John A. (Jay) Cross
@johnacross.bsky.social
Working on historical Commedia dell'Arte plays. Interested in: Astronomy/Cosmology, Movie-making, Photography, Shakespeare, Other theater, Medieval Science, SCA, and other things that amuse me.
asleep for two hours, woke up thinking about a time when I had been very angry ... so, I guess I'll just be productive until I can go to sleep again. arrgghh.
December 6, 2025 at 5:39 AM
asleep for two hours, woke up thinking about a time when I had been very angry ... so, I guess I'll just be productive until I can go to sleep again. arrgghh.
Were my two step-mothers only-children? I'm guessing so, but don't know. If so, I had five uncles by blood and two by marriage. The last of them has just gone into hospice care. I had two aunts by blood. One is still alive and healthy. I tried counting my aunts by marriage, but am missing facts. +++
December 5, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Were my two step-mothers only-children? I'm guessing so, but don't know. If so, I had five uncles by blood and two by marriage. The last of them has just gone into hospice care. I had two aunts by blood. One is still alive and healthy. I tried counting my aunts by marriage, but am missing facts. +++
#CdATroupes Last night we (i Sebastiani) looked at three plays. We will have selected one by this next Tuesday, and then will cast it propping for a show in mid-February. Tonight Le Zanzare will work on Act two of "The Crab". Sunday, LSdB will resume prepping "The Treasure". All three will be great.
December 3, 2025 at 8:08 PM
#CdATroupes Last night we (i Sebastiani) looked at three plays. We will have selected one by this next Tuesday, and then will cast it propping for a show in mid-February. Tonight Le Zanzare will work on Act two of "The Crab". Sunday, LSdB will resume prepping "The Treasure". All three will be great.
#CdATroupes Tonight we (i Sebastiani) are going to choose which play to perform in February. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. ... road conditions are awful, so we're doing it on Zoom.
December 2, 2025 at 9:28 PM
#CdATroupes Tonight we (i Sebastiani) are going to choose which play to perform in February. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. ... road conditions are awful, so we're doing it on Zoom.
#CdAHistory I am currently going through a play called "The Honest Courtesan". There is no obvious courtesan in the cast list, nor has one appeared through act 1. I'm curious to learn where the play gets its name.
November 30, 2025 at 5:47 PM
#CdAHistory I am currently going through a play called "The Honest Courtesan". There is no obvious courtesan in the cast list, nor has one appeared through act 1. I'm curious to learn where the play gets its name.
Another mild lament. The language specific OCR software I am using has trouble with certain words, but the most frequent is it sees 'vol' (3rd person singular of 'to want') and makes it 'voi' which is 'you' plural or formal. That really throws off the machine translation tool. Gotta keep an eye out.
November 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Another mild lament. The language specific OCR software I am using has trouble with certain words, but the most frequent is it sees 'vol' (3rd person singular of 'to want') and makes it 'voi' which is 'you' plural or formal. That really throws off the machine translation tool. Gotta keep an eye out.
[Mild Lament] I've been making great progress on the big project, but suddenly the last joint in my right thumb is asking for a break. I guess it is time to get some of that exercise I'm overdue for.
November 29, 2025 at 7:43 PM
[Mild Lament] I've been making great progress on the big project, but suddenly the last joint in my right thumb is asking for a break. I guess it is time to get some of that exercise I'm overdue for.
#CdAHistory I'm working on a play, and there is a scene in which Magnifico and Coviello are doing something, and where in most previous plays, they might be called 'i vecchi' (the old men), or 'i buffoni' (the clowns), here they were called 'i stupidi' (you probably translated that correctly).
November 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM
#CdAHistory I'm working on a play, and there is a scene in which Magnifico and Coviello are doing something, and where in most previous plays, they might be called 'i vecchi' (the old men), or 'i buffoni' (the clowns), here they were called 'i stupidi' (you probably translated that correctly).
It is Thanksgiving Day. This afternoon, I'll be celebrating with my wonderful neighbors (maybe 50 of us). Tomorrow I get some family visiting. By tradition they usually do Thanksgiving dinner with my DIL's family, and see us the next day.
November 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM
It is Thanksgiving Day. This afternoon, I'll be celebrating with my wonderful neighbors (maybe 50 of us). Tomorrow I get some family visiting. By tradition they usually do Thanksgiving dinner with my DIL's family, and see us the next day.
#CdAHistory Interesting scene requiring some special effects? "Zanni [enters] shaves Scapino's beard and says, "This is a trick." Scapino runs away."
I suspect this could also mean 'removes his beard' since Scapino is in disguise at that point, but shaving lazzi could be fun.
I suspect this could also mean 'removes his beard' since Scapino is in disguise at that point, but shaving lazzi could be fun.
November 26, 2025 at 5:17 PM
#CdAHistory Interesting scene requiring some special effects? "Zanni [enters] shaves Scapino's beard and says, "This is a trick." Scapino runs away."
I suspect this could also mean 'removes his beard' since Scapino is in disguise at that point, but shaving lazzi could be fun.
I suspect this could also mean 'removes his beard' since Scapino is in disguise at that point, but shaving lazzi could be fun.
#CdAHistory Every once in a while I stumble on a scene that tells me I can never perform this play. Just saw one tonight. A couple of servants beat up a group of people for reasons that don't fly well today. Sigh. I could replace the two scenes with something else if I like the rest of the show.
November 26, 2025 at 12:19 AM
#CdAHistory Every once in a while I stumble on a scene that tells me I can never perform this play. Just saw one tonight. A couple of servants beat up a group of people for reasons that don't fly well today. Sigh. I could replace the two scenes with something else if I like the rest of the show.
