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 I'll just do a few of the best, post some silly pics of a soft drink and a "pupdate", and wish you all a Merry Christmas, a happy Hanukah if appropriate, and a happy New Year (it is too late for the Solstice-- sorry Chas) If I hear the @#$%^&* word 'holiday' one more time I am reaching for the red- hot tongs...

This story about bedbugs in the Village Voice seems to show us that our civilization, at least its urban variety, has finally reached terminal wimpiness. The reporter interviews people who have totally given up their lives, possessions, marriages, and even contact with other humans, because they MAY have been bitten by bedbugs. On one level, hilarious; on another, end- of- the- world- as- we- know- it scary. I find it hard to believe that such people exist and demand to be taken seriously.

Michael Blowhard delivers some advice to aspiring writers. I completely agree on the realities of publishing but would add two things: (1) One should write because one must write, not for any of the (common) reasons he gives; and (2) Anyone discouraged by his admonitions shouldn't be writing anyway.

For those of us a bit nostalgic for the glory days of Victoria's Empire: Tam shows us Pooh with a Martini (no, NOT a drink!) HT Chas.

Sorry, Ted: darting is not hunting. "One does not hunt in order to kill, but one kills in order to hunt", as Ortega said. (And to eat, as Bodio says). Of course I also think most catch and release fly fishing-- that is, the kind where eating is never contemplated, not the kind used as a conservation tool) is politically- correct fish torture. How much worse p.c. elephant torture?

Virgin Komodo dragons can give birth! Apparently a different process is involved than in the Cnemodiphorus lizards down here, whole species of which are virgin females who give birth to female clones. The big monitors young are all male-- in dragons, males are homozygous "ZZ", and according to the article, "all surviving offspring created by doubling up half of the female's genes must be males". Nature-- "What it cannot do?"
(Special blog notice to anyone-- Sorry, Peculiar, you can't play-- who gets this citation).

Patrick NAILS dog show culture. Read, laugh, weep for the dogs.