This is not a political blog, I'm not trying to make a political statement here, but I think these two inaugural speeches are interesting. A comparison illuminates far more than just the relative political climates.
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
G.W. Bush's Second Inaugural Address
Erin
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
iPhone and new number
I bought an iPhone. It is the 8Gb model. Yeah, it's really expensive, but the way I look at it I bought myself a little miniature computer, which it is (it runs OS X). To me that is justification. And since my iPod broke and my contract with Sprint is up, it made sense to me.
I had to get a new number because you can't transfer numbers when you no longer live in the same area code as you bought your old phone (yes it makes no sense).
I'll send a mass email with my new number, but if you don't make it on the list please send me an email.
Erin
I had to get a new number because you can't transfer numbers when you no longer live in the same area code as you bought your old phone (yes it makes no sense).
I'll send a mass email with my new number, but if you don't make it on the list please send me an email.
Erin
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Germany trip
Germany was really nice. I keep saying that since I got back; it was just really nice.
I stayed with Dorothea and Hartmut Samtleben, friends from my days in Hyde Park, Chicago. They have two beautiful and rambunctious children, Armin and Iris, and live in a quiet neighborhood in the outskirts of Bonn.
I decided not to spend a lot of time exploring famous big cities. Instead, I tried to see some of the countryside around Bonn and neighboring cities. I even took a couple of days just to rest and read a book.
On the first weekend, the five of us took a train to Limburg, which is what Hartmut called a "preserved city", meaning there are lots of preserved old houses and other structures. From there we biked (with the little ones in bike seats on the back) along the Lahn river toward the Rhine (Rhein). This was my favorite part of the vacation. It was beautiful and the river and forest air was pure (The cities and riverways are very friendly to bikers which I really appreciated. There are bike paths everywhere).
I spent one day in Cologne (Köln), mainly to see the famous Cathedral. The cathedral is the most impressive man made structure I've ever seen. I took no pictures, but there is a nice virtual tour here. I was impressed by many things, but my attention was drawn the the floor mosaics. These are hand made mosaics of little pieces of stone arranged into pictures. They are quite robust as a floor and beautiful to see.
I also took a 50k bike ride South along the Rhein starting in Bonn. This was less nice because the Rhein is heavily populated, but still enjoyable and I saw a number of beautiful things such as an ancient Roman Church, many castles, and the remains of the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen.
I think the people in Germany are friendly and warm but quite reserved. Overall I felt quite welcome there.
I didn't take that many pictures on this trip. I took no pictures at all of things for which one can Google to find many excellent representations. Here are some highlights of my own pictures from the trip:
I stayed with Dorothea and Hartmut Samtleben, friends from my days in Hyde Park, Chicago. They have two beautiful and rambunctious children, Armin and Iris, and live in a quiet neighborhood in the outskirts of Bonn.
I decided not to spend a lot of time exploring famous big cities. Instead, I tried to see some of the countryside around Bonn and neighboring cities. I even took a couple of days just to rest and read a book.
On the first weekend, the five of us took a train to Limburg, which is what Hartmut called a "preserved city", meaning there are lots of preserved old houses and other structures. From there we biked (with the little ones in bike seats on the back) along the Lahn river toward the Rhine (Rhein). This was my favorite part of the vacation. It was beautiful and the river and forest air was pure (The cities and riverways are very friendly to bikers which I really appreciated. There are bike paths everywhere).
I spent one day in Cologne (Köln), mainly to see the famous Cathedral. The cathedral is the most impressive man made structure I've ever seen. I took no pictures, but there is a nice virtual tour here. I was impressed by many things, but my attention was drawn the the floor mosaics. These are hand made mosaics of little pieces of stone arranged into pictures. They are quite robust as a floor and beautiful to see.
I also took a 50k bike ride South along the Rhein starting in Bonn. This was less nice because the Rhein is heavily populated, but still enjoyable and I saw a number of beautiful things such as an ancient Roman Church, many castles, and the remains of the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen.
I think the people in Germany are friendly and warm but quite reserved. Overall I felt quite welcome there.
I didn't take that many pictures on this trip. I took no pictures at all of things for which one can Google to find many excellent representations. Here are some highlights of my own pictures from the trip:
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| 2007 Germany Highlights |
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