The tummy trouble defence
We have all heard ingenious defence arguments in criminal proceedings. But here’s a new one to me: I’m calling it the ‘tummy trouble’ defence. “My Lord, my client Mr. Farnsworthy takes the position that he was away at a spa in Grafton when the alleged burglary took place; and in the alternative, if he was […]
Spare the rod
“I was spanked as a child and I think I turned out alright.” Maybe you’ve seen that message posted on social media. Maybe you’ve said something similar to a friend, over coffee and a biscotti. At the very least, you may have thought as much when you see a child having a meltdown in the […]
World basketball championship
This year’s edition of the World Basketball Championship wrapped up on Sunday night. Naturally, the games were serious stuff here in Spain, as they took place in Barcelona and Madrid. There was a serious setback for the local fans in the quarterfinals, as the Spanish team fell to the French, 65-52. That was not supposed […]
Personal nuances
Beyond the senses of smell and taste, touch and hearing can also contribute to the wine experience. The sensation of touch is apparent, since it registers when we allow wine flow over our taste buds. The sense of hearing is a stretch — you can hear wine being poured into a glass or you can […]
The art of lost and found
What drew me to the bridge this morning was the fact I had lost track of my sketchbook. I had a hunch it was more than lost under the pile of mail and collection of artifacts that seem to cluster daily on the kitchen table with the tenacity of burdocks clinging to a sheepdog. I’m […]
The tangible instant
I was lucky enough to get a preview of the Drake-Devonshire Inn last week, despite the quality of my poetry. One thing that struck me as a quaint touch was the old-fashioned photo booth, with its curved edges, a not-very-private curtain and a turquoise stool onto which two people can just squeeze. The gimmick, of […]
Paramedic Ride 2014
I don’t often ask readers to do me favours. Well, except for the times I’ve asked for donations to the annual Ride for Heart. Actually, I didn’t really see those donations as a favour to me. This, however, is a real favour. Today I’m asking you to get out and cheer on the cyclists participating […]
Soccer in southern Italy
They will be lining up at the turnstiles at the Stadio San Paulo in Naples this coming Sunday for the big game between the home team and the visitors from Verona. Of course, you will remember that name from Shakespearean plays—you might still hear Juliet on the balcony, looking for her lover. There will be […]
A matter of taste
Last week we tried a simple experiment to show the influence aromas can have on the tasting process. But what if we isolated the sense of taste from the sense of smell? Interestingly, a human can identify up to 10,000 different smells, but can only discern six different tastes: sweet,sour, bitter, salt, fat, and umami. […]
When the Devonshire opens again
There’s a chore I’ve been meaning to do for some while It’s not one I enjoy—it’s a pain So I swore I would do it as soon as I could Once the Devonshire opens again And as one summer passed, then one more, then one more I thought that I’d played my cards smart I’d […]