Category: People

Living by Joe WilcoxNov 2, 20147:42 pm

O Canada, What Say You?

What do two forts share in common? Kaci Hickox, the 33 year-old healthcare worker from Fort Worth, Texas, taking refuge in Fort Kent, Maine. Surely you know of the so-called Ebola nurse and the legal scuffle about quarantining her. As an Aroostook County native born about 70 kilometers (okay, I rounded up) southeast of FK and having traveled widely across the Lone Star State, I know something about the character of both regions. Think independent-mindedness times two, which equals “Don’t tell me what to do”.

The simple story: She volunteered in Sierra Leone, where the disease rages. She returned to the wrong state, New Jersey, which put her in isolation. She fled to one of the most rural and remote areas of the Northeast. Maine’s governor demanded voluntary quarantine. She defied it. A federal judge ruled against the Gov. News reporters who couldn’t find Fort Kent with a Google Map ruined the autumn tourist trade by filling up the only hotel. We all wait to see if she stays symptom free through November 10. Pass the popcorn. The suspense is thicker than a horror flick.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 1, 20145:57 pm

That’s One Big Cat

Today I started updating my profile photo with the one taken by my wife this morning. She used the Nokia Lumia Icon, which is a fantastic shooter. I edited and square-cropped (because that’s the profile […]

Society by Joe WilcoxMay 17, 20143:05 pm

Sweet Music

People by Joe WilcoxJan 3, 20147:21 pm

'Comic-Con Heroes' Play

My ebook Comic-Con Heroes: The Fans Who Make the Greatest Show on Earth is finally up on Google Play, after long delay (in part because of Kindle Store’s exclusive). Google Play cut the price to […]

People by Joe WilcoxNov 19, 20137:55 pm

It’s Not a Fad

“Selfie” may be Oxford Dictionaries Word the Year 2013, but is there anything really new about the practice? My wife, at age 21, from the glorious days of film photography. Photo Credit: Anne Wilcox

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 14, 20101:15 am

Le Soleil and Me

My cousin Dan emailed several old photos he recently obtained while vacationing in Maine. That’s me, probably age 11, but only a guess. The newspaper’s date isn’t visible. I don’t recall the photo or its taking but the shot must have been posed by either my father or uncle. I don’t read French. (Le Soleil was published out of Quebec City. This evening, a quick Web search left me wondering if the newspaper still exists.)

Apple by Joe WilcoxJul 8, 20103:02 am

The Old Man and the 3G

Who says that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks or that older people can’t adapt and change? Not me, or at least not any longer. This afternoon, I got the most amazing shock from my father-in-law, who turned 88 in December. He wants to make some changes, by going all 3G wireless.

Society by Joe WilcoxJun 12, 201011:20 pm

Internet Attention Deficit Disorder

Nicholas Carr’s book, The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, may be the defining manuscript of the World Wide Web era; so far. I haven’t read the book yet, but I have followed Nicholas’ writings leading up to The Shallows. I get his point, because I’ve experienced it. He merely wraps research around the experience. The point: Interaction with the Web changes how we think, in part by rewiring how we consume information. Attention spans are shorter and tasks like reading a long magazine article or book are harder.

In June 2008, I read a short post by Nicholas linking to his Atlantic story “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”

People by Joe WilcoxJun 10, 201011:57 am

Be a Man, John Gruber

If John Gruber allowed comments on his blog, I wouldn’t need to write this post, and it has been long-time coming. I considered writing it every time I read something outrageous at Daring Fireball but couldn’t directly respond because John doesn’t allow comments. Finally, this morning, I had enough.

Aspiration by Joe WilcoxFeb 26, 201012:14 pm

Joannie Rouchette is an Inspiration

On Sunday, Thérèse Rochette died from a heart attack at 55. Tonight, her daughter Joannie won bronze at the Winter Games…For Rochette now, the Olympics are over. This full, fleeting moment of chaos, pressure and […]

People by Joe WilcoxFeb 22, 20107:33 pm

What Worthless Means in Housing Dollars

Their home, meanwhile, which was originally valued at $585,000, had depreciated severely in three scant years. It was now essentially worthless at $270,000. Attorney Wajahat Ali This is the dramatic and sad kind of situation […]

Culture by Joe WilcoxJan 15, 201012:25 pm

I’m With Coco

Conan O’Brien may not last much longer as Tonight Show host, but he has my support. Even if he loses his job, Conan will be a winner. Say, can Conan collect unemployment? Now there would […]