25 September 2011

Notes - a blunt bent of gallows humor / Cub Scout popcorn / Sc.2, Ch.8

         A lot of politics in the Sunday paper, for you Issue Two which is against Ohio SB-5, is the big one to vote “For”. Everything costs money, boy, and a lot of people don’t want to pay for the “civilization” that others are willing to pay for. People who have their money want to keep it and you are no exception on that score. People who don’t have money need it to survive. You see no win-win situation here.

         Why are you bringing this up? I don’t want to think about such things because it is a waste of time.

         What do you want to think about that is not a waste of time? – Amorella.

         Such a blunt bent of gallows humor you have, Amorella; the quip reminds me of one of Robert’s own. Leaves me dangling in the wind with no good response in mind.

         Good. Glad to be of service. Post. – Amorella.


         You just finished your walk at Pine Hill park while Carol is still venturing through her much longer one. A gray late morning with a shot of sunshine every so often.

         Many today pronounce the ‘t’ in often. We never did. Everysoften should be one word but not according the to Word speller.

         Basic grammar or should it be ‘grammer’, orndorff?

         Can you believe I misspelt ‘grammar’ my first day of student teaching? Never improved, earned a C in student teaching; something unheard of in those days (1965) at Olentangy High School located between Delaware and Westerville. Who would have ever thought I would have survived and enjoyed thirty-seven year of teaching.

         And, while you are at it, written and self-published three unsuccessful novels. – Amorella.

         You need to define ‘unsuccessful’ Amorella. I had the books successfully self-published. I donated them to four libraries successfully. Kim has them in her bookcase. I’m “Grandpa in Print” for Owen and his sibling. That’s successful as far as I am concerned. Owen and company will find me a wordy but relatively quiet fellow, if he ever takes the time to read them. Probably in retirement if he has the time. 

         You will feel better working on chapter eight, scene two. Let’s finish that today. – Amorella.

         Sounds good to me. I can smell chicken being cooked right here, outside Kroger’s on Tylersville. Carol still isn’t done shopping; she only went in for milk and sliced ham and turkey for sandwiches. And, the place is busy already and it is not even noon. I’m distracted by all the people coming and going with a gaggle of Cub Scouts selling popcorn or asking for a donation. A least the clouds are scattering allowing the sun to shine.

         Home, soon after. You put the MacAir away and out she came, buying a Cub Scout popcorn on the way. Expensive stuff, she says, but it’s worth the eating as well as the donation for a good cause. Post. – Amorella.


       Time for bed. Carol has to get up early for an eye appointment in Kenwood. You have to wait for a repairman for the refrigerator sometime in the morning. Here is scene two, as you have it presently. - Amorella

Scene 2

         Aranos walked from the bar to the table where Kassandra and Sophia had just sat themselves, smiled and said, “What are you two delightful women having this morning?”

         Sophia spoke, “Fish and eggs, it has been a long time since fish and eggs. And a cup of cool spring water.”

         “Your memory ought to taste well, I’ll provide the dish and utensil. And, for you, Kassandra?”

         “A small glass of wine, goat’s cheese and a round of dark bread.”

         “As you wish.” He quickly handed them a wine and sweet spring water. Within another moment the meals were setting on the dishes at the table.

         “We go through these motions,” commented Kassandra. “Eating and enjoying the foods of our natural lives. It is the most wonderful part of the morning.”

         “I agree.” She glanced about the main room in the Mikroikia and out the open window facing Eleusis Street. “Shall we walk down to the bridge building after breakfast?”

         “I would like that and a stroll about the market on the return.” Quiet entered the table as they leisurely satisfied themselves with the nourishment needed to comfort their day.

         Aranos interrupted the silence with a whisper to Sophia, “Mother is coming down Lyceum and will be here momentarily.”

         The two women exchanged a quick glance of understanding. “Thank you,” whispered Sophia. “We shall leave presently and return later in the day.” With that the two moved silently to the door and out to the right without looking back.

