On Wednesday evening, we saw Adele at London’s Wembley Stadium. En route there, our Metropolitan line train was the most packed tube carriage I have ever experienced – and I commuted for years on the Underground. Yet it was all good humored: it was clear where most of the passengers would be leaving the train. … More Turning Pages
If we are new to a blog that has been around for years, we may perhaps feel we have turned up “late” to a “party” where everyone else already seems to “know” everyone else. It isn’t easy to try to pinpoint which older posts are the “more important” in order to catch up. And no … More Twelve Posts
It’s rare that we have a chance to hear what a stranger, viewing us from a distance, thinks we are. I found out one’s assumption. Over the weekend, one man in London told me. Leaving Mass, I shook hands with the priest, which is customary as a priest usually waits at the church door while … More Weekend “Revelations”
Travel has become so commonplace an activity. We tend to forget that, as we know it, it is a relatively new thing. We live in a time in which humanity is moving around as never before. Prior to about sixty years ago, most people did not travel for work, leisure, and resettlement, as we do … More Departures And Arrivals
Seeing how Conventions: The Garden At Paris has been doing (probably because of its temporary “99p” price, I know) at Amazon.co.uk pleases me because I think it could be interesting to British readers. Yes, the main character is an American. However, the tale would not be what it is without its British characters, British perspective(s), … More The Not Yet “Special Relationship”
As we know, Amazon reviews can make entertaining reading. Occasionally you have to remind yourself those reviewers actually saw the same film, or read the same book. Sometimes the strikingly different takeaways are even found one right after another: Those are just two examples of a slew of “180 degree” opposing reactions to a film … More Understanding Our Ancestors
In the aftermath of what may be a politically-motivated shooting targeting Republicans in Alexandria, Virginia, naturally we’ve once more seen a lot of media and social media discussion – and, ironically, arguments – about incivility and “violent rhetoric.” Recent comments and current politicians are regularly cited. Even “2016” is blamed: For example, that is a … More If There Had Been Twitter In “1800”?
Due to what I have seen regularly “out there,” and with my brand new Conventions, as well as my first book, Passports, available on Kindle promo for 99c each until next week [UPDATE: it will run indefinitely], this awkward issue again jumped to my mind. I realized I have never addressed it here before. I … More “Freebies” For “Honest” Reviews?
I can’t remember off the top of my head the last time I did one, so it must have been quite a while ago. However, it’s June and full summer (in the northern hemisphere at any rate) is almost upon us. So I thought this might be a good time…
R. J. Nello 