We’ve been holding elections in the United States since before we were an independent nation. While claims of voter and election fraud have also been a part of American history from the beginning, the switch to electronic voting machines seems…

When I decided that The Shortest Distance was ready for an update, two key design goals were to improve the quality of printing for our softcover books. It always makes me smile when someone brings in a copy of my…

I live in a home built in 1910 with original basement walls that were poured using a form of concrete that is known to have a lifespan of about 120 years before crumbling into dust. The whole weight of the…

My partner, Gene has learned that he can’t rely upon our hotels to provide a good set-up for ironing, even in hotels that claim to provide one. Sometimes the hotel only has a few irons, and so he has had…

Sometimes when I travel, I carry a penny whistle with me, because it’s lightweight and cheap. I don’t have to worry about the airlines or thieves. They were developed by Robert Clarke in the 1840s, who figured out how to…

Gene and I spent a weekend at a small condo in Aix-les-Bains, a small town on an Alpine lake in France. This town has a stunning casino that dates from the Belle Epoque era, with mosaic ceilings that rival some…