Who built the Colosseum? If you're hesitating, don't. It's not a trick question. The Romans built the Colosseum. It was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian around 70 C.E. as part of the reclamation of the land taken for Nero's "Golden House". It was one of several building projects that followed the suppression of the Jewish Revolt…
President Trump accomplished something this week that must elate him. Most days, his name will come up at some point. Now, for the first time since November 9th, every friend or stranger you meet brings him up before saying “Hello”. I’m housesitting in Brooklyn, and a neighbor chatted with me while I watered the garden…
While reading about Machu Picchu, I learned of an American movie that was shot there in 1954. It looked to me like any other of the flood of exotic adventure pictures that poured out of the 50s. This one's stayed just above the brim of obscurity because it became the template for Raiders of the…
This started as a review of Charles Mann's 1491, but it became more about the flights of fancy it gave me than about the book itself. It's the most intriguing, mind-bending, and thought-provoking book I've read in years. Many thanks to Nelson, who turned me on to it. Two caveats up front: First, I give…
(This is a copy of a Goodreads review.) An encouraging bit of Pride Month reading of the "Nice to know we've always been here" variety. "Openly gay" in the context of the 1920s held a different meaning than today, not an affirmation, but a refusal to lie, evading direct questions with clever evasions (making Haines…
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