Yes, Another Quote

I apologize for my lack of posts lately. Perhaps I'll post more once I get an iPhone?

I liked this:

Advertising is a tax for having an unremarkable product

- Robert Stephens, Geek Squad

Far From Home Never Felt So Close

Unless you've been living under a rock (or perhaps an affluent suburb in the U.S. and don't pay attention to "news" outside of MTV), you've for sure heard of the earthquake that hit Chengdu, China recently.

This natural disaster struck just days after a cyclone ripped through Myanmar. The big difference between these two tragedies for me, as much as I hate to admit it, is the fact that I care a whole lot more about the tragedy affecting China.

It was eye opening to realize this -- and it was immediately apparent to me -- I care more simply because I have been to China and can easily find Chengdu on a map. We met people that were traveling there. And what's more, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe my sister actually got routed through Chengdu on her way to Beijing.

I think realizing this is a good lesson for me (and for everyone in this world). It's good to travel. It's good to interact with other cultures. It's good to step outside your backyard and shake hands with someone that speaks a different language. It's not only fun, but it creates more empathy in this world, and I'm pretty sure that's one thing we don't have enough of.

Happiness

This is simply too fun

Quote o' the Day

Cinco de Mayo? No, I don't like Italian.

Marketing where you least expect it. Genius.

I went to a Dunn Brothers coffee shop the other day to take a break and catch up on some email. When I pulled up my available wireless networks, I was greeted by a very effective use of free advertising.

I've got to give them credit. Not only was this mysterious "Asian Takeout" smart enough to realize that their neighbor (the coffee shop) would be full of laptop-carrying java junkies. But they had the forethought to 1) advertise in an extremely unconventional spot, and 2) have the goodwill to offer up free wifi as well. I don't know about you, but I've got the munchies.

Nothing Fake about Fakebook

This past Saturday night I volunteered for The Current's Fakebook series at The Fitzgerald, featuring Chuck D from Public Enemy, Slug from Atmosphere, and Brother Ali.

Brother Ali opened up the night with his energy-filled hit song Truth Is and got the crowd moving. After a few more songs, he walked off stage and was replaced by Mary Lucia and Chuck D. Mary interviewed Chuck D for about 45 minutes about music, politics, and just about anything. Brother Ali and Slug both performed a few more times, and then Mary wrapped up the session with both Chuck D and Slug together.

If you're not familiar with these guys, this probably doesn't mean much. But to see one of the most influential hip hop artists in history (Chuck D) with some of the area's best local music talent in an informal setting was awesome to say the least -- and the fact that MPR sponsors these events makes them that much cooler.

Art is a Gift

Make yours here.

Northwest is Now Delta* ???

I had heard the rumblings about Northwest Airlines and Delata merging, but for some reason I didn't think it would go through. That is, until I received this email tonight:

As a valued Northwest Airlines customer and WorldPerks^® member, I wanted you to be among the first to hear that we have announced a merger with Delta Air Lines. Subject to regulatory review, our two airlines are joining forces to create America’s premier global airline which, upon closing of the merger, will be called Delta Air Lines.

By combining Northwest and Delta, we are building a stronger, more resilient airline that will be a leader in providing customer service and value. Our combined airline will offer unprecedented access to the world, enabling you to fly to more destinations, have more flight choices and more ways than ever to earn and redeem your WorldPerks miles.

They forgot to add the most notable highlight of the merger to their list: more ways to screw Minnesotans over thanks to even less competition.

China, Our Travels

Most Americans, myself included, are not up to par on Chinese geography. Heck, most Americans would fail a 50 state test. So that's why I've put together a Google Map (have I mentioned before how much I love Google?) of our trip, and highlighted the various modes of transportation in different colors.

And speaking of modes of transportation, they were as diverse as the scenery. We traveled by:

• Airplane
• Train
• Bus
• Mini bus
• Subway
• Taxi
• Boat
• Personal car (it was a new Fiat)
• Bicycle
• Pseudo bicycle rickshaw
• Foot
• Zipline
  

Our path of travel, as it may not be apparent on the map:

• Flew into Beijing
• Overnight train to Xi'an
• Flight to Guilin
• Boat to Yangshuo
• Bus back to Guilin
• Flight back to Beijing
  

View Larger Map

China, The People

Mountains can be beautiful, lakes serene, and bustling cities energizing, but it seems time and time again that no matter where you travel, or what you encounter, it's the people that make the trip (and life) memorable.

So it shouldn't be surprising that the people we met throughout our trip fill a large portion of my memory. I'm going to continue with the list theme and bring you, in no particular order, the people that left the greatest mark:

• My sis -- Not too many people can travel with a sibling for 2 weeks straight. I think it's pretty cool.
• Xian, my sister's friend -- Xian was our official Chinese Lifestyle Consultant, Food Connoisseur, Tour Guide, and Translator. Our trip was a vacation when she was around. She walked, I followed. She ordered food, I ate. She hailed a cab, I got in. It was so easy and fun. Thanks sooo much Xian! (not that you'll see this, since China blocks Blogger, but maybe my sister can tell you about this post!)
  
• Master Director Wei -- He ran the Yangshuo Culture House, taught Jen and I Chinese calligraphy, brush painting, and taichi. He personally met us in town and got us a driver to his house. He hooked us up with 2nd row tickets to the most popular show in town. His mom(?) cooked us the most amazing meals. He's making a difference for all the lucky travelers that knock on his door.
• Chinese tourists -- What's with the peace sign anyway?
• Chinese people that like to photograph white people -- Jen and I couldn't figure it out. Over and over again, people would come up and pose with us as their friend took a photo with their cameraphone. Or, they would try to be sneaky about it and snap our photo in a semi-covert fashion.
• Chinese babies -- my friend Diana's said it before, and now I believe her. Chinese babies just might be the cutest babies out there. I'm guessing it's the adorable round faces and chubby cheeks. And speaking of chubby cheeks, all toddlers still undergoing potty training would wear these little pants with a crack down the backside, so their butts would be hanging out. It was so rediculously funny and cute -- definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
• Trinket / Beverage Sellers -- You can't go to any tourist location in China without getting attacked by a gaggle of trinket and/or beverage sellers. Who knew I could get a beer on The Great Wall?
• Old man with tangerines -- We were hiking past him and for no reason but his pure goodwill he shared his bag of fresh tangerines with us
• Seven Stars Park Cave Guide -- Our tour guide was super nice, peppy, spoke English very well, and always made a point to make sure Jen and I saw and understood everything. Why can't all tour guides be this way?
• Shady McShadester -- To the man that sold us Oreos but switched them out with bad imitation knock-offs: you suck.
• Tibetan man on the bus -- He asked our friend Xian, "Are they 'Hello'?"
  
