THE ADVENTUROUS LIFE AND MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF C.F. HALL PART 1
I BOUGHT CAPTAIN C.F. Hall’s Life with the Esquimaux, 1865, for three reasons: It would be the oldest book in my collection. For its time, it was richly illustrated. And … Continue reading
PARLIAMO ITALIANO
ON THE LONG shot that you might be dining (likely these days outdoors) at an Italian restaurant, here are culinary translational tidbits gleaned from a little guidebook. It’s more than … Continue reading
MY EGYPTOLOGY STARTED WITH CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE PART 2
YESTERDAY, I BEGAN sharing tidbits from two entertaining book reviews, both discussing Toby Wilkinson’s A World Beneath the Sands: The Golden Age of Egyptology. Today’s Part 2 continues digging in … Continue reading
MY EGYPTOLOGY STARTED WITH CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE PART 1
I CAN RECALL encountering Cleopatra’s Needle on London’s Victoria Embankment, just down Carting Lane from the Savoy Hotel. It was during one of my “early retirement” sojourns; I’d stay a … Continue reading
ELEPHANTS ARE THANKFUL FOR TWO EL CENTRO LADIES
ONE OF THESE stories is as timely as today’s headlines; indeed, it recently was in the headlines. The other part of the tale, rather more obscure, involves Wife Dottie when … Continue reading
OZY AND THE WOLF
I’M UNSURE HOW my email got linked to OZY’s Presidential Daily Brief, but I am perfectly happy to receive it. On November 17, 2020, OZY offered an intriguing item: “Robot … Continue reading
ELECTION LORE 2020
BALLOT BOX STUFFING! The executive-in-chief favors one candidate; a sex toy retailer favors another! The incumbent gracefully withdraws, even before the election begins! And everything turns out okay. In what … Continue reading
BESPEAKING DURING A PANDEMIC
SAVILE ROW, LONDON’S legendary street of bespoke clothiers, is caught in a Covid-19 bind. Even if not locked down, it’s difficult indeed to tailor a custom suit while social distancing. … Continue reading
FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT! (NO KIDDING….)
THE DISCOVERER BLOG has carved itself an online niche of travel information: fascinating destinations, critical things to bring with you, how to behave once you’re there. With many of us … Continue reading
HEALTH RESORTS—JUST IN TIME PART 2
YESTERDAY, COOK’S HANDBOOK to the Health Resorts of the South of France, Riviera and Pyrenees offered advice, albeit most appropriate for the year of its publication, 1905. Today, in Part … Continue reading
