Sunday, February 24, 2008

New George Sheldon T-Shirt

I can’t believe it! I finally made it!

Check this out:


THE I LOVE GEORGE SHELDON T-Shirt!

I just found this on Amazon.com! (I was looking to see if my next three books were listed there yet.) I had no idea that people love me enough to make up tee-shirts. I guess I finally made it!

Yippee!

Central Pennsylvania Writers Organization (CPWO)

I just made the following post on the CPWO blog:

I am George Sheldon, and I am one of the co-founders of the Central Pennsylvania Writers Organization (CPWO). Charles Byrd and I cofounded what became CPWO in the Fall of 1984. Our first meeting was held at Briarcrest in Hershey, PA.

I was recently contacted by Rita Morrow who was working on the history of CPWO for a new web site. I tried to give her as much information as I could.

When CPWO started, I had many credits, including magazine and newspaper articles. Today, I have 31 published books. I credit much of my success to CPWO. I wish the organization well.

I moved back to Lancaster, and so it is a bit of a trip for me to travel to Palmyra in Lebanon county. Nevertheless, I hope to get to more of the future meetings.

On my website, www.georgesheldon.com, I have some information about CPWO. Of most interest is probably this page: http://www.georgesheldon.com/byrd.html. It includes my tribute to Charles W. Byrd when he passed away. The photo on that page is the only one I know of that exists of Charles and I together.

I hope this helps. I hope everyone with any interest in wrting attends a future CPWO meeting!

My best,
George Sheldon



The CPWO blog is here: http://cpwo.blogspot.com/

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Gettysburg National Military Park to Open April 14, 2008

The Gettysburg Foundation announced February 20, that the new Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park will open to visitors at 8 a.m. on Monday, April 14, 2008.

"We want this new Gettysburg experience to inspire visitors about the past, to encourage them to want to learn more about the events that have shaped our country and, in the process, to become better citizens," said Robert C. Wilburn, president of the Gettysburg Foundation. "The new Museum and Visitor Center is designed to meet visitors' expectations of a 21st-century museum. At the same time, we want to tell the story of the Battle of Gettysburg, within the context of the causes and consequences of the Civil War, in a way that showcases the Battlefield. And we want to encourage people to extend their stays and return more often."

"The new museum will better prepare visitors to walk the sacred ground of the Gettysburg battlefield and see it through the soldier's eyes," said John Latschar, superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park.

To date, the Foundation has secured more than $105 million toward its $125 million Campaign to Preserve Gettysburg. Funds from the campaign are being used to build, furnish and operate the new Museum and Visitor Center, to preserve the park's extensive collection of Civil War artifacts and archives, including the massive Cyclorama painting, to support battlefield rehabilitation and preservation programs, including the return of Ziegler's Grove to its 1863 appearance, to improve the visitor experience at Gettysburg, and to create an endowment to support future preservation and maintenance needs.

Park curatorial staff has begun moving objects and artifacts into the collection storage area on the lower level. Staff from the Foundation is moving into the administrative offices at the new Museum and Visitor Center this week. National Park Service staff will make the move into the new facilities from their offices in the Visitor Center on Taneytown Road just prior to the mid-April opening.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Is this the end of print newspapers?

One newspaper is done, and another has quit publishing a print edition, switching totally to publishing on the web. Is this the future?

One paper is Madison, WI, and the other is in Albuquerque, NM. Here are the news stories:

"Madison's afternoon newspaper, The Capital Times, will move to an all-Internet edition in a transition that could be the first of its kind in the struggling industry.

The 17,000-circulation newspaper announced the changes to staff and in a story published on its Web site Thursday. The moves include publishing twice-weekly free print editions."

The complete story is here: http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/02/07/afx4628758.html



The second story:

The Albuquerque Tribune will publish its last edition tomorrow. Here is the story:

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2008/feb/20/saturday-will-mark-last-edition-albuquerque-tribun/

"The Trib's daily circulation in January was about 9,600, Casaus said. In 1988, the newspaper sold about 42,000 copies a day."



Newspapers are dying. It's sad to see them go, but the costs of production and distribution is killing them. Print is going by the wayside, it seems...I think more photographs will be used on the web than ever.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Insurance Agents Can Use My Virtual Tour Technology

As an active Full Service Dealer of Real Tour Vision located in Lancaster, PA, my virtual tour technology can also be used by insurance agents.
Directly from my new brochure:

VIRTUAL HOME TOUR
A full 360 interactive virtual tour of your clients possessions in digital CD format including all rooms inside and outside.

STILL IMAGES OF VALUABLES
Digital photographs are taken to supplement the virtual tour. These high quality images record in detail all items of value.

SCENE DESCRIPTIONS
Detailed scene by scene descriptions guide you through the home room by room.

INVENTORY WORKSHEET
A written record listing each item of value with a description, serial/model number, cost, estimated, or appraised value.

To download the brochure in PDF format, click here.

Virtual tours are just not for real estate agents anymore!

George Sheldon, Virtual Tour Company . com, Lancaster, PA

Friday, February 15, 2008

Switching My Calendar Technology

Most of you would admit I am pretty cool and slick when it comes to technology. I drive a souped-up desktop that hums with extra memory, external drives, a scanner, three printers; I use a laptop extensively; I use digital rather than film cameras (my main digital is heavy, beefy and so manly – just like me!). Of course I have lots of software, a GPS, and cell phone.

Now I have a brand new calendar system.

I got it a Staples. I chose the black model, actually it has a black leather case. It is compatible with either Mac or PC. It is nearly indestructible! You can drop it from 6 feet (I did this twice so far just to test it) onto the floor. Absolutely not a single scratch – now that is too cool! And it keeps on working!

I bought a new, slick ink jet printer to use with it. Quite compact. One button on it. You can change colors of ink quickly, but I think I am likely to stay with black. I don’t know why, but I like black over blue or other ink.

One other thing: you cannot accidentally erase any entries on my new calendar. Hitting the wrong button on your keyboard won’t do a thing. Everything you place on the calendar stays on the calendar. Never a lost date, appointment, or to-do note – they always remain on the calendar!

And you don’t have to worry at all about batteries! Is that cool, or what?

Indestructible. Priced fairly (the whole thing, including the one-button printer, $34). Small, fits in my breast pocket of my coat or suit jacket. Smaller than my PC or my laptop. I am so happy!

It’s made by Day Timer. It’s one of those calendars like I used years ago. Green grids on white spiral bound pages. I gave up on Outlook. I upgraded to paper. I always want my calendar with me at all times, even when I am places where electronics are not permitted, and now I will.

-- George


P.S. – I am thinking about buying a Rolodex. I haven’t used one them in years, but I am thinking it might be a good idea to get one again.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

George Sheldon Photography Web Site

My web site -- George Sheldon Photography (www.georgesheldonphotography.com ) is taking shape. I've been adding sample images, lots of text, and will be adding more information over the coming days.

I just posted a lot of my sample images. I'll be swapping them in and out over the coming months. Some of the samples will be posted here soon.