Friday, August 11, 2017

Friday links

August 12 is Erwin Schrödinger's (he of the famous half-dead cat) birthday: explanation, quotes, jokes, video.


Browse the British Library’s online copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s 570-page notebook.

Roman roads of Britain.

The Tiny Island in New York That Nobody’s Allowed to Visit.

ICYMI, Wednesday's links are here, and include directly streaming music to your cochlear implant, the anniversary of the battle of Thermopylae, the 1814 beer flood that killed eight people, village sin-eaters, and Glen Campbell's Alzheimer's-related song.

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Wednesday links

RIP Glen Campbell - here's his heartbreaking Alzheimer's-related song: "I'm Not Gonna Miss You".


This 1814 Beer Flood Killed Eight People.

Today is the anniversary of the battle of Thermopylae.

The Worst Freelance Gig in History Was Being the Village Sin Eater.

Japan has engineered an ice cream that 'doesn't melt'.


ICYMI, Friday's links are here, and include knitting as a patriotic duty in World War 1, early explosives (including cat and bird bombs) from 16th century illustrated manuscripts, the 1900 hurricane that left over 6,000 dead in Galveston, TX, and a look at Puzzlewood, Tolkien’s inspiration for Middle-earth.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

RIP Glen Campbell - here's his heartbreaking Alzheimer's-related song : "I'm Not Gonna Miss You"

From his website:

Glen Travis Campbell 1936-2017
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and legendary singer and guitarist, Glen Travis Campbell, at the age of 81, following his long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Glen is survived by his wife, Kim Campbell of Nashville, TN; their three children, Cal, Shannon and Ashley; his children from previous marriages, Debby, Kelli, Travis, Kane, and Dillon; ten grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren; sisters Barbara, Sandra, and Jane; and brothers John Wallace “Shorty” and Gerald.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Glen Campbell Memorial Fund at BrightFocus Foundation through the CareLiving.org donation page.
From 2014: After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2011, 78 year-old country music singer/songwriter Glen Campbell recorded the footage in this music video (other than the old videos, of course) as his disease progressed; the final sessions are from last year (2013). Currently in stage 6 of the disease, he's been living in a full-time care facility in Nashville since March of this year.


Part of the lyrics he sings to his wife, Kim:

You're the last person I will love
You're the last face I will recall
And best of all, I'm not gonna miss you.
Not gonna miss you.

I'm never gonna hold you like I did
Or say I love you to the kids
You're never gonna see it in my eyes
It's not gonna hurt me when you cry

I'm never gonna know what you go through
All the things I say or do
All the hurt and all the pain
One thing selfishly remains

I'm not gonna miss you
I'm not gonna miss you

Here's the Alzheimer's Association website, and here's more on Campbell and his Alzheimer's.