Mid-morning. Breakfast and the paper. You find yourself in a funk
for no known reason. Today is a work in the yard trimming day and perhaps
mowing. Rich G. sent you a PowerPoint of unique photos and there is one between
earth and moon and sun that caught your eye. Let's go to NASA photos to find a
couple to use in Pouch 17. - Amorella
0953 hours. I have several photos but the one that strikes me is
probably one I can't use. It was when Voyager first left earth/moon area. Very
cool photo.
Mid-afternoon.
You had a late lunch at Chipotle/Panera after two hours or so of yard work.
Lots of trimming and some several logs cut with a handsaw. While you were
sitting in the "bottom forty" you took some photos of your woods that
few people ever see and that point was one of the major reasons for buying the
lot. Drop three of them in, boy, so you'll have them close by. We may find a
scene or so in this grouping with Dead - 18. How will that be? - Amorella
Fine with me, Amorella, but I thought it was a summer-by-the-lake
scene.
***
The water run turns NW; the steps on right are north woods.
Sunlight
spotting in the north bottoms
South
woods with sun on bottoms, taken from the top N. step
***
1538
hours. I picked a good time (late morning) for the shots. I love the light in
the forest theme - almost a romantic setting right in our own backyard.
This is where Merlyn meets Vivien for the
first time. She is fourteen and he is thirty-six, but he's put himself to
appearing twenty. She knows better, she knows he's older, otherwise how could
he be Merlyn the Druid. - Amorella
***
From Wikipedia:
Marriageable Age
Historically,
the age of consent for a sexual union has been determined by tribal custom or
has been a matter for families to decide. In most cases, this has coincided
with signs of puberty: menstruation for a woman and pubic hair for a man. In
Ancient Rome, it was very common for girls to marry and have children shortly
after the onset of puberty.
Among ancient Germanic tribes, the bride
and groom were roughly the same age and older than their Roman counterparts.
According to Tactius:
The young men marry late and their vigor
is thereby unimpaired. The girls, too, are not hurried into marriage. As old
and full-grown as the men, they match their mates in age and strength, and
their children reproduce the might of their parents.
Where Aristotle had set the prime of life
at 37 years for men and 18 for women, the Visigothic Code of law in the 7th
century placed the prime of life at twenty years for both men and women, after
which both presumably married. It can be presumed that most ancient Germanic
women were at least twenty years of age when they married and were roughly the
same age as their husbands.
The first recorded age-of-consent law
dates back 800 years. In 1275, in England, as part of the rape law, a statute,
Westminster 1, made it a misdemeanor to "ravish" a "maiden
within age," whether with or without her consent. The phrase "within
age" was interpreted by jurist Sir Edward Coke as meaning the age of marriage,
which at the time was 12 years of age. In the 12th century the jurist Gratian,
an influential founder of Canon law in medieval Europe, accepted age of puberty
for marriage to be between 12 and 14 but acknowledged consent to be meaningful
if the children were older than 7. There were authorities with a claim
that consent could take place earlier. Marriage would then be valid as long as
neither of the two parties annulled the marital agreement before reaching
puberty, or if they had already consummated the marriage. It should be noted
that Judges honored marriages based on mutual consent at ages younger
than 7, in spite of what Gratian had said; there are recorded marriages of
2 and 3 year olds.
Still, in most of Northwestern Europe,
marriage at very early ages was rare. One thousand marriage certificates from
1619 to 1660 in the Archdiocese of Canterbury show that only one bride was 13
years of age, four were 15, twelve were 16, and seventeen were 17 years of age
while the other 966 brides were at least 19 years of age at marriage. And the
Church dictated that both the bride and groom must be at least 21 years of age
to marry without the consent of their families; in the certificates, the most
common age for the brides is 22 years. For the grooms 24 years is the most
common age, with average ages of 24 years for the brides and 27 for the grooms.
While European noblewomen married early, they were a small minority and the marriage certificates from Canterbury
show that even among nobility it was very rare to marry women off at very early
ages.
