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1776
I wrapped up Independence Day by watching 1776 on TCM. For those who are unfamiliar, 1776 is a 1972 musical comedy about the writing and signing of Declaration of Independence, adapted from the Broadway show of the same name. Viewing that movie on the Fourth is something I started back when I was a kid,… Continue reading
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Independence Day Challenge
Today is America’s birthday. People across the country will celebrate by attending parades, shooting off fireworks, cooking out in the back yard, or maybe going to a baseball game. Regardless of the specific activities one chooses, the general focus of the holiday is on patriotism. Of course, patriotism is an abstract concept that is difficult… Continue reading
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Dunkirk
There is an episode of M*A*S*H in which Hawkeye is tending to a patient and talking about that man’s hometown. Hawkeye describes a number of the town’s landmarks including an American Legion Hall, a restaurant that serves “the world’s greasiest French fries,” and a Studebaker dealership that heralded the arrival of new models with searchlights.… Continue reading
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National Comedy Center
Jen and I traveled to the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York yesterday. I’ll probably have some thoughts about the attraction and the overall trip in a later post, but for now, here are some photos we took during the visit. I’m not including any captions or context for these shots. These exhibits are… Continue reading
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Frost
I go down some unexpected YouTube rabbit holes. A couple weeks ago, I stumbled across a video of Robert Frost reading his poetry. I’ve never been drawn to poetry, but I watched the video and a funny thing happened: All those famous poems that I was supposed to read for high school English classes but… Continue reading
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Lake Neatahwanta
A weird habit that I’ve adopted in the smartphone age is that pretty much any time I come across a nice-looking lake, I’ll take a picture of it. That keeps my camera busy since Upstate New York is very much a target-rich environment for nice-looking lakes. Ironically, one lake I don’t pay a lot of… Continue reading
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Canadian Wildfires Redux
Smoke from the wildfires returned to CNY today. So far, it isn’t nearly as bad as it was a few weeks ago, but the unmistakable campfire-like smell was in the air in Syracuse late this afternoon. It’s odd how much a natural disaster can evoke childhood memories of toasting marshmallows. Driving home on 690, I… Continue reading
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I Got a Dear John Letter from My Podcast App
One of the concepts I’ve taught in my consumer behavior course over the years is “cognitive lock-in.” That refers to a type of customer loyalty that can exist with technology products, wherein the user gets comfortable with the particulars of an interface over time and is reluctant to switch to a competitor simply because they… Continue reading
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Career Advice for the Grads
High-school graduation season recently wrapped up here in Central New York. I don’t know any of this year’s grads, but seeing the signs and balloons around town makes me a bit melancholy. I felt the same way when I watched SUNY Oswego’s graduation ceremony last month. Graduations are hopeful times, but they can also be… Continue reading
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Silas Towne, Mexico Point, & Spy Island
A couple weeks ago, I traveled to the Oriskany battlefield and Fort Stanwix. I didn’t know it at the time, but an interesting prelude to the Oriskany battle unfolded at a place called Mexico Point, just 15 miles from my home. The story goes that there was a patriot spy named Silas Towne who was… 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. 