• The Italian Couple -- If it wasn't for an Italian mother and son, Jen and I might still be stuck 20 miles outside Xi'an at the most overrated and random tourist trap on the map. We thought we'd see one more sight on the way to the Xi'an airport. Little did we know that once there, we were stuck. Can we get to the airport from here? No. Could they call a taxi for us? No. However, the local shop owner would drive us to the airport for very small fee of 100 rmb. That's not a lot of money ($14), but it was the principe -- he was ripping us off big time and he and everyone around us trying to "help" knew it. Enter the Italian mother and son duo on a personal guided tour through China. Not only were they going to the airport, but they were on our same flight. Could we offer them any money to pay for the ride? It was out of the question. Grazie mille.
• Other world travelers -- whether it was the fun couple that joined us for taichi, or the couple from Alaska that shared a Yak cheese pizza with us, or the Australian couple that we ran into unexpectedly in two different cities, or the South African couple on The Great Wall tour that told me of their wonderous year-long around the world trip, traveling throws you into the midst of amazing, diverse, like-minded, interesting, fun, and nice people. It gives me hope.
  

China, The Food (Young Joe, Chow Fat)

I have to admit, I was a little nervous about what type of food I would find in China. How would I order? Do they eat dog, or is that just a stereotype? Would I be presented a plate full of squishy things with tentacles? Raw things? Pigeon? Donkey? Would I hang my head and succumb to Mickey D's? Could I last 2 weeks on Snickers and beer?

All my worry was for naught. The food was spectacular. I'm starting to realize there's a reason why people in different parts of the world eat different foods -- because they know something we don't, and that something tastes good.

A few highlights:

• Hot Pot -- Think Chinese fondue, but with water instead of oil. Take loads of thinly sliced lamb, fresh greens, mushrooms, ginger, dough, potatoes, fish balls, noodles, and tofu and cook them together in a pot of simmering water in the middle of your table. Add beer, friends, and dipping sauces, and you're guaranteed a good meal.
• Peking Duck -- We were honored to eat duck number 1,150,325,487, and we have the certificate to prove it. Since 1864, Quanjude has been serving its famous Peking (roast) duck. Order your duck, and they wheel out a silver cart and carve it for you on the spot. Duck breast, skin with fat, and head are all presented. Take a few sprigs of spring onion, dip the duck in a dark, thick, amazingly tasty sauce, and wrap it in a small rice-based tortilla. Mmm, mmm good. Bonus entertainment comes when they fill up your tea pot. Instead of a basic pour, it's more a perfectly arched jet of water.
• Street Food -- From sweet sticky rice treats to skewered lamb kabobs rolled in cumin and rosemary, you could find just about everything from a street vendor.
  
• Dumplings -- How can you go wrong? Mash up a bunch of pork, beef, tofu, shrimp, or your favorite choice of protein, add some vegetables, and wrap them in a bun and steam or pan fry to your liking. Yum.
• Donkey Pancakes -- Braised donkey in a pita pocket. Who knew?
• Red Bean This, Red Bean That -- I don't know if red beans are naturally sweet, or the Chinese just picked them to use in pastries and artificially sweeten them. But honestly, I don't really care. From red bean lattes to red bean scones, we were pleased.
  
• Home Cooked Goodness -- We were fortunate enough to stay at the Culture House in Yangshuo, home of Master Director Wei. And let me tell you, he deserves every bit of the title "Master Director". At night we sat down at a large dining table with the 8 or so other travelers staying in the same house. An older woman (perhaps Wei's mother?) would bring out heaping dish after dish until the lazy susan in the middle of the table couldn't hold anymore. The food was by far the best we had the enitre trip. Since we were in the south, the ingredients were fresh. The sauces were perfect. Jen fell in love with the dumplings. I obsessed over the stuffed peppers and ginger pork. I would go back to China simply to learn the cook's secrets. You think I'm kidding.

China, The Highlight Reel

Shortly after our trip started, Jen and I decided to keep a list of highlights and anti-highlights (memorable moments, but not in a good way).

A number of these probably won't make sense unless you've been to China or were on our trip, so feel free to ask if you'd like further explanation... (and many of these will link to photos once I have them uploaded, so you'll have to check back later)

Highlights

• Flight to China and getting bumped to business class for no apparent reason
• Personal tour guide / lifestyle consultant / food orderer: Xian
  
• Water show at Grand Goose Pagoda
• Hot Pot
• Pot Stickers
• Grandma's cookies
• Buying Chinese Rolex
• Red Lantern Hostel
• Seven Sages Hostel
• Sweet Sticky Rice
• Chinese babies' butts
• Old man Mao outfits and glasses
• Forbidden City
• The Italian couple
• Western breakfast
• Western toilets
• Eastern clean
• Terracotta Warriors
  
• "Are they 'Hello'?"
• Megaphones
• Guilin Seven Stars Park: tour guide, peacock photo, man with free tangerines, Bill Clinton podium, ink blown painting, golden rat, temple(s)
• Guilin Backpackers Inn
  
• Yangshuo
• Biking in countryside outside of Yangshuo
• Not getting followed up Half Moon trail by old ladies selling water and coke
• Master Director Wei and his Culture House
• Chinese Calligraphy, brush painting, and taichi lessons from Master Wei
• Fresh banana and lemon yogurt smoothies
• Home cooked Culture House food
• Impressions Liu Sanjie light show, with door-to-door service and 2nd row seat while paying less than face value of ticket
• Yak meat, Yak cheese pizza, Yak cafe
• The Great Wall
• Ziplining down from The Great Wall
  
• Donkey Pancakes
• Peking Duck
• Jasmine tea
• Full body and foot massage
• The Summer Palace
• Wu-Mart
• Dried Fish
• Red bean latte, scone, and pastries
• Signs written with poor English grammar
  

Anti-Highlights

• Fake Oreo switcharoo
• Deer Park
• Last-minute flight booking
• Counterfeit 100 yuan bill
• Chinese Rolex breaking. Twice.
• Pearl Market aggressiveness
• Dried persimmons
• Flight delay and cancellation
  
• Mr. Bond coffee
• The bus ride to The Great Wall
  
• Flight back home in economy where nothing worked (no movie, no dimming of lights, lack of food selection)
• Being hassled everywhere to buy cheap crap
  

China is Great, but Doesn't Like Blogger

I just returned from a two week trip through China. I had hoped to blog a little bit along the way, but remembered once I sat down at the computer that China blocks the major blog sites.

It's difficult to sum up a trip to a (new-to-me) foreign country that's not a part of the Western world. You'll have to bear with me as I collect my thoughts (and photos) into a hopefully coherent summary.

Ready, Let's Go!

