Wednesday 27 June 2007

File under...



File under too cool: Hatshepsut was one of the greatest queens in Egyptian history, but after she died her nasty stepson had all mention of her name chiseled out, burned out, and generally done away with. Some loyal soul secreted her mummy away in another crypt. It has recently been identified. I can only assume it will take a place of honor in the museum in Cairo.


File under think this over: "As scientists are d
iscovering physical bases for the feelings from which moral sense emerges - not just in people but in other animals as well - Descartes's dictum, "I think, therefore I am," loses its force."


And only the CIA, an organization so secret it had its own television series could use its past crimes to divert attention from its present dodgy activities. You have to love it.

File under courageous: I must say to the Germans "huzzah" on their decision not to allow the movie about one of the heroes of the German army, who tried unsuccessfully to assassinate Hitler, to film there if Tom Cruise is the star. I have learned too much of the Scientology organization to approve them. It is a personal opinion.

File under headache: I had a run in this morning with a nasty, nasty, taxi driver. It is notable for its rarity. We were just making a quick run to Marjane because where I can live without incense, I prefer not to.



10 comments:

Kim said...

Hatshepsut is one of my favorite stories in Egyptian history, along with Akhnaten. I was so excited when I heard the news!

Maude Lynn said...

The Herald Tribune article is fascinating. However, as a lifelong pet owner, evidence that animals can feel and think doesn't surprise me!

lady macleod said...

kaycle

like minds! thank you for coming by.


mama zen

That is so funny for that is just what I thought. thank you for coming by.

Jillian said...

In my favorite Salman Rushdie book, the main character is said to look like Hatshepsut, but she calls her "Hat cheap suit" which cracks me up.

Your Marjane sells incense? I have to go to the Saudi booth at the biannual fair or the central market to get mine!

Whispering Walls said...

Did Hatsheput really wear a fake beard or is that simply propoganda put about by her wicked nephew?

lady macleod said...

taamarbuuta

I have not read that one!

Not the Marjane itself, but in the little 'mall' there is an "Oriental" shop and they carry the incense; but only the one on this side of Rabat, the Marjane-mall on the posh side does not have one. In Fez there was one as well, but you can also get the brilliant sandalwood incense in the Medina.I have not found it in the Medina here - yet.

thank you for coming by.



Winchester whisperer

I have read that as well. The males in the family were wicked indeed and jealous; on the other hand, she was functioning as Pharaoh in a patriarchal society and in spite of being of the line of Nefertiti I understand she was no great beauty so.... I think that has the possibility of truth? What do you think?
thank you for coming by.

pluto said...

> I have learned too much of the Scientology organization to approve them. It is a personal opinion.

I'm outraged. Just because I once wrote some disenchanted remarks about Buddhism on my blog -- which you took with admirable detachment -- doesn't mean that you can attack my religion like this! Free speech only goes one way, you know.

lady macleod said...

pluto

I would never intentionally offend you. It is a personal opinion. I did some in depth investigation in 1983 when a friend of mine became involved with them, I did not like what I found. I respect your right to disagree.

"free speech only goes one way.." I do admire your ability to be wrong in such a charming manner.

thank you for coming by.

Grey Bear said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cat in Rabat ( كات في الرباط) said...

Hmmmm ... I wouldn't exactly call her stepson nasty. What goes around comes around. She had no dynastic justification for taking the throne. Hattie wore a false beard for state occasions. Having said that, it wasn't unknown for kings to do the same. In the end, she was the single-most most powerful women in the world for some 2400 years - until the 'reign' of Margaret Thatcher.