Phone Books
Not all that long ago, while traveling overseas, I'd find a phone booth and call my family to confirm I was still alive. I even memorized my AT&T calling card…
For massages? Yeah, sure….
Left, a magazine advertisement from the 1950s; right, a storefront in Frankfurt, Germany saying Believe me, it's only for massages. Apparently nothing has changed in seventy years. Despite women's sexual…
Computers IRL #11
As seen on a Köln, Germany U-Bahn: No image found. The URL on the right takes you the description of the digital improvements completed on the public transport system: modern…
Meandering Thoughts #64
Love locks continue to be a trendy, touristy way to announce your love to the world: Cologne's Hohenzollern Bridge is estimated to have over 100,000 locks. Aside from the Hohenzollern…
Bossche Bollen
When I asked my Dutch friend her recommendations when visiting Den Bosch, she said - after the de rigueur St. Jan's Cathedral - Bossche Bollen. One mention not enough, she…
Attribution Done Right
While visiting the Netherlands recently, my wife and I rented a car for a short driving tour: Texel, Groningen, Den Bosch, and, most importantly, Keukenhof. The roads in the Netherlands…
Random Learnings #70
The Swiss have guns; the Brits had bows and arrows. The Unlawful Games Act 1541 required males to own bows and arrows - 2 for boys under 17, 4 for…
Green Island Bottoms
Officially the Green Island Wildlife Management Area, it is (was?) the Green Island Bottoms to locals. Though I grew up in and around Green Island, a place where people fished…
Birmingham Athletics?
During stoppage time of the Aston Villa/Brentford Premier League match, the home supporters were shown becoming increasingly frustrated as Villa could not break the Brentford 10-man defense. Aston Villa did…
Oh My Hawks
John Raoux / AP Doris Kearns Goodwin is a life-long, long-suffering Red Sox fan who experienced many heart-wrenching losses over her years. I saw an interview where she described trying…