This Day in History: July 29

William Powell born on this day in 1892, the first act of a desperate man. Known primarily for the Thin Man series of moves, he managed to carry off his screen persona as a tough guy despite the fact that he weighed no more than a toddler. Hague Convention treaties were signed on […]

Olio, Scraps, Ort, Hodgepodge and Other Floor Sweepings

We did a blind taste test but it turns out they pretty much taste like sighted people… The problem with the adage, “Winners write the history books” is that it implies that, somehow, historians are “winners”… Donald Trump is as honest as the day is long… not a day on this planet but on one […]

Why I Think I Should Live in a Castle

A castle wouldn’t compensate for my feelings of inadequacy; but, it would compensate for my ACTUAL inadequacy. Without parapets, I’d have to shoot arrows out of my bedroom window like a stinking Hun. A dungeon doesn’t need to be USED as a dungeon. They make great laundry rooms. But, it is nice to know I’d […]

I Spot You Some Fun Facts about Macbeth

Lady Macbeth’s real name was Gruoch… an ugly name to be sure, but is it any uglier than “Edith”? After Macbeth died, he was succeeded by his step son, Lulach the Idiot: A name that inspired confidence in everyone who opposed him. It is considered bad luck to say “Macbeth” in a theater… performers call […]

Mask Facts that I’d Like to Cover Up

Actors, in ancient Greece, wore masks when they performed. The exaggerated expressions allowed the large audience to see the conveyed emotion before the actor spoke; and, the masks often amplified the voices of the performers; as an added bonus, actors didn’t have to wash their faces before a performance. The Mask was quite a departure […]