         Once they had ducked into the next storefront Kassandra asked, “Why did Aranos tell us? He sounded a warning. We having nothing to fear from Mother, do we?”

         “I could feel the voice was from his heart. A warning he did not fully understand as such, but it was enough for us to leave.”

         “On intuition alone?”

         “We lost nothing on leaving,” responded Sophia calmly. “If Mother wanted to see us she would ask. I said we were returning later. She can leave a message with Aranos if need be. We wait here a few minutes. Mother is not going to follow us down the street. If she is looking for us then she will know we were walking to the bridge building as she would have seen us if we had turned left and crossed Lyceum.”

         The tone of Sophia’s voice temporarily satisfied Kassandra, she looked about and saw no sign of Mother walking by. I wonder if Mother was alone, she thought. Rarely does Mother walk alone. This is an ominous sign; even here in Elysium there can be signs. I will tell Thales about this for a later discussion. Why would we be afraid of Mother? She is our base; she is our solid ground.

         Self- assured, Sophia smiled contentedly. Surely this is my face concealed. Something is afoot. Takis, it must have to do with Takis not us. I feel like I am about to fade into my sanctuary and I don’t know why. The gods are not made to toy with us Dead in this sacred place. Takis must be toying with the gods.

         The Supervisor smiled comfortably within the two women’s thoughts. Mind to soul and soul to heart, the three-in-one; and alone can never part.

***

         I do not know the sense of the scene other than to assume it has something to do with Merlyn and not Takis. Why would Mother be coming down Lyceum rather than down Elysium? Maybe Mother isn’t coming to the Mikroikia at all. Perhaps she is going to the Temple of Athena off Plaka Street just a block south of Lyceum and Eleusis. It is where Thales sat on the bench near the seven steps that lead into the small cut stone pool in the garden park near the Temple. Mother doesn’t believe in the Pantheon though. This is just conjecture on my part. What is the next scene, Amorella? Mother or Merlyn or what?

         Tomorrow is soon enough. Post, dear boy. – Amorella.

24 September 2011

Notes - as if Bob were in the room / you have more to say, and so do I

You were planning to mow the narrow side of the lawn this morning but it is raining. It is mid-morning and you have to get ready soon. The day is pretty much set as far as a schedule is concerned so relax and go with the flow, so to speak. You have been thinking about how the Dedication fits with quantum theory and although others may not see it or many other aspects of your books you have an understanding of what the words say in and between the lines. A writer’s great white is the page waiting to be filled with what’s on your heartansoulanmind. That’s easy enough for the Captain Ahab’s of the world. Read your work today as if Bob were in the back of the room listening. That will do to keep you focused. Post. – Amorella. 

23 September 2011

Notes - heartansoul


        Late morning. You drove to the office for blood tests this morning and gathered up previous MRI results to take this afternoon. Next you have to make a copy or two of your words for Robert’s “celebration” at Hill’s Funeral Home in Westerville tomorrow.

         The “Light Speed” BBC article I put in this blog yesterday appeared on page 10A of the Enquirer today. At least it was in the first section of the paper. If “proof” is found and it is not on the front page I would certainly be surprised. It should be a major headline around the world, real news for a change and a half. Surprises of all kinds make the world more interesting.

         You received a note from Jean about Bill Miller, saying he is improving and can accept visitors. She also asked if you were going to Bob’s “celebration”, and you wonder if she will be there also.

         Last night you ‘chatted live’ with Kay H. via Facebook. Today they are visiting their son Glenn Hall in their Pennsylvania home for a few days.

         I am still amazed that I am friends with three ‘loves’ of my life, albeit Sandy and Kay were quite long ago and Carol still, a spouse true, but to me, a friend in the heartansoul first.

