On this Martin Luther King Day in the U.S., the moral arc of the universe may be long, and it may bend toward justice, but it sure takes its time and gives you plenty of reason for doubt. Just got to keep keep the faith.
As John Lennon said, “Everything will be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.”
Looking for a Second Chance?
Yesterday I slipped across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to have brunch in Baltimore’s fun and funky Hampden neighborhood. On the way out of town, I stopped in to explore Baltimore’s Second Chance store - a warehouse covering three city blocks filled with deconstructed building materials, donated furniture, statuary and masonry - just an incredible collection of the discarded looking for, well, a second chance.
Fans of The Wire will recognize this statue of Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore and first proprietor of Maryland. It was created for the show and would look great in your garden.
Other oddities and treasures are scattered through the enormous warehouse space. It may not be on a list of Baltimore tourist spots, but it’s definitely a place to explore, a place where every piece of inventory comes with its own backstory.
Thought for a Saturday: Om Malik on algorithmic-driven conformity.
Gotta hand it to my wife - she’s prepared for winter.
Two weeks in and 2026 already feels ten years old. The torrent of news is exhausting. So for this Thursday I’m going deep in my photo library to conjure a (warmer) more tranquil state of mind.
My 2026 mantra: Scroll less. Read more.
Heading west, moving slow.
I think I’ve lost the plot here. Now that the US is “running Venezuela,” are we invading Columbia, Mexico, Cuba, Iran, or Greenland next? Or is it like that movie, “Everything, Everywhere. All At Once.”?
“The past no longer is, the future is not yet here; There is only one moment in which life is available, and that is the present moment.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Ed and Charles Bumgarter were already looking forward to the next 2-for-1 sale at Kohl’s.
Shall we call it “Fine Arts Friday?”
"Who Am I? Why Am I Here?"
This is how Vice Admiral James Stockdale introduced himself to America 34 years ago at the start of the 1992 vice presidential debate. He was on the ticket with third-party candidate H. Ross Perot, sharing the stage with Dan Quayle and Al Gore.
Stockdale had all the presence of a confused grandpa who’d wandered out of his assisted living facility. Late night comedians savaged him, and he became the subject of one of SNL’s most famous cold opens.
The thing is, Stockdale wasn’t a demented grandpa. He was an American hero.
Continue
Sometimes a carrot is just a carrot.
Ruby at her post, enjoying the early morning winter sun.
Ned felt the awesome responsibility of standing watch during the busiest time of the year.
It may be January 5, but it feels to me like this is the actual start of the year. When Christmas and New Year’s fall mid-week, it largely shuts things down for two weeks. On this, the first Monday of the year, the 2026 engine is finally starting up.
When horses are put out to pasture.
Still in New Year’s mode, offering this thought for the year -
The Buddha said: ”“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.”
There is a lot wrong with college sports in the NIL era, but the move to a 12-team College Football Playoff has been an exciting improvement. It’s been fun to see top-ranked teams get toppled and watch long(ish) shots compete for the national championship.
Starting the year focused on the light at the end of the tunnel.
