History ⁽¹¹⁾

Two hundred ten years ago today (September 10, 1813), the Battle of Lake Erie was fought near the southern shore of the lake, not far from where I live. This returned control of the lake from the British Navy to the US Navy. It's crazy to think of British forces controlling waters near Ohio, but so it was. Commodore Oliver Perry used a white on blue battle flag bearing the words "Don't Give Up The Ship" which is now ubiquitous…

Notes for discussion of the Obama/Springsteen podcast (and book) "Renegades: Born in the USA". Obama and Springsteen talk a lot about the American Experiment. In an ideal state, America is a melting pot of people from all nationalities, all cultures. Each person has a voice and a vote, and one vote isn't more valuable than another. In their view, this is why other countries are so interested in America. It's what it stands for. However, we are drifting away from…

I love this building on Canal Road, below the Carnegie bridge and the Guardians of Transportation. Four floors of gently curved industrial brick facing the tracks. A long-disused loading dock hints at a bustle of warehouse activity and freight logistics. The building is just steps from Tower City, Progressive Field, and Collision Bend on the Cuyahoga River, but hardly a car to be seen and no foot traffic at all. (Cleveland, OH, USA - December 2020)