It's the first day of Fall - autumnal equinox science, videos, poetry, music

Here on the east coast, this year's autumnal equinox (wiki) occurs on September 22 at 3:20 pm EDT, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The equinox is the moment at which the sun appears to cross the celestial equator from north to south - or more simply, the first day of fall, with equal hours of light and darkness. In Latin, the word equinox is composed of two words meaning "equal" and "night."

I seem to remember that when I was a kid, the first day of each new season was always considered to be the 21st (of March for Spring, June for Summer, September for Autumn, and December for Winter). I guess it's more accurate now.

Mechanics of the equinox:


Science of the equinox. More here and here.

More science - why leaves turn different colors.

The 1869 version of Chambers' Book of Days has a post on the equinox (you may need to scroll down), including this interesting comment on the science of equinox-related weather:

As is well known, both the autumnal and vernal equinoxes are distinguished over the world by the storms which prevail at these seasons. The origin of such atmospheric commotions has never yet been very satisfactorily explained, but is sup-posed, as stated by Admiral Fitzroy, to arise from the united tidal action of the sun and moon upon the atmosphere; an action which at the time of the equinoxes is exerted with greater force than at any other period of the year.

Here's a 2 minute Nat Geo video:



No, you can't balance an egg on the equinox.

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold....
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sunburned hands, I used to hold
Since you went away, the days grow long
And soon I'll hear ol' winter's song.
But I miss you most of all my darling,
When autumn leaves start to fall.

~Johnny Mercer, Autumn Leaves (see Nat King Cole singing this, below)

Mark Steyn has a long, comprehensive article on Autumn Leaves.

Nat King Cole singing it.

Here's a Fall Foliage Prediction Map.

Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.

~ Samuel Butler

Autumn wins you best by this, its mute

Appeal to sympathy for its decay.

~ Robert Browning

Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower.

~ Albert Camus

You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light.

~ Hemingway (A Movable Feast)

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.

~ George Santayana

The teeming Autumn big with rich increase,

Bearing the wanton burden of the prime

Like widowed wombs after their lords' decease.

~ William Shakespeare

It's not generally appreciated that perhaps the best-known of all works of baroque music, Le Quattro Stagioni ("The Four Seasons") (wiki) by Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi (ca. 1675-1741), was first published with four Italian poems - likely by Vivaldi himself - that describe the several scenarios represented in the music. 

Below is Vivaldi's poem Autumn, and here's a performance of the third movement of "Autumn" in Venice's foggy Piazza San Marco:

Allegro

Celebra il Vilanel con balli e Canti
Del felice raccolto il bel piacere
E del liquor de Bacco accesi tanti
Finiscono col Sonno il lor godere

The peasant celebrates with song and dance,
The harvest safely gathered in.
The cup of Bacchus flows freely,
And many find their relief in deep slumber.

Adagio molto

Fà ch' ogn' uno tralasci e balli e canti
L' aria che temperata dà piacere,
E la Staggion ch' invita tanti e tanti
D' un dolcissimo Sonno al bel godere.

The singing and the dancing die away
As cooling breezes fan the pleasant air,
And the season invites each and all
To a sweet sleep, without a care.

Allegro

I cacciator alla nov'alba à caccia
Con corni, Schioppi, e canni escono fuore
Fugge la belua, e Seguono la traccia;
Già Sbigottita, e lassa al gran rumore
De' Schioppi e canni, ferita minaccia
Languida di fuggir, mà oppressa muore.

The hunters emerge at dawn
With horns, shotguns, and dogs baying.
The quarry flees while they give chase.
Terrified by the dogs and wounded by the guns
The prey struggles on,
But harried, dies.

The two revolutions, I mean the annual revolutions of the declination and of the centre of the Earth, are not completely equal; that is the return of the declination to its original value is slightly ahead of the period of the centre. Hence it necessarily follows that the equinoxes and solstices seem to anticipate their timing, not because the sphere of the fixed stars moves to the east, but rather the equatorial circle moves to the west, being at an angle to the plane of the ecliptic in proportion to the declination of the axis of the terrestrial globe.

~Nicolaus Copernicus

Original url - https://patrissecullors.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/th4-1-684x1024.jpg

That Time a Woman Named Phyllis Rode Aristotle Around Like a Horse

You learn something new every day, if you aren't careful. I was not aware of the Medieval trend of depicting Aristotle being ridden and whipped by a dominatrix named Phyllis. From JSTOR - go there to read the whole thing. More links below.

