Editor's Note: On this French National Holiday, we are pleased to republish a column from our oft-times Paris-based correspondent Nicole Logan (no relation), which she wrote in 2023 about the huge parade in Paris that celebrates the most memorable day in French history when the Bastille was stormed in 1789. Letter From Paris: Watching the 14th of July defilé [parade] is a … [Read more...] about Happy ‘Bastille Day’! Memories of Celebrating ‘Le Quatorze Juillet’ in Spectacular Style
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Talking Transportation: The Inevitable Fare Increase
Sorry. You’re too late. You missed your chance: the deadline has passed for offering “public comment” on the upcoming fare hikes on Metro-North. Not that anything you might have said would have made a difference to the inevitable: a 5% fare hike on September 1st of this year and another 5% jump in July of 2026. But don’t blame the railroad or CDOT. You should really … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The Inevitable Fare Increase
A View from My Porch: “Tin Soldiers and Nixon Coming,” Part 2 — A Retrospective on the War in Vietnam.
Epigraph: “But little Mouse, you are not alone in proving foresight may be vain. The best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew; and leave us nothing but grief and pain for promised joy.” — N.B., translated from the original Scots dialect.(Robert Burns: “To A Mouse on turning her up in her nest with the Plough.” November, 1785) Burns’ “best laid schemes of mice and … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: “Tin Soldiers and Nixon Coming,” Part 2 — A Retrospective on the War in Vietnam.
Talking Transportation: Connecticut and Monorails—A One Track Mind
While taking a summertime break this week, here’s a column I wrote awhile back. What is this fascination that people have with monorails? I can’t tell you how often people suggest them as “the answer” to our state’s clogged roads. “Why don’t we build a monorail down the middle of The Merritt Parkway?,” asked an architect at a recent meeting. To … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Connecticut and Monorails—A One Track Mind
Talking Transportation: The Health Risks of Flying
Think air travel is just about delays and lost luggage? Your body has other plans. Forget plane crashes and fights about who gets the armrest. If you survive TSA, a middle seat, and boarding group 9, now you have to make it through the flight itself without your body unraveling like cheap luggage on a baggage carousel. Let’s start with Deep Vein … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The Health Risks of Flying
Gardening Tips from ‘The English Lady’ for June—”The Beginning of a Hopeful Summer”
We have had a few cool nights recently which are just wonderful, sleeping with the windows open. I cannot remember the last time we had a real spring like we experienced this year, with plenty of gentle rain. This beneficial rain is wonderful for all the spring plant growth and such a pleasure freshening the air for us all. I am so in awe of the miracle of Mother Nature and … [Read more...] about Gardening Tips from ‘The English Lady’ for June—”The Beginning of a Hopeful Summer”
Talking Transportation: There’s Still Some Unfinished Business
The end of June has a sense of finality. School wraps up, celebratory parties are held and everyone looks forward to the summer. But there’s a lot of unfinished business on the transportation front worth remembering. AMTRAK AVELIA: Whatever happened to Amtrak’s promise to have the new Acela trains in service “by the spring”? The initial contract for 28 train sets was signed … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: There’s Still Some Unfinished Business
Talking Transportation: Overnight Travel From Worst to First
There’s something very satisfying about the efficiency of overnight travel. In the best of conditions you make your journey and awake, refreshed, at your destination. But how well you sleep depends a lot on how you travel. Here’s my list of overnight travel options, from worst to first: DRIVING ALL NIGHT: In my carefree youth I once drove all night from … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Overnight Travel From Worst to First
Talking Transportation: Wires Down on Metro-North Cause Multiple Delays
We take our train service for granted. For the 80,000 daily Connecticut riders on Metro-North the service is dependable and on-time … usually. But not last Thursday evening (June 5), the hottest day of the year (so far), when the overhead catenary power lines were dragged down near Westport. No power means no trains. What caused the problem won’t be known for a while. Given … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Wires Down on Metro-North Cause Multiple Delays
Talking Transportation: Out-of-State License Plate Fraud is Top Form of Tax Evasion in CT
“This is the number one form of tax evasion in CT. Connecticut is losing millions annually and our DMV does not care.” So says Stonington Tax Assessor Jennifer Lineaweaver, President of the state association for her profession (the CCAO). She’s speaking of CT residents who register their cars in other states to avoid local property taxes. "CT is also losing money on … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Out-of-State License Plate Fraud is Top Form of Tax Evasion in CT
A View From My Porch: “Tin Soldiers and Nixon Coming.” Part 1 — The Shootings at Kent State University.
Christina and I attended a program at Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library on Tuesday, April 29: “Oral History: Kent State, 1970,” presented by Mike Alewitz, who as a student anti-Vietnam War organizer at Kent State University and a founder and chairman of the University's Student Mobilization Committee Against the War, witnessed the bloodshed that occurred there on May 4, 1970 — … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: “Tin Soldiers and Nixon Coming.” Part 1 — The Shootings at Kent State University.
Talking Transportation: Transit-Oriented Recreation
The recent cool and weather aside, it’s officially summer! Time to get out and enjoy our state’s wonderful parks and beaches and take advantage of TOR. You know what TOD is, right? Transit Oriented Development … building homes and offices near mass transit facilities. Well, I’m going to suggest you think about TOR… Transit Oriented Recreation. Did you know … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Transit-Oriented Recreation
The Movie Man: Reflections on the Renaissance of Anakin Skywalker Actor, Hayden Christensen
Hoping Hayden Hears the 'Voice of the People' UPDATED 5/20 with an Editor's Note. I was able fully nourish the wonder that came from the space soap operas of George Lucas. And now that I was an adult, I was also able appreciate the intellectual influences of Star Wars. These included anthropologist Joseph Campbell, Eastern spirituality, and the samurai movies of Akira … [Read more...] about The Movie Man: Reflections on the Renaissance of Anakin Skywalker Actor, Hayden Christensen
Talking Transportation: Some ‘Fun Facts’
Over the twenty years I’ve been writing this column, I’ve come across some “fun facts” about transportation. Try dazzling friends at your next BBQ with some of these gems. HIGHWAYS: Some 180,000 vehicles drive all or part of the 112 miles that I-95 runs through our state. But even factoring in true interstate drivers (think Florida to Maine), the average distance … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Some ‘Fun Facts’
Talking Transportation: On Air Pollution and Transportation
Our air stinks. In fact, Fairfield County ranks in the top 25 of most polluted areas in the US, mostly due to ozone levels. And while much of those noxious gases drift our way from New Jersey and New York City, a large part of our pollution is home-grown: it’s due to heavy volumes of traffic, especially diesel trucks, which emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: On Air Pollution and Transportation