Ah, sunny Nepal, where the world’s largest honeybees (apis dorsata) live. As you might assume, they have the biggest stingers among bees. Whoa and Golly!
Cheery news, bees have no interest in Rhinos; our skin is thick and We pose no threat. They build hanging combs, way up. Live and let live, y’know?
The Bee Keeper outfit isn’t necessary, it just looks snappy.
Today in 1215, John I of England put the Royal Seal onto the Magna Carta, acknowledging that he was not the beginning and the end of every national discussion. He was helped to this realization by a group of angry, armed Barons. Very Big Deal in the history of government, though neither side kept to the agreement.
John was not trusted nor liked by his people. But! it allows YIR to quote from A.A. Milne’s, Now We Are Six:
King John was not a good man —
He had his little ways.
And sometimes no one spoke to him
For days and days and days.
Any opportunity to quote from A.A. Milne is an opportunity to be seized.
Today is Flag Day, so YIR is recycling a picture from last July. Not that it is a Classic, but it did not seem We were going to improve upon it, so We are submitting it in a timely manner. Punctuality taking the place of Originality.
The original posting was July 4, 2016. There are notes on Ms. Ross there which may still be of interest.
Long may We wave.
Fanny Burney (b.1752) was one of the early women of letters in England. She wrote successful novels and plays, and kept an extensive journal of her comings and goings. She is remembered for her Epistolary Novels, meaning, the story was related through a series of letters, both to and from the heroine in question. Pretty neat.
She had a wicked sense of humor, with insights upon the Society in which she moved. Satire naturally appeals to Rhinos, worldwide. Right?
From time to time a Rhino will receive a Surprise. No preparation, no way of knowing just what it is? Just, here We go.
What is surprising about these Surprises is how often whatever it is, wherever it came from, or whoever sent it, that Surprise thing will come in Handy.
And often, in the Immediate Future. Amazing.
Rhinos sometimes feel plagued with Insights. We just have a knack for seeing a situation and then knowing all there is to know about correcting it.
The Rub comes in finding folks who want to benefit from our skills. RhinoLogic tells Us they should be delighted, or grateful, to be straightened out, but that is seldom the case.
So most Rhinos take the “Discretion” option, letting the cards fall as they will. It requires self-control. We’ll say no more…
Irving Berlin published “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in 1929, a great raggy, yank-rhythm, crazy-catchy tune. Rhinos recommend you not listen to it, because once you do, you may never recover.
But if you want to risk it, there are many versions on YouTube, including: Harry Richman, in the 1930 film, Putting on the Ritz. Also there are Fred Astaire, Taco, Clark Gable, and Jiri Korn, singing it in Czech, each offering something different.
Your Inner Rhino recalls the greats, with appropriate warnings.
Few trees live to see a Grand Old Age, just like most living things in the Wild. That is just how it is, so why snivel?
That said, Rhinos are in awe of mature Trees in their grandeur, their steadfast dedication to their calling. They stand as sentinels, as reminders of Natural Potential in some ultimate form. Plus potential in every critter, Rhinos not least of all.
Oh Nature, what Possibility you offer Us!
Most Rhinos are familiar with the idea that lurking right behind Us is a Fine Time in full swing. There is what’s in front of Us, but also something back where We can’t see. Even if We whirl around, the Festivity may have followed the same arc, so it is still festive, just relocated.
Naturally, We can’t be invited to Everything. But what if our invitation got lost in delivery?
Best not to overthink it. Rhinos still have no eyes in the back of our heads.
M. Paul Gauguin (b.1848) is a painter of great influence. A Frenchman, he took to painting at age 25, making friends with both Van Gogh and Degas. The times were remarkably productive artistically.
He went to paint in Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands. His genius was not acknowledged until after his death.
Rhinos find his work appealing. We see a lot of Rhino in his brushwork and use of color. Probably you do too.
Your Inner Rhino 