As the holiday season approaches, it's important that people understand the dangers of drunk driving. That's why Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has taken a stand again this year in Connecticut. The Connecticut branch has spoken out to remind people to be safe on the roads this season, stating that 39 percent of the fatal crashes that took place in 2018 involved drugs … [Read more...] about Legal News You Can Use: Mothers Against Drunk Driving Remind Drivers to be Safe This Year
Columnists
I See Great Things in Baseball – Part 3: The Movies
Editor's Note: This is the third and final essay by Tom Gotowka on the subject of baseball. We apologize for the delay between the second and third essays, but we made the choice, in consultation with Tom, to hold the latter as it arrived in our Inbox very close to election day. We did not wish it to become lost in all the excitement of our election reporting ... and so now … [Read more...] about I See Great Things in Baseball – Part 3: The Movies
A la Carte: Time for Turkey? Sure, But What to do With the Left-Overs — How About Making Turkey Hash Salad?
Oh, my, Thanksgiving is upon us, although it is late this year. As you read this, you actually have an extra week to buy your turkey and make the stuffing (I make the stuffing the day before, refrigerate it and stuff much of it into the cold turkey). I have made roasted turkey almost every way possible. I have brined it, roasted it upside down before turning it upside, baked it … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Time for Turkey? Sure, But What to do With the Left-Overs — How About Making Turkey Hash Salad?
Reading Uncertainly? ‘Genesis’ by Edward O. Wilson
“What are we, what created us, and what do we wish ultimately to become?” Dr. Edward O. Wilson, the prolific emeritus professor at Harvard, biologist, and naturalist, is also a continual questioner. His last book, The Meaning of Human Existence (2014) also began with a question,“Who are we?” He begins with a restatement of what we have learned from our studies of human … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘Genesis’ by Edward O. Wilson
Talking Transportation: Reading Old Timetables
I love reading timetables. Not the new ones on smartphone apps, but the old printed ones. Reading about a train or plane’s journey on paper is almost like taking the ride itself. Growing up in Canada, I was fascinated with the two major passenger railroads, the quasi-government owned “crown corporation” Canadian National Railroad (CNR) and the private Canadian Pacific … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Reading Old Timetables
Reading Uncertainly? Halloween Special! ‘Connecticut: Spooky Trails and Tall Tales’ by Local Author Gencarella
Here is an engaging, enthralling, timely, and often frightening set of stories from our Nutmeg State, subtitled “Hiking the State’s Legends, Hauntings and History”. These are stories we love to hear, tell – and retell – regardless of origin and authenticity, especially if they involve ghosts, mysteries, illnesses and deaths. And we storytellers do modify them to fit our local … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? Halloween Special! ‘Connecticut: Spooky Trails and Tall Tales’ by Local Author Gencarella
Talking Transportation: Connecticut’s Own … Igor Sikorsky
Have you ever flown in a helicopter? They seem such a glamorous (if expensive) way to travel, by-passing the traffic en route to the airport or sightseeing over rugged terrain. But do you know that the helicopter had its first flight ever right here in Connecticut, the creation of Russian immigrant and inventor Igor Sikorsky, 80 years ago. Sure, Leonardo da Vinci made … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Connecticut’s Own … Igor Sikorsky
The Movie Man: ‘Joker’ Justifies Great Rating
Last month I emerged from screening It: Chapter Two with great satisfaction and went on to write a review asserting that the IT movies were practically gospel for horror fans. A month has passed and in that time, I was able to see multiple variations of reviews for the film and watch the IMDb rating drop to a 7.0 out of 10, with a dip in the 6 range highly likely in the … [Read more...] about The Movie Man: ‘Joker’ Justifies Great Rating
The Movie Man: No Decisions to Make: You Have To See ‘IT: Chapter Two’ AND Follow Kevin’s New Website!
Amazing. Just amazing. That is the simplest description I can give for IT: Chapter Two. Although I had never read the whopping 1,000+ page novel, I could tell throughout the screening that this adaptation was just what Stephen King, Pennywise, and the Losers deserved. IT: Chapter Two follows up on the events of Chapter One, set 27 years further. We come back on the … [Read more...] about The Movie Man: No Decisions to Make: You Have To See ‘IT: Chapter Two’ AND Follow Kevin’s New Website!
Talking Transportation: Commuting Can Make You Sick
It shouldn’t come as much surprise to learn that commuting, especially by car, is hazardous to your health. Research now shows that the longer your drive, the greater the risk of obesity, heart attacks and even low birth-weight babies for moms-to-be. At fault are a number of factors: STRESS: Being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic increases your cortisol and adrenaline … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Commuting Can Make You Sick
I See Great Things in Baseball – Part 2
Editor’s Note: We are delighted to continue publication of a three-part essay on the literature of baseball written by Old Lyme resident Tom Gotowka. This is the second part, find the first one at this link, and look for the third in the coming weeks. As I noted in my first essay, baseball fans have been blessed with a remarkably rich - and often thoughtful - literature … [Read more...] about I See Great Things in Baseball – Part 2
A la Carte: Add Flavor to ‘Everything’ with Chile Crisp, Basil Pesto
I have written two recipes for today’s column. The recipe for chile crisp is from a writer, who always has a jar of it in his refrigerator. He puts it on everything from “eggs, guacamole [and] pizza.” It does seems spicy, so if you make it, try a little less than a quarter cup of red pepper flakes, although I like spicy, especially for breakfast. The other recipe is the … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Add Flavor to ‘Everything’ with Chile Crisp, Basil Pesto
Reading Uncertainly: ‘The Meaning of Human Existence’ by Edward O. Wilson
Who are we? Edward O. Wilson, the eminent Harvard biologist and noted student of ants, describes our strange species in a remarkable and memorable book. In 15 brief, succinct and challenging chapters, each less than 10 pages, he suggests that, at once, we are far more and far less than we imagine. His is a daunting title but the contents live up to expectations. First, far … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly: ‘The Meaning of Human Existence’ by Edward O. Wilson
Legal News You Can Use: How do you Know When to Return to Work after a Burn Injury?
Burn injuries are serious. They can lead to infections, deformities and other chronic issues with your body. Severe burns range from the most painful to those that leave you without the nerve endings you need to recognize pain. When you're at work and exposed to fire, hot items or chemicals that could cause burns, you must take steps to stay safe. Those steps could be … [Read more...] about Legal News You Can Use: How do you Know When to Return to Work after a Burn Injury?
Talking Transportation: The Train Ride From Hell
It was the railroad trip from hell: the hottest day of the year, stuck for five hours on a sold-out Amtrak train where only half the cars had air conditioning. The ride to Washington days earlier had been uneventful, almost on time and pleasantly cool, even though I’d made the mistake of taking a Northeast Corridor train, not Acela. Its older Amfleet cars, though recently … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The Train Ride From Hell