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Gallia
est omnis divisa in partes tres. [All Gaul is divided into three
parts.] Julius Caesar, born on July 13, 100 BCE; the opening line of his Gallic Wars De
omnis Belgae fortissimi sunt. [Of all these, the Belgians are the
bravest/strongest.] Veni,
vidi, vici. [I came, I saw, I conquered.] More Julius Caesar quotes at Wikiquote A marveilous newtrality have these things mathematicall, and also a strange participation between things supernaturall, immortall, intellectuall, simple and indivisible, and things naturall, mortall, sensible, componded and divisible.
There is (gentle reader) nothing (the works of God only set apart) which so much beautifies and adorns the soul and mind of man as does knowledge of the good arts and sciences. ... Many ... arts there are which beautify the mind of man; but of all none do more garnish and beautify it than those arts which are called mathematical, unto the knowledge of which no man can attain, without perfect knowledge and instruction of the principles, grounds, and Elements of Geometry. |
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Perspective is an Art Mathematical which demonstrates the manner and properties of all radiations direct, broken and reflected.
John Dee; Preface, ibid Source
The art of Navigation demonstrates how, by the shortest good way, by the aptest direction, and in the shortest time, a sufficient ship, between any two places (in passage navigable) assigned, may be conducted; and in all storms and natural disturbances chancing, how to use the best possible means, whereby to recover the place first assigned.
John Dee; Preface, ibid Source
[I am] the pen merely of [God] Whose Spirit, quickly writing these things through me, I wish and I hope to be.
John Dee
So
how come such a significant philosopher – one of very few in a country
then considered an intellectual backwater – barely features in British
history books? Because of his notorious links with magic.
BBC Discover:
'John Dee'
McGuinn and McGuire
Just a-gettin' higher
In LA, you know where that's at
...
Musicians Roger McGuinn and Barry McGuire, immortalised in the Mamas and
the Papas' song Creeque Alley. Roger
McGuinn was born on July 13, 1942
July 13
is
the 194th
day of the year in the Gregorian
Calendar (195th in leap years), with 171
days remaining.
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Bon Festival (Obon; O-Bon; Bon Odori), East
Japan
(Jul 13 - 16, or Aug 13 - 15 according
to the lunar
calendar)
Buddhist festival to
honour the dead
The Obon (Bon
Odori) is a Japanese
Buddhist
feast period, and traditional dance festival, which has existed for
more than 500 years. It is held from July 13 to 16
('Welcoming Obon' and 'Farewell Obon' respectively) in the eastern
part of Japan (Kanto),
and in August in the western part (Kansai).
Obon is comparable to the Day of the Dead or
Halloween.
This Buddhist festival has been transformed into a
family reunion holiday during which folk return to their home towns and
visit and clean their ancestors' burying ground. Japanese people tend to
think that this festival has something to do with religion and the souls
of their ancestors, but this interpretation is often wrong. It is said
that this tradition first began a few hundred years ago when youngsters of
those times did not have any particular entertainment. It is customary to
fashion horses
and cows out of
cucumbers
and eggplants.
This is done to facilitate the return of the dead.
The
Bon Odori festival is well known all over the country, and every
prefecture has different ways of celebrating it. Each prefecture has its
own ways of dancing and its own music to go with it. A Bon Odori in Okayama prefecture will be completely
different from one in Kanagawa prefecture. People line up around a high
wooden building called a
yagura,
made especially for the festival. There are many kinds of music that go with
the dance. The music varies from classical music to Japanese traditional
music such as the Makkou Onndo.
People
often wear a kimono
and yukata
when they dance. This adds a very good touch to the atmosphere. The Bon
Odori festival has a long history, and has made many changes as years go
by. It is still treasured by many people from all generations, and is a
tradition which will be likely to continue from now on too.
Obon is a shortened form of the legendary Urabonne/Urabanna. (Sanskrit for "hanging upside down in hell and suffering"). The Japanese believe they should ameliorate the suffering of the 'Urabanna'.
In
the time of Shaka, one of his fellows, Mokuren, saw the image of his dead
mother suffering in hell. Mokuren was desperate to relieve her pain and
asked Shaka for help. Shaka answered, "On 15th of July,
provide a big feast for the past seven generations of dead". Mokuren did
as he was told, and thankfully, his mother's suffering was relieved.
This is the inception of the tradition.
Asala (Dhammacakka Day – Turning of the Wheel of
Teaching), Buddhism
