On Grief

 "What though the radiance which was once so bright

Be now for ever taken from my sight,

Though nothing can bring back the hour

Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;

We will grieve not, rather find

Strength in what remains behind;

In the primal sympathy

Which having been must ever be;

In the soothing thoughts that spring

Out of human suffering;

In the faith that looks through death,

In years that bring the philosophic mind."

-William Wordsworth

(The former home of William Wordsworth in the Lake District)

On Computers

As if the world weren't already obsessed with computers some parents rush to introduce it to their children as early as possible.

(A child's computer set outside a home in Newcastle)

On Substitute Teachers

Some teachers with little to no relationship with their students are still able to successfully command a classroom.

On Gun Control

" 'Guns don't kill people, people do.' No: obviously, people with guns kill more people than people without them. Why not bad knives or cars, which can be instruments of death, too? Because these things were designed to help people do things other than kill people. 'Gun control' means controlling those things whose first purpose is to help people kill other people."

-Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker writer.

(Critical graffiti in Passau, Germany last month)

On Excess Cheese

There are some countries in Europe where it is possible to receive too much cheese.

(Unfinished cheese at a restaurant in Czech Republic)

On Holiday Hours

In an effort to boost sales, an increasingly large number of shops and businesses are open during bank (and other) holidays.

(Busy people sculpture in central Ceske Budejovice)

On Cobblestones

The decision to maintain historic streets are usually a delight to tourists, but a nuisance to drivers.

(Beautiful ancient cobblestones in Passau, Germany)