tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-93968602024-03-10T20:40:17.500-04:00 Ralph the Sacred River "The <i>artifex verborum</i> of the dream ... was no less adept than the waking Coleridge in the metamorphosis of words." — John Livingston Lowes, <i>The Road to Xanadu.</i> <br>
<b>Observations on language (mostly ancient), religion, and culture. </b> <br>
By Edward M. Cook, Ph.D.Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.comBlogger477125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-59581019635721661752023-12-31T08:23:00.000-05:002023-12-31T08:23:28.349-05:00Ralphies 2023<p>Wow, what a crazy year. Lots of ups and downs. But there is one thing solid in an unstable world: the Ralphies. </p><p><i>Movies</i>: Did I see any movies at all? I’ll give the Ralphie to the only one I remember watching (online): <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9362722/">Spider-Man Across the Spiderverse</a>. </p><p><i>TV</i>: On the other hand, there was a lot of fun TV. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15227418/">Murder at the End of the World</a> was good, especially for Emma Corrin’s performance. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%27s_Burgers">Bob’s Burgers</a> became my main go-to late in the year (a wholesome show with fart jokes). <a href="https://www.angel.com/watch/the-chosen" rel="nofollow">The Chosen</a> provided much fodder for Ralph, as you might have noticed. But the Ralphie goes to <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2149175/">The Americans</a>, which absorbed me (and even moved me) deeply. Yes, I watched the whole thing in 2 months. </p><p><i>Books</i>: So many books, so little time. For fiction, the Ralphie goes to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53205854-fugitive-telemetry" rel="nofollow">Fugitive Telemetry</a>, a novel in the Murderbot series (which I love). For non-fiction … well, I haven’t finished reading it, but of course I have to give a Ralphie to <a href="https://www.gorgiaspress.com/mallephana-rabba">this volume</a>. *blush* </p><p><i>Music</i>: Listening has shifted from album-based to song-based, because of the ubiquity of streaming services, and I’ve succumbed. Some of my favorites were <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2qOjQHEgdg">Bang Bang</a>, by Momma; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNVtA6Lgu4">Psychos</a>, Jenny Lewis; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IjZJWc_iFY">Woman on Fire</a>, BEL; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWLwlqYsx1w">Goner</a>, girlhouse; and from the past, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpjxx9BOm-0">That Old Black Magic</a>, Louis Prima and Keely Smith (and she was the best singer of her era, you can’t deny it); and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfruDTmFDUA">Me & Magdelena</a>, a gem by the Monkees (!). But the Ralphie goes to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVzVUDXoi0Y">I’m In Love With You</a> by The 1975 (dumb name for a band, great song). </p><p>Sports: Nice to see the Longhorns return to being good, and the Bengals are hanging in there as I write. But the Nats were awful again, and will probably be awful again in 2024. No Ralphies! </p><p>All right, my children, that’s it. If the Republic still is standing next December --which is far from certain-- I’ll see you then. </p><div><br /></div>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-46728144261200469562023-09-04T12:13:00.001-04:002023-09-05T09:45:31.024-04:00Little lamb, arise (Chosen 5)<p> This post is mainly concerned with the episode in <i>The Chosen </i>(season 3, episode 5) dealing with the raising of Jairus's daughter (see Mark 5:37-41 and parallels). In general, the episode is well done, as are all the healing miracles in this series (I say nothing about the cringey ending, where Jesus and the disciples go swimming in the Sea of Galilee fully clothed). </p><p>I was interested to see that the healing words spoken by Jesus in the episode were "Little lamb, arise!", representing <i>talitha kum(i) </i>ταλιθα κουμ, a Greek transliteration of Aramaic טליתא קומי. (Mark 5:41). But, although the word טליתא "girl" is originally derived from a word meaning "lamb" (or perhaps just "young of an animal"), in Aramaic, throughout its dialects טליתא means just "girl" (as טליא <i>talya</i> means "boy"). The scriptwriters evidently got hold of an idea that etymology equals meaning; and this particular idea is often used sentimentally in fundamentalist homilies (like <a href="https://martinwickens.com/2013/01/little-lamb-arise-g-campbell-morgan-on-mark-521-43/">this</a>). </p><p>There are a thimbleful of occurrences in very late Aramaic texts where טליתא or טליא means "lamb," where the writers are actually using a borrowed Hebrew word טלה <i>taleh, </i>which does mean "lamb." For instance, in the Babylonian Talmud, Bava Mesia 47a we find ומשכה לפרה, ולא משכיה לטלא, "he pulled the cow, but did not pull the lamb," both "cow" and "lamb" are Hebrew. </p><p>So the proper rendering of the Aramaic sentence is just "Girl, arise!" By the way, the standard Aramaic word for "lamb" is אמר <i>immer </i>(fem. <i>imra</i>), while in Hebrew it is כֶּבֶשׂ <i>keves </i>(fem. <i>kivsa</i>). </p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-90062712826943649112023-08-17T20:26:00.001-04:002023-08-17T20:28:52.892-04:00The Chosen (4)<p> Currently I'm into season 2, but these comments are wrapping up season 1.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Jesus likes to hug. A lot. Not complaining, I've just never thought of Jesus as a big hugger. But why not?</li><li>Erick Avari's performance as Nicodemus was excellent, kudos to him. </li><li>I like the diversity of this cast, both as to gender and to ethnicity. But I'm not comfortable historically with Mary Magdelene being a de facto disciple. Surely a single woman would not have traveled around with 13 single men? </li><li>The Romans, in the last episode of Season 1, don't like the attention Jesus is getting, so they put up a notice in "Aramaic, Latin, and Greek" that is to say "By order of Rome, and punishable by detention and imprisonment, religious gatherings outside the synagogue and Hebrew school are strictly prohibited. The teacher known as Jesus of Nazareth is wanted for questioning." Then a scene shows a Roman soldier posting the notice: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnOJKOhCj8XDBGea-kN8M9aSE1zytkzGqnjZwOWKAw_hEzfDjwIyX_3TMDKXC14IXCe83UMcUM9CfnJmebTxLW1UzwNYPPv_-CIm7xlcL-lkNmtnvYnE-fAWE8Sb3tmE2QFJxAjTUxYW_WtX67d1n5ARC8uy3P_Bt0CdZuuibRbW6xHhA4Phxd5Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3053" data-original-width="2986" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnOJKOhCj8XDBGea-kN8M9aSE1zytkzGqnjZwOWKAw_hEzfDjwIyX_3TMDKXC14IXCe83UMcUM9CfnJmebTxLW1UzwNYPPv_-CIm7xlcL-lkNmtnvYnE-fAWE8Sb3tmE2QFJxAjTUxYW_WtX67d1n5ARC8uy3P_Bt0CdZuuibRbW6xHhA4Phxd5Q" width="235" /></a></div>Not Aramaic (or Latin or Greek, natch) but Modern Hebrew and not very smooth at that (and in fact a couple of lines are obviously missing). I know that the prop is meant only for verisimilitude and not meant to be historically accurate, but still this is pretty inept. (And it started my mind down a rabbit hole: How would you say "religious gatherings" in ancient Hebrew or Aramaic? I don't think there was even a word "religious" in either tongue.) Couldn't they find a scholar (ahem) who could produce a decent prop in the ancient languages?</li><li>It's axiomatic that every portrayal of Jesus is a kind of mirror image of the age that produced it. In the '60's we had <i>Godspell, </i>with a hippie Jesus. Mel Gibson's <i>Passion of the Christ </i>reflects the conservative Catholic piety of its producer. This Jesus is an evangelical Jesus.</li><li>Which is not to say it's bad by any means. I do enjoy this show, and its kind heart. I nitpick because it's my job. </li></ul><div><br /></div><p></p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-6139693270028799612023-08-09T08:31:00.001-04:002023-08-09T09:11:22.414-04:00The Chosen (3)<p> Continuing with reactions to <i>The Chosen </i>...</p><p>The episode of the wedding at Cana in Galilee was overall well-done, I thought ... but sooo slooooow. This series has a problem with pacing. It was a nice touch having Thomas present as a wine wrangler. </p><p>But my job is to nitpick! It was this episode I think that began at the pawnshop, which displayed a sign in typeset (!) Hebrew (!) טובין משועבדים, which means "pledged goods" in Modern Hebrew. In both modern and ancient Hebrew (and Aramaic) the notion of pawning is expressed by the root משכן, so I'm not sure where they got their expression. </p><p>I also have a beef with the presentation of John the Baptist's imprisonment. The Pharisee Nicodemus visits him in a <i>Roman </i>prison, where he has been put because a Pharisee laid an information against him (because John called them a "brood of vipers," Matt. 3:7). But it's explicitly said in the gospels (e.g, Luke 3:19-20) that Herod Antipas, tetrach of Galilee, imprisoned John because John had criticized him for marrying Herodias, his brother's wife. Neither the Romans nor the Pharisees enter into it. Since the biblical scenario has all kinds of dramatic possibilities, I'm not sure why the script ignores it (and so far the script doesn't mention Herod at all). </p><p>Watch this space for more carping to come!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-13681298338396841542023-08-07T14:07:00.000-04:002023-08-07T14:07:13.942-04:00The Chosen (2)<p> Forging ahead with <i>The Chosen </i>... (see previous post)</p><p>I'm about at the 4th episode, season 1. The miraculous draught of fishes (Luke 5:1-11) was very well done, I thought, and vividly presented. High marks to whoever wrangled all those fish for the filming. </p><p>I'm not so happy with the staging of Jesus' teaching: the hearers seated in rows before him, while he stands and talks, like a Sunday School class. That just felt wrong. In those days, the students stood and the teacher sat, if possible at an elevation that had speaker's and hearers' heads at the same level; or else the teacher would walk and talk and the students followed. (Notice that in Luke 5:2, Jesus sits down.) (I told the rector of our church this years ago, and he said, "Wow ... if I could sit, I could preach for <i>hours.