Alexander the Great (wiki), Aristotle’s (wiki) pupil, fell in love with a young woman named Phyllis. Aristotle, concerned that Phyllis was distracting Alexander from his kingly duties, cautioned him and advised him to spend less time with his love. Hurt, Phyllis decided to take her revenge. The next morning, she told Alexander to look out for her from the palace roof. She let down her hair, hiked up her skirts, and ran barefoot through the morning dew in the garden outside the window of Aristotle’s study. The philosopher looked up from his books to see a vision of beauty. Enchanted, he called her to him and begged her to be his.

“Certainly—on one condition,” Phyllis told the philosopher, and demanded that he put on saddle and bridle and give her a ride through the garden. Alexander, up on the battlements, was shocked to see his dignified old tutor with a bit in his mouth, while Phyllis brandished a whip over his back.

So, apparently there's a whole slew of art from over the last few hundred years depicting this story - I've picked a few favorites, but you can find more here. The first image below is not the clearest, but it's Leonardo DaVinci, for goodness sake.

Many more images at Google images.

More about this legend at the JSTOR article, and

http://dhayton.haverford.edu/blog/2016/02/19 (including a thorough retelling, changes through history, and a partial Latin translation of the story)

http://www.jehsmith.com/1/2013/04/phyllis-rides-aristotle.html

Pending gun restriction legislation in Virginia as of 2/15/21

Status of gun bills as of 2/15/21



HB1992, Murphy, takes away gun rights for a conviction of misdemeanor domestic violence.  HB1992 was first killed by the committee this morning, but a little while later the vote was revisited and the bill squeaked out of committee on an 8 to 7 vote. HB1992 now heads to Finance.  The bill had a substitute in committee this morning.  The substitute restores gun rights after 3 years.  

However, that doesn't actually restore a person's gun rights federally, as the bill must take away all civil rights and then restore all of them for the federal prohibition to be terminated.  Worse, HB1992 expands what qualifies as domestic violence, beyond what the federal government uses.  For these reasons, VCDL continues to STRONGLY OPPOSE HB1992.



Voting pro-gun: Norment, Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Morrissey, Peake

Voting anti-gun: Edwards, Saslaw, Lucas, Deeds, Petersen, Surovell, McClellan, Boysko

ACTION ITEM #1!

Click here to tell your Senator that you still oppose HB1992, even with the substitute.

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HB2081, Levine, prohibits guns within 40 feet of polling places.  The bill passed out of committee on an 8 to 6 vote and heads to the Senate Floor.  VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES HB2081.



Voting pro-gun: Norment, Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Peake

Voting anti-gun: Edwards, Saslaw, Lucas, Deeds, Surovell, McClellan, Boysko, Morrissey

HB2276, Simon, is a ban on homemade guns and 80% receivers.  The bill was not heard today, but is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Criminal Law subcommittee on Wednesday.  This is a really bad bill that must be stopped.  VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES HB2276.

HB2298, Fariss, allows for the use of safer "firestick" breach-loaded propellant for muzzleloaders used in hunting.  The bill was not heard today, but is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary committee 1/2 hour after adjournment of the Senate on Wednesday.  VCDL STRONGLY SUPPORTS HB2298.

ACTION ITEM #2!

On Tuesday, February 16, SB1381, Ebbin, which bans guns at the Capitol and in state government buildings, is going to be heard in the House Public Safety Firearms subcommittee at 7 am.  VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES SB1381.

Tell your Delegate to OPPOSE SB1381 by clicking here.

Blind Father-to-Be Can’t See Ultrasound Image–so Friend Embroiders Scan for Him to Feel

Blind Father-to-Be Can’t See Ultrasound Image–so Friend Embroiders Scan for Him to Feel.

When Emma realized that Nathan felt he was missing out, she collaborated with a friend, Deb Fisher, to create a tactile embroidered ultrasound image so he could feel the baby’s shape.

“She said she had never embroidered before but would love to try and embroider all of our scans for Nathan to enable us to experience the joy of our baby boy growing together.”

“She said she was so happy for us both but sad that Nathan was unable to see our baby grow on our scan photos,” Emma recounted.