Month: May 2024

A Glimpse into History The glass fuse, with its transparent casing and intricate inner workings, may seem like an artifact from a bygone era, but its story is one of innovation and practicality. Developed in the early 20th century, these fuses were a crucial component in protecting electrical circuits from overcurrent conditions. Their glass bodies allowed for quick visual inspection, revealing whether the thin wire inside had melted—a clear sign that the fuse had performed its duty by interrupting the flow of electricity. How They Work At first glance, a glass fuse might appear simple, but its design is both clever and effective. Inside each fuse is a delicate wire, carefully calibrated to melt when the current exceeds a safe level. This melting action breaks the circuit, preventing potential damage to electrical devices and reducing the risk of fire. In an age before digital diagnostics and automated safety systems, the glass fuse was a hands-on, tangible way to ensure electrical safety. The Allure of Vintage Why should we care about these vintage fuses today? For one, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of technology—a time when engineers had to find creative solutions to complex problems without the aid… CONTINUE READING…

Drake Grillo, at the tender age of three, made history as the youngest singer to perform the National Anthem at the Carrier Dome. This remarkable feat occurred during the Syracuse women’s basketball team’s annual School Day game against Niagara on December 17, 2018. Displaying confidence beyond his years, Drake enthralled over 6,000 spectators as the opening performer of the day. His impeccable rendition of the anthem not only highlighted his budding talent but also his remarkable courage. The performance quickly captured the hearts of many after being uploaded to YouTube, where it garnered 5.8 million views and a flood of accolades. One viewer remarked, “Wonderful! He had the melody down as well as the words. I know adults who stumble over the words! Well done little brave heart!” Watch the video below to experience the heartwarming performance by Drake Grillo, the youngest ever National Anthem singer at the Carrier Dome.

In my travels to Portugal and Cuba I was struck by the use of clotheslines hanging from apartment dwellings that immediately took me back to when I was a child living both in the US and in Puerto Rico seeing my mom hang our washed clothes and linen on clotheslines in the backyard. The first time I had this reaction was when I was in Cuba and it immediately compelled me to take photos. To my surprise, when arriving in Portugal this practice was in abundance in cities such as Lisbon and Porto where hanging your clothes on your balcony or window for all the tourists to see was just priceless. Seeing these clotheslines brought back vivid memories of me helping my mom hang our clothes. I remember playing hide and seek with my siblings when white sheets of linen and towels were up, my mom shouting at us to get our dirty hands away from her clotheslines. Those memories have certainly ignited in me a desire to take photos of clotheslines as one of many of my photographic subjects. But it also had me thinking how this practice has disappeared in the US. I know that in Portugal and… CONTINUE READING…

Twice this week, I have watched an elderly individual fade into the busy life in which we all live. One man just needed Panadol for his wife, but the shop assistant simply said it’s in ‘6’. But he struggled to navigate the supermarket, and as I watched him go in the wrong direction, I left all my groceries and took him where he needed to go. Today, I watched an elderly man struggle in the heat. He had had a fall with a huge scrape and blood on his leg. He walked past people in the cafe while he slowly made his way to his car. Not one person stopped. Or looked. Or acknowledged him. I took him to his car and checked if he was okay. He told me he had a fall and wasn’t sure how the air conditioner worked in his car, so he just didn’t use it. I sat with him until his air conditioner kicked in and heard him talk about the frail old body that he is in, which fails him now every single day.When you see an elderly person walking down the street, searching in the supermarket, or struggling to get to their… CONTINUE READING…