Shelby Foote

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

I had a funny experience with copy readers back at the outset. They worship reference books and dictionaries and all that ticky kind of thing. We had a sure-enough expert for volume one. He complained that I was using the phrase “by ordinary” instead of ordinarily. He said, That’s incorrect. You shouldn’t do that. I said, No, I’ve heard that and used it all my life. He said, That doesn’t keep it from being wrong. I said, “Well, let’s look.” I opened the Webster’s unabridged and went to ordinary. Under it, it said, “By ordinary—Shelby Foote.” That convinced him.

-- Shelby Foote

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Midnight Storm

What a night! I wake up at about three-thirty and learn that that 40% chance of rain came through - and how! A hard storm. They said scattered showers. This was more apocalyptic. I rush to the patio. Sammy is there whining at the sliding door, but he is alone. Nasty thunder roared liked war, and I imagined what it must be doing to feline sensibilities. But my babies make it back, a little soaked and shook up, but fine. It’s about five. I do not get up for breakfast, grabbing an extra hour and a half of dozing, opting for an early lunch. Everything is okay.

The Natural World

( Read more... )

Halloween

Despite last night's hard, long storm, I would let the cats out, but Pop fortunately reminded me that tonight is Halloween and the trick-or-treaters will be out in full force. I will probably let them go at eleven.

Partyism

David Brooks writes about another discriminatory 'ism' that is taking over America: partyism. It seems that our political polarization extends beyond politics and voting. "In 1960, roughly 5 percent of Republicans and Democrats said they’d be 'displeased' if their child married someone from the other party. By 2010, 49 percent of Republicans and 33 percent of Democrats said they would mind." I had not really thought of the full implications of our political polarization. It is a bit disturbing, as one wonders what this can mutate into.

[Source: David Brooks at The New York Times]