Robert A. Madle, Letters to Magazines

Robert A. Madle c. 1938 From the collection of Robert A. Madle

Robert (Bob) A. Madle passed on October 8th 2022. He was 102 years old, and a long time science fiction fan. I met Bob just a few years ago, in 2016, when he came to a room party that I hosted at Philcon. We both grew up in the Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia (more than… Continue reading Robert A. Madle, Letters to Magazines

So I made a Webring (which was the style at the time)

While I was suffering from a bout of World Wide Web Nostalgia I built The HTML Hobbyist website. The intent was to: Enjoy building a simple hand-coded artisanal HTML website. Provide instructions on how others could build and upload a similar hobbyist website of their own. Show how quick, easy, and affordable it has become… Continue reading So I made a Webring (which was the style at the time)

The Wayback Machine

Let me introduce you to this wonderful tool that can be used in your web archaeology travels: The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web, and has been archiving versions of websites since 1996. Sadly, we may have already lost much of the early web: sites… Continue reading The Wayback Machine

World Wide Web Nostalgia

In 2018, I had had this exchange: …and then the idea just stewed, like some ideas do. Ideas that linger and you never quite let go of. For almost three and a half years. And very recently something just put me into motion. Maybe it was the craziness on social media. Maybe it was visiting… Continue reading World Wide Web Nostalgia

Feast of the Seven Fishes

A Chrtismas Eve tradition in my family. Any seven fishes will do, this is just one list: 1. Stuffed Calamari Ingredients: 3 pounds of squid, approximately 1½ inch diameter 4 cups (30oz) bread crumbs 1 bell pepper, finely chopped 3 stalks celery, finely chopped 5 green onions, finely chopped 10 cloves fresh garlic, minced chopped… Continue reading Feast of the Seven Fishes

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The Fear List

Since 1993 I’ve been keeping a fear list. A list of quotes, sayings, and proverbs about fear. Here’s what I have so far: A life lived in fear is a life half lived. —Spanish proverb, from Strictly Ballroom A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what ships are for. —Rear Admiral Grace… Continue reading The Fear List

2018 goals: midpoint

This is the halfway mark. Not much has changed in my initial goals, but I still feel like I’m making decent progress. Additional things have popped up that I’ve had to address, above and beyond my personal goals, so in one sense that may be slowing me down, but in another I’m pretty pleased with… Continue reading 2018 goals: midpoint

How to get better at drawing

Just start drawing. Don’t stop drawing. Just start drawing This, in theory, is the easy part. It’s especially easy for children. Older, less naive, people find that they make excuses when they should be drawing. Whole careers have been wasted simply through the inability of someone to start something. Pure procrastination. Fear of failure. Waiting… Continue reading How to get better at drawing

The Best Art Instruction Manuals: Creative Theory

Over the past two years I’ve been working through a series of books on Art, from histories to theory to manuals. I’ve decided to share some of the best works that I’ve come across. This page, A Very Artistic Library, will be an up-to-date list of recommendations for people who want to learn more about… Continue reading The Best Art Instruction Manuals: Creative Theory

Drawing on Escher on Drawing

If you’re ever feeling that you’re not good enough, remember that no artist thinks that they’re good enough. Here’s a quote from M.C. Escher, one of the finest draftsman you could encounter. “Good God, I wish I’d learn to draw a little better! How much effort and persistence costs to try to do it well.… Continue reading Drawing on Escher on Drawing