The Denver Post has a short piece on one of my favorite dishes that never gets any respect – grits. Polenta always seems to feel the love, but grits never does. I don’t get it. In the course of one of its periodic anthropological expeditions, the NY Times discovers home canning and the root cellar. …
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The Callings, a rambling review
In two weeks I’ll be in Amarillo, Texas—about as different a place from Baton Rouge as can be reached in a day’s drive. My destination is a log cabin on the north side of town. From the back porch you look out across the yucca dotted desert, rolling and smooth, toward the broken country of …
Just in Case
Mister Magpie thought he’d hang out and see if Sadie might walk away and leave that soup bone she’s gnawing. Not a chance.
Mixed Jays and Mixed Juncos
We’ve had a very warm Fall so far, and a lot of our seasonal visitors have been slow in arriving this year. A cold front bringing in snow has driven birds south and down from the mountains making a busy morning at the feeders today. I was delighted by this visiting blue jay. Those of …
Taigans vs Wolves
Here and here are two rather ugly photos of Kyrgiz taigans attacking a tethered wolf. They have caused controversy in both European AR groups and, most recently, in one of our tazi lists. The general consensus appears to be that the Kyrgiz are reprehensible and that they should be stopped (also, everyone apparently thinks that …
Re- Wilding
Laura Niven sends a link to this Wired magazine piece on the controversial practice of “Re- Wilding” — reintroducing the megafauna to environments that have lost them. To me the most interesting part is that Sergey Zimov’s Pleistocene Park is succeeding as predicted in changing swampy taiga to biologically more productive steppe. This agrees with …
“Pet Camel Kills Australian Woman”
This story was sent by Darren, who said “Not funny, yet still funny. Or not..” I know what he means, but what a lead line! “A woman in Australia has been killed by her pet camel after the animal may have tried to have sex with her.” No joke though. Frequent commenter Annie D will …
Barking Mad : “Sea Kittens”
Well, most sane people know that PETA is, but now they have outdone themselves. HT Blunt Object (read his take) via the Nerds.
Today’s Engrish
Two gems here and here. I think the octopus wins though.
A Dissent on Voting
I voted– always do– but here is an articulate essay on NOT voting. It reminds me a bit of Evelyn Waugh’s assertion that it was only necessary to vote when you are opposing a great evil– and that is rare. “…I disagree that being one of 120 million voters means I have stood up and …