May 2005 Archives

Grandpa on the dock with Elise at sunset on Lake Vermillion.

Last week my tulips were finally in bloom. I've been so busy I had already missed the riotous azaleas but managed to get outside with a camera before the tulips were completely gone.

Proof that flowers bloom in the land of the starter-castle. Not my castle, BTW.

I just got around to seeing the movie "Pollock" starring Ed Harris.

I am predisposed to like stories of self-destruction. My high school English teacher must have made an indelible impression in my mind about the tragically flawed hero. I liked this story.

Last fall when I tried some drip painting myself, I came away realizing that is was much harder than it looked. The experience itself was much more visceral than I ever would have guessed.

The oddest thing happened when we displayed the paintings at the office. People, not knowing who completed which painting, would point to mine and say they sensed anger in the painting or the painter. No one could articulate why they felt that way, but it was not an uncommon response.

I really liked the movie a lot. It portrayed Pollock as a very complicated and difficult character who was still loved. How did Lee Krasner live with him given his inner demons?

I loved seeing the "aha" moment when he began experimenting with dripped paint, although I don't know how accurate that scene was. It was sad to watch a movie showing his life as a long slow train wreck ending with his early and senseless death. Better to feel sad watching a movie than to feel almost nothing real at all, which is the case with a lot of movies I've seen (Revenge of the Sith, ahem). Psychological self-destructive dramas are my favorite kind of horror movie and this movie in particular is an excellent example of the genre.

If you ever get a chance to see a Pollock painting in person, you really should take a look. They are really worth seeing in person. The reproductions lose the texture and the movement that you can see and sense when viewing in person.

I finally saw the movie "Revenge of the Sith".

Stop reading now, if you want to avoid spoilers or allowing my opinions to spoil your own viewing.

I ran across an interesting read on the FBI attempting to get library records summarized on a web page of the Pen American Center. This was of particular interest in light of the recent FBI request for additional powers to get information without the approval of a judge.

The library article is especially interesting to me as it shows that the FBI, before securing a subpoena, will just ask for information. This confirms what I already believed. Most of your private information is in the hands of others for example your doctor, your bank, your travel agent, and your credit card company among others. You already are at the mercy of the whims of those organizations who just might decide to give your information away without a fight. The legal protections which require a subpoena can already be circumvented by the FBI just asking. The FBI wants more, they want to subpoena the few people and companies who stand up to them and say no to their fishing expeditions without a judge looking over their shoulder. Why are they afraid of tiny bit scrutiny and transparency? It's not that I think a persons library record can't be used in a court of law, it's that I think there needs to be a legitimate, auditable process that incorporates checks and balances and resembles the 4th Ammendment to the constitution.

What kind of society do people want to live in? Do you really want Big Brother looking over your shoulder approving your reading material? I don't. Unfortunately, at this moment I have no faith that either major party is willing to stand up for freedom so I can't vote my conscience unless I choose to vote for fringe parties and candidates.

I went to a dance with Jeannie last Saturday night. Other than the dances sponsored by the health club, where I took my dance lessons five years ago, this is the first dance I've attended since high school.

It was swing dance held in an airplane hangar containing vintage aircraft. It was Forties themed and lots of people showed up in vintage clothing and army or navy uniforms. It was fun just to dance with a live fourteen piece orchestra. I also enjoyed watching the couples who were really good at dancing. I couldn't believe how smooth people were when performing really complicated moves.

People always like to suggest that dancing is a lot like human relationships. I supposed it is. I got my foot stepped on, I forgot more moves than I remembered, we got out of rhythm, at least once I spun my partner a little too hard in the wrong direction, my partner tried to lead, I led poorly on occasion and I got too sweaty at least once. When it was good, for a microsecond it felt like two people moving as one. Yup, sounds vaguely like marriage to me. I wish I was good at it. I know ... practice, practice, practice.

I've received another note from the bear-napper I mentioned a while back.

bear misses his home
but there is money to pay
i'm still waiting

Along with this picture.

If anyone has seen this bear please contact me. He was last seen wearing a Green bay Packer's jersey. Please return the bear unharmed.

Lawrence Lessig is one of my hero's.

I was always impressed by his understanding of emerging technology and copyright, his ability to communicate complex legal issues, and his willingness to take up difficult legal fights, not to his contribution to the Creative Commons movement.

Today, when I read more about his personal story and the legal battle he is currently fighting, my estimation of him as an individual and a public figure grew exponentially.

Hat's off to you Larry, you are amazing.

