Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 3,174 entries, all of them here in full.
April 27, 2009 · 83 words
Pork!
Maybe it’s an overreaction to spending three weeks in a Muslim country, but I’ve been having quite a love affair with the Unutterable Flesh since I’ve got back.I’ve grilled pork chops. I’ve had carne adovada. I’ve eaten BBQ ribs, and I’ve enjoyed chorizo.Just now I’ve finished Julia’s recipe for Roti de Porc Grand’Mere
Read entry →April 24, 2009 · 339 words
Necropolis
Here are pictures of the tombs I promised you. The bottom picture was taken from our hotel room balcony in Dalyan. These are referred to as “Lycian temple tombs,” though as it happens these particular tombs are in Caria, and are part of the necropolis of Kaunos, a once-great city whose ruins are now accessible [&hellip
Read entry →April 16, 2009 · 239 words
Bath Time
The other night the three of us went to the hamam, or Turkish bath. The order can vary, but generally this involves a long relaxing stretch on a slab of hot marble, a tub of hot water being splashed all over you, a scrub with a scratchy mitten, a sudsy massage, followed by a cleanoff, […]
Read entry →April 14, 2009 · 176 words
The Best Turkish Story Ever!
Still in Turkey, having a great time. Heard this story and needed to share. There are a lot of people here from Down Under. Aussies and Kiwis have a strange affinity for this country— they come for vacation and stay for years, marry the locals, and often end up in the hospitality industry. There was […]
Read entry →March 30, 2009 · 854 words
Banana Republic
The challenges the United States faces are familiar territory to the people at the IMF. If you hid the name of the country and just showed them the numbers, there is no doubt what old IMF hands would say: nationalize troubled banks and break them up as necessary.Today’s required reading is “The Quiet Coup” by […
Read entry →March 30, 2009 · 82 words
Public-Spirited Pigs
George Orwell’s Animal Farm was rejected by Faber & Faber before being published a years later by another publisher.The editor who wrote the rejection was TS Eliot.“Eliot wrote: “After all, your pigs are far more intelligent than the other animals, and therefore the best qualified to run the farm – in fact there couldn
Read entry →March 29, 2009 · 103 words
Amoebas Threaten Texas!
A giant colony of genetically identical amoebas is oozing through Texas! Scientists say the discovery is much more than a mere curiosity, because the colony consists of what are known as social amoebas. Only an apparent oxymoron, social amoebas are able to gather in organized groups and behave cooperatively, some even
Read entry →March 27, 2009 · 652 words
Reviews Too Late: the IRS Edition
At long last I have brought my taxes under control, and will deliver them to the accountant tomorrow. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I tend to watch action films when I’m absorbed in digging through old envelopes full of receipts. Action films don’t require a lot of my attention, except in the parts where […]
Read entry →March 27, 2009 · 125 words
The Glory Keeps On Accruin’
I’ve returned from my trip out of town to discover that even more praise for my book has been distributed throughout the web! (Such good taste you people have!) Over at BookGeeks, Sam opines: “But this is an important book – perhaps the point at which ARGs become mainstream . . . “ Fantasy Book […]
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