When MONSTROSITY DEFINED HUMANITY
While this is a fine synthesis of the ancient Greek experience, it must be said that there is little ‘new’ in this book by Jennifer Roberts. The target audience is…
Oliver Rajamani Brings Flamenco and Romani Music to Austin
Flamenco India is not something one hears about every day. In fact, it is so uncommon that this writer wondered why she hadn’t ever heard about the origins of Gypsy…
Natural Philosophy at Oxford University
Image: Sir John Ball, Sedleian Professor from 1996-2019 For the past 400 years, Oxford University has had an endowed chair of natural philosophy. It began in 1621, due to a…
PATRICK CHURCH on Art and Fashion
Ask any fashionista to name the top three young fashion designers, and one name will appear for sure: Patrick Church. Patrick granted me an interview last week, and let me…
NASA in Supersonic Race with China
NASA is pinning its supersonic hopes on the X-59, and a discussion about it was a featured session at SXSW in Austin. On hand were NASA’s lead pilot of the…
Mozart Piano Concerto at Austin Symphony
A gem from 1785 was featured by the Austin Symphony Orchestra this weekend. Mozart performed his 22nd piano concerto in Vienna that year. As he wrote to his father, “Concertos…
Centennial of Britain’s First Labour Government
In 2024, Sir Keir Starmer became the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. As leader of the Labour party, he swept to power with 412 seats in Parliament. As…
From Esther to Unveiled: The Making of a Modern Musical
Unveiled: A Musical is a stirring reimagining of the biblical story of Queen Esther, brought to the stage with a fresh, modern sensibility. Austinite Glenna Bowman wrote the lyrics and…
Spying for Russia in the Cold War: A Grubby Scheme
Photo: British PM Harold Wilson in 1975 Back in the 1980s, PM Margaret Thatcher was obsessed with Russian spying. The so-called Spycatcher Affair became THE cause célèbre in England, and…
Naples 1925: A Critical Year for Philosophy
Image: Mt. Vesuvius, near Naples This unusual book prompted a lengthy essay in The New Yorker magazine on Nov. 25, 2024. It was written by the editor of Granta, Thomas…