Take a roller coaster and cross it with a pinball machine. Then bring the temperature down below zero. Throw in a bunch of snow and ice. Next, toss a handful of uber-excited, incredibly strong dogs that live for nothing in life but to pull (something, anything, and everything), and you have the perfect recipe for dog sledding.

I think my friend and coworker Heather summed up our dog sledding trip quite well with two very different statements:

• "what the hell [have I gotten myself] into"
• "I was amazed at how relaxed I was upon completion of the experience...we spent 4 full days not thinking about work, regular-life obligations or anything else. It was all about the experience and getting from point A to point B. Such a clear mind is so hard to come-by and it was weird to experience it so fully for such an extreme amount of time."

Outward Bound led our 4 day dog sledding expedition through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This was my second Outward Bound trip, and I can't speak highly enough about the organization and all of the instructors I've interacted with. They're incredibly knowledgeable, concerned about your safety and well being, and give their all to make sure you have an amazing experience. If you're ever considering an outdoor adventure, I highly recommend checking them out and the wide variety of trips they offer.

From sun-up to sun-down, we were active. Whether it was stomping through thigh-deep snow to find a good tree to saw down for firewood, or pushing and pulling with all our might to stop our sled from falling into a ravine, or chipping away at 24 inches of ice to get a water hole, we were working.

In the morning we boiled water, fed the dogs, took down camp, ate a little breakfast, and got the cross-country skiers off to break trail and set the pace for the day. The ones mushing were left to finish packing the sleds and harness the dogs.

The dogs were fantastic. Each had his or her own unique personality. Some were crazy, others shy. Some drank their soup as fast as their tongues could lap, while others didn't budge when you set a bowl in front of them. At night they would randomly start howling in unison, and then stop on a dime as if a conductor had flicked his wrist.

The one thing the dogs all had in common (for the most part) was their love for pulling. They would bark and whine if we stopped on the trail for more than 2 minutes. And getting them hitched in the morning was like trying to get a child to walk and not run on their first visit to Disneyland.

The Boundary Waters proved to be a perfect place for a dog sledding trip -- beautiful wide open lakes, tight portages for exciting ups, downs, and turns, and nobody for miles and miles. I'm happy to report that although we woke up to -10, we were never really cold. I did smash my pinky between the sled and a tree, but that was the worst of it for our group. Oh yes, and I (and the rest of my team) did hop in the frozen lake at the end our trip after getting in the sauna. There's nothing quite like it -- much like dog sledding -- and I encourage you to try both.

Into the Wild, well, sort of

So I'm heading out into the great white north tomorrow for my first-ever dog sledding trip. If I don't lose a finger or part of my nose I'll consider it a successful adventure.

Supposedly there's an opportunity to take a polar bear plunge of sorts at the end of the trip. I'm posting that now so you, my faithful readers, hold me to it and will rip on me in case I wimp out.

Hoping for some exciting pictures to follow. I'll see you in a few.

St Vincent

Last night a few of us saw St Vincent both rock out and woo the audience at the Cedar Cultural Center. As St Vincent walked past us off the stage, my friend Jeff summed the evening up best: "she's adorable".

AND, she can play one mean guitar.

But don't take my word for it; see what my African sister across the pond listed as her top album of 2007.

Lunar Eclipse

Anyone catch the lunar eclipse last night?

I didn't bring out my camera for the eclipse because the last time I tried to photograph the moon it was either too bright and washed-out or too dark without enough contrast.

However, I did learn recently that on average, the moon moves the size of its diameter about every two minutes. So keep that in mind next time you take a long exposure at night...

I'm interested in too much stuff

That's my memoir in six words. See others and share yours here.

The Current Saves the World

Call me crazy, but 89.3 The Current is one of the top 10 best things in Minnesota. Actually, if the voting were up to me, I'd put it into the top 5. Maybe even top 3.

It's a place where real people (not faceless DJs) play real music -- not just the over-produced Nickelback-wannabes that Clear Channel and MTV try to throw in your face. Tonight, on this lovely Valentine's Day, Mark Wheat has been serenading us devote listeners with the top love songs of all time. Come midnight, they will kick it Wedding Singer style and play the top break-up songs of all time.

Curious to see what made the list? Check out The Current's playlist.

Could you ask for anything more?

Happy Don't Get Tossed into the Doghouse Day!

Walking into Target tonight around 9:30, I stumbled across a group of men desperately searching for what surely must have been the most thoughtful and meaningful way to show their undying love for their significant others. It was a Hallmark dream come true.

I don't know about you, but nothing says "I love you" like buying a greeting card that someone else took the time, energy, and thought to create.

And that, my friends and random readers, is why Valentine's Day sucks.

Smart Car

Tonight I saw my first state-side Smart Car pulling onto Minnetonka Blvd in wonderful St Louis Park. I had heard they were coming to the U.S., but didn't realize how soon...I have to admit, it looked a little funny sitting next to an SUV at a stoplight, but I do like them. I can't fit into them, but I like 'em.

Polling Place Photo Project

Thanks to my trusty VSL newsletter, I was informed about the NYT Polling Place Photo Project in time to play an active role in history. I had planned on attending the caucus tonight anyway, so it didn't take a whole lot of convincing to bring along my camera.

The idea behind the polling project is fairly simple:

The Polling Place Photo Project is a nationwide experiment in citizen journalism that encourages voters to capture, post and share photographs of this year’s primaries, caucuses and general election. By documenting local voting experiences, participants can contribute to an archive of photographs that captures the richness and complexity of voting in America.

This was my first caucus, and although I didn't stay till the end, I did linger long enough to soak up the energy in the room. There was definitely a buzz in the air, and you could get a genuine sense that this is what the U.S. is all about -- every age, race, and socioeconomic status coming together to make their voices heard. It's a brilliant idea.

I snapped a few photos for the project, but didn't want to be overly obtrusive since voting can be a very private experience for some people.

Two highlights from the night:
1. Seeing Al Franken
2. Overhearing a teenager whine, "Mommy, I want to go vote now."

It's Good to be a Guy

Had a guy's getaway this past weekend over in Hayward, WI. The highlight for me was playing hockey out on the freshly shoveled (thanks Achter) patch of frozen Sand Lake with two broomsticks, a squeegee, and a shovel. Halftime consisted of peanuts, beers, and a discussion on the finer points of playing hockey without knowing how to stop. Good times.

Photo Tip of the Day

Aperture controls your flash, shutter speed controls ambient light.

And don't forget it.

I Didn't Vote for Bush, so he Gave me a iPhone

As you've probably heard, Bush wants to give us money. Never mind that the average American's personal savings rate is negative AND it's the lowest it has been since the Great Depression -- Bush wants us to spend, not save. It's good for you. Come on, we're Americans. We love spending money.

