Tom McIntyre just let me know that Oliver Sacks has died at 82, from a recurrence of his melanoma. I wrote back, instantly: “A great man; a Martian, as he characterized his friend Temple Grandin, but a GREAT Martian, and great writer- scientist. I have read nearly all his books, picking up the autobiography when …
Month: August 2015
“A simple linear gesture..”
LC Smith Field Grade Featherweight– an honest Yankee double, finished. Nothing has cleaner lines. This 6 1/4 pound, 28″ 12 bore from, probably, the twenties, is a perfcctly balanced gun.
GunSMITHery…
I went and traded for two American Classics the other day at Ron’s, two old favorites, LC Smiths. “Elsies” have certain inherent problems– their sidelocks, insufficiently supported by bearing surfaces, have a tendency to crack their wood under pressure- but I LIKE them for reasons not entirely rational (but what reasons for passions like guns …
The Hounds
The book is done, at 44,000- plus words– I like it, very much, and hope not to have to rewrite it. As it is a very personal book it may seem quirky to some, but I hope the editors can use their judgment and let it stand, more or less as is, with its melancholy …
KA- BOOM!
Tina Garfield captured this shot of one of our powerful summer storms last week: Going in for “programming” tomorrow, after which I expect my life will improve A LOT. Hope so, anyway… and all reports are good…
I always thought it was “Read at WILL”
“The critic said that once a year he read Kim; and he read Kim, it was plain, at whim: not to teach, not to criticize, just for love—he read it, as Kipling wrote it, just because he liked to, wanted to, couldn’t help himself. To him it wasn’t a means to a lecture or article, …
Poem
THE VALLEY OF SHELLS AND BONES “What scaled and feathered fetish shakes awake our loamy sleep in these sealed vaults where dust and sand enrobe our golden masks that hover over dreaming faces drowned in tinted musk? Here where the spider curls and chitters in the crystal locket. Here as time’s mouth leeches blood and …
Rescuing Wildlife is Futile, and Necessary
One of the benefits of Helen’s success with H is for Hawk has been that she got a gig writing a monthly nature column for New York Times Magazine. Her latest effort, with the title of this post, appeared today. Her column, which began in March, is titled On Nature, and if you scroll down near …
Home at last…
I am home, the op was a success, and I am fine. Many thanks for every good thought and prayer. The battery goes in a week from tomorrow, and the programming a week after that. Only physical effect was a lingering headache where AIR got into my brain… really. The grinding when they drilled into …
Steve’s Condition
I just received an email from Jackson, and he says Libby told him Steve came through his procedure earlier today with flying colors. Apparently he is already back looking at his computer and may post something himself before long. I just wanted to get the good news out as soon as possible.