A carnival of pics of things we love here. Thanks to Jevgeni Shergalin.
Zaca Lake Fire
The LA Times today reports on the Zaca Lake Fire that has burned 116,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest north of Santa Barbara. The fire has been burning since July 4 and is about to spread east into Ventura County. The USFS estimates that it will be sometime early in September before it …
A Farewell to Alms
Last week the NY Times’ estimable Nicholas Wade had a review of a new book by economic historian Gregory Clark, A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World. Apparently the crux of the book deals with how the English economy was able to benefit from technological change during the Industrial Revolution at …
Fear and Loathing
In a recent comment, Black Dog Lady (BDL) said of animals, “They are born knowing.” A great line that reminded me of another one from Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty, which my kids are listening to on CD: “God had given men reason, by which they could find out things for themselves; but He gave animals …
A loss and a win
As was feared, The Yangtze River dolphin is officially extinct. “After more than 20 million years on the planet, the Yangtze river dolphin is today officially declared extinct, the first species of cetacean (whale, dolphin or porpoise) to be driven from this planet by human activity. “An intensive six-week search by an international team of …
Terrorist Cockfighters?
Patriot Act “Sneak & Peek” warrants used against redneck chickenfighters in Tennessee. Of course they would NEVER be used except against terrorists. HT Tam.
“Scouts banned from eating burgers and bangers – because of religious beliefs”
This is not the Onion, but a real headline from England. (Would be that or California). “The location is Brownsea Island in Dorset, the starting point of Scouting where Lord Baden-Powell led the first expedition. “Those young pioneers caught rabbits and then skinned and cooked them on an open fire. “Some 300 modern-day Scouts (the …
“And if California slides into the ocean…”
.. it may be better for the rest of us! A debate in the LA Times begins by framing the issues thus: “There’s wide agreement that most dogs should be spayed and neutered.” Really? But worse is to come. “I am a volunteer humane advocate going against you, Bill, a paid lobbyist and profiteering dog …
Bird “Bleg”
Which as readers of blogs know is a Blogger’s Beg. I am going into this season birdless as well as almost utterly penniless. Next year should be better but is… next year. I am mainly interested in Goshawks, Sakers, and (probably crossed with Saker) Gyrs (better health down here). Gosses I probably have to get …
New Gorbatov
John Carlson of Prairie Ice gives us a link to new work by Vadim Gorbatov and a review of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.