If G Dubya's plan makes it through, I think for once I'll acquiesce. Instead of saving the money (as I think everyone should), I'm going to spend it as quickly as possible.

You'll find me buying an iPhone at the local uber-cool Apple store quicker that you can say "crackberry". That is unless, of course, Steve Jobs hasn't increased the iPhone's storage capacity by then. If that's the case, I'll probably just head over to Wal-Mart and buy as many trinkets as possible. I just can't get enough trinkets.

Can it Get Any Better?

Mark Your Calendars!

January 31st is International Delete Your MySpace Account day.*

Be there, or be square.

*Brought to you by your friendly FaceBook team.

2008: The Year of Adventure; Or: The Year I Blew All My Savings

I don't know what's gotten into me.

At the end of February I am going dog sledding for 4 days out in the Boundary Waters.

In March I'm going to China for 2 full weeks.

Cheers to a year full of adventure.

Werid, huh?

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

--I read something similar to the above years ago while waiting in line to partake in a taste-testing panel. I've always thought it was pretty interesting...

Give Me Multi-Touch

So I don't need the world's thinnest notebook, but I do like where Apple's going. I'm actually a tiny bit frustrated -- because now that I've seen the multi-touch trackpad, I want one on a MacBook Pro. Which now means I'm going to put off buying a laptop even longer. This may be a brutal cycle -- I'll be paralyzed by waiting for the next great feature that I'm convinced will be just around the corner.

I Told Myself So, But I'm Still Not Listening

A few years ago, right before Christmas, I told myself I should buy some Apple (APPL) stock, thinking that surely iPods will be a big holiday gift and their stock will rise at least a little bit. I wish I would have listened.

Tomorrow is the Macworld Expo, where many analysts and Mac-addicts are theorizing that Steve Jobs, in his signature black turtleneck, jeans, and white sneakers, will announce a flurry of enhancements to the Mac and MacBook, Apple TV, and various other products.

Personally, I've been waiting for tomorrow for some time. Not because I'm an Apple junkie (OK, so I might be slowly turning into one), but because I want to buy a MacBook and figured I might as well wait a couple months till they announce the latest upgrades.

Realizing that there may be thousands if not millions of other consumers thinking the same thing, one would expect their stock price to take another slight jump tomorrow. I'm telling myself again I should buy some APPL stock, and I still don't think I'm listening yet. It only fuels my fire to read this from CNN.com:

Over the past three years, shares of AAPL have seen consistent appreciation as a result of the Macworld event. On the day of the event, share price increases 2.8% on average; however, shares rise an average of 9.2% from the closing price the day before Macworld through the week after the event.

Maybe one of these days I'll finally listen to myself. Until then, I want my iPhone.

It Sucks to Be Me

OK, that's a lie. I'm pretty happy being me. But I saw Avenue Q (think Sesame Street meets Dave Chappelle) last night and It Sucks to Be Me turned out to be my overall favorite song.

The show was funny, and I especially enjoyed the Gary Coleman references, but I don't think it passed the "mother-approved" filter...so Mom and Dad, I would pass on it -- and let the twenty-somethings sing along to Everyone's a Little Bit Racist.

Tip of the Week

For the guys:

We've all been there...you're at a bar / club / wedding reception hanging out with the boys, enjoying a beer, and having a good laugh. A girl comes up and asks you to dance, and although it sounds fun, it just doesn't sound fun at that moment.

Here's what you do.

Pause for a moment. Take a drink. Smile, and then reply, "I am dancing."

The Only Thing You'll Ever Need to Know about Dancing

Happy 2008

Most people agree that New Year's Eve is over-hyped. Much like Hallmark lives for Valentine's Day, bars, clubs, hotels, and DJs around the world live for NYE. When else can you charge a $50 cover and justify it by handing out 3oz of free "champagne"?

Don't get me wrong though -- my last two NYE celebrations were a ton of fun. My friends and I elected to go the all-inclusive route and dropped the big bucks to eat, drink, dance, and be merry till the wee hours of the morning.

So this year, the combination of fighting a cold and having no plans pretty much suffocated any dreams for a repeat blowout NYE celebration. That is, until I got a hold of Guitar Hero II.

In a very modern-day-American fashion, I literally ROCKED in the new year to none other than Rage Against the Machine's Killing in the Name. Ahhh yeah.

'Tis the Season to Buy Loads of (Cheap) Crap

Attention Shoppers:

If you don't already own enough stuff, and if you didn't receive more stuff for Christmas, now is the time to stock up on even more stuff. Simply stop by your local Target (or dare I say Wal-Mart), find your way to the very back corner where the remaining battered fake Christmas trees are still standing and go crazy.

Icicle lights, ornaments, wreaths, garland, and your favorite fiber optic snowmen are all on sale for 75% off! What's that? You already have so much stuff that the neighbors refer to your family as "The Griswolds"? Who cares?! It's 75% off!!! Get out there and buy more cheap crap!

The Thing About Shaving Your Head Is...

...it's cold. People living in Minnesota in December should not shave their heads. But that's what I did yesterday. Why do you ask? There are a few reasons, but one in particular: curiosity.

I've been trimming my beard for the past 3 years, and whenever I do, I always wonder what I'd look like if I just kept on trimming all the hair on my head to the same length.

I have a solid 2 weeks off of work and no big plans, so I thought I'd give it a whirl in hoping that if it looked absolutely horrible, those 2 weeks of hair growth would make it look only semi-horrible.

There are a few things that I've realized from this....

1) You have an idea in your head of what you look like. When you step in front of a mirror and you look nothing like that, you are incredibly shocked (And I still am. I don't know when this feeling will stop).

2) If I stare at myself long enough in the mirror, I start to think it's not so bad after all. It makes me wonder if we all have some sub-conscience self-respect process running in the background that kicks in every now and then as a survival tool to tell you that you're good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like you.

3) This haircut is only shocking to the people that know me, and nobody else.

4) Shaving your head is a great way to save money. If people get used to it, this could be my new summer 'do.

5) Shaving my head is the most exciting that has happened to me recently. How sad.

Glow-in-the-dark Cat Saves World

OK, so these kitties haven't solved global warming (yet), but they freaking GLOW IN THE DARK.

Can you believe it? Why hasn't this been headline news? What would bring more warmth into this cold, dark world than a cuddly little cat that literally glows with love? This is better than world peace, because it is world peace...that GLOWS!

They're Back

Dust off the spandex and stock up on your VHS tapes, because American Gladiators is back. Yes, you read that correctly. The Assault, Gauntlet, Joust, and your other favorite events are back and better than ever.

A friend of mine had the genius idea of starting a contest amongst us guys to see who could guess the names of the new Gladiators.

