Projects In Progress

Lately, I’ve been working on a couple of projects. In the fall, I colorized a photograph of Swampoodle Grounds, Washington, DC’s baseball park of the 1880s. I liked working on that, and now I’m working on colorizing another old baseball photograph, this time of Babe Ruth and (future president) George H.W. Bush. The photograph wasContinue reading “Projects In Progress”

The Things You Find in Your Photo Collection

As some people know, I like to visit cemeteries. And when I visit cemeteries, I tend to take pictures of headstones and the cemetery itself, even if I have no familial reason to. I’ve visited Dallastown’s cemeteries many times, I’ve taken many photos, and I’m related to absolutely no one. I have a particular fondnessContinue reading “The Things You Find in Your Photo Collection”

Meeting Matt Frewer

Matt Frewer was the headlining guest this year at Farpoint, an annual science-fiction convention held near Baltimore, this weekend. While I know that most people wanted to meet him because of Max Headroom or roles in other shows like Eureka, Orphan Black, and recently Altered Carbon, I really wanted to meet him because of DoctorContinue reading “Meeting Matt Frewer”

Conversations I Have With Myself

This is a real conversation I had with myself recently: “Farpoint is this weekend! Maybe I’ll go to Andy Nelson’s and get some BBQ for dinner.” “You freaking moron. You drive past Andy Nelson’s every single day when you go to work. You can stop anytime you want after work. You don’t.” “Oh. Yes. You’reContinue reading “Conversations I Have With Myself”

The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard

In January I rewatched the Sharpe movies made in the mid-90s, based on the Bernard Cornwell novels about the Napoleonic Wars and starring Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe, for the first time in years. The only ones I didn’t watch are the two post-Waterloo movies made about a decade ago that are set in India;Continue reading “The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard”

My Farpoint 2018 Schedule

This weekend is Farpoint, a science-fiction convention in Hunt Valley, Maryland that I’ve been attending since 2006. (I was supposed to be at the famous “Snowcon” Farpoint in 2003 — I’d registered for it and was looking forward to it — but when I saw what the weather forecast for Maryland was, I cancelled myContinue reading “My Farpoint 2018 Schedule”

My Grand Fenwickian Heritage

In the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will be asking people to write in their ethnic background. I have decided that I will report that my ancestors come from Grand Fenwick, an independent, English-speaking principality somewhere in central Europe. If I need to name a second country, I will name Ruritania. Grand Fenwick, of course,Continue reading “My Grand Fenwickian Heritage”

The Wisdom of Children

Probably the most profound thing I’ve read today, if not this year. A pediatrician in South Africa, Alastair McAlpine, who works with terminally ill children, asked them what was important to them, what they liked doing, and what they’ll miss when they’re gone. The children, aged four to nine, talked about their pets and howContinue reading “The Wisdom of Children”