Absolutely Fabulous: Today's E2MQ

We are NOT referring to the long-running British sitcom (aka, Ab Fab), but a little Monday wisdom from Patsy and Edina never hurt anyone.

The "fabulist" of whom we speak today is none other than the world's most-famous, Aesop, a contemporary of Solon and Croesus in mid-6th century BC Greece.

Like the formerly-referenced Roman in last week's blog, tradition suggests that Aesop was a slave, but from the island of Samos, who also won his freedom due to his wit. However, Aesop's wit, unlike that of Publilius Syrus, may have cost him his life.

A legend developed in the 1st century AD that Aesop, recognized for his speaking and storytelling skills, was tasked by his master, Xanthus, to act as an emissary between the residents of Samos (a Greek island in the eastern Aegean) and Croesus (as in "Rich as..."), king of the Lydian Empire (much of today's western Turkey). Having successfully fulfilled his diplomatic mission, Aesop was said to have travelled to various courts in Babylon and Egypt and ended up in Apollo's sacred city of Delphi, site of the most important oracle in ancient Greece.

It seems that Aesop made himself distinctly unpopular with the citizens of Delphi. The technique that boosted the stature of Aesop's fables came from his artistic skill of endowing animals with human traits and skills. His stories, thereby, could simultaneously instruct and critique without giving personal offense to the listener.

Well, that's what Wikipedia says! But the Delphians weren't amused by the hare, tortoise, fox, grasshopper and others. They found Aesop's fables insulting, and so they trumped up a charge of theft, and sentenced Aesop to death. Just before they chucked the fabulist off a cliff, he cursed them by saying, "You may kill me, but my unjust death will bring you great misfortune."

Guess what happened to Delphi? They faced a protracted period, confirmed by none other than the Oracle of Apollo, of pestilence, famine, and warfare. And all because they "dissed" Aesop!

Now, about that quiz...


Scholars suggest that the animals found is Aesop's Fables are, by universal consent, representative of certain specific attributes. Some of these characteristics are: Cunning, Timidity, Boldness, Cruelty, Strength, Pride, and Patience. Can you name each animal used by Aesop to represent each specific trait?

Finally, in response to one reader's request that every blog should have a bit of shared wisdom, I offer the following video. You have a choice: To watch the pertinent section, push the slide to the first dot. about 5 minutes 28 seconds. Or, if you want a full dose of Moose & Squirrel wisdom, watch the whole shebang!

AND WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE COMMERCIALS!

E2MQ: May I present Leslie King...

We all knew him as Gerald R. Ford, Jr., the 38th President of the United States.

Some of you also knew that he was named Leslie L. King, Jr. at birth.

Therefore, he was a King before becoming a President!

But that's a story for later.

As to the other name changes,

BackRub is now known as Google.

Computing Tabulating et al is IBM Corporation.

Brad's Drink is Pepsi.

(Which reminds me of one of this year's best Super Bowl ads.)

Xe, pronounced ZEE, is Blackwater.

Jerry's Guide is now Yahoo.

Consignia is the UK's absurd new name for Royal Mail.

And speaking of absurd, Chicago's tallest building, the Sears Tower, is now the Willis Tower. Go figure.

Until next time...

Breaking with Syrus

Years ago in my intemperate youth, I offered an injudicious comment to a WSJ reporter regarding my employer, a large money center bank. The term, "Stink Eye," hadn't yet been invented, but, following publication of said quote, a precursor of that look was leveled at me by most of the bank's senior management. Shortly thereafter, I received a one-line letter from a consultant pal of mine. It read, "I often regret my speech -- rarely my silence."



The consultant was quoting Publilius (sometimes Publius) Syrus (85 BC - 43 BC) who Wikipedia describes as a Syrian slave who gained both fame and his freedom through his wit. Not a bad deal! Possibly someone to emulate.



Over the succeeding years, despite my efforts to adhere to similar counsel suggesting, "A closed mouth gathers no feet," my success has been, at best, marginal. Sadly, this effort has been both physically and emotionally taxing and, I am sure, cause for some not-insignificant premature aging.



However, today I cast off the governor of silence by formally opening the Edisonet blog. I invite all Friends of Edisonet to continue graciously offering suggestions and advice and following our progress through this blog. By gathering and organizing your thoughts and suggestions, we will be better prepared to implement Edisonet's mission.



Sparks of wisdom come from a broad range of experience and reside in a distributed population. Our mission is extracting wisdom from those who don't realize they have it and exchanging it with those who could use it but don't know where to find it. This blog is our first step in that effort of gathering, organizing and distributing working wisdom.



For many Friends of Edisonet who are unfamiliar with blogs, our goal is to make you comfortable. Following the tenets of Edisonet, we want to gather and distribute your suggestions and wisdom regarding development of our vision. Not only can you follow our development, you can put in your two-cents and comment on other suggestions.

Won't you please join us in breaking with Syrus by actively sharing your wisdom and commenting on our posts?


And don't forget the E2MQ's! From now on the Edisonet Monday Morning Quiz will be posted on this blog site. This venue will provide opportunity for you to respond and make witty comments for which, like Publilius, you might gain both fame and freedom!

Welcome to the Edisonet blog!