http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23421741/

In addition, it seems that most of these “majestic” white tigers we see in the U.S. come from less than impressive roots. See the second half of the article at the website we make money not art for some info on the poor breeding techniques used to create white tigers.

But back on point. We probably fail to see incremental change because we have such an adept ability to adjust. For instance, we may not notice that a friend has gained weight if we see them on a daily basis. If we see that person once a year, though, the change will look very sudden and obvious. To correct for this, it doesn’t seem like we can do much. We can only try to take an evaluative look from the long view once and a while- like your friend in the troubled marriage- to gain perspective.

Given the vast template of History, it is impressive how Ms. Smiley is able to telescope certain incidents, unravel personalities in a few paragraphs, delve into a kind of folkloric metaphysics - she is a diverse and masterly writer. Each long chapter, ”Riches,” ”The Devil,” ”Love,” has its expansive theme, just as the theme of the Great Extinction runs through the entire novel. But the cadences of day-to-day village life, the larger social dynamics as well as the domestic particulars, comprise the true riches of ”The Greenlanders.” Despite the story being set far back in time, it has a certain urgency. Again, in her writing about writing the novel, the author says, ”The experience of these medieval people must speak to us in some fluid and haunting way, for they were our precursors, a branch of our family that lived fully, and indeed richly, even while they moved - as our own civilization may be moving - toward apocalypse.”

http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/04/05/specials/smiley-greenlanders.html