Today We all celebrate the 1786 birthday of H. Wilhelm Grimm. He and his brother Jacob made a big contribution to the recording of Folk Tales, many of which are familiar, at least with Us Rhinos.
The Grimms were interested in Language and started an ambitious dictionary of German, though they got as far as ‘F’ before they died.
We don’t know if making a dictionary can have that effect, but don’t say YIR did not give fair warning.
At different times in Rhino History the debate about Understanding has gotten pretty intense. Do Rhinos understand? Can Rhinos Understand? How would-could-should We establish a meaningful answer to the Question? Many Theories and precious few Answers.
What We Rhinos do know is that the process of figuring it out is exhausting, or perhaps stimulating, if you don’t care about the Answer. Or lose your temper.
In the interests of Sanity, We try to stay calm, and decide to Understand more Tomorrow, or at the very least, Soon.
‘Your Inner Rhino’ assumes that our Readers would like an acknowledgement of Sir Alexander Fleming, who discovered Penicillin 90 years ago, today. It has helped many ailing people over the years, dealing with bacterial infection.
Rhinos do not have medicine in the Wild, not as you know it. Ours is all about herbs, timing, and endurance: all Natural. It works for Us- because it must.
We congratulate Sir Alex for saving the day, over and over again.
We Rhinos have seen a lot of creative work over the millenia. That said, We want to recommend the work of Anarchitect Richard Greaves to our Readers’ attention. Since you probably can’t go see it, you can Google it.
We advise you to sit down before going over the images of his work, or you’ll be parked on your backside in no time flat. If Art is the expression of the Individual, here, in this man’s efforts, is what that means.
Eccentric, but so what? A privilege to see it, in whatever form.
Rhinos do not own Pillows, it is true. But Pillows do exist, and Rhinos have followed their progress for a long time.
The Point is, We were among the first to explore the satisfactions of Pillow Fights! Whacking a Pillow and seeing the feathers go whirling around, well, for an effect, it’s hard to beat.
Once again, We were there, dear Readers. Rhinos get around.
Today is Chinese New Year, this year being the Year of the Pig.
Unfortunately for Us, there is no Year of the Rhino in the Chinese Zodiac.
We try to be philosophical about the oversight, with varying degrees of success. It probably is part of some Natural Scheme to help Us Rhinos build character. Ah well, that’s what We say.
Today We celebrate Chocolate Cake Day, tipping our hats to Ms. Eliza Leslie. Her cookery book (1847) is the first in the USA to describe making a Chocolate Cake. It was different than today’s, but it was a genuine article, nonetheless.
The history of Chocolate is interesting. Originally Chocolate was mainly a beverage, but over time it was introduced into foods, one way and another.
Rhinos like Chocolate Cake, as do most sensible critters. Huzzah!
Today, in 1499, Sr. Vicente Yanez Pinzon, a Spanish adventurer, discovered Brazil. A few days later he landed at the red X. He also sailed a bit up the Amazon. A busy fellow.
However, due to prior treaties, he could not claim the land for Spain, so Portugal got it. Probably frustrating, but that was just too bad for everybody, except Portugal.
Rhinos wonder if the discovery of a strange Ship offshore was interpreted as a ‘Discovery’ by the Brazilians. It seems unlikely to Us that Discoveries should work only one way.
Today is August Strindberg’s birthday (b.1849 in Sweden). He was prolific as an essayist, painter, philosopher, and playwright. His dramas are charged with passion, distrust, and hostility, one character for another. Some of his work is naturalistic, other pieces more abstract, poetic, symbolic. However you look at it, his work is distinctive, peppered with paranoid intensity. Victims and victimizers, circling one another, playing for keeps.
Mr. Strindberg’s plays reflect his excitable nature. His work has plenty of juice between the lines, no doubt about it.
Rhinos don’t relate Mr. Strindberg’s way, if We can avoid it. We manage this by minding our own business and staying clear of Expectations or Romantic Notions. We give each other room.
Today ‘Your Inner Rhino’ salutes Konstantin Stanislavski, b. 1863. He developed a style for the theatre , attempting a more naturalistic approach, especially to character. His influence dominates most acting today, both in stage and film work.
Stanislavski directed and acted with Russian authors, like Anton Chekhov and Maxim Gorky. He was also a founder of the Moscow Art Theatre.
Rhinos like acting, though it took Us quite a while to figure out what it is. We are not very good at pretense, among ourselves, or anywhere else, for that matter. Still, We are enthusiastic voyeurs.
Your Inner Rhino 