Rob Ferrett

1 month ago | wpr.org | Rob Ferrett |Beatrice Lawrence

If you've ever wanted to explore the world of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," the best place to start might be Oshkosh. That's where a Wisconsin cartographer created dozens of maps that went into " The Atlas of Middle-earth," the official geographic guide to the world of author J.R.R. Tolkien. Her work went on to influence "The Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy. Like many readers, Karen Wynn Fonstad fell in love with the fantasy series and went through multiple readings.

Sep 30, 2024 | wpr.org | Rob Ferrett

When I was a kid, I decorated my room with maps. Not band posters, not movie posters. Nothing fancy. My grandparents had a National Geographic subscription, so I had a steady supply. World maps, maps of continents, one map of the ocean floor and another of the moon. And I was always a sucker for fantasy and science fiction books that opened up with a cool map of fantastic locations. Did I say "was"? OK, yeah, you can still lure me into a book with a good map. And games, too.

Jul 9, 2024 | wpr.org | Rob Ferrett

I’ve watched people play Kubb before. I should have paid closer attention. It’s my first time playing. NameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. And I have questions. Do I step into the throw? Do I stand still and crouch? And most importantly: Why can’t I hit the wooden blocks on the other side? And why is my co-host doing better than I am? Backing up a bit: Kubb is a Swedish lawn game.

May 14, 2024 | wpr.org | Rob Ferrett

Here’s something I will always be envious of: People who can speak more than one language. I have tried learning languages in different ways. Classes. A long streak on a popular language app. It never seems to stick. It feels like I don’t have a knack for it. I think that we all have the potential to learn to do new stuff. Even when we think we are built-in bad at something, we can still do it — if we just find the right inspiration, or the right teacher, or the right method, whatever.

Jul 12, 2023 | wpr.org | Rob Ferrett