Posts

THE ASCENSION OF ULYSSES S. GRANT

Image
  It is amazing how much a construed perception, even if with elements of truth, can become an accepted narrative, scrutiny and reevaluation not even considered. In the case of Ulysses S. Grant and his placement in the canon of United States Presidents, how it happened is less surprising that it happened at all. Throughout the 20 th century and even early in the 21 st , Grant was consistently found just above the bottom of presidential rankings, just above Hoover and Harding. And yet, looking at the man’s last years, such a standing would seem inconceivable. This is not only because he led the Union Army to victory. In fact, a common and uncontested talking point I myself was thought in history class was that the North the Civil War in spite of Grant’s leadership. The root of such reading is not hard to see. Lee’s first mistake, after all, was simultaneously underestimating Grant and overestimating his own troops, but to suggest that Grant was a man unprepared and unschooled in...
Post a Comment
Read more

REMEMBERING RICK RESCORLA: DECORATED WAR VET, 9/11 HERO AND PATRON SAINT TO SECURITY TEAMS EVERYWHERE

Image
  On September 11 th , 2001, I still had no idea where my life was going to lead me. It was my first year of college and it is safe to say my vision for the future was hazy at best. I had my aspirations and I began college with a declared major, but the realities of life were already making themselves known. The world held no promises. If my life plan was in chaos my country was about to be shaken into a darkness without a clear path forward. And yet, when the mist cleared or nation found its way, in the process rising as a new land of stronger people. In the year following the attacks I began to learn the name of some of the people who rose to heroism when a whole city was torn apart. It was not until more than twenty years later, however, that I first heard the name of Rick Rescorla, an Englishman who seemed destined to become a legend long before he even came to America. In the year since I’ve been learning about the Brit who became an American hero, Rescorla has become an ins...
Post a Comment
Read more

AN ODE TO DUNKIN’S SUGAR RAISED: THE SILENT DISAPPEARANCE OF A STAPLE

  It’s no McRib in that in Dr. Frankenstein’s of the food corporate world resurrect it annually nor is it the Choco Taco that went away with much fanfare leaving behind more than a few broken hearts. No, Dunkin’s sugar raised donut became a beloved item by embracing simplicity. How best to describe it? It’s not hard. Think of the glazed donut with the sugar used on the jelly donut. That was all it was and that was all it needed to be. It was the perfect offering for when you just wanted a simple donut with added sugar. Looking back, my favorite donut said a lot about me as a child. My palette for dessert was simple. Soda was generally not brought into my home, I only ever saw Coke or Pepsi in our fridge when my parents were expecting company, and fast food was a rarity. No wonder I never developed a throbbing sweet tooth. Nonetheless, Dunkin Donuts was a frequent stop for my father who needed his caffeine before heading out to the construction site. I still recall our little in...
Post a Comment
Read more

GLASGOW: A TALE OF TWO CITIES

  Glasgow I will need to revisit. I saw too little of it, but what I saw made me want to get to know it more. I arrived too late in the day to appreciate the city’s pulse and with little time to explore. What I did observe are its differences from Edinburgh, its rival for the title of Scotland’s “true” city. Glasgow is the new city with a preference for the cosmopolitan. The Holiday Inn Glasgow on West Nile St., where I stayed, was surrounded by departments stores, a movie theater and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The night of my arrival, I found a hip Italian restaurant within walking distance from the hotel, ASK Italian and the night before my departure visited a more rustic Italian diner, DiMaggio’s, neighboring the hotel. But to the question, though, which city represents the real Scotland? I thread here with hesitation as a visitor and one that saw far too little of Glasgow at that. What I can say is that these questions come up often when the city of national icons and ...
Post a Comment
Read more

LOCH LOMOND, LOCH NESS: HISTORY AND LEGEND

Image
  Two of the most beautiful lakes in the world are in the Scottish Highlands. They are also two of the most storied. Loch Lomond serves as the unofficial boundary between the Highlands and Central Scotland and has lent itself to national folklore for over 150 years. In 1841 Loch Lomond was cemented into Scottish identity and pride when it was celebrated in the ballad “The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond”. The writer of the ballad is unknown as is the true meaning of the song, but speculation brings to light a nation’s struggles. One theory simply attributes the lyrics to a soldier reminiscing about his beloved homeland while awaiting execution by the enemy’s hand. A more specific reading interprets the song as a narrative of the Jacobite rising of 1745. Loch Ness has also become synonymous with national identity and folklore. Its beauty alone should justify its fame but, for over a century, it has been the home of the legendary Loch Ness monster known by the locals as Nessie. Offic...
Post a Comment
Read more

SCOTLAND’S NATURAL BEAUTY

Image
  If an aspect of Scotland’s rich heritage draws as much fascination as its legendary castles, it’s the natural beauty. Scotland’s nature and its history are one, after all, the beauty of the former cloaked in the legends and mystery of its past. The Highlands bore as much witness to the nation’s growth as did its ruins. Of the animals that inhabit the Scottish woodlands I saw mostly the red deer, but on the 24 th of October I arrived at Chanonry Point hoping to see the bottlenose dolphins that frolic on its shore. The day started out misty and I had much driving planned. With wildlife a viewing is never guaranteed and on its own terms. My own time was limited so I arrived with adjusted expectations. Sure enough, I saw neither dolphin nor seal, which Chanonry Point is also known for. Nonetheless, visiting a place shared by some of the marvelous creatures we share the world taps on primal energy. True to Scotland’s love of rotaries, the viewing points of Chanonry form a circle ...
Post a Comment
Read more

SCOTLAND’S PINK CASTLE AND THE WONDERS OF ABERDEENSHIRE

Image
  I did not have a chance to tour the interior of Craigievar Castle, as I arrived in the off-season. It was regrettable but did not dampen my visit to the castle as, even from the outside, Craigievar is among Scotland’s most unique castles. Newer than many, with a construction starting in the late 16 th century and then a spruce up by William Forbes in the 1620s, the castle has stood more or less intact for four hundred years. Of course, his descendants, who resided in the castle until the mid-20th century, did much to preserve it and the surrounding land. More recently, Craigievar Castle has undergone extensive restoration by National Trust for Scotland which entailed preservation measures for its artifacts and its structure. Most importantly, the volunteers and trustees restored the castle to its distinct pink shade which has made it an icon since the early 19 th century when the Forbes family painted over the original off-white with that warm shade of tonal vibrancy. From th...
Post a Comment
Read more