Sixty-three candles make a lovely light

The crescent and star of the Turkish flag are proudly waving across the street at Eastern Salt from the stern of the bulk carrier Eylul K out of Istanbul. 'Wonder if Homeland Security, CIA, FBI & Co. are keeping a weather eye on the comings and goings of the Eylul K's of this world. How easy would it be to smuggle the instruments of evil in the hold -- or amongst the crew -- of an Eylul K? Just askin'. Note Boston's Hancock Tower top center in background.

"Are you going out for your birthday," asked our precious bro during an HBTY call this morning. There was species recognition -- "You're just like Goomp!" -- when we told him without fanfare "No." We're staying here in our cozy nest, enjoying a day in front of the electronic hearth. We no longer enjoy "going out" much as everywhere you go, there's Musak blasting, not to mention . . . PEOPLE! Of course if it's the RIGHT people -- take the sub rosa gathering at Jill's a week ago today -- we're clam happy. It prolly just comes with the territory: Normal ageing 'can addle brain.'

The snow, slightly shrunken from its 8-10 inches of yesterday, was shoulder high for Tiny (above) and the Babe this afternoon.

Tiny and Baby test drove the Kitty Play Yard we'd shoveled out of the side yard after the storm yesterday (Bigger and worserer Nor'easter prognosticated for tonight/tomorrow).

When the weather gets tough, the Chelsea Grays get into The Little House.

We're torn regarding Papa Ratzi's apparent submission to a higher -- lower? -- authority, the estimable Franco Zeffirelli:

The pope's robes are "too sumptuous and flashy," the 84-year-old director of "Jesus of Nazareth" and "Romeo and Juliet" told the daily La Stampa. They should instead reflect "the simplicity and sobriety seen in the other echelons of the Church," he said.

The Italian film director has a point, but we'll miss the Prada shoes. On the bright side, even as one window closes, another opens. Louis Menand, whose The Metaphysical Club we'd read of but never read, fell into our lap this afternoon as a voice of dissent in a Harvard Mag report of "a major new national study of professors and their politics, also the topic of an October 6 symposium at Harvard organized by the study’s authors, assistant professor of sociology Neil Gross and Solon J. Simmons, assistant professor of sociology at George Mason University":

Bass professor of English and American literature and language Louis Menand worried that convergent political beliefs among faculty and students, whether caused by self-selection or conformist socialization -- in combination with the long time commitments required to earn a Ph. D. -- might stifle beneficial “ferment” and “iconoclasm.”

MIGHT stifle? What tact. Menand's "conformist socialization" rang our informational and reputational cascades bell. As Schopenhauer wrote, "There are very few who can think, but every man wants to have an opinion."

Update: Informational and reputational cascades galore at Dr. Sanity's Carnival of the Insanities.

Comments

[goomp]

At least we still have an occasional intellectual who dares question the party line.

[Barry Campbell]

Happy birthday, Sissy! And many happy returns.

A quiet dinner out... or even better, at home... is all I want out of a birthday party these days. :-)

[tuck]

Less than a half hour after these vessels dock (in our front yard) the wharf is alive w/ Coast Guard, Homeland Security, Boston Harbor Police, the Cub Scouts, et al.
A weather eye is very well kept. (All at substantial expense) -- "docking fees" -- to Eastern Salt.

[Teresa]

Drat - I was online much earlier today and so I missed it! A Happy Belated Birthday to you sweet Sissy. I hope you had a lovely day.

As for staying in or going out... it's your day to do with as you will. Otherwise it wouldn't be much fun as a birthday now would it. *grin*

[poetryman69]

Fitful lightning on the horizon's edge

Thunder at midnight

But in the morning, the world is refreshed and renewed.

And drops of life giving water cling briefly to tropical flowers

Before rolling down to earth.

May the storms of times past

Give way to the blessings of the future.

[Jill]

Happy Birthday Sissy, one day late.

Becoming more and more yourself is the great reward of growing older. I look forward to more Sissy in the years to come

Congratulations on the upcoming Typepad spotlight, Loved your reflected in silver portrait, even if it was more gravitas than sunshine.

Staying home, inside and warm makes all the sense in the world when your very own nor'easter is headed your way. Glorious for a while anyway until the shoveling begins again for the 3rd time.
Good thing your boots came in time.

If Zeffirelli gets rid of the Prada shoes, maybe you can send the Pope something from LL Bean. Don't his cats need something new to play with?

[Peter]

Re your Turkish boat. I have many times thought 'If I was an intelligent terrorist I'd...' but I've never written about it. Don't want to give 'em ideas. They seem, by and large, to be a bit thick. And no, that does not mean I think we should relax.