The Last Days of Annus Horribilis

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As the countdown to the end of 2021 approaches, I am welcoming the end of what has been an unpleasant year in many respects, whether I consider my unfortunate prescient comments at the start of the year on COVID-19 cases and deaths, or some rather challenging times in interpersonal affairs. All of these have had quite a toll on initial plans ("Events, my dear boy, events", as attributed to Harold MacMillan). When I think in terms of other years it probably counts as the second-worst year of my life; my last year of high school was a little harder in hindsight but I was perhaps too young to realise how bad it was. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties, I really have been fortunate to have sufficient personal resources and caring friends whose support over the year which really have helped me through and I actually feel slightly confident about 2022. As is my wont, I will do a more complete review in a few day's time as I account for the activities and challenges over the year, although I will note that the phrase "annus horribilis" was apparently first used in 1870 as an Anglican response when the Roman Catholic Church established papal infallibility. Mind you, as a pantheist I experience divine revelations all the time.

I have been on leave this week because that's how the University does things, but unlike a typical end-of-year, I haven't gone into a mad panic trying to get things done by the artificial deadline. Nevertheless, four fairly significant events have occurred in these last days. The first was a visit from my dear friend Mel S., with whom we spent a good day in banter over politics, music, the pandemic, etc. The second was putting together an article on "The Political Economy of Workers' Cooperatives", which I must acknowledge that various discussions with AnCaps actually helped a great deal. It must be said that thoughts on the matter are leading me to consider such a body for my Wild Flying Geese project, but that will be something for 2022. The third event was being featured in a case study on supercomputing by Dell, which includes an advertisement for Dell kit on Youtubue. The final was confirmation that I book that I was the lead contributor for a chapter has reached the stage of pre-print, Cybersecurity and High-Performance Computing Environments. Every so often, prior work that one has done generates results.

Comments

[motg]

"annus horribilis" was apparently first used in 1870 as an Anglican response when the Roman Catholic Church established papal infallibility.

Really??? How absolutely awesome! Being a man of terrible learning as you are, you will of course be aware that the alleged infallibility of the Bishop of Rome was down to a renegade Anglican. And just so you know, we do not have any animus whatever towards John Henry Newman, who was a fine man. Cardinal Manning, OTOH....

May you have a splendid NYE and may 2022 be less stressful and more filled with vitamins. Take care!

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> the alleged infallibility of the Bishop of Rome was down to a renegade Anglican.<

I didn't know that, but I certainly should have; being a student in Newman College High School in Western Australia which was named after said renegade for many years.

And the same for you for the new year!

[motg]

My authority for this is Lytton Strachey's Lives of the Most Eminent Victorians. Which, if you haven't read it, is a wonderful insight into a few of Victoriana's most quirky heroes. Strachey is not exactly history, of course; but I haven't heard it challenged.

There were serious moves afoot to make Manning Pope! But he said no: we need an Italian Pope. (Again!) Again, I have only Strachey's word for it. But it makes sense.

Have fun!

PS Newman, of course, was a seriously devout man with a great many interesting ideas. His Idea of a University has a lot of folks thinking seriously about it, from across the political spectrum. We Anglicans don't really count Newman as a renegade. We save that word for Manning.

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There is something about colourful British personalities of Victorian times or even the between-the-wars that I find quite fascinating. In part I think it's "Boy's Own Adventure" stuff and nonsense, but there's also the feminine machinations as well. Of course, the racism, sexism, classism, etc of the time could often be horrendous, let alone imperialism. Among the well-meaning, which I do believe included the majority, such expressions often are a source of social absurdities rather than malice.

[tcpip]

Jolly good show!

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2447