Operation Whisper

The neighbors next door--how much do you really know about them? For all you know, they could be just who they say they are. On the other hand, they could be, they just might be, spies. 

Turns out, that's exactly who Morris and Lona Cohen were, operating deep under cover for years both in the United States and in Great Britain.

Very well written, Carr's book made me think twice about what motivates people to betray the very same countries to which they owed so much. 

Hitler's American Friends

There are many who believe Trump's appearance on the national stage marks a disturbing trend towards fascism in America. But as Hart points out in Hitler's American Friends, Americans have had a peculiar fascination with fascism since the 1930s. A precursor to Rachel Maddow's more recent treatment of the subject in her book Prequel, I found Hart's earlier account as readable as it is informative.

VA Democratic Primary

Served as an election officer in yesterday's Democratic Primary here in Virginia. Here are my takeaways from yesterday's turnout:

1) People really need to check to see where they are supposed to vote BEFORE they go to the polls! I wish I had a dollar for every voter who showed up at the wrong precinct. 🙂

2) People also need to check to see if they are properly registered to vote, especially if they have recently changed addresses and/or names.

Corpus Clock

This last image from England was taken just moments before I hopped into an Uber ride after dinner at King's College: 

"The Corpus Clock, also known as the Grasshopper clock, is a large sculptural clock at street level on the outside of the Taylor Library at Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, in the United Kingdom, at the junction of Bene't Street and Trumpington Street, looking out over King's Parade. It was conceived and funded by John C. Taylor, an old member of the college.

It was officially unveiled to the public on 19 September 2008 by Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking. The clock was named one of Time's Best Inventions of 2008." -- Wikipedia

Nat Turner

 

 

Did you know that Nat Turner was a Methodist? No? Then this account of what became best known as Nat Turner's Rebellion may interest you. A little too speculative an account for my taste, but a good review, nonetheless, of this dark moment in our country's development. 

Wesley House

After singing at Great St. Mary's, I happened to pass by the Wesley House. Curious to see more, I was very cordially welcomed by the staff and even given a brief tour.

"Wesley House was founded as a Methodist theological college in Jesus Lane, Cambridge, England. It opened in 1921 as a place for the education of Methodist ministers and today serves as a gateway to theological scholarship for students and scholars of the Wesleyan and Methodist traditions from around the world. It was a founding member of the Cambridge Theological Federation, an ecumenical body of theological colleges in Cambridge which is affiliated to but independent of the University of Cambridge." -- Wikipedia

Cambridge

Panoramic view of Cambridge University from atop Great St. Mary's tower.