Monthly Archives: July 2018
New Post at SouthwestRockhounding.com
New post this morning on making plaster casts in the desert. Make tracks to here (external link).
Pet Peeves
ob·fus·ca·tion noun The action of making something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible. “When confronted with sharp questions they resort to obfuscation.” In America, the authorities now refer to a police dog as a canine unit. And you don’t give away cats. … Continue reading
Posted in Thoughts on writing, Uncategorized, Writing by others, Writing tips
Tagged canine unit, cats, fur baby, Humpty Dumpty, police dog, rehome
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Scissor Drawings by Ella Richards
Another artist coming to the Sausalito Arts Festival in Marin County on Labor Day weekend. Scissor drawings by Ella Richards. Amazing. Click here to go to her site. (external link) In late life, Henri Marisse drew with scissors, completely neglecting paint. … Continue reading
Posted in art, Uncategorized
Tagged Ella Richards, Matisse, Sausalito Art Festival, scissor drawings
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My New Website is Taking Shape
I’m building a website to support my book. The trick is providing interesting content that does not duplicate what the book will contain. I can have photos, but anything posted must be low resolution and not something that might appear … Continue reading
After The Gold Rush
Since Twain’s death, only Hunter Thompson occasionally matched that great writer’s vigor. But Twain wrote this stuff routinely, spending an entire career blurring and combining pomposity, exaggeration, and the truth. This was Twain observing the wrecked landscape of California after … Continue reading
Posted in Thoughts on writing, Uncategorized, Writing by others, Writing tips
Tagged 1849, California, history, Roughing It, Sacramento, The Gold Rush, Twain
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The Mid-Century Remembered Through Images Familiar and Vague
Time out for art. I wish I could meet this pair. They are appearing at the Sausalito Art Festival on Labor Day. The following images are from Signe & Genna Grushovenko’s website. Please visit. “Partners in both life and art… Signe … Continue reading
Posted in art, Uncategorized
Tagged art, mid-century modern, Sausalito Art Festival, Signe & Genna Grushovenko
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Joseph Conrad Would Agree
“Life is short and art is long and success is very far off.” Joseph Conrad American Public television recently interviewed a glass blower, an artist who works in glass. In an exasperated tone she told the interviewer, “For me, there … Continue reading
Posted in art, Thoughts on writing, Uncategorized
Tagged ars longa, art, artist, Joseph Conrad, life/work balance, vitis breva
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Good But Going Away
What are some of your favorite words that are being used less and less? A few of mine are: jet set (JD) juvenile delinquent hullabaloo neurotic next-of-kin swamp cooler playpen rumpus room the military-industrial complex fuss-budget the ecology movement third-world … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged fuss budget, katywampus, mortified, nonplussed, pacification, playpen, rumpus room, third-world
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More Revising Examples
Before and after. The original sentences are just fine, partly making up an entertaining review of a colorful Mojave Desert town. No criticism intended. But these revisions should come to mind immediately on first read. Tighten, tighten, tighten. Many of … Continue reading
Posted in Thoughts on writing, Uncategorized, Writing by others, Writing tips
Tagged active voice, editing, making sentences move, revision
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Publish Your Own Newspaper?
We’ve all heard about print on demand books. But what about print on demand newspapers? It’s possible with Newspaperclub.com (external link). Your ideas or advertising gets printed on real newspaper presses. I am only starting to read about this retro … Continue reading