If this makes the Doom and Gloom column, then at least it suggests a way to feel better. Reid found this LAT piece entitled “Fido’s Little Helper,” a reference to the growing trend in giving psychoactive medications to pets. Laugh, but we do buy them sweaters. And last week I saw a commercial for a …
Month: January 2007
Adrift
When I took my first historical geology course at Tulane, back in the day, we of course studied plate techtonics and continental drift. It was a revelation to me to adjust my time sense and think about large land masses gliding along our planet’s surface, splitting up or colliding. I pored over maps that geologists …
Skin
The New York Times has an interesting interview with anthropologist Nina Jablonski of Penn State. Jablonski discusses her recent book on that understudied but largest human organ – the skin. I was particularly struck by her observation that “humans are the self-decorating ape.” Even those of us who haven’t had ink done rely on some …
Killer Hounds
For those that appreciate such things; granddogs Pearl the lurcher and six- month old Maty, the tazi, with Maty’s first hare. It WILL be eaten. By humans.
Nuclear Tourism
Reid sent this piece from the NYT on “nuclear tourism”, where the tourist visits such things as the Trinity site and a missile silo in Arizona. On some bizarre principle of confronting one’s nightmares such things have always appealed to me. I have been to Trinity site, twice.. I also used to see the little …
Giant Cryptozoological Flying Squirrels
You should always read Darren, but I have always had a soft spot for Asia’s giant flying squirrels, and hope to see one one day.
Good stuff
I have been wanting to do a long discussion about the excellent and idiosyncratic Oklahoma- and Poland based anthropological blogger Stephen Browne, who posts at Rants and Raves. I do not have time to do him justice right now, but I encourage you to read him. For a sampler of his innovative thinking, try this …
Eating Hares
An anonymous commentor on my post California Coursing Redux takes issue with my defence of coursing. Very well, though I don’t think he or she read it as carefully as they might have. But with one point I must take issue. “As for the comment given at the hearing that the killed rabbits were all …
Decline, Fall– and a Little Rise?
I have done many “is there still an England?” posts, and this article: “Mince Pie Danger to be Assessed” is surely in the decline category. “Organisers of a village Christmas party have been told they must carry out a risk assessment of their mince pies – or their festivities will be cancelled. “Council bosses say …
Links and Excuses
..in rather the reverse order. Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico has announced a 3.6 million dollar “Animal Welfare” plan that reeks of Animal Rights and the notorious Albuquerque “HEART” plan– see earlier posts here. The biggest single fear– and there are many– is that they will try to stealthily implement a statewide spay- neuter …