The March Equinox occurred on March 20, 2010. The sun shone directly on the equator and nearly all of planet Earth had an equal amount of day and night. The word equinox comes from the Latin and means ‘equal night’. The equinoxes occur in March and September and the Spring equinox is called the Vernal equinox.  A way to use that word according to the dictionary would be “vernal migratory movements”. As wordsmiths, we consider that one helluva gorgeous phrase. Right now, birders and ornithology buffs across the country are tracking the migration of Ruby-Throated hummingbirds. These birds not only sport a dashing red stripe on their neck, but they are also attracted to items that are red and will swoop down to investigate ruby-red movement as needed.

– Lori Huskey

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To Be Immortal

Leaves are returning to the trees. Promise is in the air. But, just like a good legacy, the heavy clouds and biting chill of winter aren’t going away without a fight. Nabakov’s legacy remains secured in stone, even as The Origin of Laura is slammed by critics. Kevin Frazier thinks the book’s format was Dmitri Nabakov’s duty as a literary executor. Poet Derek Walcott sees his burgeoning legacy fly as high as a flock of White Egrets. David Foster Wallace achieved great heights and endured massive lows. David Lipsky writes about visiting him on the last leg of his Infinite Jest book tour. Jane Austen conquered the literary world the same way many other famous authors have: posthumously. And finally, few sportswriters have much of a legacy, probably because they are more concerned with the “soft life.” Deadspin has the Harper’s scoop from 1968. Spring is here again, tender age in bloom… – Andrew Geer