Monthly Archives: December 2015

Top Tier Universities

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Roger Walck

What is a top tier university? I recently read an editorial arguing that the admission of ill-prepared minority students to top tier universities is doing them a disservice because they often drop out before graduation when they would have thrived … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular culture | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Wide-Angle Photo Distortion

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Roger Walck

“Keep Calm and Carry Buckets, Britain’s Parliament is Leaking,” by Jenny Gross. The Wall Street Journal, 11/12/2015. This posting is not about London’s Parliament building repairs, nor is it a criticism of Jenny Gross, the WSJ author who wrote the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

2001: A Space Odyssey and A Bicycle Built For Two

Posted on December 27, 2015 by Roger Walck

Here is how it went down: On Christmas morning, I was volunteering at Longwood Gardens in the Peirce–du Pont House with my Jewish buddy welcoming, as he says, all the Jews, Atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists and Zoroastrians out that morning. … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Longwood Gardens, Popular culture | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Christmas Eve Or Christmas Day?

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Roger Walck

I didn’t realize the change until I described our family’s Christmas traditions to a Jewish friend, but the fact is, Christmas Eve has evolved into the important part of the Christmas celebration, while Christmas Day has dwindled into an afterthought. … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Longwood Gardens, Popular culture, Religion | Leave a comment

Life Without Our Electronic Toys

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Roger Walck

“Dumb Stuff to Do Without Your Devices,” by Joe Queenan. The Wall Street Journal, 12/5/2015. I often read exhortations to eliminate all of my electronic devices to leave time for important stuff, like . . . uhh, . . . … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular culture | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Labyrinth at the Du Pont Family Church

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Roger Walck

Pierre du Pont, who built Longwood Gardens, once said his religion was a “non-practicing Episcopalian.” “Just like me,” I told my wife. “You were never an Episcopalian.” “You didn’t know it.  I non-practice lots of religions.” The early du Pont … Continue reading →

Posted in du Pont History, Longwood Gardens, Popular culture, Religion | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Joy of Rereading

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Roger Walck

“Hello, Old Friend, Time To Read You Again,” by Christopher B. Nelson. The Wall Street Journal, 12/16/2015. A good book is very much like a mirror: The glass is the same year after year, but the reflection in it changes … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Popular culture, Writers and Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Portraits That Draw Attention

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Roger Walck

This photo of Donald Trump is an example of one that will draw our attention no matter what you think of him as a candidate or a person. It works because: His face is familiar. Whether the face is of … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular culture | Tagged , | Leave a comment

New DNA Technology

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Roger Walck

“The Gene Hackers,” by Michael Specter. The New Yorker, 11/16/2015. A new technology is revolutionizing DNA modification by making the process hundreds of times easier, in some cases reducing the time required from months to seconds. Its acronym is CRISPR, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Popular culture | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Florida Oranges and the Deltoid Pumpkin Seed Aircraft

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Roger Walck

“Omission,” by John McPhee. The New Yorker, 9/14/2015. My father loved Florida, and ever since I was in junior high, he would drive our family there over the school Easter vacation, and we would stay with friends who were managing … Continue reading →

Posted in Writers and Writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment