Bicycles at an Amsterdam train station.
De Mug Biercafe
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Pimpin' Ain't Easy
We were on our way to Nebraska for Christmas when saw the magic blue bus. I couldn't identify the driver but there is a chance he was a bearded Soren wearing a NASCAR cap. No one ever said it would be easy.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Entertaining Spam
So, I was scanning my spam email. There are many emails about pharma pills, herbal supplements, cheap luxury goods, and requests for my bank account #, but the funniest pertain to penis enlargement. My favorite is the last one. In light of this information, perhaps I should get into the business of selling nostrums to decrease the size of a woman's vagina.
shock the shit out of her when your big cock slams her...
you've waited this long to enlarge your cock?
your prays to have big dick finally came true. Simply follow this metho...
yes it gets big, yes it gets strong, yes you can do it
its no good thinking your dicks big when it aint
if your sick of the girls leaving, enlarge your pole
failed on your first date, because your "friend" was small enough?
remember, everything comes up to a size in this world!
1, 2 oh no 3 orgasms! WOW you can have them too, its simple.
a night on the town? dont get caught out with a wee winky! get a gorill...
hello, I am pretty russian girl, bored tonight. would you like...
its super easy to make your dick big, reap the benefits
your new you will be the dream of all women
want to have true manpower, look in Khamsone maple...
make your lassie tremble in your arms
shock the shit out of her when your big cock slams her...
you've waited this long to enlarge your cock?
your prays to have big dick finally came true. Simply follow this metho...
yes it gets big, yes it gets strong, yes you can do it
its no good thinking your dicks big when it aint
if your sick of the girls leaving, enlarge your pole
failed on your first date, because your "friend" was small enough?
remember, everything comes up to a size in this world!
1, 2 oh no 3 orgasms! WOW you can have them too, its simple.
a night on the town? dont get caught out with a wee winky! get a gorill...
hello, I am pretty russian girl, bored tonight. would you like...
its super easy to make your dick big, reap the benefits
your new you will be the dream of all women
want to have true manpower, look in Khamsone maple...
make your lassie tremble in your arms
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Football and Marathon
This morning Marye and I cycled into downtown Minneapolis and arrived at The Local just before 7:30am. We watched a dramatic match between Arsenal and Manchester United. Although I prefer to sleep longer on Saturday mornings, the level of play and atmosphere were worthwhile. Then we ate at Hell's Kitchen. I had the bison bison benedict.
Now I'm surfing the world wide web. I looked at the Olympic trials marathon results. Ryan Hall had an incredible day in a race full of talent. Huge props to Jason Lehmkhule in 5th place. NBC showed a half hour of race coverage at 1pm. Wankers.
Now I'm surfing the world wide web. I looked at the Olympic trials marathon results. Ryan Hall had an incredible day in a race full of talent. Huge props to Jason Lehmkhule in 5th place. NBC showed a half hour of race coverage at 1pm. Wankers.
Surly Darkness
Marye and I cycled to the Blue Nile last Tuesday evening for the purpose of sampling the Surly Darkness, a Russian Imperial Stout. First we ate dinner with our fingers, using the Ethiopian injera bread as utensils. We saw Tim S. and his girlfriend, also there for dinner & Surly. My co-worker John met us there too. I enjoyed 2 of the Darkness and 1 Bell's Batch 8000, which can best be described as an Imperial Witbier. Whoa.
MIAC
Last Saturday we watched the MIAC cross country championships at Como Park in St. Paul. The weather was sunny and about 50 degrees. Macalester was hosting the meet and several of us volunteered to help with the race. But only two of us were assigned the most prestigious duty: assistant starting official. Tim was at one end of the starting line and I was at the other. When the start blew his whistle, we raised a yellow flag and verified all the runners were set. Then we lowered the yellow flag and raised the white flag. Peace dudes. Then the gun sounded and the ground rumbled.
I don't know any of the runners, but it's always fun to watch a cross country race in late October. A Bethel runner went out fast, followed by a Johnnie. Then the Johnnie took the lead and proceeded to annihilate the field. I've never seen a lead like that open so early, and get bigger. I think he won by 53 seconds. St. John's won the team race. Macalester was 8th; I imagine the men are a little disappointed.
After the meet we gathered at Tim's house for the soup cook-off. There were five entries: Tunisian chili, Oma's tomato soup, southwest chicken tortilla soup, beer cheese soup, and the Liz Connor's special pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, cheese tortellini soup. God damn. It was a feast. There was also bread and scotcheroos. And I brought a growler of the remaining Witbier. So full. Need a bigger stomach. Then we played the phrase-pictionary-telephone game. Always good times. Next year I'm having a steak cook-off at my house ; )
I don't know any of the runners, but it's always fun to watch a cross country race in late October. A Bethel runner went out fast, followed by a Johnnie. Then the Johnnie took the lead and proceeded to annihilate the field. I've never seen a lead like that open so early, and get bigger. I think he won by 53 seconds. St. John's won the team race. Macalester was 8th; I imagine the men are a little disappointed.
After the meet we gathered at Tim's house for the soup cook-off. There were five entries: Tunisian chili, Oma's tomato soup, southwest chicken tortilla soup, beer cheese soup, and the Liz Connor's special pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, cheese tortellini soup. God damn. It was a feast. There was also bread and scotcheroos. And I brought a growler of the remaining Witbier. So full. Need a bigger stomach. Then we played the phrase-pictionary-telephone game. Always good times. Next year I'm having a steak cook-off at my house ; )
Monday, October 22, 2007
Ethics & Self-Interest
"If we are to make properly considered ultimate choices, we must first become more aware of the ethical ramifications of the way we live. Only then is it possible to make ethics a more conscious and coherent part of everyday life." - Peter Singer.
The Economist was first published in September 1843 to take part in "a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress."
Peter Singer and the Economist. Neither advocates ignorance.
The Economist was first published in September 1843 to take part in "a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress."
Peter Singer and the Economist. Neither advocates ignorance.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
San Diego
I flew to San Diego on Sunday October 7 to attend the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA) 2007 conference for one whole week. I stayed at the Bahia Resort Hotel. Very nice. The hotel is situated on a little peninsula extending into Mission Bay. And it's only a short walk to to Mission Beach, Pacific Ocean! Before I write about the conference, I have to mention the Monday night sports at the Sandbar: mad drama as the Cowboys defeated the Bills and Cleveland fired the Yankees. So, Monday consisted of a maritime tour. San Diego Bay is home to a United States Naval Base. I saw two aircraft carriers: the Nimitz and Ronald Reagan. I saw many other navy ships being repaired and several being built. San Diego Bay is also a busy port for enormous cruise ships. I also toured the Star of India, the Surprise, and an old school Soviet submarine. The Star of India was built in the 1800s. It carried cargo all over the world and help populate New Zealand. The Surprise was like a Royal Navy frigate; it was actually used in the movie Master and Commander. Our guide was fountain of historical knowledge. After learning more about the life of sailors, it was especially pleasing to imagine Joseph Conrad on the high seas. On Tuesday I toured two household hazardous waste facilities and two electronics recycling facilities. The conference sessions started on Wednesday. I presented on Thursday and festivities wrapped up on Friday. The conference was stellar. I met many intelligent, motivated people who help act as our Earth's immune system. I learned of several initiatives and experiences that I can apply to my job. Good times. Marye and I cycled around on Friday afternoon and Saturday. We toured La Jolla and were almost as lazy as the seals we watched. We also followed a bicycle route into downtown San Diego and visited the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, and Old Town. San Diego is a place where men and women can coexist in thermal harmony. Warm sun & cool air. Not too hot - not too cold. Big ups. Now I'm back in Minneapolis, dealing with the October monsoon.
