ROYAL HISTORIES RECORDED IN THE ELEMENT LEAD PART 1
WHAT A PROVOCATIVE caption for a graph; “The fortunes of kings, written in ice.” The graph, shown later here, accompanied “Lead Pollution Traces the Rise and Fall of Medieval Kings,” … Continue reading
JOHN TAYLOR, GEORGIAN RASCAL PART 2
YESTERDAY, JOHN BARRELL introduced us to John Taylor, Englishman of George III’s era. Despite Taylor’s outward image of blandness, he was also engaged in skulduggery as part of his majesty’s … Continue reading
JOHN TAYLOR, GEORGIAN RASCAL PART 1
THE LONDON REVIEW of Books is running Diverted Traffic, an online series of selected articles from years past. A recent one is “The Reptile Oculist,” by John Barrell, originally published … Continue reading
TIME FOR SOME GOOFINESS
THIS WEBSITE’S UNOFFICIAL Southeast Pennsylvania correspondent, bless him, recently shared a bunch of jokes, many credited to humorist and folklorist Garrison Keillor. Here are some favorites, plus a few from … Continue reading
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS UPDATES ON COVID-19 PART 2
THE U.S. AUTO industry’s leading journal Automotive News is dealing with Covid-19. Here in Part 2, we pick up with mid-March, 2020, by which time all but a few people … Continue reading
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS UPDATES ON COVID-19 PART 1
YOU’D THINK THE world’s auto industry would be flatter these days than a midwest Interstate. However, there’s still news to be read in the weekly Automotive News. Here, in Parts … Continue reading
COVID-19 AND THE WORLD ECONOMY
IN THE LONDON Review of Books, April 16, 2020, historian Adam Tooze’s “Shockwave” offers insights on the Covid-19 pandemic’s consequences for the world’s economy. Here are tidbits selected from his … Continue reading
CHRONICLER WATSON PART 2
YESTERDAY, WE BEGAN an analysis of Dr. John H. Watson’s chronicling of the world’s greatest consulting detective. Today in Part 2, we discuss penmanship, obfuscation, a downright goof, and the … Continue reading
CHRONICLER WATSON PART 1
THE WORLD’S GREATEST consulting detective had, appropriately, one of the world’s greatest chroniclers. Here, in Parts 1 and 2 today and tomorrow, are tidbits about chronicler Dr. John H. Watson … Continue reading
ON PRESIDENTIAL WIT
INHERENT PRESSURES OF the job tend to preclude witticisms on the part of our national leaders. Over the years, though, there have been exceptions beyond an inadvertent toilet-paper heel, staring … Continue reading
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