New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Don't we all need to gaze into our future right now? What does the rest of the year hold? Doesn't 2021 just have to be better? You can be sure that Royal Street does not look like this at the moment. Alas, we may never go back to the "good old days," which we always imagine were better than they really were anyway. [2018]

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Looking at water is so cooling. Listening to water is so calming. Feeling a watery mist is so refreshing. Fountain Square offers all three, all summer, to all who gather. [2019]

Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA

Is it an authentic covered bridge? Yes. The World Guide to Covered Bridges logs it in as 10-44-01. But, the Stone Mountain Bridge is not geographically authentic. Originally located in Athens, it was moved to Stone Mountain Park in 1965. The bridge has African-American roots: The designer and builder was Washington W. King. [2020]

Foster, Rhode Island, USA

Is it an authentic covered bridge? No. If you were using the World Guide to Covered Bridges, you would not be able to find it. Why? Because the truss bears none of the weight of the roadway. That mission is accomplished by six I-beams that stretch from bank to bank. The Swamp River bridge (with its lattice truss) dates from the late 20th century. [2019]

Landisburg, Pennsylvania, USA

Is it an authentic covered bridge? Yes. Rice Bridge has been given a number in the World Guide to Covered Bridges: 38-50-10. The first two numbers refer to state and county; the last means that it is the 10th covered bridge enumerated in Perry County. Built: 1869. Length: 132 feet. Type: Burr & Queen. And, through it, you can still drive! [2018]

Albany, New York, USA

The architecture of the Empire State's capitol seems to be a fitting place from which to govern an empire. Romanesque architecture just seems to exude the heritage of imperial Rome. But, this must be the lightest Romanesque ever (thanks to the French influence). Happy 232nd birthday New York! [2019]

Siem Reap, Cambodia

What is overhead? Parasols or parapluies? Do they shield (para) from the sun (sol) or from the rain (pluie)? In Cambodia, both. But, historically, their first job was as umbrellas: to provide a little shade (umbra). What does all that have to do with parachute, solstice, pluvial, and umbrage? [2016]

Sabrevois, Quebec, Canada

Roadside giants have been with us since the mid 20th century. Here, the antique giant knows he is getting old. Each year, more and more, he feels under the weather. That is why he was so glad to see that new house being built within one good stride of his place in the world. But, as he watched the roof go on, he knew it was not big enough for any giant. [2009]

Seoul, South Korea

It is like a little mountain brook flowing through the heart of Seoul. Its name is Cheonggyecheon, and it used to be buried beneath the surface. Now, it has become the queen of Seoul's pathway parks, somewhat akin to New York City's High Line. It shows its true colors during the Lantern Festival, which celebrates both folk and popular culture. [2012]

Trstená, Slovakia

Bands of sunshine alternating with bands of clouds: This town house will soon be back in its prime just trying to mimic the sky overhead. [2004]

Oświęcim, Poland

The placid landscape and blue skies do not capture the horrors that took place here during World War II. This was Auschwitz, established by the Nazis for the purpose of vesting a Holocaust on Europe's Jews. Over one million were murdered here. [2004]

Moscow, Russia

McDonald's came to Russia in 1990. Happy 30th Anniversary! At the time, the USSR was still in existence and the original McDonald's was the largest in the world, with over 900 seats. Recognize the alphabet? It's Cyrillic, named after St. Cyril who invented it along with his brother Methodius. You read it left to right. [2000]

Tel Aviv, Israel

McDonald's came to Israel in 1993 and today has over 180 outlets. This one overlooks the sea in Tel Aviv. Do you think it is open on Shabbat? Do you think it serves cheeseburgers? Only a minority of McDonald's in Israel abide by Kosher dietary regulations. But, they all use the Hebrew alphabet to identify themselves. Remember: Read from right to left. [1999]

Cairo, Egypt

McDonald's came to Egypt in 1994 and today has over 100 outlets. To blend in, not only does McDonald's depend on local supply chains, it also adapts to the native tongue. Here the name is easily transliterated into Arabic letters, but remember: Arabic is read from right to left. [2000]

Jonesborough, Tennessee, USA

"Goodbye, Miss Fourth of July" was filmed here in Jonesborough (a stand-in for Montgomery, West Virginia) in 1988. The backdrop to the movie may sound familiar: (1) an immigrant family fleeing persecution, (2) KKK hatred toward a person of color, and (3) the flu epidemic of 1917 as it hit the town hard. It may be time for a re-broadcast. [1988]

