Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Oops
I forgot I had a Blog here and that's why I haven't posted anything in 3 years. I have 3 websites and 3 blogs, but it seems I only have time to write on one. So, if you'd like to read any of my up-to-date blogs then please visit Cats & Dogs Naturally
Thank you!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Wow!
Wow! I haven't posted a new blog since January. I know, I've been busy. I spent the whole year studying animal naturopathy, and I'm happy to say I passed the board exam and I am now a certified animal naturopath, or a natural health animal coach. I put up a new website called cats & dogs naturally. If you have a dog or a cat, check out my site. I have animal natural health blogs to read there.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
"Undercity" Exploring New York City's Tunnels
My guest tonight is STEVEN DUNCAN. Mr. Duncan is an urban historian & photographer. “Undercity” is a mini documentary made by Mr. Duncan and videographer Andrew Wonder about exploring NYC subway and train tunnels and climbing bridges. Their adventures were recently featured in the New York Times and on NPR. In Steve Duncan's own words: "I try to peel back the layers of a city to see what's underneath. From the tops of bridges to the depths of sewer tunnels, these explorations of the urban environment help me puzzle together the interconnected, multi-dimensional history and complexity of the great metropolises of the world." www.undercity.org
Watch the film below:
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Watch the film below:
UNDERCITY from Andrew Wonder on Vimeo.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
1972 Star Trek Convention
Yes, folks. I was there.
I know, it's hard to imagine somebody as cool and as non-geeky like myself would go to a Star Trek Convention. Well, it was 1972, I was very young, and I went with my sister, Jill, my brother, Mark, and my Mom (Mom had a secret crush on DeForest Kelley). The convention was held in the second floor ballroom of the Staler-Hilton Hotel, on a cold weekend in January.
My family and I jumped on the subway and breathlessly raced down to the westside of Manhattan. At the hotel, the convention staff stamped our hand with an ink 'tatoo' and we rode the escalator to the second-floor ballroom. The place was packed. An unexpected party-pooper, the fire marshall of the FDNY, announced it was over capacity, and thus a fire hazard, and some people would have to leave. The FDNY proceeded to kick people out, and a small riot broke out. Meanwhile, in the confusion of the combative crowd, I ran into a school friend of mine. We both had our 35mm Pentax SLR cameras around our necks. He and I stood at the top of the escalator and watched a fireman trying to single-handedly control a bunch of angry Trekkies in the lobby. "A riot always makes a good shot," he said, as he snapped picture after picture of flailing arms and bulging eyeballs in the crowd.
Once the riot had subsided, it was time to enjoy the convention. There were a few tables selling Star Trek memorabilia scattered around the room. My mother complained it was mostly junk, but yet she still bought a pair of rubber Spock ears. And she was right, it was junk. The damn Spock ears were impossible to get over your ears. There were people walking around dressed in full make-up and costume of various alien characters from the TV show.
At some point, the stars of Star Trek made an appearance for their fans. In the ballroom, on a stage, Nichele Nichols, who played Ahora, walked out in a floor length evening gown. She spoke for a little while, and then DeForest Kelley (Dr McCoy), George Takei, James Doohan (Scotty) came out. Kelley had laryngitis, and a fan gave him a cough drop. The last star on the stage was William Shatner. He talked about growing up in Canada, and how he started off as a stage actor in Shakespearean plays. For the next 30-minutes, the cast answered questions from the audience, and that was that.
Next, my mother, sister, brother, and I separated to check out various venues at the convention. My mother wandered into a room where a man was giving a lecture on the Klingon Empire. He gave a power-point presentation of the Klingons space ships, pointing out the engine room, command center, etc. Then he went on to discuss the proper pronunciation of the Klingon language. When my mother came out of the lecture room, she rolled her eyes, and said, "Geez, he was talking about the Klingons like they really exist."
In another room, a very famous science-fiction writer (who shall remain nameless) who had written one of the Star Trek episodes, was giving a talk to a small crowd. Suddenly, a man in the audience began to heckle the writer. This lead into a war of words. The writer angrily said, "Don't think because I'm wearing a turtleneck sweater that I won't come down there and kick your ass."
I don't remember how long I was at the convention, but I stayed 'til the end. The event was wrapped up with a encore appearance of the Star Trek cast. The crowd had dwindled, and only a few fans remained behind. We all sat crossed-leg on the ballroom floor. Suddenly, the MC on the stage pointed over my head and said, "We have Candice Bergen in the audience." Everyone turned their heads to look in my direction, and I turned around, too, and sitting directly behind me was the actress Candice Bergen. She was holding a Nikon SLR camera, and looked very embarrassed to be recognized.
I can still remember some of the audience's questions. One young man asked Shatner "Will there be gay people in space?" And Shatner gave a politically-correct polite answer. Then someone asked Shatner if he had enjoyed himself at the convention. Well, he cleared his throat and commented on how rude and hostile everyone had been. He added, even the people asking him questions had a chip-on-their shoulders (I have to agree with Shatner, it was a rough crowd).
And on that note, the first Star Trek Convention came to a close.