The American colonies followed the
English tradition, but the law was more of a guide. For example, Mary Hathaway
(Virginia, 1689) was only 9 when she was married to William Williams. Sir
Edward Coke (England, 17th century) made it clear that "the marriage of
girls under 12 was normal, and the age at which a girl who was a wife was
eligible for a dower from her husband's estate was 9 even though her husband be
only four years old." Reliable data for when people would actually marry
are very difficult to find. In England, for example, the only reliable data on
age at marriage in the early modern period come from records, which involved
only those who left property after their death. Not only were the records
relatively rare, but not all bothered to record the participants' ages, and it
seemed that the more complete the records are, the more likely they are to
reveal young marriages. Additionally, 20th- and 21st-century historians have
sometimes shown reluctance to accept data regarding a young age of marriage,
and would instead explain the data away as a misreading by a later copier of
the records.
Edited from Wikipedia - Marriageable Age
***
Let's
stick with fourteen for Vivien and thirty-six for Merlyn, and let's say Vivien
lost her virginity to a cousin when she had just turned twelve. The cousin was
fourteen at the time. - Amorella
This
doesn't seem right though. It makes Merlyn out to be a child molester,
particularly at 36.
How about he loses his virginity to her. -
Amorella
You're
kidding. What about all those Druidesses who would just have likely wanted the
young stud when he was fourteen or so? This doesn't sound like a plausible scenario
to me.
In
an attempt to come up with a story for the virginity you decided Merlyn gave up
sex because of a woman in Chinese mythology:
** **
Eight Immortals
In Chinese mythology the Eight Immortals are a
group of legendary "xian" (spiritually and/or physically immortal;
transcendent; super-human; celestial beings.)
The Eight Immortals
have been part of Chinese oral history long befor they were recorded in the
works of writers of various dynasties - Tang, Song, Yuan and Ming.
But it was Wu Yuantai of
the Ming dynasty who wrote 'The Emergence of the Eight lmmortals and their Travels
to the East', since than the Eight began to be clearly distinguished.
In Chinese mythology
the Eight Immortals are believed to know the secrets of nature. They represent
separately male, female, the old, the young, the rich, the noble, the poor, and
the humble Chinese.
Each Immortal's power
can be transferred to a tool of power, kind of a talisman associated with a
certain meaning, that can give life or destroy evil.
Together, these eight
tools are called “Hidden Eight Immortals” or "Covert Eight Immortals".
The Eight were called
the "Roaming Immortals" in Taoist legends.
Not only are they revered by Taoists, but by
all Chinese society. They are the base for various literature, folk tales and
are pictured in art. Symbols are representing the characteristic attributes of
each Immortal and they were depicted on a wide variety of porcelain, bronze,
ivory, and embroidered objects.
From the time of the Ming dynasty, there is
another work by an unknown writer, called The "Eight Immortals Cross the
Sea". The legend is about the Immortals on a journey to attend the
"Conference of the Magical Peach" and on this journey they encounter
an ocean. Instead of going across by their clouds, the immortals way of
transportation, their leader Lü Dongbin suggested, that they all together
should use their magical powers to get across. Stemming from this, the Chinese
proverb "The Eight Immortals cross the Sea, each reveals its divine
power" indicates the situation that everybody should show off their powers
to achieve a common goal.
The Eight Immortals are:
He Xian Gu
The Immortal Woman
He Xian Gu’s
immortality is due to a consistent diet of powdered mother-of-pearl and
moonbeams. While swallowing it, she vowed to remain a virgin.
According to a
different version, He Xian Gu, daughter of a 7th-century shopkeeper, ate a
magic peach and became immortal. Since than she is flying about.
She is attributed by
the lotus/lotus
pond, which can cultivate people through meditation.
Occasionally she is
attributed with a peach, the divine fruit of Gods, associated with immortality
or a music instrument or a ladle to dispense wisdom, meditation and purity.
Cao Gou
Jiu
The Royal Uncle Cao
Cao Gou Jiu is reputed
to have been the brother of a 10th century Song Empress, the uncle to the
Emperor of the Song Dynasty and the son of a military commander. His attribute,
the castanets, are thought to be derived from the pass that gave him free
access to the palace, a benefit of his rank.
He is also attributed
with a jade tablet, which can purify the air.
According to another version, Cao Guo Jiu's
younger brother Cao Jingzhi was a bully, but no one dared to prosecute him
because of his powerful connections, not even after he killed a person. Royal
Uncle Cao was so overwhelmed by sadness and shame on his brother that he
resigned his office and left home.
He is represented by
wearing formal court dress, always the finest dress among all Eight Immortals,
and carrying castanets.
Cao Gou Jiu is the
patron deity of actors.
