MEDIA  &  NOTABLE  SNAPSHOTS

                            

THE OUTLOOK:   Feb, 1991:   a newspaper article at my alma mater, Oakton High School.  I was a junior.   I am the guy  with the pointy helmet to the right.... (I think I must have been showing off to Miss Gilmore who I had a bit of a crush on, (but was either a senior and/or seemingly out of my league).   That poor guy to the left was actually my friend Tim demonstrating the inability of flat helmets to glance a blow.....I heard Tim had a hard time finding dates afterwards.   

(Left)  A reproduced letter from  Anne R. Gossett, Director of the International Gallery as the Smithsonian Institution  in regards to a series of lectures  in conjunction with the Arms and Armor from Imperial Austria. 

(Above/Below):  The International Gallery hallway.   The  majority of the crowd flanked left and right sides as seen above.   Some 700 people attended the presentations over the several day period.

"Your program is exciting, humorous, immense and authentic- truly a quality experience !

  - Joyce Goetzinger,  Fairfax County Teacher

"Your visit to has the whole grade buzzing....it was so delightful and yet very informative"   

              -Sherry Cosby  Fairfax County Teacher

"As always we enjoyed your awesome presentation! Your sense of humor and love of history really shows through and is a wonderful example for the students." 

          -Ms.  Harris,  Fairfax County Teacher

"The program was a huge success.  Thank you again for your effort.  I hope you will be visiting our students again!  

      - Lucinda Sexton, Cultural Arts, Fairfax County

Your museum show "is geared to what we try to teach..the tie in of the ancient cultures to our own culture!"

-Margaret Graft,  Fairfax County Teacher

"Thank you so much for the sizable presentation...once again we appreciate your hard work and we look forward to working with you again."

-Elizabeth Rowson,  Fairfax County Teacher

"Your huge presentation brought the Middle Ages back to life!   What a thrilling experience for the students.

-Leslie Banister,  Fairfax County Teacher

Washington National Cathedral,   North West Tower   Washington, DC.    A lecture on the evolution of  arms  and  armour  delivered  to  Medieval specialists.   This is the same tower the famous Darth Vader gargoyle is located on I believe.

MCI,   1999:   A lecture given to Vint Cerf and MCI corporate staff. (Mr Cerf is now the at Google, as the Vice President & Chief Internet Evangelist.     Topic including a light-hearted 'paranoia' comparison of  999 AD  and 1999 AD.    Vint Cerf is widely regarded as the father of the Internet, or father of Internet protocol.  If you look carefully you can see a Star Trek pin on his lapel which he wears quite a bit.   While in the midst of photocopying some archeological research, I met Mr. Cerf and his wife trying to operate a photocopy machine.   Somehow in the process of  leaning over and assisting them (I knew the photocopy machines quite well, having spent innumerable hours copying hard to find/ out-of-print academic texts for my research).... we struck up a friendly conversation.   Mr. Cerf is one of the coolest and best dressed 'computer geeks' you'll have the pleasure of meeting---with a great sense of humor.     I tried to get a job in "Internet security,"  but I don't think I was what they had in mind.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,  INTERNATIONAL GALLERY   January 1993:   Nineteen  years old.   At this point, I had devoured anything I could read regarding the history of arms and armor, archeology, and Medieval history in general.    While only a freshman in college, and a novice to armour smithing (but three years at that point), I had enough combined knowledge under my belt to speak confidently about the technological evolution of armour, stylistic changes, and with respect to its construction.   In conjunction with the Arms and Armour from the State of Styria Austria,  I was asked to present a series of lectures over a 2 day period   Another very nice 'knightly' gentleman (who's name I do not recall) and his assistant also lectured.   The 'perks' included a chance to clean, handle and study man of the pieces in the exhibition.   I will pleased to be able to heft and nearly  'swing' a  6 foot long, two- handed sword  (flamberge) and examining maximillian, gothic and 17th century armour.   

  Fox News Morning broadcast show for Washington DC.   June 6, 2006   Hollin Meadows School.  Alexandria Virginia.  Most frequently asked question:  was I nervous?   Are you kidding me?   Live  In front of  a million people in the DC area, on less 24 hours notice  (usually its a week notice!)  and  less  than 2 hours of  sleep  preparing,  cleaning,  polishing armour....eh, just a little.   I was more upset that in my rush to leave the house I forgot my hair brush!   Its ironic that I am very used to speaking and performing live...I am passionate about it.   Being live on TV is a little different because you cant get a sense of your audience's reaction, ergo its truly an art.   Mr Morris truly earned her Ed Murrow and Emmy award!   Thats two people I know with Emmys....hmm, I wonder if I 'm onto something....  I wonder what would have happened if I had remembered that hairbrush....

BACK

THIS ARTICLE WAS TRICKY TO UPLOAD ...PLEASE FORGIVE THE GRAININESS: ONLINE ARTICLE HERE:    http://gazette.gmu.edu/articles/11961/

AN IMPORTANT  LETTER ACKNOWLEDGING MY EFFORTS IN EDUCATION EARLY ON...

JULY  1993  SOFTMORE IN COLLEGE  ONE OF THE FIRST WIDELY READ  ARTICLES ....NOTE  THE  SERIOUS  EXPRESSION.....

"Andrew, you are a gifted teacher.  You make

connections to people and cultures we have

never have thought of."     --Fairfax County Teacher

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