By Jonathan Shipley
A weekly roundup of what’s on Shipley’s nightstand.
Historic Poop
Fascinating tidbit (second item) about the Dead Sea Scrolls and a Jewish sect called the Essenes in the March issue of Natural History. It says that Josephus, Jewish historiographer of the 1st century A.D., wrote that the Essenes, who probably penned the scrolls, were “adamant” about defecating in “retired spots” and burying their feces. Sadly, my puppy is an Essene and his “retired spot” is on my pillow.
Dino-mite
Spanish paleontologists have found a nearly complete skeleton of a new 150-million-year-old sauropod, the largest European dinosaur ever found, according to the March issue of Discover.
Italy on a Budget
A Travel & Leisure reader asks in a letter to the magazine: “Can you recommend some affordable B&Bs along the Amalfi Coast?” Why yes, we can. In Positano, check into the Villa Rosa Positano. Also popular is Villa Lara. Finally, there’s Al Borgo Torello.
No joke, just being helpful.
Salty Shakers
In last Sunday’s New York Times Magazine:
* William Safire finds the sweet spot.
* Deborah Solomon reads minds.
* Ben Wallace-Wells explains how Barack Obama’s message manager is trying to read your mind and find the sweet spot.
Hippocratic Oafs
The estimated number of Americans who die each year as a result of a doctor’s sloppy handwriting: 7,000.
Thanks, Harper’s, I’m double-checking all my prescriptions right now.
Assassin Theory
While on his deathbed in January, Watergate mastermind E. Howard Hunt laid out the details about who was behind JFK’s assassination, according to Rolling Stone. Was it really Dick Cheney?
Posted on April 4, 2007