         Time for bed. You had the MRI which put you in the machine for an hour and twenty movements with no movement, not too comfortable. Then a great dinner at Outback. Once home you mowed most of the lawn. Carol helped. Tomorrow you leave for Westerville at noon, Bob’s ‘celebration’ – stop at Cathy and Tod’s – then home. You are feeling more confident about reading the Dedication – a copy of the ‘speech’ notes are in the car. Kim was torn between coming to Westerville and returning for an evening wedding in Cleveland. You told her Bob wouldn’t mind and she should enjoy her day and you will enjoy yours. Good advice, now, you’ll have to live up to it. Post. – Amorella.


22 September 2011

Notes - A Science Possibility /


        You are at an outpatient building for Optical Imaging at Bethesda North Hospital after a visit with Dr. Merling for lower spinal atrophy. Home. Tomorrow you go downtown Cincinnati for an MRI for the same as your right leg has decreased in size and may be the reason for the lower back pain. Late lunch at Potbelly’s in Kenwood as you were more than half way there. You stopped at Casual Male in Kenwood for some new sweats – shorts and long – as your old sweats are twenty-five years old.

         I sleep in the short boxer sweats, they are about fifteen years old and Carol said they are too worn to wear to the MRI building. It seems to me I buy too many clothes. I only wear the good ones when traveling or out to eat then change immediately upon return. I don’t like clothes to begin with, but I am no nudist which is just as well as I look a bit like old Santa physically (only I’m taller and with an existential facial appearance with summer dark Greek fisherman skin than the jolly faced Coca-Cola icon Santa most everyone knows. I wear my black wool beret (“SuperBasque Impermeable Pure Laine Fabrique en France”) almost everywhere, and, I do wear clean underwear but mostly because I would hate to be caught in an accident without it. (I listened to my mother sometimes.)

         Presently you are over at Pine Hill waiting for Carol who is out for her walk. You declined to walk today because your back still hurts from time to time.

         I feel bad if Carol comes over by herself, guilt that I should be where she is (or nearby) when it comes to the walking (I feel it is impolite not to); otherwise, she is on her own, she can take care of herself when she needs to. Nothing is on my mind, Amorella.

         Not consciously perhaps, at least from your present prespective, but ‘stuff’ is going on. Let’s practice your lines for Saturday. -  Amorella.

         Home once again. You checked BBC as it is your “First Page” and saw a note on the speed of light possibly being broken. You sent it off to Doug with the physics doctorate. You are amazed to live so long to see the possibility, although more tests need be run.

         I am not sure what it would mean if a neutrino can break the light barrier but it  would be very, very big news. Something worthy of a front page headline I do believe.

         Drop the BBC article in as it has made your day, orndorff. Afterwards I will explain why it has made your day. – Amorella.

** **
BBC News: Science & Environment

22 September 2011 Last updated at 13:28 ET

Speed-of-light experiments give baffling result at Cern

By Jason Palmer
Science and technology reporter, BBC News

Puzzling results from Cern, home of the LHC, have confounded physicists - because it appears subatomic particles have exceeded the speed of light.

Neutrinos sent through the ground from Cern toward the Gran Sasso laboratory 732km away seemed to show up a tiny fraction of a second early.

The result - which threatens to upend a century of physics - will be put online for scrutiny by other scientists.

In the meantime, the group says it is being very cautious about its claims.

"We tried to find all possible explanations for this," said report author Antonio Ereditato of the Opera collaboration.

"We wanted to find a mistake - trivial mistakes, more complicated mistakes, or nasty effects - and we didn't," he told BBC News.

"When you don't find anything, then you say 'Well, now I'm forced to go out and ask the community to scrutinise this.'"

Caught speeding?
The speed of light is the Universe's ultimate speed limit, and much of modern physics - as laid out in part by Albert Einstein in his special theory of relativity - depends on the idea that nothing can exceed it.

Thousands of experiments have been undertaken to measure it ever more precisely, and no result has ever spotted a particle breaking the limit.

But Dr Ereditato and his colleagues have been carrying out an experiment for the last three years that seems to suggest neutrinos have done just that.

Neutrinos come in a number of types, and have recently been seen to switch spontaneously from one type to another.

