This idiotic story has a high “EEEUWW” factor, but “cruelty”? “Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies come across a bizarre encounter at La Purisima Mission in Lompoc. “Around midnight they found a 69-year-old Huntington beach man naked and covered in oats. “Deputies say the man had covered himself in olive oil, rolled around in oats and …
Author: Steve Bodio
Pluto and– Californians
With apologies in advance to Reid, Connie, Margory– what is it with Californians anyway?? From Anthony Dick again, the reaction of some members of the state legislature to the “downsizing” of Pluto: “WHEREAS, The mean-spirited International Astronomical Union decided on August 24, 2006, to disrespect Pluto by stripping Pluto of its planetary status and reclassifying …
Real Food
Michael Blowhard reviews and discusses Nina Planck of “Real Food” fame, with links to books and sites like hers and Rod Dreher’s. I had the book on my wish list but at a pretty low priority, as I assumed it was worthy but maybe a bit boring. That’s not Michael’s take: ” “Real Food” I …
Retraction!
Apparently the alleged Galileo- style firing of the Vatican’s astronomer for his views on evolution was a badly- researched non story. Anthony Dick has the details. “This makes for a good story: a classic conflict between science and religion, harkening back to the good old days of Copernicus and Galileo. Unfortunately, it’s pure fiction. I …
Papal Rifle
Tam has discovered the ultimate military collectible: “..the official rifle of the Papal States from 1867 to their demise in 1870: The M1868 Remington (Pontificio)” This is a Remington rolling block, in a very similar cartridge to the classic bufflo hunter ones also chambered in this action– and one of the makers was Westley Richards …
Manatees
From the NYT, courtesy of Reid: manatees may have smooth brains, but that doesn’t mean they have dull senses. It is a long article and you should read it all, but here is an example. “In research over the last five years, Dr. Reep and his colleagues have shown that manatees have 2,000 facial vibrissae …
Good things elsewhere…
You should be keeping up with Mary’s wise, prolific, and insightful posts. She continues to reflect on her experiences as an animal control officer here at Prairie Mary— read and scroll down. The ‘possum story is hilarious, but she knows darker things about human- animal relations too. And at her writing blog, Merry Scribbler, she …
“Novels”
Querencia (the book) is not one, for instance (it’s a memoir) even though a reviewer implies it is ON THE DUST JACKET. Reflection prompted by this Washington Post essay by Michael Skube on reading in which we learn that (A) students don’t read, and (B) they think all books are “novels”. “…And my favorite: “Novel,” …
Steve Irwin, 1962- 2006: RIP
Sure, he could be annoying. But in an age when cool trumps all, I can’t find it in me to disapprove of enthusiasm. He may have inspired more children in the love of all of nature, including “creepy- crawlies” than anyone in his generation or even mine. My little nephews are fascinated by insects and …
Blogging From Q.
Rebecca here. We always have such aspirations for my visits…deep writerly conversation that leads to literary masterpieces, long stimulating discussions that lead to ultimately solving the problems of the world… instead we babble on and drink. Still, I can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend. The drive here was phenomenal. The monsoon …