Events

My cousin turned a very large round number on Wednesday, so, being cruel, I took him to the Cubs game in Detroit. I'll have a rare back-dated entry about that in a little bit, with some kvetching about Amtrak; for now, just some pictures of the game. But first, a non-sequitur: via Paul Krugman, today is the 35th anniversary of the UPC bar code. Anyway. The game. Yeah, we didn't see this coming: Unfortunately, that's what happens when you strand 13 baserunners and go 1-for-15 with runners in scoring...

Amtrak 335, Wilson, Ind.

I love trains. I always have. All things equal (or nearly so), I'll take a train. As a frequent visitor to Europe and the Northeastern U.S., not to mention living in Chicago, I have plenty of opportunities to ride efficient, clean, fast, punctual trains. (Take out "clean" and the El still qualifies. Return "clean" and take out "fast," "efficient," and "punctual" and the London Underground qualifies.) Take the Acela: for about the same cost as an airline ticket, you can go from the U.S. Capitol building...

Amtrak 330, Jackson, Mich.

Not only have we had the wettest year ever so far, but summer has officially arrived today with our first 32°C reading since September 2nd. (It's only 30°C at IDTWHQ right now; 33°C officially at O'Hare.) What I'd like—it's a small request, I think—is a good run of 25°C days with sun and a cloud or two for variety. You know, maybe three in a row? No rain, no cold, no sweltering heat, just relaxing summer weather.

Kodak is discontinuing Kodachrome: [T]he Rochester-based company announced today, it has ceased production of a household name, Kodachrome, its oldest color film, that it manufactured for 74 years. ... Photojournalist Steve McCurry's portrait of an Afghan refugee girl, shot on Kodachrome, appeared on the cover of National Geographic in 1985. At Kodak's request, McCurry will shoot one of the last rolls of Kodachrome and donate the images to the George Eastman House museum, named for the company's...

As of yesterday, Chicago is having its wettest year ever. That is all.