This of course sparked a flurry of emails, as all other issues, whether work, personal, or political in nature, paled in comparison.

A sample of what we've come up with...
Onyx, Bruiser, Shiloh, Falconer, SlamDance, Hail, Brick, Hurricane, Tsunami, Lynx, Steroid, Human Growth Hormone, Fireball, Canon, Dynamo, Comet, Axe, Vegas, Retro, Crash, Slam, Flame, Zeus, Volcano, Lars, and Tito.

What names would you pick?

Traveler IQ

Think you know your world geography?

Check out Traveler IQ.

My score: 175,781
Final Level: 6
Traveler IQ: 92

I got a little nervous and clicked poorly a few times, I think I could do better...

Looking to Buy Your Favorite Blogger a Christmas Present?

I'll take this.

Look Ma, I'm #7

So I'm not #1, but I'm ok with that.

Who knew taking a picture of an Ikea lamp would put me at #7 on Flickr Explore?

And while you're looking, that one guy's "happy SINKO DE MAYO" is pure genius.

My Onion Article

Chili tastes even better with bacon. More on page 4C.

Post Secret

Have a secret? Want the world to know?

Then write it on a postcard and send it to Frank Warren. Who?...And why?...Do you ask?

Check out his blog Post Script. And then go buy his book. I did.

Snow!

I can't believe it's finally snowing!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Light Rail and Bus)!

This past weekend Anders and I traveled to Chicago for a mutual friend's wedding. In honor of our Swansea days, we decided to switch it up and go old school.

What's old school do you ask? Traveling without an iPod??

No, my friend, we went by rail. I loved the days when I criss-crossed Europe by train, and I figured it was about time I did so state-side.

I'm happy to report the ride on Amtrak was smooth, comfortable, relaxing, and showed me a beautiful part of the Midwest that I had never seen before. In other words, it was everything an airplane can never be.

The wedding was great, dancing with the old Wales crew was incredibly fun, and reminiscing with everyone was both happy and sad. We flew back home, and to keep our public-transportation kick going, caught the light rail and a bus back to the Amtrak station where we had parked just a few days prior.

Has anyone else out there traveled by Amtrak? What's up with Americans being so against trains and public transportation in general?

Gunga Galunga

A little cheesy, yes, but good stuff...


Instruction for Life by the Dali Lama:

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R’s:Respect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
6. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
7. Spend some time alone every day.
8. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
9. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
10. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

1987 Never Felt so Cool

I don't know much about 1987.

I was more concerned about making the perfect fort and finding Chewbaca's missing arm than the terrible fashion trends plaguing our nation. Music was a mystery to me, minus my beloved Duran Duran tape (I rule!).

Now when I think of 80's music, the first thoughts to cross my mind are synthesizers, tight pants, and more cowbell.

So, as you can imagine, I was shocked when I recently realized that 1987 put out one of the greatest albums of all time -- U2's The Joshua Tree. What's that you say? But it's still relevant today? I know -- that what makes it so amazing. Not only does it rock your face off (Bullet the Blue Sky), but it also makes you think (I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For).

To commemorate this monumental album (AND to make more money for their new skyscraper), U2 just released a special 2 CD + 1 DVD "Limited Edition Super Deluxe" version of The Joshua Tree.

Bono for President.

Turn on the Magic of Colored Light

Do you know what rocks? Lite Brite. So what would any techno-nerd with a penchant for this wonderful toy do? Make a digital version, naturally. If it's good in real life, it must be better on the dot com, right?

Apparently, my sensitive green side came out when I created this. I'll have to work on a more appropriate manly scene...

1-800-GOOG-411

Ever wonder when IKEA closes? Ever land at the airport and really wish you had Thanh Do's number so you could place a take-out order on your way home? Or perhaps you've just finished canoeing down the Mississippi River and get the craving for Jerabek's New Bohemian Coffeehouse and Bakery but don't know how to find it?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then 1-800-GOOG-411 is for you...(if you answered yes to all three of the above, then we need to talk, because we have a lot in common).

Here's how it works:

You dial.
You say your city and state.
You say the business you are interested in.
They connect you free-of-charge. (and/or text you information including phone #, address, and link to a Google Map.)

So what are you waiting for?

Stingy Jack

My friend threw his 4th annual Jack-o-Lanternpalooza today. As I was taking the shot above (mine is the Pac Man) Anders and I were talking about how in the world the tradition of carving pumpkins would have ever gotten started.

So if you've ever wondered too, then read on:

History of the Jack-o-Lantern

People have been making jack-o-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with it ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o’lanterns.

Source: The History Channel
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/halloween/pumpkin.html

Customer Service Winner of the Day

I seriously found this online today while looking for (embarrassingly enough) magazine holders...

You may request a certain color in the comment section of the order form, however we cannot guarantee that we have it, or that you will receive the color you request.

She Loves Me, She Retails Me Not

Ever shop online and upon checking out see an option to enter a coupon or promotion code? Ever wonder who are the lucky souls that are so fortunate to claim free shipping or receive free lip gloss with orders over $9.99?!

Then make sure to visit RetailMeNot.com before your next online purchase. The site is an open forum where users post coupon/promotional codes for hundreds of online merchants. Run a search for your site, find the code that works best for you, and give it a shot -- you've got nothing to lose. I've used it a few times now and it's beautiful.

It even saved me 10% off my next Amtrak trip!...and I'm not joking. Come November, I'm heading to Chi-city in style. No, really. Yes, Amtrak.

Conet Project Track

Brad pointed out from my previous post that the Conet Project samples didn't play.

So here's a sample à la Last.fm (make sure to listen for at least a minute and a half):

The Conet Project – The Swedish Rhapsody [G2A]

Get Your Creep On

Looking for some scary "music" for Halloween, yet don't want your average screams, creaks, and howls?

Then check out the Conet Project. I heard about it a few years ago while listening to NPR. The short version of the story is just as eerie as the audio tracks: some guy discovered number stations being broadcast over short wave radio. These number stations typically broadcast some sort of simple lullaby or popular old tune followed by an array of numbers being read by (typically) a female voice. They are believed to have originated in the cold war, and are coded messages that are transmitting some sort of instructions. Think "the cow crows at midnight", or "the red boot shines when lit"...total nonsense to us, but it means something to someone (i.e. shoot that one dude).

If that's not creepy enough, then imagine finding these short wave signals being broadcast years later, without any sort of explainable source. The founder of the Conet Project has looked, and has had no luck. Some theorize that abandoned computers are sending them out. Others suggest there's some random guy holed up in an underground cave, still believing a nuclear winter is about to hit at any moment and doing his best to keep his spies informed. Whatever the case, these signals are not traceable...nobody knows where they're coming from.