Li Tie
Guai
The Iron-Crutch Li
Because of his great
skill at magic, Li Tie Guai, was able to free his soul from his body and aid
and meet others in the celestial realm. Li Tie Guai, a good looking man used
his skill frequently. Once, while his spirit was gone from his body, a disciple
decided that Li Tie Guai was dead and burned his body as was traditional. When
Li Tie Guai’s soul returned from its travels, he was forced to enter the body
of a beggar.
He is represented as a
lame beggar carrying a double gourd. The gourd, symbolising longevity and the
ability to ward off evil, has a cloud emanating from it. The cloud represents
the soul, depicted as a formless shape.
The gourd represents
also helping the needy and relieve the distressed.
Sometimes Li Tie Guai
is pictured riding the gilin.
Li Tie Guai is the
emblem of the sick.
Lan Cai
The Immortal
Hermaphrodite
Lan Cai is said to
have wandered the streets as a beggar while singing a song about the brevity of
mortal life. Her/his attribute is a basket of flowers associated with
longevity, which she/he carries to remind viewers of the transience of life and
with which she/he can communicate with gods.
She/he is variously
portrayed as a youth, an aged man, or a girl; in modern pictures generally as a
young boy.
She/he is represented
by wearing a tattered blue gown and only one shoe.
Lan Cai is the patron
deity of florists.
Lü Dongbin
The
Chief leader
Lü Dongbin was an
8th-century scholar, who learned the secrets of Taoism from Zhuang Lin Quan.
Dressed as a scholar, he is honoured as such. His attribute, the sword, which
can subdue the evil, allowed him to travel the earth slaying dragons and
fighting evil.
He is represented with
a sword on his back and a fly brush in his hand.
Lü Dongbin is also the
patron deity of barbers.
Han Xiang
Zi
The Philosopher Han
Xiang
Han Xiang Zi is said
to have been the nephew of Han Yü, a famous scholar of the 9th century. Among
his special skills was the ability to make flowers bloom instantaneously and
smooth wild animals. His attribute is the flute, which can cause growth.
He is represented as a
Happy Man.
Han Xiang Zi is the
patron saint of musicians.
Zhang Guo
Lao
The Elder Zhang Guo
Zhang Guo Lao is
reputed to have been a recluse of the 7th or 8th century. He travelled with a
white mule that could go incredible distances and then be folded up and placed
in a wallet. Zhang Guo Lao had only to sprinkle water to the mule to reconstitute
it for further use.
Zhang Guo Lao's
attribute is a drum made of a bamboo tube with two rods with which to strike
it. The drum can cure life.
He is represented as
an old man riding the mule, at times riding backwards.
Zhang Guo Lao is the
emblem of old men.
Zhongli
Quan
Zhongli Quan was
reputed to have lived during the Zhou Dynasty (1122-256 BC). Among his many
powers were transmutation and the knowledge of the elixir of life. His
attribute is a fan, which can bring the dead back to life.
He is represented as a Fat Man with his bare
belly showing.
Zhongli Quan represents the military man.
Edited from:
nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/eight_immortals.htm
**
**
1712
hours. I like these Chinese Immortals representations. I did a graduate paper on the
early trade routes during the time of Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes in
relationship to possible Indian/Asian influences on the Greeks. Surely in
studying his ancient Greek seventh century Merlyn could have heard of such
tales and early on figured that by keeping his virginity this may give him wisdom and the abilities of foresight, not power. Merlyn has no desire for power.
If this is the story then why does he
succumb to Vivien?
I don't
know, perhaps her youth, her beauty, her natural charms? (1720)
You
and Carol had left over pizza and watched a couple more DVRed shows and you watched "Grimm"
(with the monstrous muse). Carol is drying her hair. Tomorrow you have to leave
for Columbus to meet Andy on your portfolios, then on up SR 23 (Columbus Pike)
so that Carol can see where Kim, Paul and the boys are going to be living.
2116
hours. I am getting rather anxious about completing Pouch 17.
Let's go to it. - Amorella
2210
hours. I finished a first draft but need to tweak it a bit, particularly filler
"said" verbs and the like.
Drop Pouch 17 in. We can finish it up
tomorrow and move on. - Amorella
This
segment is not what I expected. These segments hardly ever are.
