Descendant of the wild ass, the donkey is a domestic member of the horse family used for hauling goods since 4000 BC.
Donkeys are also related to zebras, although they’re often stockier, stronger and have much different personalities.
Female donkeys are called “jennies” or “jennets,” and a female ready to breed is known as a “broodmare.”
Ass is interchangeable with donkey, and “jackass” refers specifically to a male donkey. But a jackass is not a mule, and all burros are not jackasses.
The three pillars stood out clearly now, three pillars topped with two cross pieces in a way which looked stupefyingly familiar to Arthur’s addled brain.
“The three pillars,” thundered the man. “The Steel Pillar which represented the Strength and Power of the Galaxy!”
Searchlights seared out and danced crazy dances up and down the pillar on the left which was, clearly, made of steel or something very like it. The music thumped and bellowed.
“The Perspex Pillar,” announced the man, “representing the forces of Science and Reason in the Galaxy!”
Other searchlights played exotically up and down the righthand, transparent pillar creating dazzling patterns within it and a sudden inexplicable craving for ice-cream in the stomach of Arthur Dent.
“And,” the thunderous voice continued, “the Wooden Pillar, representing…” and here his voice became just very slightly hoarse with wonderful sentiments, “the forces of Nature and Spirituality.”
The lights picked out the central pillar. The music moved bravely up into the realms of complete unspeakability.
“Between them supporting,” the voice rolled on, approaching its climax, “the Golden Bail of Prosperity and the Silver Bail of Peace!“
The whole structure was now flooded with dazzling lights, and the music had now, fortunately, gone far beyond the limits of the discernible. At the top of the three pillars the two brilliantly gleaming bails sat and dazzled. There seemed to be girls sitting on top of them, or maybe they were meant to be angels. Angels are usually represented as wearing more than that, though.
LIFE, THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING, Chapter 8, by Douglas Adams
Materialist world is the Bubble world. It’s inhabitants live inside a consumer-driven, status-obsessed bubble.
Possession is key. Those who can see beyond the walls of the bubble are deemed mad & deluded.
Glimpse of Truth will burst the fragile walls.
The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
Wedjat – Eye of Horus
Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few; and these few precious days I’ll spend with you.
Maxwell Anderson
The shadow of an eagle that had set forth from those high and craggy fastnesses crossed the line of riders below and they looked up to mark it where it rode in that brittle blue and faultless void.
Blood Meridian (1985) by Cormac McCarthy
Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head. Found my way downstairs and drank a cup and looking up I noticed I was late. Found my coat and grabbed my hat, made the bus in seconds flat. Found my way upstairs and had a smoke, and somebody spoke and I went into a dream.
A Day in the Life by The Beatles
La República de California was an unrecognized breakaway state from Mexico, that for 25 days in 1846 militarily controlled an area north of San Francisco.
Mexican officials had been concerned about a coming war with the United States and the growing influx of Americans into California. The rebellion was covertly encouraged by US Army Captain John Frémont.
“California Republic” appeared only on the flag the insurgents raised in Sonoma. It indicated their aspiration of forming a republican government under their control.
The Bear Flag Revolt and whatever remained of the “California Republic” ceased to exist on July 9 when US Navy Lieutenant Joseph Revere raised the United States flag in front of the Sonoma Barracks and sent a second flag to be raised at Sutter’s Fort.
Hobbes describes life as “nasty, brutish, and short.”
Keltner believes evolution has given Homo sapiens emotions like gratitude, joy, amusement, and compassion.
On the Science of Awe by Mark Leviton Thomas