Latin grammar with Morbid Angel

Morbid Angel's newest album is titled Illud Divinum Insanus.  In English it can means That Divine Insane One.  Let us step a little closer to the original Latin title for a moment, if you will.

Illud is the singular neuter of ille in either the nominative or accusative tense.  In this case it is nominative because, as best as I can tell, the divine insane one is not the direct object of a verb.  It means "that".

Divinum is the singular neuter of divinus, an adjective meaning "divine" or "heavenly".

Insanus is the singular masculine adjective meaning insane.  The neuter is insanum.

Together it is rendered literally as that divine insane, however I would assume that the lack of articles in Classical Latin it is implied that in this context the divine is being used like divinity as the subject, in that case it would be that insane divinity.  Or maybe Morbid Angel looked at this site and decided that was how they would translate it instead of taking the time to study Latin and buy a dictionary and use the substantive divinitas, which is actually a noun and would make That Insane Divinity or That Insane Divine One more grammatically correct.

In Latin grammatical tenses match gender as well as try to agree on inflections in order to create meaning.  So for example if you were to say that crazy divine in Latin and you were referring to a crazy divine man you would inflect as follows:  ille divinus insanus.  Or if it was of no gender or indeterminate you would say:  illud divinum insanum.

Basically if this were grammatically correct it would be Illud Divinum Insanum.  Or Ille Divinus Insanus.  Or even better Ille Divinitas Insanus.

So maybe Morbid Angel incorrectly translated this phrase into Latin because they wanted to illustrate "insanity".  Right?

Also also, All Music gave it 4 out of 5 stars and Metal Hammer gave it 9 out of 10!  So you also know that Phil Freeman and Dom Lawson picked up on the "crazy" theme, right?  I mean what other explanation could there be for giving it an A-, one mark short of perfection?

Winter's end wishlist

I wish that there was a black and green striped rugby style scarf for sale.  Like this:



Except black and green.  Sorta like this:



Except not such narrow stripes.  And a better shade of green.

Basically I want a hipster looking Type O Negative rugby scarf.  Which means I am going to hell.  But I don't care.  I also want a hat that just has the logo on it, nothing else.  But since Pete died the merch has dried up.  Are you listening Bluegrape???

The end of Japan

Did you know that Japan's birth rate is below replacement levels and the population is shrinking?  Do you know why?  Well I will show you why.


Yup, a clear case of guitarsterbation.  Such wankery will sour you with fertile women.  I'm sorry, it's true.

Dress shirt lifestyle

You may have come across this article on the Dude's t-shirts in the Big Lebowski.

Most anyone dedicated to the T-shirt lifestyle maintains some sort of T-shirt rotation. Typically, there's a staff ace – the first shirt worn after laundry day – plus a couple of innings-eater types, maybe a long reliever and spot starter that's useful for mop-up duty late in the laundry cycle, and for some even a closer reserved for high-leverage nights out. 

From the looks of it, the Kaoru Bettu shirt maintained a spot near the front of Bridges' rotation for nearly a decade at the least, looking fresh but untested in the late 80s, blossoming into a star in the early 90s and sticking around with veteran savvy as the new millennium approached.

I was unaware that there is a t-shirt lifestyle, though I confess I was once unknowingly a part. You have your basic rotation through the week as well as dedicated "special occasion" shirts for concerts and parties and whatnot.  But I moved on.



Circa 1999 [via being hessian]

These days the old man is living the dress shirt lifestyle.  You have your Monday all business dress shirt which gradually gives way to the Friday casual dress shirt.  Tucking in is optional with this bad boy.  Because it's casual Friday and those jeans don't give a damn.



Casual Friday



Circa 2013 [via being an oldster]

There is also a rotation for the seasons.  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Lighter shirts and sleeveless in the summer, darker colors and heavier fabrics in the winter.

The beauty of this system is that you are a man for all occasions.  You don't have to plan, you just are.  End up some place upscale?  Just tuck in your tails and you are already "dressed up".  End up someplace casual?  Pull the tails out and suddenly you are the casual gentleman.  I know some people build their wardrobe from the shoes up.  Piffle.  Nobody looks at your shoes.  The shirt is the heart and soul of your attire.

Sure, you can dress up the t-shirt.  But a t-shirt will always say casual, even if you make it a more iustus.



dressy casual is still casual

If this is all new to you and you are ready to get old and embrace the dress shirt lifestyle, remember to be patient.  That closet full of black band t-shirts didn't spring up over night.  In the early days maybe bum around TJ Maxx and Marshalls for some basics and over time you can pick one here and one there to fill in the collection.

End of the year whiskey miscellany

Paddy's Irish whiskey has returned to America.  This time Paddy is available in 750ml bottles.  It is slightly overpriced at my local retailer at 22 dollars (2 dollars more than Jameson).  If you are looking for a last minute Christmas gift to your liver, why not?

Concannon Irish whiskey is available in my area, so probably yours as well.  I have to admit, this is not my favorite Cooley blend.  I still like Michael Collins better.  The bottle has fancy embossing, but for a 750ml bottle it is as tall as a 1 liter bottle and won't fit in my liquor shelf.  Boo!  I notice the petite sirah barrel aging up front with a hint of tart flavor, but the finish turns a little sharp.  Maybe you'll like more than I?

Keeping warm like a lumberjack

Winter was postponed this year. Lucky for you there is time to get some flannel pants. Christmas is the best time of year to be selfish and self-indulgent. I took advantage of the death of JC Penny (I will miss you baby) to get some nice flannel pants and a flannel shirt for a couple bucks. Warm and comfy. So go ahead, sit around your apartment swaddled in flannel. Fill up a snifter of brandy and slip into some slippers. Forget about the heating bill. Wear them under your jeans or dress pants to stay warm at work or at play as well.



Keeping warm like a boss!

Johnny Whiskey

Recently I discovered this defunct fellow bottom shelf troller.  Good ole' Johnny Whiskey.  Too bad the project was abandoned, the writing is gold:

start with the smell.  old crow burns your nose and makes you sad that you are going to drink it.  there's really nothing in the way of yummy whiskey smell --  just burny pain.  and a hint of rich mahogany.*

Also if anyone knows of a BYOB Taco Bell let me know.  I want to drink cheap white wine and eat Doritos Tacos Locos.  Am willing to relocate.