Godzilla, Vampires, and Moby Goshawk?

Darren has been busy– he has the first of his promised vampire posts up, and one on the science of Godzilla. In a comment in the second, I learned of the derivation of the monster’s name: “Godzilla of course is a corruption of the Japanese Gojira, which is a portmanteau of gorira (gorilla) and kujira …

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Delicious Martini

A while ago I posted a link to Winnie the Pooh with a (non- drinkable) Martini. In response, Bruce Douglas sent me pics of the most wonderful example of that venerable British colonial rifle I have ever seen. I WANT one! He wrote: “Great silver work and goatskin sling are tasteful (by Khyber standards)… A …

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Black Hole

Reader (and writer you should read– see here and here and here, for some examples) John McLoughlin has just visited a most amazing store in Los Alamos. He writes: “Here’s a fun place to visit. I’ve appended some images from today’s trip to the Black Hole down in Los Alamos, an eerily amazing place that …

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Wrestling Dogs of Central Asia

Today, several friends sent me this link to a New York Times piece on Asian “fighting” dogs. I put “fighting” in quotes because the practice of testing wolf-guarding flock dogs, non-lethally, is an ancient one in Asia, pre-dating the mostly Islamic societies that now practice it, and is more akin to wrestling than fighting. The …

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Around the Web…

… first, then a bit more. Some new work completed to deadline– more about it when accepted. And maybe it is time to announce that there is a book contract in play. Or maybe I’m crazy to even mention it, since it has been in negotiation since September with no resolution (I will NOT answer …

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Around the Web

I am deep in writing a (paid!) piece on among other things the help dogs gave to Clovis man in his invasion of North America, so will still be posting lightly. But there are some things out there you should see. Blog wonkery: we are now on “New” Blogger. I (miraculously) have not had much …

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Letter from Istanbul

Our foreign correspondent, Phillip Grayson (a Magdalenian, I say with pride) is finally settled in Istanbul and sends a letter on the Hrant Dink matter. Dink was an ethnic Armenian and a liberal in the best and true sense. He insisted on his Turkish as well as his Armenian identity and was no mere spokesman …

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Riding High

This picture of Lauren age 13 and Travis age 9 on Connie’s mare Squirt was taken just off of our front porch in Tehachapi. It’s one of my favorite family pictures.I was reminded of this by Heidi’s post about horses and her family. Of course, I said before there have been other horsemen in my …

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