P.S. I wrote this up last night and didn't publish it because I really felt a little uncomfortable about the subject. I don't know if it was the discomfort talking about sexual abuse in general or spreading someone else's story or what exactly. I realized after reading Julie's post, I was participating, perhaps accidentally, in a societal prohibition on talking about sexual abuse. From this article and from my vantage point in life, it seems that the societal prohibition on talking to trusted people about abuse is one of the root causes that allow the perpetuation of the abuse. So in defiance of the cultural ban, I pressed the "Publish" button.

I've always enjoyed Bruce Springsteen's quieter darker albums. These include the seminal "Nebraska" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Perhaps "enjoyed" is the wrong word. Some of the songs on these albums are dark & foreboding and some are downright depressing. Maybe it's cathartic for me, maybe I'm just relieved that the police aren't after me and I'm not on death row.

Naturally I picked up his latest album, "Devils and Dust", a couple of weeks ago. Like the other albums I mentioned it's pretty dark. You won't find loud rocker anthems like "Born in the U.S.A." What you find is powerfully poetic lyrically driven ballads without a lot of happy endings. For example, check out the chorus from the title track.

We've got God on my side
I'm just trying to survive
What if what you do to survive
Kills the things you love
Fear's a powerful thing
It can turn your heart black you can trust
It'll take your God filled soul
And fill it with devils and dust

You've probably heard the album mentioned on the news as Starbucks won't carry it due to a song about prostitution called "Reno". It's an uncomfortable song to listen to, no doubt about it. At the same time it conveys a kind of lonely sadness that has few rivals. Reminds me a little of "Leaving Las Vegas" with Nicholas Cage. Odd to hear a song as graphic as this one paired with Jesus Was an Only Son and Leah later on the same album.

In the end, "Nebraska" is still my favorite Springsteen album, but there are some great songs on "Devils & Dust" which will stay on my playlist for a long time. My favorites include "The Hitter", "Black Cowboys", "All I'm Thinkin' About" & "Matamoros Banks. I liked "Devils & Dust", but I'm prone to like depressing music so what do I know?

P.S. Thanks to Gretchen's pointer, I found a segment with Mr. Springsteen on NPR. It includes some background on the songs as well as some streaming songs. Most interestingly was the fact that "Devils & Dust" was written from the point of view of a checkpoint gaurd in Iraq. Thanks Gretchen.

Speaking of Nebraska, 89.3 has been playing a song by a local group called Halloween, Alaska. They have an awesome cover of "State Trooper" by Bruce Springsteen. You can even stream the whole song from their website if you click on "music" and have something that will play Shoutcast streams. They are playing Friday, June 10th Cedar Cultural Center. I think I'll be there.

Tanner's WoodFire Grill in Blaine (I think) provided me one of the worst dinners I've had in the Twin Cities in a long time. The food was truly forgettable and tasted industrial. I had the "Pulled Pork" sandwich which truly reeked of cinnamon. I'm never going back there if I can help it. The service wasn't terrible, but it wasn't too prompt either. If you like Chammps style Americana food and you are in the Northern 'burbs, consider going to Chammps in New Brighton you'll be much, much happier.

Tanners Woodfire Grill
(763) 398-1110
133 Coon Rapids Blvd NW

Last Wednesday I invited some co-workers from India out to dinner. I like to make sure they get to see more of the Twin Cities than just their hotel room and the restaurants in Roseville. After getting suggestions from other co-workers, I decided to take them to a restaurant I had never been to, Tanpopo.

The restaurant was easy to find in downtown St. Paul. It is located in a warehouse style space within sight of the St. Paul farmers market, off of 4th and Broadway.

The restaurant primarily serves Japanese noodles either Soba or Udon, Teishoku (which reminded me of a Bento style meal), and appetizers. There is a small but decent wine and beer list with a nice selection of Sake. Not that this matters to me since I don't really care for Sake myself, but I digress.

For an appetizer we ordered the smoked salmon roll. It was ok, but nothing special. I probably wouldn't order sushi again here. There was nothing wrong with it, but if I wanted sushi and I was in downtown St. Paul, I would head over to Sakura. I don't need appetizers anyway as I'll be saving more room for noodles when I go back to Tanpopo.

For an entree, I ordered the Wild Mushroom Udon noodles. It was, in my opinion, insanely good. The broth had a really good full bodied mushroom flavor. There were lots of mushrooms and fresh spinach floating in the broth surrounded by phenomenal noodles. The portions were enormous. Even though I loved the food and couldn't get enough, I couldn't come close to finishing my vat of noodles.

