Completing the Census

It’s 2020, and that means that the decennial Census must be completed. On Wednesday, April 1st, I filled out the Census survey online. And, as I said I would two years ago… As I wrote in that two year-old blog post, “I have decided that I will report that my ancestors come from Grand Fenwick,Continue reading “Completing the Census”

My Grand Fenwickian Heritage

In the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will be asking people to write in their ethnic background. I have decided that I will report that my ancestors come from Grand Fenwick, an independent, English-speaking principality somewhere in central Europe. If I need to name a second country, I will name Ruritania. Grand Fenwick, of course,Continue reading “My Grand Fenwickian Heritage”

On Things I’ve Been Reading

I bought some comics recently. Aetheric Mechanics Avatar Press Written by Warren Ellis Art by Gianluca Pagliarani In the year 1907, England is at war with Ruritania on the Continent. France is besieged,and Grand Fenwick has been overrun by Ruritanian forces. England’s spacefleet is keeping London safe, while Ruritanian ships are sighted off Mars, andContinue reading “On Things I’ve Been Reading”

On Foreign Military Blunders

A headline at the New York Times today: “Swiss Accidentally Invade Liechtenstein.” How did this happen? A Swiss Army regiment, on night training maneuvers, got lost in the dark and crossed the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein. After marching about two miles into Liechtenstein they realized their mistake, and turned around and marched back toContinue reading “On Foreign Military Blunders”

On Grand Fenwick

Turner Classic Movies showed yesterday afternoon The Mouse that Roared, the late-50s movie starring Peter Sellers about the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, a long-forgotten English-speaking country on the continent of Europe whose only export was Pinot Noir Grand Fenwick, who declares war on the United States when a California winery begins producing Pinot Noir GrandContinue reading “On Grand Fenwick”