This or That

[Fading Fast]

Since I have to choose, fiction, as while I love reading both, if you asked me to name my five favorite books, they would all be fiction.

Biography or Autobiography?

 

[GHT]

Biography, because good research by the author can bring a character, from the past, to life.
Tennessee Williams or, F. Scott Fitzgerald.

 

[Fading Fast]

Biography, because good research by the author can bring a character, from the past, to life.
Tennessee Williams or, F. Scott Fitzgerald.

F. Scott - while few of his stories end on an up note, I can't take the enervating, misery-that-is-life in Williams work. Do I respect William's work, yes; did reading work like "The Glass Managerie" effect me my entire life, yes - but his stuff is too depressing for me.

Jane Austen or Edith Wharton

 

[TimeWarpWife]

Edith Wharton, an American with the soul of a Frenchman. Jackie Kennedy or Marilyn Monroe?

 

[Fading Fast]

Edith Wharton, an American with the soul of a Frenchman. Jackie Kennedy or Marilyn Monroe?

JK, in part because I will always choose the wife over the woman the husband is having an affair with and in part because I like her understated style to Marylyn's vavavoominess.

Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building (both competed for the highest-building-in-the-world title and for the public's affection when being built)?

 

[GHT]

The Art Deco building that is The Chrysler Building. I have never actually seen it, but it's one of those world renowned icons. Such a magnificent work of art.
Ferrari 365 or Jaguar E Type?

 

[Stearmen]

The Art Deco building that is The Chrysler Building. I have never actually seen it, but it's one of those world renowned icons. Such a magnificent work of art.
Ferrari 365 or Jaguar E Type?

As Enzo Ferrari said about the E Type, "the most beautiful car ever made!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Honda RC174 Six or Benelli 750 Sei?

 

[vintage.vendeuse]

Good point, but I hoped that someone might have picked up on the fact that Berners-Lee patented his work in creating 'www' and then gifted it to the world. He receives no royalties, in addition, because it's free, there's no point in competing, so it will always be free.

Excellent

 

[GHT]

Honda RC174 Six or Benelli 750 Sei?

Have to admit that I don't have your appreciation of two wheels, the Honda looked good with it's fairings, but they both look like widow makers.
Brooklyn Bridge or, London's Tower Bridge?

 

[rue]

London Bridge.

California or New York?

 

[Fading Fast]

London Bridge.

California or New York?

New York, but I am completely bias, love the East Coast, love "old" formerly "smoke stack" states and love that New York has both New York City and parts with incredibly beautiful nature, in particular, upstate. Based on my few times out there - California is gorgeous, but too much of a car-culture for my preferences.

Portland Oregon or Portland Maine?

 

[GHT]

London Bridge.

It was speculated that when Robert P. McCulloch bought London Bridge from the City of London in 1967, he actually thought that he had bought Tower Bridge.
Now you, a CA ex-pat, living in AZ, confirm that the bridge bought wasn't the masonry London Bridge, but the lifting, Tower Bridge.
Tower Bridge is not London Bridge. But I'll forgive you if you stop going awol all the time.

Portland Dorset. Scroll down slowly, there's even a photo of a steam train on a line lost 70 odd years ago.

 

[Fading Fast]

It was speculated that when Robert P. McCulloch bought London Bridge from the City of London in 1967, he actually thought that he had bought Tower Bridge.
Now you, a CA ex-pat, living in AZ, confirm that the bridge bought wasn't the masonry London Bridge, but the lifting, Tower Bridge.
Tower Bridge is not London Bridge. But I'll forgive you if you stop going awol all the time.

Portland Dorset. Scroll down slowly, there's even a photo of a steam train on a line lost 70 odd years ago.

That is one beautiful place. I love the lighthouse and the steam train.

You now owe us a new "This of That?"

 

[GHT]

OK, but just let me give you a brief of what Portland is famous for. The stone, that has been quarried there for centuries: It's what the railway line was built for.

Portland stone is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds. It has been used extensively as a building stone throughout the British Isles, notably in major public buildings in London such as St Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace. It is also exported to many countries—Portland stone is used in the United Nations headquarters building in New York City, for example. So now you know.

This needs some thought: English or Latin.

 

[vitanola]

At 51, my approach now is to never over imbibe, but when I had occasionally in the past, water, aspirin and time where the only things I found that helped, so I'll say homemade, but hardly creative.

Dark or milk chocolate?

N.B. to Stearman, I am not ignoring you, I just have no idea about those models, but if someone does, please feel free to jump in front of this post.

I used to suggest Midol as a sure-fire hangover cure to my students. The diuretic works wonders. I always hoed that their hangovers would be unpleasant enough to encourage future moderation.

English.

Cosmos or Hollyhocks?

 

[LizzieMaine]

New York, but I am completely bias, love the East Coast, love "old" formerly "smoke stack" states and love that New York has both New York City and parts with incredibly beautiful nature, in particular, upstate. Based on my few times out there - California is gorgeous, but too much of a car-culture for my preferences.

Portland Oregon or Portland Maine?

There's a difference? Both are filled with skinny white kids with cartoon-character beards, overpriced coffeehouses, and even-more-overpriced real estate.

 

[Fading Fast]

There's a difference? Both are filled with skinny white kids with cartoon-character beards, overpriced coffeehouses, and even-more-overpriced real estate.

After living in NYC, Portland Maine's real-estate doesn't seem crazy, but even as a New Yorker, when I checked real estate out up there, I could tell that once you get outside of easy commuting distance to Portland, the prices fall meaningfully.

Having never been to Portland Oregon, I am curious to hear comments like yours.

 

[ChiTownScion]

After living in NYC, Portland Maine's real-estate doesn't seem crazy, but even as a New Yorker, when I checked real estate out up there, I could tell that once you get outside of easy commuting distance to Portland, the prices fall meaningfully.

Having never been to Portland Oregon, I am curious to hear comments like yours.

Visited Portland Oregon for the first time in May, and loved it so much that when Mrs. Scion retires, we're planning on moving there. Home prices seem reasonable for what we're seeking: not really in the city's hot area (the Pearl) but in one of the suburban communities assessable to the city via light rail transit.

Portland Oregon appeals to us. We don't want to spend our final years surrounded by angry and disgruntled geriatrics who are fixated upon religious fanaticism or firearms: better for us to be in an area that reflects progressive social and political orientations. I'm not an old hippie type myself (I prefer Brooks Brothers suits, bespoke hats, and nice leather jackets to beads and sandals.), but old hippies are a benign irritation at worst, and I enjoy being around younger educated adults who are trying to improve things for themselves and others.

 

[Stearmen]

Cosmos or Hollyhocks?

Tough choice, both are beautiful! I will give an ever so slight edge to the Cosmos! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Winchester 1886 or Marlin 1895?

 

[2jakes]

Tough choice, both are beautiful! I will give an ever so slight edge to the Cosmos! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Winchester 1886 or Marlin 1895?

Winnie for looks but prefer the Marly for comfort.


James Bond:

Sean Connery?
or
Daniel Craig?