Originally Empire of Mud: the Secret History of Washington, D.C, by J.D. Dickey was going in the D.C. post, but then my mind wandered off again and I decided to put it with other books involving mud. It's okay, go ahead and roll your eyes, I do get off on odd tangents now and then!

I thoroughly enjoyed Empire. Well written, well researched, lots of nice photos (and scattered throughout the book, not in one section (I know, I know, that way is cheaper and easier). In early days, D.C. was a frontier town. There were fights, riots, brothels, and slave markets. Poor planning caused canals to be all but useless (someone forgot to take the tides into account). Since it was in a very damp, swampy area, there were mosquitoes and therefore disease. This is a real look at what it was like to live there before, during, and after the Civil War.

Mud, by Mary Lyn Ray, and illustrated by Lauren Stringer is a joyous celebration of the coming of spring. The earth warms, there are new sounds and smells, snow and frost thaw, creating puddles. At this moment, before the new growth starts, there is MUD! Revel in it!

Soon those annoying political ads will start up again. Those that imply (or just downright lie) about the 'other' party and/or candidate. Sadly this has been going on for two centuries (and that's just in this country). The language has changed, but there have been common themes throughout. Slinging Mud: Rude Nicknames, Scurrilous Slogans, and Insulting Slang from Two Centuries of American Politics by Rosemarie Ostler will explain these election strategies from Washington to Obama.

Reading Hermit With Dog