The World according to Bob
A personal web site could probably be considered an act of incredible narcissism—what kind of monumental ego does it take to think others would be interested in an unknown’s curious musings? I can truthfully say that my wife of forty-plus years doesn’t listen to me as she thinks the already knows what I’m going to say—and mostly, she does—while my son has gotten to the age where he is beginning to believe that I am not a complete blithering idiot, but with the occasional lifted eyebrow that indicates a concern that his male parental unit might be couple of bottles short of a six pack.
Perhaps a personal web site can be considered a form of Internet graffiti, a result of the desire for expressive creation that has been a part of human experience since cave paintings. A place to fling colorful thoughts into the web where visitors can come and go without being required to view.
Be welcome to my world view, but be aware, that like a graffiti artist, I am not waiting for, nor do I need your approval—so perhaps it is a form of artistic narcissism after all.
Robert Whitcome of Brandywine
is my persona in the SCA, one of many personas that I have had in my
life, such as student, teacher, sergeant, engineer—some voluntary:
• Calligrapher—everyone needs a hobby!
• Musician—just for fun.
• My SCA persona.
and some not so voluntary:
• Paratrooper—it was an accident—really!
• Systems Engineer—I majored in Graphic Design—Go figure.
• Instructional Designer—it just happened.
and some not at all voluntary:
• Soldier—I was drafted!
The use of symbols in communication is the common link to all the things I enjoy: Graphic Design, Calligraphy, Programing, Alphabets, Words, and Music. Symbols don't have to be visual as sounds and even smell can be symbolic. These pages represent a part of my exploration into symbols.
As for the picture on the right:
It's me at MOPP-3, in Ad-Dammam, Saudi Arabia, at 22:30 on 17 Jan 1991.
It was taken between SCUD attacks!
It was 95°F [35°C].
I have had better days!