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…
Finding My Filmmaking Roots in Vermont
It’s been a while since I moved to Vermont, I was excited to join the Vermont Production Collective, a community of creative professionals working together to produce films and other media projects in the state. As someone who has dabbled in filmmaking over the years, I’m looking forward to collaborating with other local artists and…
The Fog of War: McNamara, Oppenheimer, and the Perils of Power
Two of the most influential yet controversial defense intellectuals of the 20th century were Robert S. McNamara and J. Robert Oppenheimer. Though coming from very different backgrounds, both men rose to positions of enormous authority over the US military establishment, especially concerning nuclear weapons. And both left incredibly complex legacies that historians still debate today….
Personal Update: Query Letters for A Little Too Dark
This week I’ve been working on writing query letters to send to literary agents for my novel A Little Too Dark. Writing effective query letters is an art form – you need to hook the agent within the first few sentences, provide an intriguing summary of your book without giving away all the details, and…
Why can I Market for Others but Struggle to Market Myself
As a marketer, I know how to create compelling campaigns that highlight the value of a product, service or company. But when it comes to marketing myself – whether to land a new job or sell my own book – things get trickier. I’ve worked in marketing across various industries, from casinos to the army….