How Table Manners as We Know Them Were a Renaissance Invention

The invention of table manner/

In spite of the general easygoing attitude of the medieval period toward hygiene, table manners were not born in a vacuum. In Italy, the culture that would give rise to Catherine’s crusade for table manners took root in the medieval period itself. Well-born little Florentines, including Catherine, were brought up on the manual Fifty Courtesies for the Table,written by Fra Bonvicino da Riva in the 1290s. Even so, despite such precedents, there is little doubt that Catherine’s arrival in France coincided with a continent-wide Renaissance movement to raise the bar on dining customs.

To judge from the stature of some writers, table manners were no trivial matter. In 1530, three years before Catherine’s journey to France, Erasmus of Rotterdam found time out from creating a modern version of the Greek New Testament and criticizing the abuses of the Church to write a treatise that included a study of table manners.

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SOURCE: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Nigerian Navy and Police Fight - Many feared dead.

Nigerian Navy and Police Saga.

 Three policemen were reportedly burnt to death, following a clash between the police and some officers of Nigerian navy in Calabar, Cross River state capital, on Tuesday.

According to witnesses, the attack began shortly after 8.30 p.m., and was still underway as at 10.19 p.m. at Akim Divisional Headquarters

According to Premium Times sources, the confrontation was a continuation of an initial skirmish between a police traffic officer and a naval officer at a traffic light near the Calabar Stadium along the Airport Road on Tuesday afternoon. “Some naval officers ran the red light and police traffic officers intervened, but rather than listen, they descended on the policemen and beat them up,” a witness said. “This was around 5 p.m.” “Police officers now called for back up and and the Navy also called for reinforcement and they took over the road leading to the airport.

But the Navy Commander and police commissioner in the state intervened and the two sides backed down,” the witness said. “However, around 8:00 p.m., when everyone thought the matter had been resolved, naval officers descended on Akim Police Station and started shooting and burnt down the facility.

“We confirmed three bodies but we feared there are more,” the witness said. The witness also accused the naval officers of blocking fire fighters from extinguishing the inferno set at the police station.

SOURCE: NAIJ

Okorocha rejects daughter’s School’s board appointment by Buhari’s FG.

Chief Rochas Okorocha

The Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha has rejected the appointment into the Board of the Federal College of Education and Technology, Omoku, Rivers state of his second daughter, Uju Anwuka, by the Buhari-led Federal Government. The governor who said he rejected the appointment because it was obviously not done in good faith also said that the appointment looked suspicious because nobody had informed him of the appointment. He said instead, he heard of the appointment like any other Nigerians.

His statement read thus: “To the governor, the appointment was obviously not done in good faith. Whoever was the brain behind the appointment did so out of unbridled mischief. “Otherwise, the person behind the appointment would have had the courtesy of either informing the father or the mother. “The truth of the matter is that the governor’s daughter does not need the appointment. The governor has therefore asked whoever was behind the appointment to withdraw it, since the daughter would not have needed the appointment, even if he had not become governor.

“Indeed, the governor has the feeling that whoever was behind the appointment did it with something else at the back of his or her mind; otherwise, the person would have acted well his or her part by informing him or the mother, or even the daughter herself. “The daughter and the entire family reject the appointment.”

SOURCE: VANGUARD NGR

Presidential Election 2019: Vote Goodluck Jonathan

Goodluck Jonathan during the last
Presidential Election

 I was talking with friends today about Nigeria politics and what lies ahead of us politically in Nigeria. Different talks about Buhari administration being a disgrace and shame to the country, APC folk and the Northerner too. But some would say he as made some success as he as made a few set of people millionaires - i mean the farmers, the rice farmers in particular with the slight increase in the production of rice in Northern Nigeria neglecting the south which the immediate past president didn't do, Goodluck Jonathan built schools in the northern Nigeria whilst he was a Southerner, a might he achieved and which he never did for his own home- South Nigeria. That's another reason why people say Nigeria immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan remains a suitable candidate for PDP presidential election come 2019, but in my opinion Goodluck Jonathan has gained international recognition for his peaceful hand over to his opposition, congratulating Buhari even before the election results where announced by INEC, so i would say Goodluck Jonathan will not belittle himself to contest for Presidency in 2019.

BELITTLE! 

Would you say contesting for presidency in a country like Nigeria by anyone be tagged as belittling?? Do you think Goodluck Jonathan would contest for Presidency 2019?? Would you vote for Goodluck Jonathan if he contests for presidency 2019??

Today in History for 31st May - Famous poet, Walt Whitman is born

Walt Withman

Today is the birthday of poet Walt Whitman, born in West Hills, Long Island, and raised in Brooklyn.

Although Whitman loved music and books, he left school at the age of 14 to become a journeyman printer. Later, he worked as a teacher, journalist, editor, carpenter, and held various other jobs to support his writing. In 1855, he self-published a slim volume of poems called Leaves of Grass, which carried his picture but not his name. With this book, Whitman hoped to become a truly American poet, as envisioned in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “The Poet” (1843).

Whitman spent much time in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island, attending cultural events, taking long walks, and sometimes riding on coaches and ferries as an excuse to talk with people. In 1856, the second edition of Leaves of Grass included his “Sundown Poem,” later called “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry.”

In 1862, Whitman’s brother was wounded at Fredericksburg, and Whitman went to care for him. He spent the rest of the war comforting both Union and Confederate soldiers. His poem “Oh Captain, My Captain,” mourned Lincoln’s assassination. Whitman worked for several government departments after the war until he suffered a stroke in 1873. He spent the rest of his life in Camden, New Jersey, and continued to issue revised editions of Leaves of Grass until shortly before his death in 1892.

Born: May 31, 1819, West Hills, New York, United States
Died: March 26, 1892, Camden, New Jersey, United States
Poems: Song of Myself, O Captain! My Captain!, Calamus
Awards: Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration

Basketmouth reacts to Banky W's engagement!!

BBNaija winner Efe crowned prince of Okpe Kingdom.

Efe was crowned prince of Okpe Kingdom

- Efe Ejeba honoured by the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Major Gen Felix Mujakperuo

- The reception was attended by traditional chiefs and politicians in Delta state

- Mujakperuo says Efe was honoured because he had shown the world that youths from the Niger Delta region are not only known for violent and criminal activities

Winner of the 2017 Big Brother Naija television show otherwise called #BBNaija, Efe Ejeba, has been honoured as prince of Okpe kingdom, Delta, for winning the reality show. The honour was bestowed on Efe on Thursday, May 4, by the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Major Gen. Felix Mujakperuo Daily Independent reports that Prince Efe who arrived Orerokpe from Benin in a long motorcade, was received by the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and six other traditional rulers including the Ovie of Ughelli at his palace in Orerokpe , headquarters of Okpe Council area of Delta state. 

Other traditional chiefs and politicians attended the reception which was chaired by a former minister of information, Prof Sam Oyovbaire.

SOURCE: NAIJ