They're broadcast in all sorts of styles and languages. Make sure to listen to a few samples online. And then get ready to really creep out the neighborhood kids...and yourself.

The Way Albuquerque Are

Albuquerque is:

• Dry
• Rocky
• Adobe
• Carne Adovada
• Green and Red Chiles
• Obsessed with Balloon Fiesta

Run Forrest, Run

The Twin Cities Marathon took place today amongst unusual heat and humidity for this time of the year. I ran in the 5k yesterday, and let me tell you, that is still the right distance for me -- it's long enough to feel like you did something, yet short enough that your knees don't feel like they're going to explode.

I love how marathons bring out the best in everyone. If you're a runner, you're pushing your physical limits. If you're a bystander, you're cheering on complete strangers out of pure goodwill and camaraderie

I'm thinking a 10k is next on my list...any recommendations out there?

Awesome RJD2 - Work it Out

That Blackberry is so last year

I had the pleasure of attending MIMA 2007 today in downtown Minneapolis.

It was a great introduction into the world of Interactive Marketing, and I came home energized about all of the exciting opportunities present in the field.

Favorite session: Advergaming: Architecting F-U-N Online, presented by Bret Hummel of Ham in the Fridge.

Favorite speaker: Jason Fried, founder of 37signals. He shared his mantra of Unconventional Collaboration, the subject of his book Getting Real (available to read online for free!). He made some very good and refreshing points that I'd like to summarize in a future blog post, such as: meetings are generally a waste of time, and don't use words like "need" and "easy".

All good stuff. Now if I can only stay focused enough to apply it...

Not a Total Waste of Time...

If you've been reading my ramblings for some time, you may recall this post from last December, where I described how I fixed the rear window of my VW and documented the process on Flickr.

I described the photo set as a "self-paced auto-mechanic class in high school that you never took but wished you had". To my surprise and elation (I helped someone!), it turns out that someone did take my class, and recently left me this comment:

This is precisely what I intend to do to my door today. The window's been held up by tape for long enough. Someone tried to cut the tape and get in. I'm just going to prop the thing up and remove the tape.

This photostream is exactly what I needed to make sure it could be done. Thank you.

The Other Favorite Salad

I recently co-discovered a deliciously easy salad.

Cubed fresh tomatoes
+ Cubed cucumber
+ Fresh basil, torn
+ Olive oil
+ (toss together)
-----------------------
= Quick and tasty

The basil brings the whole salad together with a wonderful nearly-sweet taste. But the hidden key to the recipe is the word "fresh" in front of tomatoes.

I feel sorry for people that have never had a fresh tomato, for they are missing so much. I have a feeling someone in the world is saying the same thing in regards to bananas and mangoes as I type...

American Hog

Proud to be an American? Yeah, sure I am. I love what this country stands for. (I don't necessarily love everything we do, but overall I think we generally have good intentions)

Proud to be one of the most wasteful consumers in the world? Not so much.

I just played the latest gaming sensation, Consumer Consequences. OK, so maybe it's not the latest craze, but stepping through the various avenues of wastefulness was an interesting lesson and reality check, regardless of how accurate it was. Apparently if everyone in the world lived like me, there would need to be 5.9 times the world resources. Yay for me.

Next time I go play soccer or ultimate, I promise I'll ride my bike....that is, if I'm not late...or if I'm not too lazy to pump up my tires...or it's not too cold...or too hot...

I'm Kind of a Big Deal

Like Will Ferrell? Want to be in a movie? Believe in donating to good causes? Have > $30,000 lying around that you don't know what to do with?

Then you've got to act fast!

Will Ferrell is auctioning off a cameo role in his upcoming movie, Step Brother. The highest bidder will win the chance to meet Will Ferrell and "star" next to him in at least one scene in the movie. 100% of the auction price will go to the Cancer for College fund, which gives scholarships to current and former cancer patients.

What are you waiting for? Time is running out!

Golf, Ultimate, and Soccer [oh my]

Why is it that any time I have a list of three things I feel compelled to add an "oh my" to the end? It's not very original, but I just can't help myself. Anyway, I digress...

Ever feel like you're growing up too fast? I think the remedy is to simply play a game. I feel like that's all I've been doing recently, and its refreshingly wonderful.

This past weekend I played 51 holes of golf, Tuesday night I played soccer in the pouring rain (I heart wool and synthetics), and last night I played pick-up ultimate frisbee with a random group of people.

The common thread? Playing. Try it. It's great.

All 5Ks Should be this Way

A beautiful fall day
+ Skiers
+ Dogs
+ Gorilla on rollerblades
+ Lumberjacks
+ Runners
+ Beer
-------------------------
= The James Page Blubber Run


This was the first 5k I've run where I passed the 3 mile mark and thought to myself, "No way, already? I want to keep going."

Kill the Gun

Quote of the Day

I AM going to the ISU v. Iowa [football game] tomorrow. Iowa is favored by 17.5 but they’ll have a hell of a time getting that half point.

Thought of the Day

If I ever own my own company, I'm going to do away with the boring HR term Sick Leave. I think I'll use Illin'.

Music Madness

What's stranger than the name Electric Fetus? How about seeing Talib Kweli perform a free full-set show at the 'Fetus. I thought for sure the show would be out in the parking lot. So I was a little surprised to find out upon arrival that people were simply packing themselves in between the racks and racks of CDs.

I also recently went to the Alarmists show at Mill City Live. The Alarmists rock, and are now competing with Mason Jennings and Stuart Davis for my favorite local band. Definitely check them out.

And last but not least, this past Friday I went to my favorite venue in Minneapolis, The Varsity, to see Vicious Vicious rock out to a crowd excited for their CD release show.

September looks like another busy music month. Gotta love that Minneapolis Music Scene.

I'll Take a Bowl of Split Plea Soup

Just had to make a last-minute plea on behalf of my friend to ask you to send an email off to SNL to request tickets for the upcoming season. Emails need to be sent by end-of-day August 31st. If you don't know what I'm talking about, please read this.

And if you know where the title of this post comes from without having to Google it, kudos to you.

I'm a Nobody

I volunteered at the Minnesota State Fair today for MPR's The Current. I thought it would be a great people watching opportunity, and not to mention a free ticket into the fair. Part of my job was to go up and greet anyone that approached the booth, talk to them about the fair (eat anything on a stick?), MPR, and hand out various freebies (buttons, magnets, etc).

One family briefly stopped in front of the booth and I knelt down to ask the little girl if she'd like a button. The mom started to walk away, pulling the girl behind her. The little girl looked up at her mom and asked, "Who was that?" Without looking back, the mom flatly said, "That's nobody, honey."

Sweet.

