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Richard Kunert's avatarBRAIN'S IDEA

Many cultural conventions appear like the result of historical accidents. The QWERTY – keyboard is a typical example: the technical requirements of early typewriters still determine the computer keyboard that I write this text on, even though by now technical advances would allow for a far more efficient design. Some culturally accepted oddities, however, appear to reflect the biological requirements of human beings. The way musicians are seated in an orchestra is one such case, but the listener is, surprisingly, not the beneficiary.

When one goes to a concert one typically sees a seating somewhat like the one below: strings in the front, then woodwinds further back, then brass. What is less obvious is that, in general, higher pitched instruments are seated on the left and lower pitched instruments on the right. The strings show this pattern perfectly: from left to right one sees violins, violas, cellos and then basses…

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Richard Lee's avatarIrrelephant Journalism

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In the midst of Louisville’s 85-63, Final Four clinching victory over the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday, Cardinal sophomore Kevin Ware suffered quite possibly the most gruesome leg injury in the history of competitive sports.

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A HYMN FOR TODAY – Come, See the Place Where Jesus Lay

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

Come, see the place where Jesus lay,
And hear angelic watchers say,
“He lives, who once was slain:
Why seek the living midst the dead?”
Remember how the Savior said
That He would rise again.

O joyful sound! O glorious hour,
When by His Father’s mighty pow’r
He rose and left the grave!
Now let our songs His triumph tell,
Who burst the bands of death and hell,
And ever lives to save.

The first begotten of the dead,
For us He rose, our glorious head,
Immortal life to bring.
What though the saints like Him shall die?
We share our leader’s victory,
And triumph with our king.

No more we tremble at the grave,
For Jesus will our spirits save
And raise our slumb’ring dust.
O risen Lord, in You we live;
To You our ransomed souls we give,
To You our bodies trust.

O ransomed, let your praise resound,
And in your Master’s work abound,
Steadfast, immovable.
Be sure you labor not in vain;
Your bodies shall be raised again,
No more corruptible.

8.8.6.8.8.6 – Thomas Kelly,1806

Tune: PIETY NEW – Funk’s Harmonia Sacra

attrib. C. J. Stanley, 1851

#250 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

Footnote 14 – Chandra Manning, What This Cruel War Was Over: Soldiers, Slavery, and the Civil War

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Footnote 14 – Chandra Manning, What This Cruel War Was Over: Soldiers, Slavery, and the Civil War (New York:  Vintage/Random House, 2008), p. 3

“The fact that slavery is the sole undeniable cause of this infamous rebellion, that it is a war of, by and for Slavery, is as plain as the noon-day sun.” So claimed the farmers, shopkeepers, and laborers who made up the Thirteeenth Wisconsin Infantry Regiment in February 1862.  The white Southerners of Morgan’s Confederate Brigade might not have seen eye to eye with the Wisconsin men on much in 1862, but they agreed that “any man who pretends to believe that this is not a war for the emancipation of the blacks … is either a fool or a liar.”  Two years later, black men in the Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery reminded each other, “upon your prowess, discipline, and character; depend the destinies of four millions of people and the triumph of the principles of freedom and self-government of this great republic.”

This quotation references, among other sources, the Wisconsin Volunteer (newspaper of the 13th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment), February 6, 1862, p. 3, from Kansas State Historical Society Archives; The Vidette (newspaper of Morgan’s Confederate Brigade, Springfield, TN), November 2, 1862, p. 3, from Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Biblical Archaeology Review – Digital Books and Articles

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Biblical Archaeology Review – Digital Books and Articles

Playfulness – from Wordpoints – Gary Henry

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Playfulness (April 1)

“It is a happy talent to know how to play” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

PLAYFULNESS MAY NOT BE ONE OF THE CARDINAL VIRTUES THAT WE NEED TO STRIVE FOR, BUT IT’S STILL SOMETHING WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO. It’s a part of good character, and those who know only how to work and not how to play are not only missing out on much of the joy of life; they’re missing one of the qualities that enable us to make a contribution to the lives of others.

