2025 Switzerland/Germany: Basel Minster (III), Windows And Walls

 Basel Minster has some spectacular stained glass window:

On the floor beneath the main church (not accessible), there are still walls with original painting on them:

Golden Purple

 

Amid purple blooms
yellow gold banding dances
blown by Summer breeze.

A Year Of Humility (XXVI): Adhering To The Written Word

 In my industry of Biopharmaceutical/Medical Devices, we spend a great deal of time with documents.

The guiding documents for all of this industry is, of course, government regulations which specify what needs to be in place for the design, manufacture, testing, and distribution of drugs and devices,  how one conducts trials in order verify safety and effectiveness, and how one registers and continues to update the regulatory authorities about the products.  These regulations, promulgated by national and supranational government bodies, are the basis for how our business runs.

These regulations in turn get translated into documents at companies.  The most recognized form of document - familiar in other industries as well - is the Standard Operating Procedure or SOP, The SOP tells a reader the who, what, where, how, and occasionally the why of what they are doing.  The SOP is often supported by other documents - forms, logs, guidances, reference documents - all which support the the translation of the requirements into greater detail.

The purpose of the SOP is found, of course, in that first word:  "Standard".  The idea is that no matter who does a thing, every person will do the thing the same way.  This makes sense when you think about in my industry:  a small variation can have a greater or lesser impact on the final product,  In the Biopharmaceutical/Medical Device industry, "variation" is not a welcome thing.  

My challenge is that sometimes rather than take the time to look at the SOP, I think I know what it says or means and, rather than taking the time to actually look up the document, I tend to just act.

One of the things that we spend endless amounts of time doing in my line of work, Quality, is reminding people that they should always - always - be operating from the document directly rather than from what they remember; so in that sense in writing this I write this to myself: "Remove the log from your own eye" and so forth.  But it does point to a larger issue.

In my industry, ultimately one has to be humble enough to take the time to open and read the documents as written, rather than try and remember or just "wing it".  It is a tacit admission that no matter how much I "know" something, I am to be guided by the words on the page, not the words I think I remember on the page.

The fact that I have the tendency in all of my life, including in my relationship with God, should not be that surprising then.

In the case of God's word, it is slightly different.  More often than not I "know" where the information is and even what it says to a greater or lesser extent.  Much less often am I willing to humble myself to the text to do what it says.

In my mind of course, it is easy enough to justify:  This was written for a different time.  This was written to a different set of circumstances.  This was intended for someone else - those "unbelievers" - and not for me.  It is surprising to what lengths I will go in order to justify why I do not need to bring myself in line with the Christian's version of The Great SOP.

Ultimately of course, they remain the sorts of excuses that people have made throughout the ages about why The Word of God is not relevant and why they have a carve-out from its requirements.  The difficulty though, is that much like the regulations and SOPS that support them in my industry, there is no "getting out" of such things.  

I can take my time to "consult the document" now and do what it says, or go off on my own - and risk the consequences of decisions based on what I think I remember or doing what I think is best, not what is required.

Of Autism And Self Discovery

 A couple of weekends now passed, The Ravishing Mrs. TB and I got to talking about a passage in the book The World Beyond Your Head by Matthew B. Crawford.  In the section I read out loud, the author was discussing the intricacies of motorcycle racing and comparing elements of this to Immanuel Kant's philosophy.  I commented to her I wish I was smarter about such things; I can barely apprehend Plato, let alone any of the later philosophers.  It was partially time and focus of course, which I pointed out.  But I do feel somewhat non-intelligent at times.

Which brought up the actual story.

Somewhat on a lark based on a discussion, I had done a bit of research on Autism.

There has always been, in my adult mind, a question of whether or not I have some level of autism (or apparently "neurodivergence", as it is now called).  One is from the fact that as a small child, I did not speak for the first two years of my life to the point that it concerned my family (the doctor at the time simply asked if I was able to communicate my needs; when that was affirmed, he said he was not worried and when I was ready to talk, I would).  The other is simply the fact that I have what I would call "quirks" of my nature: repetitive behaviors, hyperfocus, etc.  But it was not something that I had ever particularly pursued; life was life and one has to get through it.

This time, on a lark, I went out and found a list of behaviors which potentially indicate autism (the list I used is here; there are a great many out there as any search will show.  

The results, as I read the list, were in my mind definitive.

As a child:  Delayed speech, avoiding eye contact, trouble making friends, obsessive over hobbies or interests, toe walking (This is a big one; I went to a doctor once a year for years to overcome this), repetitive physical behaviors, trouble with fine motor skills, inability to sense danger or ulterior motives?  Check.

