Heraclitus the Obscure, the Greek philosopher, is remembered through various observations he made, one such being: The way up, and the way down, are the same.
Also, today We salute Mr. Pablo Picasso, born 1881, whose creative works have had a lasting impact on modern art.
Rhinos, having no national affiliation, appreciate the achievements of everybody, wherever they are doing whatever. Simplicity itself.
Heraclitus of Ephesus (now in Western Turkey) was a Greek philosopher, born around 540 BC. Nothing he wrote remains, but he is quoted by later philosophers, and his ideas are still worth pondering.
Heraclitus was called “Obscure” because his insights defined matter and matters as endlessly changeable, shifting and developing. Nothing is permanent.
It is obvious why Heraclitus is a Rhino favorite; He was not Right, he was Aware. Also, We are told, he was prone to weeping.
On October 18, 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia.
The concept of ‘owning’ great bunches of land defies RhinoLogic; We’ll just let it go at that.
But We can opine with vigor that the sale meant next to nothing to the inhabitants at the time.
In 1884 somebody decided that the Prime Meridian runs through Greenwich, England, near London. You can’t see it, smell it, or hear it, but there it is, just the same.
From there, all the Longitudes are determined somehow, and then everybody knows something or other. It has to do with keeping track of Time.
Wherever We go (or you go), the time is different than in Greenwich, but that’s helpful, Rhinos are told. Of course, We are still trying to figure out the Meridian question, so We are already running behind.
It would be interesting if Rhinos, or anybody else, could look at the Past without the filters of the Present. As far as Rhinos can see, it can’t be done. Data may enhance a look back, but it will never provide more than suppositions, how We would react today, given the past circumstances.
Knowing things is tricky, even for Us. Rhinos have more than enough Attitude to offer, but it is detrimental to Perception. A generous or sour Attitude, it still distorts matters.
There is a deep Gulf of Understanding between Now and Then.
Rhinos are not generally Sneaky or Stealthy, but We do have the innate capacity to engage our own Inscrutability. When it seems advisable, or just for fun, We just flip our own switch, and “Poof”, Where’d We go?!?
We like to see what’s happening here and there, and always have that Furtivity Card to play.
Rhinos are semi-Enigmatical.
In the morning of October 7, 1737, a cyclone triggered 40 foot waves which crashed down on the Ganges River delta, in the Bay of Bengal, India, wreaking havoc to the population, both human and critter, and property.
Knowing these historical events makes our occasional inconveniences due to Weather seem trifling, at least to Us Rhinos.
Yes, it is October, wherever you are. And where We Rhinos are too. We had considered giving you an October Update from Zambia, just to get you current, but gave it up.
Zambia is in central-south Africa, but in area it is as big as California, plus Michigan, Iowa, South Carolina and Rhode Island, more or less (Rhino Math is always dicey.) This Mathematical Info is meaningful, We assume.
The point is, Weather is capricious. This is Zambia’s hot , dry season, but that will shortly change. That’s just how Weather does things.
September 1520 is when Suleiman the Magnificent (b.1494) took over as Emperor of the Ottoman Empire. Not only was he pretty magnificent, but so was his empire, which ranged all over the place.
He is remembered for a number of good qualities and constructive projects on behalf of the folks he ruled over. His was referred to as the Golden Age.
Now you know. YIR is on the job, giving credit where it is due.
On September 27, 1290, there was an enormous Earthquake in the Yuan Empire of China. Whole villages entirely disappeared.
Nature may be relatively predictable on a daily basis, but there are occasional Events which cannot be foreseen or comprehended.
Rhinos, as well as Every Other Critter on the Earth must absorb these catastrophes at Nature’s hand. Sad but true.
Your Inner Rhino 