Stories about giant squids have been part of folklore and myth for a very long time. One was seen in 2006 but only after it had been caught and brought up. Japan’s National Science Museum, working with Japanese broadcaster NHK and Discovery Channel, have got actual film of a giant squid in Pacific Ocean. The squid was spotted at 2,000 feet from a submersible. The footage will air on 27 Jan 2013 at 10:00 p.m. EST on Discovery. Two photos accompany the story at Fox News.
According to various news sources, National Newspapers of Ireland now is demanding a fee from commercial websites that link to newspaper articles of its member papers. The group argues that linking to news articles is a violation of copyright. They do exclude personal non-commercial blogs and websites from this policy
It is highly dubious to argue linking to news articles is copyright violation. Normally a copyright violation occurs when you substantially or in whole reprint an article without permission of its owner. No argument on that point but when you start demanding fees for merely linking to news articles, that is going too far. Here in the U.S., it is generally allowed to link to news articles without having to pay a fee to the copyright holder.
This site is outside of Ireland and while they can send a bill to us, we can decline to pay and let the courts figure it out. It is a stupid policy and NNI ought to rescind it. Since they demand money for links, this site will no longer provide them. We will publish the paper name, date, and title of article and nothing else. The rest will be up to the reader.
It is January so it is time for the annual ice carving competition at the Titanic Museum. Each contestant will work with 250 pound blocks of ice to carve their sculptures. Both professional and amateurs can participate in the event on 19 Jan at 9 a.m. Judges from the National Ice Carving Association will determine the winners at 3 p.m. The top prize is $2,000. The event is free to attend but entrance to the museum requires paid admission. You can get more information at TitanicPigeonForge.com.
1. The Hillsborough Public Library in Hillsborough,NJ is having a Titanic presentation on 12 Jan 2013 at 1:30 p.m. Robert Martorana, who has appeared on History’s Detectives and Charles Haas (Titanic Historical Society) will be present along with Titanic artifacts. You must register to attend. For information, go to Somerset County Library website.
2. Matthew Lawson, writing for Dallas Observer, reviews the Titanic exhibition in Fort Worth. He writes: “The Titanic Artifact Exhibit is a beautifully done history lesson that will leave the museum goers breathless. It is an impactful and diverse recount of one the largest seaward disasters ever to occur in the modern world. The whole experience lasts comfortably under two hours, and is well worth the admission price.”
A special event to showcase Titanic II in December has been rescheduled to 5 Mar 2013 reports Daily Echo. Clive Palmer was going to use the event at Grand Cafe to showcase Titanic II, which is scheduled to launch in 2016. All of the original events in U.S. were cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.
“Jewels of Titanic” collection in Atlanta ends on 6 Jan 2013. It then travels to Orlando’s Titanic: The Experience opening on 11 Jan 2013. The collection will be on display until 12 Mar 2013. For information about hours and to purchase tickets, go to titanictheexperience.com. Admission to the collection is complementary when purchasing ticket for Titanic: The Experience.
“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” are the opening lines of The Christmas Song. The song has been performed by various artists over the years but the best, I think, are Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. The song is quiet in its tone unlike other Christmas songs that belt out the tune with great force. Yet it manages to convey the Christmas season well and that kids are going to bed in great expectation of a visit from Santa Claus. And although not a song, a poem written in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore, has also become a staple of Christmas. Titled “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” it is always worth a read on Christmas Eve.
Enjoy!
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Image:public domain
A Visit from St. Nicholas
by Clement Clark Moore
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
Frederick Rasmussen, writing for the Baltimore Sun, reviews Grace Evans book on Titanic fashion (Titanic Style: Dress and Fashion on the Voyage) and writes:
It is a detailed and comprehensive look into the vanished world of Edwardian fashion, an era defined by rigid social stratification, which revealed itself in the clothing worn by those with social status and those without. She re-creates a world using both words and illustrations — many in color — when travel was only for the wealthy and the middle class. Those in third class or steerage were the poor, making their way to the New World and, they hoped, a better life. Also, it was a time when dressing for travel was more than climbing into a pair of gray gym sweats and strapping on a backpack.
I have to admit, I have not given any deep thoughts to Edwardian fashions (except what I have read in various Titanic books and histories of the period). It was a totally different era of travel. Men of stature and substance were expected to wear good clothes no matter what they did. Many of their clothes would be tailored while men and women who were professionals of one kind or another wore ready-to-wear clothing. Those of lower classes wore functional clothing but did not appear shabby either if they could avoid it. As a kid I remember that when we flew (which was a major thing back in those days), most people tried to look good. Men wore slacks or at least casual pants and nice shirt. Women wore nice outfits. In short, you tried to look spiffy. Those days are long gone as well like the Edwardians. Then again my parents came from a generation where looking right was stressed even in the worst of times (and they both grew up during the Great Depression).
Some places try to make it upscale by requiring customers to come properly dressed. Many years ago an uncle accompanied us to a fancy place for dinner which required men be attired in business formal (suit, tie, shirt and slacks), women in dresses and children properly attired as well (my mother got a curt reminder that I had to have my coat on when I got up to get something from a buffet table at this place). My uncle had nice slacks and a turtleneck. It was winter so we did not think it would be an issue. It was but fortunately the maitre’d simply handed him a tie to wear around his turtle neck. It looked ridiculous but those strict rules of fashion came from that period. The meal, however, was delicious so it was worth all the hassle of getting dressed up. And back then a gentleman going to evening dinner outside his home was expected to look his best (women too as well). Gone too are the rich meals of the Edwardian era though some of it came back some decades later with restaurants that served high end French food. Few of them are around today (there is one in New York that Tony Bourdain went to his No Reservations show) and have menus with foods unheard of by modern chefs today.
I guess that is part of why Titanic is enduring. It offers much and never quite disappears like other disasters. And I guess fashion is just another facet of Titanic and the era she lived in.
was seen in 2006 but only after it had been caught and brought up. Japan’s National Science Museum, working with Japanese broadcaster NHK and Discovery Channel, have got actual film of a giant squid in Pacific Ocean. The squid was spotted at 2,000 feet from a submersible. The footage will air on 27 Jan 2013 at 10:00 p.m. EST on Discovery. Two photos accompany the story at Fox News.
