Lots of new reviews, from suspense to science, up at Good Books on the website…
And who thought this was a good idea?
The Alpha Environmentalist, knowing of my interest in China issues, just alerted me to this op- ed piece from the Arizona Daily Star on the Chinese government’s bid to buy the California based oil company Unocal (don’t know how long the link will be up). Exactly who– other than, say, the Peoples’ Liberation Army– thinks …
“My name is Steve and I am a bookaholic”.
Check this hilarious post from Dymphna at Gates of Vienna. She pefectly captures our mutual addiction: “Read-a-holics cannot resist the printed word: It starts with cereal boxes at the breakfast table or newspapers abandoned in the restaurant booth by whomever ate there before you and continues into reading your high school English lit books the …
“I Am Not Worthy!”
“Michael Blowhard” of 2Blowhwards– see my blogroll– has just written a touching link and description of my site. Michael was the first person to admit me to a blog, with a guest post on the writer’s life, several years ago. I guess that makes him my “blogfather”. I am honored. Please, check out Blowhards– it …
Slow Food?
The moas of New Zealand were the largest true birds that ever lived. They were preyed upon by an eagle that was itself so large it probaby ate the first human settlers, the Maori, as well– they have legends saying so, and pictured it on rocks. As in so many places, humans probably put an …
Got Mud?
From England via Cox News Service: fake mud for your four wheel drive vehicle: ” Maybe your rugged SUV never goes anywhere wilder than the mall, but you can look like a wilderness adventurer with Spray-On Mud. For owners who don’t want it to look like they’re driving an unnecessary gas-guzzler, a little splash signals …
Great Quote
Physicist Wolfgang Pauli’s comment on a paper submitted by a colleague: “This isn’t right. This isn’t even wrong.” (Shamelessly stolen from Cathy Siepp).
Frederick Turner on dubious judgement
Frederick Turner, classicist, poet, teacher, and polymath, is one of our most important and unfortunately least known intellectuals and philosophers. His remarkable body of work transcends genres and easy political categories. He is a biologically and scientifically literate humanist and a poet who writes epics and metered lyrics. A quick view of his work can …
I bet they didn’t do it in chadors…
Two Iranian women make it to the top of Everest.
“Think Like a Neanderthal”
Dr. Ana Pinto did just that and found a Spanish cave that was inhabited for 60,000 years, and more. This New York Times interview covers carnivorous cave bears, even more carnivorous Neanderthals, and the possibility that H. sapiens greater omnivory might have given us a competitive advantage. Via Cronaca.