Monday Madness

New workweek got you down? Check out the greatest music video ever. "Move Your Feet" by Junior Senior.

[via Mass Distraction]

Now, the fun starts! Human Blood For Electrical Power

Tokyo - A Japanese research team has developed a fuel cell that runs on blood without using toxic substances, opening the way for use in artificial hearts and other organs.

story here

Laid Off

I guess a lot of us saw it coming, but 50 Below let go of about 30 people on Friday, myself included. The whole market department (save 3 people) got the kaibosh, along with lots of long-standing staff members from other departments. This is on top of the 10 or so people that left, on top of the several that have left over the last few months.

As much as I'd like to just take the next 2 weeks and relax, I find myself needing to find another place to work sooner than later. About now I don't care where - question is, any of you in the geek network have any good ideas? Should I try to stick it out here in Duluth or take the opportunity to move out to the west coast? With my last check and unemployment I should be able to retain the current quality of life for probably 3 months, OR I could take a gamble and pick a place on the map and hope for the best.

Any thoughts?

Your balls are smaller, but you get 3

A quick bowling movie.
Quicktime 4.7 MB

Guess-the-Google

Remember Google Montage? Well the Google hacker has taken it a step further with Guess-a-Google. 20 images all related to one keyword and 20 seconds to guess that keyword.

Enjoy.

NOTHING.

I will be putting together some kind of video recap of Homegrown this week but in the meantime I present to you the Cacophonic Choir in fine form.

Free Comic Book Day

Saturday, May 7th is Free Comic Book Day!
Get your ass down to a comic store and pick up some free comics!
For those that don't read comics, or have been away from them for a long time, I suggest you go pick some up. Comics have really "grown up" in the past 20 years. They have evolved from super-hero stories for kids, to genuine works of literary and artistic value for adults (though there are still plenty of super-hero stories for the kids out there). Even some web comics come out to play in the printed world on Free Comic Book Day.
More Info
Find participating comic stores
In Duluth, Collector's Connection (mall) and Robin Goodfellow (downtown) are participating.

downtown weather

A few weeks ago, Harbor City Intl. School lost one of our students. Alex Sahlberg was quiet, funny, polite and LOVED WEATHER...some of you may have noticed at the fetus his dvd -Extreem Wx which featured video he'd shot of storms on Park Point. THis was a kid who followed his passion. He was working on a new documentary about storms on the lake as his senior project. He did grerat things and was a one-on-one friend with many many people. Often I'd walk the beach and find Alex, alone, sitting with a fire watching the lake. Special guy. His passing was unexpected and related to recent illness.

In memorial, HCIS has set up a weather station at the school and it realays information to weatherunderground. So the next time you want to know what to wear to a rock show, art opening or happy hour at Luce', check it out here.

They were ALL perfect duluth days in Alex's book.

Frankenstein Exhibit Opening & Lecture at the Duluth Public Library tonight

Frankenstein Exhibit Opening Reception
Monday, May 2, 6:00 p.m.
Duluth Public Library Green Room
The public is invited to this reception, sponsored by the Friends of the Duluth Public Library. Enjoy the exhibit Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature and then stay for the following lecture.

Feature Lecture: It's Alive! The Science and Myth of Frankenstein
Monday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.
Duluth Public Library Green Room
This richly-illustrated talk explores the scientific background of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, how her famous tale of horror became a modern myth and how that myth has influenced the course of science and technology. Presented by David Rhees, Executive Director of The Bakken Library and Museum and adjunct professor of the History of Medicine at the University of Minnesota.

Frankenstein - 2005 Area Reading Project Book Selection
Frankenstein Resource Guide
Frankenstein Events

The picture above is Pablo Picasso's "Frankenstein".

bicycle time

it is indeed time for bicycles; they've been flowing in and out of my life like lake waves this month. first, a huge mountain bike very fancy, though not new; then 3-speed simple Raleighs and a little red Sekine. A friend of mine was driving around St Paul to used bike shops looking, for me, for the 3 speed Raleigh of my youth (actually a couple of them or their clones) to give to my kids, so they could fly like little birds rather than lumbering along on the knobby tires of their Target kid-type bicycles. While doing this he stopped at a coffee shop and encountered a young man in racked with pain in his shoulder, which he'd totally blown out going headfirst over the handlebars of his mountain bike (cadaver tendons, steel rods, etc.) and which was still giving him trouble. This guy was trying to unload the bike that had done this to him, and, being a wealthy kid (in passing mentioned his alma mater expensive private school in river neighborhood) didn't much care what he got for it. So friend, struck with insane desire at bright red ProFlex full suspension carbon swing arm etc etc, bought it. But it's way large, literally, that's the size frame it is, "way large," and so now he needs to sell it.