As an adult:  inability to maintain eye contact, anxiety in social situations, inability to assess social cues, easily overloaded by sensory input, trouble making decisions (have we seen this before?), adherence to strict routines, hyperfocus, impatience with small changes to routines, would prefer to listen rather than speak, awkward in social situations, may have perfectionism, prefers to work at home, may be perceived as overly concerned about one's self?  Also check.

It is not a diagnosis of course, but I check 50% of each of the lists.

The fact this was not a surprise to The Ravishing Mrs. TB and it had been a topic of family discussion should not have shocked me at all.

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Autism (I have used the word, but not necessarily the definition) is "a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing differences, and repetitive behaviors..." (source). Like lots of other things, it has/is being re-defined, with some previously separate conditions such as Asperberger's Syndrome now being included in the general spectrum.  Interestingly, males are three times as likely as females to have such a condition.  Per the US CDC, approximately 1% of the world population falls on the spectrum, or about 75,000.000.

"High Functioning Autism" is simply "...people that have developed a series of coping mechanism and compensatory strategies over time that help "mask" the signs of autism, which can make it more difficult to determine autism severity.  These individuals, especially if they were not diagnosed as children, may not realize they have autism and see their ASD behaviors and coping mechanisms in daily life as normal."

There is no cure.

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Admittedly of course, this is a self-diagnosis, and just as a lawyer is a fool for having himself as a client, I suspect self-diagnosis runs the same risks.   One could, I suppose, get a formal diagnosis - but at this point in my life what would the point be?  I certainly have no intention of medicating at this point, and even if this is a partially true diagnosis, the fact remains that to a greater or lesser extent, I can function reasonably well on a day to day basis.

The real value to me is historical perspective.

Looking back at my life, this potential outcome gives me some context for certain portions of my past - how I have acted (and continue to act) in some cases, how I might seek to mitigate certain aspects of my behavior in the future - a simple one for example is simply understanding that multiple inputs are very overwhelming to me and to the extent that I can minimize them (analog versus digital, for example) the more likely I am to be able to focus.

It also raises some interesting materials for thought - like, for example, knowing that I have problem with eye contact (I have all my life), why is it even now that eye contact with some is easier than others? (Interesting footnote: It is much easier for me with women than men; is this indicative of the fact I have so many more good female friends than male friends?).

If a "diagnosis", it is more for self improvement at this point than treatment.

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One of my blogging heroes is a FOTB (Friend Of This Blog) STxAR.  One reason is that he is a mechanical genius and can discuss things with machining that I only can consider magic (he is that good).  The other is that he has been challenged late in life, due to circumstances beyond his control, with a medical condition that has impacted his mental life.

Never once have I read of him lamenting this development.  It is a thing that he has to deal with, and he has been open in his dealings with it.  It directly and indirectly changed his life; rather than lament over what has changed or what cannot be gotten back to, he works with what he has been gifted with and carries on.

And that, if I have to remind myself of anything, is the important point here: even if this theoretical diagnosis is 100% spot on, it is simply something to account for, work on where needed, and continue to move forward.   After all, people deal with much more grave issues than social awkwardness, hyperfocus, and closing their eyes when dealing with people.

Independence Day 2025

 (Editor's note:  This represents year 9 of publishing this post annually.  Every year it context, the world situation, and reading it makes it both slightly different and all the more meaningful. This year, that phrase seems to be "That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."  Is there such a thing as a metric (if such a thing can be removed from emotion) that measures the destructive effects of government?  Just because "we" happen to agree with the party in power does not mean that party is not as or more a "destructive government" as the party who is more opposed to our beliefs.)

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained, and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the  conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.


New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
Source: The Pennsylvania Packet, July 8, 1776

The Collapse CXCIV: Music

25 November 20XX+1

My Dear Lucilius:

One of the things I miss most is music.

Music is a thing that was ubiquitous in our culture and society of up to two years ago. It followed us almost everywhere: in every retail and commercial location, in the car, in our worship services. Many had listening devices (headphones and so on) that allowed one to listen to music wherever they were; in some cases, one saw people who almost never seemed to disassociate from them.

Now, there is virtually no music to be heard at all. I suspect it stems from two sources.

The first is simply that so much of our music was borrowed in the sense that it was “piped in” to us. We listened to it, the aural history of 2,000 years or more, performed by others. In more modern instances, the very instruments themselves were powered by electricity. If we sang out loud, it was only in particular settings: at church, in a concert, in the car at the top of our lungs. Only rarely did one hear anyone singing alone by themselves.

