Birds Bath

Beautiful and benign at first glance, this birdbath takes on a slightly sinister air when you notice the birds that have linked wings waiting to ambush any unsuspecting nuthatch peacefully splashing about.

Miss Worcester Diner

Lost in Worcester ('Wooo-ster') MA, the second largest city in New England, I came across the Worcester Lunch Car #812, or as she is know to her boys, Miss Worcester Diner. Built in 1948, she didn't get far from home, as the factory was across the street. The Worcester Lunch Car Company produced 651 'fancy night cafes' between 1906 and 1957.

While never married, she still looks great for 62, and still puts out hot lunches to grateful Worcesterians.

Two by Two Silos

Part of the Los Poblanos Farm and former Dairy, these twin sentinels converse silently amongst the fracas of the farmyard.

Farm Livin'

From the dairy area of Los Poblanos in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. This is the original site of Creamland Dairies and was started by Albert Simms and Ruth Hanna McCormick, both members of Congress in the 20's and 30's. It is being renovated to extend the Los Poblanos Inn and agricultural operations.

Book Learnin'

Another meeting at the Dennis School House (a voluminous structure built in 1770) on endless revisions to their zoning code for Cottage Communities. I am not trying to make a statement about the quality of education sinking, just representing what I would see if my head was on the desk before I slipped into a drool-worthy sleep, as I did many times in my youth.

Have a Cow, Man.

North Main Street in Providence is not where you expect to find a cow, even a plastic one. It has appeared as a representation of the products served just inside at a new slider joint. The sliders are good, tho I would prefer a larger portion of the said cow, rather than the little circular veneers on buns.

I Go to Luogo

South Luogo Lane to the northeast of the Forbidden City has been around since 1267 and has recently been hip-ified. Mexican cafes, Tibetan yougurt shops, t-shirt shops with images of Comrade Obama cater to both Chinese and Western tourists. But the feeling of the place is maintained by its dimensions - 12 feet building to building and mostly one story construction.

Good Foo

AS 220 is a community arts space in Downcity Providence that is celebrating its 25th anniversary on August 14th at the annual FooFest. Foo(d) is also AS220's restaurant next to their always friendly bar.

Foo is short for both food and fool, as in "I pity the poor foo."

Drummmm drum drum-drum.

An after-hours tour of the Drum Tower in Beijing. Amazing steep stairs to the top, huge-ass drums to keep the time, and a panoramic view of the Capital City.

What I remember - an unusually large rubber ducky at the entrance gate.

Temple Grounds

Another view of the temple/scholars complex where disconsolate failed test-takers could throw themselves from the well-carved bridge into three feet of carp-infested waters.

A Random Corner

Nothing to see here - keep moving.

A Pagoda

Not to be confused with Abe Vigoda, the Ran Deng Sarira (Burning Lamp Buddist Relic) Pagoda is the tallest in the Beijing area (150+ feet). The base shown in this view is a Sumeru (mythic mountain considered the center of the universe) pedestal with lotus leaves. This is now to be the real center of a new city core area.

What would Abe think?