More Noted Things ...

Ancient Things:
When an ancient poet is known for three poems, 63 single lines, and perhaps 264 fragments, the discovery of another poem by her is a big event. Tim Castle's story for Reuters and John Ezard's report in the Guardian tell of the discovery of Sappho's poem bound in the wrappings of an Egyptian mummy and Martin West translates and interprets it for the Times Literary Supplement. Thanks to Moby Lives for the tip.

Disturbed by the chaos and madcap of HNN's comment boards on Tom Englehardt and Mark Danner's"How We Went to War: What the Downing Street Memos Demonstrate," Ben Brumfield at Horizon recommends a passage from Polybius that distinguishes among a cause, a pretext, and a beginning. According to Polybius, the beginning comes last.

Modern Things:
Barak Obama,"What I See in Lincoln's Eyes," Time, 26 June, is a worth while read, as reflections of Lincoln in Obama's eyes, also, and the 19th in the 21st century, as well. Time's special issue on Lincoln includes Doris Kearns Goodwin's"The Master of the Game" and Joshua Wolf Shenk's"The True Lincoln," which offer foretastes of books about the man they'll publish in the fall.

Scott McLemee's"I, Meme, Mine," Inside Higher Ed, 28 June, introduces us to Joseph C. McCabe, the Franciscan who became an atheist and published more before breakfast than you and I will publish this year.

Scott Jaschik,"Not The Right Kind of Indian," Inside Higher Ed, 28 June, fleshes out the story of William C. Bradford, the native American professor of law at Indiana University. Some people there think that he's"uncollegial." I'd say that he's an independent thinker and that he may move on to better places.

Meta Things:
David P. Barish puts it to the"intelligent design" folks in"Does God Have Back Problems Too?" LA Times, 27 June. The design of humans was, well, not very intelligent, he suggests. Thanks to Hiram Hover for the tip.

The Elfin Ethicist has a series of posts called"Glow-Worm on a Grass Blade." He calls it an effort"to lay a foundation for a Christian view of history -- but a view that moves away from providential history." The series is as follows:

I. Humility
II. Conversation
III. Observation
IV. Passion
V. Grace

Thanks to Brandon Watson at Siris for the reminder.