Author: Simon
Postcard of the Week
“You can’t make a short crossing over a long bridge. In the same way no one has ever gone from ignorance to wisdom quickly.” Mehmet Murat ildan, Turkish Playwright... Read More
Remembering
“As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two.” Sir Norman Wisdom... Read More
American Exceptionalism
American exceptionalism was noted as far back as Alexis de Tocqueville in the early 19th Century. It was often assumed that it meant that America was better than other countries but it really meant th... Read More
Words Seldom Seen: Carapace
Carapace Noun: The hard upper shell of a turtle, crustacean or arachnid. Sometimes used metaphorically. Example: “The sea turtles carapace blended with the rocks.” Metaphorically: “H... Read More
Crucible of War
Written by Fred Anderson. This is a book about the war that the British and the French fought about North America among other things. Most of what I learned about it was about the important role that ... Read More
Life Explained
Life isn’t a meritocracy; it’s a crapshoot. Variously attributed. Public art in Singapore from 2004. It looks like Umbrella Henge... Read More