Category Archives: Scratch Pad

Too Hot? Is it Too Late?

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Allen Mesch

Well folks, if this summer hasn’t convinced you that global warming is real, here are some signs to consider. Ten signs of global warming Ten Signs of Climate Change, Union of Concerned Scientists, January 9, 2025, https://www.ucs.org/resources/ten-signs-global-warming 10 Signs Global … Continue reading →

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A Visit to Georgetown, Texas

Posted on July 26, 2026 by Allen Mesch

Overview Georgetown is the county seat of Williamson County, Texas. The population in 2024 is estimated to be 101,344. It is 30 miles north of Austin and is part of the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos metropolitan statistical area. Georgetown has many … Continue reading →

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The Austin and Central Texas Railroad

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Allen Mesch

I had the pleasure of visiting the Austin Steam Train Museum. The museum is home to the Austin & Texas Central Hobby Railroad. The Austin & Texas Central (A&TC) refers to a model and live steam railroad founded by John … Continue reading →

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The Armoury in the White Tower

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Allen Mesch

The Royal Armouries is the United Kingdom’s national collection of arms and armour. Once an important part of England’s military organization, it became the United Kingdom’s oldest museum and one of the oldest museums in the world. It is also one of the largest collections … Continue reading →

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Abbotsbury Swannery

Posted on July 6, 2026 by Allen Mesch

Abbotsbury Swannery is a nesting colony of mute swans near the village of Abbotsbury in Dorset, England. The Swannery is located on a two-acre site beside the Fleet Lagoon and sheltered from Lyme Bay by Chesil Beach. It is the … Continue reading →

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Happy Fourth of July, America

Posted on July 3, 2026 by Allen Mesch

The Star-Spangled Banner O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,⁠What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,⁠O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?And the … Continue reading →

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Kew Gardens – Buildings – Part 2

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Allen Mesch

The Kew Gardens contains several unique buildings in addition to the collection of flowers and plants. The Davies Alpine House houses Kew’s collection of alpine plants. Nash Conservatory was formerly known as the Aroid House No. 1 and was used … Continue reading →

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Kew Gardens – Flowers – Part 1

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Allen Mesch

Kew Gardens is a botanical garden in southwest London founded in 1759 that houses the “largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world”. Its living collections include some of the 27,000 taxa curated by the Royal Botanic … Continue reading →

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Why Doesn’t History Get More Respect?

Posted on June 8, 2026 by Allen Mesch

Why History Is Important History is Relevant(BombayMuseum.org) History is far more than a list of dates and events. It provides a way of thinking that helps us understand ourselves, our societies, and the world we live in. Studying history is … Continue reading →

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The Assassin

Posted on June 1, 2026 by Allen Mesch

Overview The Assassin is a political thriller set during the Gaza war between Hamas and Israel. Dr. Russell Conrad is once again pulled into the shadowy world of the CIA and Mossad. With support from David Abraham and Sophia Kessler, … Continue reading →

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