Family History #1
My grandfather was an intelligent man, always looking for something to keep himself engaged in the world, to keep his brain nimble. While living in his retirement community, he told…
Art Linkletter Gym Dandy Surrey
Fall 1967, 2½ year-old me playing outside at my grandparents' house in Westport, CT. In the background, the family Volkswagen Bug that transported us from our Manhattan apartment. I'm sitting…
The World At My Birth
I was born March 1, 1965, so let's see what made the New York Times the following day, March 2, 1965: Australia Punishes Dawn Fraser For Capers as Olympic Swimmer…
Random Learnings #69
Growing up in Iowa, all I knew of Kossuth County was its unusual size: essentially double the size of other counties in the state, it's the reason Iowa has 99…
Unique Hotel
My wife and I visited Iowa City, Iowa last week to attend a University of Iowa women's basketball game, a rather bad loss to Minnesota. Our hotel was Graduate by…
Abolish ICE!
As seen on TNT during Unrivaled, someone sitting immediately behind the announcers wearing a very political t-shirt. Absolutely kick-ass. Presuming that TNT wanted to avoid this political maelstrom, I originally…
Scary Times, Predicted
I'm still working my way through Fateful Hours: The Collapse of the Weimar Republic by Volker Ullrich, in which he gives a riveting account of Germany's inter-war history, from World…
Marching Band Nostalgia
The peaked in high school meme describes those whose personal popularity and successes post-high school pale in comparison to the best four years of my life. BMOC, stud athletes, cheerleaders…
Cold Weather Fountaining
Sunday my wife and I visited the Bryant Park Holiday Market on its last day for this year - food, jewelry, clothes, knick-knacks, the usual - but the operating fountain…
Meandering Thoughts #60
A few issues with this sign at the Empire State Building's 86th floor observation deck: Isn't an unlawful act by definition prohibited? Is climbing the fence or throwing objects and…