The Morning Coffee 8/14/14

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I took a flier today and wrote a post about my personal life, which I almost never do. Funny thing happened, though: each time I rewrote the post, it got shorter.

And shorter and shorter.

The result is there above the three dots. It actually got whittled down to not being there.

Because really, you don't want to read that sort of stuff here.

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A few public service announcements:

• Nikonians is having a fundraiser.

• Brooks Jensen of LensWork has a new book out called Looking at Images.

• Michael Reichmann of The Luminous Landscape has a new book out called Michael Reichmann: A Twenty Year Retrospective.

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This was posted this morning at 3:30 a.m. Central Time, which according to reader Ed will coincide with mid-morning tea in England. This is for you, England; does it matter?

In further England news, I think I'm going. Plans have not firmed up yet. If I can do a meetup while I'm there, I'll give you as much warning as possible.

Mike

"Morning Coffee" was published at 3:30 a.m. Central Time today which is, hopefully, teatime in England. The feature is a month-long experiment to give people something to check in with while I'm busy moving. This is not permanent. Want to suggest a topic or ask a question? Leave it as a comment.

Original contents copyright 2014 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

TOP's links!

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Dave Perkin: "Of course it matters.

"In 'England' we do morning coffee, currently a rather fine Honduran, and afternoon tea, which is often a breakfast blend.

"We have the BBC without adverts, play records on Linn Sondeks and are sometimes polite to the point of indifference, especially toward visiting colonials.

"Furthermore, we have steering wheels on the right, as in correct, side of the vehicle; our road signs only rarely need three digits to mark distances, but never four; and we have dictionaries that offer proper English spellings.

"I would mention the beer but I suspect that will not feature in your visit bearing in mind that which we have wrested from the ocassional glimpses offered of your private life.

"In Cornwall, however, they do things fitty and usually dreckly but always better than the English would.

"If visiting it's as well to be aware.  :-) "

Mike replies: Sounds nice. I'd move there but for the wrong-way-round driving—I'm so absentminded I know for a certainty that it would be only a matter of time before I'd find myself careening serenely down the wrong side of a British expressway.

Andrew: "Well you're a little early for mid-morning tea, but you have timed this perfectly for my late-breakfast-at-desk pre-work reading. Not that I would have noticed if I hadn't started using netvibes yesterday."

Edie Howe: "So, how's the move coming along, Mike?"

Mike replies: Pretty smoothly, thanks, Edie. Closing is coming up, and I'm into my third 10-hour block with the organizer. Unfortunately my limit for rummaging through the detritus of my past (and psyche) is about two hours at a time, but yesterday we tackled the basement and filled half the dumpster—it's looking much emptier down there today, which is encouraging. Linda Palmer, the organizer, is wonderful, and really a huge help.

Comments

[David Paterson]

Camomile tea with a little honey in it - wonderful remedy for insomnia!

[Gert-Jan]

Don't know about the english mid-morning tea time, but your post arrived in time for the dutch mid-morning coffee break.

"Looking at Images" sounds interesting. What about a TOP review of it (now that you will have a lot of room for new books)?

[Paul Mc Cann]

Wow, you've whetted our appetite. Visiting England ? Will you be doing a lecture tour or a meet up ?

And why not Ireland? (Said as an Irishman)

[Richard K]

Great post, as always Mike!

Would be great if you can make it to London, am sure many of us here would be happy to help with arrangements if required.

[Saul]

Well it was nearly lunch by the time I got to this post, but enjoyed nevertheless over a sandwich and a brew!

[Mark]

Teatime at 10.30am? That would be closer to elevenses or mid-morning tea. Tea or teatime, is 4 or 5pm in the afternoon. Don't even go into what you call the meal at mid-day (lunch or dinner), that way trouble lies. You'll be asking for coffee next! ;-)

The British terms and rules seem tailor-made to discombobulate visitors through obfuscation. Anyone for a nice game of cricket? http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Ins-Outs-Cricket-Towel/dp/B004GHHDWG

[Roger Bradbury]

@ Mike: "will coincide with mid-morning tea in England"

How civilised! In practise it doesn't matter to me, but I like the idea of settling down to a cup of tea at about 10am and some new stuff from TOP.

I would like to see some more of the earlier TOP stuff again, too.

[Andrew Lamb]

Sweeping generalisation: mid-morning coffee, afternoon tea.

Will you be in England in time for the cricket Test match between England and India at the Oval (London)? If you think you struggle with soccer...

[Nick Cutler]

Here in England mid-morning is for coffee. Tea in t'afternoon, with cucumber sandwiches.