The second is that so many seem to have lost the interest or ability to play music.

At one time, learning of an instrument was de rigeur a right of passage growing up. Many – myself included – went through the inevitable piano lessons. For others it was recorders in class. Some “advanced” to some form of band or string instruments through middle school and high school, perhaps even into college.

And then for many, it simply stopped.

The reasons are as varied as people. For many, I suspect it was simply the fact that they got busy with the art and practice of living and thirty minutes to an hour a day of practice no longer fit into their schedules. For others, the camaraderie of the band or orchestra was what they enjoyed as much or more than making music remove that as an adult, and the interest quickly waned.

A few persevered of course, making music as a hobby or as a semi-profession. But these were inevitably those that did it out of love of the medium – in the world of the last 30 years, there was little enough money in music for the bulk of those that made it.

Now – I would say “suddenly” but we seem to be a little beyond that now – there is no music at all.

In my visits to others locally, I have seen a few instruments: more than a few guitars, mentions of a trumpet or saxophone which are brought out for inspection when I show any interest, even the odd piano or two. Occasionally there are music books around to go with them, but just as often there are none, just a set of notes or chords that seem to have embedded themselves in the brain.

This loss should not surprise me, of course. Literature contains multiple references to music of Ancient peoples for whom we have nothing but at best scanty notes or descriptions. What did the Romans bawl out in their tavernae? What was the sound of the Greek Paean before the hoplites started marching forward? What songs did the Vikings sing across the seas, or the courtiers of Heian Japan play to each other under the Autumn Moon?

I can hum the songs of my youth, Lucilius, and the soaring ballad chords and guitar riffs of the Power Rock of high school roar loudly - but only in my mind can I now here the actual music as it was played. It is secreted away now, in disks and on drives and other media that are locked down although nothing but dust lies on them.

In any crisis of civilization, the arts often seem the first to go.

Your Obedient Servant, Seneca

2025 Switzerland/Germany: Basel Minster (II), Tombs

 One of the neat things to me about Basel Minster was the tombs that were present.

"Bischof" in German is "Bishop" .

"Ritter" is German for Knight.

"Graf" is the German equivalent of Count.

"Und andere" means "and others".

As near as I can tell, someone named Johannes died in the year A.D. 1300:

I was a little shocked in looking at this tomb to realize that this was the tomb of 16th Century Humanist Desiderius Erasumus.    This was a pleasant surprise; I had completely forgotten he had died in Basel.  Interestingly, even though he was a Roman Catholic, he was so respected that a funeral with Roman Catholic rites was given to him in Basel, a city that was becoming staunchly Protestant.  In modern times, he is most remembered for his work In Praise of Folly.

Adalbero (Adalberto) II, founder of the cathedral:

2025 Switzerland/Germany: Basel Minster (I)

 The Basel Minster is a church (originally a Cathedral) located in Basel, built between A.D. 1019 and 1500.  

(The Southern Tower (left is named the Martinsturm and the Northern tower is named the Georgsturm after Saints George and Martin, saints of knights)

The original structure was originally started in A.D. 1019 by Bishop Adalberto II (the city of Basel had served as the seat of a bishop since the relocation of the seat from Augusta Raurica in the mid 4th Century A.D.).  The initial layout was completed in A.D. 1225.

The structure was damaged by an earthquake in A.D. 1356 but was rebuilt by 1363.  In A.D. 1421, additional towers were added.  The last major addition, a tower in the Southern quarter, was added in A.D. 1500 and marks the end of the construction (a mere 481 years).

After the Reformation, the cathedral became a Protestant church. Many of the artwork and interior decorations were destroyed by iconoclasts in A.D. 1528 and 1529.

June 2025 Grab Bag

 Sometime this past Saturday, I surpassed 2,000,000 views:

It seems apparent that something changed around the February/March timeframe.  Part of that may be that I somehow got linked to other sites (due to the kindness of the owners of those sites).  But somehow, based on the nature of the traffic, I wonder.

(As a note, the records only goes back to June of 2010, when I had a whopping 355 views that month.)

An examination of the overall traffic reveals some interesting locations:

But the past three months reveals even more interesting things:

Singapore and Vietnam seem to fall in the timeline with our trip to Cambodia and Vietnam (we did stop in Singapore on the way there).  No idea about Brazil, I have never been.  A quick review yesterday morning for the last 24 hours also revealed Brazil and Vietnam as "top" countries.  

