Author: baggyparagraphs

Freelance contributor to Automobile Magazine, DBusiness ("Detroit's Premier Business Journal")

Seoul is a city of spotless cleanliness, nondescript residential towers, and well-dressed people

September 21, 2017

A few days in South Korea leave me with some observations. This was my first trip to eastern Asia, so everything was new. I stayed at the Signiel Hotel, which occupies upper floors in the 123-story Lotte World Tower–one of the world’s five tallest buildings. What a view of Seoul town! Way down below, the … More Seoul is a city of spotless cleanliness, nondescript residential towers, and well-dressed people

What shoes are saying to each other in light of the First Lady’s visit to Houston

September 9, 2017

Shoes, especially women’s shoes, are a favorite of mine. They bring out my inner Andy Warhol. Here, I experimented a bit. I’m trying for washes that “read” better on the scanner. I need to use staining pigments; the violets and grays don’t read at all. Eventually, I’ll figure this out. Also, I need to go … More What shoes are saying to each other in light of the First Lady’s visit to Houston

Getting to the point of buying a car with carbs and hearing that clickety fuel pump

September 5, 2017

A friend whose collection nears 10 cars has just bought his first with carburetors. It’s a 1971 MGB converted to Webers. The other cars have fuel-injected engines. This MGB was a deal-sweetener in the exchange of two midengine boondoggles, one from Italy for one from England. He reports a pleasant surprise: “Really a nice driver. … More Getting to the point of buying a car with carbs and hearing that clickety fuel pump

Meet Ludmilla Falsificatus and the other members of Fake News Team 13

September 3, 2017

No doubt you’ve wanted to meet the members of Fake News Team 13. Here they are on location in a public park where members of Joel Osteen’s church had volunteered to pull weeds and pick up litter but didn’t. That’s Ludmilla Falsificatus, anchor, and Justin Atherton-Replay, sports guy. Stormy Tomorrow, chief meteorologist, is working on … More Meet Ludmilla Falsificatus and the other members of Fake News Team 13

Bored with your self-pity but amused by Patrick, United’s charismatic flight attendant

August 23, 2017

Please, don’t bore me with your self-pity. I saw a journalist colleague in the hotel hallway. “Hi, how are you?” She told about working just as hard as ever for one-third the money. And a seven-hour flight, sitting near the restrooms and getting no sleep. A connecting flight was delayed.  All frowns. “We’ll have to catch up … More Bored with your self-pity but amused by Patrick, United’s charismatic flight attendant

‘Eyewitness Views’ makes us part of the 18th century’s ceremonies and calamaties

August 15, 2017

The conclave to choose a successor to Pope Benedict XIII started in March of 1730 and was still under way in mid-May when a series of earthquakes shook Italy. God seemed displeased at the contentiousness and corruption, as Spain’s King Philip V, France’s Louis XV and Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI all pushed their own … More ‘Eyewitness Views’ makes us part of the 18th century’s ceremonies and calamaties