Recent Entries

• Is stupidity on the rise, or simply more visible?

  March 6, 2021

  I've been pondering this question during isolation, having had more time to read the news.  Occasionally one would come across a news item about someone doing or saying something so utterly ridiculous that it left you in despair for the future of humanity.  But these used to be few and far betwee...

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• Reviving Epistolary Intercourse…

  February 27, 2021

  I am fortunate that my city is home to the Bortoletti Artistic Foundry.  Established in 1980 by four brothers, they are driven by a passion for bronze casting and sculpture which they inherited from their father.  They craft beautiful pens, wax seals and other writing materials.  Having unearthed...

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• Pity the poor English…

  February 22, 2021

  Our friend S--- M--- stayed with us for a long weekend.  He's been in exile from his home in the UK for over 10 months.  Trapped in Italy, where he was working when COVID-19 broke out, he's been shuttling between short-term rentals and the homes of friends as restrictions wax and wane.  He was fo...

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• Please clarify your language…

  February 20, 2021

  I received a message today from an acquaintance of many years informing me that her father was, "...in hospice, transitioning." Knowing the man to be nearly 90 and in failing health, I thought this a rather odd moment to contemplate a sex-change, and advised her that hospice wouldn't be the optim...

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• On Thanksgiving and food…

  November 25, 2020

  I originally wrote this in 2005. My opinions remain unchanged. With the gastronomic orgy that is Thanksgiving upon us, my thoughts, as ever, turn to food. Good food, to be specific. My turkey will be organic, free-range, brined, and the meat under the skin basted with a mixture of bourbon, brown ...

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• Expert witness…

  August 5, 2020

  Several months ago I was retained as an expert witness on a fascinating, yet incredibly convoluted litigation.  My role is to be the expert witness for one of the defendants, yet to get the holistic view of what transpired I must look at evidence relating to all the parties involved.  It's fascin...

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• TOTW: There’s a silver lining, through the dark cloud shining…

  August 2, 2020

  Well, for all the death-toll related to COVID-19, finding a good parking space is still a pain in the ass.  Staying in automobile-free Venice remains a joy, especially with the majority of the tourist crowd absent! Lady Wife and I have broken a record, having stayed together in the same place for...

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• Fat-shaming needs to make a comeback…

  August 1, 2020

  Bill Maher is that super-rare breed, the Practical Liberal.  I find myself agreeing with him more often than not, and his comments yesterday regarding American healthcare were spot-on. Patients become offended when you tell them they are morbidly obese. My standard response is, "It's not 'body-sh...

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• Wearing your mask properly…

  July 31, 2020

  Wearing a mask is wonderful when done properly. But donning and doffing it improperly, or touching/adjusting it once it's on can spread the virus. Two good resources for how to do this right: https://www.nebraskamed.com/COVID/how-to-wear-a-face-mask-dos-and-donts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z...

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