Gettin a Grip on Philosophy

Six-month dentist appointment this morning. Very warm today. Walked to the Boston Public Library in Copley Square and read the newspaper in the barrel-vaulted Bates Reading Room, a favorite spot. Walked on to Northeastern, caught the 39 bus to Forest Hills.

Read Getting a Grip on Philosophy, one of those introductory comic-type books, at Java Jo's until about 6:45. Helen brought home prosciutto, mozzarella, and bread for dinner. We watched "Trekkies 2."

Blue Latitudes

To the dentist this morning to get a broken tooth repaired. Afterwards, went to Starbucks to read Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before, a Tony Horwitz book about Captain James Cook's Pacific Ocean voyages gifted to me by Alex in honor of our upcoming trip to New Zealand. Dutch navigator Abel Tasman was the first European to sight New Zealand, but Cook was the first white guy to actually come ashore.

In the introduction, Horwitz proposes the theory that the TV series "Star Trek" was inspired by the voyages of James Cook. James T. Cook, James T. Kirk. Both farm boys who had reputations as calm, even-handed ship's captains. Both commanded to go on a voyage of discovery, not conquest (although Cook effectively acted as an advance scout for later voyages of conquest).