The February Smithsonian Magazine has a great story on Darwin who was born 200 years ago today. I would like to see all the hate mail he received when “On the Origin of Species” hit the shelves in 1859.

All that aside, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities of Darwin in the below photo and Sir Ian McKellen. I know Sir Ian is attached to the Hobbit movie coming out in 2012 but is it just me or would he be the perfect man for the job?

Photo by Ken McKay

The Great Eye Debate:

“Oxford American meets Town & Country” and “The New Yorker of the South” is how the new up start magazine, Garden & Gun, has been described.  Published by the first female editor of The New Yorker.  Rebecca Darwin, who has also held high level posts at GQ, Mirabella, and Fortune, has put together a great read.  Only 9 issues into its venture it features gorgeous photography and thought provoking writing from big-name authors like Reynolds Price, Clyde Egerton, Winston Groom and Roy Blount Jr.

They also hooked Syd Evans to be the editor.  Syd’s last job was the editor of Field and Stream so it appears that they have all their bases covered.

I may be a bit biased but that Olive Waxed Cotton & Leather Overnight Bag is pretty nice looking.