clouds rise like smoke from turbulent cascades -- ghosts ascending
Spawning Clouds [Haiku]
4
DAILY PHOTO: Coracles on the Kaveri
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BOOK REVIEW: Introducing Semiotics: A Graphic Guide by Paul Cobley
Introducing Semiotics: A Graphic Guide by Paul CobleyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Semiotics is the study of how symbols and signs are used to represent various things and actions in language and communication. This brief guide traces the subject from its origins with Saussure and Pierce (late 19th century) to the present day. It’s not a well-known discipline and overlaps with others (e.g. information science, linguistics, etc.) so as to further obscure it’s boundaries. It’s generally considered a sub-discipline of philosophy.
I’ve read several titles in this series. This one had the fewest and longest chapters – i.e. most of these books have sections that are only a page or two long, but here the sections were generally several pages long. The book looks at differences between American and Soviet approaches as well as discussing the Prague School and the influence of prominent philosophers on the subject.
I felt that I learned something about this obscure subject, though – I must admit – knowing so little of it, I can’t say that I would have recognized if there were any glaring oversights or mistakes in the book. As should be expected of such a concise introductory guide, it’s readable and not difficult to follow. However, it can be dry; though I suspect that’s difficult to avoid, given the subject matter.
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BOOK REVIEW: Methuselah’s Zoo by Steven N. Austad
Methuselah’s Zoo: What Nature Can Teach Us about Living Longer, Healthier Lives by Steven N. AustadMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Release Date: August 16, 2022
This book offers a fascinating look at which animals are long-lived, and – to the extent that it’s known – why. It’s not so much, as the subtitle suggests, a book about how humans can live longer by applying understanding of other creatures of longevity. The advice for living longer would include tips such as: be a relatively large species, be a species that flies [of its own devices,] be ectothermic, be a cold-water aquatic creature, mature slowly, live underground, etc. This kind of knowledge, while interesting, isn’t really applicable to humans. Other takeaways are relevant to humanity, but still don’t change the calculus– e.g. have a relatively big brain. So, if one’s entire interest in this book is based on learning about how humans can live longer by applying ideas from other species, there is little to be gleaned, e.g. a brief discussion of antioxidants, free radicals, and metabolism. That said, it’s an excellent overview of long-lived animals and the evidence for why said creatures (including humans) live so long.
The book is divided into four parts, animals of the air, land, sea, and humans – respectively.
If you’re interested in nature and biology, I’d highly recommend this book. I learned a tremendous amount and the discussions of bats and Greenland Sharks were among the most illuminating — not to mention learning about creatures like clams and ant queens that I had no idea could live so long. Again, my only proviso would be that if you are interested in a book about what humans can do to live longer, there won’t be a great deal of information available [though, as mentioned, the last section does talk about longevity in humans, specifically, but not so much in a blue zone (this is what you should do) kind of way.] It’s more an argument for why more research is needed into animal longevity than it is a book about how to exploit the knowledge that already exists.
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Sunset Waters [Haiku]
jagged silver stripes shine in the flooded jungle at sunset
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Flood [Haiku]
the river sprawls, overrunning its banks: forest, now bayou
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Monkey-in-Training [Haiku]
baby monkey practices solo branch-work low to the ground
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DAILY PHOTO: Gaganachukki Falls
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DAILY PHOTO: Pinnacle of Golconda Fort
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Ever Conspicuous [Haiku]
even in tall grass, the peacock stands out; its neck metal blue