Preston, Minnesota, USA

Pants. Overalls really.
Seat of his pants. Hardly frilly.
Flying by the seat of his pants. From a clothes line, silly!
Look. See. What's the big patch say?
"County Seat," but, on this day:
No buns to protect. They're in the cafe.
[1992]

Washington Court House, Ohio, USA

County seats are places where ideals are expressed in architecture, where justice is meted out impartially, where even the tyranny of time falls beneath the law, where patriotism and local loyalties are on display, where service in the armed forces is memorialized, and where history is made and marked. [2016]

Pomeroy, Washington, USA

The Garfield County courthouse assures all citizens of equal justice under the law. Elevated even higher than Lord Chronos (see the clock?) is a statue of Justice. Under her feet are the court rooms where her will is done. Outside is a Civil War soldier. Did anyone else expect it to be President Garfield? [2019]

Flemingsburg, Kentucky, USA

Seats of government, including county seats, are supposed to inspire confidence in the law. How is that achieved? In the case of courthouses, with elevation. First, the bell tower makes you look up to the law. Second, the ascending staircase lifts you off Main Street and puts you down in an Athenian temple, a reminder of the ancients who invented democracy. [2017]

Commerce City, Colorado, USA

Here is what all drive-by signs used to look like. They had to: The idea was to attract attention with their size and quirkiness. Today, size has increased and quirkiness has decreased. Maybe, though, we are ready for the second coming of Roadside America. [2019]

Bowman, North Dakota, USA

Last year at this time, the sunflowers here on the northern Plains were in full bloom. The Dakotas are the largest producers of sunflowers in the United States by far. Nevertheless, Kansas has dubbed itself the Sunflower State. It might be time to re-imagine state nicknames. [2019]

Moyock, North Carolina, USA

National unity followed the 9-11 attacks in 2001, and makeshift memorials sprang up all across the country. No such thing happened in 2020 following the ongoing coronavirus attacks even though the number of deaths has been 50 times higher. Why not? [2001]

Yocumtown, Pennsylvania, USA

Don't be a Wrong-Way Corrigan, expand your attic now by renting yet another storage unit for all the junk you will never use again in your life! Or, don't succumb to the hoarding gene and start watching The Minimalists podcast. They will help you change your ways. Be a Right Way Corrigan! [2005]

Spruce Pine, North Carolina, USA

When a Cessna Skyhawk crashed into the video store, so much damage was done that the entire industry shut down. Nevertheless, this particular store has bucked the trend and survived: perhaps because streaming doesn't compete so well in the mountains of western North Carolina. [2012]

Concord, New Hampshire, USA

Here is some advice for anybody turning nine years old today: Avoid being like everybody else, and don't be afraid to be different! [2018]

San Diego, California, USA

This is the newest iteration of the sandwich board. In this case, it seems to be an open-face sandwich. If you are looking for a sign that you should be living downtown, this may be it. The market is growing for centrally located condos and apartments. Wouldn't you like to have the entire city as your front yard? [2020]

Savage Neck, Virginia, USA

Whether you are running, biking, swimming, or kayaking, Adventure Races require discipline and stamina, the very qualities that got you this far in life. To you and all those born during the "birth dearth" of the mid-1970s: Happy Birthday! [2007]

Washington, DC, USA

The 1993 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives: 153 in favor, 277 against. The 2020 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives: 232 in favor, 180 against. DC Statehood may have passed the House, but it will never reach the Senate floor. Once again, American ideals just can't overcome American politics. Just wait, though: Change is coming. [2013]

Denver, Colorado, USA

It's gone. First vandalized, then removed. It happened just last week. In Colorado, no less. A Union soldier, no less. Yes, Colorado's Union forces fought against the Confederates, but then went on to perpetrate the Sand Creek Massacre in which hundreds of native peoples were slaughtered. What kind of public art do you want to take its place? [2019]

Nidzica, Poland

Nidzica is one of hundreds of castles that still dot the Polish landscape. Don't we all wish we lived in a castle right now? Self-sufficient and cut off from the outside world. Just like it was in the 14th century when this castle was built. Or, maybe not. [2004]

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

"The World Turned Upside Down" was played when Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, the last battle of the American Revolution. Let's play it again when Lord Coronavirus surrenders to the international army of scientists who are still wondering when their last battle will be fought. [2013]