POSTSCRIPT ADDED 04/14: Our home is on a salt marsh alongside a small, tidal river. Over the past several years, we have observed gradual changes in the breadth and height of high tide. Eventually, the borders of our yard directly adjacent to the river were covered with brackish water at high tide to about 25 ft. beyond the riverbank. This occurs regardless of moon phase or the … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: The Rising Waters of Long Island Sound — A Primer on Global Warming and Climate Change, Postscript Now Added
Columnists
A la Carte: Something Special for Easter? How About Sweet Honey Chicken with a Hint of Curry?
Well, it has been an interesting two weeks. I spend quite a time on Facebook with friends and family. My family seems fine. My brother and I do not talk often. This has little to do with the fact that we are not close. I like him and he likes me, but eight years is a big number. He went to college when I was nine and, except for vacations, he never really came back to Troy. … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Something Special for Easter? How About Sweet Honey Chicken with a Hint of Curry?
Reading Uncertainly? ‘Life Undercover’ by Amaryllis Fox
A lyrical memoir of an unusual woman’s life, in Washington, London, Moscow, London and finally Washington again, minus her father. Then on to the CIA, described in amazing detail, and her life afterwards as an agent around the world. Fox’s language is engaging, plus her almost-total recall of conversations. A compelling read, but it raises two questions: (1) How was she able … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘Life Undercover’ by Amaryllis Fox
Talking Transportation: Memoirs of a Metro-North Conductor
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to work for the railroad? That’s what Paul Holland did for 39 years, first with Amtrak, later with Conrail and finally as a conductor on Metro-North. His self-published “My Life As A Rear End” pays tribute to his time in cabooses, but it’s his commuter rail stories that kept me laughing. Like the colorful crowd from the … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Memoirs of a Metro-North Conductor
A View from My Porch: Keep Calm and Carry On
The title of this essay is derived from a poster designed by the British government in the late 1930s to maintain morale when war against Germany became imminent. This essay roughly considers “a day in the life” of Southeastern Connecticut residents as the COVID-19 pandemic impacts each of us and our collective ability to “carry on” our lives as usual. I will present the key … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Keep Calm and Carry On
A la Carte: In This Time of Crisis, We All Need (American Indian) Soup for the Soul
As I write this column, I am using Tylenol to tamp down my fever that spiked to 100.4 last night. I wanted to stay in bed this morning, but Junie, my only cat, had another idea. So I got up, fed her, changed her water dish, added water and ice cubes to my own water bottle, and made tea. I feel much better now. I am quite sure what I have is just a little bug—no sore throat, no … [Read more...] about A la Carte: In This Time of Crisis, We All Need (American Indian) Soup for the Soul
A View from My Porch: Who’s Played Sherlock? Who Did it Best?
Although more than a century and a quarter has passed since publication of Arthur Conan Doyle’s first story, Sherlock Holmes continues to inspire novels, movies, TV, and the stage. I will review some of the actors who played Holmes in this concluding essay in my Holmes duology; and assess how true each was to Conan Doyle’s artistic vision. Where possible, I’ll contrast each … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Who’s Played Sherlock? Who Did it Best?
Reading Uncertainly? ‘How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy’ by Jenny Odell
Are you overwhelmed by today’s information and attention economy? Then listen to Jenny Odell, a writer, artist, lecturer at Stanford University, resident of Oakland, Calif., and a true daughter of the current information revolution. She suggests it is time to step back from today’s tidal wave of “information”: the resources of social media and constant “breaking news” that … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy’ by Jenny Odell
Legal News You Can Use: Why are ‘Gray Divorces’ on the Rise?
While the overall divorce rate has declined steadily over the past few decades, the number of couples over age 50 who decide to end their marriages keeps climbing. So-called 'gray divorces' have quadrupled since 1990, according to multiple studies. Divorce can be an emotional and devastating experience for anyone, and it can be especially challenging for couples who have … [Read more...] about Legal News You Can Use: Why are ‘Gray Divorces’ on the Rise?
A la Carte: The Irrestible Magic of Maple-Apple Blondies
Wow, three days of watching movies at The Garde:- The Farewell (wonderful) and Jojo Rabbit (which I was wary of seeing but, at the end, fell in love with it). Then I saw Bombshell, but I liked the television adaptation about Roger Ailes/Fox better (The Loudest Voice). The Showtime movie made Russell Crowe (as Ailes) even more of an animal. It was a busy week, but I found … [Read more...] about A la Carte: The Irrestible Magic of Maple-Apple Blondies
Talking Transportation: Avoiding Air Turbulence
“Buckle up folks. There’s some bumpy air ahead”, said the pilot on a recent flight. No need to remind me; my seatbelt is always fastened as “bumpy air”… a euphemism for air turbulence … is my worst fear in flying. It’s the whole “fear of death” thing. Intellectually I know that modern aircraft can survive all manner of stress from changing or violent winds, but can I? I’ve … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Avoiding Air Turbulence
Reading Uncertainly? ‘The Goodness Paradox’ by Richard Wrangham
My goodness ... we are indeed a strange species! Dr. Wrangham, a Harvard anthropologist, tackles his subtitle, “The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution,” by going on to suggest, “We can be the nastiest of species and also the nicest.” But, he offers, “The key fact about humans is that within our social communities we have a low propensity to … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘The Goodness Paradox’ by Richard Wrangham
Letter From Paris: France is Embroiled in a Pension Reform Crisis, But Seems to be Doing Fine … or is it?
Reform of the retirement system was at the core of French President Emmanuel Macron's 2016 campaign. He wanted to simplify the system and make it universal. The reform is so highly sensitive - one might even say explosive - that several prime ministers have fallen in similar attempts (1986, 1995, 2008.) Although close to 60 percent of public opinion is favorable to the reforms, … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: France is Embroiled in a Pension Reform Crisis, But Seems to be Doing Fine … or is it?
A View From My Porch: An Appropriate Day to Remember Connecticut Icon William Gillette
Editor's Note: Tom Gotowka sent us this piece last week, but we had always planned to publish it today. By an extraordinary coincidence, we now find — thanks to an article sent to us this morning by our friend and regular correspondent George Ryan — that today is the 90th anniversary of William Gillette's final performance as Sherlock Holmes, given Feb. 12, 1930 at the popular … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: An Appropriate Day to Remember Connecticut Icon William Gillette
A la Carte: Pepperoni Pasta is Easy to Prep, Delicious to Eat
The other Sunday, I drove to the Mystic Marriott to judge the chocolate gala to benefit Fairview in Groton, I used to call rest homes like Fairview old persons’ homes. Now that I am actually an old person, there are other names that sound nicer, like independent or assisted living. Some years ago a friend told me that when she gets old, she wants to be at Fairview, with its … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Pepperoni Pasta is Easy to Prep, Delicious to Eat