Bruce's Smorsasborg

 By Bruce Shawkey I grew up with a newspaper called the "Grit," which my parents also called the "Pennsylvania Liar." Each issue contained a mixture of funny, offbeat news .. not nearly as whacky as, say, the National Enquirer, but similar. Here is annotated history of the Grit from its website: When the first headline for Grit was set in 1882, it’s doubtful anyone could’ve envisioned the publication continuing into the 21st century. Dietrick Lamade was a 23-year-old assistant press foreman for the Williamsport, Pennsylvania, newspaper the Daily Sun and Banner. In December 1882, the newspaper began a Saturday edition titled Grit, which included local news items, editorials, and humorous tidbits.  The Birth of Grit Dietrick was born Feb. 6, 1859, in Gölshausen, Baden-Wrüttemberg, Germany, the fourth child of Johannes and Caroline Lamade. When he was 8, the family immigrated to the United States. Less than two years after the family settled in Williamsport, Johannes d...

By Bruce Shawkey Inspired by an article on the Google news feed Going to restaurants, parties, or any gatherings where it is SO LOUD you can't have a person-to- person conversation with someone. I hate that my mind thinks it can do something and my body says, 'Are you serious?' As age catches up, I find hair where I have never had hair, and no hair where I have always had hair! I prefer my own company to that of lots of people. So much of what I hear is people complaining of their problems, or inconsequential stuff. I have always loved fatty, greasy, spicy food. My stomach can no longer digest this stuff as I age. I actually crave salads with a simple vinegar and oil now (as opposed to fatty bleu cheese dressing). I find it annoying that people who think they are so important that they must drive at least 20 mph over the posted highway speed limit. Five mph plus or minus has always been fine, by 20+ is ridiculous. When did I become obsessed with winter weather? I used to be...

By Bruce Shawkey I have ground my own pepper for a number of years. Recently, I replaced my hand-cranked grinder with a battery-operated one. I can't tell you how this $8 device has added joy to my life. I can now effortlessly pepper my food with the touch of a button. The benefits of fresh ground pepper have long been extolled by amateur and professional chefs. A typical example can be found in the "Good and Cheap" cookbook by LeAnne Brown: BUY A PEPPER GRINDER Seriously, banish pre-ground pepper from your life; it loses all flavor when it sits around. Fresh pepper creates pops of intense flavor on the tongue and lights up bland dishes. One of the most popular dishes in Rome is just pasta with butter and pepper: give it a try!  There you have it. Even cheapskate cooks advocate the use of fresh-ground pepper! My previous grinder was a short device, hand cranked of course.                                ...

 By Bruce Shawkey I asked ChatGPT to write a Sherlock Holmes mystery story in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and it appeared in seconds complete with dialogue. Amazing stuff. The Case of the Sapphire Tally It was in the first chill weeks of October when the affair of the Sapphire Tally unfolded—an incident which, though small in outward circumstance, revealed with astonishing clarity the delicacy of Holmes’s observations and his peculiar delight in trifles. I had just returned to Baker Street after an errand in Kensington to find Holmes deep in one of those singular reveries which overtook him whenever a case dangled just beyond the reach of certainty. He sat cross-legged upon the floor, the morning newspaper spread about him like fallen leaves. “A most vexing business, Watson,” he murmured without raising his eyes. “A theft, yet nothing of monetary value appears to have gone missing. A man wronged, yet there is no villain.” I seated myself opposite him. “If there has been a ...

 By Bruce Shawkey Great article on the Web. 1. Reading a paper map and navigating without GPS Remember those giant folded maps that never quite went back together the same way? Boomers could plot a cross-country road trip with nothing but a Rand McNally atlas and actually arrive at their destination. 2. Writing in cursive fluently By 15, boomers could write entire essays in flowing cursive without thinking twice about it. It was as natural as texting is to us now. 3. Basic car maintenance and troubleshooting Teenage boomers knew how to change a tire, check oil levels, jump-start a battery, and diagnose basic engine problems. Cars were simpler then, sure, but the knowledge was also expected. Today's 30-somethings often don't even know how to open their hood, much less identify what they're looking at underneath it. 4. Cooking full meals from scratch without recipes By their teens, boomers could prepare complete dinners using whatever was in the pantry, no recipe app required...

 Great article on the 'Net about how Danes approach life. Written by an American who spent three years there. Much to learn and emulate here. She writes: I spent three years living in Denmark's capital, working remotely and trying to understand what made this place tick. The answer wasn't what I expected. It wasn't some secret Nordic philosophy or genetic predisposition to contentment. It was simpler than that. The Danes have built a culture around specific habits that, when practiced consistently, create conditions for happiness to flourish. These aren't revolutionary concepts. They're observable patterns in how people structure their days, relate to each other, and think about work and life. Denmark ranks second in the World Happiness Report year after year. Not because Danes are immune to stress, depression, or hardship. They're not. But they've created a social framework that makes everyday contentment more accessible than in most other places. Here...