Traditionally, this date on the calendar is marked as a day when we give a little freer rein to the playful spirit than we do at other times. Personally, I think it says something good about our civilization that we have such a day. It says that we understand the need for some lightheartedness and laughter — and even a little mischief!

How will you respond today if someone plays you for an “April Fool”? I hope it won’t be with irritation or impatience. I hope you won’t look down on the “immaturity” of the jokers. I hope, instead, that you’ll laugh with those who’re having an innocent laugh at your expense. A moderate application of embarrassment is good for us now and then, because it breaks up the ruts that we tend to fall into. It humbles us and frees us to respond to life in a more flexible way.

Actually, it’s a compliment when someone thinks enough of us to play a joke on us or invite us to join them in joking with someone else. When we were children, those with whom we played were usually those who were our friends, and it’s much the same way with us as adults. When people show us their playful side, they’re saying they want to be friends, and more often than not, we need to say yes.

When we’re playful, we tend to be more honest. At play, we let down our defenses and relate to people more transparently. And while sometimes that freedom can get out of hand and be abused, normally it’s a good thing. If we think we don’t have time for play, that’s probably an indication that some playfulness is overdue. And if, in all honesty, we have personalities that shy away from play, we probably have a greater need than the next person to get out and do some playing. Life in this world is serious business, it’s true, but those who’re prepared to deal with it the best are those who’re a little mischievous!

“In our play we reveal what kind of people we are” (Ovid).

Gary Henry – WordPoints.com

A HYMN FOR TODAY – Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!
His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph,
His the victory alone.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
Thunder like a mighty flood.
Jesus out of every nation
Has redeemed us by His blood.

Alleluia! Not as orphans
Are we left in sorrow now.
Alleluia! He is near us;
Faith believes, nor questions how.
Though the cloud from sight received Him
When the forty days were o’er,
Shall our hearts forget His promise:
“I am with you evermore”?

Alleluia! King eternal,
Thee the Lord of lords we own.
Alleluia! Born of Mary,
Earth Thy footstool, heav’n Thy throne.
Thou within the veil hast entered,
Robed in flesh our great High Priest;
Thou on earth both priest and victim
In the sacrificial feast.

Alleluia! Bread of heaven,
Thou on earth our food and stay.
Alleluia! Here the sinful
Flee to Thee from day to day.
Intercessor, Friend of sinners,
Earth’s Redeemer, plead for me,
Where the songs of all the sinless
Sweep across the crystal sea.

8.7.8.7.D  – William C. Dix, 1867

Tune: HYFRYDOL – Rowland H. Prichard, 1831

#99 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

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Vivid remains of crucifixion- via Ferrell Jenkins

Ferrell Jenkins's avatarFerrell's Travel Blog

The Romans were adept at crucifixion, according to many historical sources. The first archaeological evidence of crucifixion was uncovered in 1978 [1968; see comments] when an ossuary (bone box, or receptacle) was found north of Jerusalem containing the bones of a man who had been crucified. His name was “Yehohanan, the son of Hagakol.” He is thought to have been between 24 and 28 years of age, and was about 5 feet 6 inches in height.

Both the ossuary and a replica of the heel bone are displayed in the Israel Museum. When Yehohanan was removed from the cross the nail pulled away from the wood.

On Pentecost, Peter proclaimed the truth about Jesus. He said,

This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. (Acts 2:23 NIV)

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A HYMN FOR TODAY – Hark! Ten Thousand Voices Sounding

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

Hark! Ten thousand voices sounding,
Far and wide throughout the sky;
‘Tis the voice of joy abounding:
Jesus lives no more to die.

Jesus lives, His conflict over,
Lives to claim His great reward;
Angels ’round the Victor hover,
Crowding to behold their Lord.

Yonder throne for Him erected
Now becomes the Victor’s seat;
Lo, the Man on earth rejected,
Angels worship at His feet!

All the pow’rs of heav’n adore Him;
All obey His sovereign word;
Day and night they cry before Him,
“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord!”

