tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post3321214210994633327..comments2024-03-10T09:24:45.565+02:00Comments on Dispatches from Vilnius: The Wilderness WarriorJames Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-20171265564926363142009-10-05T19:43:01.216+03:002009-10-05T19:43:01.216+03:00Marti or Gintaras, would you be willing to take a ...Marti or Gintaras, would you be willing to take a quick look at my review of Brinkley? It's only 500 words so it's quick and dirty, but want to be sure it's not too dirty. <br /><br />Many thanks!avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-73547399022106738912009-09-27T14:37:36.607+03:002009-09-27T14:37:36.607+03:00It's up, Marti.It's up, Marti.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-25008824577864976612009-09-27T10:18:57.395+03:002009-09-27T10:18:57.395+03:00Found it and it's scheduled to post 9/27 at 3a...Found it and it's scheduled to post 9/27 at 3am. It's past that time here, but I think that at least for me, this blog is on Pacific Time.Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341915969684349287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-312922178748929742009-09-27T10:10:34.512+03:002009-09-27T10:10:34.512+03:00Gintaras, I just made a new topic post about the K...Gintaras, I just made a new topic post about the Kennedy book but I messed with the date and time, since it didn't correspond with what it is -- didn't realize that that is the time that it will post. Anyway, it's not up yet, so it may appear some time and I don't know how to get to it. Not a big deal, but I wrote something that I should have saved to a notepad, since I wouldn&#Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341915969684349287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-77067633798898790442009-09-27T09:35:49.118+03:002009-09-27T09:35:49.118+03:00I saw Douglas Brinkley on Book TV Saturday in its ...I saw Douglas Brinkley on Book TV Saturday in its coverage of the National Book Fair in DC. He was not pushing his book but participating in two-person presentation about the WPA writers with David A. Taylor, who wrote Soul of a People: The WPA Writers' Project Uncovers Depression America.<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Soul-People-Writers-Uncovers-Depression/dp/0470403802/ref=sr_1_1?ie=Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341915969684349287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-42071499213124366242009-09-27T09:29:52.109+03:002009-09-27T09:29:52.109+03:00Gintaras, not sure how to set up a new post with t...Gintaras, not sure how to set up a new post with the Kennedy book, but I'll see if there are instructions here, or you can tell me how. I'd be interested in others' viewpoints about this book too.<br /><br />I do recall the rape scandal in West Palm a while back. His cousin, a Gargan, went on trial for rape. I think that he was acquitted but I don't remember for sure. He was Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341915969684349287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-19672482675013280962009-09-27T09:19:24.854+03:002009-09-27T09:19:24.854+03:00Finished Wilderness Warrior early Friday morning. ...Finished Wilderness Warrior early Friday morning. I'd read the penultimate chapter during the wee hours and was nodding off. Went to bed and couldn't sleep for first time in weeks. At 7am, I read the last chapter, wasn't nodding off, but finally fell asleep afterwards. Had to get up 3 hours later for a dentist appointment. Now I'm really anxious about how I will manage sleep Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341915969684349287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-15930629889023899092009-09-25T10:22:09.132+03:002009-09-25T10:22:09.132+03:00Just say it was a slog, or words to that affect, b...Just say it was a slog, or words to that affect, but worth it in the end for the information gleaned from it. As you said early on, the book's redeeming value is that it provides quite a bit of information on the nascient naturalist movement of the late 19th century.<br /><br />Any thoughts on Egan's new book, The Burn? I believe you guys had mentioned it earlier. I will put up a new James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-55093071092792582102009-09-24T15:32:41.587+03:002009-09-24T15:32:41.587+03:00Even if you weren't busy, this book would put ...Even if you weren't busy, this book would put most to sleep. Maybe I should put that in my review....avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-7355183770314716582009-09-24T09:33:38.470+03:002009-09-24T09:33:38.470+03:00Sorry about that av and marti. Also enmeshed in a ...Sorry about that av and marti. Also enmeshed in a couple of projects and when I go to bed at night (the only time I have to read) I usually fall asleep after 5 pages or so. <br /><br />Marti, Interesting title for Ted's memoir. I have to wonder how "true" his compass was over the years. It wasn't that long ago (1990's anyway) that he was involved in some seedy affair with a James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-56366164783617993892009-09-23T18:56:02.081+03:002009-09-23T18:56:02.081+03:00No problem, Gintaras. It's not a very good bo...No problem, Gintaras. It's not a very good book, although I'm glad I read it.<br /><br />I did get an assignment to review it for Western History, so I'm off and running on that!avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-69413587883318086852009-09-23T18:54:57.391+03:002009-09-23T18:54:57.391+03:00The Ota Benga story is a tragic one, and another o...The Ota Benga story is a tragic one, and another one of those stories that I will probably have to deal with as I write this up. <br /><br />Hornaday was a total ass when it came to keeping him in the monkey cage as a way of demonstrating evolution. And he wouldn't back down at first. Then they put him in an orphanage for black children as I recall -- it's all very strange -- before heavrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-6791423062813684312009-09-23T11:43:51.179+03:002009-09-23T11:43:51.179+03:00Last night I read in the book about Hornaday havin...Last night I read in the book about Hornaday having the pygmy on exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. Brinkley didn't explain why this was in the book, since Roosevelt was not involved. I think Brinkley likes to add a little sensation to the mix. I'd never heard about this before, and I was shocked. <br /><br />Now I'm part way through Ch. 23. Want to finish, even if only 1 ch. a day. Have Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341915969684349287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-71656182728897976102009-09-23T11:07:35.076+03:002009-09-23T11:07:35.076+03:00Sorry to have bottomed out on this book, but I jus...Sorry to have bottomed out on this book, but I just can't get back into it. I would like to read something on Burroughs or Grinnell or one of the other leading naturalists of the time, or a book that takes them all into account. My feeling is that Brinkley overplayed TR's hand in this.