The team prepares a beam of just one type, muon neutrinos, sending them from Cern to an underground laboratory at Gran Sasso in Italy to see how many show up as a different type, tau neutrinos.

In the course of doing the experiments, the researchers noticed that the particles showed up a few billionths of a second sooner than light would over the same distance.

The team measured the travel times of neutrino bunches some 15,000 times, and have reached a level of statistical significance that in scientific circles would count as a formal discovery.

But the group understands that what are known as "systematic errors" could easily make an erroneous result look like a breaking of the ultimate speed limit, and that has motivated them to publish their measurements.

"My dream would be that another, independent experiment finds the same thing - then I would be relieved," Dr Ereditato said. But for now, he explained, "we are not claiming things, we want just to be helped by the community in understanding our crazy result - because it is crazy".

"And of course the consequences can be very serious."

** **

         The reason this has “made your day” is that it stirs the pot, the mind. If the consequence shows itself repeatable then it may be deemed true. Then the question: “How is this possible?”

         While your personal observation is not on the same scientific level, you would then feel it more probably to say to yourself, “How is this possible?” The this, of course, is me, Amorella, as a real entity from a dimension before if not beyond. It is fun to sense the thrill in your mind, that even goes deep enough to tickle your heart and soul a bit (in concept). – Amorella.

         That may be what is in my head, but in real life, it is the science that counts more, the reality of our species  living and conscious in such an environmental circumstance of a particle moving faster than the speed of light. That would be most awesome.

         I can feel that, boy. Post. – Amorella. 

21 September 2011

Notes - Old friends / lay off the guilt

         I am blessed with a few old friends from grade school through college. And, a few others also. Surely, in real life, if people each have a heartansoulanmind, we will see one another again in an afterlife. As we are social creatures what would be the purpose otherwise? That would be good. Otherwise, a deep unconscious sleep would be good also. Either way I can see no harm in it.

         In a fiction we make the transition an accepted part of evolution in the species. – Amorella.

         That way we can tell a story.

         This is your story, boy. Mine is beyond words. – Amorella.

         Beyond imagination as far as I am concerned. I am curious from time to time of course, but I am content to accept you as whatever you are. You are a continual help; a nourishment for what I call my heartansoulanmind. I am tired, Amorella. My lower back aches. I think it is time for a nap.

         Post first. – Amorella. 



           Mid-afternoon. A couple errands and quite a good lunch at Longhorn. You both had the renegade steak, Carol with a sweet potato and you with a baked – sharing a salad and onions and mushrooms on the steaks. Jennifer doing the serving as usual. Presently, you are at Target at the VOA Centre while Carol buys bubble wrap for a package Carol has to send to Alta.

         I finished reading Grandpa Griff, some selections for a second time. Kay and Ann's (twins) dad’s autobiography has an honest, straight to the point, enjoyable charm within the short anecdotal episodes. I also re-spoke the Dedication for Saturday’s reading a couple of times. The nap and the portable chair massager helped my lower back so I did not have to take a Celebrex.

         Home. You are relaxed after spending time online. The rain has interspersed all day and so has your mood to get something done. Mostly you are still tired because of your lower back pain which has been between a four and seven out of ten all day.

         I think is more due to the damp weather than anything else. Sometimes it has an affect but it is hardly worth complaining about. I tired today, simple enough. I’ll try to go to bed early and see what happens by morning.

         A reminder, this is mostly a constructional writing journal for yourself. You are not here for the entertainment of the casual online reader, orndorff, so lay off the guilt for a boring post. – Amorella. 

20 September 2011

Notes - hunkering down on Merlyn & Arthur / Saturday Service for Bob / better now

        Mid-morning. Light breakfast and the paper. Brunch at Bob Evans at eleven with Mason retired teachers. Carol has a luncheon with Blue Ash teachers at The Works in Loveland at eleven-thirty. You are still researching material on Merlyn and Arthur that might be applicable – you found Arthur does listen to Merlyn when he presents himself as an old man even though he (Merlyn) is much younger. Some say he has been here as long as nature has (the green man of the forest), a kind of male counterbalance to Mother Nature. Same say he is from the Beyond, others that he knows the ‘Gate’ to the Beyond and can pass from one side to the other with no difficulty. Others say he is all wise except for a weakness for particularly unique ‘bewitchy-like’ women. Lots of mystery with Merlyn.

