Thursday, October 24, 2013

Ecstatic Nation and Aternate History

I am reading this book, http://www.amazon.com/Ecstatic-Nation-Confidence-Compromise-1848-1877/dp/0061234575, by Amy Wineapple.  I enjoy her writing, and it got me thinking too.

I have read works of alternative history by Harry Turtledove.  He wrote a series of books about how the world might have turned if the South had won the Civil War, and an alternate universe had occurred.  Wineapple's history raises the question: what would have occurred if the Compromise of 1836 had not succeeded?  Or the compromise of 1850?

How would the war(s) have differed if different personalities had led the various units and states?  If the South had a military leader other than Lee?  If the North had a different President other than Lincoln?  

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Does Anyone Know Why These Cameras Are Along I-75?


My brother told me that there are  new cameras being installed high on poles.  They seem to be about one mile apart.  He says he has seen them from Bowling Green to Monroe, Michigan.  Here are a few pictures.
Headed north on I-75

Some kind of control box on the bottom of the pole on I-75 off Lagrange
I was taking them with my Nokia E73 (5MP main camera) so the pictures cannot be enlarged as much as I would like.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

What Is This Plant?

I have had this plant growing over my fence this summer.  My mom believes it is poisonous.  She told a story about how a little kid ate the berries of this kind of plant 40 years ago in our neighborhood, and died.  I live in south Toledo (near the intersection of Broadway and South) if anyone from outside the area has an idea of what these are.




Is this plant poisonous?
What is this plant?