A series of unrelated ramblings.....
Oct. 14th, 2003 09:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misachanI don't understand Columbus Day. I sort of understand the historical significance, although that's been blown incredibly out of proportion, (and don't get me started on the whitewashing of the man that goes on). What I don't get is how this became a huge Italian rallying point. Why. Why this guy? Is Italian history so bereft of notable people that Columbus is the one we pick to celebrate? Why not Da Vinci? Galileo? Amerigo Vespucci, who the continent's named after? Why Columbus, who not only sailed for Spain, but wasn't the first to find North America (the Vikings were first), never set foot on the main continent, and never realized he hadn't found India?
The story's certainly romantic (especially the Hollywood version), but most of its not true. Columbus didn't go off sailing to prove a theory; he went to corner the market on the West Indian spice trade, and if he had found the passage it would have been Spain who profited, not Italy. As it was, the voyages at least partially helped Spain get the jump on the rest of Europe in plundering the Americas, which in turn helped knock Italy off its pillar as the world's economic power. Not to mention the genocide committed along the way, which Columbus encouraged and participated in. Yet he's the cultural hero. I don't get it.
Interesting historical figure, yes (especially the real version), but c'mon, Italians. Surely there's someone a little less embarrassing to be our representation.
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Switching topics, being on the other side of the country, the only things I know about Gray Davis are what I've gleaned from the Daily Show. From what I've seen, he seems to be…oh, what's the term? Pompous moron? Still, at least he did this. I don't care if he did do it as a petty swap at Arnold. If it doesn't get overturned somehow, the legislation's a step towards equal rights for gay and lesbian couples. Even if you think the recall's a good reason to buy some Canadian real estate, that's at least some good news.
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Switching again, the universe is out to thwart me. Last week, because I am the Stupidest Person on Earth, I missed Smallville/Angel. Now, I haven't missed an episode of Smallville since the pilot. And I couldn't just miss any episode, noooo, I have to miss Phoenix, by all accounts the episode I've been waiting two years for (hugging! There was hugging!!). You can only imagine the wails that came out of my mouth.
Now here's the thwarting: NO ONE taped it. I have no problem seeing Angel (Spike!), because I know at least three people who taped it, but not Smallville. I don't understand. And I have someone with an Ethernet connection who's been trying to download it for me since Sunday (I'm on 56K), but still no sweet Clex for me.
I can almost hear Fate rattling his dice box.
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WHOOOOOOO! Go Yankees!!
The story's certainly romantic (especially the Hollywood version), but most of its not true. Columbus didn't go off sailing to prove a theory; he went to corner the market on the West Indian spice trade, and if he had found the passage it would have been Spain who profited, not Italy. As it was, the voyages at least partially helped Spain get the jump on the rest of Europe in plundering the Americas, which in turn helped knock Italy off its pillar as the world's economic power. Not to mention the genocide committed along the way, which Columbus encouraged and participated in. Yet he's the cultural hero. I don't get it.
Interesting historical figure, yes (especially the real version), but c'mon, Italians. Surely there's someone a little less embarrassing to be our representation.
*********
Switching topics, being on the other side of the country, the only things I know about Gray Davis are what I've gleaned from the Daily Show. From what I've seen, he seems to be…oh, what's the term? Pompous moron? Still, at least he did this. I don't care if he did do it as a petty swap at Arnold. If it doesn't get overturned somehow, the legislation's a step towards equal rights for gay and lesbian couples. Even if you think the recall's a good reason to buy some Canadian real estate, that's at least some good news.
***********
Switching again, the universe is out to thwart me. Last week, because I am the Stupidest Person on Earth, I missed Smallville/Angel. Now, I haven't missed an episode of Smallville since the pilot. And I couldn't just miss any episode, noooo, I have to miss Phoenix, by all accounts the episode I've been waiting two years for (hugging! There was hugging!!). You can only imagine the wails that came out of my mouth.
Now here's the thwarting: NO ONE taped it. I have no problem seeing Angel (Spike!), because I know at least three people who taped it, but not Smallville. I don't understand. And I have someone with an Ethernet connection who's been trying to download it for me since Sunday (I'm on 56K), but still no sweet Clex for me.
I can almost hear Fate rattling his dice box.
*********
WHOOOOOOO! Go Yankees!!
