A Few of My Favorites
A handful of posts I’m fond of and think are worth a look — a mix of local history, photography from around Wisconsin and beyond, pet care, and a few odds and ends. If you’re new here, this is a good place to start.
The “Fad” That Never Faded: Why AI in 2026 is 1996 All Over Again
My take on the 2026 AI boom — and why it feels almost exactly like the early Internet back in 1996. A look at the hype, the skeptics, and what I think is actually coming.
Menasha’s PowerNet: The Old-Fashioned Corner Store of the Early Internet (1998)
The story of PowerNet Online Services, the dial-up Internet provider I started with my dad in 1990s Menasha — built around the 1998 newspaper profile that called us a corner store for the early Internet.
St. Mary Central High School (SMC), Menasha — Memories of the 1990s
A nostalgic walk through St. Mary Central High School as I remember it in the 1990s — the building, the layout, and the memories that go with it.
Snakes, Scorpions, Owls & More: Our Visit to MToxins Venom Lab, Oshkosh
Up close with snakes, scorpions, owls, and more on a tour of MToxins Venom Lab in Oshkosh. One of the most fascinating places I’ve visited, with plenty of photos.
The Drowned Quarry: A Day and a Night at Harrington Beach State Park
A day and a night at Harrington Beach State Park and its strange, beautiful flooded quarry — part travel story, part photo essay.
Lake of the Clouds — Porcupine Mountains, Michigan
The famous Lake of the Clouds overlook in Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains, and the trip out to see it. Some of my favorite landscape photos.
Sailboat Races on Lake Winnebago — Neenah-Nodaway Yacht Club
Sailboats racing on Lake Winnebago with the Neenah-Nodaway Yacht Club on a beautiful June evening — a gallery of shots from the shoreline.
Historic Paine Mansion Meets Modern Art: The Nature of Light, Oshkosh
Contemporary light art set inside the historic Paine mansion in Oshkosh — a striking blend of old architecture and modern installation.
The Hospital Where My Dad Was Born — and the History I Didn’t Expect
Tracking down the Chicago hospital where my dad was born, and the surprising piece of history I uncovered along the way.
Raw Dog Food Recipes: Feeding a Balanced BARF Diet
How I feed my dogs a balanced raw (BARF) diet, with the recipes and the approach I’ve worked out over the years. Probably my most-asked-about pet topic.
What’s Your Pet’s Life Worth? Getting Through Anesthesia Safely
A careful, first-hand look at getting a dog safely through anesthesia — the questions to ask your vet, and why they really matter.
Bulletproof and Beautiful: The Long History of the Rugosa Rose
Tough, fragrant, and almost impossible to kill — the long history of the Rugosa rose, and why it’s one of the easiest roses to love.
Fun, Personal Pet Posts
And a couple of just-for-fun favorites — short clips of two of my Shih Tzus being themselves back in 2007.
Akiva and His Duck Toy (2007)
Akiva and his beloved squeaky duck toy, captured back in 2007. A short, happy little clip.
Vasco and Henrietta (2007)
Vasco and his rubber chicken, Henrietta, in 2007 — pure goofy Shih Tzu joy.
