Events

Just jiggled the 30-Park Geas schedule a little. After discussing with my cousing the pros and cons of visiting Miami in August, we decided to hit two Cubs games in Atlanta, whereupon I'll pop out to San Francisco to see Dad and catch the A's-White Sucks series. (Sox. White Sox. My mistake. Sorry, I live north of Madison.) So, with eight parks down, and seven scheduled, we go into the bottom of 2008. National League 9, American 6.

Our best friend (nationally speaking) is 141 years old today.

And the latter half of my trip: Four Courts Lord Edward Street, near Temple Bar Anyone seen Once? This is from the opening scene, on Grafton Street: Finally, something you don't see in the U.S. much:

As promised, some photos from last week. Nieuwmarkt: Oude Kirk: Spuistraat: And this guy, obviously late of a coffeeshop:

Her Majesty the Queen has punished the unspeakably foul dictator who has ruined Zimbabwe and thrown millions into starving poverty, by stripping him of his knighthood. This, on top of her government's ongoing finger-wagging and tut-tutting, will no doubt shame Robert Mugabe into better behaviour. Morgan Tsvangerai, you can go home now. Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama have finally spoken up, though. They are probably the two most influential people in the world on this matter, so perhaps—just...

In Chicago, we have an annual vehicle tax of $75. Many neighborhoods also have restricted parking zones; permits are $25. Both vehicle stickers and parking permits expire on June 30th. I mention this because I went to renew these things in person this afternoon down at City Hall. Yes, three business days before their expiration, I stood in line. How long? you wonder. This is city government, after all. Seven minutes. Chicago really is the city that works. I even had time to go to the County Assessor's...