We were heading east on old U.S. 6 near South Bend when all of a sudden a sign appeared: "Road Closed Ahead." No detour signs. No numbered roads. Just a twisting maze of two lane blacktops running through farms and woodlands.
We ended up in Michigan driving east for about 20 miles until we saw a sign for the Indiana Turnpike.
Here's something else. Where I-80 East crosses the Indiana Turnpike there is no interchange.
I will never again criticize the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. We are staying about 15 miles west of the Ohio border near Angola. I can't wait to get to Ohio.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
George McGovern Museum
Just outside of Mitchell, South Dakota, the home of the World Famous Corn Palace, we saw a sign for the George McGovern museum. McGovern was born in Mitchell. Unfortunately we are on a rather tight schedule and we were not able to stop in. In 1972 I gave just about every free hour I had to McGovern's campaign, and I look back on that as something in which I can take pride.
We are now in a Day's Inn in Waterloo, Iowa. Trump is appearing about 30 miles to the south giving one of his speeches to fire up his base. I wonder how many of those supporters will be proud of what they did 40 years from now.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
The Georgia election
I knew that Democratic candidate wasn't going to win. He seemed opportunistic, he was too young, he was way over-hyped, but worst of all, he had one of those trendy beards which made him look like a doofus.
Today we saw Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands. I spotted a guy with a Trump shirt in the museum. I came very close to saying, "You're never going to seem him up there," but all the people around us seemed to be having such a good time. I thought why spoil it and get into a shouting match, so I kept my mouth shut.
Finally, if you are ever in Murdo, South Dakota, the pizza restaurant puts cinnamon in the crust edge and serves icing with the pizza. The idea is that you put the icing on the crust, you also have dessert. I am not kidding.
Today we saw Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands. I spotted a guy with a Trump shirt in the museum. I came very close to saying, "You're never going to seem him up there," but all the people around us seemed to be having such a good time. I thought why spoil it and get into a shouting match, so I kept my mouth shut.
Finally, if you are ever in Murdo, South Dakota, the pizza restaurant puts cinnamon in the crust edge and serves icing with the pizza. The idea is that you put the icing on the crust, you also have dessert. I am not kidding.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Summit County Courthouse
We stopped in Coalville, Utah, to eat Subway sandwiches at a picnic table on the courthouse lawn. First of all, the Summit County Courthouse is a wonderful building, but what impressed me was when I went inside to use the restroom. There was no guard, no metal detector, no wanding while I raised my arms.
Instead there was art from local artists on the walls. One office had a sign outside in the hallway near the front door that said "Information" with a helpful woman to dispense it. I felt welcomed and left Coalville, Utah, with a warm feeling for the town.
The Carbon County, Pennsylvania, Courthouse, located in a town that lives on tourism, might take a lesson.
Instead there was art from local artists on the walls. One office had a sign outside in the hallway near the front door that said "Information" with a helpful woman to dispense it. I felt welcomed and left Coalville, Utah, with a warm feeling for the town.
The Carbon County, Pennsylvania, Courthouse, located in a town that lives on tourism, might take a lesson.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Nobel prize winners
Here's an interesting factoid. In 2016 all six of American Nobel laureates in science and economics were immigrants. Forty percent of the American Nobel laureates in chemistry, medicine, and physics in this century have been immigrants. Keeping out immigrants is not such a smart idea. Someone needs to tell Trump.
On another note, we are in Wells, Nevada, at a Motel Six. Our 11-year-old had no problem getting on the internet with his I-Pad Air. I, on the other hand, had to go to the motel's front office for help. Every evening it is an adventure. Will I be able to connect? Will I be able to post?
On another note, we are in Wells, Nevada, at a Motel Six. Our 11-year-old had no problem getting on the internet with his I-Pad Air. I, on the other hand, had to go to the motel's front office for help. Every evening it is an adventure. Will I be able to connect? Will I be able to post?
Sticks and stones...
Yesterday in Massachusetts Michelle Carter, 20 years old, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the death of her social media friend Conrad Roy III after he committed suicide. Ms. Carter urged him to kill himself. She could get 20 years.
Mr. Roy had threatened to kill himself a number of times, and he had rigged his truck so he could sit in the cab and breathe in the exhaust.
The verdict breaks new legal ground, and in my view is a major error. "He told me to rob the bank" strikes me as a really weak rationale for a crime. ACLU agrees with me, and the verdict will be appealed.
On another note, today we visited the Oroville Olive Festival. Oroville, you may remember, was evacuated earlier this year when the dam on the Feather River threatened to give way. The spillway is now being repaired.
Mr. Roy had threatened to kill himself a number of times, and he had rigged his truck so he could sit in the cab and breathe in the exhaust.
The verdict breaks new legal ground, and in my view is a major error. "He told me to rob the bank" strikes me as a really weak rationale for a crime. ACLU agrees with me, and the verdict will be appealed.
On another note, today we visited the Oroville Olive Festival. Oroville, you may remember, was evacuated earlier this year when the dam on the Feather River threatened to give way. The spillway is now being repaired.
Saturday, June 17, 2017
New Cuba Policy
The Trump administration announced a new policy toward Cuba. The administration is demanding a number of changes in Cuba, including the holding of free and fair elections.
What chutzpah! This from a political party that has dozens of Representatives elected as a result of gerrymandering, that has pushed for voter suppression laws in state after state, and that has a president who received about three million fewer votes than his opponent. Free and fair elections indeed.
What chutzpah! This from a political party that has dozens of Representatives elected as a result of gerrymandering, that has pushed for voter suppression laws in state after state, and that has a president who received about three million fewer votes than his opponent. Free and fair elections indeed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)