</i>") </p><p>In fact, there is too much sitting going on in this show. At mealtimes, everyone is shown sitting on chairs around a table. But, back then, if people sat down to eat, it was usually on the ground; but if a table was present, the diners would recline at an angle and reach for food in front of them:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8COe_WOt0DC8OPXhUsIqUH77gBvdgPViDJYMowfGbFzylmD6dxz-upLOVlg5-6gVjLhtUaWpeE_SoVehJfxeKufebROENeVxcz4cebH3gyQtzEHQuG7I3hV-1ZhsLBxGgwB_J3iCFhhoZPcNPFV-lrRsOl0r1bDGMJ24hxWTtjWXCgqiNxf03uA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="602" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8COe_WOt0DC8OPXhUsIqUH77gBvdgPViDJYMowfGbFzylmD6dxz-upLOVlg5-6gVjLhtUaWpeE_SoVehJfxeKufebROENeVxcz4cebH3gyQtzEHQuG7I3hV-1ZhsLBxGgwB_J3iCFhhoZPcNPFV-lrRsOl0r1bDGMJ24hxWTtjWXCgqiNxf03uA" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This actually makes a number of scenes in the gospels easier to imagine, such as the notice in Luke 7:38, that the woman who anoints Jesus "stood behind him, at his feet"; or the disciple "whom Jesus loved" "leaned back against Jesus" at the Last Supper (John 13:23). It'll be interesting to see how the producers stage these scenes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know I'm carping, and in general, this is a good show (so far). But my concern is that people will watch it and think they're getting the Bible straight, instead of seen though a modern-day filter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Many thanks to this <a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Romans-lie-down-on-couches-while-dining">site</a>, from which I lifted the illustration. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-30202271773343963092023-08-04T21:31:00.000-04:002023-08-04T21:31:19.303-04:00The Chosen, some quick reactions<p> I started watching "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chosen_(TV_series)">The Chosen</a>" on Netflix, based on the recommendation of a friend. It's the first show about Christ I've seen since "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passion_of_the_Christ">The Passion of the Christ</a>" (which I have professional reservations about). </p><p>In general, the production values are good, and so are the performances. (I've seen the first episode and part of the second.) In this respect, it stands up well next to other hit shows on Netflix and other streaming services -- well enough to make me want to keep watching.</p><p>I see a couple of weaknesses, though, and they are shared by almost all films about Christ. First of all, the Romans are portrayed as a constant oppressive presence in Capernaum, where the action (so far) takes place. This is not historically accurate. Capernaum was in Galilee (not in Judea, as stated at one point), and Galilee was under the rule of Herod Antipas. Antipas was a client king under the Romans, true, but the Romans didn't control Galilee directly. It was under Jewish control. (The Romans did have a direct rule over Judea, though, in the person of the governor Pilate and Roman soldiers could be called on as needed, although they probably didn't walk the streets like military police.) So although the show sets up the Romans as bad guys, it's unlikely that this was the case in Capernaum (and I do wish they wouldn't keep pronouncing it "Caper-num." Caper-nay-um, please.)</p><p>Secondly, as is typical, the Jewish population is shown wearing Bedouin-type clothing, which fits the Western "Orientalist" view of ancient Palestine. However, based on ancient depictions and descriptions, the inhabitants of Palestine dressed the same as everybody else did in the Greco-Roman period, i.e., with a basic tunic (a big shirt reaching to the knees) and a mantle (like the Roman toga) worn over that. In terms of clothing the Galileans and Judeans and Gentiles and civilian Romans were no doubt indistinguishable. </p><p>We haven't seen much of Jesus so far, but in his look he appears to be a break from <a href="https://ralphriver.blogspot.com/2005/01/what-did-jesus-look-like.html">the Euro-Christ image</a> we've seen so much of. So high marks for that. </p><p>Maybe I'll write some more on this show, who knows? But I'm not bored, so far. </p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-46235435015649920122022-12-30T20:54:00.002-05:002022-12-30T21:00:45.659-05:00New! More! Ralphies!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Almost let the Ralphies slip this year; we can't have that!
It's been a year with a lot of ups and downs. But let's get to the awards …<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Movies: </i>Are they still making movies? I didn't see
any in the theater. If I have to pick one for the Ralphie, I guess it would be <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Dahlia">The Blue Dahlia</a></i>, which I watched online. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>TV: </i>In the nature of things, I can only remember the
most recent shows watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For drama, I
would pick <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1998372/">Under the Banner of Heaven</a></i>, very intense and historically
interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For comedy, I will agree
with the <i>vox populi</i> and pick <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13443470/">Wednesday</a></i>; much better than <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_Things_(season_4)">Stranger Things 4</a></i>
(which I watched while in Israel), entertaining but incoherent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The critical favorite <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andor_(TV_series)">Andor </a></i>I didn't enjoy
particularly; there was almost no sci-fi element in it at all (although
festooned with sci-fi signifiers, like spaceships, they played almost no role
in the story itself). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Books: </i>I gave the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wheel_of_Time">Wheel of Time</a> </i>umptilogy a
try, but petered out after the 4<sup>th</sup> book. The Ralphie goes to <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Murderbot_Diaries#All_Systems_Red">All Systems Red</a></i>, by Martha Wells, vol. 1 of the Murderbot Diaries. Well done. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For non-fiction, the Ralphie goes to <i><a href="https://www.brookings.edu/book/the-constitution-of-knowledge/">The Constitution of Knowledge</a></i>, by Jonathan Rauch. Who would have thought a book about social
epistemology would be so engrossing? But a special tip of Ralph's hat also goes
to J. F. Collins's <i><a href="https://www.cuapress.org/9780813206677/a-primer-of-ecclesiastical-latin/">Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin</a></i>, which was a helpful
vade mecum to my re-entry into the world of Latin. I'm going to need Latin for
my next project. Also I had a <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/religion/biblical-studies-old-testament-hebrew-bible/biblical-aramaic-and-related-dialects-introduction?format=PB&isbn=9781108714488">book </a>published, which is gratifying. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Music: </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Ralphie for Album of the Year goes to Big Thief's <i>Dragon New Warm Mountain I
Believe in You, </i>which is among the best I've ever heard and probably my
favorite since Sufjan Stevens's <i>Illinois</i> (although very different in
style and genre). I can't pick just one song for you, but here's the<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xi0K83fnnA"> title track</a>. I love the way Adrianne sings the word "recoil." For songs,
there were too many to pick just one; some of the ones I particularly liked:
"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZWxWsEiGBQ">Speeding 72</a>," Momma; "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws2pQFPK0Fs">PBR</a>," Bel; "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAK5D3drObI">Billy Toppy</a>,"
Men I Trust; "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6ydw2q4-Dk">Seasons Change</a>," MorMor; "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8beV72_eMFM">Higher</a>,"
Sault; "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-ToO-KcQHE">Blue Bones</a>," Billy Nomates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For covers, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhXxHf1t-ao">Fourth Time Around</a>," by Yo La Tengo. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">OK, pilgrims, that's it for another year. I'll see you at this same corner next year around the same time. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-70130036531096774732022-09-29T14:11:00.000-04:002022-09-29T14:11:14.133-04:00A Knot in a Rush and Nehemiah 2:1<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve
been reviewing Latin, with a view to reading some old commentaries and works of
scholarship. I can’t say I’m a fluent reader (yet!), but I’m enjoying the
process. Speaking of which …</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reading
a book of commentary extracts on Nehemiah, I came across a Latin
expression that puzzled me. C. F. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9396860/7013003653109677473"><span style="color: blue;">Houbigant</span></a> (18<sup>th</sup> century
Biblicist) is commenting on <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9396860/7013003653109677473"><span style="color: blue;">Neh. 2:1</span></a>, </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">וְלֹא־הָיִיתִי רַע
לְפָנָיו</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>,
“Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence” (KJV) – “him” being the
Persian emperor. Houbigant translates <i>et non ei displicui, </i>“and
I had not displeased him.” His comment is <i>Nihil erat tam obvium, quam
ut sic interpretaremur. Et prorsus me fugit, quare nodum in sirpo quaesierint
plerique interpretes</i>. “Nothing was more obvious, than that we should
interpret it so. And it utterly escapes me, why many interpreters have
sought a knot in a bulrush.”</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
last expression, <i>nodum in sirpo</i>, made little sense to me and
was obviously an idiom. The Internet, however, was soon able to point me to a
useful source. In a book entitled <i>Letters and Exercises of the
Elizabethan Schoolmaster John Conybeare </i>(1905), the teacher is
commenting on Latin idioms,, and we find the following: “<i>Nodum in sirpo
quaerere</i> : To seeke a knot in a rushe. A proverbe where one maketh a
thinge difficulte or doutfull, which is verie playne to be understode, or ys
scrupulouse in a thinge without cause.” Eureka! But where does the idiom come
from? Apparently it is classical and Plautus is <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9396860/7013003653109677473"><span style="color: blue;">cited</span></a> as the earliest user of it.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
meaning, I assume, derives from the fact that a rush (or bulrush) is a straight
stem, without complication or articulation; to seek for a "knot" in
it is to overlook the plain in a search for the complex. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
default gloss of the key word in the Nehemiah passage is "bad," with
the exact sense varying by context. If most English versions choose
"sad," it is because of the conversation that follows, in which the
emperor notices that Nehemiah is gloomy or downcast. Houbigant's translation is
certainly not obvious.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Also,
