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Albany
I once read an astute observation that most Americans think of Vietnam as an era rather than as a country. By that same token, I think most New Yorkers tend to think of Albany as a grievance rather than as a city. “Albany? That’s where all my tax money goes!” I have passed through Albany Continue reading
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Old Yeller
A Yellow Pages directory showed up in our mailbox the other day. No, really. It was an unexpected delivery, in that everyone in the house was surprised that physical yellow pages even still exist. The cover proclaims it to be “the original search engine.” True enough, but if being the original thing that got replaced Continue reading
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Lake Ontario Lighthouses Project: Tibbetts Point Light
Sometimes, when I’m within sight of Lake Ontario in Oswego, the thought occurs to me that I’m sitting at the edge of America; at least the land portion of America. Somewhere, out there in the middle of the lake, is the border with Canada. The Great White North is a close neighbor, but it’s still Continue reading
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Summer Storms
A storm rolled through town today. It came fast, presaged by dark clouds and hot winds. Then the skies opened up. The storm made some noise before moving off to the east in less than an hour. That’s how summer storms often go around here — hit and run affairs. A winter storm in Central Continue reading
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The Revolution Will be Goodyear-Welted
In a world where Crocs and HOKAs have become part of the established uniform, wearing these brown semi-brogues today felt like an act of civil disobedience. Continue reading
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Movie Franchises
I almost never go to the movies anymore. A lot of what Hollywood has to offer these days doesn’t appeal to me. Despite that, I am still fascinated by the business aspects of the film industry and regularly follow the box-office figures for all those movies I don’t attend. Maybe I’ve been in the world Continue reading
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The Sidekick
When I’ve seen dog shows on TV, the announcers will occasionally describe a breed as “an excellent companion animal.” I’m of the belief that any dog, if properly trained and socialized, can be an excellent companion for the right person, but I’ve also had enough dogs to know that some of them are more inclined Continue reading
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Vanz Kant Danz
To be named Vance is to spend a lifetime being called Lance or Vince. That’s just the way it is. I am so resigned to that fate that I will sometimes answer to either of those two names without correcting the person, if it’s just a one-time transaction. After all, a single letter one way Continue reading
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Negative Space
All of the disruptions caused by COVID were a massive global trauma, but I did experience some positive consequences from it. During the lockdowns, with all that time to think, unencumbered by previous habits, I became more introspective. I started to examine all of my counterproductive behaviors, assumptions, and attitudes. That self-examination took me in Continue reading
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Appalachia
A few weeks ago, I stated binge-watching Justified, a crime series set mostly in the coal country of Eastern Kentucky. The show leans into a lot of the familiar tropes associated with that part of the country: opioid abuse, rural poverty, moonshine, bluegrass music, and multi-generational feuds, just to name a few. It conforms very Continue reading
About Me
Researcher. Marketer. Teacher. Father of adult children and dogs. 20th Century holdover. Central New York native. Long-suffering Buffalo Bills fan. History nerd. Traveler. Vintage advertising enthusiast. Hat wearer.
a.k.a. V.J. 