced these works had been trained in the genre for years. Their work was aimed at the Gaelic elite, and traditionally they were supported as court poets by the clan chiefs and great lords. Here is a verse from Niall Mòr Mac
Muireadhigh’s Do Ruaidhri Mòr, Mac Leòid (“To Ruaidhri Mòr”), followed by the analysis in the
introduction to the book.
| Fiche meisge linn gach laoi – nochar leisge linn ná lé; fiú i neart ar mbeathaidh do bhí ceathair, a trí, a seacht le sé. |
Politics, meet reality: A wonderful screwup
Not your first choice for dinner
A restaurant in China, anticipating the Olympic influx of Anglophone visitors, ran its name through a computer translator and put up a large sign with the results:
Robots
A fascinating video, but you might not want to watch it just before bedtime.
Via The Bad Astronomer, who commented:
….it’s definitely quadrupedal and incredibly life-like in its reaction to such things as a broad kick, a hill, and a slippery surface.
And that buzzing noise! If they want to terrorize a small town, they should paste fly wings on it and let it loose. Pitchforks and torches would follow quickly.
Family on the ‘Net again
Right Angle turns, by one of my father’s old students.
Via Máire.
Beannachtaí na Lúnasa daoibh!
(Lugnasadh/August blessings to you!)
The Personalities of Physics
From Physical Theories as Women:
Newtonian gravity is your high-school girlfriend. As your first encounter with physics, she’s amazing. You will never forget Newtonian gravity, even if you’re not in touch very much anymore.
[….]
2. Special relativity is the girl you meet at the dorm party while you’re dating electrodynamics. You make out. It’s not really cheating because it’s not like you call her back. But you have a sneaking suspicion she knows electrodynamics and told her everything.
[…]
8. String theory is off in her own little world. She is either profound or insane. If you start dating, you never see your friends anymore. It’s just string theory, 24/7.
However, Physical Theories as Men is more elaborate, funnier and geekier:
0. Newtonian gravity is that guy you had a crush on in high school…. To paraphrase Whistler, the helpful demon from Buffy (Season 2): “Newtonian gravity is like dating a nun. You’re never gonna get the good stuff.” You suspect he may have been gay.
[….]
2. Special Relativity …. length contraction has clearly taken its toll.
[….]
7. String Theory is the sensitive, complex emo guy with an impossibly brilliant mind and lots of emotional problems. …. He constantly complains that nobody understands him, and he’s right….
[….]
