Emily Bell:

The relationship between news organizations and platform companies has become far closer far more quickly than anyone predicted. The increasing influence of a handful of West Coast companies is shaping every aspect of news production, distribution, and monetization.
 
 In the past 18 months, companies including Facebook, Apple, Twitter, Snapchat, and Google have moved from having an arm’s length relationship with journalism to being dominant forces in the news ecosystem. By encouraging news publishers to post directly onto new channels, such as Facebook Instant Articles and Snapchat Discover, tech companies are now actively involved in every aspect of journalism.

The VW Type 2.

Denali National Park.

Checking in is always interesting, particularly if one arrives at off hours or during inclement weather.

We arrived at the Grande Denali Lodge with anticipation. The inn occupies a ledge with a beautiful view of Alaska’s Denali National Park and the surrounding area.

While parking and preparing to check in, I noticed an abundance of yellow hazard tape around the inn’s entrance.

A fire – quickly extinguished inside and through the roof – started in their beautiful stone fireplace. The interior was soaked.

However, the staff were very well organized and quickly checked us in. They further provided complimentary breakfast coupons for our family at a nearby resort.

While checking out, I complemented a manager on the professionalism and courtesy we experienced during our brief stay. He responded “the fire and several power failures all at once; I feel like I’m living through the seven plagues. People have been complaining”.

The Grande Denali Lodge features wonderful views, a quiet setting and great people. I highly recommend it.

“The Seven Plagues”.

The short road to the Lodge is rather eclectic:

Wikipedia on the Ford Edsel.

Wikipedia on the Hummer H1.

A rather eclectic selection of campers and “recreational vehicles” or RV’s. I admired the VW Van (“T2”), soldiering on from Montana. A rare T3 Syncro makes an appearance as well.

The term “resurrection” appears frequently in the Seward area, from churches (above) to the river and bay.

wikipedia

Resurrection Bay is a bay on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, United States. Its main settlement is Seward, located at the head of the bay. It received its name from Alexandr Baranov, who was forced to retreat into the bay during a bad storm in the Gulf of Alaska. When the storm settled it was Easter Sunday, so the bay and nearby Resurrection River were named in honor of it.

and a few other photos:

Chicago – New Orleans – Madrid – Seville – Barcelona – Madison – Denver – Hong Kong – Shanghai

The opportunity to “love one’s neighbor” [1] pops up constantly.

Recently, while flying west, a very tall young man, with rather elaborate hair sat in the exit row window seat, just a short distance from my small abode.

We began chatting and I learned that he – I’ll call him “Cecil” – has been playing basketball abroad for several years. This trip – flying west – would end up in Hong Kong, his next sports port of call.

I found the conversation fascinating. Cecil had a wonderful opportunity to see the world via a sport he loved. I asked how he compared the States to his various temporary homes?

“Well, the biggest difference I’ve seen is that people in Europe always greet strangers. I can’t count the times that someone has said “buenos dias” to me, a complete stranger. That does not happen in the USA.”

Subsequently, I have tried – tried to greet everyone.

Oh, he was reading this book.

[1] The greatest commandment.

“Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts”. The My Verse app delivers a daily verse to your Watch, iPhone or iPad.