I struggled to come up with a web development angle for this one. I had a brief hope of executing some dazzling metaphorical sleight of hand when I read Thomas DeGregori’s discussion of the “usability” of rocks among proto-humans, but in the end I gave up and decided just to roll with it…
The world’s resources are limitless. I’m not joking. In a world of finite materials – and a finite 88 keys on a piano – resources are no more limited than are melodies and harmonies. Even if we stick to the Western musical scale, we will never run out of tunes. This is because tunes are not raw materials, somehow just there, waiting to be discovered: they come into … read on »
Archive for the ‘history’ category…
Anniversary of The Slave Trade Act, 1807
March 25th is the 200th anniversary of the Slave Trade Act, “An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade”, the Act of Parliament which outlawed the trading of slaves. It was the first of three Slave Trade Acts, and slavery was actually abolished only with the Slavery Abolition Act 1833. The Central Office of Information says:
“Although it would be another 30 years before slaves gained their final freedom – when slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire – the Bicentenary in 2007 gives the opportunity to remember the millions who suffered; to pay tribute to the courage and moral conviction of all those – black and white – who campaigned for abolition; and to demand to know why today, … read on »
Festa Del Bus: A Whistle-Stop Tour of Italy
We just got back from our coach trip to Italy. The immersion in history, the visual spectacle and the cultural richness were stunning and moving and stimulating, and they left a lasting and important mark on my heart and mind.
First I want to say that whilst Ann came to be known as the Jackie Collins of the trip – inventing brilliantly entertaining and mischievous backstories, especially for the most enigmatic members of the coach party – I won’t touch on that side of things myself. What I will say is that the whole experience did demonstrate the truth of the maxim don’t judge a book by its cover: it was a great collection of people.
This was never really meant to … read on »
©2010 Alistair Robinson