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Latest Musing Pet Peeves: Absurd Sci Fi Films Division             Settle into my seat on a flight from Heathrow to JFK. Scan through movie options. Banshees of Inn... continue Books Fire & Flood Buy from Amazon Deep Past Buy from Amazon more info Articles by Category endangered animals rapid climate change global deforestation fragging Books The Ragged Edge of the World Winds of Change Buy from Amazon more info Afterword to the softbound edition. The Octopus and the Orangutan more info The Future In Plain Sight more info The Parrot's Lament more info Silent Partners more info Affluence and Discontent more info The Alms Race more info Apes, Men, & Language more info

Go Figure Monday June 21, 2021 Governor Greg Abbott of Texas recently signed into law “Constitutional Carry” legislation that would allow any Texan over 21 who can legally possess firearms (which means in essence anyone without a criminal conviction or record of family violence) to publicly carry a pistol without having to procure a permit beforehand. The state then joins Montana, Wyoming, Iowa, Utah and Tennessee, which have similar laws. All of these states still require driver’s licenses before residents can operate a motor vehicle.  States require licenses for drivers because without training, a driver might harm themselves or others. In effect then, these legislatures are saying that while it is important for the state to require training to use a technology that might cause harm, it is not important for the state to require training for a technology specifically designed to kill people. Texas is the second most populous state in the Union. What could possibly go wrong? contact Eugene Linden

Short Take Summer Evenings in July   I go out to my porch, drink in hand, as the gloaming fades. I sit on a very comfortable rocking chair, given -- maybe loaned; it’s unclear -- by a friend. My cat, Noodles, joins me, settling on the couch facing me. He tends to his grooming, and I wait for the fireflies to appear. There are less every year and this is disquieting on an otherwise perfect night. I want them to be fruitful and multiply -- if possible by the millions. That would be a sign that, perhaps, all is well. It’s warm, and to my west is a wall of green, dominated by a very tall Linden. Hello, fellow Linden! As the warm air stills around me, emotions rise. I feel – I’m sure the Germans have a long word for it, but I’m too lazy to search on google – I feel… Something deep and strong; something like love for the world. It gives me hope for another day. read more

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