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Rainy cold day. Yesterday was the best of October, today was the worst of October. It is a day when I just wished I could curl up with a blanket.

Final day of the midterms was today. A surprising number of people were late. I even managed to grade a bit during them and look over all the job market stuff and what I need to put together.

Helped my neighbor Alexis with her homework again. She had to do addition in math and a reading comprehension. I even let her put pass/non-pass on some of my midterms; kids are easy to amuse.

Bones S5E5 )

Leviticus WTF moment of the day: last two chapters of Leviticus are about rewards for obedience and punishment at disobedience and redeeming God’s stuff, that one previously dedicated to God. God actually says that is all his rules are followed he won’t hate us and will let food grow and kill our enemies. And on the other hand, if we disobey, God will send wild animals to eat our children and other fun disasters. God does say that if he gets super angry, like Hulk, we would have to resort to eating our children. But God won’t kill everyone, he would still remember the covenant. Still this quid pro quo is better that threatening with hell. At least the consequences should be more immediate. That’s it for Leviticus. Leviticus is named “Leviticus” because Levi tribe is Aaron’s tribe and they got consecrated as priests, with this book outlining most of the rules for priests. And of course, most laws are irrelevant today without the Temple. Yet, people still seek wisdom from the book for some other rules, without considering the context. Tomorrow I will start Book 4: Numbers. Writing about what I read really helps me to actually sit down and do it. I can’t believe I actually read three out of five books of the Torah already.
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Nice and snarky comment by Constance Bouchard in the review of William Aird’s biography of Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, c.1050-1134: “[the book] is clearly written and thoroughly documented, with the footnotes at the bottom of the page where they belong, even though it is somewhat surprising to see so many medieval sources cited in modern translation rather than in editions of the Latin.” (Speculum 84, 1010)

It is astounding how large a number of Speculum book reviews are language, literature and textual examinations compared to history. Medieval studies seem to move away from history a bit. I don’t know if it is a good or a bad thing.

Today I went for a nice walk and it really felt like October and autumn. The air was crisp and chilly but not too cold and the Halloween decorations were up. The house not far from me that always had the most awesome decorations did not decorate yet, I hope they will soon. But it was a perfect October weather and it reminded me how much I love October. Of course, it will be cold and rainy tomorrow.

Leviticus WTF moment of the day: chapters 21 to 25 cover more rules for priests, sacrifices and various holidays. Nothing too unsavory except perhaps the stoning of the blasphemer (although aliens and native-born are accorded the same rights, at least). Priests can’t marry a prostitute and must burn a daughter if she becomes a prostitute. God also discriminates disabled people because any disability would prevent one becoming a priest. Good thing there are no priests anymore, God might be sued. It is also nice that only outsiders can be made slaves! Why do fundamentalists not quote these parts of the Bible! Every fifty years there is also a property reset. That must have been fun. Hey, that was my land twenty years ago when I sold it to you; I’ll have it back now, thanks.

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