Death Blows

Originally uploaded by Denise Howell

My beautiful, dear, sweet, kind, Caddie-driving grandmother Mary Urzi passed away yesterday at 98. Still processing. Will likely be doing so 'til I'm about the age she until quite recently was. More pics here, and a tiny clip over here.

[Update:] Nani's obituary. (You'd be floored by the charge for running so little text. This must be how the newspapers are staying afloat. Such as they are). The guestbook in the online version is a nice touch.

NOAA's Feed Re Tropical Storm Noel

I have some family in the path of Tropical Storm Noel, and it's hard to figure out exactly what's going on from hours-old (and dramatically-headlined) news reports. But thank you, Dave Winer — NOAA has a feed with a report less than an hour old.

Because You Build Better Professions Faster With Sticks Than With Carrots

Originally uploaded by Caselet

Adam Liptak has a good piece today about Building a Better Legal Profession, a group born, like so many useful and effective things in life, of frustration and impatience. (Someone ought to purchase holdingsomewhiteshoedfeettothefire.org and redirect it, just to avoid any potential confusion, yes?)

Ashes, Ashes

No one's using the outdoor pool today
Originally uploaded by Denise Howell

The place my son takes swimming lessons is near where the Irvine fire was raging. Orange County got off easy; we're coughing from the smoke (and many a Range Rover's paint job is ash-besmirched; the horror) but otherwise the burn area we saw was mostly brush.

Headline Of The (Last) Week

From Professor Patry: Urinetown producers pissed off...