Claude Scales 22 conexiones

Lower Manhattan architectural contrasts, redux.

In my almost daily walks across the Brooklyn Bridge and back I've found time to admire the examples of various architectural styles represented among the skyscrapers of lower Manhattan (see this earlier post). In the photo above, taken from the Bridge, the American International Building casts its... more »

Is civilization a product of intoxication?

I've long considered the moderate consumption of alcohol to be a useful, if not essential, adjunct to civilized life. According to this Der Spiegel article, however, booze may have been, if not the mother, at least the midwife of civilization. Among the interesting recent anthropological... more »

My SOTU trivial observation.

The President had to make do with having his head flanked by Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi. Governor McDonnell, giving the Republican response, had the advantage of hand-picking his audience and his camera angle, which had him bracketed by an African-American woman and an Asian-American man. In both... more »

It seems I'll have to watch the Super Bowl, after all.

I've never been much of an NFL fan. As I've explained before, I came of sports fan age in Florida long before there were Bucs or Jaguars, or even Dolphins. Back in the 1950s and '60s, the college game was the Real Deal. I took an occasional interest in pro ball; for a while, I was a fan of the... more »

Haiti: special needs.

I've been dilatory in posting about the disaster in Haiti, not out of lack of concern, but because I believed I had nothing of value to add by way of blogging, as opposed to contributing, which, being Episcopalian, I did through Episcopal Relief and Development. I made my contribution in memory of... more »

Norovirus or no, Queen Victoria arrives.

Cunard's newest cruiser, the 90,000 grt Queen Victoria, as I saw her this morning from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, passing Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty en route to the cruise ship terminal on Manhattan's West Side.

News reports were that the ship might be denied permission to dock... more »