The Nature of Things

A roundup of the week's news of birds and the environment : A Snowy Egret photographed at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge shows off his "golden slippers". *~*~*~* The losses of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are tracking the worst-case scenario as stated by climate scientists. They are melting six times faster than they were in the 1990s. *~*~*~* Mangrove forests, marshes, and seagrass beds protect inland areas from storm surges and strong winds. Over long periods, coastal wetlands like these build up sediment that mitigates sea level rise and local land subsidence. A recent study found that there were staggering economic benefits  derived from having healthy wetlands, a good reason to protect them. *~*~*~* In the absence of leadership from the federal government, many states are exploring cooperation in the fight against climate change. *~*~*~* A study indicates that birds are beneficial to farms that grow corn because they help to control pest insects. Howev...

Charles Yu presents his book as if it were a teleplay set in a Chinatown restaurant called the Golden Palace. The restaurant is the setting for a cop show called "Black and White." Yu's protagonist, Willis Wu, is a bit player on that show and through him, the author considers the stereotypes about Asians and Asian-Americans that are stock in trade for Hollywood. His portrayal of these cliches is utterly devastating. Also quite funny. And so we learn about "Background Asian Male," "Dead Asian Man," "Generic Asian Man Number One, Two, and Three," and, of course, "Delivery Guy." These are all roles played from time to time by Willis Wu. The role that he really, really wants to play is "Kung Fu Guy," but he never gets the chance.  We gradually come to see that not only does Wu play these roles on the television show, but he also to some extent inhabits them in his real life. Through these roles, we learn his character. We also...

I have resisted reading this book as it has solidified its spot on the best sellers list over several weeks. Something about the description of the plot just put me off. But the book kept nagging at me and finally I surrendered. Take me, Alex Michaelides, I am yours. And actually, it wasn't bad.  The plot briefly is this: Alicia Berenson, a well-known artist, has been convicted of killing her husband, Gabriel, a fashion photographer. Gabriel was bound to a chair and then shot in the face five times. Afterward, Alicia slashed her wrists and thus they were discovered - the dead body of Gabriel and Alicia bleeding profusely.  There was never any question that Alicia had committed the murder, although a motive was apparently never identified. The investigation and the trial were complicated by the fact that the accused murderer either refused or was unable to speak. Now it is several years later. Alicia has spent those years in an institution for the mentally ill and during that t...

So now we welcome March and wonder how we got here so fast. And, of course, there is a poem for that by no less than the "Belle of Amherst" herself. It's somewhat enigmatic. What do you think it means? Dear March – Come in (1320) by Emily Dickinson   Dear March – Come in – How glad I am – I hoped for you before – Put down your Hat – You must have walked – How out of Breath you are – Dear March, how are you, and the Rest – Did you leave Nature well – Oh March, Come right upstairs with me – I have so much to tell – I got your Letter, and the Birds – The Maples never knew that you were coming – I declare – how Red their Faces grew – But March, forgive me – And all those Hills you left for me to Hue – There was no Purple suitable – You took it all with you – Who knocks? That April – Lock the Door – I will not be pursued – He stayed away a Year to call When I am occupied – But trifles look so trivial As soon as you have come That blame is just as dear as Praise And Praise as m...

A roundup of the week's news of birds and the environment : The redbud tree is blooming. Unfortunately, there are no  Pine Siskins here this winter to perch in it. This picture is from a previous year. *~*~*~* Scientists have warned us for years that climate change will bring more extreme weather of all kinds. As far as I know, no scientist has expressed an opinion regarding a connection between the violent tornadoes that devastated middle Tennessee this week, but I admit that was my first thought when I heard that this was the strongest-rated tornado to hit anywhere in the nation in three years.  *~*~*~* Scientists are confirming a connection between climate change and the wildfires that swept through a large swath of Australia in recent months. *~*~*~* Yes, this is a part of New York City. (Image from The New York Times.) When you think of Staten Island - if you think of Staten Island - you probably don't imagine it as overrun with wildlife, but, in fact, the least popul...

I read Joe Ide's first book in his series, IQ , a couple of years ago and liked it well enough that I thought I would read further, but, as often happens, I was distracted by other books and actually sort of forgot about it. Then I happened upon this one recently. This is the second in the series and I decided to give it a read. The events in this book take place ten years after the hit-and-run death of Isaiah Quintabe's older brother, Marcus, the experience that has set Isaiah on his life's path. His righteous anger over the incident has not abated; in fact, it has only gotten stronger over the years, fueled by the fact that the killer was never found and brought to justice. He is still searching for that killer. But then Isaiah is contacted by Sarita, who was Marcus' girlfriend at the time of his death and someone for whom Isaiah has nourished a secret crush. She seeks his help for her sister, Janine, a DJ and gambler addict living in Las Vegas with her loser boyfrien...

The former poet laureate Billy Collins is one of the most popular American poets writing today. It's easy to see why. He writes poetry that is very accessible and that has a wry and gentle humor. It's poetry that often references everyday events in people's lives, thus it is poetry that ordinary people can relate to and appreciate. It's poems like this one that talks about something which many of us experience as we get older. See if you recognize yourself here. Forgetfulness by Billy Collins The name of the author is the first to go followed obediently by the title, the plot, the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel which suddenly becomes one you have never read, never even heard of, as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain, to a little fishing village where there are no phones. Long ago you kissed the names of the nine muses goodbye and watched the quadratic equation pack its bag, and even now a...