my virtual notebook

Research thoughts and a link to Wilhelm Dilthey

Wilhelm Dilthey infos can be found at that site... (I'm getting back into the research/writing of my 2007 article--it was going to be on embodiment in Bettine von Arnim's works, but I'm drifting away from issues of embodiment--now I'm more focused on/ interested in issues pertaining to the textual self -- what is its relationship to the non-textual self? - of course this is Bettina von Arnim's textual self so issues of gender will also be pertinent.

And in the on-going game of "six degrees of seperation from Bettina von Arnim" it turns out Dilthey was heavily influenced by none other than Friedrich Schleiermacher--who was of course very good buddies with Bettina...

Hemlock/Schierling

I'm working hard on my new paper describing the way in which Bettine von Arnim depicts a poeticised version of her own body in her epistolary memoirs and the repercusssions of that depicition. (Notoriety, a tendency to not be taken seriously etc...) Here are some links's from Wikipedia about Hemlock/Schierling.  Von Arnim, describes this version of herself wandering through a wood at night and taking a hemlock leaf and pressing it to her lips...I'm not sure how dangerous it would really be to do this, or whether it is merely another example of the Bettine figure "flirting with disaster" - which probably would have been a snappier title for my paper....oh well maybe thats what I'll call the article!

Schierlingsbecher

Schierling

Hemlock/Conium

I'm Charles the 6th of France, I am I am!

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?

Courtesy of The Little Professor, who is of course a Victorian Lunatic! 

From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

Quick I need a picture for Project 365! Project 365: # 34

Taken on Saturday, December 2, 2006

So I decided to take a picture of my Presidents placemat.
It sits on top one of my windows in my study. I love geeky historical stuff likes this - I also picked up the presidents study cards. Based only on the portraits seen here my vote for "hunkiest" president goes to Franklin Pierce, closely followed by JFK.

The myth of the German Christmas pickle

We were talking about Christmas traditons in Germany and America in class today and the topic of the German Christmas pickle came up...the first time I ever heard of the custom was when it was hotly debated on the American Association of Teachers of German Listserv (AATG).  Apparently this is one of those customs and traditions that appear to have almost entirely made up.  Here is an interesting article on the subject.  If anyone knows more about the subject please let me know!

The Lane pedigree: project 365 #10

Taken on Wednesday, November 8, 2006

I came home from a campus movie-viewing and realized I hadn't taken a picture yet.  I decided it might be a good/interesting idea to document some items relating to my family history.  Because one of my relatives (my great great great grandmother I think) was really into family history my sister and I have quite a few documents and photos about my mother's side of the family.

Shown here is one of three pedigrees I inherited. It is the Lane pedigree and my great great great grandmother was Charlotte Lane.  The most interesting relative is Lady Jane Lane--interesting because she was involved in a daring plot to help Charles II escape to France during the time of the civil war.  Here is a quote from an article on the web about this incident:

"King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1649 to 1685 may never have worn the Crown but for the loyal, self sacrificing and clever services of Lady Jane Lane, daughter of Col. John Lane, who had the future monarch pose as her servant in 1651 when Lt. General Oliver Cromwell put a high ransom on the head of the former Prince of Wales. One of the greatest manhunts ever conducted in England was foiled because Jane Lane, with the guidance of her father and others loyal to King Charles I, changed the young King's appearance to that of a poverty stricken farm lad and servant. As a result Charles II was gotten safely out of England."  You can read more about it here: Jane Lane

Link

Joseph Görres

An interesting interview with a 10th century women writer

While researching a new course on German women writers that I'll be teaching in the Fall I came across another one of those "interviews with dead people, as if they were not dead" like the one I found a while ago (June 14, 2005 to be exact) with Hölderlin's great love Susette Gontard.  This time the interview is with the tenth century poet and playwright Hrosvit von Gandersheim.

A war I had never heard of...

is the War of Jenkins Ear   I found the German site first: War of Jenkins Ear

Things have been "crazy busy" this past week and will continue that way through the weekend: I have to come up with three new course proposals for the college catalog by Monday.  Plus write a slew of recommendation letters for students planning to go off campus in the Fall.  Plus the usual weekend chores like shopping and laundry and ironing. 

I started Weight Watchers on Wednesday and since we hadn't shopped appropriately was left with fewer options for healthy snacking that I would hgave liked...I really do feel quite constricted by the whole points system...but that's just because I have over-indulged with food and snacks (and wine..) for quite a while now.  Tomorrow I will go and stock up on the usual suspects: salad, more fruit and veggies, some lean meat, some low-fat dairy products etc...I feel thinner already. 

I was initially pretty depressed by the fact that according to the Body Mass Index with my current weight I am verging on the obese...and I would have to take off over 30 pounds to get into the normal range...that most likely will not happen...I will be happy if I can loose and keep off about 20 pounds. 

I was a bit apprehensive about dieting while being so busy but I think it will be ok. 

The main thing I have to keep in mind is not losing sight of the research/article/presentation.  This weekend I won't get to it much-it will have to wait until Tuesday. 

Beautiful!

Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry