Macfarlane & Martin — Glass: A World History

Macfarlane, Alan/Gerry Martin Glass: A World History, U. of Chicago Press, 2002
(available in the UK as The Glass Bathyscaphe: How Glass Changed the World)

[cross-posted at Albion’s Seedlings]

Readers of this blog will already have seen occasional references to the work of British social anthropologist, Alan Macfarlane. While Macfarlane’s writing on the origins of modernity offer a great deal to Anglosphere discussions, he is also an author with much wider interests. With co-author and historian Gerry Martin, he’s written a fascinating book on glass. More specifically, the history of its adoption by cultures across Eurasia, its particular uses in each region and time period, and the ultimate impact which it had on thought and society.

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Clooney, etc. Oppose bin Laden

bin Laden clearly is not in favor of UN peacekeeprs, wants Sharia law enforced throughout the Sudan, and appears to have few problems with genocide. Isn’t this the first tape in which he speaks directly of the Sudan and threatens jihad there?

Bin Laden said the United States and Britain were seeking to dismember Sudan and urged his followers to fight them in Darfur, calling the United Nations an “infidel body” and a U.S. tool.

That such figures as George Clooney find this an unattractive position is heartening. (Though I must say imagining Lantos, Jackson Lee & Clooney demonstrating boggles the mind.)

This Blog Has Legs

The official Chicagoboyz Tour de France squad takes a break from its grueling training regimen to enjoy a few minutes of relaxing argument.

Do Blondes Have More Fun

My oldest daughter. whose good looks are a bit Slavic & definitely brunette was quite irritated as she searched for a cake “topper” five years ago: she wanted a brunette bride paired with a groom of the blonde/blue-eyed good looks of her Nordic husband-to-be. (Perfectly sensible people tend toward the sentimental at such times; I figured she figured she would only marry once & why not with marzipan schmalz?) Dark brides were everywhere, but always coupled with dark grooms. And perhaps as many plastic couples were dark grooms with blonde brides. Clearly, these reflected our culture’s vision of a generic “handsome couple.” But, now, I see in AL Daily, “Corrected-Cavegirls were first blondes to have fun”, the ancient path of evolutionary choice, though I’m not sure this is enough evidence. With such ratios, the males chose, but what will women find alluring? If cake ornaments (generally chosen by women) are any indication, blonde men don’t have (or aren’t) more fun.

Another thought, will women become dark & dowdy if the ratios in China & India continue – and perhaps spread? (I’m looking forward to being in fashion myself.) When men died young & hard:

The increase in competition for males led to rapid change as women struggled to evolve the most alluring qualities. Frost believes his theory is supported by studies which show blonde hair is an indicator for high oestrogen levels in women.

Whatever. My daughter’s search says something, but I’m not sure what. I put this under “bioethics” but suspect it’s trivia.