by the way, apparently John Conybeare was a forebear of the early 20<sup>th</sup> century
Orientalist <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9396860/7013003653109677473"><span style="color: blue;">F. C. Conybeare</span></a>.)</span></p><p></p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-45304545403559017232022-06-29T20:39:00.001-04:002022-06-29T20:39:53.018-04:00All His Furniture<p> <span style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">Following
up on the last post, note also the word </span><i style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">furniture </i><span style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">in KJV Exodus 39:33:
"And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his
furniture." This word also, unexpectedly to modern ears, translates Hebrew
</span><i style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">kelim</i><span style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">. Today </span><i style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">furniture </i><span style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">refers to the large furnishings of a house
– the tables, chairs, rugs, lamps, and so forth – but in 1611 it meant </span><i style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">equipment</i><span style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">.
In Exodus it refers to the dishes, cups, jars, bowls, pans, trowels, etc. used
in the sacrificial worship. (The word </span><i style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">his</i><span style="font-family: "Arial Nova", sans-serif;">, by the way, refers to the
tent, not to Moses.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Nova",sans-serif;">Here the KJV
translators </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Nova",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">appear</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Nova",sans-serif;">
to have followed the Bishops' Bible, which also has <i>furniture</i>, while the
Geneva Bible has <i>instruments</i> and the Tyndale Bible <i>apparel — </i>another
word with a different modern meaning! The NRSV and ESV translate
"utensils." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Nova",sans-serif;">So we have seen the KJV use three words in three different verses to
translate a single Hebrew word. This illustrates the obvious point that there
is no one-to-one relationship between the words of one language and the words
of another – a point that is sometimes obscured by the hankering for a
"literal" translation. A second point is that these three words –
artillery, carriage, furniture – have changed their meaning in the 400+ years
between King James and ourselves. The KJV is a monument of English literature, but
its archaic language renders it liable to misinterpretation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-56424090111071086352022-06-26T06:59:00.002-04:002022-06-26T06:59:30.058-04:00Jonathan's Artillery and David's Carriage<p> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">"</span><span style="font-family: times;">Jonathan gave his artillery
unto his lad." Such is the translation of 1 Sam 20:40 in the KJV, a reminder
that the word <i>artillery </i>used to mean any shooting weapons, not
necessarily those with shells. The translations that preceded the KJV didn't
use this term; the Bishops' Bible (a major source for the KJV) used "
instrumetes" (sic) and
the Geneva Bible just has " bowe
and arrowes." The Hebrew term thus translated is <i>kelim</i>, plural of <i>kli</i>,
a term with a broad range of application. Other words used to translate it in
the KJV in various contexts are "jewels," "stuff,"
"vessels," "furniture," "thing,"
"instruments," "weapons," "armour," and
"bag." There is no single English word that covers the same range; <i>kli
</i>basically refers to any thing useful that can be carried by a single person.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Another
interesting KJV rendering of the same word is in 1 Sam 17:22: " David left his carriage in the
hand of the keeper of the carriage," a sentence that is liable to be
misunderstood. Here "carriage"<i> </i>is again Hebrew <i>kelim</i>, referring
to what we would call today "baggage." The Bishops' Bible for the
same verse reads " Dauid
left the <i>thinges which he bare</i>, vnder the handes of the keper of the <i>vessels</i>,"
the italicized words rendering <i>kelim</i>. Geneva has " Dauid left <i>the things, which
hee bare</i>, vnder the handes of the keeper of the <i>cariage</i>." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Modern
translations of 1 Sam 17:22 are generally like the NRSV: "David left the things in charge of
the keeper of the baggage" (also ESV). I'm not sure why there is a
tendency to translate <i>kelim </i>by two different English words. JPS (1985),
like KJV, does not: " David
left his baggage with the man in charge of the baggage." </span><span style="font-family: Lucida Sans Typewriter;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-83253119793130235112021-12-31T20:50:00.001-05:002022-01-11T20:19:19.448-05:00Ralphies 2021<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">A year where things happened. The appalling 6th of January.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The rise and fall and rise of the pestilence. Things change, and they don't.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I was on sabbatical, and finished a book.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I was supposed to go to Israel, but that didn't happen. I was supposed to go to California, and that did happen. I returned to the classroom in the fall, but I'm betting I'll be back teaching via Zoom next month.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">Yeah. Well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Shall I give Ralphies? I shall.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">TV: We're still in the golden age of TV, which has shifted to streaming. In the spring, I finished watching every episode of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_Deep_Space_Nine"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Deep Space Nine</span></a>, and by the end I felt like all those people were my friends. In the fall I started <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expanse_(TV_series)"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">The Expanse</span></a>, with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mandalorian"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">The Mandalorian</span></a> in between.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But the Ralphie goes to a Netflix show with a <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80175722"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">title</span></a> not safe for a family blog.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Also a Lifetime Achievement Ralphie to the Beatles for the compulsively watchable <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles:_Get_Back"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Get Back</span></a>.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">MOVIES: We didn't go to a theater this year, but there were (was?) an abundance of movies on (once again) streaming channels.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I'll give the Ralphie to an obvious but well-deserving winner: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9376612/"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RIngs</span></a>, with a special mention of <a href="https://www.etonline.com/how-shang-chi-brought-morris-the-scene-stealing-chaos-god-to-life-exclusive-171995"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Morris</span></a>, who reminds me of our visitation of rabbits.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">BOOKS: For fiction, I read for the first time <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Women"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Little Women</span></a>, because I needed a novel and it was in the house.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, so a special Lifetime Achievement Ralphie to Louisa May Alcott.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But the best novel award goes to Haruki Murakami's <a href="https://www.harukimurakami.com/book/kafka-on-the-shore"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Kafka on the Shore</span></a>. Couldn't put it down.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For non-fiction, no award; I read a lot of articles, but few (no?) complete books. I wrote one, though.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">SPORTS: A year best forgotten.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">MUSIC: There was music, a lot of good stuff.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I'll give big thumbs up to "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh8Gl2GwB6s"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Serotonin</span></a>," by Girl in Red; "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_V2ccs_Urk">Bunny is a Rider</a>," by Caroline Polachek; "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZfcZEIo6Bw"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Be Sweet</span></a>," by Japanese Breakfast.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But I became a real fan of <a href="https://bigthief.net/"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Big Thief</span></a>, the band headed by Adrianne Lenker.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Right now, everything else by comparison seems cheesy and shallow.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I could link so many of their songs, but I'll give the Ralphie to "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF0dXT-v-vY"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Little Things</span></a>" and a second-place Ralphie to "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTIzsTv1ENY"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Change</span></a>." I was also lucky enough to see live music for the first time since the advent of COVID, a solo show by Adrianne. Can't resist another link to the song she did as an encore, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og6mVQ5c5M0"><span class="s1" style="color: #0c63c1;">Anything</span></a>."</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Is that it? That's it. Thanks for reading, you guys are swell!</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-12842454418372592902020-12-18T07:53:00.000-05:002020-12-18T07:53:00.139-05:00Something Something Ralphies<p> The first Ralphies were awarded in 2004. I'll let you guys figure out how many years that's been.</p><p>Speaking of years ... 