8.7.8.7 – Thomas Kelly, 1806

Tune: SUSSEX (English Folk Melody)
arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906

#256 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

New Archaeological Journal from Penn State

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http://www.psupress.org/journals/jnls_JEMAHS.html

Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies Covers

Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies

    • Ann E. Killebrew
    • Sandra A. Scham
    • Quarterly Publication
    • ISSN 2166-3548
    • E-ISSN 2166-3556

Click here for a look at the lead article from the inaugural issue, ‘Preserving Petra Sustainably (One Step at a Time)’!

Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology Heritage Studies (JEMAHS) is a peer-reviewed journal devoted to traditional, anthropological, social, and applied archaeologies of the Eastern Mediterranean, encompassing both prehistoric and historic periods. The journal’s geographic range spans three continents and brings together, as no academic periodical has done before, the archaeologies of Greece and the Aegean, Anatolia, the Levant, Cyprus, Egypt and North Africa.

As the publication will not be identified with any particular archaeological discipline, the editors invite articles from all varieties of professionals who work on the past cultures of the modern countries bordering the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Similarly, a broad range of topics are covered, including, but by no means limited to:

  • Excavation and survey field results;
  • Landscape archaeology and GIS;
  • Underwater archaeology;
  • Archaeological sciences and archaeometry;
  • Material culture studies;
  • Ethnoarchaeology;
  • Social archaeology;
  • Conservation and heritage studies;
  • Cultural heritage management;
  • Sustainable tourism development: and
  • New technologies/virtual reality.

Appearing four times a year in February, May, August, and November, the journal will engage with professionals and scholars of archaeology and heritage studies as well as non-practitioners and students, both graduate and undergraduate.

In addition to combining traditional and theoretical archaeological data and interpretation, the Journal’s articles may range from early to prehistory to recent historical time periods. It also aims to publish accessible, jargon-free, readable, color-illustrated articles that will be informative for professional and non-professional readers. The journal does not publish unprovenanced artifacts purchased on the antiquities market or objects from private collections.

Editors
Ann E. Killebrew, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park (USA)
Sandra A. Scham, University of Maryland, College Park (USA)

Assistant Editors
Justin Lev-Tov, Statistical Research, Inc. (USA)
Louise A. Hitchcock, University of Melbourne (Australia)

Book Review Editor
Brandon R. Olson, Boston University (USA)

Editorial Assistant
Heather Heidrich, The Pennsylvania State University (USA)

Editorial and Advisory Board
Lorenzo d’Alfonso, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University (USA)
Jere L. Bacharach, University of Washington (USA)
Hanan Charaf, University of Paris I-Sorbonne (France)
Yiorgos Chrysanthou, University of Cyprus (Cyprus)
Eric H. Cline, George Washington University (USA)
Elif Denel, American Research Institute in Turkey, Ankara (Turkey)
Hermann Genz, American University of Beirut (Lebanon)
Ioannis Georganas, Independent Researcher (Greece)
Matthew Harpster, Institute of Nautical Archaeology, Bodrum (Turkey)
Kenneth G. Holum, University of Maryland at College Park (USA)
Morag Kersel, DePaul University (USA)
Saleh Lamei, D.G. Centre for Conservation of Islamic Architectural Heritage – CIAH (Egypt)
Mark Leone, University of Maryland at College Park (USA)
Thomas E. Levy, University of California at San Diego (USA)
Lynn Meskell, Stanford University (USA)
Mirko Novák, University of Bern (Switzerland)
Mark Munn, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park (USA)
Shelley-Anne Peleg, Israel Antiquities Authority (Israel)
Issa Jubrael Sarie, Al-Quds University (Jerusalem)
Neil A. Silberman, University of Massachusetts Amherst (USA)
Stuart Tyson Smith, University of California at Santa Barbara (USA)
Sharon R. Steadman, SUNY Cortland (USA)
Margreet Steiner, Independent Scholar (Netherlands)
Christopher A. Tuttle, American Center of Oriental Research (Jordan)
Stephen Weiner, Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel)
James M. Weinstein, Cornell University (USA)
Donald Whitcomb, University of Chicago (USA)
Tony J. Wilkinson, Durham University (United Kingdom)