SaltShaker

 I speak: Portuguese, German, French, English, Spanish, Italian, Esperanto, some Russian; I read: Swedish, Dutch, Latin and Greek (but with the dictionary right next to me); I understand some German dialects; I studied the grammar of: Hungarian, Arabic, Sanskrit, Lithuanian, Polish, Tupi, Hebrew, Japanese, Czech, Finnish, Danish; I dabbled in others. But all at a [...]

 Before the Spanish banned Inti Raymi in 1572, this winter solstice festival was the biggest event on the calendar of the Awantinsuyu Incan empire. It occurred at the time of the sun’s rebirth (around June 24th on our calendar) in Cuzco, Peru, the Inca capital. Native residents gathered to honour the Inca, the first-born son [...]

 The global importance of the Middle East is that it keeps the Far East and the Near East from encroaching on each other.”
- Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President
Buenos Aires - On to the third post of last weekend’s whirlwind of dinners, and a private dinner. Now, originally, they’d simply booked out the second night [...]

 Pioneer 10 will continue to coast silently as a ghost ship through deep space into interstellar space, heading generally for the red star Aldebaran, which forms the eye of Taurus (The Bull). Aldebaran is about 68 light years away and it will take Pioneer over 2 million years to reach it.”
- NASA, The Pioneer Missions
Buenos [...]

 Etymology: Middle English whirlegigg, from whirlen to whirl + gigg top
Date: 15th century
…
3 a: one that continuously whirls, moves, or changes b: a whirling or circling course (as of events)
Buenos Aires - Yup, that’s been me this week. A little whirligig. Three Casa S dinners in a row, and all with completely different menus. I’m [...]

 Venice combined business prowess, backed by naval power, with her unique form of republican government to create the most enduring independent state in history. The Most Serene Republic of Venice was the world’s longest enduring independent state, far eclipsing all others. The Dutch Republic has existed for 214 years. The United States has endured for [...]

 Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.”
- Rosalind Russell, Actress
Buenos Aires - Private dinners at Casa S are becoming all the rage. It’s fun for us, and I think a great way for people who don’t have the space or inclination to have a dinner party at home, or wherever [...]

 May 31, 1678 - The Godiva procession through Coventry begins.”
You may not know all the details of the legend. Lady Godiva was concerned with the great amount of taxes her husband was levying on the people of Coventry. She spoke to her husband who agreed to lower the taxes if she would first ride completely [...]