Three things from DAH.

DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I pen, promote, and make change (not the coin kind). 

First up this week, Genuine …  
While waiting at our vet for Tinker's return we saw a delivery truck. It bore the slogan, "Sustainably Baked." Well. I expect they make "authentic style" breads, too. Authenticity has been so degraded by its use as a marketing come-on. I can't really do much about that, sadly. But I can use words that went out of style before "authentic" rose to prominence. I'm thinking that "genuine" might be a good word. Maybe "honest," too. When I was younger both words had been degraded by hucksters. Now, I think they might be ready for a return. I'm shooting for truth here, not truthiness. I'm interested in things that are real, essential, established, time-tested, and true. I so often feel the need for a scientific test to differentiate those things from the false and hollow shells so often on offer. 
Why We Stopped Using the Word 'Authentic'

Second up this week, Geography …  
We've had to cancel a couple of food delivery services because they can't reliably find our address. Our suspicion is that some of the delivery drivers (we seldom had the same delivery person twice) are using iPhones and Apple Maps. Sadly, we know from some family iPhone users that Apple Maps directs those seeking our address to a similar, but incorrect, address. GPS driving directions are a blessing: I don't worry about whether or not I can find my way back when driving. But experience suggests that GPS apps aren't infallible. Also, I can't tell what's really down that road on my right. Does it go anywhere useful or interesting? Last week we drove out to Lake Berryessa. We had no particular destination in mind (it's a big lake). After a point (and I'm reasonable familiar with the area) I realized that I didn't know exactly where Berryessa-Knoxville Road and Pope Valley Road might come out (Lower Lake and Middletown, respectively … both farther than we wanted to drive that day, especially on roads with no gas stations). So, I got some new paper maps and began to familiarize myself with these local back roads. And, whenever we're touristing away from our home turf, I want a paper map (or a tourist map) to help orient me. How else can I tell what's truly near what and which road goes where?  
Why Paper Maps Still Matter in the Digital Age

Third up this week, Gibraltar …  
High ground is handy. From up we can better see what's around us. Plus, big high rocks seem so solid and reliable. I've long been fascinated by Gibraltar. The Pillars of Hercules! The mouth of the Mediterranean (or the Atlantic, I suppose, depending upon which way you're being swallowed). The Rock of Gibraltar is the northern Pillar. There's some debate about which less-elevated North African peak was considered the southern Pillar. Still, what a remarkable gateway. And so crazy that Gibraltar is British and has been since 1713 … longer than there's been a USA. I doubt I'll ever visit this tiny piece of Britain on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, even if-and-when we do tourist to Spain. But I do like to think about the rock. I'm almost interested enough to fight my way through James Joyce's Ulysses (the character Molly Bloom is a native of Gibraltar). Or maybe not.   
Gibraltar: a history of ill will over the Rock

And a bit more.
A short poem by Stephen Crane. This one brings any superiority I might be feeling down a notch or two. 

I stood upon a high place,
And saw, below, many devils
Running, leaping,
and carousing in sin.
One looked up, grinning,
And said, "Comrade! Brother!"

And that's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver’s poem "Sometimes" …  

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it. 

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