Twitter tells me that Elbow’s Build a Rocket Boys! came out fifteen years ago today. Fifteen years! That can’t be right! Yeah, it was back during the Obama years… but fifteen? Fifteen! Nah, time doesn’t work like that. It can’t. I never reviewed the album at the time, though I shared some thoughts on theContinue reading “No, That Can’t Be Right”
Doomscrolling the War
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the air forces of the United States and Israel commenced a joint aerial assault on Iran in an attempted decapitation strike. Iran then responded by launching missiles at Israel, United States military bases and assets in the Persian Gulf, and host nations (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirites)Continue reading “Doomscrolling the War”
Tweaking the Settings
From time to time, I feel like tweaking my CTWM configuration file for Linux. What I have is delightfully old school — big borders, sharp corners, window buttons that look like they’re out of the 1980s. (That’s not far off.) “Industrial brutalism,” I called it. Maybe I should add a Conky? I thought. Conky isContinue reading “Tweaking the Settings”
Pink Clouds on the Horizon
Sundays’s snow is melting, but there’s a lot on the ground yet. This weekend is supposed to get up into the 50s, so it should melt nicely then. There was a lovely sunset tonight. The trees are starting to get the bumps, like they’re about to flower. It will happen, suddenly. They’ll be brown oneContinue reading “Pink Clouds on the Horizon”
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
A nor’easter came ripping through Sunday afternoon and evening. The forecasts were all over the map, anywhere from three inches to three feet, and, at least in my part of Pennsylvania, it turned out to be about six inches. It was heavy, wet snow, and it cleared fairly easily. After I cleared the sidewalk andContinue reading “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”
…And Back Again
I intended to return home from Lynchburg today, but in light of the winter storm (and the wild range of snow totals) that was forecast for today I came home yesterday. I hadn’t planned to cross Afton and return the way I came, but the clouds were fascinating and I expected an impressive view fromContinue reading “…And Back Again”
On the Cusp of History
Donald Trump wants a war. Congress hasn’t weighed in, nor authorized force. I have no idea how this will go.
The View from Afton
I drove to Lynchburg today — my dad has doctor appointments tomorrow and Friday — and stopped on Afton at the overlook. It was overcast but clear looking down into Rockfish Gap. I won’t say it was a nice day for a drive — it was foggy in Pennsylvania, and the recent glacier remains thoughContinue reading “The View from Afton”
Jesse Jackson
The Reverend Jesse Jackson has died. He was 84. Unfortunately, I do not have any great opinions or thoughts on the man, which may be a fault of my age. He ran for president in 1988, when I was in high school, and he kinda faded away after that. Or, rather, faded from my perception.Continue reading “Jesse Jackson”
A New Chapter Opens in Lynchburg Baseball History
Last week, Lynchburg’s minor league baseball team announced their new identity, abandoning the Hillcats moniker after about thirty years, give or take. Beginning this year, they are the Hill City Howlers. Hill City because Lynchburg is informally known as “the Hill City.” (It’s commonly said to be built on seven hills, like ancient Rome.) Howlers,Continue reading “A New Chapter Opens in Lynchburg Baseball History”