Cinque Terre

My 3rd painting, of Vernazza in the Cinque Terre -- top 2 favorite places in the world. This one took me wayyy too long. It could still use a little more work, but overall I'm pretty happy.

My next painting goal is to simply put more paint on the canvas and worry less about lines and shapes.

5 Minutes of Your Time

My friend needs your help -- he's been dreaming of seeing SNL in person for as long as he could stay up past 10:30pm. Every year he sends out this email to all of his friends, asking for their help in requesting tickets to the show. The email needs to be sent before the end of August -- just 10 days from now. Please take the 5 minutes to do so, and if you are so lucky, it would seriously make his year:

---

Aloha!

Hi, it's that time of year again when I have momentary hopes of finally seeing sketch comedy performed in Studio 8H of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York. I'd like to see a taping of Saturday Night Live and I would love 1 minute of your time to assist me. The tricky part is that tickets are distributed for the whole season by a lottery system and ticket requests are accepted ONLY in the month of August for the coming season.

What I ask of you is to copy and paste the brief message at the bottom and email it to:

snltickets {at} nbcuni.com
(I removed the @ sign in hopes of deterring spam-bots)

Please remember to add YOUR NAME at the end of the message, send in the request only once, and don't send this email as a forward to the NBC address.

If your name is drawn for two tickets, you'll get an email in September or October informing you. Then, you'd let me know and you will receive a very big thank you for your help and a New York souvenir of your choice. Thanks for your assistance!

Hello-

Please enter me in the 2007-2008 Saturday Night Live ticket lottery.

Thanks,

YOUR NAME HERE

Brains of Steel

Want a rockin' noggin? Go for a run.

Beef, It's What's for Dinner

When you think of beef, do you think of grilling out hamburgers on a hot summer day? Perhaps a thick juicy steak at your favorite restaurant? Me? I think of Japanese baseball.

Ok, so maybe I don't, but the US Meat Export Federation does. That's why they sent Nolan Ryan over to Japan last month to "win back the hearts and stomachs of the Japanese".

I know the Japanese enjoy baseball, but I thought that was just really weird. That is, until I stumbled across Nolan Ryan's Guaranteed Tender website.

Who knew?

Picnik Lives Up To Its Name

Take lots of photographs? Wish you had an easy way to remove aunt Mildred's red-eyes? How about crop out your unkempt laundry hamper? Or perhaps make your pasty-Norwegian-white skin not so transparent looking?

Look no further than Picnik. It's free (for the time being). It's super easy to use. It offers the features that 90% of consumers need. It can integrate seamlessly with Flickr and Facebook. It's online. You don't have to download a thing.

And possibly most impressive of all -- once your photo is loaded, editing with Picnik is done super-fast in real-time. No waiting for the page to reload. No annoying banner ads (for the time being).

I wanted to give it a whirl, and edited this photo. I uploaded it straight to Picnik, made a few incredibly painless tweaks, and chose to post the new and improved photo straight to Flickr. By doing so, I also chose to link my Picnik account to Flickr. I heart collaboration and APIs.

You know I couldn't resist...Picnik is a picnic.*

*Although Picnik is a great photo editing tool, the name is not. I forgot if it was picnic.com, piknik.com, picknik.com, etc. It took me 10 minutes to find the thing.

iBird and the Bee

I think Apple should have a theme song. And I think they should go with the Bird and the Bee's catchy tune, Again & Again.

In case you haven't heard, Apple just released a new version of its increasingly-popular iMac. And like all things Apple, its thinner and sleeker than its previous siblings.

I'm a fan of the famous ipod mug-me-white color that has graced so many of Apple's products, but I'm excited to see this beauty in person. Do it again Apple.

FlickrWalk in Nordeast

This past weekend I attended my first Flickr meet-up photowalk. We met at the ever-cool looking and sounding Pierre Bottineau Library up in nordeast Minneapolis, and as you might have guessed, simply walked around and took photos.

It was a great experience, and I will definitely do it again. It is helpful to look at everyone else's photographs and see what subjects they photographed, what perspectives they used, how they composed their pictures, and (hopefully) learn a few things along the way. Not to mention meet some cool people that share a similar hobby (oddly enough, in a city of >4 million, I ran into one of the members the following day. Not odd, however, is the fact that she was taking pictures).

You mean...it's free?

This past Saturday I sat outside of the SLP Byerly's, volunteering for my very first 89.3 The Current event with Mary Lucia and another MPR staff member. We were spreading the word about this Tuesday being National Night Out day, and handed out free cases of water, free flowers, and a random helping of The Current "swag" -- apparently the hip term for free little merchandise handouts like stickers, buttons, and magnets.

The day presented us with a gloomy drizzle, but it didn't matter. We (or at least I) had a lot of fun joking with each other and interacting with the day's grocery shoppers.

It was so interesting to see how people were very skeptical of the word"free". Surely there must be a catch. What did they have to sign up for? What survey did they have to take? What type of donation were we looking for? What do you mean it's completely free? Oh, and by the way, could you help me carry it?

Unbelievable

Completely shocking. The I-35W bridge that crossed the Mississippi River near downtown Minneapolis collapsed tonight at 6:05pm.
I don't even know what to say.

(more pictures from the Star Tribune)

KG is Kuh Gone

Do you think you would feel like any less of a man/basketball player if you were one of the five players (plus two first round draft picks) traded for just one tall dude?

756 Could Cost You

Steroids aside, it would be pretty exciting to catch Barry Bonds' 756th home run. Almost like winning the lottery, right?...Perhaps even more than you think.

Many people have placed the estimated value of home run ball #756 at a cool $500,000. What does that mean for that lucky fan that will spill his beer and dive across three people in order to make the catch of his life?

The IRS hasn't decided yet either. Would he instantly be taxed, as if winning the lottery? Or taxed only when the ball is sold? Whatever may happen, it will surely be one of the most-talked about and lucrative catches in history. Until someone catches 757.

Just Dial 255

Went to the Walker Art Center today for a guided tour of its permanent collection. It was great getting a tour of modern art that otherwise would leave me utterly confused.

If you live in Minneapolis you should try to make it to The Walker on a Thursday night before September 9th: there is a great Picasso exhibit going on, and Thursdays are free.

Find yourself at the gallery (or sitting at home on your couch) wanting to know more about Picasso's The Studio? The Walker has employed a slick idea considering that nearly everyone has a cell phone now. Dial their Audio Guide number -- 612.374.8200 -- and punch in code 255. Voila.

Summer Goodness

Summer to my family means fresh vegetables. Corn on the cob. More raspberries than you can dream. And last but not least, sun tea.



So I followed in my mother's footsteps and brewed me up a carafe.