I have no idea what would make me so interesting that Brazilians and Vietnamese seek me out.  If they are all bots, I have to give Blogger credit:  the last time I had spam was some months ago.

Interestingly, I hit 1,000,000 on 28 October 2023, so the cycle time is speeding up. 

That said, I am sure there are some real views there as well.  Thank you to all the actual readers for your continued support. 

On to 3,000,000.

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My Winter/Spring "harvest" seems complete at this point.  Below you see the results:  Emmer Wheat, Jet Barley, and garlic (Always, the reliable garlic.  It has never failed me.).  Other than a large handful of Spinach, this is more or less what I got.

That said, I am not at all disappointed.  This was my first foray into balcony container gardening and I anticipated getting nothing, so anything is a victory.

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After having removed the remaining stalks of wheat and barley, I was thinking about succession planting.  Herbs struck me as being in order, as they are something we can use and do grow into containers.  I went by my local Big Box store:  Herbs are currently $5.98 a pot.  That was an investment I was not willing to make.

Then, at a stop of large regional grocery store, I went out to their garden center (turns out they have one).  Low and behold, they were clearing out their potted herbs.  Feeling a worthy protégé of Eaton Rapids Joe, I snagged mint, thyme, and English lavender for $4.00 total.  That, to my silly math, is an 78% savings over what I could have paid.

(Thyme and Lavender)

(Mint.  It was very healthy and had a lot of growth).

If I had had the space, there was the makings of a lavender farm in the amount of remaining lavender there.  Perhaps against my better judgement, I may go back there as of the writing of this on Sunday. It is too good of a deal to pass up.

(Editor's note:  I did go back.  The lavender has been completely vacuumed up by someone.  That said, they cut prices again, so I got a sage plant for $1.00.  That raised my "savings" to 84%. )

General garden, End of June 2025:

Currently I am growing leeks, alfalfa, Jerusalem Spinach, and peppers.  The alfalfa is an experiment - well, really all of this is an experiment.

On the bright side, I have serrano peppers!

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I have gotten out of the habit of making bread over the last two months for reasons I do not fully know.  It is easy to do with a bread maker; I really have had no excuse.  Yesterday I made a sort of light rye:

I will say that a game changer for me was finding that Bob's Red Mill makes small batches of non-wheat flour which are pretty reasonable, thus opening up new possibilities.  We also now live near a store that sells bulk grains (and I have a grain mill).  So more opportunities to experiment await.

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A the Cat sends greetings.  Other than a penchant for clawing at couches and "stepping in" to J the Rabbit's cage for a visit (somewhat unwelcome by J), the adjustment is going well.

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I think I finally have a "drink".

When I was out to dinner with The Ravishing Mrs. TB for a belated birthday celebration, I had a Porto Tonico.  It is a drink made with port and tonic water and finds its origins in Portugal. 

Basic recipe:

- 2 ounces white port (it can be any port, but white is preferred)

- 4 ounces tonic water

That is it.  It can be garnished, if you are fancy, with mint leaves and a bit of orange slice or lime slice.  (I, being not fancy, do not garnish.)

I find them highly refreshing.

If you are lucky enough to live somewhere that sells generic tonic water in the 12 ounce cans, get those:  You can get two Porto Tonicos and a chaser of tonic water out of single can.

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The Ravishing Mrs. TB and I have started passively looking for a house.

When I say "passively", it is simply looking at some pictures and starting a list of things we would like to have in a house.  Part of that is also making short day trips around the area to see the communities, mostly West and North of us, as neither of us want to live closer to the rather large urban area directly nearby or even in the greater area we now live (nice to rent in, maybe not so great to buy in).

In terms of "needs" at the moment, they include at least three bedrooms (we may have one or more family members living with us from time to time), 30 minute or less commute from my work, within 1 hour of the major airport (if we use the "30 minutes to work" rule, it is a sufficient stalking horse),  a better heating/cooling system than we have now, and at least one room with a sufficient ceiling height to allow me to practice Iaijtsu in the rainy and cold season inside without our ceiling being in peril.  Also highly desirable is some amount of land, or at least farther distance from our neighbors - if I had my way, I would like to have a better garden and try my hand at bees and poultry again.

This is all very tentative at the moment.  But it is never too early to start planning.

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You may remember from this past Saturday that my cousin's partner was home on hospice.  He had been given two to four weeks.  My cousin let me know that death came yesterday - Three days from the final diagnosis.

Live each day well.  Tomorrow is not promised us.