         Lots of fiction too. And, the same with King Arthur who I will have a focus on setting up a world ‘Camelot’ after the Rebellion.

         Not on my watch, boy. Arthur wants to know how things work and more so, why. He thinks G---D is responsible not humans. He is angry at G---D for not confronting the Devil as he Arthur would have done in life had he been given the chance. He plagues Merlyn with questions that are of no practical use but Merlyn finds his honest optimism charming in its own bumbling way and in the process he gleans something about how ordinary humans think about the mystery of G---D, something that he, Merlyn, has no need to do. – Amorella.

         I have absolutely no idea where that came from.

         That’s because it came from me, boy. You can read yourself as a book after I am done with it, but you cannot read me, ever. – Amorella

         You just had the uncommon for you thought: “I don’t think G---D is all that powerful,” slip in and now you don’t know what to do with it. – Amorella.

         You would post such a thought. Shame on me for thinking it and shame on you for posting it.

         It wasn’t a conscious thought; that is the trouble, shaming yourself for which you had no conscious free will. It rose as a bubble from a once conscious thought however. The old question: “If G---D is all powerful, why is evil allowed in the world?”  That’s Arthur’s character, you see. Arthur is not alone in his bumbling questions. He is a short-order fool with too much arrogance and not enough common sense. Merlyn has too much arrogance too, and far too much common sense for his own good, no matter if he was elected to return to the Living a couple of years ago.

         Arthur is a kind of philosophical Don Quixote.

         If you wish to see him in that light. Post. – Amorella.



        You had a good lunch as did Carol. Errands to do this afternoon. Mary, Bob’s daughter, called and asked if you and Carol would be attending the “Service of Life” for Bob this Saturday at two-thirty at the Hill Funeral Home in Westerville. You said you would be there. When you talked to Patti she said it would be open and if you wanted to read the poem dedication you wrote for Bob you would be welcome to do so, and if not, would it be fine if someone else read it at the service. You told her you think you can but the sorrow refilled itself hearing Patti’s voice and you are unsure you could make it through the reading without stumbling with the emotion you are feeling at the moment. Mary said she thought it was a very touching poem and you thanked her as it brought a sense of relief that it might have not been a proper poem for the setting in which it was delivered.

         Again, I thank you, Amorella for the internal help in writing the piece, the dedication to book four. I am heart bound to be at the service and whether I read or someone else, my expressions (and yours too) towards my friend will be publicly shared and so noted.

         Make a copy as you used to do when giving a speech at school. Listen to the Medieval English and give it your best shot. Post. – Amorella


         Between your errands you have been practicing diligently on reading the Dedication aloud and also in reading Chaucer’s Prologue ‘Clerk’ aloud in Middle English. While you might read the Middle English aloud in fair enough pronunciation I suggest you give up the Middle English for a modern translation in deference to your audience. After all, it is for the meaning and the timeless context I chose the piece and it was for Bob to read and savor no one else. In the book each line will have a modern translation beneath for the communication of the thought, my friend. – Amorella.

         My sense in reading the Chaucer in Middle English was for its authenticity but indeed we are not in a classroom and it is not my stage for such a recitation. I agree. I will read the modern translation for ease of meaning to the audience at hand.

         Dusk. You wrote to Sandy (H.) about Saturday and she agreed – the modern version will do. You love her still and told her so. You are not afraid to tell your friends how you feel. Better now, while you are alive to do so. Post. – Amorella.


19 September 2011

Notes - Peter's Principle / Pseudo-histories

         Mid-morning. You are at Pine Hill waiting on Carol to finish her walk, you finished your shorter walk early, took your pills and had water and a banana to wash them down. When Carol got to the car it started to rain. Good timing on her part, or so you think.

