My Virtual Reading Room

From BBC news today:

A town in the far-western Qinghai province of China has been sealed off after pneumonic plague killed three people.

Police have set up checkpoints around Ziketan, as medics disinfect the area and kill rats and insects.

Vivian Tan from the World Health Organization in Beijing said she was ''definitely concerned'' because this form of pneumonic plague ''is really quite lethal.''

"Really quite lethal"--no kidding...like 90% mortality rate, if memory serves--and this is _with_ antibiotic treatment...

If I--should die and you--should live
And Time--should gurgle on;
And Morn should beam, and Noon should burn,
As they have usual done;
If Birds--should build as early,
And Bees--as bustling go--
One might depart--at Option--
From Enterprise--below!

'Tis sweet to know that stocks shall stand
When we--with Daisies--lie;
That Commerce should continue,
And Trades--as briskly fly.

It makes the Parting--tranquil
And keeps the Soul--serene
That Gentlemen--so sprightly
Conduct the pleasing Scene!

(Emily Dickinson)

Hi all,

This is for everybody who's on vacation :)

Cheers,
Cat


Neither Out Far Nor In Deep

The people along the sand
All turn and look one way.
They turn their back on the land.
They look at the sea all day.

As long as it takes to pass
A ship keeps raising its hull;
The wetter ground, like glass,
Reflects a standing gull.

The land may vary more;
But wherever the truth may be---
The water comes ashore,
And the people look at the sea.

They cannot look out far.
They cannot look in deep.
But when was that ever a bar
To any watch they keep?

(Robert Frost)

Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker.

(Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche)