Reading Is Fun-damental

Every so often I get on a reading kick.

Recently I have been on that kick since Jaclyn bought me a book for Christmas. Below is the list of books I have read since then:

The Worst Hard Time (The 1930's dust bowl)
April 1865 - The Month that Saved America
The Gangs of New York
The King's Best Highway
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The Johnstown Flood
Nothing Like it in the World-The Men who built the Transcontinental Railroad
Sea of Glory - America's Voyage of Discovery - the US Exloring Expedition

Why spend time reading? Well, a book opens up a whole new world. It's fun and expands our horizons because with a book we hold the whole world in our hands -- at least according to the 1973 R.I.F Public Service Announcement.

Fun in Philly

On Friday, February 17th, Tammy and I traveled to Philadelphia, PA to visit the city. Upon arrival, we toured Independence Hall. We then took the two hour Tour by Foot of the following historic sites: the President's House, Declaration House, Signer's Walk of Fame, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Carpenter's Hall, Second Bank of the United States - now a portrait gallery, First Bank of United States, Christ Church, Elfreth's Alley, Betsy Ross' House, Benjamin Franklin's Home Site, the Quaker Meeting House, and Benjamin Franklin's Grave. After the tour, Tammy and I then went back and revisited in greater detail the places in bold and had dinner (a lebanon bologna sandwich for me) at Reading Terminal.

The next day, Saturday, February 18th, we took the 90 minute Big Bus Company tour of Philadelphia because of our sore feet. On this tour, we drove by many of the above historic places plus further north and east seeing more of the modern sites of Philadelphia. After going around the tour once, we got off at Rittenhouse Square and did some shopping and architecture viewing. We then went to the Bourse House for dinner and each had a Philly Cheesesteak.

Sunday, February 19, we headed home. Some pictures of our trip are to the right.

An MP3/GPS?

The mantra of the day seems to be to device integration; however, below are some reasons the above two devices may not always make a good fit.

How many times have you really wanted anyone to tell you how to get to Sesame Street?

If (like most GPS's) it has trouble finding normal streets on occassion, how will it ever find a place Where the Streets have No Name or for that matter a Road to Nowhere?

Do you really want to waste time on a trip going down some Long and Winding Road?

Who doesn't already know where Route 66 is -- for doesn't everyone get their kicks there?

Isn't driving intolerable enough without being taken on a Highway to Hell or the Highway to the Danger Zone?

Don't we have enough heartache in everyday life without having to experience the Boulevard of Broken Dreams?

However, there is one instance where it might make good sense -- for who wouldn't want to find Easy Steet.