TODAY IN HISTORY: Graf Zeppelin completes first Transatlantic flight, lands in Lakehurst

TODAY IN HISTORY: Graf Zeppelin completes first Transatlantic flight, lands in Lakehurst

Posted inRandom Musings, Uncategorized
Yep, the little town that could made history in more ways than you realize. On this day in 1928, the legendary Graf Zeppelin completed its first ever Transatlantic flight, flying from Friedrichshafen, Germany to Lakehurst, New Jersey in about 111 hours. Capt. Ernst Lehmann was in command of this historic flight. Eight years later he'd be on an even more famous flight: the crash of Hindenburg. Sadly, he would not live to tell his story; Lehmann was one of the causalities of the disaster. The famed Graf Zeppelin landed in Lakehurst at around 5:28 p.m., making Lakehurst the destination for…
Did I mention my podcast is back?

Did I mention my podcast is back?

Posted inAlfred Hitchcock, Works by Eric
For the first time in nearly a year, you can hear Jim McDevitt and I yapping again on the Year of Hitchcock podcast right at this awesome link. Our Hooray! We're Back! episode doesn't only get us back online, it announces our super awesome news: We'll be podcasting monthly from now until eternity -- or until I get sick of it -- talking about classic films, directors, actors, and whatever else suits our fancy. So that's cool. The show is available on iTunes (though the feed is screwy for some reason), as well on other outlets. And hey, iTunes users?…
Some new ambient music for your listening pleasure

Some new ambient music for your listening pleasure

Posted inMusic, Works by Eric
I like recording music. I also like recording layered guitar soundscapes, relaxing washes of sound, ambient drones, and blistering walls of noise created with my guitar. I record these for my own pleasure. I also like putting them online for those interested in zoning out to music like this. I often post them to my other blog, Tones, Drones & Moans, and also to the music page on my website. The latest is "Falling Back Into It," a double album of meandering guitar soundscapes recorded in fits and starts over the last two years. You can download it track-by-track below.…

On creativity and fear

Posted inBooks & Authors, Random Musings, Videos, Writing
Creation is an act of defiance against fear. Whether writer, musician, artist, or other variation on the theme of Creative Person, all of us at one point or another struggle between our insatiable need to create and a nagging demon whispering to us, "You can't do it. You will never be great." So when we sit down and put words on the page or send musical notes to the ears of our listeners, we are rebelling against that fear. Where others are intimidated by failure, by the sometimes insurmountable challenge of turning their creative vision into reality, we fight on.…