“This is proof that dreams do come true,” said Yeoh, the 60-year-old Malaysian-born, Hong Kong-trained star. “And ladies, don’t ever let anybody tell you that you’re past your prime.” Not much to add there. What a remarkable woman she is. (Confidential to Michelle: I’m available! ;-)) Previously, … I told…

“Anye impietie may lawfully be committed in love, which is lawlesse.” John Lyly, Euphues (1578) [Some facts below may be fictitious, for the sake of the narrative! ;-)] Previously, … I told you about Northern Beaches beauties and dingbats with dictaphones and how dating can bring one to parts of…

“Anye impietie may lawfully be committed in love, which is lawlesse.” John Lyly, Euphues (1578) [Some facts below may be fictitious, for the sake of the narrative! ;-)] Split up last year, after five very good years, and a couple of not so good ones. Granted, there were significant confounds…

I’m not convinced. Here’s why. A few weeks ago, some guy — a post-doc in social psychology and aspiring comic — posted on his substack page a piece on the rise and fall of peer review. And why that is a great thing. After a brief history of peer review…

Spent the last few days in Washington and Wednesday flew back to Los Angeles from where I will fly back to Sydney later today. Staying once again with J and her partner at their property in Inglewood, LA. Many a trip down memory lane was had over the last few…

Spent a few days in The Big Apple. Worked — most mornings and some afternoons —in The Bean On Broadway where the latte was embarrassingly weak (even with extra shot) but the wifi was stable. Trade-offs are everywhere. Customers were asked to limit one’s stay during busy times but, understanding…

So, … while still in Brunswick, I spent Monday morning 20 minutes on the phone to friggin SSA … trying to reach a live person. Ha! Ended up being told, by some automated voice, that I needed to call back since I called outside office hours which would start at…

Arrived on the East Coast after a six-hour red-eye flight from LAX to Boston Logan on Tuesday morning. Got a late seat assignment in row 7, and an empty seat next to my window seat, on a plane close to full capacity; managed to sleep much of the time. …

I lived in the USA for two decades, between 1981 and 2000, visited frequently (while working in Berlin and Prague) in the decade after, and infrequently since 2009 when I cancelled my permanent residency in the USA — “Are you sure?”, the Munich consulate officer asked me somewhat incredulously —…