Colonel Jeff Cooper was a crusty old marine, shooter, and writer, one of the most influential firearms thinkers of the twentieth century. He wrote an enormous series of entertaining and informative essays, observations and quips called his Commentaries, a sort of proto- gunblog. But he could be a bit set in his ways, at least …
Tag: Writing
Tony Hillerman RIP
Tony Hillerman, the “Anglo” novelist who depicted the Navajo nation so well that they gave him an award, has died at 83. His mystery novels may be the best door into understanding Navajo culture, and Navajo country, that exist. He was also a good and kind man. In the 80’s we both belonged to a …
News
Sorry for light posting. Still haven’t found the bird. Realistically I am not sure what to expect. Of the longwings I have flown in the last 15 years or so, all but one were out at least overnight, and all but one of those eventually returned. Also, in one of the more notorious cases in …
“About Me”
Matt sometimes does searches that wouldn’t occur to me, and last week sent two reviews of Querencia the book from two excellent blogs. First is from Terrie Miller in California, who also sent me the wonderful Bouchon cookbook. She writes in part: “To many of us, the love of wildlife seems directly opposed to the …
THomas Disch: 1940- 2008
The poet, critic, and science fiction writer Thomas Disch died last week, a suicide. He was brilliant, unclassifiable, unemployable, and poor, despite having written some odd best sellers– the quintessential freelancer. He was facing eviction from his last home after the death of his long- time companion, and in bad health. He was still writing …
Update
After posting the link to Ruhlman on food below I went and caught up on the miles of quite wonderful comments. I like “fussy” pro Mike Pardus’s comment among many others (good for “writer” as well.) “Hi, y’all…….It’s nice to see that things settled down a bit since Michael posted my comments on initial post.For …
Things to come..
(To keep my nose to the grindstone…) Book reviews. EXCELLENT new book on why the Mega- Predators are ecologically vital. Science, new and rediscovered (hint: Leopold’s Kaibab redux.) “Whale killers.” Science as well as emotion, written not typed, and re- wilding too! More reviews: Evolution vs ID, Matthiessen’s Florida (still unfinished), Chinese wolf novel ditto. …
Ideas for Change?
This past year has been a tough one economically, mostly because of the sorry state of mainstream publishing. If the story ever gets resolved for the better (which it probably will) I’ll tell it all here. Suffice to say that it fulfills every dire statement that Michael Blowhard ever made about the business. For now, …
Links
Like Rebecca I have been out walking. Also gardening– it is good for the souls. There will be pictures below. Meanwhile, the usual miscellany.. Patrick links to this Telegraph story about the use of pigeons to pay kidnap ransoms in Iraq. “One family attached $10,000 in $100 notes to the legs of five homing pigeons, …
Sunday Links
We have all heard the legends of dolphins helping drowning humans. Now one appears to have helped guide stranded whales to safety. John Wilkins, who posts at the interesting evo- blog Evolving thoughts, went to see Richard Dawkins lecture and had some critical thoughts. I can’t resist quoting: “In particular I was annoyed that those …