Romantic ruin

 The architectural preservation movement clearly has its roots in the Romantic era, when ruins were a subject of contemplation and inspiration. But the preservation effort is going well beyond that—they want to preserve everything down to the grandmother's grange. But who actually wants to live in these decrepit and uncomfortable places? Who wants to live in these picturesque, old Italian downtowns?

My own father's house, built around 1880, was landmarked in Romania. It has just one toilet on the second floor, where two families live. It was badly damaged during an earthquake. It does not have any artistic features on the street facade.

So preservationists, spend an evening looking at these, write a poem, and demolish them!

Losing my voice

Lately i had AI check my posts. Of course the language and clarity is improved, but this is not me, I am never clear in my thoughts and or speech. And this is a totally personal blog.

Here is the Ai version:

Lately, I’ve been letting AI check my blog posts. Sure, the language is smoother and it sounds way clearer—but honestly? It just doesn’t feel like me. I’m the kind of person whose thoughts and speech are always a bit scattered and messy. Since this is a completely personal blog, I want it to sound like me, not some perfectly polished robot

on line

 Today, I canceled my home delivery of The New York Times. Adieu  old companions.-- physical newspapers. For fifty or sixty years, I read newspapers everywhere—at home, on subways, and in parks. I have read Scînteia, L'Unità, Le Monde, and The New York Times.  I want my news now. Now!