SLOW

Professor John Searle claims to have built and flown several UFO-type discs, powered by a previously unthought of organisation of magnets, at great speed over long distances.

If only someone else could build them too.

And as I was jogging along in a dream as dozing I was dawdling, arrah, methought broadtone was heard and the creepers and the gliders and flivvers of the earth breath and the dancetongues of the woodfires and the hummers in their ground all vociferated echoating: Shaun! Shaun! Post the post! with a high voice and O, the higher on high the deeper and low, I heard him so!

Finnegans Wake (page 404), James Joyce

I used to think the safest place from natural disasters was Johannesburg, with no volcanos, fault lines, threats from water or anything else dangerous. Recently, I found out that it's built on the continental divide, which is presumably not so good in the long term. Even more surprising, the Jukskei river (and some unwise human decisions) has killed at least 27 people in the last few months. Yesterday, an earthquake, centered about 200 km away, shook some buildings in town and rattled some desks and computers. I was oblivious to it all - having gone outside for a smoke.

Bobby Fischer, former world chess champion, is currently in solitary confinement in a Japanese jail over a brawl with a guard. This seems like one of his typical contentious manoeuvres - leaving his king temporarily trapped, but if he can get his pawns in the right positions, he might be able to find an escape, presumably to Iceland.
Happy birthday, Bobby!

A friend of mine decided to grant one of my longterm wishes yesterday. I got a spaceship! Not quite the Millenium Falcon. In fact, not quite in working order. Okay, okay, it's a bloody space shuttle set! Complete with satellite, astronauts on EVA, and launchpad.
This friend was probably getting annoyed at my persistent wishes for a spaceship. I appreciate the gesture (we want you off the planet too, Slow, but can't afford it right away) and feel resigned to the fact that there are people that listen to me and want to help me.
Thanks, Naomi! I'll pass it onto my nephew when he's old enough to swallow astronauts without requiring medical assistance.

Not being one to mince words (or meat), I found an apt quote to help justify my prudence. Here's some hell, written by one of my favourite Italian writers and fellow Gemini, Dante Alighieri.

There dwelt a race, who slow their eyes around
Majestically mov'd, and in their port
Bore eminent authority; they spake
Seldom, but all their words were tuneful sweet.

Hell, Canto IV