Why spend time describing a scene in near
space, boy. People have already seen the photos and videos and the dark side of
the Moon too, just not for real like Pyl, Justin and Blake. - Amorella
***
Diplomatic Pouch 17, © 2013, rho - draft one
Dusk, the same day. Friendly sits in a chair at the
dark walnut round table. The others quickly adjust to a seat. With
approximately sixty degrees from the center of one chair to the next Friendly
looks to her immediate left and sees Blake, and in the chair beyond Blake sits
Yermey. Sitting to Friendly's immediate right is Justin with Hartolite sitting
beyond Justin. To Yermey's left and Hartolite's right sits Pyl who is somewhat
facing Friendly.
"Where's
Ship?" asked Friendly, and Yermey pulled what looked like a small
translucent toy marble from his right trouser pocket and placed it near the
center of the table.
Blake
and the others watched as the white as paper round marble lifted slightly and
adjusted to the exact table center equidistance from the surrounding people. It
rose to the average height of both humanoid species and took the shape of a
globular translucent screen the average of one-half the circumferences of the
six humanoid heads so as not to offend anyone by his apparent size.
Blake
made a rough circle with his thumbs touching at the bottom and his middle
fingertips touching at the top. A reflective bulb, he thought, you observe it
directly and it appears to reflect your own face without distortion.
"I
am ready, Captain Friendly," said Ship intuitively.
She
spoke more formally, "Thank you. In a few minutes Ship-O-My-Mothers."
'Polite
form in flight,' reckoned Ship. He replied. "Ready when you are, Captain
Friendly, crew and honored guests."
Why
don't you call Ship 'SOMM' thought Justin, or SOMM 10?
Too
polite, reasoned Blake. I think this may be a set up. He smiled politely at
Hartolite who returned a similar expression.
We
hardly know you people, thought Pyl. We were in casual conversation and I was
feeling good about this but when this machine speaks I get goose bumps on my
shoulder blades. Look at me Justin. Help me out here.
Looking
first across at Justin then scanning the table, Yermey grinned like he was
sitting in the middle of joke, "The point of this little production is for
your entertainment, nothing more. We want you to feel at ease on board, but
perhaps," he added, "we should play a game of cards or dominoes with
some liquid refreshment, chips and nuts on the side."
"We can do that," continued Friendly.
"You three can get a good night's sleep and tomorrow we can go for a short
ride."
Blake's
eyes lit, "You are going to take us around the world like the space
station. That would be awesome. Do you have windows we can look out of? I don't
even know how high we are."
"We
could be setting on the Moon as far as we know," echoed Justin and
grinned, "Where do you think we are, Pyl?"
"Good
idea," said Hartolite. "A guessing game. Where do you think we
are?"
"Each
guess, then we'll show you," laughed Friendly. "I'm sure you are all
wondering."
"This
could be like a Mission Impossible. We could be sitting in a warehouse
somewhere on earth," said Blake.
"Or,
on the Moon," added Justin secretly hoping it was so.
"I
think we are hovering at eighty to ninety thousand feet," said Pyl. She
couldn't help smiling with the others. "Where are we Captain
Friendly?"
"Good
call," responded Friendly. "We are in Earth atmosphere at seventy
thousand feet, hovering over Cleveland, Ohio. Straight down is your Rock and
Roll Museum."
Yermey
added, "It sounds like the two men would like a short ride with the window
shades up. We have them down because we are in Blackanot. We cannot be detected
by Earth built electronics or human sight."
"Besides,
we thought it might be disorienting to have them up," explained Hartolite.
"We would be happy to give you a short ride."
"You
already have us nearly out of the atmosphere and I never felt a thing,"
said Pyl.
"You
and Blake are experienced pilots, but Justin is not. He does not enjoy flying
like you two do," said Friendly matter-of-factly.
"Is
this true, Justin?" asked Pyl. She observed his small sheepish grin.
"It is. Why didn't you tell us?"
"I'm
fine. Friendly is right though, I do get apprehensive. I trust you and Blake
but I don't trust the plane. Things can go wrong. Planes do crash and sometimes
the reasons are not clear."
Ship
added, "You are safer up here with us than you are on your own
planet."
"Let's
go to the dark side of the moon for some sight-seeing said Friendly.
By
the time the shades were filtered for the best of human eye viewing they found
themselves silently witnessing the dark side. Smile stood all around without
anyone uttering a word.
790 words
***
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