This is a bit personal, but if there’s anything I’m an expert in, it’s me. One part of me I’m getting to know better is my ADHD. I was diagnosed with ADD (now called ADHD-inattentive type) long ago. My mind is often racing and my thoughts feel scattered or chaotic. Over the years, I’ve learned…
Lost in Vermont: The Mini Museum of Museums is Mega Weird
Lost in Vermont is a series of immaginary places that don’t actually exist but somehow feel like they do. They are all located in the Vermont that lives in your mind. If you want to see something really wiggy and wild and maybe a little illegal go to the brand-new Vermont Museum of Museums stat. …
Remembering the Sand Casino: Uncovering Lost Frank Sinatra Footage
I worked as a marketing manager at the Sand Casino in Atlantic City back in the late 2000s, shortly before the iconic casino was demolished. The Sand was one of the early Atlantic City casinos, opened in 1980, and featured frequent performances and appearances by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. Sinatra was extremely popular…
The Slow March of EV Adoption
The transition to electric vehicles may be slower than expected. As an early EV adopter, I’ve been mostly satisfied with my Tesla. But after two years of ownership, the shine is wearing off. Public charging stations are now overcrowded and unreliable. Batteries degrade over time, cutting into range. And road trips require numerous charging stops, making renting a gas car cheaper and faster. New EVs still come with a high price tag too. While the electric future is inevitable, adoption will likely be a gradual march rather than a rapid overhaul. Charging infrastructure and battery tech need time to advance and become more affordable. Patience and realistic expectations will serve us well on the slow road to an all-electric future.
A Quick Trip to Leesburg and DC Museums
We took a quick weeklong trip to Leesburg, Virginia to visit family. During the trip, we explored several museums in Washington DC, including the International Spy Museum which covers the history of espionage with interactive exhibits. We also visited the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History which houses amazing exhibits on dinosaurs, fossils, and human origins. While in Leesburg, we enjoyed walking around the charming downtown area and along the Potomac River. we stopped at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the Air and Space Museum near Dulles, to see space shuttles, planes, and rockets on display. Despite the short trip, we packed in some of DC’s best museums and enjoyed the small town charm of Leesburg, Virginia.
“The Most Important Thing That’s Ever Happened”: Unpacking the Mythology of Oppenheimer
“How do you try to save the world when there are folks who just wanna watch it burn?” asked Michael Caine in The Dark Knight. That question from The Dark Knight captures the contradictions of Christopher Nolan’s latest complicated protagonist – J. Robert Oppenheimer. He helped invent the atomic bomb to end WWII but caused…
Damon Albarn: Decades of Hits Sometimes Under the Radar
Back in January 2022, Damon Albarn stirred up controversy when he claimed in an interview that Taylor Swift “doesn’t write her own songs.” Swift immediately clapped back on Twitter, saying she totally writes all her own music and calling Albarn’s comments “completely false and so damaging.” Albarn quickly realized he’d stepped in it and apologized,…
The Vermont Extended Universe: Vermont’s Reenactment Inception
I’ve an incredible “true” tale from Vermont’s storied history to share! Picture it – the autumn of 1862 in the Champlain Valley, leaves all aflutter in brilliant hues of amber, crimson and gold. A merry band of history enthusiasts, some dozen strong, have gathered atop Scoot Hill for a two-celebration to proudly commemorate a centennial…
Want success? Shift your attitude.
Three reasons your big plans might fail (a quick riff before vacation) One: Those goals? Too big. Too bold. Too unlikely. You’re relying on luck, hoping for a miracle. Time to reset expectations. Aim lower or try something new. Two: Your vision is sound but the timeline’s off. More grit, more patience – that’s the…
My Dad’s Epic 1961 Road Trip Across America
I’m continuing my blog series on my dad’s childhood photos. Back in 1961 when he was a teenager, my dad took a road trip with his parents across the United States from New Jersey to California. It was an epic journey that hit many of the iconic destinations of midcentury America. The Trip: My dad…