Think of the world’s great cuisines: French, Italian, Chinese, Greek, Turkish, Japanese, Indian, Thai, and Spanish (though YMMV). You’ll note that most of these are from warm or even hot climates. Very few people list Norwegian, Russian, or Scottish among… Read More ›
After nearly half a century, I finally decided to rewatch Chinatown, which I only dimly recalled. I remembered that it had been one of my favorite movies at the time. Would it hold up after so many decades? The answer… Read More ›
Just over three months ago I wrote a post about the pros and cons of my high-school experience. One paragraph, in the list of cons, focused on what my classmates and I read in my English classes: When I asked… Read More ›
Yesterday was Dorchester’s turn to participate in Open Streets Boston. A 2-mile stretch of Dot Ave was closed to traffic and open to pedestrians, bicyclists, pedicabs, community activities, booths for non-profits…and even math! Pictures speak louder than words, right? So,… Read More ›
Knowing the facts is not the same thing as seeing them all put together in a single two-hour documentary. Yes, we all know the story of Trump’s attempted insurrection on January 6, 2021, and we may even know the surrounding… Read More ›
“Harvard’s run by millionaires,Yale is run by booze,Cornell’s run by farmers’ sons,Columbia is run by Jews. Give a cheer for Baxter Street,another one for Pell,and when the little sheenies die,their souls go straight to Hell.” [Popular song at Ivy League… Read More ›
Apparently there are 27 James Bond movies (so far). I had seen only four of them—all before 1970, back in the Connery era—so I figured it was time to start watching again. I was wrong. But I’m getting ahead of… Read More ›
Not only before he became president, but even before he had won the Republican nomination, in fact. Nevertheless, the explanation still holds today. The philosopher in question is Professor Aaron James, head of the philosophy department at UC Irvine. The… Read More ›
To paraphrase Jamie Oliver (in a very different context), if you want to appreciate this 1957 musical, you have to get your classic Broadway musical mindset on. I’m talking about the Gershwin brothers’ Funny Face, starring Audrey Hepburn and a… Read More ›
After the last few days, I’m sure you have observed that King Charles III’s accent is not identical to his mother’s. But to most of us they both seem to be speaking RP, the “posh” British accent that contrasts with cockney… Read More ›
Learning Strategies 