Monday, February 21, 2011

Biographies @ 1,000 words or less


Aka Obituaries. Sunday, we remembered the life of the "rich and adventurous" Kathy Mortimer. (Who writes these headlines?) Mrs. Mortimer was a "first-rate skier and equestrienne." She rode calvary horses that were a gift from Stalin, natch, during when she was the official hostess for her father, Averell Harriman, US ambassador to Russia. The author lists Mrs. Mortimer's many accomplishments, and then notes "and yet did not marry until 30". Oh my!

See? Isn't this fun? And only 1,000 words.

Last week, Mr. Milton Levine, the inventor of the ant farm died at 97. How darling is this man's picture? And what a way to be memorialized in the NYTimes. In 60 years, he sold over 20 million ant farms. My favorite quote: "Mr. Levine certainly appreciated Pogonomyrmex californicus. 'I found out their most amazing feat yet,' he said. 'They put three kids through college.'"

Pogonomyrmex californicus = ants of the Southwestern US....Obituaries are good for trivia, too.

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