Occasional Observer

The small suburban town of Fredensborg, Denmark, located about 20 miles north of Cøpenhagen and 10 miles southwest of Helsingor (Hamlet’s home), is the site of an extraordinary housing project constructed in the early 1960s for Danish citizens returning home after working for long periods abroad, many as civil servants in the Danish Foreign Serv

Those of us who garden as a hobby are familiar with the frustration of trying to get ahead of the weeds that compete with our flowers, vegetables and shrubs. With work we are able to more or less stay ahead of weeds at least in smaller, restricted areas and for most of the growing season our crops survive. 

Over three quarters of a million visitors pass through its impressive main space every day.

In his 2020 State of the Union address, former President Trump spoke enthusiastically about the idea of combating climate change by planting billions of trees. It seemed an interesting idea; there are so many places that could be improved with the addition of lots of trees. Concurrently, U.S. House Rep.

“. . . When the master referee scores against our name, it won’t be whether we won or lost but how we played the game.”

Grantland Rice, sportswriter, circa 1920

To listen to popular songs from the past, one might think that heat waves were mostly pleasant occasions to lay back in a recliner and just enjoy a cool drink since it’s too hot for either work or play. 

“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work. . .”

Daniel Burnham, architect, 1910

Each month my wife and I receive a dozen or so magazines of various kinds, most of them interesting looking and very professionally designed. But for me, many of them have a characteristic flaw: however handsome they may be, some are often difficult to read.