Rooster-Cat

Here's a little kitty-porn. Catsius Clay dressed as a rooster from this past Halloween.

Cannary

I had no idea that photographs of Calamity Jane (Martha Jane Cannary Burke) were readily available on the internet. She wasn't much of a looker:

But apparently worked to support her five younger brothers and sisters as a dance hall girl - and as a hooker!! The wikipedia article on her mentions it completely out of the blue. What?!

She also claimed that Wild Bill Hickok was the father of her child - Jane - though no one seemed to have believed her. Jane Jr. was put up for adoption. As was the other Jane Jr., born fourteen years later. So...she had two daughters, named them both after herself, and gave them both away.

When she died, she was buried next to Wild Bill, apparently because four of his friends planned her funeral and thought it would be hilarious to stick him with her for all eternity. He apparently couldn't stand her in real life.

Immersion Foot

I've just been reading, for no clear reason, the Handbook of First Aid Treatment for Survivors of Disasters at Sea issued in 1943 by the US Navy. Fascinating stuff.

I found it because I had just been fantasizing about what I would do if a passel of starving children were dropped at my doorstep, and realized that I didn't know how to treat starvation. Looks like you want to give them sugary liquids, vitamins, and broth the first day, add gruel the next, and proper meals the day after that. Luckily I already have the necessary supplies, so if those children show up, I'll be ready.

Less relevant to my life is the treatment of 'immersion foot', but I still have committed it to memory just in case. Keep legs raised, don't allow the patient to walk, cool the legs and feet without getting them wet, keep the rest of the body warm.

Carucci

I'd like to direct you to the website of Elinor Carucci, a woman I once studied photography with:

At the time, she had recently finished 'Closer' (the body of work linked to above). I found it (and her) so entrancing. The work is quiet, intimate, and mysterious. You feel as if you live in her dark house full of dark haired family. 'Diary of a Dancer' I thought disappointing - too conceptual and messy where the previous work was concise. Her new stuff, though, looks very good to me, a natural extension of her best.

My favorite is the picture of her body after the c section. Powerful, full. She worked as a belly dancer, which makes this picture somehow more meaningful to me. Giving birth reshapes your body, and that seems more *something* in a woman who depended on having it the way it was.

I had forgotten, but she was actually pregnant with her twins when she was teaching us, and taking a five hour train every week on her commute. The doctor told her she needed to rest more, so she would lie down on the floor of class and hold discussion from there.

Rocket

Can we all start calling arugula 'rocket' again?

We have the teeniest little sprouts of it coming up, and when I eat it, I want to think about spaceships.

Apparently 'rocket' is a bastardization of the French 'roquette'. It can also be called rugola or rucola (which I didn't know).

The Clanders

Sig: So, there is this tiny nation on an oil rig called Sealand.

Me: Cland?

Sig: ?

Me: You know, C-land, Cland? Get it?

Sig: Oh yeah, I guess that is funny.

But the more germane bit of the story is the following - 'Sealand' is a base off the coast of England built during WWII to deter Nazi attack. It consists of two towers that stand on a sand bar and a platform on top. At one point, 150-300 British soldiers were stationed there.

Things went wonky when one of Britains famous 'pirate radio' DJs, Major Paddy Roy Bates, took up residence there in 1967 to broadcast his station. He named the base Sealand and began ejecting intruders to his 'territorial waters' by threatening them with gun shot. A case was brought against him in British court, and was rejected because Sealand lies in international waters where British law doesn't hold. Bates subsequently printed up passports, made a flag, and invented a currency for Sealand.

According to its constitution (written by Bates) Sealand is a constitutional monarchy. He is 'Prince Roy', his wife 'Princess Joan', and their son is the 'Prince Regent'. In 2008 an athlete represented Sealand in the egg throwing world championship and won.

Here is my favorite part, though. There exists a Sealandic Rebel Government, a self styled government in exile led by the self styled prime minister of Sealand. This all began when some fellow named Achenbach stormed the base with helicopters and motorboats in the 70's and took Bates' son hostage. Bates, though, retook the base and kept Achenbach hostage for ransom money. He eventually released Achenbach, who set up the rebel government, which, to this day, claims to be the rightful government of Sealand.

Home sweet Sealand.