Posted by Analytical Grammar
I cannot remember the last time I heard someone use “lain.” It’s probably one of those words that is on the chopping block for the new and revised grammar books. I have some old English language books that are fun to look at sometimes. A photo or two of those old pages might be worth a post or two in future.
When you are immersed in something, all aspects of it are a part of that whole, the whole of it that you love. In books it’s the scent of new books, the scent of old books, books to be read, books already read, stories of authors, stories of stories, manuscript pieces, marginalia. I have several moleskin notebooks. I have Blackwing pencils and a hand sharpener. I have good pens, used pens, old pens—those that perform well. And a trunk full of my own writing. All of these things, sacred.
In music it’s the same. Even the photos of music scores. I have my childhood music books and my current books. I have the flute my son used to play. I have an old manual metronome. Books about Glenn Gould. (Of course his records.) And here, above, is something I ran across on the internet, so I had to print it. I wish I had the real thing here, to hold in my hands and place on the piano stand. In the meantime, a photo will do. Isn’t it beautiful?
P.S. 1. There were more words attached; there were more posts and pages; Nothing Worked Right! Maybe later. I could not Save or Publish. But Titles to the posts published.
P.S. 2. I have no idea what the Likes were seeing.
Praying mantises Are killing birds and eating their brains. Unbelievable news. Not new information apparently, just news to me. The photo above, taken by Tom Vaughn via university of Basel, shows the mantis hanging from the humming bird feeder where he has pierced the skull of the humming bird and is sucking out its contents. There are documented cases of them doing this worldwide. Carnivores that they are, they go beyond the occasional bug and garden pest to devour small birds, usually humming birds.
And their methods are horrific. They just hold their prey, and they eat them while they are still alive, slowly—until there is nothing left,
Some scientists are concerned that the very large mantises that are non-native to the U.S. are having an effect on the bird population. These mantises were introduced by people in the hopes they’ll eat insects such as aphids and flies. The downside is that they also consume creatures people want to have around, like butterflies and, yes, sometimes hummingbirds. And plenty of people are still releasing mantises. I expect you can still get the little pouches at garden stores with directions on how they will hatch and how to release them with good health to grow and flourish.
But who knew this would happen? Who knows today? Those babies that hatch are just darling and are complete miniatures of the mature adult. (Yes, I did that once in my total ignorance.) Once again—because we never learn from history—we are interfering with the natural world and disturbing the balance of nature. We don’t seem to ever stop and ask ourselves what the consequences of our actions will be.
At the Hairdressers, by Gely Korzhev (1925-2012)
via At the Hairdressers — Gely Korzhev — Biblioklept
I wonder what it is that this appeals to. Why do I like it, wish I had it in full colored explosion on a wall here? I can say I like it because it’s unexpected, but many things are unexpected. And weird is enticing. Is weird enticing in a work of art because it’s safe? It can’t reach out and grab me. Yet it might. Is it the same thrill as being frightened? But there are many weird pieces that appeal and are not frightening. Sure I can go on about the detail: the use of color, the build of the flesh, the capture of form. It’s more than that thought. It’s the nothing that’s in between the execution and the method, the subject and the form.
Still, words. Just words. I don’t know why, but I like it.
Tibor Kercz photo for Best Nature Comedy finalist
It seems there’s one of us in nature too! And see how the others are blissfully unaware of the struggles one of them is going through? The least they could do is move over.
