Miss the night music

[SeattleUte]

I just took out the trash. The night here in Seattle is spectacular. Clear, moderate, dry, star strewn. We have some dazzling Indian summer days through October this time of year. But I really miss the night music. The insects, the crickets. I go to Louisiana or Washington DC or Mexico, and it's a symphony. I always highlight for my kids how special that is. Here in Seattle, it's deathly quiet, always; nary a sound, unless you're lucky enough to be nearby a frog. I miss the cricket duets, solos and choruses in Utah.

[Uncle Ted]

PM me your mailing address. I'll box up and send you all the bugs you want. Hell, I even dig up a couple of "Texas mountains" (aka. fire ant mounts) and throw those in as well. If it is frogs you want then I'll have the kids get you some out of the pond in the back. Personally, I love the fireflies.

[Green Monstah]

I just took out the trash. The night here in Seattle is spectacular. Clear, moderate, dry, star strewn. We have some dazzling Indian summer days through October this time of year. But I really miss the night music. The insects, the crickets. I go to Louisiana or Washington DC or Mexico, and it's a symphony. I always highlight for my kids how special that is. Here in Seattle, it's deathly quiet, always; nary a sound, unless you're lucky enough to be nearby a frog. I miss the cricket duets, solos and choruses in Utah.

As 1/64 Native American, I'm offened by your (ab)use of the term Indian Summer. I expect an apology from all former Mormons for your racial insensitivity.

(Joking, but I did have a guy get pissed at me using that term).

[falafel]

I just took out the trash. The night here in Seattle is spectacular. Clear, moderate, dry, star strewn. We have some dazzling Indian summer days through October this time of year. But I really miss the night music. The insects, the crickets. I go to Louisiana or Washington DC or Mexico, and it's a symphony. I always highlight for my kids how special that is. Here in Seattle, it's deathly quiet, always; nary a sound, unless you're lucky enough to be nearby a frog. I miss the cricket duets, solos and choruses in Utah.

That's odd. Are there never noise-making bugs in Seattle? Just the slimy ones that can stand the rain?

[SeattleUte]

That's odd. Are there never noise-making bugs in Seattle? Just the slimy ones that can stand the rain?

Never. In general, we have the fewest bugs of any place I've ever been in by far.

[SeattleUte]

As 1/64 Native American, I'm offened by your (ab)use of the term Indian Summer. I expect an apology from all former Mormons for your racial insensitivity.

(Joking, but I did have a guy get pissed at me using that term).

I've represented Indians. They use Indians to refer to themselves, they call their companies Indian this or that, court cases call them Indians, as does the NY Times. Indian is totally appropriate.

I'm not talking about you, but sometimes people reveal a lot of about their own lack of understanding when they pretend to be hyper-sensitive to racial and gender issues and totally miss the mark. For example, I have seen posters here draw a racial connotation out of almost anything that is posted about a player that isn't white just because the player happens to be not white. It's really ignorant and reflects an unseemly obsession with race. (See, e.g., CJF's reference to my calling Apo Alpo as "racist").

[Green Monstah]

It depends on the person, really. As I understand it, Historians are usually given a free pass to refer to historical figures as "Indians" because that is what they were called at the time.

I went to school for a semester at Northern Arizona University and was quickly put in my place by some of my Navajo classmates (who I mistakenly referred to as "Indian"). I suspect it's quite like the term "black." A groomsman in my wedding get's bent out of shape over the term African American, but his sister is offended if she's called black.

I wouldn't take the "racist" comments too seriously. Just a bit o' fun.

[SeattleUte]

It depends on the person, really. As I understand it, Historians are usually given a free pass to refer to historical figures as "Indians" because that is what they were called at the time.

I went to school for a semester at Northern Arizona University and was quickly put in my place by some of my Navajo classmates (who I mistakenly referred to as "Indian"). I suspect it's quite like the term "black." A groomsman in my wedding get's bent out of shape over the term African American, but his sister is offended if she's called black.

I wouldn't take the "racist" comments too seriously. Just a bit o' fun.

Not just historians. And the term is not just a historical artifact. Indians nationawide don't object to the term and it is in every day common usage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/ny...Indians&st=cse

[creekster]

I dont want to call you a liar but I find it really hard to believe that there are no noise making bugs in Seattle. Maybe your gardener is using too much pesticide.

[SeattleUte]

I dont want to call you a liar but I find it really hard to believe that there are no noise making bugs in Seattle. Maybe your gardener is using too much pesticide.

I live between a greenbelt, the ocean and a state park. Close to the locks. It's a pocket parkland in the city.

I have noticed this for years. It's absolutely true. No insenct sounds at night or anytime in Seattle. NONE.

[filsdepac]

Never. In general, we have the fewest bugs of any place I've ever been in by far.

Interesting, as I assume you've been to San Francisco. However, if you're referring to the environs of a city as well, then perhaps, but I don't think I've ever seen a bug in SF. Just homeless people and dogs.

[Green Monstah]

Not just historians. And the term is not just a historical artifact. Indians nationawide don't object to the term and it is in every day common usage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/ny...Indians&st=cse

SU, I really like you. That said, you express yourself in black and white terms (I think I do the same to a large extent). I find it hard to believe that you really think there are no Native Americans who are offended by the use of the term "Indian."

I appreciate the link. I think it demonstrates the point I made in my post above: it's analogous to the term "black." Offensive to some, but not so offensive that it can't be used.

[SeattleUte]

Interesting, as I assume you've been to San Francisco. However, if you're referring to the environs of a city as well, then perhaps, but I don't think I've ever seen a bug in SF. Just homeless people and dogs.

It seems that insects are more of a red state thing.

[Green Monstah]

I live between a greenbelt, the ocean and a state park. Close to the locks. It's a pocket parkland in the city.

I have noticed this for years. It's absolutely true. No insenct sounds at night or anytime in Seattle. NONE.

I served 1/3 of my mission in Washington State (the little towns of Woodland and Kalama....but they're quite a ways south of Seattle), and I'm trying to remember if I heard bugs during the summer. I lived off the beaten path, and SU may be right. I remember hearing the basset-hound breedery a half mile up the road, but I don't recall hearing any bugs.

Summers in the NW are the best summers anywhere, IMO.

[SeattleUte]

SU, I really like you. That said, you express yourself in black and white terms (I think I do the same to a large extent). I find it hard to believe that you really think there are no Native Americans who are offended by the use of the term "Indian."

I appreciate the link. I think it demonstrates the point I made in my post above: it's analogous to the term "black." Offensive to some, but not so offensive that it can't be used.

You know, you have to identify the norm and go with it. I don't care what any one of them or the majority choose to call themselves, I will use whatever usage the mainstream consensus considers proper. It has changed in my lifetime and if it changes again I will adapt. I have children who are part Japanese, and I've hear their mother and Japanese-side family call themselves Oriental; but I would say Asian and never Oriental because the I believe that is the norm. I don't think Asian ought to offend anybody; anyway, that is the norm.

On the other hand, people offended by black and Indian are as out of touch as people who prefer to say negro. Who cares what such people think. You can't please everybody or anticipate everybody's offbeat whimsies all the time. But if the tide turns and black and Indian fall outside the norm I will adapt, and use whatever term the norm adopts. (Now I use black or African American depending on context, sentence structure, etc.)