OUR AXIOMATIC FOUNDING FATHER
“WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS to be self-evident” begins the second paragraph of the United States Declaration of Independence. Its author Thomas Jefferson then enumerates these truths: “that all men are … Continue reading
TUNISIA TRIPPIN’–1908
I’VE BEEN ENJOYING harissa, the traditional Tunisian hot sauce. My jar of this condiment comes from Trader Joe’s, though it is made in Tunisia. Thus, I feel compelled to learn … Continue reading
PRINCE MICHAEL ROMANOFF–RESTAURANTEUR AND CON ARTIST
LET’S CELEBRATE PRINCE Michael Romanoff; he, of the famed Beverly Hills restaurant. For those keeping track of such things, this is in my on-going (albeit far from contiguous) celebration of … Continue reading
SUPPORTERS RUN AMOK AFTER POL LOSES ELECTION
SO THERE’S THIS rough-talking politician. He has run an innovative campaign, even to dropping leaflets from an airplane and landing in the fields to speak to voters. He loses the … Continue reading
WELL, Y’KNOW…
A FAVORITE CARTOON IS “The Emergence of Language.” And I’m fairly confident that, following “urg,” “ug” and “uh-oh,” among mankind’s first words were “well” and “y’know.” Or so it seems … Continue reading
ROSSELLINI’S (AND BERGMAN’S) FERRARIS
SE NON È VERO, a ben travato. It may not be true, but it’s a good story. And so it is with tales of Ferraris belonging to Italian film director … Continue reading
GREAT CAESAR’S FATHER-IN-LAW’S GHOST
A NEAT APPLICATION of archaeology, tomography and computer science has virtually unrolled a fragile 2000-year-old scroll. In today’s title, I invoke the memory of Superman/Clark Kent’s boss, Perry White, editor … Continue reading
A BLUE HORSE AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE
RESEARCHING ONE OF our flock of miniature sheep, I came upon Marco Cavallo, a blue horse that played an important role in Italian mental health care. Then, independently of this, … Continue reading
HURRAH FOR HOJO’S
LET’S CELEBRATE ORANGE roofs, fried clams, onion rings and developing one’s 1950s avatar. These first three clues may be a giveaway that I’m referring to Howard Johnson’s restaurants. The avatar … Continue reading
THE M.G. K.3 MAGNETTE AND THE MILLE MIGLIA
WHAT WOULD 1950s’ high-school car-nuts sketch in their study-hall notebooks? Look no further than an M.G. And a highpoint of this British marque’s long history is the 1933 Mille Miglia. … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 