The prices were extremely reasonable, with most entrees being less than $10. It was so good, I would have been happy paying more.

There was one awkward bit to the meal. It was the first time I had eaten noodles in this style and I was initially stymied by having only a spoon and chopsticks. It was easy to grab a mushroom but getting a hank of noodles required some practice. I actually liked this part of the experience. It's hard to be stiff and formal when awkwardly slurping slippery noodles from a chopstick.

The restaurants web site show that their mission is "... to bring Japan's authentic home-style dishes, that are healthy and affordable, to the Twin Cities." From my observation, they succeed brilliantly.

I loved it so much I took Jeannie (aka my lover) back there on Saturday. She didn't like the noodles in the least and declared it flavorless. Must be that the subtle Japanese flavors just don't work for everyone. Oh well, more noodles for me. Jeannie was a good sport about the experience. I had the same Wild Mushroom noodles, but with Soba noodles this time. I loved them, but think I love the Udon noodles a little bit more.

308 Prince Street #140
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-209-6527

Here are a few other links about Tanpopo Tanpopo:Dishing in the kitchen, Minnesota Women's Press, Tanpopo Noodle Shop , Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine and Tanpopo Noodle Shop, CitySearch. (What the heck, Scott McGerik doesn't have a review posted? Seriously, I've never eaten at a Twin Cities Japanese restaurant he hasn't reviewed.)

Hmmm, chocolate.

These are so rich and so delicious one can least me an entire week. so far I like the Rich Dark the best.

So what's your guilty pleasure ... other than reading my blog I mean?

It's been way too long since I saw a movie in the theater. Work has been getting in the way of life lately. Next week, I'll see "Revenge of the Sith". I can't say I thought much of "The Phantom Menace" or "Attack of the Clones" so my expectations are very low. George, you've fooled me once, you're not fooling me again.

I've been trying to avoid reading plot spoilers and reviews. This spoof movie poster contest was too good to pass up. My favorites included the following: Attack of the Clowns, Migrant Queen and Me'sa is your father.

If the "Migrant Queen" photo isn't recognizable to you, then you should check out the LOC's page Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" Photographs in the Farm Security Administration Collection: An Overview. I was amazed when I first saw this web exhibit. The nursing photo is so compelling to me and speaks to me in a way the iconic "Migrant Mother" never has. I hope some day I can take a photo this good.

Google has something like a portal now. google portal. I found the link in my del.icio.us/popular in my rss reader. It looks like the story also ran on slashdot, so I might be the last to know. The drag and drop bit is truly lucious.

I remember how distinctly wonderful altavista was until it went portal. I hope google isn't going to go the way of altavista. I also hope they don't become evil, now that they have my mail, my web pages, my desktop and my search terms.

Since I read "the girl least likely to", waxing rhapsodic about the wonders of chai, I decided to bump chai up on my priority list of things to try. (BTW, It is taking all of my considerable will power to not say "chai it, you'll like it.")

So I got the Organic Oregon Chai. I've had the occasional cup over the last week or so.

The verdict: I like the taste of it quite a bit, but it's too sweet for me by at least one order of magnitude. Unlike "the girl least likely to" I have a predilection for adult drinks like black coffee and unsweetened tea. I like the taste enough to consider trying the less sweet version, if only I can get through the syrupy carton I now have. I've tried diluting it with a lot of water or milk, but you reach a point of diminishing returns once you can't taste the spices in the chai any more.

I've been attracted to the idea of guerilla art for some time. While I'm not in any advocating that one should deface private property, these "art installations" at secretwalltatoos amuse me to no end. Be sure and roll your mouse over the images to see the before and after photos. I especially like the chalk outline under the hotel bed.

The absurd pointlessness of these art pieces both make me smile and remind me about the beauty in life that is present if you just take the time to look under the surface.

It's 2:00 A.M. and I'm still in front of a computer instead of a pillow.

Reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite movies.

I heard a couple of great songs this morning on my commute. The one I was able to track down was called "Transit" by Richard Shindell. It seems to appear on two albums: "Somewhere Near Paterson" & "Courier".

I've always been a sucker for songs about cars and driving. I really like this one. It starts off being about traffic and angry drivers and ends with a nun directing a choir at a prison.