21st Century
For the first time in my life I am paying $$$ the world wide web. Amazing. Now I am virtually guaranteed access through the apparatus attached to the light pole on the corner of our lot. We signed up for Minneapolis wireless through USI Wireless. The cost was $179 for one year. We reluctantly chose the slowest speed, but the megabits stream fast enough to watch Conan clips on YouTube. In the year 2000 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will become a porn star known as Dwayne "The Johnson" Johnson. Anyway, it's good to have internet. I feel empowered.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Extinction Level Event
Gorillas head race to extinction: Gorillas, orangutans, and corals are among the plants and animals which are sliding closer to extinction
What a sad news story! I am definitely not going to do anything about it.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Lake Street USA
Last week Marye and I went to the opening of the Lake Street exhibit at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. Paul, Mary, and Liz were there too. The exhibit, called "Right on Lake Street," will run through March 9, 2008. It is a collaboration of Macalester College and In Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT). It contains historic photos of Lake Street going back to 1892. Lake Street spans six miles between Minneapolis and St. Paul, covering a busy commercial area and wandering into 14 neighborhoods. HOBT has helped to make the exhibit interactive using its papier-mache techniques. Macalester contributed by having students from 12 classes do projects on various aspects of Lake Street. Go Mac!
The rhythms of Sowah Mensah's African drum ensemble carried four stories and filled the hall with fresh beats.
We listened to the spoken word of Roy McBride. Roy walked us up and down Lake Street over time, shaking a thousand grains against a shell, stroking the prominent spine of a frog with a piece of wood, whirling a tube to produce a winter wind, striking metal, bending the sound quickly and slowly, and reading poems while his companion played the conga drums.
lake street, lake street
it's a great street
straight street
lake street
Then we took a look at the exhibit. It's always good to see historical photos. Who knew there was an amusement park at Lake and Hiawatha back in the day? Wooden rollercoaster anyone?
The finale of the evening was a performance by Kevin Kling, who presented an abbreviated version of his one-person play, 21A. The 21A is a bus line that beings in Uptown where Lake intersects Hennepin, continues across the river, becomes Marshall, detours around the Midway, and goes east on Selby into downtown St. Paul. Kevin Kling portrayed six different people on the bus, one at a time. The audience marveled at the freaks and weaved each singular character’s words into flowing conversations and events.
The rhythms of Sowah Mensah's African drum ensemble carried four stories and filled the hall with fresh beats.
We listened to the spoken word of Roy McBride. Roy walked us up and down Lake Street over time, shaking a thousand grains against a shell, stroking the prominent spine of a frog with a piece of wood, whirling a tube to produce a winter wind, striking metal, bending the sound quickly and slowly, and reading poems while his companion played the conga drums.
lake street, lake street
it's a great street
straight street
lake street
Then we took a look at the exhibit. It's always good to see historical photos. Who knew there was an amusement park at Lake and Hiawatha back in the day? Wooden rollercoaster anyone?
The finale of the evening was a performance by Kevin Kling, who presented an abbreviated version of his one-person play, 21A. The 21A is a bus line that beings in Uptown where Lake intersects Hennepin, continues across the river, becomes Marshall, detours around the Midway, and goes east on Selby into downtown St. Paul. Kevin Kling portrayed six different people on the bus, one at a time. The audience marveled at the freaks and weaved each singular character’s words into flowing conversations and events.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Enjoining God
This is good...
Nebraska State Sen. Ernie Chambers is suing God. He said on Monday that it is to prove a point about frivolous lawsuits.
Chambers said senators periodically have offered bills prohibiting the filing of certain types of suits. He said his main objection is that the constitution requires that the doors to the courthouse be open to all.
"Thus anybody can file a lawsuit against anybody -- even God," Chambers said.
Chambers lawsuit, which was filed on Friday in Douglas County Court, seeks a permanent injunction ordering God to cease certain harmful activities and the making of terroristic threats.
The lawsuit admits God goes by all sorts of alias, names, titles and designations and it also recognizes the fact that the defendant is omnipresent.
In the lawsuit, Chambers said he's tried to contact God numerous times.
"Plaintiff, despite reasonable efforts to effectuate personal service upon defendant 'Come out, come out, wherever you are,' has been unable to do so,'" Chambers said.
The suit also requests that the court, given the peculiar circumstances of this case, waive personal service. It said that being omniscient, the plaintiff assumes God will have actual knowledge of the action.
