OTBR: A Split-Log Boardwalk in Finland

Latitude: N 61° 53.826
Longitude: E 023° 12.408

A child on a road trip with his family asks, "Where are we?" and the father answers, "Let's check the map. We're off the blue roads [the Interstate Highways marked in blue on the road atlas]. We're off the red roads [the US and state highways]. We're off the black roads [the county highways]. I think we're off the map altogether." It was always my dream to be off the map altogether.

After the jump, a few of the random places (and I mean random literally) that I visited vicariously last month that are "off the blue roads".

Review: American Sphinx

Amazon

From American Sphinx, by Joseph J. Ellis:

Soon after his death in 1826 Jefferson became a touchstone for wildly divergent political movements that continued to compete for his name and the claim on his legacy. Southern secessionists cited him on behalf of states' rights; northern abolitionists quoted his words in the Declaration of Independence against slavery."

Thomas Jefferson has always been my favorite of the Founding Fathers. But after reading this twenty year old biography by Joseph J. Ellis, I have to concede, no more.

After the jump, my review.

A Family Celebration

We visited family in Appleton the week before the Fourth of July. A good time was had by all.

More photos after the jump.

Repeat Tweets: Karma is a Bitch

Repeat tweets from June, 2016:

• Jun 1 2016: Headline: "Ken Starr has resigned." Made name investigating sex in Oval Office. Failed to investigate rapes at Baylor. Karma is a bitch.
• Jun 3 2016: RT @SenTedCruz: "@CFPB's proposed rule will put added strain on low-income families and workers struggling to access loans." @SenTedCruz defends payday lenders and their predatory lending practices.
• Jun 3 2016: RT @roddreher: "The Left has played its part in the rise of Trump and his identity politics." Passive Trump supporter @roddreher edges closer to a public endorsement.
• Jun 6 2016: Headline: "NFL player Aqib Talib reportedly shot at Dallas strip club." Berkner grad. It's a sad time to be a Ram.

After the jump, more repeat tweets.

POTD: Mehrangarh Fort

From 2016 02 11 Jodhpur

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Jodhpur, India. Rajasthan has more forts, palaces, mosques, temples, tombs, and cenotaphs than a tourist can keep track of, but to me the one with the most imposing presence is Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. Built beginning about 1460, its stout walls sit about 125 meters above the city.