She entered the common room and their was her choir
Altos and baritones, basses and tenors
Car thieves and crack dealers, mobsters and murderers
Husbands and sons, fathers and brothers
And so it began in glorious harmony
Softly and Tenderly – calling for you and me
With the interstate whining way off in the distance
And the sun going down through the bars of the prison
They poured out their souls, they poured out their memories
They poured out their hopes for what’s left of eternity
To sister Maria – her soul like a prism
For the light of forgiveness on all of their faces

My great aunt, Aunt Sister, was a nun. She taught school mostly in Wisconsin and was a kind loving soul. Her students from grade school would seek her out and visit her years after she retired. She was among the kindest people I have ever known. Although her vocation was teaching not leading choirs, I like to think the sentiments of the song would have appealed to her sense of both the common and the divine. I know it appeals to mine.

I've enjoyed reading Real Live Preacher for some time. While he was on hiatus, he pointed towards some articles he had written for other publications. I was entranced by this one, entitled "The gospel according to Anna". He even posted scans Anna's gospel on the web.

His article made me think about the phrase, "The Gospel According to Tim." I'm quite sure Young Joel will correct me if I'm wrong, but gospel literally means, good news. So what is the "good news according to Tim?"

I've been thinking about it and I'm still not sure what if there is anything I feel confident labeling as "Tim's good news." "Cautionary tale", yes, certainly I could do that. "Sarcastic look at the day's events", sure, it's my specialty.

I am certain, that if I did have any good news it might look something like this description of the aftermath of constipation by Heather B. Armstrong.

I finished the book "Choke" while visiting Chico, California a few weeks back. Like the other Chuck Palahniuk books I have read, this book contained some really bizarre ideas. Some concepts that were so disturbingly funny I can't help but grin and grimace when I think about them.

The book is both disturbing and obscene. If you liked "Fight Club" there is a pretty good chance you'll like this book. If you are under 18 do me a favor and don't read this book, I don't want to try and explain it to your parents. In fact I'm not even sure I want to try and explain this to anyone.

The book opens with this promising sentence.

That reminds me, I am not suggesting anyone reads this book. If you read it, do not blame me.

Blogging has led me to expect the unexpected in my inbox. Today was no exception.

From one vansprout [at] yahoo.com.

while you were out
your bear went away
pay me $2,000,000
or the bear will pay

Along with the following photo.

This bear was last seen in my office. The bear was a Christmas present from my son who picked it out for me all by himself when he was two years old. If you've seen the bear or know who the bearnapper is please drop me a line.

[This Mary Oliver quote is courtesy of Tom Peters]

I just picked up "Delights & Shadows" by Ted Kooser after reading a review in the Christian Science Monitor.

The poems are simple but eloquent in an understated way. Mr. Kooser has a way of shining a spotlight on common images that give them a new shape and unexpected texture. How many times have you seen a pegboard with the requisite tools outlined in spray paint and never once thought about the hand prints found in prehistoric cave paintings? Here's another example of great imagery and wordplay.

It's great stuff. Come to find out Mr. Kooser spent his life as an executive in the insurance industry.

P.S.

If you are the co-worker who prefers to be known as my favorite, the point of this is the imagery and word play, not whether I think tattoo's are vain. After all, someone vain enough to blog, is unlikely to really be in a position to point fingers about vanity anyway. I'm quite certain I would have a tattoo if only I could commit to something.

While I am generally loathe to answer surveys or cute questions, when the surveyor is my old friend "the girl least likely to", I'll bend the rules a little.

If I could be a justice on any one court in the world, I would preside over the court of public opinion. "Justice for all" wouldn't be a phrase reserved for the comic books anymore. I would gladly render verdicts like the following;

• "Ms. Hilton, your 15 minutes of fame were up a half hour ago, you can take your phone, your accidental videos and retire to anonymity now."
• "Major Television Networks, the reality TV idea was cute for about three months, we've all been to junior high, so we've been there, done that, worn the t-shirt, can we move along now."

If I could be a bonnie pirate, I sail alone around the world, with a dog that I would name Brandy. I would remember to bring a can opener.

If I could be a chef, I would open up a restaurant on Maui. I would serve lots of organic, locally grown food. There would be a fantastic view of the sunset over the Pacific. No one would care about the view because the food would be just that good. I would serve the freshest sushi available and the menu would change every day. If you were rude to the servers or to your dinner companions, "No sushi for you!" I would ban cell phones and every hour would be happy hour. There would also be a dock for my pirate ship.

If I could be a writer, I would write witty things in my blog. I would stay up late every night and I would sleep in every day. I would wear a natty sports coat with leather patches on the elbows. I would write clever articles for the New Yorker in between novels.

If I could be a world famous blogger, honestly you mean I'm not?