The lawsuit accuses God "of making and continuing to make terroristic threats of grave harm to innumerable persons, including constituents of Plaintiff who Plaintiff has the duty to represent." It says God has caused "fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes, pestilential plagues, ferocious famines, devastating droughts, genocidal wars, birth defects and the like."
The suit also says God has caused "calamitous catastrophes resulting in the wide-spread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth’s inhabitants including innocent babes, infants, children, the aged and infirm without mercy or distinction."
Chambers also says God "has manifested neither compassion nor remorse, proclaiming that defendant will laugh" when calamity comes.
Chambers asks for the court to grant him a summary judgment. He said as an alternative, he wants the judge to set a date for a hearing as expeditiously as possible and enter a permanent injunction enjoining God from engaging in the types of deleterious actions and the making of terroristic threats described in the lawsuit.
Nebraska State Sen. Ernie Chambers is suing God. He said on Monday that it is to prove a point about frivolous lawsuits.
Chambers said senators periodically have offered bills prohibiting the filing of certain types of suits. He said his main objection is that the constitution requires that the doors to the courthouse be open to all.
"Thus anybody can file a lawsuit against anybody -- even God," Chambers said.
Chambers lawsuit, which was filed on Friday in Douglas County Court, seeks a permanent injunction ordering God to cease certain harmful activities and the making of terroristic threats.
The lawsuit admits God goes by all sorts of alias, names, titles and designations and it also recognizes the fact that the defendant is omnipresent.
In the lawsuit, Chambers said he's tried to contact God numerous times.
"Plaintiff, despite reasonable efforts to effectuate personal service upon defendant 'Come out, come out, wherever you are,' has been unable to do so,'" Chambers said.
The suit also requests that the court, given the peculiar circumstances of this case, waive personal service. It said that being omniscient, the plaintiff assumes God will have actual knowledge of the action.
The lawsuit accuses God "of making and continuing to make terroristic threats of grave harm to innumerable persons, including constituents of Plaintiff who Plaintiff has the duty to represent." It says God has caused "fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes, pestilential plagues, ferocious famines, devastating droughts, genocidal wars, birth defects and the like."
The suit also says God has caused "calamitous catastrophes resulting in the wide-spread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth’s inhabitants including innocent babes, infants, children, the aged and infirm without mercy or distinction."
Chambers also says God "has manifested neither compassion nor remorse, proclaiming that defendant will laugh" when calamity comes.
Chambers asks for the court to grant him a summary judgment. He said as an alternative, he wants the judge to set a date for a hearing as expeditiously as possible and enter a permanent injunction enjoining God from engaging in the types of deleterious actions and the making of terroristic threats described in the lawsuit.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Mass Wasting
Mass wasting, also known as mass movement or slope movement, is the geomorphic process by which soil, regolith, and rock move downslope under the force of gravity. Types of mass wasting include creep, slides, flows, topples, and falls, each with their own characteristic features, and take place over timescales from seconds to years. Mass wasting occurs on both terrestrial and submarine slopes, and has been observed on Earth, Mars, and Venus.
When the gravitational force acting on a slope exceeds its resisting force, slope failure (mass wasting) occurs. The slope material's strength and cohesion and the amount of internal friction between material help maintain the slope's stability and are known collectively as the slope's shear strength. The steepest angle that a cohesionless slope can maintain without losing its stability is known as its angle of repose. When a slope possesses this angle, its shear strength perfectly counterbalances the force of gravity acting upon it.
Mass wasting may occur at a very slow rate, particularly in areas that are very dry or those areas that receive sufficient rainfall such that vegetation has stabilized the surface. It may also occur at a very high speed, wuch as in rock slides or landslides, with disastrous consequences. Factors that change the potential of mass wasting include: change in slope angle; weakening of material by weathering; increased water content; changes in vegetation cover; and overloading.
When the gravitational force acting on a slope exceeds its resisting force, slope failure (mass wasting) occurs. The slope material's strength and cohesion and the amount of internal friction between material help maintain the slope's stability and are known collectively as the slope's shear strength. The steepest angle that a cohesionless slope can maintain without losing its stability is known as its angle of repose. When a slope possesses this angle, its shear strength perfectly counterbalances the force of gravity acting upon it.
