I decided to mow the yards this morning before it got TOO hot (only in the upper 80's as opposed to the upper 90's due this afternoon). Aphttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifparently the cicadas swarm in the morning, frantically looking for places to light and sing for a mate. So as I'm mowing over the mounds of rotting carcasses around the bases of the trees, the live ones are flying all around me, landing on my shirt, my bare legs, my neck, my forehead, my glasses (!) and my hair. When I knock them off, they fly away squealing like little pigs. So Dan, the joy of cicadas is actually tetra-sensory: sight/sound/smell/FEEL.
In fact I have heard that they are quite tasty as well, consisting of wholesome, high-quality protein and fat. I haven't eaten any myself, but I have heard and read that birds, fish and dogs and a few humans eat them readily. I haven't seen Jack eat any, nor have I seen evidence of it, so to speak.
Here's a nice link if you want to learn about the 13- vs 17-year cicadas and when and where each kind emerges.
It seems our Chicago friends aren't due for a great emergence of 17-year cicadas until 2024.
And finally, here's another clip which may give you an idea of the 6-second period they seem to use in their calling in the heat of the afternoon. (I believe there are actually two calls: the obvious high pitched ululations heard in the clip, and another steady, police-siren-like wail I've heard in some neighborhoods in town.)
Monday, June 6, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon" and LOST
I picked up a copy of Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon" at Leave it to Beaver and started reading it out of curiosity. Wow! It is really good! It gives an insight into life in the urban black community in the 30's through 60's. It has fascinating complex characters and a hint of fantasy as well. Imagine my surprise when I read the account of young Macon and his sister Pilate being led by their dead father to a cave where they found interesting and useful things! For you non-Losties, that's almost exactly what happened to Jack. I've done some looking, and I can't find any mention of Song of Solomon being a source reference for Lost. Perhaps nobody made the connection except me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)