Podcast with Darren Naish

Fans of Dr. Darren Naish and his frequently-highlighted blog Tetrapod Zoology will enjoy hearing him “in person,” in a podcast interview by George Kenny of Electric Politics. Beyond the nature of the topics discussed (origin of dogs, Bigfoot, being a “famous scientist”), I was fascinated simply to experience the podcast itself. Here blogging and broadcasting …

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More Pack Rats!

One more footnote from my trip west might be appropriate, given Querencia’s recent pack rat-related posts, here and (Yum!) here. Reid reported on the value of the Neotoma as archeo-climate-geological index and even as a human food item. The natural history of the pack rats (or wood rats) deserves plenty of attention, and maybe we …

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Scenes from Magdalena

For the best words on Magdalena and thereabouts, I recommend you first to Steve. His vivid descriptions of the place–his base camp for more than twenty years–provide evocative settings for many of his published works. Though Steve travels widely, his frequent musings on what’s familiar or different about each place he visits suggest his mind …

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Back Home

Composite of Magdalenan landscape and a trio of Steve’s pigeons in flightJust a quick note with more (and worse) to follow. I’m back in from a record-breaking November hawking trip: 3,000 miles over nine days and from Zero to 7,000+ feet of elevation. Lungs, butt and truck all still feeling the trip! As mentioned below, …

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Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Or…?

I know a number of accomplished naturalists and science-types browse this blog—at least two of them write this blog! So I am putting to you all a Challenge of Identification From The Natural World (…or not). Actually, one of my daughters is putting you up to it: She found this interesting item in a pile …

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Andy Rooney, Latter Day Vegetarian

I’m probably in the last generation of people who could pick Andy Rooney out of a line-up; he and my two late grandfathers are WWII contemporaries. I’ve known Rooney’s face and his voice all my life, and I’ve always liked him. How could you not like such a gruff old contrarian, eyebrows and all? Sure, …

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All Quiet In The Warm Front

Ironically, I check in here a couple times a day to see if maybe Reid or Steve has posted something. I’m missing my Querencia fix. Is everyone staying dry? A giant green wave on the radar foamed up out of the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday—This vast weather-maker has us alternately ducking squalls and bitching …

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Two if by Sewall

A couple new essays to share from our friend Jake Sewall: the first a pondering of our humble origins and the second a strategic view from the rooftop lofts. Dust and Warrior Monks of the Rooftops Enjoy!

Something Fishy

Reid hooked this op-ed piece (LATimes) by Victoria Braithwaite, a behavioral biologist at Edinburgh University, and sent it to Steve, Rebecca and myself for comment. I threw back the following flippant reply, which Steve suggested I share with the rest of the class. Maybe everyone can chime in with their views in Comments? …I’ve seen …

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When You’re in Love With a Jersey Girl

Guest contributor Jacob Sewall recounts his first experiences in the pigeon fancy (glory days?), set to the music of Bruce Springsteen: The Jersey Girl © Jacob Sewall, 2006 “The year it came out, my father got the Springsteen boxed set, Live 1975–1985, on LP and my lifelong (thus far) love affair with Springsteen was born. …

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