My how time flies. I hadn’t realized until seeing the Google Doodle today that it was the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s first successful manned space flight. I say successful because rumors persist that an earlier flight had crashed but the Soviet-run media never ran with the story. Back then they wouldn’t announce a launch until it … Continue reading
Don’t order a Black and Tan. Now that wasn’t so difficult. I wish I had read this before I left for my recent trip to Ireland. Unfortunately I learned this lesson, as I so often do, the hard way. (Continue reading)
Belfast – 2011 I just returned from Belfast, a city that has suffered through the “Troubles” since the 1960’s. Due to rising violence, in 1969 city government started building walls between Catholic and Protestant sections. They were called “peaceline” barriers. That clever name reminded me of the Berlin Wall. When the East German communist government … Continue reading
