Harvard got a new president, Lawrence Bacow, on July 1, arriving as we are grapple with inequality as a nation. In the June issue of The Atlantic, Matthew Stewart wrote about the new aristocracy. They aren’t the plutocrats who control 0.1% of American wealth, but rather the aristocrats who control the next 9.9%. That would… [Read More]
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Recapping Velvet: Season 1, Episode 4, “Nothing Is That Easy”
Warning: there are plenty of spoilers about the Spanish drama Velvet ahead. Fashion Insight: Wedding dresses are the ultimate design and dressmaking challenge Ross and Rachel of the Week: Clara and Pedro Spanish Culture Clue: The wedding preparations seem very similar to wedding preparations in the US. Language Point: Devastatingly Handsome Maximiliano has tortilla española for dinner. When… [Read More]
Recapping Velvet: Season 1, Episode 3, “Stay Away from Me”
Warning: there are plenty of spoilers about the Spanish drama Velvet ahead. Fashion Insight: Going through swatch books. Ross and Rachel of the Week: Ana and Alberto Spanish Culture Clue: The terrible treatment of women in this era. Language Point: The dialogue plays off “igual” and “desigual” in several places. Doña Gloria knocks on the door of… [Read More]
South Africa: Ivory from Paradise
I’m finally at the end of the African book project. It took a lot longer than I thought it would. The last country on the list is also the wealthiest in Africa, the Republic of South Africa. I read Ivory From Paradise, by David Schmahmann. It’s the story of a white family that scatters from… [Read More]
FAQ: What is Bitcoin, anyway?
Yesterday, I received an email from a friend with a plaintive questions: what is Bitcoin? She is hearing about it and is intrigued! Bitcoin makes an appearance in Day Trading For Dummies, I’ve done work on it for some clients, and I even have blog posts on it. The fact that all of a sudden… [Read More]