2020, amirite? A global pandemic that just won't quit, and internal strife in the US the likes of which I've never seen before -- and I survived the '60s. I and my loved ones are lucky to have so far escaped being affected by either one of these viruses, although I had a brush with cancel culture in the spring, which did not shake my commitment to the more liberal side of things. So you know where I stand, but I can't help thinking that it doesn't conduce to the common good to keep harping on all the ways we differ from others. Our illness is not just that the two sides are hostile, but that we want the other side to know <i>just how much</i> we despise them and disagree with them. Nothing good can come of this.</p><p>But hey! We're here to give out awards, not to kvetch! So herewith we get down to <a href="https://memes.getyarn.io/yarn-clip/46e3994c-4ffa-48cf-a82d-083fe507f075">business</a>. </p><p>TV: The pandemic produced a Golden Age of TV, aided by the streaming revolution. After some years of idly watching not much TV, I watched a ton of streaming shows this year, on platforms which are no doubt cleaning up. I love <a href="https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/the-mandalorian">The Mandalorian</a>, and went back and watched all the other Star Wars-related content, with a particular liking for <a href="https://www.starwars.com/series/star-wars-rebels">Rebels</a>. Also enjoyed <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80018294">Daredevil</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boys_(2019_TV_series)">The Boys</a>. Lots of fun stuff. My favorite, though, would have to be <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80234304">Queen's Gambit</a>. I swore that it would not make me take up chess (again), but ... </p><p>MOVIES: What movies?</p><p>MUSIC: Since after March I was not commuting to work every day, I wasn't listening to Sirius XMU, my main source for encountering new music. I did find some good things by Soccer Mommy (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTc1w32Vbeo">"Circle the Drain"</a>), Phoebe Bridger (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw0zYd0eIlk">"Kyoto"</a>), Arlo Parks (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOu0Ht0-D4M">"Black Dog"</a>). Of cover songs, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=247H7ol_Ugk">How Will I know</a>" by the Lemonheads. But my #1 jam was the album "<a href="https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/waxahatchee-saint-cloud/">St. Cloud</a>" by Waxahatchee (Katie Crutchfield), which was my pandemic theme record. Superb mix of Americana sounds and indie sensibility. Listen to "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEyYlyRr2_U">Fire</a>."</p><p>Also I have to mention the column by Tom Breihan at Stereogum, <a href="https://www.stereogum.com/category/the-number-ones/">The Number Ones</a>, wherein he discusses every #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, from 1958 onward. (He's up to 1986 currently.) Some of the best music writing around, even when he's talking about songs I don't care for. </p><p>Also a fruit of the pandemic is my own rejuvenated interest in playing. I picked up the guitar again back in March, shook off the rust, and ... we'll see. </p><p>BOOKS: Drawing kind of a blank here with fiction. Mostly I read old favorites (<a href="http://ralphriver.blogspot.com/2007/06/of-sayers-james-and-bells.html">comfort books</a>). Of non-fiction, aside from things I read for work, I enjoyed <a href="https://uncpress.org/book/9780807856604/a-stone-of-hope/">Stone of Hope: Prophetic Religion and the Death of Jim Crow</a> by David L. Chappell (2004); very enlightening and a great piece of historical writing, especially pertinent now. Not at all along the same lines was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer_Teaches_Chess">Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess</a>, a helpful pseudepigraphon. </p><p>SPORTS: What sports? There were (and are) games, but games without live fans are depotentiated. We'll see what happens in 2021.</p><p>POLITICS: Who says 2020 was all bad? The election results are something to cheer, and the current bag of bile occupying the Oval Office will be<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlJpO107lTw"> turned out</a> next month. </p><p>OK, folks, that's it for another year. Let's drink to unforgettable 2020 and greet the new year with hope and a hangover. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-82984238014306365822020-10-13T10:06:00.003-04:002020-10-13T10:10:45.796-04:00Mike Pence and the Spider<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;">After the vice-presidential debate with Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, all anyone could talk about was the fly that landed on Pence's head.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;">Arguably of more consequence is Mike Pence's spider.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;">The following occurs in Bob Woodward's </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;">Rage</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;">:</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">"Pence recounted [to Dan Coats] the Old Testament story of David, who was hiding from King Saul in a cave when God sent a spider to weave a web across the cave opening. On seeing the web, Saul did not enter the cave. The spider had concealed David's presence and saved his life. The story showed that even a spider might be an instrument of great salvation in the hand of God. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> "Marsha Coats [Dan's wife], whose grandparents were ministers, had never heard a sermon as serious and deep. The story raised obvious questions. Could a spider, normally a cause for fear, bring salvation?"</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I don't know if this story influenced Pence or Dan Coats to support Trump; Woodward does not say so. But the important thing to note is that this story is not in the Bible at all. It is found in the late Jewish midrash the <i>Alphabet of Ben Sira:</i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;">וכשנחבא<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>במערה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>מפני<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>שאול<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>המלך<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>שלח<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>הקב״ה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>עכביש<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>וארגה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>על<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>פי<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>המערה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>וסגרה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>אותו<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>בא<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>שאול<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>וראה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>ארוג<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>אמר<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>בודאי<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>לא<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>נכנס<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>אדם<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>הנה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>שאם<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>נכנס<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>היה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>קורע<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>הארוג<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>לקרעים<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>והלך<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>ולא<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>נכנס<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>לשם<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>וכשיצא<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>דוד<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>וראה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>העכביש<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>נשקה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>ואמר<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>לה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>ברוך<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>בוראיך<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>וברוכה<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>את</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>When David hid in a cave from King Saul, the Holy One, blessed be he, sent a spider, and she wove a web at the mouth of the cave and closed it. Saul came and saw a web, and said, "Certainly no man has entered here, for if he had, he would have torn the web to pieces." So he left and did not enter. And when David came out, he saw the spider and kissed her and said, "Blessed is thy creator and blessed art thou!"</i></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My experience has been that, in general, Catholics, growing up, do not acquire the same degree of biblical literacy as Protestant evangelicals. Not a criticism, just an observable fact. So it is completely possible that Pence believed this story was found in the Bible. I am surprised that Wheaton grad Dan Coats bought this as a biblical citation, though (if he did). And beyond all this, I am wondering where Pence heard this story. Does it have some currency among conservative Christians? Inquiring minds want to know.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">By the way, the same story is told in Islamic legend of the prophet Mohammed. Good stories have a way of getting around.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>This post is dedicated to the memory of the late Fr. Bill Gartig, Ph.D., on what would have been his 68th birthday. </i></p><div><i><br /></i></div>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-84268420302255881632020-07-24T21:24:00.000-04:002020-07-24T21:24:27.964-04:00How is the Fourth Beast in Dan 7:7 "different"?<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS;">In Daniel 7, the
seer has a vision of four beasts who arise from the sea to trouble the earth
(we later find out that these beasts stand for four kingdoms or empires that
will arise). He describes each beast, with the remark that they were "each
different from the other" (</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">שָׁנְיָן דָּא מִן־דָּא</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first three beasts
resembled, in order, a lion, a bear, and a leopard. The fourth beast is not given
an animal name, but is said to be "different from all the beasts that
preceded it" (7:7, NRSV; </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">מְשַׁנְּיָה מִן־כָּל־חֵיוָתָא דִּי קָדָמַיהּ</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>). The other translations are
similar to the NRSV, as are the ancient versions (LXX, Peshitta, Vulgate).
