Monthly Archives: February 2018

Two Years Before the Mast

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Roger Walck

The first nautical movie I remember was Two Years Before the Mast, starring Alan Ladd (1946). Much later, about 10 years ago, I read the book. But only today, thanks to reading Moby-Dick, did I learn the full meaning of … Continue reading →

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Frankenstein

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Roger Walck

“It’s Still Alive,” by Jill Lapore. The New Yorker, 2/12 & 19, 2018. (Coinciding with the recent re-release of the original book, Frankenstein, in paperback by Penguin Classics.) Let’s quickly pass over what most of us know: Frankenstein was written … Continue reading →

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The Surprising Decline of Crime

Posted on February 23, 2018 by Roger Walck

“After the Fall,” by Adam Gopnik. The New Yorker, 2/12 & 19/2018. A major social change has occurred in the past roughly 30 years, but it has gone almost unnoticed. It has been called “the great crime decline.” Violent crime … Continue reading →

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Bumps On Your Keyboard

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Roger Walck

I bet you never noticed. I didn’t. Your keyboard has tiny hyphen-shaped bumps molded on the bottom of your F and J keys. They are to help position your fingers properly by feel, without having to look down. But I … Continue reading →

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Looking Back From the Traffic Light

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Roger Walck

The previous posting on this subject showed a photo of the Concord Pike intersection that looks trashy, what with all the signs and wires. It is very trashy, but I didn’t want to leave the impression my neighborhood is trashy. … Continue reading →

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Waiting at a Traffic Light

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Roger Walck

Here is the situation: Every day, often twice a day, I drive out of my development and make a left turn onto Concord Pike, Rt. 202, a major 6-lane highway. All of the good stuff seems to be on the … Continue reading →

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My Unitarian Neighbors

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Roger Walck

It may seem I have been waging a vendetta against the members of the Unitarian Church across the street, but I don’t mean it that way. Speaking to them individually, they seem to be kindly, gentle people. It is their … Continue reading →

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The Eagles Frenzy Is Over

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Roger Walck

The Eagles won the Super Bowl and had their parade down Broad Street and up the Parkway, ending at Eakins Oval in front of the Art Museum. (The Parkway and Art Museum, a beautiful area away from center-city congestion, is … Continue reading →

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Growing Hair

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Roger Walck

“McDonald’s fries might hold a cure for baldness,” by Brett Molina. USA Today, 2/07/2018 (newspaper). There are rumors that the frying oil for McDonald’s french fries will cure baldness.  Let it cool first if you want to try it, is … Continue reading →

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HappyOrNot

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Roger Walck

“The Happiness Button,” by David Owen. The New Yorker, 2/5/2018. HappyOrNot is a small Finnish start-up that gathers customer satisfaction data for companies that hire their services. (Their U.S, headquarters is located near the West Palm Beach Airport.) Their approach … Continue reading →

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