         Shortly after noon and you are still waiting for the toilets to be delivered from Ferguson’s. Then you will call Scott S. and set up a time for installation. You are happy they are state of the art water savers because eventually everyone will have to have them. At least that is your opinion.

         Opinions. Everyone has opinions. What a way to run a government. It is The Peter Principle gone amuck. Here is a selection of commentary on Peter’s book from Wikipedia.

**
The Peter Principle states that "in a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence", meaning that employees tend to be promoted until they reach a position at which they cannot work competently. It was formulated by Dr. Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull in their 1969 book The Peter Principle, a humorous  treatise which also introduced the "salutary science of hierarchiology."
The principle holds that in a hierarchy, members are promoted so long as they work competently. Eventually they are promoted to a position at which they are no longer competent (their "level of incompetence"), and there they remain, being unable to earn further promotions. Peter's Corollary states that "in time, every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent to carry out their duties" and adds that "work is accomplished by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence". "Managing upward" is the concept of a subordinate finding ways to subtly "manage" superiors in order to limit the damage that they end up doing.
From: Wikipedia
**

         While it may have been written as light satire I have witnessed it from time to time in my life to know it can be real enough. Some politicians make a whirlwind of it, quoting people who are not competent enough to have a legitimate and constructive opinion as far as I am concerned.

         A bit of anger there, boy.

         Probably more arrogance than anger, Amorella, but I catch your drift. I am no better than the rest. I do think though that reason and science have to be used to get things done. Getting reelected does not do the trick.

         Why don’t we use this constructively.

         Good idea.

         The toilets have been delivered and it is time for lunch. Later, dude. Post. – Amorella. 



         While looking for an old red spiral notebook from first year of college last night you picked up the book Bob Pringle had given you as a ‘present to a good friend’. Merlin: Shaman, Prophet, Magician by John Matthews. You read it immediately at the time (several years ago) and now see connections you have unconsciously used in the first three books.

         I see many aspects mentioned in Matthew’s book that I followed through with in the story – especially Merlyn as an otherworldly figure even from the beginning of the myths of him or one like him.  Many are depicted in popular films and the concept of his return to Earth was captured in book three of the Merlyn series. And then there is Taliesin, one who would take over for Merlyn. I had forgotten about him.

         Looking at the "Scottish Royal Genealogy" by Gardner I see a personal legendary connection with a possible early ancestor, King Duncan II, through my ‘legendary’ genealogy. Here is how it looks beginning with the French King Faramond and his Queen Arogotta to Prince Taliesman the Archdruid and Queen Viviane del Acqs of Avallon.

***

[And, French so on back to Faramond and Argotta
 who Grandma puts in one of her stories in the Merlyn series.]

I

Prince Taliesin the Archdruid and Queen Viviane del Acqs of Avallon

I
Aedan MacGabhran Pendragon * and Ygerna (Igraine) del Acqa *
I

Eochaid Buide, The Yellow-Haired *

(The Brother of Scottish King Arthur)
I
Domnall Brecc, The Speckled or Pock-Marked
I
Domangart II
I
Eochaid II, Crooked-Nose
I
Eochaid III
I
Aen Find, the Fair
I
Eochaid IV, The Poisonous and Fergusa
I
Alpin
I
King Kenneth MacAlpin of Scotland
I
Constantine I
I
Donald I
I
Malcolm I
I
Kenneth II & Queen Unnamed
I

Malcolm II MacKenneth and Queen Unnamed

I

Princess Bethoc MacKenneth * and Crinan Mormaer *

I

Duncan I MacCrinan and Sibyl Fitziward

I
Malcolm III and Ingeborg Finn (First wife)

[Line from Elizabeth II through Malcolm’s second wife,

St. Margaret of Scotland]

I
Duncan II and Ethelreda of Dunbar

*** ***

         In one of the earlier posting this year I placed the genealogy from the Orndorff’s to the Hubbell’s; Hubbell’s to Lucy’s; Lucy’s to Duncan II. So, from Duncan II back through the royal line there is a direct connection with Prince Taliesin the Archdruid, who may or may not be Taliesin the Bard.

*** ***

         As you were busily researching this you found another blogspot blog with this added delight. – Amorella

***

Kate Middleton's Royal Line

Descent from Queen Viviane del Acqs, the family of King Arthur and the Bloodline of the Holy Grail

LOG ARCHIVE
                            ▼  2011 ‪(52)‬
            ▼  April ‪(52)‬
            Ygerna del Acqs
            King Arthur: The Scottish Legend
            Domangart II, King of Dalriada
            Eochaid III, King of Dalriada
            Achaius, Prince of Dalriada
            Alpin of Kintyre
            Kenneth I MacAlpin
            Constantine I, King of Scots
            Donald II, King of Scots
            Malcolm I, King of Scots
            Kenneth II, King of Scots
            Malcolm II, King of Scots
            Bethoc, Princess of Alba
            Duncan I, King of Scots
            Malcolm III, King of Scots
            Editha of Scotland
            Empress Matilda of England
            King Henry II
            King John I "Lackland"
            King Henry III
            King Edward I "Longshanks"
            King Edward II
            King Edward III
            John of Gaunt
            Lady Joan de Beaufort
            Mary Ferrers
            John Neville
            Joan (Jane) Neville
            Sir William Gascoigne
            Agnes (Anne) Gascoigne
            William Fairfax
            William Fairfax
            John Fairfax
            Benjamin Fairfax
            Benjamin Fairfax
            Sarah Fairfax
            Philip Meadows
            Sarah Meadows
            Thomas Martineau
            Elizabeth Martineau
            Frances Elizabeth Greenhow
            Francis Martineau Lupton
            Olive Christina Lupton
            Peter Francis Middleton
            Michael Francis Middleton
                  Kate Middleton

From: http://royalmiddletons.blogspot.com/

*** ***
Back to Laurence Gardner

Below from: www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/laurence-gardner-alternative-historian-whose-work-helped-inspire-dan-brown-2056096.html

Obituary: Thursday, 19 August 2010

Laurence Gardner: Alternative historian whose work helped inspire Dan Brown

         Laurence Gardner was a prominent author and speaker in the "alternative history" genre of research and writing, whose eight published works presented often controversial revisionist theories, challenging orthodox views of world history.

He was born Barry Laurence Gardner in Hackney, London, in 1943 and worked at first as a stockbroker in the City before turning towards the arts in general and to writing in particular. His first alternative history work, Bloodline of the Holy Grail (1996), developed ideas that had emerged in Holy Blood and Holy Grail (Baigent/ Leigh/Lincoln, 1982) and in turn provided some of the inspiration for the development of Dan Brown's novel, The Da Vinci Code (2003). Here, Gardner advanced the idea that Jesus had not died on the cross but had instead married Mary Magdalene, fathered children and created a bloodline of descendants which existed through to the present day.

Publishing News spoke of this "...controversial and uniquely comprehensive book of Messianic descent, compiled from the most intriguing histories ever written" and it soon became a top-10 bestseller, as well as being serialised in the Daily Mail. . . .

** **

         The above obituary from the “Independent” is kinder than what Wikipedia has to say about Gardner below, Amorella.