What you need:
1 Carafe
Filtered Water
Honey
Mint
Basil (ask Addie, it's legit)
Black Tea
Green Mint Tea
Sun
A lazy afternoon

Talk about refreshing.

Songbird = Sweetness

Have you heard about Songbird yet? Think Firefox meets iTunes. It's your one-stop shop for everything multi-media. Open it up and play your iTunes library. Or browse to your favorite website, and Songbird will serve up in a sub-window any and all media found. Find a tune or a movie you like? Add it to your Songbird library and it's yours to queue whenever you wish. I'd try to sum up all what Songbird can do, but this video demonstration is about 1000 times easier to understand.

My vote for coolest app of 2007.

Nothing but the Facts

Bad News Bubble

This is what happens when you're a photoholic and music junky. Perhaps it is time to upgrade my 6 year old computer? Or maybe I just need to wipe away all those random pictures in triplicate that never make it up to Flickr...

DRM With Boundaries

I really dig the British electronica group Faithless. My brother's friend Joost introduced them to me. I still remember it like it was yesterday -- driving through the Netherlands in his Passat with its hip blue dials glowing from the dashboard while Sunday 8PM was grooving through the speakers. It was and still is one of my favorite memories from my European travels.

They are one of the few artists whose work I will purchase without giving any prior listen. So I was a little disappointed (yet excited at the same time) this weekend to discover that they came out with a new album this past year, only to be released in the UK.

I have since ordered it online, but it brought up some points that I found quite annoying:

• As globalized as the world has become, why do record companies choose to release certain albums in only one section of the world? Who does that benefit?
• I switched my iTunes settings to browse the UK's iTunes Store, only to be told upon attempted purchase that I was only allowed to buy from the US store. Thanks DRM.
• Record companies have been complaining loudly about slumping record sales in regards to the digital revolution, yet here I am attempting to buy music digitally from them and they won't let me? Don't you want my money?

7&7, 7&7, 7.7.07

The 7th of July delivered lots of sevens...

Anders and I went to the horse track at Canterbury Park. I've never been to a horse track before and thought it would be fun for a change.

On the 7th race, horse #7 won. Of course.

We went to a rooftop party that night and drank 7&7's, as well as O7s.

Any seven coincidences happen to anyone else?

In My Mind I'm Gone to [Colorado]

Spent a portion of last week in Colorado with part of the fam. Every time I visit I ask myself why I haven't moved there yet. We got in some good hiking:

• Gem Lake - Nice little hike. I've also done it at night with a full moon. Great night hike. I'd love to camp out at the little beach sometime (you can't camp there, so don't tell the rangers)
  
• Chasm Lake -- At the base of Long's Peak. Great hike with wonderful vistas once you get above the tree line. Next time I'll get up at 3 or 4 so I can capture the lake at sunrise. Apparently it offers a superb golden reflection of Long's.
  
• Deer Mountain -- Nice "little" mountain with good views. Go early to beat the crowds, as Jen and I had the summit all to ourselves for 45 minutes, but saw tons of people on their way up as we headed down.
  

Me, in 2D

What I'd look like in Springfield. Create yourself.

Lost Without WiFi?

If you're ever in Estes Park, CO and you desperately need to hop on the dot com, look no further than the Notchtop Bakery & Cafe. Its doors may be locked, but not its wireless signal. Sitting outside a coffee shop in your car at night in the dark isn't shady, it's resourceful.

I can't help it...

iWant. Friday, June 29th.

To Clad or not to Clad?

I'm in the market for some new pots and pans, and am not sure what to do. My mom purchased her set of steel pots over 35 years ago, and she still uses them to this day. So I know quality counts, and I'm a believer in steel (vs. everything non-stick).

Any recommendations?

I enjoy cooking, but am a long way from gourmet. I'm considering buying a set of Calphalons. But then here is a set of Cuisinarts that have gotten rave reviews and are much cheaper. Would I notice any difference if I splurged for All-Clad? Would I be happier 35 years down the road? Will McDonalds and Starbucks merge and dominate all American cuisine and cooking will become a thing of the past, just like glass soda bottles and slip 'n slides?

What should I do? (Achter?)

You're Pre-Approved

If you're anything like me, your mailbox gets bombarded daily by pre-approved credit card offers.

And if you're still anything like me, you want this unnecessary waste of paper to stop. The good news is there is something you can do about it. Go to www.OptOutPrescreen.com or call 888-5-OPTOUT.

Filling out the online form stops them for 5 years. Printing out the form and sending it in stops them for life. This doesn't in any way stop you from getting approved for a future credit card, it just stops the proliferation of unsolicited junk mail.

The fine print at the end of the process states that this might not stop all offerings, and that it depends on each business. I'm crossing my fingers. If nothing else, there is always this.

You Know You're a Bachelor When...

...you use your potato scrubber to clean your golf clubs. But you don't understand, these golf clubs feel like butta. And a little grass in the diet never hurt anybody, did it?

If I Were an Engineer...

...I would build dehumidifiers into basements, and use the collected water to:

1. Fill up toilet tanks
2. Water the lawn / garden
   

The Circle

Enjoy art? Enjoy meeting new people? Enjoy cocktails? Enjoy meeting new people over free cocktails while looking at art? Then the Minneapolis Institute of Arts' The Circle is for you...and me.

This past Thursday The Circle met at a private collector's home on Lake Minnetonka, and it was the most impressive event I've attended yet. The house was gorgeous, and the amount of art throughout the house and gardens was astounding. Be sure to check out the Flickr photos. Apparently I like to talk with my hands.

Voxtrot

Went to see Voxtrot at the Triple Rock Social Club last night with a few members of the music club. Au Revoir Simone and Sound Team opened for them. Voxtrot (from Austin, TX) put on a solid show even though they're really young. I have a feeling they won't be playing in venues like the Triple Rock (a small bar) for long.

Oddly enough, the best part of the night was standing at the back of the bar and watching the members of Au Revoir Simone and Sound Team dance their brains out to Voxtrot -- it really added an extra element to the show.

The absolute highlight however came when a random guy in the crowd went over to the bassist from Sound Team and, without any warning or communication, picked him up and passed him to his friend, as if a passing a crying baby off to its mother. Talk about extreme confusion. One minute the bassist was dancing some sort of indie-music inspired jig, the next he was being passed around as if he were a rag doll.

I guess you had to be there...typing it out doesn't capture the pure randomness and hilarity of the event. I literally could not stop laughing.

Minnesota Majestic

I watched my friend Matt play in the Minnesota Majestic this weekend (never mind the outdated graphic, but notice the semblance to the Masters logo).

It wasn't his best tournament, but it was still enjoyable on my end. I'm a decent disc golfer, but watching pros makes me feel like fool. I'm pretty sure the top pros can throw nearly twice as far as I can.