However, what is the point of saying that the fourth beast was different from
all the other beasts, when in v. 3 it had already been stated (and shown) that
all the beasts were different from each other?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The answer lies, perhaps, in the different verb stems used. In v. 3, the Pe'al
(G stem) is used statively, in the meaning "be different" (in other
contexts it can denote a change of state, "change, become
different").<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In v. 7, the Pa'el (D
stem) passive participle is used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The D
stem's function with this verb is factitive, that is, it brings about the state
denoted by the G stem — in a word, it makes it transitive, "change
something, make something different." The passive participle would mean, at
face value, "changed, made different."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So does it mean "the fourth beast was
changed/made different"? Not exactly, but we're getting there. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Many times, when the root </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">שׁני</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> is used, there is a nuance present beyond just "change,"
in that the change is often for the worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Dan 5:9, when the king is troubled, his "countenance changed
upon him" — that is, he turned pale, or his features were twisted by fear,
or the like. In other dialects, some of the translation values it has are <i>fade,
be dislocated, depart, go insane, deteriorate.</i> (See the entry in the <a href="http://cal.huc.edu/">ComprehensiveAramaic Lexicon</a>.) In the Qumran Enoch text, the sinful angels are told
"you perverted/corrupted your activity" (</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">שניתן עבדכן</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now the meaning of
Dan 7:7 comes into focus. The fourth beast is not just "different" or
even "changed"; it is distorted, or perverted, an even more monstrous creature than they
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The comparative grade should be
used with the translation, in keeping with the use of the particle <i>min</i>
with adjectives or participles of this kind: "it was more monstrous than [or
perhaps: stranger than] the beasts that preceded it": a fitting
description of a creature with iron teeth and ten horns!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> BIBLIOGRAPHY: Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon, s. v. <b>šny<i>. </i></b></o:p></p>Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-73002683579933633922020-06-26T14:19:00.000-04:002020-06-26T14:19:17.587-04:00A. E. Cowley, Anti-Semite<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
A. E. Cowley was a major Semitics scholar of the early twentieth century, and the head of the Bodleian library from 1919-1931. His Wikipedia page is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Cowley_(librarian)" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Despite his still-important activity in the realm of Hebraica, you can encounter some nasty anti-Semitism in the introduction to his <i>Aramaic Papyri of the 5th century BC</i> (1923). Speaking of the Jewish colony on Elephantine, he says</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<i> "they aroused anti-Jewish feeling, and suffered violence which they ascribed, as always and probably with as little reason then as now, to hatred of their religion. ... [M]uch is also to be ascribed to natural suspicion of a community with customs differing from those of its neighbours, holding aloof from the common pursuits of its fellow-citizens, and showing contempt or hostility to everything outside itself."</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Oof. Thus he explains the destruction of the YHW temple by the adherents of the god Khnub in 417 BCE. This description traffics in a number of well-known anti-Semitic tropes that would bear evil fruit less than two decades later in Nazi Germany. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
This is the same Cowley who translated the Gesenius-Kautzsch Hebrew grammar, still in use today (GKC = Gesenius Kautzsch Cowley). He is still cited, without comment, and his despicable views forgotten. </div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-89879029750770031812020-06-26T10:07:00.000-04:002020-06-26T10:07:36.739-04:00Father's Day 2020<i>Posted on Facebook June 20</i><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
My father died in 1985, at a younger age than I am now. He was a real "greatest generation" guy, an Air Force vet, a pilot, a weatherman, a smoker and a drinker. My life choices were a constant source of puzzlement to him, although he dutifully financed them (usually). He was an enthusiastic golfer, an activity inherited and enhanced by my brother Chuck Cook, and although I've never taken up the sport, by sheer osmosis I've acquired more knowledge about it than I can use.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
For some r<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">eason, when I was around 10 or 11, my father would take me periodically to the golf course and pay me a nickel a hole (rounded up to $1.00 for 18 holes) to "caddy" for him — that is, to drag the wheeled tripod holding his bag while he played, by himself. I have no idea why he did this; maybe my mother made him, to spend time with his younger son; or maybe he was hoping (against hope) that I would acquire an interest he could relate to. I didn't, and I was pretty bored by this activity, but a dollar was major coin for a 5th grader in the early sixties. Whenever he asked, I went.</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Those caddying days make an oddly vivid memory, and I can still close my eyes and see him under the summer sun, striding ahead of me, holding a club for the next shot, while I toiled behind with the bag. Happy Father's Day, major, wherever you are.</div>
</div>
Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-49234880794630253882020-06-23T14:59:00.000-04:002020-06-23T14:59:25.851-04:00Statement regarding Prof. Jan Joosten<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<i>FIrst posted on Facebook, June 23, 2020.</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
I am appalled and saddened by the recent news about Prof. Jan Joosten and his arrest as a collector of child pornography. Our compassion should be extended, first, to the innocent children exploited to make this filth. I also feel that Jan should be pitied as someone who fell into an addiction which, I do not doubt, he earnestly wants to be liberated from. In his own way, he too has been exploited by the pornographers. Our rage should be expended mainly on the producers and<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"> criminals who produce this garbage, and those who profit from it.</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
The wrong response to Jan's misdeeds – which he will and should pay a steep price for – is to ban, censor, and eliminate Jan's scholarly work. His work as one of the finest Hebraists of our time stands on its own, and is indispensable. I don't see how his crimes are relevant to an assessment of his work, nor do I see, going forward, how we are to manage as a guild if we have to inspect everyone's rap sheet and download history before we engage with their work.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Indeed, I am surprised (sort of) that the academy, so constantly on guard against any hint of encroachment on First Amendment rights, is eager to erase the outstanding work of one of their own for his deplorable consumption of heinous pornography – and yet would never countenance any movement or legislation to remove the scourge of pornography from the Internet. In fact, such a suggestion would no doubt be met with howls of rage from those now calling for Jan's head.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
I for one will pray for the children (I am a father and a grandfather), and for Jan and his family. For the pornographers, I wish nothing but ill. As for Jan's scholarly work, I will continue to use it, cite it, and honor it for its excellence.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Comments welcome. Trolls will be deleted.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-31470115701860273892019-12-31T20:59:00.002-05:002019-12-31T20:59:37.795-05:00Umpteenth Annual Ralphies<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's that time again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In accordance with time-honored tradition, and in order to keep my
legions of internet fans happy, I offer the latest iteration of the famous
Ralphies. Without further ado...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
GREATEST SPORTING EVENT OF THE YEAR AND POSSIBLY IN AMERICAN
HISTORY:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Washington Nationals <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZXQ8HH_PoE" target="_blank">win the World Series</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last time
"my" team won a world championship it was the LA Lakers in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UKTt-lbvOs" target="_blank">1988</a> (although there was that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVu3YplUqSs" target="_blank">2005 </a> national championship by the Texas Longhorns), so
it's been a long wait. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm glad I was
able to see the Nats play this year (typically, coming back in the bottom of
the 9<sup>th</sup> to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhk3xoMOAMI" target="_blank">beat </a>the Miami Marlins on Aug. 30) and to join in a
stadium of people singing "Baby Shark." I was also able to join in the
madhouse that was the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZD2K8eF-L8" target="_blank">victory parade</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MOVIES:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many
movies did I see in the theater this year? Three, I think: <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4154796/" target="_blank">Avengers Endgame</a></i>,
<i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2527338/" target="_blank">The Rise of Skywalker</a></i>, and <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3281548/" target="_blank">Little Women</a></i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All were excellent, although the critics
didn't like <i>Skywalker</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To spite them, I hereby
make it my Movie of the Year. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MOST LOATHSOME POLITICIAN:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Donald Trump could win this category every year, but why give him the
satisfaction? Instead the Ralphie goes to Sith Lord Mitch McConnell, who established
new lows, even for a Republican, in political cowardice and corruption.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
TV:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is so
little of value on TV these days, unless you've shelled out for all the myriad
online and premium cable services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven't.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only one I shell out to (which I won't
give free advertising to, but it rhymes with Shamazon) also provided what has
to be the funniest (and most poignant) series ever, namely <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5687612/" target="_blank">Fleabag</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BEST TRIP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I traveled
more than last year, and each of the trips — to Toronto, Hilton Head (SC), San
Diego, and San Jose —had something special about them. But I'm going to go with
San Jose because of the presence of a certain grand infant, who was celebrating
his first birthday. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MUSIC:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There's always
lots of good music, if you look in the right places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the places I looked turned up tunes
like "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn3cHUtNZKo" target="_blank">So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings</a>" (Caroline Polachek),
"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjUblmk4Cyo" target="_blank">You're No Good</a>" (the Chromatics), "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTrpv3CGRls" target="_blank">Dylan Thomas</a>" (Better
Oblivion Community Center), "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlkTVMMkCP4" target="_blank">Harmony Hall</a>" (Vampire Weekend),
"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfizQsGWOxI" target="_blank">Stay High</a>" (Brittany Howard), "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Obw1eEznec" target="_blank">Peach Fuzz</a>" (Caamp), and no
