blazingworld.com

In 1666, in the epilogue to The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing World, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, issued a challenge to her readers:

And if any should like the world I have made, and be willing to be my subjects, they may imagine themselves such, and they are such—I mean in their minds, fancies or imaginations. But if they cannot endure to be subjects, they may create worlds of their own and govern themselves as they please.

So here is mine. You can get an idea of what's here by hitting the table of contents. And there's almost always something bizarre happening in the Duchess's.

recently

11/19/2007
The latest addition to our family arrives, David Tobias Ballard. He was 8 pounds 1 ounce and 20 inches long. His monthly photos are coming soon!
12/15/2005
Rachel Lynn Ballard was born today, a healthy and wonderful baby. She weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and is 19 inches long. It is amazing how much joy she has already brought us.
11/27/2005
I think we are finally ready for our little girl's arrival, thanks to Jeanna, who painted the most awesome mural on her wall, and to Zee, who washed one million loads of baby clothes and paraphernalia. For comparison purposes, you can see her current and future rooms.
10/28/2005
We lose a great friend. Jay's stepfather, Ernie Custer, passed away today from cancer. We miss you, Ernie.
10/15/2005
Hockey's back!!!

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Lastly, her Majesty had some Conferences with the Galenick Physicians about several Diseases, and amongst the rest, desired to know the cause and nature of Apoplexy, and the spotted Plague. They answered, That a deadly Apoplexy was a dead palsie of the brain, and the spotted Plague was a Gangrene of the Vital parts, and as the Gangrene of outward parts did strike inwardly; so the Gangrene of inward parts, did break forth outwardly; which is the cause, said they, that as soon as the spots appear, death follows; for then it is an infallible sign, that the body is throughout infected with a Gangrene, which is a spreading evil; but some Gangrenes do spread more suddenly then others, and of all sorts of Gangrenes, the Plaguy-gangrene is the most infectious; for other Gangrenes infect but the next adjoining parts of one particular body, and having killed that same Creature, go no further, but cease; when as, the Gangrene of the Plague, infects not onely the adjoining parts of one particular Creature, but also those that are distant; that is, one particular body infects another, and so breeds a Universal Contagion. But the Emperess being very desirous to know in what manner the Plague was propagated and became so contagious, asked, Whether it went actually out of one body into another? To which they answered, That it was a great dispute amongst the Learned of their profession, whether it came by a division and composition of parts; that is, by expiration and inspiration; or whether it was caused by imitation: Some Experimental Philosophers, said they, will make us believe, that by the help of their Microscopes, they have observed the Plague to be a body of little Flyes like Atomes, which go out of one body into another, through the sensitive passages; but the most experienced and wisest of our society, have rejected this opinion as a ridiculous fancy, and do for the most part believe, that it is caused by an imitation of Parts, so that the motions of some parts which are sound, do imitate the motions of those that are infected, and that by this means, the Plague becomes contagious and spreading.

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