And then shopping it around one discovers the weird niche nature of certain things--that high end things, like certain styles of human being, when they get a couple years on them, even if they're in most excellent shape, become not the utterly prestige-defined things they once were, and hence dwindle in value. As the bike man said, the extra 4 millimeters in flex in the new carbon fiber is impossible to live without, for the truly gearmad.

So, as the bike guy says, one must tap the forthellofit market. Is there anyone out there that would love, for itself alone, for its truly amazing physical characteristics devoid of the cachet of being this years' model, this big beautiful red bike? For the hell of it?

Let me know.

While looking at pictures of plastic movie extra dummies, I came upon a rather familiar face. Anyone else eerily haunted by his plastic expression of horror?

Caption These

More gems from the attic.

I want to ride my Bicycle.

For like 3 years now I have wanted to get one of these PediCabs and pedal the tourists around Downtown and C-Park. They are not that expensive and I think people would really dig it. Hell, those goofy bike rentals they had last year were everywhere. You can't tell me there aren't 4 times as more lazy folks who would rather be pedaled around instead of actually using there own muscles.

From my web research I found Main Street Pedicabs in Broomfield, Colorado. They seem to be the best of the bunch and the bike pictured above starts at $3400.00.

Would any of you PDD'ers want to go in on something like this. It would be good exercise and some pocket change to boot.

Let me know. Summer starts in about a month and a half.

Balancing Act.

Here is some random footage from last weekends Free Democracy Summit. I also have the complete speech given by Jim Hightower. Does anyone have any interest in seeing that? It would be a fairly big download.

Balancing Act | 8.3mb Quicktime Movie

By the way. I have heard that some of you are unable to watch Quicktime movies. Well then you should go here and download yourself a player.

Caption This

OK, so through a means I explained on my video blog, I acquired two garbage bags of photos that originally appeared in the Budgeteer News during the mid-90s and earlier. And let me tell you, every single one of them is a gem.

Naturally, my one thought was to fire up the scanner. Thank me very much.

I'll be posting a new batch of them weekly on my "Caption This" album on Flickr. I invite all of you to come play the captioning game, or at least check them out for a good guffaw. These are your friends and neighbors, folks. You may recognize them. And even if you don't, they're so, so awesome.

I forgot to take my blue pills today, so instead of working, I'll post a comic from the good ol' days, when the Comics Code Authority ruled and comics were apparently more wholesome.
(From Superman is a Dick)

red.star.

The new Red Star Lounge had a private party last night. They open officialy on Friday. Nice place. Drinks seem expensive but you get a bunch of excellent booze in 'em. Be careful.


Red Star | Quicktime 6.3mb

Cross Posting Whore.

yo, click on the pic

Holy Smokes

So the day they pick a new Pope, my house gets hit by lightning.
What does that mean?

I HRT Chuckabees.

Chuck makes me laugh so hard. This is prolly NSFW. Click on the Pic.

I don't sense a theme

But I love saying "crotch."

hell ya.

yo, click on the pic.

Geek Prom Photos

Last night was a blast! My Geek Prom photos can be found here.
Also: does anyone want a free month at Rie-Do Martial Arts? I have two months for free that I'll probably never use. Just let me know by posting a comment.

Funny Geek Prom Story

An amusing Geek Prom-related story just in time for Geek Prom.

I went to Geek Prom 2003 dressed as Laura Croft (from the Tomb Raider game). I had a lot of costume elements and had the whole "Laura Croft" look down (albeit, the look of a fat, drunk Laura Croft who kept spilling her drinks, but Laura Croft nonetheless). It was a very fun evening.

Several weeks later, I had an interview for a web developer job. I had psyched myself up, and had my aura of "interview cool" on. When the interviewer came out to meet me, he cocked his head at an angle, looked at me, then asked "... Laura Croft?".

My "interview cool" was gone. He caught me so off guard that I stammered the way through the interview (and desperately tried to remember if I had done anything obnoxious to him at Geek Prom).

Needless to say, I did not get the job as a fat, drunk web developer. ;)

(Sorry about the gratuitous pussy shot)

Itinerary: Prtofessor's Birthday Bender

Quinlan's: 9-11
Norshor: 11-1
Gifts of drink accepted.

I Proclaim Thee!

It's Official! | Quicktime Movie 16mb

Geek Off-To The Great White North.

Geek Prom Promo 1 | 10mb Quicktime Movie

Bemidji Vlog

What we did on our big trip to Bemidji.

The Gonzo Gong Show

Did I mention that there is an open talent competition at Geek Prom? Get your act ready!

bloody mary!

click on the pic!