doubt others that I've overlooked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm always on the lookout for some great
guitar playing — not shredders or showoffs, but something clear and spare and
emotional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most beguiling riff I
head all year was in "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJs6Z8xZPJc" target="_blank">Misheard</a>" (Moaning).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the Song of the Year was not a new
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was late to the Alabama Shakes
party and missed a lot, seemingly. However, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le-3MIBxQTw" target="_blank">Hold On</a>" played on
repeat in my head for most of the summer, and has to get the Ralphie.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BEST CHURCH: <a href="https://cathedral.org/" target="_blank">The Washington National Cathedral</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
CONCERTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually
saw three! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyTTjHN5D4g" target="_blank">Lazer Lloyd</a> (excellent axeman), <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSJ-5SVDQ1k" target="_blank">Ex Hex</a> (in Toronto), and the
aforementioned Moaning (opening for Ex Hex).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All the artists are highly recommended. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BOOKS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always
forget what I've read, because I read a lot. But one book stands out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For fiction I have to give the Ralphie to the
tetralogy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_the_Long_Sun" target="_blank">Book of the Long Sun</a>, by Gene Wolfe (who died this year).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No better writer has worked in the sci-fi
idiom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Non-fiction is a tougher call,
and I've got to leave it blank until I think of something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All right, you trolls, that's enough for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have a great 2020, the last year of the
decade!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-34361935880878388462019-12-12T17:18:00.000-05:002019-12-12T17:18:04.774-05:00Why and When Did Nebuchadnezzar Regain His Reason?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The story of King Nebuchadnezzar's madness is well-known to
Bible readers. In Daniel 4, we hear of the king's overweening pride and his humbling
at the hands of God, as he loses his faculties and lives like an animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His sentence is that he shall live like this
"until seven times shall pass."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whatever be the exact meaning of "seven times" (seven
seasons?), it must refer to a definite period of time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What happens next? According to Dan 4:31 (English 4:34),
"When that period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven,
and my reason returned to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I blessed
the Most High,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and praised and honored
the one who lives forever."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
passage seems to clearly state that, first, the king lifted his eyes, then his
reason returned, and then he blessed God. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, I have my doubts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For one thing, why did the still insane king raise his eyes? It seems
most reasonable that he would lift his eyes to heaven as he prepares to bless
and praise the Most High. But in that case, his reason must already have
returned to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this not contrary to
the wording of the verse? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be noted
that the verbal conjugation of "returned" (<span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">יתוב</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>)
is different than that of "lifted" </span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>(נטלת)</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> and "blessed" (</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ברכת</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the prefix-conjugation normally has
a future-modal meaning in Biblical Aramaic, sometimes it is used in stories to give
background information on the narrated events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In this case, we might capture this nuance by translating as follows:
"I lifted my eyes to heaven — for my reason returned to me — and I blessed
the Most High." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS;">Why did
Nebuchadnezzar's reason return? It was not because he realized his sin and praised
God, as is sometimes stated, but simply because his time of punishment was over,
as the text clearly says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His term of
humiliation ("seven times") having passed, his reason returned to
him, and the now humbled king gave praise to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="IS" style="mso-ansi-language: IS;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-25249383793770073912019-03-07T13:45:00.000-05:002019-03-07T13:47:05.643-05:00THOUGHTS ABOUT "OTHER"/"ANOTHER"<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In English, "other" and the related
"another" have different logical meanings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes "another" can mean
"another of the same kind," as in "I'll have another
cookie," meaning, "I'll have an additional cookie."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the same words in a different context
could have a different meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I
can't eat cookies with nuts, could I have another cookie?", meaning,
"Could I have a cookie of a different kind?" The Collins dictionary
spells this out here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/another">https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/another</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hebrew and Aramaic have the same logical ambiguity in their
words for "other, another." Lexicographically, should these different
logical meanings form part of a dictionary entry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw above that the Collins dictionary does
do this for English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Hebrew and
Aramaic dictionaries do not divide the senses up in this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I have written a couple of
dictionaries, and am working on another (!), I'm wondering about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a particular sense <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is completely context-dependent and not
signalled by some grammatical difference, is it part of the
"meaning"? If not, does it belong in the entry?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, this is part of the age-old lexicographers' polysemy
dilemma. When do different contextual modulations of a word's meaning become
identifiable as different senses? And is there a principled way in which to
spell out how these different meanings are related? E.g., is one more basic,
and the others (!) have emerged from it in some identifiable way (metonymy,
metaphor, or the like)? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or in the case of "other," if there is no clear
way in which one sense diachronically presupposes another (!), and no
difference in phonological form or morphosyntactic frame, do these senses
inhere in the word at all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps here instead of polysemy we have vagueness
(in the technical sense of a word that is just non-specific about certain
features). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that case, how do
we deal with these issues in the dictionary? It might be possible to
incorporate the necessary vagueness into the definition itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the case of "another/other"
(Heb. <span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">אחר</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>, Aramaic <span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">אוחרן</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>), we have to start with the fact that the
word is anaphoric, that is, it always refers to something already mentioned in
the discourse, the antecedent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
"another/other," etc. <i>means</i> as an adjective is "not the
antecedent, but similar to it." In any particular context, either the
"not the antecedent" (different) or the "similar to it" (second,
additional) part may be highlighted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
logical freight of "another/other" depends on the meaning of the
antecedent, not on any inherent semanteme in the adjective itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Gen 26:22 for instance, we have "And he removed from
thence, and digged another well," in context, an additional well; a second
token of the same type (well).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Gen
29:19, we have "And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than
that I should give her to another man." Here the antecedent (the man
Jacob) is a type with a single token (the man who is Jacob); hence <i>another
man</i> does not mean "a second man, in addition to Jacob" but
"a different man, who is not Jacob." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Therefore an entry based on a clear semantic understanding
should express the word's vagueness, which is modulated by the context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Semitic dictionaries have done this mainly by
simply using European glosses that are themselves vague.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not sure this is the best approach, but
I'm still thinking about the best way to approach this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-25157605409973535182018-12-30T19:30:00.001-05:002018-12-30T19:30:56.863-05:00Fifteenth Annual Ralphies<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="375">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hashtag"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Unresolved Mention"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
One more time around the sun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year had lows, it had highs, but the lows
were lower and the highs were higher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
pretty intense year, if you want to know the truth. And now to the awards ...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MUSIC:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it was
just serendipity, but music seems to have had a pretty good year, or I just
heard some good music that's been out there for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few
songs were outstanding and kept playing in my brain throughout the summer and
fall, most notably "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tnTucP1UM" target="_blank">Pristine</a>" by Snail Mail and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouem6cFXJvA" target="_blank">Your Dog</a>"
by Soccer Mommy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite a late surge by
"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVImwSb4EYU" target="_blank">Future Me Hates Me</a>" by the Beths,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the Song of the Year award goes to "Pristine" (local girl
Lindsey Jordan makes good).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other songs
I kept pressing repeat on were "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XIeEp9QCis" target="_blank">Lover Chanting</a>" (Little Dragon),
"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Bka7yNyKA" target="_blank">Almost Had to Start a Figh</a>t" (Parquet Courts), "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQik6WpwRug" target="_blank">Yellow Bike</a>" (Pedro the Lion), and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJg4OJxp-co" target="_blank">Highway Tune</a>" (Greta van Fleet).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of cover tunes, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovoUrheWFeo" target="_blank">Destination Unknown</a>"
(Joan Jett) and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ciiCyxOJA" target="_blank">Smells Like Teen Spirit</a>" (Patti Smith) deserve
notice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MOVIES:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw some
