Facial hair and high office

We've conducted a thorough survey, and, of the forty-three men who have served as President of the United States, only five wore beards. That's less that 12 percent. Abraham Lincoln was the first, and the other four were all amongst the seven office holders that consecutively followed him. Another three U.S. Presidents wore moustaches, all during those three decades that followed Lincoln.

Only two Presidents dared alternative hair styles, both during the early 19th Century. Martin Van Buren wore amazingly huge mutton chops, and James Polk wore a mullet.

Natural Plastics for Defense

The beetle, Abax ater, secretes monomeric methyl methacrylate. This material instantly polymerizes, immobilizing the beetle's enemies by encasing them in what is essentially chemically identical to plexiglass.

The first plastic invented by humans was cellulose nitrate, the formulation of which was discovered by accident in a chemist's kitchen. The ivory market was one of the first to be displaced, celluloid being an easy replacement for everything from knife handles to billiard balls. Being highly combustible--and explosive with a forceful strike-- these early plastic billiard balls occasionally exploded upon being hit by a pool player's cue.

"Three ball in the corner pocket..." BANG!

I reckon this had the general effect of increasing the number of gun fights in the Old West.

Tycho and Aralia Hispida

These two things share particular mathematical qualities.

1848 1876 1897

1848: "Year of Revolutions." Starting in France, European countries are swept up in revolution, none of which succeed, most of which end bloodily. The anti-slavery Free Soil Party divides the Democratic Party and slave-holding career soldier Zachary Taylor is elected president of the U.S..

1876: Western Union has a profound influence on the election of Rutherford Hayes as U.S. President, who lost the popular vote and won the electoral vote by 1, and not without controversy. His rival, Samuel Tilden, never conceded, and was called "President Tilden" by Democrats. (They called Hayes "Rutherfraud.")

1897: Wm. Randolph Hearst uses the New York Journal to change public opinion in favor of war with Spain, famously telling a photographer, "Your provide the photographs, I'll provide the war." The Spanish American War followed the next year.

The Illusion of the Central Node

Spend all time in wandering state
unintentionally in-incomprehensible
maze corridor.

A node is found.
Convincing as center. From here, the spokes.
The Illusion of the Central Node is reborn.

This one reads:
"To maintain production level is equal to spiritual attainment."

By what shades & tempers shall we know you?
Are you Destined or are you Developing a Purpose?
No conscious worries. Surrender expectations for success.
Highest assignment: "The Founding Monk."

The Work of the Zealot,
the Opportunity of Living provides
the answer: the Work of the Way!

Still, other hallways,
Echoes.
New Nodes.
Dazy Ratravels.
Argie Mendido.
PaPsqua PaPsqua.
Utee! Ra.

The Return

Tao Te Ching Chapter 16

Attain utmost emptiness.
Abide by sincere tranquility.
The 10000 things circulate.
I contemplate only the Return.
For, flourishing as they do,
each thing returns to its source.

Returning to the source is called tranquility.
This is what is meant by “returning to Nature.”
Returning to nature is acceptance of constancy.
Accepting constancy is enlightenment.
Not accepting constancy can lead one to calamity.

Accepting constancy, the mind opens to the universe.
Openminded, the heart opens to the universe.
Openhearted, one acts with vituous leadership.
Acting with virtuous leadership, one attains the divine.
To attain divinity is to be one with the Tao.
To be one with the Tao is to be

Pause Enters Flutter and Wow

On Sound Recorded to Magnetic Tape

FLUTTER: short speed variation creates garbled sound

WOW: low frequency speed variation creates wavering pitch, especially in sustained tones