Were you at the 1972 Star Trek Convention? If so, what were your experiences?
I know, it's hard to imagine somebody as cool and as non-geeky like myself would go to a Star Trek Convention. Well, it was 1972, I was very young, and I went with my sister, Jill, my brother, Mark, and my Mom (Mom had a secret crush on DeForest Kelley). The convention was held in the second floor ballroom of the Staler-Hilton Hotel, on a cold weekend in January.
My family and I jumped on the subway and breathlessly raced down to the westside of Manhattan. At the hotel, the convention staff stamped our hand with an ink 'tatoo' and we rode the escalator to the second-floor ballroom. The place was packed. An unexpected party-pooper, the fire marshall of the FDNY, announced it was over capacity, and thus a fire hazard, and some people would have to leave. The FDNY proceeded to kick people out, and a small riot broke out. Meanwhile, in the confusion of the combative crowd, I ran into a school friend of mine. We both had our 35mm Pentax SLR cameras around our necks. He and I stood at the top of the escalator and watched a fireman trying to single-handedly control a bunch of angry Trekkies in the lobby. "A riot always makes a good shot," he said, as he snapped picture after picture of flailing arms and bulging eyeballs in the crowd.
Once the riot had subsided, it was time to enjoy the convention. There were a few tables selling Star Trek memorabilia scattered around the room. My mother complained it was mostly junk, but yet she still bought a pair of rubber Spock ears. And she was right, it was junk. The damn Spock ears were impossible to get over your ears. There were people walking around dressed in full make-up and costume of various alien characters from the TV show.
At some point, the stars of Star Trek made an appearance for their fans. In the ballroom, on a stage, Nichele Nichols, who played Ahora, walked out in a floor length evening gown. She spoke for a little while, and then DeForest Kelley (Dr McCoy), George Takei, James Doohan (Scotty) came out. Kelley had laryngitis, and a fan gave him a cough drop. The last star on the stage was William Shatner. He talked about growing up in Canada, and how he started off as a stage actor in Shakespearean plays. For the next 30-minutes, the cast answered questions from the audience, and that was that.
Next, my mother, sister, brother, and I separated to check out various venues at the convention. My mother wandered into a room where a man was giving a lecture on the Klingon Empire. He gave a power-point presentation of the Klingons space ships, pointing out the engine room, command center, etc. Then he went on to discuss the proper pronunciation of the Klingon language. When my mother came out of the lecture room, she rolled her eyes, and said, "Geez, he was talking about the Klingons like they really exist."
In another room, a very famous science-fiction writer (who shall remain nameless) who had written one of the Star Trek episodes, was giving a talk to a small crowd. Suddenly, a man in the audience began to heckle the writer. This lead into a war of words. The writer angrily said, "Don't think because I'm wearing a turtleneck sweater that I won't come down there and kick your ass."
I don't remember how long I was at the convention, but I stayed 'til the end. The event was wrapped up with a encore appearance of the Star Trek cast. The crowd had dwindled, and only a few fans remained behind. We all sat crossed-leg on the ballroom floor. Suddenly, the MC on the stage pointed over my head and said, "We have Candice Bergen in the audience." Everyone turned their heads to look in my direction, and I turned around, too, and sitting directly behind me was the actress Candice Bergen. She was holding a Nikon SLR camera, and looked very embarrassed to be recognized.
I can still remember some of the audience's questions. One young man asked Shatner "Will there be gay people in space?" And Shatner gave a politically-correct polite answer. Then someone asked Shatner if he had enjoyed himself at the convention. Well, he cleared his throat and commented on how rude and hostile everyone had been. He added, even the people asking him questions had a chip-on-their shoulders (I have to agree with Shatner, it was a rough crowd).
And on that note, the first Star Trek Convention came to a close.
Were you at the 1972 Star Trek Convention? If so, what were your experiences?
Monday, August 23, 2010
Curly Top
It's hard to believe I took this photo almost forty years ago. That's my mom holding my younger brother, Victor. Hey, I was a kid myself at the time. And now, the sweet cherub-faced little boy has grown into a tall handsome man and works as a cop in Brooklyn.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Astronaut Baby
Years ago, I went to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama to do a photo essay on the first women astronauts in training. As part of the story I photographed the candidates at home with their family. I can't remember the woman's name in the photo, I know she was an engineer. There were four women in the Space Shuttle Astronaut Training Program. However, when the first shuttle flew---after several years of delay---these women were not part of the crew. I have more photos from NASA, and if I ever get my darkroom set up again, I'll post those photos, too.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Elyse
This is a photo of my sister's neighborhood friend, Elyse. Natural lighting, Tri-X film, hand held meter, and Pentax camera. Circa, the 1970s, but I'm not sure of the exact year.
Friday, December 4, 2009
The Boy Next Door
I'm guessing this photo was taken in 1972-73. I don't know the little boy's name, but he lived next door and would come over to play with my youngest brother, who was 4 years old at the time. I was a teenager when I took this photo. I remember I made a print for the boy's mother, and she loved this photo so much that she gave me a basket of home-grown tomatoes. I used a Pentax camera on Tri-x film, natural lighting.
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