Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis, a mulatto born into a poor family in 1839, wrote one of the wittiest books ever written.

Maybe as good as Voltaire’s Candide.

Watching the London Marathon and other links

The October Oregon Track Club Newsletter is here. …Includes our Q&A with Professor Lori Shontz.

Big Butts Are Best

Don’t Judge a Runner’s Efficiency by Their Stride

Washington woman set sights on a speed record on Pacific Crest Trail — then starvation set in. …Read

A neighbor asked for a tomato. More.

Why Voltaire Said: You Must Cultivate Your Own Garden

How welcoming are we to newbie runners? Read

Is this insane? Kate Brown and Gavin Newsom appear to support college football this fall …Meanwhile, 90% or more of UO and OSU classes will be remote only.

The hell with diversity, equity and inclusion…more. …Walter E. Williams, the author, is black.