| The Hidden Almanac for Monday July 27th, 2015 |
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| Episode 287 |
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| Previous episode: 2015-07-24 |
| Next episode: 2015-07-29 |
Summary[]
Today we remember Henrietta Mohly. We also recognize the publication of a new economic theory. It is the Feast Day of St. Alsus, and in the garden, there are butterflies.
Be Safe, and Stay Out of Trouble.
Transcription[]
Welcome to the Hidden Almanac, I’m Reverend Mord.
Today is July 27th, 2015.
It is the birthday of Henrietta Mohly, in 1894. This extraordinarily long-lived woman took up photography in her twenties, and produced many iconic portraits for various institutions. At the age of 102, she published “A Life In Photos,” which spanned nearly a century of her work, and documented many of the changes that society had undergone. In the foreword, she wrote “It is perhaps foolish for one who has been given so long to work on her art to wish that she had taken it up sooner, and yet I do. If I had a camera in the cradle, I could have documented many moments that now exist only in memory. And memory, as we all learn to our sorrow, is fragile and failing, while the cold light of film stays pure.” Mohly passed away at the age of 107. Her photos live on.
And it was on this day in 1933 that the economists Heckler and Soon produced the General Equilibrium Model of international trade, which states that countries will produce those products that take advantage of resources that they have in abundance, and import those products that require resources that are scarce. This model is occasionally also called the Bloody Obvious Model and other less flattering monikers, but nevertheless, Heckler and Soon received a Royal Commendation for their contribution to this, the gloomiest of sciences.
It is the Feast Day of Saint Alsus, patron of metal musicians. The story goes that Alsus, a medieval horn player, encountered the devil on the road and beat him about the head and shoulders with his instrument. Followers of St. Alsus tend to wear black leather vestments, studded with metal, and to engage in liturgical rites featuring a great many umlauts.
In the garden, the butterflies are out in force. Buckeyes and scarlet admirals are flying at this time. These are medium sized butterflies with striking markings. Buckeyes in particular are extremely variable, though they are always some version of brown and red with black eyespots. Both butterflies prefer coneflowers to nectar on if they can get them. Admiral caterpillars feed on nettles almost exclusively. Buckeye caterpillars host on members of the snapdragon family, which includes many common ornamentals, and plantains, which includes many common weeds.
As with many things, if these were rare, naturalists would seek them out for their extreme beauty, but because they are common, they are often overlooked in the garden. We are all too often ungrateful for everyday miracles.
The Hidden Almanac is brought to you by Red Wombat Tea Company, purveyors of fine and inaccessible teas. Red Wombat --- “We Dig Tea.”
Also brought to you by the Hive Undying, who speaks through the intern who collates these ads. The Hive Undying will not be denied. The Hive Undying will reach out and gather all within it. The Hive Undying would like sugar water, please.
That’s the Hidden Almanac for July 27th, 2015. Be safe, and stay out of trouble.
Outro[]
Out of Character
The Hidden Almanac is a production of Dark Canvas Media, written by Ursula Vernon and performed and produced by Kevin Sonney. Our theme music is Moon Valley and our exit music is Red in Black, both by Kosta T. You can hear more from Kosta T at the Free Music Archive. All other content is copyright 2013 through 2015, Ursula Vernon.