The latest film adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic “Emma” is a visual feast of color, pattern and texture. It’s also a bit too perfect. The colors are too vibrant, the skin too clear, the homes too opulent, the landscapes too gorgeous, the fabrics without any stain or wear. Every frame of director Autumn de Wilde’s
READ MORE“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose “By any other name would smell as sweet….” ~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet Sorry, Mr. Shakespeare, but I beg to disagree. “Rose” glides from the lips like a musical note, perfumed and sweet in sound as the flower itself. Suppose for argument’s sake that the
READ MOREEarlier this week, famed climate activist Greta Thunberg took to Instagram, announcing her belief that she was recovering from COVID-19. Her illness, Thunberg noted, was light, and didn’t seem much worse than the common cold. Thunberg attributed her allegedly light COVID case to her youth. Unlike certain spring break partiers, Thunberg recognized the importance of
READ MORESerious epidemics can have far-reaching social, cultural, and geopolitical consequences. The plague which devastated Athens in 430 BC – in the second year of the Peloponnesian War, when an Athenian victory still seemed within reach – claimed a quarter of the population, some 75,000 people including Pericles. His successors were weak and incompetent, and Athens
READ MOREAs an example of biomedical catastrophe, the Black Death of the 14th century stands unmatched. The coronavirus, whatever global havoc it might wreak, is not even remotely in its league. During a four-year period between 1347 and 1351, one quarter to one half of Europe’s population died of the plague, with great variations by region.
READ MOREGrowing up, some of my favorite novels were those written by Jules Verne. Combining adventure, world travel, romance, and daring feats beyond the ken of most men excited my imagination. Reading these stories, children of both genders – but especially boys – begin to wonder what feats they may achieve. Such was also the experience
READ MOREItaly is one of the nations worst hit by the global coronavirus pandemic. As a scholar in the field of security and emergency management who has studied and worked in Italy, I have determined that there are at least five major reasons why the country is suffering so much. 1. Lots of Old People Italians
READ MORENew York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he sees a “positive sign” that social distancing measures are working in New York City to slow the spread of coronavirus. “The evidence suggests that the density control measures may be working,” Cuomo said at a press briefing about the pandemic in New York. Cuomo said that on
READ MOREIn the COVID-19 battle, Bill Gates wants us to believe that there is “no middle ground” between the decision to save lives or save the economy. Gates was adamant, “It’s very irresponsible for someone to suggest that we can have the best of both worlds. Bring the economy back to money is much more of
READ MORE