Author Archives: Katherine Wikoff

Unknown's avatar

About Katherine Wikoff

I am a college professor (PhD in English, concentration rhetoric) at Milwaukee School of Engineering, where I teach film and media studies, political science, digital society, digital storytelling, writing for digital media, and communication. While fragments of my teaching and scholarship interests may quite naturally meander over to my blog, this space is intended to function as a creative outlet, not as part of my professional practice. Opinions are my own, etc.

A Thousand Cuts

I worked from Starbucks at Red Arrow Park for part of the morning and made a quick visit to their restroom before walking back to campus. Maybe because it was a quiet time of day, I noticed something about the floor … Continue reading

Posted in Milwaukee, Photography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Neighborhood Watch (Stump Sculpture, Carved Tree Art)

Apparently this is a thing, to have your dead tree turned into a work of art. I’ve been driving past this guy for several years now. Might he be described as a “wood wizard”? Today I finally made time to pull over and … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Creativity, Life, Nature, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In an Earlier Era of “Walkable Cities”

If you take a close look at some of Milwaukee’s older neighborhoods, you’ll notice that a hundred years ago (approximately, say 1870-1930) factories were surrounded not only by the modest cottages of workers but also by the mansions of the owners. Today you’d … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, History, Life, Milwaukee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wildebeests at the Watering Hole

A new series is beginning on BBCA (BBC America) tonight, “The Hunt,” originally broadcast last December on BBC One. Narrated by David Attenborough (who also narrated the brilliant “Planet Earth” documentary series), this new series apparently does something I’ve really never … Continue reading

Posted in Life, Nature, Television | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The World of the Train (Ten-Foot Poles and a Mother and Child Reunion)

That’s how it feels when you board the train: like you’ve entered into a self-contained world that moves, as if inside a tube, through the outside environment. Amtrak is the only way to go! If I can possibly manage it in … Continue reading

Posted in Life, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Ghost Sign (#2) – Seen in the French Quarter

I think maybe this was supposed to be a sign for Tutt’s liver pills, except there’s a window where the “T” would have gone. The photos below are from the first two hits from Google News, one from “The Florence … Continue reading

Posted in History, Life, Photography, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Storm Clouds over Mulate’s

We’ve had some thunderstorms this week in New Orleans. Thankfully I was inside during the worst one Monday evening. Incredibly powerful thunder and lightning, and very low in the sky…seemingly right overhead! I took this photo as I left the … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, History, Life, Photography, Travel | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What movie does my hotel shower remind you of?

Yeah, me too😄 I made sure all the doors were locked before I stepped in!

Posted in Life, Movies and film, Travel | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The French Quarter

Well, a very busy day at the actual conference yesterday, so the “French Quarter” post isn’t going up till today. My co-author Cindy and I presented our paper, and I think we have a great topic that I hope to … Continue reading

Posted in Food, Life, Popular culture, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Riding to (and on) the City of New Orleans

The big annual conference for engineering educators (ASEE) is happening this week in New Orleans. I hate flying (who doesn’t anymore?) and so booked a bedroom on the train from Milwaukee. I’ve always wanted to do that, and with a … Continue reading

Posted in Life, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments