Author Archives: smellincoffee

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About smellincoffee

Citizen, librarian, reader with a boundless wonder for the world and a curiosity about all the beings inside it.

Of galaxy and creeply-crawlies

Posted on January 19, 2023 by smellincoffee

Origins is a history of life, the universe, and everything. (Sort of).  It’s an odd book, in that  it begins in an expected fashion: Tyson and Goldsmith look first to the origin of matter, delving into the first seconds of … Continue reading →

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One Life at a Time, Please

Posted on January 18, 2023 by smellincoffee

One Life at a Time, Please© 1988 Ed Abbey204 pages Ed Abbey’s final few years were spent in obsessive work, as he knew he was dying and wanted to make provisions for his family.  The Fool’s Progress and One Life … Continue reading →

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Teaser Tuesday: Seeing from outside

Posted on January 17, 2023 by smellincoffee

Science is not just about seeing. Science is about measuring — preferably with something that’s not your own eyes, which are inextricably conjoined with the baggage of your brain: preconceived ideas, post-conceived notions, imagination unchecked by reference to other data, … Continue reading →

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Adventures with Ed

Posted on January 17, 2023 by smellincoffee

Adventures with Ed: A Portrait of Abbey© 2003 Jack Loeffler308 pages “He walked across the desert at least a thousand times,” Tom Russell sang of Abbey in his “Ballad” thereof. Jack Loeffler was with him many of those times, as … Continue reading →

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At the dawn of recovery

Posted on January 17, 2023 by smellincoffee

Well. After a weekend of frantic work, now the rain is moving in and we’re pondering all the work that remains. An amazing amount of work has been done in the last few days to clear the road and make … Continue reading →

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A less quick note posted from a borrowed chair in a quiet Walmart aisle

Posted on January 14, 2023 by smellincoffee

Selma is officially a disaster area, with visits from Governor Meemaw and our senators. My grandmother passed away the night before the tornado hit, so some other displaced relatives and I are rooming at the family place. It has heat … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 14 Comments

quick note

Posted on January 13, 2023 by smellincoffee

Tornado hit Selma badly yesterday. Some areas, including the library and my home, won’t have power for days. Will post it when possible. Now I hav no distractions to keep me from Mout Doom.

Posted in General | 14 Comments

Pests

Posted on January 11, 2023 by smellincoffee

Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains© 2022 Bethany Brookshire368 pages Humans believe in and have attempted to create, a very orderly world. There are our cities and homes, where the only animals that belong are those there for our amusement, … Continue reading →

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People Habitat

Posted on January 10, 2023 by smellincoffee

People Habitat: 25 Ways to Think About Greener, Healthier Cities© 2014 F. Kaid Benfield304 pages The built environment can have an enormous effect on human happiness, facilitating  it or obstructing it; think of the frustration of  taking care of errands … Continue reading →

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Teaser Tuesday: Pythons and elephants and humans oh my

Posted on January 10, 2023 by smellincoffee

From the very interesting and often amusing Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. When one finally does catch a python, there’s the issue of killing it. “They also have this weird ability to regrow their organs,” Hart explains. You can’t … Continue reading →

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