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This Blog's Focus, or lack there of

Edith Wharton said "There are two ways of spreading light ...To be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it." That's what this blog is about, how the light of other people and the world around me have reflected off and in me. . .or other things when I need to write about other things, like walking, lizards, or fruit. There will be pictures of plants. All pictures are taken by me, unless noted.

I say what's on my mind, when it's there, and try to only upload posts that won't hurt or offend readers. However, readers may feel hurt or offended despite my good intentions. Blog-reading is a matter of free choice, that's what I have come to love about it, so if you are not pleased, surf on and/or leave a comment. I welcome any and all kind-hearted commentary.

It's 2012 and my current obsessions are writing and walking, sometimes at the same time. And books. I'm increasingly fascinated by how ebooks are transforming the physical book, forcing it to do more than provide printed words on a page.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

The Name of the Lizard

I love knowing the name of things. Plants, animals, towns, rivers, continents, gardens, mathematical theorems, stellar constellations, old dead philosophers. . .With the name, I can begin to trace its origins, its story. Despite Shakespeare's famous quote: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." So says Juliet from her balcony whilst (Shakespearean for while) the love-struck Romeo looks on (Romeo and Juliet II, II, 45-46).

True, names start wars, names do hurt, sometimes more than sticks and stones, but I still love the naming of things. Today I found the name of the lizard that I saw fighting in the botanical garden: Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister) and now I can learn more about this native species, its penchant for eating ants, and sometimes small lizards. Though I haven't found references to the habit of biting the sides of other Desert Spiny Lizards.
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