[Hans Berkhout]

Hi Mike good luck with your move, big job.
Topic/question: what do I need to get good sound from music stored in my iPad and/or from my computer (iTunes).For use in living room. Wireless.
I'm illiterate in that field, not sure if sales clerk would give me the right info.
Thanks, and plan a break now and then!
Hans.

[Roger Bradbury]

I'm obviously not paying attention at the moment, and didn't see at first that you might be coming to England. It would be good to meet you.

[Jim in Denver]

Alright then, instead of your life story, how about a few interesting or humorous anecdotes when you were editing a paper magazine?

[Edie Howe]

So, how's the move coming along, Mike?

[Fred]

I know you've been trying to whittle away the superfluous from your life, but don't forget to bring a camera on your trip! A single fixed focal length should do. ;)

I trust you're sensible enough to know when to set the camera aside.

[Ed]

Cheers Mike, much appreciated. 9:30 am is time for a mug of builder's tea to fortify me for the remainder of the morning.

[David Dyer-Bennet]

Sure, why not, half the other people I track online are in England now (World Science Fiction Convention, where Ctein is too).

In addition to traveling there with my parents as a child (my father was from England, born in Leicester; so there were relatives around, and friends) I've made three trips back as an adult, and taken many many photos, since I'm fond of old piles of stone :-) . The most recent is now 20 years ago, so no doubt it's not like I remember it over there any more. Well, the piles of stone are probably mostly still there.

I did vaguely okay driving from the wrong side of the car. The bit I found challenging was remembering that first gear was away from me, and having the shift hand on the same side of my body as the clutch foot.

[Jon Schick]

If anyone fancies a leisurely photowalk along London's south bank when you come over (complete with stops at hostelries for not tea) then I'm happy to organise.

[Rob]

[[The result is there above the three dots.]]

I look forward to a future where we all can communicate through a series of dots and, perhaps, dashes (to mix things up, of course). It seems wonderfully efficient!

[Clayton Jones]

...yesterday we tackled the basement and filled half the dumpster—it's looking much emptier down there today...

You are extremely fortunate. Last time I moved I spent an entire Saturday cleaning out closets, shelves and hidden places. Filled the dumpster, took five loads to Goodwill, and when all was said and done, you couldn't tell a thing had been done. Count your blessings.

[Roger]

Having made three trips to the UK I feel that I can state with some authority that roundabouts are a failed experiment likely prolonged by the introduction of cold beer.

[Matthew]

I was lucky enough to have Brooks Jensen give me a copy of Looking at Images when I attended his workshop in New York City last weekend. It's too early for a full review, but not too early for an endorsement – well-chosen images, excellently reproduced, coupled with insightful commentary. This is a book that I will re-read for years.

[Dave in NM]

You've mentioned the dumpster a few times, Mike.

I hope you're aware of FreeCycle.org. It's a compassioante outlet for anything and everything that could possibly be useful to a person in need...

[Robert Prendergast]

The English are polite while driving on the left
But the driving is too fast- you need to be quite deft
The language spoken is quite clear
Spelling though makes you fear
It is though an island
And it is my land
But now I live in Yurp
And that makes Brits Burp

[Paul H]

Hans

An easy way to get music from iTunes to your existing stereo is to use an Apple Airport Express. If you are looking to buy a new amplifier / receiver, look for something with Airplay. Some models even come with an iPod dock.

I currently have an Airport Express connected to a Musical Fidelity DAC, which then connects to my Musical Fidelity amplifier.

Given we're talking things English, if you are looking for new, what about the new Quad - http://totallywired.co.nz/quad_vena.html ?

[Steve Smith]

I'd move there but for the wrong-way-round driving

We drive on the right side of the road - i.e. the left!

[Patrick Dodds]

If you need somewhere to stay on the Wales / England border, you're welcome here any time.

[Geoff Morgan]

Coffee mid-morning (espresso), tea around 4pm (always 'English Beakfast' blend). Loose leaves, of course, no teabags here!
It would be great to meet if you get to England.

[David Bennett]

Mike,
Are you coming to England specifically, or might that also include Scotland?

[Steve Jacob]

Dear Mike, may I offer you a guided tour of the most interesting parts of London? Interesting, that is, to a photographer...naturally.

Whatever preconceptions you may have, I think I can pretty much shatter them.

[Chris Pisarra]

Well , I'd be interested in the personal stuff Still waiting for the new blog on the story of Xander.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1148314124]

"will coincide with mid-morning tea in England"... but from Ed in France it will be a second glass of Kir* before lunch.

*Kir is a popular French drink made with a small measure of crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) topped up with local white wine.

[Hans Berkhout]

Thank you Paul, I'll look into that.