Ice Blow Out on North Shore

      So I was up the shore at a rather small river on thursday when I heard a rumbling, booming behind me. I turned to see that the water level raised considerably and instantly and tons of huge slabs of ice came exploding down the river and out into the lake. I guess this happens every year in the spring when there is enough of a melt. Ice dams are formed up stream in any river or creek and could be miles away, with water building behind it until it finally bursts and it can have quite a forceful effect. One person I was talking to said he had been at the French river one time some years ago when this happened and claimed there was a 20 foot wall of water. Had to run to get out of the way. Amazing.


      Here is the ice flowing out into the lake after it all came smashing down the river, now just a big slushy:

Monster McPhee Sale!

One of my favorite crazy web-stores is having a huge monster sale! Don't walk - run to Archie McPhee and get all crazy in a kitchy goodness buying spree!
Make your own lawn gnome band for under $5! Avoid unnecessary exercise when using the computer - buy an Internet Urinal (two for under $5 - give the second to a loved one). It's all here...
(And don't get the computer code briefcase and then bring it to Geek Prom thinking you're being all original. If you do, I'll beat you with my slide rule!)

They also have a "Nerd Test" - I'm 109% nerd - ouch!

Before all of the snow melted away...

I got this photo in Canal Park.



(with popping goodness)

Want to go for a ride?

The King and Queen of this year's Geek Prom will win a ride on a Cirrus SR22. Let's hope they're not afraid of flying. I can just see them, taxiing back and forth on the runway, afraid to take off. Geeky, geeky, geeky.

Low on TV.

I finally got around to digitizing Low's Carson Daly appearance. Quality is so-so but you will get the idea.




Low on Carson Daly | Quicktime 10mb

Just 15 Days to Geek Prom 2005

Get out your bright pink formalwear, your skin-tight superhero outfits, your dental headgear ... you know, what you always wear. There's no need to find a date; you'll be held in higher regard if you come alone.

More info at GeekProm.com, of course.

Geek Prom?

I haven't heard anything about Geek Prom. Is it still happening this year?

Old School Troubles

Life is tough when you kick it old school like me. We still use 2 beige Macs at home - a first-generation G3, and a Mac clone. Anybody remember Mac clones? Anybody remember beige computers? Anyway, someone in my house spilled liquid into one of the keyboards. The manual we got with the computer had a diagram that showed specifically that you weren't supposed to do that. So now it does funny things when we type with it. Like typing 2 or 3 letters at a time. Or maybe no letters at a time. So I need to find a new or gently used Mac ADB keyboard. I know Goodwill gets them in from time to time, but there was nothing there this week.

Anybody have one they don't want or know where to look other than e-bay?
I think I'm willing to shell out as much as $10. That amount may increase with my desperation as the tax deadline grows closer and closer.


P.S.- OS 8.6 ROCKS!!!

this blog sux

come on.

you slackers.

wow me.

zow me.

plow me.

post it.

for the most it.

i know you can.

Pepper-Land Photography

Let's go to the Bar

click on the pic!

Ripsaw Redux

It's official, folks. Publisher Brad Nelson has announced the Rasputin-like resurrection of The Ripsaw News. The paper will return in May with the HomeGrown Music Festival edition, to be followed by bi-monthly editions to include Green Man, the Student Living Guide, the Gift Guide, Winter Art & Adventure, and the Sawyer Awards.

"The calendar will no longer appear in the regular issue," Nelson said. "That void will be filled by the Ripsaw Radar, which will be e-mailed weekly and distributed by paper to the entertainment district. The Radar will be the most popular fridge-post in history with the Violet Days cartoon as its centerpiece."

The Ripsaw also plans to get back to its roots as far as content goes. "The personality of the Ripsaw will be more similar to year one, with satire and humor used as a weapon," said Nelson.

Self-described "booze connoisseur" Slim Goodbuzz, who struggled with the Ripsaw's cleaner magazine format, pronounced the return as good news. "This way, if Yvonne Pretner-Solon has too many cosmos and ends up shitting her pants at the Green Mill, I can describe it in a way the public can appreciate," Goodbuzz said.

In addition to "Gettin' Ripped" by Slim Goodbuzz, Ripsaw standards such as Mark Lindquist's "Basement Gloss," Sarah Heimer's "Skull Session," Barrett Chase's "Occam's Razor" and the aforementioned "Violet Days" by Chris Monroe will share space with new columns, including an environmental column by Thomas Donaldson of Sustainable North Shore, and a sex column by Paula Peterson.

I was getting REAL tired of...

....seeing the BVM in my panckaes.

MICHIGANTOWN, Indiana (AP) -- An Indiana pet store owner says he sees the image of Satan on the shell of a turtle that was the only survivor of a store fire in October.

rest of the story

So. . . .

So who has the white Ford Taurus with the PDD sticker on it that I parked behind today on 3rd street? Don't take your car above 55 mph, I planted a bomb in it.