A feather in my blog

Well it's that time again and this week I've been researching the link of feathers. Calvino started his memo on Exactitude by talking of the ancient Egyptians 'exactitude' symbol being a 'light feather called Maat, goddess of the scales.' So this left me with the vagueness of not knowing how light the feather was? A humming bird feather does not weigh the same as an ostrich feather. Do all feathers from the same species weigh the same? So it turns out that in fact the goddess wears an ostrich feather in her head.
This sent me on another strand that of the actual symbolism of a feather and how it can weigh so heavily on us. In 1914 Admiral Charles Fitzgerald founded the Order of the White Feather. This was supported by people of note such as the writers Mary Ward and Emma Orczy. The society would send letters that included a white feather, to men who they considered cowards for not going to war. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWfeather.htm
In 1902 A.E.W. Mason wrote The Four Feathers. This book has been made into films many times and is a very powerful story about friendship and betrayal and all because of the 'White Feather.' The weight of a feather is not exact, as it is not just that of its physical weight but also that of its psychological weight that must be considered. Then there's the superstition that surrounds feathers a peacock feather is considered bad luck to have on stage for actors. It is thought very unlucky to have the feathers of a Peacock within the home or handle anything made with them. This is possibly because of the eye shape present upon these feathers i.e. the Evil-Eye associated with wickedness.On my travels through the universe that is Google I came across this band Wolfmother and a track called White Feather. I love it, I've never heard it before and now I am a fan. It reminds me of the music I used to listen to when I was a teenager. Yes, this was a long time ago but its never to late to learn new things, is that not what Calvino and Kundera are telling us.