schama's newest book "scribble, scribble, scribble" publisher's weekly raves, schama turns his warm prose to a fast away of topics. he approaches every subject with gusto and amusement and always has smart thing to say. it's truly a pleasure to have him tonight with us. ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming simon schama. [applause] >> welcome. i didn't drink any of your water. [applause] >> you're thinking what is the hell he's doing texting? did the kind sheldon tell you to turn your cell phones off? my favorite play in the world was spamalot because somebody comes to the throne and says, ladies and gentlemen, i would like you to turn all your cell phones on because the show is complete crap. [laughter] >> the reason i'm looking at this, everyone, is that it has on it right now the best thing ever written about spring. and you, class, are going to told me who wrote it or else. and it's not me. but it's someone who is my kind of god of essay-writing. before the swallow, before the daffodil, and not much later than the snow drop, the common toad salutes the coming of spring aft