Here at Top Comments we strive to recognize and promote the talent of this community by highlighting outstanding comments found throughout the day by the diarist, and more importantly through nominations sent to Top Comments at gmail dot com by your fellow Kossacks. When you send in your picks, please include your username and a word or two about why you nominated the comment, and send them in by 6:30 pm Pacific/9:30 pm Eastern to ensure they make the final diary.
I was honestly convinced that I wouldn't be able to post this diary. We've been running on dialup for the last month after our (former) provider, Netzero DSL, raised incompetence to levels that would give the designers of the Ford Edsel pause. This experience has taught me that while it may be fun to park on memory lane for a bit, living with internet technology circa 2002 for an extended period is no fun at all. (Notwithstanding my 12 year old Apple g3 ibook.) As of this past Friday we are back in 2011 with a new carrier. :-)
We had opportunity recently to go back to Cape May, New Jersey, for a short time. The result is this short photodiary. (One would think that after a month on dialup I would go easy on other dialup users as far as photos go, but how quickly one forgets.) Cape May is America's oldest seaside resort. Within a square mile stand more than 600 Victorian period structures with new ersatz ones being added to the count regularly. Cape May sits at the bottom of the peninsula that extends at New Jersey's southern tip.
I'll start with a sunset photo. This one shows one of the period homes (Shingle style) that stands behind our hotel. The clouds struck my eye. Those wires are awful but fail to ruin the beauty of the scene.
Next is a photo of a magnificent home that is now used for various commercial purposes. Believe it or not, this amazing structure sits on a parking lot that serves the pedestrian mall. Most folks miss seeing this wonderful turreted house.
Adacent to the prior house is this 2nd Empire style home. I've actually painted this house here. It is a truly fine example of the style.
This photo shows a famous street of 8 identical homes. At least they started out identical. Over time they have taken on their own identities. At the far end stands the famous house known as The Abbey. Behind where I'm standing is the beach.
This photo depicts a wonderful shingle style home that I've been eyeing for some time. It will likely be the subject of a future painting.
Finally, this shot shows another shingle style structure. It is one of the many inns in Cape May, The Fairthorne Bed and Breakfast. It will likely also be the subject of a future painting.
And on to the nominations:
From Dragon5616:
In Capriccio's excellent rescued diary Ironies in Blossom, The Geogre makes this thoughtful observation about nature, nurture, and war.
fladem offers these words of caution in DemFromCT's myth-busting front page post Baloney on rye, served with weak tea.
From kenm30:
This substantial comment in response to this diary.
From sardonyx:
In bobswern's diary about a Kevin Drum commentary, LeftHandedMan has a diary-length comment about the Democratic Party that's an amazing read on a Sunday. As I write this comment, it has 175 recs. Make that 176. Want to try to get in before it hits 200?
In the same diary, another comment worth reading is this one from priceman.
From boran2:
Here, from Ed in Montana is a good reason to go to Netroots Nation.
From Rick Aucoin:
The response to an explaination of Twitter lingo. Awesome. :)