As I write this column, I am using Tylenol to tamp down my fever that spiked to 100.4 last night. I wanted to stay in bed this morning, but Junie, my only cat, had another idea. So I got up, fed her, changed her water dish, added water and ice cubes to my own water bottle, and made tea. I feel much better now. I am quite sure what I have is just a little bug—no sore throat, no … [Read more...] about A la Carte: In This Time of Crisis, We All Need (American Indian) Soup for the Soul
Columnists
A View from My Porch: Who’s Played Sherlock? Who Did it Best?
Although more than a century and a quarter has passed since publication of Arthur Conan Doyle’s first story, Sherlock Holmes continues to inspire novels, movies, TV, and the stage. I will review some of the actors who played Holmes in this concluding essay in my Holmes duology; and assess how true each was to Conan Doyle’s artistic vision. Where possible, I’ll contrast each … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Who’s Played Sherlock? Who Did it Best?
Reading Uncertainly? ‘How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy’ by Jenny Odell
Are you overwhelmed by today’s information and attention economy? Then listen to Jenny Odell, a writer, artist, lecturer at Stanford University, resident of Oakland, Calif., and a true daughter of the current information revolution. She suggests it is time to step back from today’s tidal wave of “information”: the resources of social media and constant “breaking news” that … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy’ by Jenny Odell
Legal News You Can Use: Why are ‘Gray Divorces’ on the Rise?
While the overall divorce rate has declined steadily over the past few decades, the number of couples over age 50 who decide to end their marriages keeps climbing. So-called 'gray divorces' have quadrupled since 1990, according to multiple studies. Divorce can be an emotional and devastating experience for anyone, and it can be especially challenging for couples who have … [Read more...] about Legal News You Can Use: Why are ‘Gray Divorces’ on the Rise?
A la Carte: The Irrestible Magic of Maple-Apple Blondies
Wow, three days of watching movies at The Garde:- The Farewell (wonderful) and Jojo Rabbit (which I was wary of seeing but, at the end, fell in love with it). Then I saw Bombshell, but I liked the television adaptation about Roger Ailes/Fox better (The Loudest Voice). The Showtime movie made Russell Crowe (as Ailes) even more of an animal. It was a busy week, but I found … [Read more...] about A la Carte: The Irrestible Magic of Maple-Apple Blondies
Talking Transportation: Avoiding Air Turbulence
“Buckle up folks. There’s some bumpy air ahead”, said the pilot on a recent flight. No need to remind me; my seatbelt is always fastened as “bumpy air”… a euphemism for air turbulence … is my worst fear in flying. It’s the whole “fear of death” thing. Intellectually I know that modern aircraft can survive all manner of stress from changing or violent winds, but can I? I’ve … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Avoiding Air Turbulence
Reading Uncertainly? ‘The Goodness Paradox’ by Richard Wrangham
My goodness ... we are indeed a strange species! Dr. Wrangham, a Harvard anthropologist, tackles his subtitle, “The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution,” by going on to suggest, “We can be the nastiest of species and also the nicest.” But, he offers, “The key fact about humans is that within our social communities we have a low propensity to … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘The Goodness Paradox’ by Richard Wrangham
Letter From Paris: France is Embroiled in a Pension Reform Crisis, But Seems to be Doing Fine … or is it?
Reform of the retirement system was at the core of French President Emmanuel Macron's 2016 campaign. He wanted to simplify the system and make it universal. The reform is so highly sensitive - one might even say explosive - that several prime ministers have fallen in similar attempts (1986, 1995, 2008.) Although close to 60 percent of public opinion is favorable to the reforms, … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: France is Embroiled in a Pension Reform Crisis, But Seems to be Doing Fine … or is it?
A View From My Porch: An Appropriate Day to Remember Connecticut Icon William Gillette
Editor's Note: Tom Gotowka sent us this piece last week, but we had always planned to publish it today. By an extraordinary coincidence, we now find — thanks to an article sent to us this morning by our friend and regular correspondent George Ryan — that today is the 90th anniversary of William Gillette's final performance as Sherlock Holmes, given Feb. 12, 1930 at the popular … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: An Appropriate Day to Remember Connecticut Icon William Gillette
A la Carte: Pepperoni Pasta is Easy to Prep, Delicious to Eat
The other Sunday, I drove to the Mystic Marriott to judge the chocolate gala to benefit Fairview in Groton, I used to call rest homes like Fairview old persons’ homes. Now that I am actually an old person, there are other names that sound nicer, like independent or assisted living. Some years ago a friend told me that when she gets old, she wants to be at Fairview, with its … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Pepperoni Pasta is Easy to Prep, Delicious to Eat
Letter From Paris: Brexit Has Happened – An Historic Day Which Sparked Joy, Tears, and Innumerable Challenges
Editor's Note: The United Kingdom finally left the European Union (EU) at 11 p.m. on Jan 31, 2020, after being a member of the EU for 47 years. Despite a referendum passing in 2016 by a very slim margin that requested the extraction of the UK from the EU, it has been a long three years of butter argument to reach this point. Even now, it is estimated that roughly half of the … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Brexit Has Happened – An Historic Day Which Sparked Joy, Tears, and Innumerable Challenges
A View from My Porch: Lyme Native Ezra Lee was World’s First Commander of an Attack Submarine in Battle
There was a time before our time, It will not come again, When the best ships still were wooden ships But the men were iron men … I believe this eloquent verse from Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benet’s ode to New England’s “Clipper Ships and Captains” can also be used to describe Ezra Lee, the first man to command an attack submarine in battle. In this essay, I … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Lyme Native Ezra Lee was World’s First Commander of an Attack Submarine in Battle
Talking Transportation: A Conversation With CT DOT Commissioner Giulietti, Part 2
Editor's Note: This is the second of two articles written by Jim Cameron reporting on his conversation with CDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti. Read the first article at this link. Connecticut's Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Joseph Giulietti is about to finish his first year on the job and his plate is more than full. It’s overflowing with controversy. In … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: A Conversation With CT DOT Commissioner Giulietti, Part 2
Talking Transportation: A Conversation With CT DOT Commissioner Giulietti, Part 1
Joseph Giulietti is finishing his first year as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation -- CDOT. He’s been busy and less visible in recent months, so imagine my surprise when he offered me a one-on-one, no-holds-barred interview. “You’ve always been fair, Jim. You’ve hit me hard but you’ve always been fair,” said the Commissioner. That’s music to my … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: A Conversation With CT DOT Commissioner Giulietti, Part 1
Reading Uncertainly? ‘The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming’ by David Wallace-Wells
Is global warming a sensible hypothesis? Is it happening? What may be its consequences? What can and should we, as human beings, do about it? These are some of the most important questions facing us today. David Wallace-Wells begins with startling pessimism, moving on to despair, but he finally concludes with a modest sense of optimism. Thank goodness ... at least for this … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming’ by David Wallace-Wells