I've been being a bad blogger again, though most of that really isn't my fault, I've been extremely busy, and its not likely to get any better in the next couple of weeks. In fact, I've been so swamped that I didn't even drive back to montpelier for easter. Next weekend is completely tied up with a wedding somewhere down in Ohio (yes, I didn't get an invitation so I have no idea where, despite the fact that I'm the best man). Meanwhile, I'm currently dealing with some frustrating govermental minions, not the least of which involves a contradiction between two parts of ohio law with regards to the necessity for turn signals. (The relevant date for me is in early 1965).


Anyway, some links:

A. Since it is passover, it seems like a good time for a link about pyramids, or at least how the eygptians built them. There's some good info here and here. I was suprised to hear the modern estimates that perhaps no more than 600 men were working on a pyramid at a time, and as few as 20 men, in as little as 30 minutes could have moved each 2.5 ton block from the quarry to its location in the pyramid. I have to say that the "Drunkards of Menkaure" sounds like the name of an industrial league softball team instead of half of the construction crew for Giza.

B. Related to the pyramid stuff...I had a high school history teacher that once said that every educated person should know the seven wonders of the ancient world from memory. I'm ashamed that I had forgotten a couple, so I needed a refersher. Anyway, everyone should go vote on the seven wonders of the modern world website.

I voted for Angkor, the Eiffel Tower, The Great Wall, The Taj Mahal, Neuschwanstein Castle, The Kremlin, and Hagia Sophia. (I purposefully did not vote for anything that was in the running for herodotus's original seven.) I was a little disapointed about some of the notable things not listed as finalists, espicially the lack of any bridges (golden gate espicially), and dams (aswan high dam, hoover dam, etc).