Smithsonian Journeys brings its passion for leading cultural trips around the world to a special travel publication. In this issue, you'll stroll the streets of Paris with our editors and explore dimensions of the city that the average tourist will never know. Experience the history, customs and culture of Paris with Smithsonian.

Hey Smithsonian, too damn soon.

azrider wrote:

TenuredVulture wrote:First, if one of four elevators is routinely broken in a building, I would avoid riding any of them.

Second, how exactly do you close a hiking trail? They can't fence the whole thing off. Grab a compass, orienteer your self a few hundred yards past the trail head, and hike your brains out. I suppose after awhile the lack of maintenance might be an issue.

in the late 1960's carpet bombing was used for this sort of purpose and has continued to this day with mixed results.

Elevators? Trail? Both?

TenuredVulture wrote:First, if one of four elevators is routinely broken in a building, I would avoid riding any of them.

People aren't hurtling to their deaths on a regular basis. More like they just stop moving when they're called.

One time I did get in and it wouldn't go down, but the doors open button let me out.

I get cell reception and data in them so figure if I get trapped I can at least complain on BSG about it.

jerseyhoya wrote:

TenuredVulture wrote:First, if one of four elevators is routinely broken in a building, I would avoid riding any of them.

People aren't hurtling to their deaths on a regular basis. More like they just stop moving when they're called.

One time I did get in and it wouldn't go down, but the doors open button let me out.

I get cell reception and data in them so figure if I get trapped I can at least complain on BSG about it.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/wor ... /81400244/

I rarely used the hickman hall elevators at Rutgers because I figured it was just a matter of time before they broke down. Besides, they were so slow it was always faster to take the stairs.

why didn't they just make the delmarva peninsula its own single state

Bucky wrote:why didn't they just make the delmarva peninsula its own single state

Short answer: Because when they granted Lord Baltimore and William Penn their respective colonies, people in England didn't have good maps of the area. (Delaware of course was originally part of Pennsylvania, but the Swedes living their didn't like being governed by a bunch of Quakers, so the three "lower counties" became their own colony. (Though still under the governorship of William Penn and in fact would have the same governor as Pennsylvania until 1776).

Here's an interesting bit of trivia--the contested border between Maryland and Pennsylvania was finally demarcated by the Mason-Dixon line--everyone knows that. But once the line reaches Delaware, it takes a 90 degree turn towards the south, goes to the bottom of Delaware, takes another 90 degree turn, and then continues east until it reaches the ocean. So, though Maryland is south of the Mason-Dixon line, Delaware is north of it.

TenuredVulture wrote:

Bucky wrote:why didn't they just make the delmarva peninsula its own single state

Short answer: Because when they granted Lord Baltimore and William Penn their respective colonies, people in England didn't have good maps of the area. (Delaware of course was originally part of Pennsylvania, but the Swedes living their didn't like being governed by a bunch of Quakers, so the three "lower counties" became their own colony. (Though still under the governorship of William Penn and in fact would have the same governor as Pennsylvania until 1776).

Here's an interesting bit of trivia--the contested border between Maryland and Pennsylvania was finally demarcated by the Mason-Dixon line--everyone knows that. But once the line reaches Delaware, it takes a 90 degree turn towards the south, goes to the bottom of Delaware, takes another 90 degree turn, and then continues east until it reaches the ocean. So, though Maryland is south of the Mason-Dixon line, Delaware is north of it.

More fun things about the shape of these states: the Twelve Mile Circle that defines the northern border of Delaware, and continues to have ramifications, largely because the Delaware River is not split in the middle with New Jersey, as would usually be the case, but is in some areas virtually part and parcel of Delaware.

Its existence dates back to 1681, when Charles II granted a deed to William Penn north of the already chartered Maryland. Charles created an exception, consisting of 12 miles around the town of New Castle and extending down the peninsula, as these lands were held by the Duke of York, who had won them in conquest from the Dutch colonists. Later, on August 24, 1682, the Duke granted these lands to Penn as well, giving him:

all that the Towne of Newcastle otherwise called Delaware and All that Tract of Land lying within the Compass or Circle of 12 Miles about the same scituate lying and being upon the River Delaware in America And all Islands in the same River Delaware and the said River and Soyle thereof lying North of the Southermost part of the said Circle of 12 Miles about the said Towne.

The boundaries of the circle were the focal point of the eighty-year Penn–Calvert Boundary Dispute.

yeah, there' actually a small swath of land on the other side of the Delaware from Wilmington that is in fact part of Delaware. I hope they have good interstate public safety mutual aid agreements!

wow, it's actually a good length of that delaware river shore. As little as a few feet and as much as like 100 feet . cray cray!

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wilmi ... 75.5483909

Well, we do give up some marshland in the Delaware Bay to Delaware, but both Ellis Island and Liberty Island are in NJ.

I haven't watched nearly all episodes of "Cheers", but quite a few of them. I've paid attention, and I never remember seeing anyone ever paying for their drinks.

6:27AM train to NY tomorrow, right now making a vow that I will get to the station early enough to not have to make a mad dash from the parking garage to the track

no wonder they closed

Slowhand wrote:I haven't watched nearly all episodes of "Cheers", but quite a few of them. I've paid attention, and I never remember seeing anyone ever paying for their drinks.

Their are a number of them about Norm’s tab and needing to pay it.

The regulars I can see having a tab, but like randos off the street would come in, order a drink and just leave without paying.

Slowhand wrote:The regulars I can see having a tab, but like randos off the street would come in, order a drink and just leave without paying.

Probably used Venmo.

yeah, how could you forget the episode where norm & cliff argued on venmo v. paypal

Ahh yes, a nice leisurely stroll through the train station and a brief 12 minute wait for my train. Just the way I always draw it up.

There were jokes in which Carla would complain about her tip. If you are leaving a lame tip after receiving FREE drinks, then you really are an asshole and deserve to have your ass kicked.