Just before I got ill we were shopping in Albuquerque. We were in the checkout line at the Asian market when I spotted this can: That’s right: a soft drink made from the nest of Asian swiftlets. I don’t know if you can read the list of ingredients below: But they include, in order: “Water, …
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Working Wolf Dogs
It is the common wisdom that wolf- dog hybrids are spooky creatures, alternately shy and aggressive, that do not make good working dogs. So it is with fascination that I bring you this report from a friend, cynologist Vladimir Beregovoy, about a correspondent of his in Russia. “I wanted to share with you a few …
I’m Baaaack! (2)
Coughing, hacking, but a hell of a lot better than a week ago, I return. I saved a lot– way too many– links for you despite the fact I couldn’t spend much time in my Blogger seat– physical visitors may recall it is a long way from the woodstove or the bedroom. So I think …
Steve’s Books and Kiran Over Mongolia Make ESPN
Last month we spotted ESPN outdoor correspondent James Swan recommending Steve’s books in his column here. Today our falconer friend in Japan, Isaac Nichols, forwarded another of Swan’s pieces; this one describes falconry as the “ultimate interspecies cooperation” and features the movie Kiran Over Mongolia (reviewed first at Querencia!). Once again, Swan takes the opportunity …
Bird flu?
Probably not. But Steve’s got something of a nasty respiratory thing to deal with. He sends his apologies for not posting and asked that I spread this to everyone. Um, maybe that is not the best way to put it. Convey the news, I mean. (cough)
Big Snakes
A news item I found earlier this week, describing how a man in Cincinnati had been strangled by his 13-foot pet boa constrictor, elicited some comments and reminiscences from the crew here. Steve:A thirteen- footer can kill you and it doesn’t even have to be aggressive.When I was at the zoo we didn’t let people– …
Paleontology Christmas Cards
I would urge you all to see Darren Naish’s post on paleontology-oriented Christmas cards. I must admit these paleontologists are more creative than us archaeologists.
Andean Bats
More bats! The NY Times brings us the story of this nectar-eating bat from Ecuador. The 2-inch long bat has a tongue 3.3 inches long! This is proportionally the longest tongue of any mammal and the second-longest (behind the chameleon) of any vertebrate. This bat keeps the tongue in its chest – it is anchored …
New Orleans Writers
A friend from Idaho asked me this week, “What’s the deal with New Orleans? We get conflicting reports up here.” I told him what I could, which isn’t much, since we get conflicting reports down here in Baton Rouge, just an hour away. I posted earlier on some of the Crescent City’s musicians here and …
Reid is Moving
I wanted to make a public announcement about something I’ve told a few privately. Connie and I have accepted transfers from our current employer and will be moving to work at their Denver, Colorado office. Our move will most likely take place in January, but timing will be conditioned by the move-in date of the …