The power of labour

We had already heard about the spoils of a widespread strike - in Benin, it was democracy.

Last night we visited the house of our Academic Director, Jerry Milleur, for his fabled 4th July Cookout. His house was also gained with strike spoils.

Front view, with yard.

As you can see, things were a bit cramped out front, so it's fortunate that he has a bit more space round the back.

His property goes to the trees past the field of white-topped plants.

Most of the houses round here have a lot of land on them. In the town where another of our directors lives, the council has just passed a law to say properties must have a minimum of two acres. They are scared about suburbanisation.

Jerry is a life-long fan of baseball. He loves it so much he bought a minor baseball team, the Harrisburg Senators. As I understand it, the Minor teams are like the B grade regional teams - and, when Jerry bought his team twenty or so years ago, B grade teams didn't make any money.

Then, in 1994, the Major Baseball League teams went on strike for 232 days. Families started showing up to minor league games instead, and the Harrisburg Senators team took off.

I don't know which year he sold the team, but it bought him a lot of grass. Apparently, he mows it by hand with an electric push-mower. Based on anecdotes he tells us about his college years in the early 1950s we figure him to at least in his late 70s.

Today we are free until seven this evening. Washing, then some reading. I have so much to read, but all this cultural tourism is really cutting into our time for serious academic pursuits!