Mass wasting may occur at a very slow rate, particularly in areas that are very dry or those areas that receive sufficient rainfall such that vegetation has stabilized the surface. It may also occur at a very high speed, wuch as in rock slides or landslides, with disastrous consequences. Factors that change the potential of mass wasting include: change in slope angle; weakening of material by weathering; increased water content; changes in vegetation cover; and overloading.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Wedding and Vacation
Marye and I were in Berkeley over the weekend of June 23 for the wedding of Kevin Shively and Renee Shank. Andrea, Tim, John & Jo, and Brandon & Emily were representing the Macalester familia. We also visited with Pete briefly while we were in town. Then we rented a car a drove eastward to Yosemite, joined by Tim and Andrea for several days. Spectacular. We arrived back in Minnesota Sunday morning on the red eye. This weekend we will be traveling to Hastings, Nebraska, for my ten-year high school reunion. Sweet. If I had been thinking ahead, I would have grown a huge skanky mustache.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Sperm Stoppers
In a commercial for Trojan condoms that has its premiere tonight, women in a bar are surrounded by anthropomorphized, cellphone-toting pigs. One shuffles to the men’s room, where, after procuring a condom from a vending machine, he is transformed into a head-turner in his 20s. When he returns to the bar, a fetching blond who had been indifferent now smiles at him invitingly.
Fox and CBC rejected the commercial.
Fox said “Contraceptive advertising must stress health-related uses rather than the prevention of pregnancy.”
“It’s so hypocritical for any network in this culture to go all puritanical on the subject of condom use when their programming is so salacious,” said Mark Crispin Miller, a media critic who teaches at New York University. “I mean, let’s get real here. Fox and CBS and all of them are in the business of nonstop soft porn, but God forbid we should use a condom in the pursuit of sexual pleasure.”
Amen.
Fox and CBC rejected the commercial.
Fox said “Contraceptive advertising must stress health-related uses rather than the prevention of pregnancy.”
“It’s so hypocritical for any network in this culture to go all puritanical on the subject of condom use when their programming is so salacious,” said Mark Crispin Miller, a media critic who teaches at New York University. “I mean, let’s get real here. Fox and CBS and all of them are in the business of nonstop soft porn, but God forbid we should use a condom in the pursuit of sexual pleasure.”
Amen.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Most Emailed from BBC Website
If you guessed people were busy emailing stories about the chaos in Gaza or the seven men jailed for key roles in an al-Qaeda-linked plot to kill thousands of people in the UK and US, then you were wrong. Here are the most emailed stories from the BBC website when I looked today.
Woman jailed for testicle attack
'Aftershave drink' kills Russians
Men suffer from phantom pregnancy
Condoms 'too big' for Indian men
And my favorite which periodically finds its way to the top of the most-emailed rankings even though the story was reported many months ago: Sudan man forced to 'marry' goat.
Woman jailed for testicle attack
'Aftershave drink' kills Russians
Men suffer from phantom pregnancy
Condoms 'too big' for Indian men
And my favorite which periodically finds its way to the top of the most-emailed rankings even though the story was reported many months ago: Sudan man forced to 'marry' goat.
High School Reunion Questions
The Hastings Senior High class of 1997 reunion is the weekend after Independence Day. Here are the questions we should answer:
I am currently living at...
I work at...
My family...
Since I graduated High School 10 years ago I have...
My biggest achievement or my biggest mistake in the last 10 years is...
If I knew in High School what I know now I would or would not...
Who from our class have you connected with since HS that you did not know well 10 years ago?
What was one thing you thought so important that makes you laugh now?
The craziest place you have been in the last 10 years?
Additional comments or something I want to share...
I am open to fictitious suggestions.
I am currently living at...
I work at...
My family...
Since I graduated High School 10 years ago I have...
My biggest achievement or my biggest mistake in the last 10 years is...
If I knew in High School what I know now I would or would not...
Who from our class have you connected with since HS that you did not know well 10 years ago?
What was one thing you thought so important that makes you laugh now?
The craziest place you have been in the last 10 years?
Additional comments or something I want to share...
I am open to fictitious suggestions.
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