Is this good news?

Looking back to a week ago, I found this article from the Washington Post:

Trump remains unpopular in swing counties, just like in 2018

Even though it was a week ago, two interesting paragraphs are still relevant now:

"In the current poll, Trump’s approval in those 300 [swing] counties is 42 percent to 50 percent. In comparison, Murray noted, Trump’s approval rating in those swing counties in November of 2018, a few days after Democrats won the House, was 38 percent to 50 percent. So Trump’s approval is only a shade higher today than it was just after Democrats won their largest midterms victory since Watergate, and his disapproval rating is identical."

and this:

"It’s absolutely plausible that Trump’s numbers will rise in the short term, particularly if there’s a “rally around the leader” effect amid the coronavirus crisis. But many health experts seem to agree that the coronavirus is a gathering storm, and that Trump’s failures have laid the groundwork for the calamity to grow to extreme proportions in short order. And our slide into economic disaster is only beginning."

That's increasingly relevant, every day that this unprecedented situation grows in magnitude and impact.

The Sony World Photography Award winners

I always grab the Daily Mail's articles on photography contests, because the photographs are almost invariably fascinating, striking, amazing, and sometimes troubling.   For this year, I've got five or six different photography contests to note, so I'm starting with one of the best;  the Sony World Photography Awards 2020.

Here's the link to the Sony Web site providing the contest winners:

2020 Winners and Shortlist Galleries

And here's the link to the Daily Mail article about the contest:

From over 135,000 entries, the amazing professional images shortlisted in the 2020 Sony World Photography Awards

There are lots and lots of pictures to choose from, and I haven't come close to examining all of them.  Here are two selections.

From the gallery "At the Pink Planet" by Yevhen Samuchenko  (Professional)

This picture of the Tre Cime Lavaredo peaks in the Dolomites of Italy was the National Award Winner by Atanas Chulev, Bulgaria.

A better morning

Model Anya Areva reminds us of what better mornings look like.

A sonnet on thought and action

I haven't posted a sonnet for awhile, so now I will.


what we can hope for

One day, one hour, a step outside of time
could happen anywhen, but rarely will —
yet in such special moments the sublime
and beauteous can there combine with thrill
of rawness and unfetteredness, to make
a fierce amalgamation so unlike
our coarse mundanity that we must take
and use a lexicon with words that strike
our hearts in stunning force, and use them to
describe what seems unspeakable — the sound
and movement and connection, with a view
that is expected to be seen and found
whene'er such marv'lous times occur
and where our exclusivity is sure.

Some Terre Haute preliminaries on Highway 41

Before we see some truly interesting sights in Terre Haute, we have to think about food.  All this Street-viewing is making me hungry.  How about you?


We could stop at Los Tres Caminos.



If we didn't stop at Los Tres Caminos, there's always White Castle.


Don't worry, it'll get better soon.

Approaching I-70. Indianapolis to the right, St. Louis to the left. Terre Haute is not far from Indianapolis; I-70 will angle northeast soon to get there.


Now we head toward the west side of Terre Haute, where it does get better, and more interesting.

Doing some actual Americana on Highway 41 in Indiana

This part of the trek has both some historical Americana interest to see, and some classic American advertising kitsch.


This is a little off the highway, but I happened to notice it; it's the Irishman Covered Bridge, located in Fowler Park.



Highway 41 at East Dallas Drive. A fairly typical rural scene on Highway 41 in Indiana.



Ivy Tech Community College, Terre Haute campus



Honest Abe Roofing - I thought AL was more noted for his fences, though.


Then the road crosses Honey Creek twice, but neither crossing is very exciting. But don't forget the name. You'll find out why quite soon.

Highway 41 Streetview trek views more of Indiana

A few more views from the highway as the trek moves northward through southwestern Indiana.


This road (with the cars on it) goes into Sullivan, Indiana. Let's take a quick look.



OK, here's the quick look at Sullivan, Indiana.


Back on the road, and northward once more. I'll mention that just to the east of the town of Sullivan is Sullivan Lake, a reservoir lake that looks like a nice little escape from the busyness of life in Sullivan itself.

We'll zip past Sheldon, Indiana, and take a brief look at Main Street in Farmersburg, which unfortunately I would not characterize as "thriving".



This place, beginning our approach to Terre Haute, is the Boot City Opry.