Edmonton Space and Science Centre, January 1985

I've noted previously my fascination with drugstore cropping of negatives. On the left we have a restored image of the then-new Edmonton Space and Science Centre; on the right, the original 110 negative.

The centre had a great version of the Lunar Lander game back then, as well as scales telling you how much you'd weigh on each planet in the solar system. There was also a full-scale replica of the Canadarm. But my most vivid memory is of the electricity exhibit, in which you were instructed to place your thumb on a pair of contacts and then crank a handle as hard and as long as you could. Cranking the handle gave your thumb an electric shock, and it was quite a challenge to keep your thumb down and the crank turning for more than a few seconds. As James Bond might quip, "Shocking!"

Observing a Goat in Montana

On a trip through the northwestern United States in either 1983 or 1986, I shot this photo of tourists observing a goat at a national park in Montana. I was using my first camera, a Kodak that used 110 film. That little camera didn't have a lot of creative options - it was essentially a point and shoot - I think the composition is decent enough.

As we were leaving, we were briefly scrutinized by Secret Service agents because we passed very close to Vice President Bush's limo, who for some reason was visiting the park at the same time. We did not see the man himself, however; just his vehicle, with dark windows opaque to curious passers-by. "Observing a Bush in Montana" may have made a more interesting photo.

LATE UPDATE!
According to Mom, this photo was taken at Glacier Park, and I drove from High River to the US border in our old (well, pretty new then) Corolla hatchback. Our journey continued through Spokane and Seattle. When Mom and Dad went to San Francisco a few months ago they returned via Montana and walked up this same trail.

"The goats are still there. The walk was much harder 25 years later!"