Most self help books are written in two halves.  In the first half, the author tries to convince you that there is a problem.  Most of the time, this is a problem you may suppose that you have and so are predisposed to believe what the author says.  In the second half, the author tries to convince you he or she has the solution to your problem.

Now imagine such a book written by someone who doesn’t like you.

(With a bit of luck, you’ll never pick one up again.)

At sunset, Playa Grande, Tongoy sees a near continuous chain of pelicans heading home to roost.  Presumably the reverse happens at sunrise, but I don’t get up that early.

Last weekend, there was a street fiesta in Guayacan

Over Lago Villarica, from Pucon, Chile

The other day, I took a taxi ride and the driver, being a lamentably chatty sort, asked me what I do for a living. Upon learning that I am an astronomer, she promptly inquired, in all apparent innocence, if I had been to the moon. I am pretty sure this was a serious question. Several friends have since suggested that I should have answered “not yet” or something similar, but I was unfortunately dumbstruck. I just sat there listening as she held forth on how it is so wonderful that the planets orbit the moon but she could only look at the moon because she had a bad knee. Right.