A few days ago I wrote about Isaac Asimov in his role as a popularizer of math and science. Today I will turn to another important popularizer, Martin Gardner. But first I return to make a few more remarks about… Read More ›
Month: August 2020
Quite a bicycle!
Well, it does have two wheels, but I’m still skeptical. At least it says it’s “low emission.” Legal definition of bicycle, anyone?
Ashmont Grill patio under the tent
Barbara and I had a yummy dinner on the patio under the tent at Ashmont Grill last night: grilled asparagus; confit pork belly lettuce cups (which unfortunately disappeared somehow before I could take a photo); hot buttered lobster roll with… Read More ›
Murder on Lexington Avenue
Signing or lip-reading? If you’re Deaf, which should you be taught? That is the question. And if you are in upper-class turn-of-the-century New York, no less, that is ultimately the core issue in Victoria Thompson’s Murder on Lexington Avenue. I… Read More ›
Popularizers I: Asimov on Numbers
Many popularizers are unjustly looked down upon by professional academic scientists and mathematicians. I learned about that as an early age, and I also learned to reject those snobby attitudes. That’s mostly because of my dad’s influence: even though he… Read More ›
Agoraphobia and other pronunciation conundra
Quick! How do you pronounce agoraphobia (a word we hear too much these days)? In particular, do you stress the first syllable and have a short /o/ in the second, or stress the first syllable but have a silent /o/ in the… Read More ›
Hid from our Eyes
It was over eleven years ago that I read and reviewed the fourth book in Julia Spencer-Fleming’s series of upstate New York novels, and now we’re onto book #9. This averages out to only about one book every two years, a… Read More ›
A walk in JP
Today I took my walk in JP rather than Dorchester. (That’s because I was on my way to Wegman’s for my first experience with their contactless curbside pickup, which I rated five stars without question.) Take a look at this… Read More ›
Pronouns again!
Pronouns — as well as other linguistic tidbits — continue to be an issue far beyond what one might expect. Linguist Dennis Baron continues to be the primary authority on the topic of pronouns, and only partly because of their… Read More ›
RIP, Douglas (2004-2020)
He was a very good cat. He helped me build my model railroad, and he loved to sit on my lap. He was so affectionate that we often called him Huggie Dougie. He will be missed.
