Reid sent this recent feature by Russ Parsons at L.A. Times on a California peach farmer who boasts a cult following among the foodies: “‘Mas’ Masumoto, a short, square 52-year-old with a quick smile and work-hardened hands, is probably the most famous fruit farmer in America.” “…Over the years, Masumoto has become a charismatic public …
Month: August 2006
Doom and Gloom..
NOT from Derb!– and two other good columns from Patrick. The Doom one is Ozymandias. Traitors, Spies, and Beagles contains some mysteries. And Paving Paradise contains some non- partisan political wisdom. (Required reading for Crunchies).
Death of Childhood?
From Derb: three English children were jailed and DNA tested for playing in a tree and breaking some branches. “To the 12-year-old friends planning to build themselves a den, the cherry tree seemed an inviting source of material. “But the afternoon adventure turned into a frightening ordeal for Sam Cannon, Amy Higgins and Katy Smith …
What Shall We Do…
…while Pluvialis is away in Central Asia? Suggestions are being solicited in Comments. Heidi suggests beer, though vodka might be more anthropologically correct.
Bat Taxonomy
Darren has just posted a fascinating look at bat taxonomy called We Flightless Primates. Although he casts doubt on the hypothesis that bats are composed of two groups with different origins, one more closely related to primates, I can’t help continuing to be intrigued by that theory. Not being anything but an amateur taxonomist, I …
Dobe Bites King’s Bear
This is just too funny: a guard dog has destroyed a bunch of Teddy bears he was “guarding”, including one owned by Elvis. ” “He just went berserk,” said Daniel Medley, general manager of the Wookey Hole Caves near Wells, England, where hundreds of bears were chewed up Tuesday night by the 6-year-old Doberman pinscher …
When Hunting is Banned…
…people like Tony Wright become outlaws. Two things strike me about this report. First, though it is not explicitly mentioned, the p[olice are still rather unwilling to make criminals out of violators of this unjust law. And this is because the “criminals” are people like this: “Tony Wright followed his father Sam into huntservice. He …
Gunblogging: French Design 2
As most readers probably know, I love French shotguns! Perhaps even prettier than the Darne is the Manufrance Ideal (say “ee- day–ahl”, not “eyedeel”). Round- actioned like the Scottish Dixons and McNaughtons which cost ten times more (though mechanically, because of their coil springs, more like the early side- lever Grants), light, strong, elegant, and …
Animal toys
Blame Darren for starting this thread. I suspect many naturalists, as part of their childlike delight in the diversity of creatures (a GOOD thing) secretly or not- so- secretly collect animal toys. He has inspired us to put up a selection of our odd bunch. From the left rear: warthog, Snowy owl, Patagonia’s Penguino (Libby …
Guest Post: Jacob Sewall on Fast Pigeons
Writes Steve: My friend Jacob Sewall is a climatologist, pigeon fancier, and born (Maine)Yankee among other things. He writes some of the most fascinating stuff on pigeons and domestication in general– one of our perennial subjects here–that I know of. In a just world I would be an editor that could commission abook from him. …