movies!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very enjoyable were <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5083738/" target="_blank">The Favourite</a> (not at all what I expected) and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3606756/" target="_blank">Incredibles 2</a> (pretty much what I
expected).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the Best Movie award goes
to <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4633694/" target="_blank">Into the Spider-Verse</a>, with <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4154756/" target="_blank">Avengers: Infinity War</a> a close second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Yeah, I'm a Marvel fan, what of it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sad farewell to Steve Ditko and Stan Lee.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
TV:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn't watch
TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had it on from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
were ball games and re-runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BOOKS (Non-fiction):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
tried to read Bob Woodward's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear:_Trump_in_the_White_House" target="_blank">Fear</a>, but found it too depressing to go more than
a few pages in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I finally got
around to reading <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Kids" target="_blank">Just Kids</a> by Patti Smith, which was SO good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't feel a part of that kind of demimonde
at all, but anyone can relate to the story of artists finding their voice and
growing up at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BOOKS (fiction):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did
anything blow my mind this year? I guess it was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_in_the_Bardo" target="_blank">Lincoln in the Bardo</a> by George
Saunders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very compelling read.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
POLITICS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually
donated some money to <a href="https://twitter.com/repbetoorourke" target="_blank">Beto O'Rourke</a>'s campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First time I've done that in .... a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm sorry he didn't win, but I have a feeling
he'll be around for a while.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That's all, folks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>See you next year. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-88688028064890356822018-12-15T10:02:00.000-05:002018-12-15T10:02:45.795-05:00Review of "Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary by Conceptual Categories"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="375">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hashtag"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Unresolved Mention"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Review of <i>Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary by Conceptual
Categories</i>, by J. D. Pleins with J.Homrighausen (Zondervan)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is an interesting attempt to organize nouns in the
Hebrew Bible by "conceptual categories."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It provides noun lists organized into four
large categories: The Created Order, the Human Order, the Social Order, and the
Constructed Order. These categories are themselves divided into subcategories,
and the subcategories into sub-subcategories. So, e.g., under the Created Order
we are given Heavens and Earth; Metals, Stones, Gems, etc.; Colors; Time; Animals;
Flora.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Why not "Fauna; Flora"
or "Animals, Plants"?)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note that almost all of the categories have to do with
realia and/or social relations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
no category including "Religion" or any of the terms for God, gods,
angels, demons, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, the
word <span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">אלהים</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> is not
found, and </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">רוח</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> appears
only in the categories of Wind and Upper Body (pp. 32, 66). (The latter is
glossed as "air" with a reference to Ex 15:8.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;">The main purpose of the
book is, apparently, to facilitate memorization of the lists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is explicitly recommended on p. 17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The philosophy behind this is "that an
ancient child did not need a dictionary to learn to read Hebrew and neither
should you" (p. 19).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This glib
statement reduces facility in Hebrew reading to a rapid retrieval of all of its
vocabulary, no matter how rare, recondite, useless, or disputed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such memorization tasks are of questionable
utility and in most cases will be a waste of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If "an ancient Hebrew child" is the
benchmark, then the student should learn the same way as a child learns, by
being exposed to as much input (in the form of text) as possible, not by memorizing
context-free lists.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;">The book also falls into
the same traps as other attempts to organize cultures by their realia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One trap is that the categories used are
modern categories imposed on the lexicon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For instance, the term </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">יתום</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>
</span><i><span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;">orphan</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;"> is found under "Human: General Terms"
(p. 62) and </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">אלמנה</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="HE" style="mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>
</span><i><span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;">widow</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;"> is found under "Family and Kinship:
Widowhood" (p. 93).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, these
terms are often found together in the Bible (30 times); they represent the most
helpless and vulnerable members of society, but neither term is found in the
category "Law and Covenant: Poor/Oppressed" (p. 102), where they
naturally belong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This distorts the indigenous
cultural categories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;">The other trap is the
trap of polysemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students who memorize
the word </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">מכרה</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> under
the rubric "Disease, Mortality, and Disability: Medical Tools:
General" with the gloss "circumcision blade" (p. 71, with a
reference to Gen 49:5) will find it again (same gloss) on p. 99 under
"Worship/Cultic: Purity/Impurity: Circumcision" and yet again on p.
108 under the category "Professions and Occupations: Military: Weapons/Armor"
with the gloss "weapon, staff" (again with a reference to Gen
49:5).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ideal student who commits all
these lists to memory may not realize that this word occurs but once in the
entire Hebrew Bible, with a disputed meaning (Gen 49:5). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;">Another example is the
word </span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">צלע</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>, which
occurs 4 times in the book, with the glosses "terrace" (p. 30),
"spine/rib" (p. 67), "side (of ark)" (p. 94), and
"side chamber, cell" (p. 128). The dutiful memorizer will accordingly
wind up memorizing 4 words with 4 different meanings, instead of one word with
several related senses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not
efficient or true to the nature of language. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;">Therefore I can't
recommend this book for its avowed purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is useful as a general organization of Hebrew realia into semantic
fields from a modern perspective, and from that standpoint it has its value. It
also has a good bibliography and a Scripture index, which magnifies its
utility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as a pedagogical tool? No. The
best way of gaining facility in Hebrew reading is just to read as much Hebrew
as possible, seeing words in context, learning the words that come up again and
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Memorizing a dictionary, however
it is organized, is not the way to go about it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-language: HE;">BIBLIOGRAPHY:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>J. D. Pleins, with J. Homrighausen, <i>Biblical
Hebrew Vocabulary by Conceptual Categories: A Student's Guide to Nouns in the
Old Testament</i> (Zondervan, 2017).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-86101467400295980352017-12-31T17:05:00.000-05:002017-12-31T17:10:12.113-05:00Fourteenth Annual RalphiesIt was the best of times, it was ... nope. It was not the best of times. Only time will tell if A.D. 2017 was the worst, or simply the beginning of more travails. It was Amok Time.<br />
<br />
MUSIC: I consume most music these days during my commute, while listening to the satellite radio. When I hear something good I haven't heard before, I jot it down on whatever piece of paper I can grab. Unfortunately, I've misplaced most of these random notes. Some that remain mention songs like the following (not all are new, but they're new to me): "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh0hu5uK1Ic" target="_blank">On the Level</a>" (Mac DeMarco), "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpOo3gPANnw" target="_blank">Road Head</a>" (Japanese Breakfast), "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_qMuGjDZmM" target="_blank">Shouldn't Happen to a Dog</a>" (Thee Headcoats), "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obxkTwYzlWQ" target="_blank">Ghost</a>" (Tiny Fireflies), "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iFxl9Ud92o" target="_blank">California</a>" (Rogue Wave), etc. One song that stuck in my head without a written note is my Song of the Year: "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6Vt1mDSOwo" target="_blank">Edge of Town</a>" by Middle Kids. Most effective one-note guitar solo ever.<br />
<br />
FICTION: So porous is my memory that I only remember the most recent things I've read. The most fun was certainly Curtis Sittenfeld's<i> <a href="http://www.curtissittenfeld.com/books/eligible/" target="_blank">Eligible</a></i>, a modern re-imagining of Jane Austen's <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> in modern-day Cincinnati. Very smart and funny. As a resident of Cincinnati for 20 years, I can vouch for the authenticity of the local color. Also enjoying <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altered_Carbon" target="_blank">Altered Carbon</a></i> by Richard Morgan, although it is not new. What else? I am re-reading <i>David Copperfield</i>. It's good. I read Kurt Vonnegut's <i>Slaughterhouse-Five</i> for the first time. Overall good, but the mannerisms annoyed me.<br />
<br />
NON-FICTION: Read, enjoyed, and reviewed <i><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=zBIhrgEACAAJ&dq" target="_blank">L'aramaico antico</a> </i>by F. M. Fales and G. Grassi. I didn't know if I could remember Italian well enough to do it, but it came back rapidly. I think the one I learned the most from (for a project I'm working on) is Klaas Bentein's <i><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=2pIDDAAAQBAJ" target="_blank">Verbal Periphrasis in Ancient Greek</a></i>. Extremely perceptive.<br />
<br />
TV: Once again, I am not a watcher of the latest TV. I will watch movies, some basketball games, and a few re-runs. My favorite re-run this year was the old sitcom <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Miller" target="_blank">Barney Miller</a></i>, which I loved back in the day and still do. (This is what old people do. You should know this. They are not up on the latest anything.)<br />
<br />
