Jan 19
Jan 12
Dad: Yes, son, I like Obama.
Boy: You like Obama, mom?
Mom: Yes, I like Obama.
Boy: You like Obama?
Sister: I like Obama.
Boy: Hey, people, you like Obama?
Random people: Yes, we do. - Heard on 116th St
Apology
So sorry I have neglected my Posterous page for a while. I have been distracted with starting a new book. Also, I still haven't quite worked out what I want this to be yet, and that uncertainty means that quite often I go off and do something else. For whatever reason, I still want to post here. Who knows? It might grow into something, and it might not.
In the meantime, here is a little excerpt from my new favourite website, http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/. It is not a site of great beauty, and it can be slow to load, but it is very, very funny, and often rather touching. Gallup's Latest Recruit: Little boy to dad: Do you like Obama?Dad: Yes, son, I like Obama.
Boy: You like Obama, mom?
Mom: Yes, I like Obama.
Boy: You like Obama?
Sister: I like Obama.
Boy: Hey, people, you like Obama?
Random people: Yes, we do. - Heard on 116th St
Dec 28
Cause of the Day
Now that is certainly something worth fighting for.
I found this fabulous picture on a site called Pixdaus. It is one of the most baffling websites I've ever visited. It appears to be a place where people can post nature pictures, although it often includes photographs of military aeroplanes and smiling ladies in bikinis (although not together). To confuse me further, there is no text and often no attribution on most of the photos, so I never know where or when or by whom they were taken. Sometimes, when there is a shot of a particularly beautiful landscape, with no information at all, it feels as if they are running a giant Where In The World competition. Whoever took this snap has a fabulous sense of humour though: it was posted with the simple headline, 'You heard her - stop it!'.
Dec 23
Gratuitously sweet animal picture of the day
This is by a photographer called Sergey Sergeants. I can find no information on him, but I think he has a rather brilliant eye.
Apart from the obvious adorableness, what I like about this picture is that it reveals itself slowly. You immediately focus on the jumping cubs. It takes a moment to notice the slightly out-of-focus mamma in the background. I know one should fight anthropomorphism with every fibre of one's being (a battle I am not necessarily winning when it comes to my dogs) but I think the look on that face is one of pride.
Dec 20
Picture of the day
I know it's the biggest hoariest cheesiest old cliché, but the natural world really does astonish and awe me. It's not just the beauty and the millions of species and the absolute curiosity of certain creatures (the chameleon, those crazy little bright red tree frogs, the giant squid); it's also the extraordinarily intricate mysteries of natural selection. I mean, why select for those utterly surprising quiffs? And who knew that cranes actually danced? (Well, obviously quite a lot of people, but not, until today, me.)
On a related note, in this year of Darwin, I witnessed an even odder and much sadder sight yesterday on MSNBC, the television channel that I use to sate my obsession with American politics. They have a commentator called Pat Buchanan, an amazingly shouty fellow who used to work for Nixon. The anchors all treat him as a slightly dotty old uncle, even though he has some quite startling opinions. He thinks global warming is a hoax, perpetuated by politicians as part of a ruthless government take-over of the people. He said, on the Chris Matthews show, without prevarication or embarrassment, when asked if he believed in evolution, that in his opinion God made the earth, and humans are certainly not descended from monkeys. It was like the Scopes trial all over again. It was like watching someone living in a fact-free universe. I wonder: does he know we share 98% of our DNA with chimpanzees? Or, for that matter, 50% of our DNA with bananas? Or that the mudworm is the human being's closest invertebrate relative? Does he know ANYTHING? That's better. Thank you for letting me get that little piece of outrage off my chest. And now I am going to soothe myself by gazing again at those enchanting dancing cranes.
Dec 19
