Events

I visited the Tate Modern on Saturday to see their new building and snapped some photos. Here's the north face with the Millennium Bridge off to the left: A better photo of the west entrance foyer: And one of the staircases in the new building: Later today or tomorrow, a couple photos of my hike in Buckinghamshire.  

Cranky Flier points out that while tourism to the UK is really a great deal right now (as I'd attest), it's going to be a lot more expensive if Brexit actually happens: Today the UK is part of the European Common Aviation Area (CAA). That means that UK-based airlines can fly anywhere within Europe they want, just as if they were based in any of those other European countries. The same goes for European airlines flying within the UK. It also means that bilateral agreements negotiated by the EU with third...

I'm heading home from London having talked to dozens of people about last Thursday's vote. No conclusions yet, or at least none that really challenged my earlier beliefs that the vote itself was a bad idea that went badly. Jeremy Corbyn probably thinks so too at this point. (Link when I'm back on a real computer.) Let's see what Parliament screws up while I'm in the air. At least the exchange rate cushions the blow immediately. Sterling is about £1 = $1.35 today, which changed the economics of the Duty...

Today was pretty full. I took a train to Tring, hiked for two hours, came back to London, and walked around Kensington for a couple more. Now it's 11pm on Sunday night and everything is closed. I won't have all the photos I took yesterday and today ready until I get back to Chicago, but here are a couple. First, the Tate Modern: Second, this guy, who rode in my train carriage on the way back from Tring: These are just from my phone. I did lug my real camera all over the hills of Buckinghamshire today...

Right around the corner from where I'm staying I found this:I don't believe I need to eat anything else today.  

A couple of things happened in the 10 hours since I got on a plane today: American stock markets fell a lot; Lucas told Chicago he's not building his museum here; and The pound has fallen to its lowest level since 1985. Only two of these are a result of Thursday's Brexit vote. But all three of these affect me. OK, I'm going to go find some curry.

It's 6:30 am in the UK, and the results are mostly in. The United Kingdom has apparently voted to secede from the European Union. That makes David Cameron about the unluckiest person ever to head Her Majesty's Government. Cameron pushed the "Brexit" vote on the understanding that it wouldn't pass. How'd that work out? In literary terms, the apotheosis of Nigel Farage is the dramatic climax in the story of the United Kingdom. David Cameron mooting the referendum was the technical climax. The denouement?...

UK law prohibits discussing an election while polls are open. The Daily Parker, being an American publication, isn't subject to this rule, but I decided this morning not to flout it anyway because I'm going to be in the UK tomorrow evening. Polls closed 20 minutes ago in an historic referendum to decide whether the UK should remain within the European Union (my belief) or leave it. Here's what people are saying. First, the Guardian, my go-to source for breaking British news: Long queues have been...

Once again, here's a list of news items I haven't fully digested but want to when I have a few free minutes: The Supreme Court split 4-4 on President Obama's immigration amnesty, which means the lower court decision stands, and 3 million people are now once again at risk of deportation. Oak Brook-based McDonald's is going to be Chicago-based McDonald's in 2018. Crain's thinks bankruptcy might be a good option for the City of Chicago. Meanwhile, the City Council approved new rules for ride-sharing...

Yesterday I started a new job as a Principal Architect at SPR in Chicago. It's a cool gig, and I'll be working with lots of great people, including some I already know (and to whom I'm sure I now have to pay hefty bribes for the references). I'll be writing more later this week, but I'm kind of swamped at the moment.