MOVIES: Gee, what did I see? Very little. I did see <i>The Last Jedi </i>(c'mon, I'm not going to link that. Just stick a toe in the internet and it will bite.). I'm still up in the air over whether I liked it or thought it was incoherent. We'll have to wait and see whether the hares that were flushed out in this movie will be caught in the next one or will turn out to be mare's nests ... or red herrings ... or wild geese. Wait, what? Also saw <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5052448/" target="_blank">Get Out</a></i>, which was widely praised, but by the time I saw it, had been spoiled by TMI on the web. It was OK. No award this year.<br />
<br />
SPORTS: Once again, enthralled and disappointed by the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals" target="_blank">Nationals</a>, and this is routine for all sports in DC. NBA-wise, I have some glimmers of hope for a <a href="http://www.nba.com/lakers/?tmd=1" target="_blank">Laker </a>renaissance. I legitimately like Lonzo Ball's play, although a lot of people hate him for a stupid reason (his old man is insufferable). And Kyle Kuzma is a revelation.<br />
<br />
OK, just getting this in under the wire. See you next year! (Namely tomorrow.)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-87668699358989513222017-12-19T14:00:00.000-05:002017-12-19T20:57:33.215-05:00What is an Evangelical? (II)<br />
A long time ago, I wrote in this space about "<a href="http://ralphriver.blogspot.com/2005/02/what-is-evangelical.html" target="_blank">What is an Evangelical</a>?" Reading it today, I am amazed at my own perspicacity, and I generally still agree with myself -- although I'm surprised that back then I didn't know who Rick Warren and Joyce Meyers were; and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/michael-gerson/?utm_term=.75ca632bc1b7" target="_blank">Michael Gerson</a> has since become a valuable conservative pundit. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_John_Neuhaus" target="_blank">Richard John Neuhaus</a> has since died.<br />
<br />
But the question of "what is an evangelical?" gains added steam today because of the election of 2016, in which a large majority of self-identified evangelicals voted for D. Trump. Because of this, there are some among the minority who didn't who are no longer willing to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/09/opinion/sunday/wehner-evangelical-republicans.html" target="_blank">call </a><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/american-evangelical-christians-toxic-label-roy-moore-donald-trump-conservative-republicans-a8112486.html" target="_blank">themselves </a><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/after-trump-and-moore-some-evangelicals-are-finding-their-own-label-too-toxic-to-use/2017/12/14/b034034c-e020-11e7-89e8-edec16379010_story.html?utm_term=.c991be090423" target="_blank">evangelicals</a>. (Roy Moore of Alabama, running as an ultra-conservative evangelical but accused of sexual misconduct, also comes in for some blame for this.)<br />
<br />
But this is the logical outcome of the political identification of evangelicalism with conservatism -- and not just conservatism, but specifically anti-abortion/pro-life conservatism. If a candidate is on the "right" side of the single issue that concerns you, then no other trait of his can be of any relevance. The result is that we have Donald Trump, who is willing to gut healthcare, give tax breaks to the already wealthy, trash the environment, break up and deport families, and give barely-coded support to white supremacists -- but who will appoint judges who might someday in the future make abortions somewhat harder to get. (Gay marriage, too. Evangelicals today are very supportive of government control of what people do with their reproductive systems.) This is totally aside from his rebarbative personal qualities.<br />
<br />
So a lot of people are saying, finally, "count me out." I was already out of evangelicalism in that sense, but I'm glad to see the scales falling from many people's eyes. I would love to see evangelicals move away from the right, and cease to be running dogs of the Republican Party. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening in anything like the degree I would welcome.<br />
<br />
LATER: Some additional thoughts from <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-evangelicalism-survive-donald-trump-and-roy-moore" target="_blank">Timothy Keller</a> in the New Yorker (!).<br />
<br />
<br />Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9396860.post-35464320787541596802016-12-19T16:07:00.000-05:002016-12-19T16:08:19.294-05:00Annual Ralphies: Lucky 13th<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">My,
what an inactive year for Ralph. This
reflects what an active year it was outside of Ralph. The first half of the year was devoted to
writing lectures and then delivering them – most notably in Cambridge (a
splendid and sumptuous event, for which I am eternally grateful) and in
Jerusalem (ditto). The second half of
the year was less spectacular and more dismaying; I refer to the recent
presidential election, which is the most disturbing one in my lifetime. Some of my Facebook statuses reflect my growing
sense of foreboding:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Amy<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #1d2129;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129;">and I
will be voting for the same person this year for the first time ever.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><a data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nevertrump?source=feed_text&story_id=10155045475584867" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="58cl"><span aria-label="hashtag" style="unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; text-decoration: none;"><span style="unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span></span></span><span class="58cm"><span style="background: white; color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">nevertrump</span></span></span></a> (July 22)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Only Trump could make "Merry
Christmas" sound like a threat.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><a data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nevertrump?source=feed_text&story_id=10155071127094867" style="cursor: pointer;"><span class="58cl"><span aria-label="hashtag" style="unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; text-decoration: none;"><span style="unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span></span></span><span class="58cm"><span style="background: white; color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">nevertrump</span></span></span></a> (July 30)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Evangelicals supporting Trump have
permanently lost credibility to speak on public policy or public morality. But
hey, good for Albert Mohler.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span class="58cl" style="cursor: pointer;"><a data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nevertrump?source=feed_text&story_id=10155107502369867" style="cursor: pointer;"><span aria-label="hashtag" style="unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; text-decoration: none;"><span style="unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span></span></span><span class="58cm"><span style="background: white; color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">nevertrump</span></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I really hope that the white male
middle class, its spurious Herrenvolk aspirations in jeopardy, doesn't elect
the most grotesquely unqualified Presidential candidate ever.</span> (Sept. 26)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Come back, baseball. Don't leave us
to face next week without you. (Nov. 3)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Kitchen dialogue in the a.m.:</span></i><i><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">"I'd like to punch Trump in the face."</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">"Oh, that's a real Christian attitude!"</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">"The heart wants what it wants."
(Nov. 7)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Haven't felt this grieved since 9/11.</span>
(Nov. 9)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">And that about says it. On 9/12/01, I felt that the foundations of
society were fragile; now I feel the same way.
Now the Ralphies are more important than ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">MUSIC:
There has been a lot of good music this year – none of, regrettably,
from our newest Nobel Laureate in Literature.
I've heard a lot of great female voices, like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nleRCBhLr3k">Angel Olsen</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjGB9hc5huk">Mitski</a>, and that gal in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUgsqr3c4Uw">Sylvan Esso</a>, and that
other gal in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn4Sh-tmmxE">Tennis</a>. But my favorite music came from a bunch of
guys, namely <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foals_(band)">Foals</a>. Can't decide what their best track is, but
I'll go with "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFkGvVFdx-o">Birch
Tree</a>." They're supposed to be awesome live, which I regrettably can't
confirm by experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">FICTION:
I've read some really good sci-fi this year, with super thumbs-up to
Lavie Tidhar's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Central-Station-Lavie-Tidhar/dp/1616962143">Central
Station</a> and Ted Chiang's "<a href="http://nebulas.sfwa.org/nominated-work/story-of-your-life/">Story of Your
Life</a>" (about which more below).
Also, I was surprised to find out how good C. S. Forester's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Hornblower">Hornblower</a> series
is. The rumor was that the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey%E2%80%93Maturin_series">Aubrey-Maturin
series</a> (which I love) was far superior, but this turned out not to be the
case at all. Forester's prose is superb,
the stories are terrific, and Hornblower, in his own way, is as compelling a
character as Jack Aubrey. But my book of
the year award goes to <i>Moby-Dick</i>, by Herman Melville (c'mon, you don't
need a hyperlink for this, do you?).
I've never been ready to read this book before, but this year I was, and
it was enthralling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">NON-FICTION:
There was a lot, good and bad.
The most stimulating for me was Kees Versteegh's <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/Pidginization_and_Creolization.html?id=UBNjAAAAMAAJ">Pidginization
and Creolization: The Case of Arabic</a>, which gave me tons of ideas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">TV: I
was an indifferent consumer of TV this year, with two exceptions. One was the series <i>Law and Order: SVU</i>,
which is in more or less continuous re-runs on a variety of channels. I figured
it was junk, but I watched a few, and found the series as addictive as potato
chips. Pretty good plots, interesting
characters, decent acting (especially <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVsrcbDBYI">Mariska Hargitay</a>). It
ain't <i>Breaking Bad</i>, but it ain't bad.
But the Ralphie has to go to <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_Things_(TV_series)"><span style="font-style: normal;">Stranger Things</span></a></i>, which I binge-watched
during a free month of Netflix. So much
fun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">MOVIES: We saw exactly two in the theater, namely <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2709768/" target="_blank">The Secret Life of Pets</a> (it was OK) and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2543164/" target="_blank">Arrival</a>, based on Ted Chiang's "Story of Your Life" (see above). <i>Arrival </i>takes the prize, just for making a linguist the hero, but a high runner-up is <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475290/" target="_blank">Hail Caesar</a>, which I watched on the plane twice going to and from Israel, then I bought the DVD, which is a rare event indeed. A knee-slapper, for sure, and Ralph Fiennes' scene with Alden Ehrenreich is not to be missed. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">SPORTS:
Sports was pretty meh this year, with one exception: the <a href="http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=was">Nats'</a> playoff
drive, which fell short. Better luck
next year, guys, but thanks for making the summer and early fall a lot of fun,
and a great distraction from the collapse of the republic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">OK, see you all next year, if there is a next
year. Not that I'm pessimistic or
anything. :)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"> </span></div>
Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05188482189638751204noreply@blogger.com0