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Montague Summers
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Books
- Hits: 1528
Reading, at the moment, “The Werewolf in Lore and Legend” by Montague Summers.
And, I must say, it’s absolutely brilliant.
In the spring I read his “The History of Demonology and Witchcraft”, as well outstanding, and the incentive to read anything by him I can come across.
He is, first and foremost, erudite and well informed upon his subject matter, quoting hundreds of references. He presumes upon the reader a similar level of education, quoting his sources in the original Greek, Latin, Italian, German, Russian, etc. footnotes provided not to translate the quotes but merely clear up some obtuse point that might confuse one. When he condescends to argue a point in English there is no paragraph in which you can’t find occasion to open a dictionary. He writes as a Catholic clergyman, and as such occasionally references the pleasures to be found in more classical Man-Boy relationships (his first book was a book of verse dedicated to the subject). When describing the trials of witches he uses phrases like “subject to the most exquisite torture…”, which, in the strictest sense of the word, is true, but perhaps a little less zeal might be appropriate? Nonetheless he is highly entertaining, and to add to it all he professes to believe what he writes - that the Devil is a real being, who wreaks his supernatural agency amongst the living through witches, werewolves, and vampires. A curious point of view, especially given the time that he writes at and his formidable knowledge of the subject.
And a very curious individual, arguably his reasoned (reasonable?) assurances on the existence of evil and devilry might be better founded upon the organization that he represents and the causes he champions than by the demons and witches he so mercilessly flays, but that’s part of his charm…a must have guest, along with Aleister Crowley, to any dinner party of historical figures.
For a short (but entertaining) biography and list of published works read the wiki:
Holy man guides archeologists to 50 Billion Dollar Treasure
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Found
- Hits: 1625
Holy man dreams of treasure, archaeologists begin to dig it up...
The truth is never quite that interesting, but the media has a good way of writing an interesting headline:
Mind you, it's not "found" yet, but there's often a grain of truth to local legends...
Blue Cobras in the Toilet
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Dreams
- Hits: 1281
I've gotten a parcel, box, wrapped with string, and upon opening discover that it's filled with blue cobras.
I don't know if they're venomous or not, but it's best not to take any chances, and so I dump them into the toilet and give it a flush.
They somehow resist, coiling themselves around the bowl, they're still there, and some have crawled out, are on the flush lever, the pipes, a beautiful blue, intelligent eyes, staring at me, and I want to grab them and throw them in again, flush again, but I'm not sure if they're venomous or not, but whenever I reach for one it flares it's neck and hisses....
Banksy sells off street art
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Found
- Hits: 2836
And using his fine PR skills, Banksy launches a not-so-anonymous campaign to promote his New York residency:
A bargain for those shoppers who knew what they were buying.
More on Banksy in the news: Sirens of the Lambs: - http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-banksy-sirens-of-the-lambs-20131014,0,4832074.story
and his Taliban Dumbo Video: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/video/2013/oct/08/banksy-video-rebel-rocket-attack-dumbo
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