The other day CJ responded to this question: What have you learned from someone you don’t like? I rather liked the question and it got me to thinking. Not very hard, of course, but right off the bat I came up with a couple things. Back when I was living in State College, I worked … Continue reading Learning from Anyone
Gallimaufry
Botany
The tomatoes from my three plants are ripening pretty quickly now, and I’m happy to say that they’re tasting pretty good. Not as good as the best I’ve ever had, but at least it’s been worth the trouble. A neighbor has some attractive plants that I used an online site to identify as Chinese … Continue reading Botany
My War with the City
All right, it’s not really a war. It merely feels like one. It all started when I bought this house six years ago. My realtor warned me that I was paying too much, but I had my reasons. I was anxious to get out of Center City. I liked living in Center City, and it … Continue reading My War with the City
Interview with an Inquirer
It was about two weeks ago that I stopped into the Nuts to You shop on Walnut Street for my weekly shopping for, well, nuts and related goodies. I had paid for my items for the day and was loading them into my backpack when the manager, who had been speaking to a young woman … Continue reading Interview with an Inquirer
A Picture Is Worth…
My next door neighbor is moving out so she can have an office/studio in her own home, rather than having parts of her studio in her house and having to rent a separate facility as she does now. But she had difficulty finding movers who could move her 900 pound printing press, and when she … Continue reading A Picture Is Worth…
A Little of This and That
In Paul Krugman’s recent column, “Bezos, Backlash and Zombies”, he wrote about the recent appearance of Jeff Bezos on CNBC and how he lied his way through the whole interview: Public discourse about taxes and inequality is, even more than discussion of other economic topics, infested with zombies — ideas that should be dead, having … Continue reading A Little of This and That
F Bombs and Other Expletives
When did I start using strong language? Certainly not when I was in high school. The group that I mostly hung out with didn’t use strong language, so neither did I. At least not on any kind of regular basis. I recall when I arrived at Penn State and heard so many other guys, especially … Continue reading F Bombs and Other Expletives
What Happened to the 100 Steps?
I used to live in the Wissahickon neighborhood of Philadelphia, right at the top of the 100 Steps. The 100 Steps are actually 103 steps of granite that lead down to the Wissahickon Creek trail. I used to use them all the time when I would go to take a long walk. When I first … Continue reading What Happened to the 100 Steps?
When It Breaks, Replace It
I’ve had a set of metal measuring cups for years. I don’t know how long I’ve had them, nor do I have any idea where I may have gotten them, but I use them all the time. A few days ago, the handle broke off from one of them. So I went over to Fante’s … Continue reading When It Breaks, Replace It
Short Takes
I received a note that my mail-in ballot was received, so my vote for the primary election is done. I had a Netherlands radio station on during lunch time and they had a concert performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. It was played at the quickest tempo that I think I’ve ever heard, probably at the … Continue reading Short Takes