Friday, June 1, 2007

A Literary Meme... thank you Mother Laura

1. This one is the literary meme. The instructions are:
2. Grab the nearest book.
3. Open it to page 161.
4. Find the fifth full sentence.
5. Post the text of the sentence along with these instructions.
6. Don’t search around and look for the coolest book you can find. Do what’s actually next to you.

Mother Laura at Junia's Daughter posted her answers to this meme yesterday.

I don't know how to tell you this, but the nearest book is The Book of Bond, or Every Man His Own 007 by Lt.-Col. William "Bill" Tanner (belonging to my son, and which I have twice tried to type as The Book of Bong). A quick search of Amazon tells me it is way out of print.

There is no page 161. I will read the fifth full sentence of the last page of text.

"Your research board recommends the adoption of the recognition ritual set out in our founder's fifth adventure."

Ok, here's the ritual.

'Excuse me, could I borrow a match?'

'I use a lighter.'

'Better still.'

'Until they go wrong.'

Indeed.

10 comments:

johnieb said...

Tu Mu tells us that Yao Hsiang, when opposed in 357 (C.E.) by Huang Mei, Teng Chi'ang, and others, shut himself up behind his walls and refused to fight.

Master Sun. VIII "Variation of Tactics", *The Art of War*, trans. Giles. p. 161.

Continuing prayers for you.

Cecilia said...

Ah.... points of contact! Perhaps.

Pax, C.

Cecilia said...

And thank you, johnnieb.

Pax, C.

Kate said...

*blink* *blink* *snickers*

I'm at work, so this ought to be amusing...

"Short Description of Gods, Goddesses and Ritual Objects of Buddhism and Hinduism in Nepal"

No page 161, so I shall instead use p. 61: Bajragandhari is one of the terrible goddess endowed with six faces and twelve arms.

Hunh. Innit interesting what you find...

johnieb said...

I was pleased to get such a good example of Sun Tzu's thought in this way: "casting lots", as in the age of the Former Prophets.
Sun Tzu is generally acknowledged to be the world's greatest military theorist, though we know next to nothing about his practice as a general. He is noted for arguing that the pinnacle of skill in war is to win without fighting.

The Art of War is a companion volume to the Tao Te Ching, so "casting lots" is not only effective, but within the tradition.

June Butler said...

I'm going to play, because this game is short and sweet.

The book nearest to me is the Bible. How pious is THAT?

However, I think this will not bear much fruit. I'm in Numbers 31:36-41.

The half that fell to those who had gone out to combat was: three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep, of which six hundred and seventy-five fell as tax to the Lord; thirty-six thousand oxen, of which seventy-two fell as tax to the Lord; thirty thousand five hundred asses, of which sixty-one fell as tax to the Lord; and sixteen thousand persons of whom thirty-two fell as tax to the Lord, the taxes contributed to the Lord, Moses gave to the priest Eleazar, as the Lord had commanded him.

That is one long sentence, and I am one of the asses who thought this would be short and sweet.

Gannet Girl said...

Oh, I think I might do this!

Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I'm so delighted to have found your blog via Cynthia at Sorting the Pieces.

Dr. Laura Marie Grimes said...

Love these! Don't know who started this meme but it's a keeper.

Cecilia said...

Just getting around to really sitting with the comments after my trip...

Seeking, six faces and twelve arms. Someone like that served on my church council once...;-)

Grandmère, I read yours aloud to my daughter and we laughed until we were out of breath. I know someone who had a reader at her wedding accidentally read a passage much like the one you have just quoted. Oh my!

Pax, C.

Cecilia said...

Gannet Girl, glad to meet you. Looking forward to your page 161!

Pax, C.