RIP: Nancy Ward

We've suffered another great loss in our home. Justin's mother, Nancy Ward, passed unexpectedly. She taught school for 33 years in Justin's hometown. She was a really nice, sweet lady who wanted everyone to achieve their dreams and loved with all of her heart. She will be missed, not just in our lives, but in the lives of many.

Barreling into the early 'Oughts.

I claimed I was too old, but I was tricked (probably as a result of the senility setting in with old age) into joining Facebook, since I wanted to see the Colbert for President group on there. I thought, "Sure, making an account will be the same as all others, I sign up to read an article, then a promptly forget I was ever there." Well, after a few choice questions, I discover my friends from high school I haven't seen in 10 years. I have to admit, it is pretty neat.
Well, if you are on there, track me down. I'm already involved in two Scrabble games.

That Rocky Mountain High

So it seems that the ferry operators to Victoria Island off the west coast of Canada like to sail the "high" seas. From the Star:

Canada's transportation safety watchdog warned yesterday of widespread marijuana use by BC Ferries crew members, a revelation that had the government-owned ferry operator calling for mandatory testing.

The Transportation Safety Board said the information came up during its investigation into the sinking of the Queen of the North in March 2006, which killed two passengers, though there was nothing to suggest the crew of that ship was high.

"We interviewed enough people who told us the crews were regularly smoking cannabis and a pattern began to emerge," spokesperson John Cottreau said in an interview from Gatineau, Que. The board is not expected to issue its final report on the sinking until next year.

I've actually been on these ferries. Frankly, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Those BCers are pretty laid back.

Templars pardoned!

That's right! Whew, I was holding my breath for 700 years! Finally, the Vatican has backed off on its heresy charges against the Knights Templar (though the sexual misconduct charges seem to still be sticking).


The "lost" document, the Chinon document - the records of the Templars' heresy trial, was recently found and the Vatican has made several hundred replicas of it, one of which could be yours for the -bargain- price of 5,900 Euros (that's $8,333 US/CAD for you West-Hemis out there). They've replicated even the stains and seals, so if you look at it that way, it still isn't worth half of a car.

Despite looking the other way on the heresy thing, it isn't as though you can -un-burn someone at the stake. However, this will provide more fuel for the Illuminati conspiracy theorists out there. I bet you they'll be picking up THEIR copy of the trial record.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL093422320071012

Pretty, shiny things

Last Friday, a group of us in the department went to the Medieval and Renaissance Treasures of the Victoria and Albert Museum that is currently at the AGO until its closure on Oct 7 (the whole museum is closing for some time due to construction). One of my cohorts organized our trip to the museum and I mostly went because I knew I should.

Unbeknownst to me, the V & A actually ponied up some pretty good stuff. Often on these "Treasures" exhibits, you can get a bunch of junk from storage, and one thing people actually want to see. Then I remembered, medieval stuff is ALL junk from storage since no one knows anything about the Malmsbury Casket except those of us in the field. I mean, if I said "Hey, the Soissons Diptych is in town, you should go see it!" you would look at me as if I had just grown a testicle on my face.

But the Soissons Diptych WAS in town - awesome. Not only that, the Symmachus ivory panel, the friggin Lorsch Gospel cover, a cute Medici garden putti made by Donatello (my fav!) and a really famous Mosan aquamanile. Anyway, it was like going to a concert at a crappy little club somewhere and finding out that the band on stage is the Rolling Stones.

For me anyway.