If you eat, you're in. Pam Warhurst. TED

Giuseppe Torcivia's heroic pasta con sardi dinner

May I list all the food G made for dinner?  I'm not sure I'm able.  Pickled eggplant, smoked olives, pickled peppers, fresh figs wrapped in ham, bresaola dressed in olive oil and lemon, mystery salami from San Franciso that made me weep, sharp cheese, shrimp pate, fried artichokes, battered &  fried sage leaves, eggplant fritters, spinach and egg pancakes, pistachio rice balls, squid-ink rice balls, bruschetta a la Norma, cuttlefish in dark red wine sauce, cured salmon with scallions and olive oil and lemon, cold tomato soup, pasta con sardi.  For 16.  Served under a tent in a wild storm.  Woof!

Mushroom activity in the crack between kitchen and patio

Gore Vidal

Credit: Jerry Cooke/Time & Life Pictures — Getty Images

I've always been fascinated by Gore Vidal, from Myra Breckenridge through Palimpsest, Burr, the huge collected United States: Essays and his public persona.