No More Pencils, No More Books…

No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks…From “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper. Unfortunately that also depicts the demise of many revered book stores.

Rehoboth Beach Book StoreWith the preponderance of electronic tablets (iPad or Galaxy Tab, for example) and especially those designed for reading books (Kindle, Nook, etc), the sales of printed books have decreased dramatically over the last decade.  Electronic copies of books today far outsell the printed-on-paper versions. While that may not be a bad thing there are still people who love to read while holding a “real” book in their hands – and actually turning pages manually instead of with a “swipe” on a screen. I happen to be one of those people.

The demise of “real” books has also brought the demise of many once-popular book stores in many areas, such as malls and resort areas. Those of us living at or near the Delaware beaches and even Ocean City, Maryland, have a wonderful resource in downtown Rehoboth Beach. Here is my rendition of the colorful nature of the book store facade.

The inside is just as kitsch – and charming. Books, and plenty of them, along with just about anythig else that you or I may be able to relate to the joy of reading and discovering. Browseabout Books is located downtown at 133 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. My original photograph can be found in my online gallery at USPictures.com – in the Coastal Delaware Gallery.

Shared, Reseller or VPS Account for web hosting?

I often field questions about where to host a website and which type of account to get. The best host FOR YOU is the one that provides the services you need at a price you are willing to pay.

In the early years of my (more than) 15 years of having websites online I went through a series of hosts. However, I have been quite happy with two that I have been using for the last several years. Two Hosts? Continue reading “Shared, Reseller or VPS Account for web hosting?”

Old Otterbein UMC Photograph #100 for Online Gallery

This afternoon I hit a milestone, of sorts, by uploading the 100th fine art photograph to my online gallery at US Pictures. The subject matter may even be appropriate for hitting this “Century Milestone.” I chose an image I shot last Winter of the Old Otterbein United Methodist Church in Downtown Baltimore, next to the Inner Harbor. Why appropriate? There are a few “centuries” involved in this choice.

Old Otterbein United Methodist Church Building PhotographThis church is historic in the fact that it is the oldest continuously operating sanctuary in the city of Baltimore and has been around for more than two centuries. The church was built in 1785. My wife and I have been members here for about a quarter century.

In addition, at the time of this post, Old Otterbein UMC is involved in helping the City to celebrate the Maryland Bi-Centennial Celebration of the War of 1812. During the celebration we will be recognizing the 200th Birthday (two centuries) of our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, which was written by Francis Scott Key during the bombardment of Fort McHenry. Among numerous activities, the two-year recognition of the War of 1812 will be culminated with a modern bombardment of the Fort – with a massive fireworks display designed specifically for the event.