** **

Career: Laurence Gardner's first book Bloodline of the Holy Grail was published in 1996. The book was serialized in the Daily Mail and a best seller. He used his books to propose several theories, including a belief that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had married and had children, whose descendants included King Arthur and the House of Stuart. In Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark he claimed that the Ark of the Covenant was a machine for manufacturing "monatomic gold" - a supposed elixir which could be used to extend life. His books also included theories about Freemasonry, the Knights Templar, The Holy Grail and proposed connections between Atenism and Judaism.
Gardner referred to himself as "Chevalier Labhran de Saint Germain", and "Presidential Attache to the self-styled European Council of Princes" also "Prior of the self-styled Celtic Churches Sacred Kindred of Saint Columbia". He also claimed to be Jacobite Historiographer Royal of the Royal House of Stewart. He was a supporter of Michael Lafosse, in particular his claims to be descended from the House of Stuart, which Gardner claimed was descended from Jesus Christ.
Historians and scholars regard him as a conspiracy theorist, and treat his work as pseudohistory. Michel Lafosse's claims have been dismissed.
Laurence Gardner was also known in the United States for his radio phone-ins.
It was announced on his personal website that he had died on 12 August 2010 after a prolonged illness.
His book, "The Origin of God", was published in November 2010 as a publish-on-demand book from the Dash House Publishing Company set up by his widow. It is described as "a biographical exploration of the deiform character variously known as Yahweh, Allah, or simply The Lord. It seeks to uncover and evaluate his original identity..."

Selected from Wikipedia

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         So much for the author of Bloodline of the Holy Grail; which I have a copy. I read it back in the nineties but in the late seventies or early eighties I read Holy Blood, Holy Grail, which was a much better and seemingly to me, a more scholarly presentation though no actual proof was presented. In some ways  today it reminds me of Erich Von Daniken’s Ancient Astronauts. Here is Wikipedia on Holy Blood, Holy Grail.

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Below from Wikipedia

The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail (retitled Holy Blood, Holy Grail in the United States) is a controversial book by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln.
The book was first published in 1982 by Jonathan Cape in London, as an unofficial follow-up to three BBC Two TV documentaries being part of the Chronicle series. A sequel to the book, called ˆThe Messianic Legacy, was published in 1987. The original work was reissued in an illustrated hardcover version in 2005. One of the books, according to the authors, which influenced the project was L’Or de Rennes (later re-published as Le Trésor Maudit), a 1967 book by Gearad de Sede, with the collaboration of Pierre Plantard.
In The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, the authors put forward a hypothesis, that the historical Jesus married Mary Magdalene, had one or more children, and that those children or their descendants emigrated to what is now southern France. Once there, they intermarried with the noble families that would eventually become the Merovingian dynasty, whose special claim to the throne of France is championed today by a secret society called the Priory of Sion. They concluded that the legendary Holy Grail is simultaneously the womb of saint Mary Magdalene and the sacred royal bloodline she gave birth to.
An international bestseller upon its release, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail spurred interest in a number of ideas related to its central thesis. Response from professional historians and scholars from related fields was universally negative. They argued that the bulk of the claims, ancient mysteries, and conspiracy theories presented as facts are pseudohistorical. Nevertheless, these ideas were considered blasphemous enough for the book to be banned in some Roman Catholic-dominated countries such as the Philippines.
In a 1982 review of the book for The Observer, literary critic Anthony Burgess wrote: "It is typical of my unregenerable soul that I can only see this as a marvellous theme for a novel." The theme was used by Dan Brown in his 2003 novel The Da Vinci Code.

Selected from Wikipedia

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         What you gathered here shows that most probably these pseudohistories are just that – mostly, if not all fiction. – Amorella.

         This the way I see it. However, I have used mixed examples from both Holy Blood, Holy Grail and Bloodline of the Holy Grail in the fictional Merlyn series. The real histories are also disputed from time to time and ‘cleansed’ of earlier errors. The dark humor here, as I see it, is that we all have more fiction in and around us than we would like to accept, yet, accept it we do in our myths and legends built on real human beings who are living and dead. I think no one knows the ‘truth of ourselves and this place of present existence’ but G---D, if G---D does indeed exist. Looking G---D or an Angel of G---D straight on (metaphorically of course) I would begin, if asked, by saying, “I feel I am mostly fiction.” It is an honest enough beginning when I would not know how else to be under such a hypothetical circumstance.

         Good. You needed to clear this up blogwise in such a presentation. Title this: "Pseudo-histories". Post. All for today. – Amorella.