Posts Tagged ‘Dwight Gooden’
“oh, it’s a strange magic”*…
Kematin kanit kukeiri ve-hikani yazaf
One of the items in our postponed exhibition Hebrew Manuscripts: Journeys of the Written Word is a tiny little codex from sixteenth-century Italy. It is entitled The Tree of Knowledge (Ets ha-Da’at) and contains a collection of some 125 magic spells for all sorts of purposes: curses, healing potions, love charms, amulets. There are a good number of such magical-medical manuscripts in the Hebrew collection, but this volume is special for at least two reasons. First, because of its neat layout and accuracy in its execution. Secondly, because it has an introduction in which Elisha the author tells the story of how he collected these spells.
[There follows the story of the compilation and selection of the spells…]
You can certainly see even from this small selection of spells how valuable the Tree of Knowledge is! Elisha’s long journey from Italy to Galilee through the Mediterranean, his painstaking efforts to acquire hidden and ancient knowledge, were not in vain. And you, dear reader, are only one click away from all this treasure!
Disclaimer: We do not take responsibility for the endurance of these spells. Even strong magic can lose or modify its power over the centuries! Please, do not blame us if you turn into a frog. Try these spells only at your own risk…
From the British Library, “The Tree of Knowledge: magic spells from a Jewish potion book“
* Jeff Lynne, ELO, “Strange Magic”
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As we contemplate casting, we might recall that it was on this date in 1984 that Dwight Gooden set the record for strikeouts in a season by a rookie– 276 (pitched, in Gooden’s case, over 218 innings). The record, which still stands, was previously held by Herb Score with 246 in 1954.
Oh the places they’ll go, the clothing they’ll remove!…
The always-engaging Gothamist explains:
…Storybook Burlesque, the same troupe that brought you burlesque renditions of the Bible, promised: “From a sexy Sam I Am through a lascivious Lorax, no story or character will be quite the same.”
New York “personality” Schaffer the Darklord hosted the show in rhyme as Dr. Seuss himself, and burlesque “superstar” Nasty Canasta (Facebook) jiggled her green eggs and ham, in the company of a different kind of Cat in a Hat, and a Horndog Hearing a Hoo-hah, and…
Is that a Wocket in Your Pocket or are you just happy to see half-naked people turn beloved children’s books into the stuff of psycho-sexual nightmares?
(Son of) Sam I am…
As we rethink our bedtime reading, we might recall that it was on this date in 1989 that the Boston Red Sox signed pitcher Roger Clemens to a 3-year $7.5 million contract. Later that same day, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed pitcher Orel Hershiser (who did not take steroids) to a 3-year $7.9 million contract.
Kids, don’t do drugs.
Hershiser (top right) and Clemens (bottom right), with Nolan Ryan and Dwight Gooden (source)
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