A Sister’s Eulogy

 

The posting of a link to this wonderful piece may be redundant.  After all, her brother was known to many and her eulogy will be flashed around the world millions of times.  But if you haven’t heard of it, you really should read it. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/opinion/mona-simpsons-eulogy-for-steve-jobs.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all?src=tp

On The Other Hand…

Vignettes of French Life (#12)

On the A8 south to Hyères, near Toulon. 

You might think that these old things can’t cope with the autoroute, but we had only just passed one tootling along in the slow lane. 

Furthermore,  I am convinced that anyone who drives a 2CV is eminently trustworthy. 

Flowers!

I think most of us live in the northern hemisphere,
so this (click it!) will be oh-so-welcome about this time of year. 

It certainly raised my spirits!

Flowers!

Born to get shot...

I used to work with a woman who acquainted me with the saying, "If you're born to get shot, you won't get hung." It fit, and possibly somewhat formed, since I was in my early twenties at the time, my own fatalistic outlook.

And then there's the exception that makes one question the rule:

Gunshot victim crashes car

Updated 08:22 a.m., Monday, October 10, 2011

• 
  A car crashed into an iron fence on Union Street near the intersection of Nott 
  Terrace in Schenectady around 12:15 p.m. Oct. 9, 2011 and it was found 
  the driver had gunshot wounds from an altercation on Close Street 
  a short time before.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Gunshot-victim-crashes-car-2210241.php#ixzz1aQODRlQz

VANDALS!

Puffball

Isn't it a wonderful specimen? 

It's as big as a football.

In fact, when I saw it yesterday, I thought it was a football.

Puffball smashed to Smithereens

When I came the same way today, this is what I found.

Why do people have to do this? It was probably an adult who stuck his stupid heel or walking stick into this beauty, there haven't been any kids round the castle for a few days; they're all back at school. I was looking forward to watching it ripen, hopefully intact, become overrun with a vast population of creepy-crawlies, its insides turning to dusty brown spores and exploding eventually. Now they've deprived me of a very simple pleasure. (I know, I know, I'm pathetic, but even the simple-minded like me must be allowed to take their pleasures where they find them.)

I could understand if somebody had cut it down and taken it home to fry in butter and eat it. But this is just wanton destruction. I am cross. Vandals!

Accident or Design?

A friend was telling me about a wonderful harvest festival he had attended, with contributions from the pupils of the local church endowed school. The vicar gave a lengthy reading about God's creation, and made it clear that the earth was little more than a ball of mud before God set to work.

The same friend then proceeded to promote the fact that the school had just enjoyed a very successful 'science week'. I'm guessing that for some children, the business of evolution remains as clear as, well...mud.

A Gentle Reminder

A gentle reminder , in the form of this card , was dropped through our letter boxes today . The Town Hall would really appreciate it if dog owners remembered to pay the local Dog Tax .
I think they'd have more luck if they sent this chap round in person .

What's in a Name?

The picture here is of some potatoes. They are of a variety that we have not grown before. I lifted them yesterday.  I presented them to my Infinitely Better Half, who said . . 

"Ah . . . I see why the variety is called  APACHE."

Do I need to spell it out?  Hope not!