March 10, 2024
# 1648
The circumference of a circle is slightly more than three times as long as its diameter. The exact ratio is called π.
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Cover
National Pi Day
National Pi Day, celebrated on March 14th (3/14), honors the mathematical constant π (pi), approximately equal to 3.14. It's a playful holiday enjoyed by math enthusiasts and educators to promote mathematics and science. The date aligns with the first three digits of pi, a fundamental element in geometry, particularly in calculating the area and circumference of circles. Pi Day was first recognized in 1989 by physicist Larry Shaw and later became a national holiday in the United States. Celebrations often include eating pie, due to the homophonic play between "pi" and "pie," and engaging in various math-related activities and competitions, making learning fun and accessible.
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Commentary
I am preparing for my TEDx talk at Babson on the 23rd. I didn’t realize how much time it would take.
First I had to write the speech. About 1500 words on the theme that ships are safe at harbor, but they were not designed to rest at harbor but to sail the turbulent seas.
So I wrote my speech. As literature, the speech read well but when I read it out loud, I found a whole bunch of words or phrases that didn’t work as a talk. I made the changes and read it out loud again. More changes. And more changes the first twenty times I read it. Fewer and fewer with each reading but many and constant. Of course, not only did the text need changing, but I sometimes had to reorder the rhythm of the ideas. For professional speakers, this is all a matter of course. But for a novice like myself, it was an unpleasant revelation.
When the text was reasonably close to the final draft, I had to focus on memorizing it. I divided the text into sections and named the sections. And then I numbered the sentences in each section. This organization helped me tighten the flow of ideas in each of the sections and also to tightly edit the sentences.
To advance my memorization, I wrote a cheat sheet eliminating half the words I would be speaking. When I was comfortable that I could fill in the missing words, I cut the 700 to 350 words and spoke that cheat aloud several times, then cutting the number of words again. As of today, with 2 1/2 weeks to go, my cheat is down to 200 words. and I’m feeling comfortable with my progress.
I recite my speech twice a day, sometimes in front of friends. I’ll be ready for the event.
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Kat’s Gen Z Corner
Photos from NYC
Museum, Talk, Cook, Lecture
Attending a cookbook talk with a yoga friend
Photos from NYC
Attending a lecture on the latest Met fashion exhibit
Visiting the meditative Noguchi museum
Making a delicious zucchini and leek babaganoush from the cookbook
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Tucker’s Corner
It’s been a long time since anything that aired on TV felt like an event that we could all partake in. Outside of the Super Bowl and the state of the union most shows are either dumped onto a streaming service all at once and binged or even if they are week to week releases, they’re easily watchable if you miss their premiere date/time. I’m thankful for these new approaches to watching TV because I think they stem from networks allowing more freedom in how series are written and produced. Shows can have as many or as few episodes as the story they want to tell permit and that kind of elasticity has allowed for some real gems to be greenlit and delight viewers. This week’s pick is truly one of those series. This is Shōgun.
It’s clear from the first episode that FX’s “Shōgun” takes itself seriously not just to deliver plot information but as a piece of visual art. From its sprawling monologues to its expertly crafted sets, the series stands out immediately as a series that’ll be deemed a landmark by its conclusion. Based on the James Clavell novel of the same name, “Shōgun” feels more like a reinvention of the text it's based on rather than an adaptation. Creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks strip Clavell’s text from its original pages and create something not only magnificent, but wholly original. The bones of the story are there—the series follows English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) after he lands on the shores of feudal Japan—but there’s a spark that the book was not necessarily lacking but proved hard to translate onto television previously with the 1980 miniseries.
Blackthorne’s appearance sparks an unlikely alliance with Lord Toranaga (an always magnetic Hiroyuki Sanada) who faces a challenge from his fellow lords as they fight to attempt to become Japan’s next leader. The two men’s stories are connected by Mariko (a revelatory Anna Sawai), an outcast from a notorious family who is assigned by Toranaga to serve as Blackthorne’s translator. These separate stories of political strife soon become a finely woven tale of interpersonal relationships and three individuals striving for power, proving that this rendition of Clavell’s work has been expanded for the screen. It works almost perfectly and feels like a fresh take not only on the novel, but the first time this story was put to screen as well.
These interwoven character arcs are what truly makes the series shine. Clavell’s novel is broken down and forced to take a far broader view than its predecessor, moving beyond the Western outsider’s perspective that dominated the original work and instead allowing the show’s Japanese characters to become fleshed out individuals in their own right. Both parties are not only confused by the other, but enamored all the same, striking down an orientalism that–if this were released a decade ago–would have undoubtedly been present.
The character dynamics in this rendition of Clavell’s story are not only more intriguing, but more emotional as well. This new rendition allows us to connect to characters beyond the trio of protagonists, from dominant players like Kashigi Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano), the lord of Izu, to Usami Fuji (Moeka Hoshi), a widow who must reinvent herself to survive. These two characters are a perfect example of Kondo and Marks’ talent, allowing these secondary figures to become as interesting as the series’ leads, in turn allowing Asano and Hoshi to spotlight their talents.
“Shōgun” is already being compared to titans like “Game of Thrones,” and while there is political scheming, that is about the only thing the two series have in common. FX’s newest series is good enough to stand in its own right, a swirling drama filled not with dragons but instead with characters who use words as their strength. Comparing it to the HBO fantasy drama doesn’t necessarily make sense, and in turn almost does a disservice to the show. They are wholly different in what they’re not only trying to achieve, but also what they are trying to say about survival and belonging in a society rife with conflict.
In a television landscape that’s incredibly unpredictable, it’s going to be impossible for “Shōgun” to get lost amongst the dozens of shows relegated to streaming services. Each conversation is as engaging as the battles that shortly follow. The dialogue is rich with context and subtext, written in a way that makes it clear that each and every person, from behind the scenes to those in front of the camera, cares about this story. “Shōgun” has been expertly reinvented for the screen, proving that shows of this likeness can not only still be made, but can still achieve greatness.
Flag of Nevis
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Nevis
Nevis is a small island in the Caribbean Sea that forms part of the inner arc of the Leeward Islands chain of the West Indies.
Nevis and the neighboring island of Saint Kitts constitute the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, a singular nation state.
Nevis is located near the northern end of the Lesser Antilles archipelago about 350 kilometers (220 mi) east-southeast of Puerto Rico and 80 kilometers (50 mi) west of Antigua.
Its area is 93 square kilometers (36 sq mi) and the capital is Charlestown.
They say it would take 74 years to dine once at every New York City restaurant. You might be able to do that on Nevis in a little over a month, but surprise! You would find much of the cuisine comparable in quality.
This tiny West Indies island — all 36 square miles of it — is packed with 40 or so of some of the finest restaurants anywhere, with food from local farm-to-table and sea-to-table found on culturally diversified menus similar to what you find throughout the world. Yes, even in NYC.
My husband and I would have liked to try them all, but here’s a sample of how wonderfully we ate while visiting this beautiful little gem in the Caribbean.
Being on the Island of Nevis is treat enough. But then to discover that one restaurant after another offers delicious local fare makes visiting even better. Writer Julie Hatfield and her husband not only found a wide variety of dining options, from beachside-casual to elegant, but they also got to connect with the people behind these Nevis restaurants.
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Chuckles and Thoughts
"I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
Steven Wright
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Six Word Stories
Summer's end, autumn's embrace, change welcomes.
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Mail and other Conversation
We love getting mail, email, or texts, including links.
Send comments to domcapossela@hotmail.com
text to 617.852.7192.
This from dear friend, Victor P:
Loved reading about Kat’s experience!
I’m missing a lot of good stuff in the neighborhood like Jessica’s presentation at the library. And the upcoming fundraiser for the Noble Journey Sculpture in March.
The German on the poster translates to ‘Out with women’s Suffrage.’ Confusing? Didn’t know that women’s Suffrage was an international concern in 1914.’
‘Life long learning is fun. Lebenslanges Lernen macht Spass😊!’
And this poster from dear friend, Tommy D:
And if you didn’t get enough of Tommy there’s this one:
Hi Dom,
I thought you might like this short bio for your magazine!
Today is March 1st, the month of March is a month to celebrate women. We will feature an important Italian or Italian-American woman everyday with a brief bio. One of the greatest Italian women who changed America for the better was Maria Montessori.
Montessori, Maria, M.D. (1870-1952), b. Chiaravalle, Italy) began breaking barriers from the beginning of her educational career, aspired at first to become an engineer and later became the first woman to enter medical school in Italy; best known for her research, teachings and philosophy, which developed into the Montessori Method and which influenced practices for teaching and learning throughout the U.S. and the world; earned two Nobel Peace Prize nominations. #mariamontessori #internationalwomensmonth
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Last Thought
Looking at the forecast for the next 10 days, seeing the range from 43 to mid-50s. Augurs well for the end of winter.
But we live in New England where even moderate temperatures feel cold. So overdress. You won’t be sorry.
Restaurants that support the North End website we edit and publish: questonorthend.org
Bricco - Our talented kitchen team creates “boutique” Italian food, so-called because it is unique, personal and created for a select and sophisticated diner. The food is complemented by an enoteca (wine bar) with an exceptional selection of all-Italian wines. Our chic and energetic bar serves up great one of a kind cocktails as well as brick oven pizza with gourmet toppings such as prosciutto and fresh mozzarella from Italy in addition with appetizer selections.
Umbria - This classic Italian Steakhouse features rustic cuisine of the region of Umbria as well as a wide selection of Italian-style steak cuts. In addition to the rustic cuisine, guest can also enjoy food and beverages on the rooftop lounge Mia which opens shortly.
Mare - A modern Italian seafood restaurant and oyster bar in Boston’s North End, offering a plentiful variety of options from the sea.
Quattro - Inspired by Italy’s passion for high quality foods prepared with fresh ingredients, Quattro brings delicious foods from simple locally grown ingredients. Frank DePasquale does something few restaurateurs have every tried, melding a full service restaurant that serves wine, beer and cordials with a kitchen equipped with a rotisserie, a char broiler and an authentic Neapolitan brick style pizza oven.
Trattoria Il Panino - Located right down the main vein of Hanover Street is Trattoria Il Panino, “Boston’s first original trattoria.” Our famous pasta dishes are best enjoyed on our covered patio area, open to the breeze and the sidewalk which is prime for enjoying the ambiance of the North End. Our menu combines traditional Italian cuisine with only the freshest of ingredients.
Aqua Pazza - Charming neighborhood hideaway serving cuisine-jumping Mediterranean small plates.
Assaggio - Intimate bi-level eatery for romantic dining, offering Italian-American classics & a full bar.
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