Saturday's Day Trip

I couldn't have asked for better weather. Sure, it's Minnesota and it's getting cool, but there was barely a cloud in the sky...

Darwin and Ray are some co-workers who are in town for a month, and this is their last full weekend in Minnesota. I had offered earlier to take them to see Lake Superior. Darwin, in particular, had mentioned how much he wanted to see the great lakes... so I figured I'd do the best I could, and show him the big one that's only a few hours drive from here.

I drove north on I-35, through Duluth first, and kept driving to Two Harbors. I have always been fond of the view of the lake-shore and the vastness of the lake that can be seen from there.

From Oct 4-Superior

We hung out along the rocky shore, ate lunch in Two Harbors at the Black Woods Bar & Grill, then we drove back into Duluth.

I took skyline drive from the north, along 7 bridge road. We stopped for a few minutes at the seventh bridge to take photos of Amity Creek and the surroundings. We stopped for a few minutes at hawk ridge. Then we went to Enger Tower.

After an hour at Enger tower, we headed to Canal Park to walk around, and get a closer look at the bridge.

Have fun looking around the photos I took on Saturday.

Micheal Moore - Slacker Uprising

The movie is available for free download. The download is, supposedly, US only - - yet the movie also has an official bittorrent tracker. Last I checked, torrent doesn't care about what country you are in.

I made a copy of the tracker, here.

Bittorrent is available for free download, too.

Spotted This -- had to link it.

Just a Joke

The joke below was e-mailed to me recently, and I've entered it with the text that I received in the e-mail. However, it seems that the more popular version of the joke has the gender of the characters switched.

A man was leaving a convenience store with his morning coffee when he noticed a most unusual funeral procession approaching the nearby cemetery. A long black hearse was followed by a second long black hearse about 50 feet behind the first one. Behind the second hearse was a solitary man walking a dog on a leash. Behind him, a short distance back, were about 200 men walking single file.

The man couldn't stand the curiosity. He respectfully approached the man walking the dog and said, 'I am so sorry for your loss, and this may be a bad time to disturb you, but I've never seen a funeral like this. Whose funeral is it?'

'My wife's.'

'What happened to her?'

The man replied, 'My dog attacked and killed her.'

He inquired further, 'But who is in the second hearse?'

The man answered, 'My mother-in-law. She was trying to help my wife when the dog turned on her.'

A poignant and thoughtful moment of silence passed between the two men.

'Can I borrow the dog?'

The man replied, 'Get in line.'

It's just a joke, I thought it was funny.

Beijing 2008 - Olympics In The Air

Last October, during the beginning of my time in Beijing, I wrote this blog post that mentioned air quality with two comparative photos.

Since then, I've been following the blog of James Fallows who also has been posting photos for comparison.

In the last several days -- China has done several things to try to improve the air quality for the Olympics.

• Temporarily shutting down most factories East of Beijing
• Even-Odd car restrictions

Both of these are huge undertakings. Consensus, so far, is that the measures are not working. That said -- I heard it's supposed to rain soon, and there really hasn't been a decent rain in Beijing since the shut-downs and traffic restrictions.

James Fallows' "Weather" Photos for July

July 2, 2008 East or west, home is best

July 12, 2008 With 26 days to go

July 15, 2008 Something familiar, something new

July 19, 2008 Everything changes tomorrow


July 26, 2008 Sunday morning Beijing

July 27, 2008 Eleven days to go

So, that's the view in Beijing. It's not really pollution, it's Olympic Spirit In The Air!

Song In My Head

First, it's a really good song. Musically complex, and very heart-felt. I would link to it here, but I didn't find a source that has a copy.

However, for two days I've had this same song going through my head. I've LISTENED to the song at least 12 times trying to satisfy whatever is making this song run through my head. It hasn't helped. So, I figure I'll try to give it to someone else, maybe the song will leave me alone for a while.

Artist: Elton John
Song: Tonight
Album: Blue Moves (track 2)

Tonight, do we have to fight again?
Tonight, I just want to go to sleep.
Turn out the light, but you want to carry grudges.
Nine times out of ten, Hmm, I see the storm approaching
Long before the rain starts falling
...Tonight, does it have to be the old thing?
Tonight, Ooh Its late, too late;
to chase the rainbow that you're after.
I'd like to find a compromise,
and place it in your hands.
My eyes are blind, my ears can't hear,
and I can not find the time
...Tonight, just let the curtains close in silence.
Tonight, why not approach with less defiance,
the man who'd love to see you smile
Who'd love to see you smile Tonight.

Tonight, just let the curtains close in silence.
Tonight, why not approach with less defiance,
Tonight...
Just let the curtains close in silence.
Tonight, Why not approach with less defiance,
the man who'd love to see you smile...
the man who'd love to see you smile...
the man who'd love to see you smile...
...Tonight.

Summertime

Well Summertime is here.

Click to play (doesn't work in some RSS viewers):

boomp3.com

I went to a great summer solstice party last night, one of those parties where I only knew one person, but absolutely everybody was cool and easy to talk to. Had a wonderful time, and I got home really late.