“As Martin Eden went down the steps, his hand dropped into his coat pocket. It came out with a brown rice paper and a pinch of Mexican tobacco, which were deftly rolled together into a cigarette. He drew the first whiff of smoke deep into his lungs and expelled it in a long and lingering exhalation. “By God!” he said aloud, in a voice of awe and wonder. “By God!” he repeated. And yet again he murmured, “By God!” Then his hand went to his collar, which he ripped out of the shirt and stuffed into his pocket. A cold drizzle was falling, but he bared his head to it and unbuttoned his vest, swinging along in splendid unconcern. He was only dimly aware that it was raining. He was in an ecstasy, dreaming dreams and reconstructing the scenes just past.” etext@projectgutenberg.org

“Resembling a scruffy, overgrown shrew, the ancestors of this West Indian insectivore separated from all other living mammal groups an incredible 76 million years ago. It is one of only a few species of mammal capable of producing toxic saliva, which it injects into its prey through special grooves in its incisors. Before European colonisation of Hispaniola, the species was one of the dominant predators on the island. As a result it has never evolved any ‘anti-predator’ defences. A slow, clumsy mover, it is poorly equipped to defend itself against introduced predators such as dogs, cats and mongooses.” Link@edgeofexistence.org

“A standard feature of the post-Communist, tourist-friendly Central European city is the nostalgia pub. Stylized Soviet-era hero-workers or soldiers exhort the postmodern traveler to enter and drink. Inside, portraits of Communist leaders look down on the scene, while ancien regime marches can be heard interspersed with contemporary pop songs. It’s all very arch — the Communist period has left us with much to ridicule. But as much as this commercialization of the anticapitalists must offend those who were persecuted in Communist jails or saw their aspirations strangled by the dead hand of Communist repression, it also fails on aesthetic grounds. What exactly is the point in experiencing a faux Communist landscape in a post-Communist environment?” link@modernpainters.com