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-52146642798147084522009-09-16T16:54:23.086+03:002009-09-16T16:54:23.086+03:00There's a great scene, too, when TR invites Bu...There's a great scene, too, when TR invites Burroughs to spend the week at the rustic Virginia cabin his wife purchased for him. I think TR just about talked the silent naturalist's head off. Plus, he moved the flying squirrels back into the house after Burroughs moved their nests out. I think we've probably all met a TR once or twice in our lives.avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-63207525033119153992009-09-16T16:50:56.903+03:002009-09-16T16:50:56.903+03:00Yes, Marti, since TR wasn't able to shoot that...Yes, Marti, since TR wasn't able to shoot that "teddy" bear because it had been captured and tied up for him to shoot (it was knifed to death instead) he later goes back down to the South to kill another one (successfully this time).<br /><br />I found his political conflict with the South interesting since he befriended Washington and had him in the White House. Makes you realize avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-85762569104332836932009-09-16T10:34:13.107+03:002009-09-16T10:34:13.107+03:00I've started Ch. 16. At this point, I'm t...I've started Ch. 16. At this point, I'm thinking that while some of the writing has been entertaining and some of it gives me information about TR and his love of wildlife, the environment and HUNTING...and HUNTING...HUNTING, this book seems very, very long for what it is. I am still going to continue for now with it. I've been reading a chapter or two and then read from something Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341915969684349287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-46696993460305285792009-09-16T08:43:34.625+03:002009-09-16T08:43:34.625+03:00Or one or more bison as bisons.Or one or more bison as bisons.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-37918300353710251972009-09-16T05:12:40.656+03:002009-09-16T05:12:40.656+03:00One more snarky comment before I give up on poor o...One more snarky comment before I give up on poor old Brinkley. <br /><br />He refers to elk as elks. I looked it up and technically I guess it's considered marginally okay, but I've never read anyone who refers to two or more elk as elks. It's like referring to two or more moose as mooses. Weird when you think of it.avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-83292454322542130312009-09-15T01:57:41.205+03:002009-09-15T01:57:41.205+03:00Here's something else that has always fascinat...Here's something else that has always fascinated me and I hope to write about -- the idea of zoological "fine specimens" and eugenics. I don't think this was just coincidence.<br /><br />Grant was the one who first approached TR about the Bronx zoo. He was also a B&C club member. <br /><br />I hope this link works for everyone here -- it's from a listserv I belong to:avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-66323011792903942262009-09-14T04:45:47.664+03:002009-09-14T04:45:47.664+03:00I'm down to the last chapter which I may yet r...I'm down to the last chapter which I may yet read tonight, leaving off as TR prepares to kill big game in Africa and send the skins and heads back to American museums. Can hardly wait.....avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-28891087384139100492009-09-14T04:42:27.894+03:002009-09-14T04:42:27.894+03:00Every once in awhile, I have to give TR real credi...Every once in awhile, I have to give TR real credit. When his bird refuges in Floria were called socialism he said:<br /><br />"Every civilized government which contains the least possibility of progress, or in which life would be supportable, is administered on a system of mixed individualism and collectivism and whether we increase or decrease the power of the state, and limit or enlarge avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-17070403282124746312009-09-12T17:26:23.847+03:002009-09-12T17:26:23.847+03:00The temptation is simply too great, av. Elephants...The temptation is simply too great, av. Elephants have much shorter tusks today as a result of big game hunters and poachers. The only way to protect the bigger tusked elephants has been to seal off the game reserves entirely from hunters and deal very harsh sentences against poachers.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-74788279926842502142009-09-12T17:20:16.681+03:002009-09-12T17:20:16.681+03:00This makes me think of another human-caused change...This makes me think of another human-caused change in animal behavior -- it won't be long and many of the great migrating herds will either die off or radically change their behavior since they can no longer move freely between areas. <br /><br />That's a huge fear for the antelope in Yellowstone. It's already happened for the most part to the bison there since they get shot when avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-29845815562105415682009-09-12T16:47:31.649+03:002009-09-12T16:47:31.649+03:00Yes, I think that's what he had in mind in spi...Yes, I think that's what he had in mind in spite of Brinkley's thinking. <br /><br />Later in the book when Twain disparages TR for killing the Louisiana bear, Brinkley discusses the idea of micro-evolution -- continually eliminating the biggest animals thus encouraging the survival of smaller members of the species. <br /><br />I had read that this had become a real problem with fish, avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.com