Commonplacing
Links and a poem for the week
A fantastic read on why we do not need to live on standard time, and what we’ve lost with its use1—a system that was implemented (surprise) by scientists, railroad robber barons, and banks.
Will be thinking for quite a while about this essay—on the myth of Orpheus, and what we can and cannot say about history—about who really can speak for the dead.
Loved this article that was shared with me by a reader—on female birdsong finally getting noticed, and what a lack of women scientists has done to skew theories on evolution.
How a 500-year-old collection of pressed flowers is sharing secrets on climate change.
This made the rounds, but love it still—a trove of unopened 18thc. letters to sailors are finally being read—and they are primarily the voices of everyday women.
Judy Chicago is again asking what if women ruled the world?
Loved learning about this project to collect information on hidden objects concealed in old houses—shoes, witches bottles, and other items—that were placed as charms for good luck and protection.
Also loved to read about the all-women Folly Cove Collective of print designers from the mid-century, and how their designs reflected their own distinct aesthetic.
Still thinking about this beautiful read by
on the mysterious power of walking a labyrinth, and learning from one of her readers of a worldwide labyrinth locator.Love this first-edition collection of Sylvia Plath’s drawings (for not a completely unreasonable price…).
And a poem, for the endless amounts of snow that began here in Anchorage last Sunday and has…not stopped…❅
There may be a paywall on this if you regularly read The Believer—but if not, you should be able to read a couple of free articles until the paywall comes up…or you can erase the cookie cache….
Ohh yes the lack of women scientists remind me of yet another story. I once read about how archaeologists discovered ancient artefacts there was a huge debate about what it was. The cup like artefacts looked more like bottles with small kettle shaped curved pouring mechanism. After a lot of debate they came to a conclusion that those were used to feed the sick and old, but there was one thing that was quite not fitting in- all the cups were shaped like animals. A woman archaeologists then walked in, glanced over the artefacts and said “those are baby bottles” and they were all dumbfounded with her perception because it completely makes sense. Women can’t be excluded from important discussions simply because we bring in perspectives and knowledge that men often lack.
Snow!! Ours melted. It's barely coming down today and not enough to stick, but the snowline is slowly moving down the mountains. Thanks for sharing yours!
And those letters to sailors -- they remind me of the book "Nella Last's War," the diary of "housewife, 49" kept for the Mass Observation Project with Nella Last's daily writing about her life in wartime Britain--so much about rationing and sleeping arrangements and conversations with other housewives, most of whom had sons fighting somewhere. We need so much more of people's voices (also why I think Svetlana Alexeivitch's "The Unwomanly Face of War" is one of the most important I've ever read).
Thanks for the shout-out! Hope you find a labyrinth. 🧡