Epigraph: “It's a story they tell in the border country, where Massachusetts joins Vermont and New Hampshire;” “and they say that if you go to his grave and speak loud and clear: ‘Daniel Webster, Daniel Webster!’ “The ground'll begin to shiver and the trees begin to shake. And after a while you'll hear a deep voice saying: ‘Neighbor, how stands the Union?’” “Then you better … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: A Lesson in Civics, Part 1
A View from my Porch
A View From My Porch: A Short History of the Halls Road Overlay District (HROD), Why it is ‘a Worthy Project’
Feb. 16, 2025—Prologue: I read a fluorescent green flyer Sunday morning that was seeking signatures on an online petition; which I ignored. The flyer disparaged the Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) and, of course, had no author or organization. It was anonymous; and began “BEWARE!” and then went on saying something about “A WOLF IN SHEEP’s CLOTHING!!” that may have been … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: A Short History of the Halls Road Overlay District (HROD), Why it is ‘a Worthy Project’
A View from My Porch: A Heartbeat Away
The title of this “View” is an allusion to The United States Order of Presidential Succession, which defines the sequence in which the vice president of the United States and other officers of the federal government would assume the powers and duties of the U.S. Presidency. That defined Order of Succession is that the Office of the President will pass to the … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: A Heartbeat Away
A View from My Porch: A 2024 Election Epic—Part Two: Content of Character (Section 3 of 3)
Editor’s Notes: i) We have divided Part Two of Thomas Gotowka’s essay into three sections. We published Section 1 on Sept. 13 at this link and Section 2 on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at this link. This is the third and final section.ii) This is the opinion of Thomas D. Gotowka.The Lady May Caper Former Trump senior adviser, Steve Bannon, was collected by the USCG … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: A 2024 Election Epic—Part Two: Content of Character (Section 3 of 3)
A View from My Porch: A 2024 Election Epic—Part Two: Content of Character (Section 2 of 3)
Editor’s Notes: i) We have divided Part Two of Thomas Gotowka’s essay into three sections. We published Section 1 on Sept. 13 at this link and will publish Section 3 on Thursday, Sept. 19.ii) This is the opinion of Thomas D. Gotowka. Access Hollywood Interview On Oct. 7, 2016, The Washington Post published an article on TV host Billy Bush’s 2005 taped conversation with … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: A 2024 Election Epic—Part Two: Content of Character (Section 2 of 3)
A View from My Porch: A 2024 Election Epic—Part Two: Content of Character (Section 1 of 3)
Editor’s Notes: i) We have divided Part Two of Thomas Gotowka’s essay into three sections. We will publish Sections 2 and 3 on Tuesday, Sept. 17 and Thursday, Sept. 19, respectively.ii) This is the opinion of Thomas D. Gotowka. If you read Part 1 of this “View,” (which was serialized in three parts in LymeLine at these links: Section 1, Section 2 and Section 3), you would … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: A 2024 Election Epic—Part Two: Content of Character (Section 1 of 3)
A View From My Porch: A 2024 Election Epic—Part One: Why I Vote (Section 2 of 3)
Editor's Notes: i) We have divided Part One of Thomas Gotowka's essay into three parts. This is Section 2—we will publish Section 3 on Thursday, Sept. 5. Read Section 1 at this link.ii) This is the opinion of Thomas D. Gotowka. “Mein Kampf” at the Claremont, NH Rally In a nearly two-hour rambling speech on Saturday, Nov.11, 2023, Trump addressed a rally crowd in … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: A 2024 Election Epic—Part One: Why I Vote (Section 2 of 3)
A View From My Porch: A 2024 Election Epic—Part One: Why I Vote (Section 1 of 3)
Editor's Notes: i) We have divided Part One of Thomas Gotowka's essay into three parts. We will publish Parts 2 and 3 on Monday, Sept. 2 and Tuesday, Sept. 3, respectively.ii) This is the opinion of Thomas D. Gotowka. We are almost at the final stage of the two dueling campaigns leading to the 2024 presidential election; which initially had all the hallmarks of being just … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: A 2024 Election Epic—Part One: Why I Vote (Section 1 of 3)
A View from My Porch: More on Idioms — “Wassup?”
Dateline: July 31, 2024 (less than 100 days to the election) Last May, LymeLine published a “View” wherein I detailed my quest to determine the origin of the expression, “Let’s blow this popsicle stand;” which I began to satisfy my nine-year-old grandson, Will’s curiosity. I did not determine “popsicle’s” absolute origin for Will; but did help him begin to appreciate idioms … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: More on Idioms — “Wassup?”
A View From My Porch: American Idioms and Colloquialisms—“Let’s Blow This Popsicle Stand!”
Several weeks ago, my nine-year-old grandson, William, was introduced to the expression, “Let’s blow this popsicle stand;” and he asked his dad what was it all about. He was referred to me with a, “He used to say it all the time,” which I do not recall. Please note that he now prefers to be called “Will,” like the playwright; and so, I told him that this might be a good … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: American Idioms and Colloquialisms—“Let’s Blow This Popsicle Stand!”
A View From My Porch: A Rhetorical Question on Scamming—Just How Dumb Do They Think We Are?
A Disclaimer: Despite the title, this “View is not about politics. Rather, I am responding to the report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that, “Nationwide, cases of consumer fraud are skyrocketing;” and review the magnitude of the problem. I also discuss some of the most common and recent forms of consumer attacks, and add a few personal cyber-war stories, which—in … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: A Rhetorical Question on Scamming—Just How Dumb Do They Think We Are?
A View from My Porch: More on the Marquis: Lafayette’s Farewell Tour— The Bicentennial
In my last “View,” I considered General Lafayette’s life and crucial role in America’s War of Independence and reviewed his first visit to Old Lyme in 1778 (also see below.) My inspiration for this topic was the installation of Lafayette Trail markers commemorating stops he made in what is now known as his “Farewell Tour” in Old Lyme and my hometown, Fredonia, N.Y. in … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: More on the Marquis: Lafayette’s Farewell Tour— The Bicentennial
A View from My Porch: “Lafayette, We Are Here!” An American History Refresher
George Washington’s Birthday Edition In August, 2022, the Lafayette Trail marker on Old Lyme’s South Green that commemorates a visit by General Lafayette to the McCurdy house in 1824 was unveiled. The marker joins another on the Green that recognizes Old Lyme’s role in the women’s suffrage movement—American suffragist and activist Old Lyme resident, Katharine Ludington, … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: “Lafayette, We Are Here!” An American History Refresher
A View From My Porch: My Father’s January 6th—in 1941
We are three divisive years after the shameful and violent January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol that transpired on live TV. As the title indicates, this essay considers a very important historic event that occurred 80 years earlier on the Sixth of January in 1941; and is presented here as something that better reflects America’s values and world view … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: My Father’s January 6th—in 1941
A View From My Porch: Reflections on the Election
At long last, I am devoting this “View” to a few thoughts and observations on Old Lyme’s November 7th municipal election, which included a recount; aka “recanvass,” for positions whose margins were less than 20 votes; — required in CT unless the losing candidate waives the recount. The recount, which was held on Monday, Nov. 13th, did not change any elected positions, though … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Reflections on the Election