About This Site

Why “a Bohemian…”?

• Literally, Bohemia (and Moravia) was the European homeland of the author’s ancestors.
• Literally, and quite coincidentally, the author was raised in a town named Bohemia.

(Note that ‘bohemian’ may not be taken figuratively: the author has no gypsy tendencies, has no pretense that he is an ‘artist’, and is not unconventional for the sake of being against convention.)

Why “…in Babylon”?

• Literally, the author is a long-time resident of a town named Babylon.
• Figuratively, U.S. culture and politics seem so unintelligible as to appear alien to the author, as if living in exile as a foreigner in one’s own homeland.

(Note that Babylon was an ancient capital city on the Euphrates noted for “excessive luxury and wickedness”.)

What are the images in the site’s banner?

• On the left, are the Bohemian and Moravian coats of arms.
• On the right, is a lion from the Ishtar Gate, i.e., the eighth gate to the inner city of ancient Babylon.

(Note that the Bohemian crowned rampant lion and the Moravian crowned checkered eagle each have two tales, representing the historical twin Czech kingdoms.)

What kind of name is ‘miko’?

• miko /mī’kō/ (m.) – the chosen nom de plume of a Bohemian in Babylon

(Note that, yes, ‘Miko’ can be a female name in Japanese, but it is no less a male name, used in Croatian, in Finnish as a modern variant of ‘Mikko’, and in Hungarian spelled Mikó; it is related to the Czech name Mikoláš; it is also apparently a male name in Chickasaw.)

What kind of fool writes these posts?

• no talent or skill … compensates by trying to pay attention to detail
• no intelligence or creativity … makes do with curiosity and memory
• no credentials or achievements … relies on self-deprecation
• no power or authority … advocates liberty over coercion
• no fun or adventure … acts merely to reduce felt unease
• no life …um… still working on this one

What makes a Post O’th’ Week “Kick-Ass”?

• This author judges the content to be well reasoned and well presented, and believes that everyone would profit from reading it.
• This author offers an unqualified endorsement, feeling no need to object, hedge, clarify, expand, or otherwise comment in any way (which is very rarely the case).

What is the purpose of the glyph that ends each post?

• In form, it serves as an end sign, that is, to demark the intentional end of the complete post.
• In content, it serves as a memento mori, that is, a ready reminder that we are to the grave born.