If I could be a linguist, I would be a cunning ... crap I'm forgetting to censor again. I would be as cool as my hero, Larry Wall.

If I could be a gardener ... I would be happy.

And now, who should I suggest fills this out next? I'm feeling alliterative, how about Jennie, Joel, Julie and Jan? [None of you are under any obligation. I don't usually fill these kinds of things in. I wouldn't take it personally if you didn't. In fact, you probably shouldn't. In fact, you probably should have stopped reading this a few minutes ago.]

Check out the stuff for sale on eBay seized by the TSA at airports.

I've been trying to buy 30 - 50 pound lots of scissors but keep getting outbid by some other, more enthusiastic bidder.

Q. What do you intend to do with 50 pounds of scissors?

A. I plan to run with them.

Q. No, really what do you plan to do with them?

A. Next time my carry-on bags are x-rayed I can see if anyone is paying attention.

Q. No, that's probably a federal crime, what do you really want to do with them?

A. You are on my Christmas card list aren't you? What do you think you are getting this year?

A blogging friend pointed me towards a speech given by Robert Putnam in Minneapolis at the Westminster Town Hall Forum, broadcast on MPR.

Some of the interesting facts he referenced.

• Joining one group cuts your odds of dying next year in half.
• In 1975 the average American went on 5 picnics, last year 2004, average American went on two picnics.
• Dinner parties off by 60% in the last 30 years.
• In 1975, people had friends come over 14 times per year, by 1999 that had dropped to just 7 times.

This picnic crisis is more alarming to me the than the social security "crisis." I resolve to picnic more this year. Feel free to tag along with me. I think I'll just keep a blanket in the trunk just in case the weather is right.

Mr. Putnam also has an interesting web site called, Bowling Alone, which includes a fair amount of raw data that illustrates his points.

I have small children and I'm at an age where a lot of my friends have small children or are pregnant. Although my friends span the political spectrum, I hope everyone agrees that some things are simply unjust and should not be.

For instance, take a look at the Children's Drawings from Darfur gathered by Human Rights Watch.

The heart break in the world can seem unbearable if you really look hard enough. Mostly it's easier to look somewhere else.

[Link courtesy of Jan Bros.]

How Software Companies Die, by Orson Scott Card. Originally published in Windows Sources, March 1995, but now floating around the internet in about 200 places.

[Courtesy of the Writers Almanac.]

Following my trip to Yosemite in 2003 I read a few books by John Muir. It was then I learned he was from Wisconsin. I don't know how that fact had eluded me while taking Wisconsin history in grade school but somehow it did. The Wisconsin Historical Society has posted a number of John Muir's handwritten letters on line.

They seem to have quite a nice collection of original artifacts online as well in a section called Turning Points.

[Link courtesy of the Scout Report.]

I bought a bike last year. I meant to ride to work, but I never got around to it.

Today I rode to work. It felt great. I would do it more often it didn't take me quite so long.

When I bike through an area for the first time I feel more connected with the topography and the neighborhoods. "Gee", I'll gasp, "I never noticed this hill before today."

When I titled this post "Bring Your Bike to Work Day" I was meaning to evoke "Bring Your Child to Work Day". Looks like there really is Bike-to-Work Week on May 16 - 20 and Bike-to-Work Day is Friday, May 20, 2005.

Having participated in the high tech bubble of the 1990's I have more than my share of t-shirts commemorating companies or product launches. I've been loath to throw the shirts away since I have a lot of both traumatic and fond memories associated with the companies and projects I've been a part of. The best idea I've seen so far is a quilt sewn out of t-shirts. I want to buy a sewing machine now. Better yet, I could hire a contract quilter who can do it for me.

It seems that this idea is not especially new as I found tons of instructions on how to make t-shirt quilts online.

[Link Courtesy of b^2 and Make Magazine]

Aras has a blog!

Working on a team with people around the world occasionally has challenges. There is one enormous upside. Not only do I have friends in more places around the world, when people visit in person, they bring me special treats from around the world.

The photos below are my favorite Indian snack. It's an addictive spicy, vegetarian snack called bhakarwadi. My favorite brand is made by Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale.

Thanks for thinking of me. It's a real treat to recieve an unexpected gift. I managed to not eat the entire bag the first day, but I'm working on it.

While in California, I visited my Chico home to my niece, nephew, brother-in-law & sister-in-law. They were kind enough to take me for a beautiful walk on Tabletop Mountain. As you can see the wildflowers were still in bloom.

Sorry, I can't talk about why I was there, but suffice it to say they have an extremely nice facility.