Sorry about the anachronism.



This is more Period correct.

theorellior: The thing about the early Royal Society is, they were groping in the dark toward a new understanding of the world. Some of it sounds crazy, and most of it could be summed up with the phrase, "Marry, take mine posset and direct your eyes to this," but they laid the groundwork for what we have today. Without those crazy dudes, we'd still be carrying on about humours and warding off the evil eye with pinches of salt.

We still do.

Well, the more gullible ones.

theorellior: [www.mindhuestudio.com image 400x525]

Beastie Boys reference. Nice.

Some of those older papers are actually written in Latino!

Heh- in my class we play an elaborate role playing game where the students take on the roles of various members of the Royal Society in 1864 and debate if Charles Darwin should get the Copley medal. (Similar in prestige to the Nobel today)

It's really a fascinating group, and a great example of how men of science aren't exactly above petty bickering. Newton was president of the Society for quite a while and used it in large part to slander Gottfried Leibniz (new window) since he thought Leibniz had stolen the idea of calculus from him. (Leibniz hadn't- he developed it entirely independently: if Newton hadn't been so freaking secretive he would have had priority, but he couldn't bear letting anyone else in on the secret)

In 1864, the leader of the RS, General Sir Edwin Sabine (new window) was busy packing the membership with his allies in an attempt to deny Darwin the Copley. When that failed he did a little extempore speech during the award ceremony to try and make it clear that he thought the whole evolution idea was garbage and that Darwin wasn't getting the prize for it. Thomas Huxley (new window) blew a gasket and demanded the entire minutes of the meeting be read back verbatim to verify that Sabine's comments weren't anywhere in the formal record.

Daniel Waterhouse &c would be proud.

Jack Kerouac: Daniel Waterhouse &c would be proud.

Nothing is obscure here, is it?

theorellior: The thing about the early Royal Society is, they were groping in the dark toward a new understanding of the world. Some of it sounds crazy, and most of it could be summed up with the phrase, "Marry, take mine posset and direct your eyes to this," but they laid the groundwork for what we have today. Without those crazy dudes, we'd still be carrying on about humours and warding off the evil eye with pinches of salt.

Who cares about that? The one about the lady passing a bullet was totally a repeat. The modmins are slacking off as usual. Probably passing ale and Madiera around the server.

Manfred J. Hattan: The modmins are slacking off as usual. Probably passing ale and Madiera around the server.

/The Duke of York sucks.

Ah, the Cave Johnson days of Science.

"Honestly folks, we're just throwing Science against the wall to see what sticks."

There were so many astonishingly clever dudes in that group in the late 17th century. I wonder how far behind we'd be now if they hadn't got together and drove each other on with their jealousies and rivalries? It was like the creative tension between Lennon and McCartney.

BroVinny: Jack Kerouac: Daniel Waterhouse &c would be proud.

Nothing is obscure here, is it?

This is not even remotely obscure. Personally, I think the System of the World trilogy should be required reading in high school. Might teach the little phanatiques something, and keep them off my grass.

So who was the carefree 1700s dude in that painting? He rules. Could someone more photoshoply talented than me do a version reading "who's awesome? You'reawesome!"

I would have loved to have posted the boobies after Principia.

I was perusing the local used book store the other day and found a first edition of John Wilkins' book on the Real Character, printed at the Royal Society printing press. It was a bit out my price range, but pretty sweet to leaf through none the less.

Suede head: So who was the carefree 1700s dude in that painting? He rules.

Self portrait by Joseph Ducreux (new window)

And you don't need photoshop skills, just go here (new window)

jamspoon: Suede head: So who was the carefree 1700s dude in that painting? He rules.

Self portrait by Joseph Ducreux (new window)

And you don't need photoshop skills, just go here (new window)

Splendid. Good day to you, sirrah.