A Dream of Cicero Marbles: What’s wrong, Swan? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Swan: I have! I had a crazy dream last night I met Cicero. Marbles: You’re kidding. You’ve been reading your books too much. Swan: As little as I can, in fact, with all my teaching. I don’t have time [...]
Looking toward the past, and the future, on New Year's Day
Rabbit: What are you doing, Hare? Hare: Nothing much, it seems. Rabbit: Ah, the dolce far niente again. It must be your modus vivendi. Hare: There's nothing like a mixture of languages to get me going. So what are you doing? Rabbit: Well, it's harvest season. I'm busy preparing for winter. Every day there seems more to do. [...]
Grundlos: Watch out, you almost ran me over! Where are you rushing off to? Magnus: I'm off to give a talk and I'm in a hurry. Grundlos: What is the talk about? You're not very dressed up. Magnus: Look, that's not necessary. It's about the meaning of STEM. Grundlos: What is STEM? Magnus: Don't you [...]
Losing Greece: its meaning for Europe, past and future. Overheard in a train station at the height of the Greek financial crisis, between two men of business. One, in middle age, is wearing a light-grey suit. The other, somewhat younger, is dressed in a blue coat and red bow-tie. They speak in German over their [...]
It sometimes appears that we find the most interesting sights in the least expected places. Such an incident is one I wish to recount from a visit to a little restaurant in Como.
