Random Learnings #51
Though evidence is inconclusive and reasoning disputed, Khrushchev may have proposed that the Kaliningrad enclave become part of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. The Lithuanian leader Sniečkus declined because over…
Berlin Never Forgets
Berlin obviously is a city steeped in history: everywhere you look you'll see a marker, monument, building, or something else that's meaningful. I doubt anyone is surprised. However, this street…
Paternoster Failure II
Twice I've attempted to ride a paternoster lift (elevator); twice I've failed. My first attempt was Stuttgart, Germany City Hall which has a working paternoster. Unfortunately, our arrival corresponded to…
Random Learnings #50
Sovetsk, Russia is part of the Kalingrad enclave, physically separated from mainland Russia. It's even further separated from mainland Russia as planes can no longer fly over the Baltics but…
From Here I Can See Russia!
Sarah Palin is often misquoted as saying I can see Russia from my house! - thank you, Tina Fey - but I can say I saw Russia from my rental…
Does Anyone Know What Floor This Is?
On left, elevator buttons in my hotel in Kaunus; on right, Vilnius. See any difference? Universally - until my visit to Kaunus - ground floors are Floor 0 in Europe…
Pods That Don’t Encourage Sleeping!
I'm currently at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, waiting for my connecting flight to Vilnius, Lithuania where I'll be speaking at BuildStuff 2024. Upon arrival in Vilnius, I'm driving to Kaunus,…
Record Store Coolness
I assume that Revival Records isn't the first album/music store to emulate Led Zepplin's In Through The Outdoor, but it's a first for me. This album had different album covers,…
Geeky License Plate
A person after my own heart. Black license plates in Minnesota were only introduced in January, so gotta wonder how s/he got such an obvious plate. Go Geek!
Random Learnings #49
Dexter Gordon's Wikipedia page mentioned that he was unable to perform in New York City bars or dancehalls - essentially any place that served alcohol, more importantly the places that…