#CdAHistory How did they represent fire on stage in the 16th century? I just saw an interesting item in a props list: red to pretend a fire.
So, I guess red cloth.
So, I guess red cloth.
November 24, 2025 at 8:10 PM
#CdAHistory How did they represent fire on stage in the 16th century? I just saw an interesting item in a props list: red to pretend a fire.
So, I guess red cloth.
So, I guess red cloth.
#CdAHistory Wojtek, Tyfainne, and I just went through the play "The Hermit Woman" (which doesn't have a character who is a hermit). It was much better than I remembered, and we had a great time.
November 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
#CdAHistory Wojtek, Tyfainne, and I just went through the play "The Hermit Woman" (which doesn't have a character who is a hermit). It was much better than I remembered, and we had a great time.
I've got a bunch of music video-editing stuff to do this weekend, plus I'm writing something fancy that a friend will be calligraphing for some upcoming ceremony. Still, I don't want to get behind on my translation project. Busy weekend.
November 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I've got a bunch of music video-editing stuff to do this weekend, plus I'm writing something fancy that a friend will be calligraphing for some upcoming ceremony. Still, I don't want to get behind on my translation project. Busy weekend.
#CdATroupes Le Zanzare had a very positive rehearsal tonight. I am proud to be working with these people. The show will have at least one performance in January 17th with lunch and a show at about 1:30PM.
November 20, 2025 at 1:27 AM
#CdATroupes Le Zanzare had a very positive rehearsal tonight. I am proud to be working with these people. The show will have at least one performance in January 17th with lunch and a show at about 1:30PM.
#CdAHistory I'm continuing with the first pass at the next collection. I'm currently working on #16 out of 51. As noted before, these are from a little later time than I first thought. They are good stories, and we will have fun performing some of them.
November 19, 2025 at 4:54 PM
#CdAHistory I'm continuing with the first pass at the next collection. I'm currently working on #16 out of 51. As noted before, these are from a little later time than I first thought. They are good stories, and we will have fun performing some of them.
About a month or so ago, I acquired quite a few Commedia dell'Arte masks, some neoprene, most are leather. They've been sitting around on flat surfaces like the dining table while I figure out how I want to label and store them. I figured it out, and bought the materials. Today is the day.
November 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
About a month or so ago, I acquired quite a few Commedia dell'Arte masks, some neoprene, most are leather. They've been sitting around on flat surfaces like the dining table while I figure out how I want to label and store them. I figured it out, and bought the materials. Today is the day.
#CdAHistory we made a second pass on an interesting play this morning. It was better than I remembered. It's an odd play that includes some magic, even though it takes place in a town.
November 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
#CdAHistory we made a second pass on an interesting play this morning. It was better than I remembered. It's an odd play that includes some magic, even though it takes place in a town.
Astronomy Picture of the Day is back, and the backlog to before the government shutdown is filled. 45 or so new pictures.
November 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Astronomy Picture of the Day is back, and the backlog to before the government shutdown is filled. 45 or so new pictures.
I support unions, though sometimes their rules get in my way. I'm here to record a show, but it is a union venue, and I am locked out until they start letting the audience in.
November 15, 2025 at 10:52 PM
I support unions, though sometimes their rules get in my way. I'm here to record a show, but it is a union venue, and I am locked out until they start letting the audience in.
#CdAHistory I'm starting to make my first pass at translating another collection of Scenarios. This one is in Venice, and the dates for the manuscript are still vague, but probably are in the 1620s. The scenarios are a little more explicit about sex related things than the earlier ones (as written).
November 15, 2025 at 5:56 PM
#CdAHistory I'm starting to make my first pass at translating another collection of Scenarios. This one is in Venice, and the dates for the manuscript are still vague, but probably are in the 1620s. The scenarios are a little more explicit about sex related things than the earlier ones (as written).
I have two thoughts about the current politics. 1. Keep pressing on the Epstein files, and the eventual impeachment and removal. 2. Of all the things Trump and allies have been doing to destroy the country, I'm sad that this non-political crime is what's taking him down. - more -
November 14, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I have two thoughts about the current politics. 1. Keep pressing on the Epstein files, and the eventual impeachment and removal. 2. Of all the things Trump and allies have been doing to destroy the country, I'm sad that this non-political crime is what's taking him down. - more -
Sports talk: After several bad years in a row, the Patriots are now the first NFL team this season to win nine games, and thereby guarantee more wins than losses in the season. Does this foretell post-season success? Well, the Pats do have a schedule playing mostly weak teams this year.
November 14, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Sports talk: After several bad years in a row, the Patriots are now the first NFL team this season to win nine games, and thereby guarantee more wins than losses in the season. Does this foretell post-season success? Well, the Pats do have a schedule playing mostly weak teams this year.
#CdAHistory I am just beginning work on a Venetian scenario that has a young lover named Virginio, and a servant from another house named Mescolino. I'm curious to discover what their characters are like.
November 13, 2025 at 4:39 PM
#CdAHistory I am just beginning work on a Venetian scenario that has a young lover named Virginio, and a servant from another house named Mescolino. I'm curious to discover what their characters are like.
#CdATroupes Le Zanzare met last night, and we worked some scenes. One player has been out for several sessions because of medical appointments. We're hoping for the best.
November 13, 2025 at 1:58 PM
#CdATroupes Le Zanzare met last night, and we worked some scenes. One player has been out for several sessions because of medical appointments. We're hoping for the best.