In a good way

You Are 5% Redneck

I'll slap you so hard, your clothes will be outta style. You ain't no redneck - you're all Yankee!

How Redneck Are You?

Joke of the Day

Chuck Norris is the reason Waldo is hiding.

Take the survey

The Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA) is soliciting input from persons who live, work and play in downtown Minneapolis to assist it in developing Standards of Behavior for our Downtown community. Once input has been secured from the community, DMNA will compile the Standards and will communicate them to you and to law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and our other local elected officials.

You've probably heard about this - take the survey and give your input.

Pickup dodgeball

Since I've failed to join a dodgeball league, this would be fun - a pickup dodgeball league at Kenwood Park just off Franklin.

Did you know?

Las Vegas is sometimes called ''Sin City'' due to the popularity of legalized gambling, availability of alcoholic beverages any time (like all of Nevada), various forms and degrees of adult entertainment, and legalized prostitution in nearby counties (Nevada law prohibits prostitution in counties which have populations greater than 400,000).

I guess I didn't realize prostitution wasn't straight up legal in the city o' Vegas.

Word of the day

Peruse. While I'd say it's common knowledge this means to look at something, what surprised me is how the definition clarifies that you look at said thing.

Show me the money

Apparently the Tournament of Champions, part of the World Series of Poker, is taking place in the next 2 days in Vegas. It's not fight weekend, but it's not too shabby. I'll be on the lookout for Phil Ivey, my fav of the peeps I see on TV.

Six degrees

You might wonder why I have a picture of Janice Dickinson on my blog - I probably could've bet $1 that would never happen. However, thankfully, I have good reason.

Pictured above is Nick Verreos of Project Runway fame (at right) along with John from PR and Janice. Nick ended up at a Janice Dickinson event because his friend Chip works at the Out and Advocate magazines and invited him to the event. I found this pix on Nick's blog.

Here's the thing:

1. I know Michael, who works at Out and the Advocate magazines.
2. Since it's not a HUGE company, I'm assuming (possibly prematurely) that Michael knows Chip (even though I believe him to be based in the W. Coast office?).
3. Clearly, Chip knows Nick (they're friends duh).

THUS, it's just 3 degrees of separation between me and PR star Nick. LOVE IT. And just think, FOUR degrees to loads of other people that Nick knows.

UPDATE: Michael DOES know Chip, thus my assumptions proved correct that I'm only a few degrees to the PR crew. See Michael's comment for more info.

Off the strip

It's my first business trip to Vegas.

It's my first time visiting Vegas NOT in November (it's f-ing hot here).

It's my first time NOT staying on the Strip. Guess what - the 2 blocks down Flamingo from the strip to the Westin is sketch. Sketch. Sketch.

That's about all I know.

Big news!

My hometown is celebrating it's sesquitennial in July and one of the events is having the NPR Morning Show broadcast LIVE from Jackson! Pretty impressive! Here's the blip from the MPR site...

When the weather is warm, The Morning Show will use any excuse to set up some food booths and have a craft show and this summer their eyes are set on Jackson, Minnesota. The Morning Show hosts Dale Connelly and Jim Ed Poole will travel to this town of barely 3500 for a live broadcast from its sesquicentennial celebration Friday, July 14 at the Historic State Theater. The gang will be joined by South Dakota prairie girl Rachel Ries; The Pines, formerly from Iowa; Rich Rue and Nikki Matteson, a blues duo from Jackson County; and High Bongo. Enjoy live music and summer fun in a small prairie town with a rich history.

Top 3 European Destinations

What city has is the 3rd largest destination in Europe? London is #1, Paris is #2. Comment w/ your guess for #3.

This doesn't sound good

After having issues w/ my iPod not wanting to sync w/ my computer prior to leaving on my trip, I had more trouble today. In St. Louis this AM I turned on trusty iPod, that I used on Th on my way to St. Louis without problem, only to find that there is no music in the iPod. Playlist empty, artist empty, music empty.

I can't imagine you can accidently delete everything on your iPod without the assistance of your computer, so I need to take some time to deal w/ this before flying to Vegas. Why are you being mean to me, iPod? What have I done to you?

99 bottles of Guinness

and after that - you can sleep for just 99 Euros/night! This chain, Bewley's (possibly related to the tea?) has several hotels in Ireland and the UK where ALL rooms are 99 Euros (69 Pounds) per night - every room, every night. Since I'm old now, I may not want to do the dirty hostel thing next time I'm there so I want to keep this in mind...

Can you beerlieve it?

A mythbuster site has posted the status of this story as "true": A Utah man has been living in a townhouse for 8 years, drinking approximately 24 Coors lights each day. He's kept all the cans and cases, but was known generally as a good tenant. More pix are at the website.

I'm open to your Morman-beer jokes - I don't have a good one.

Globalization at it's best (worst?)

Q: What is the official beer and food of the World Cup?
A: Budweiser and McDonald's.

A little silly considering the food and beer native to Deutschland didn't make the cut. And ironic considering Americans are half assed soccer fans at best. The Germans are calling the Budweiser they're drinking in the stadiums Spuelwasser (dishwater). I watched part of the game on Saturday around the wedding, but didn't notice the food and beverage being enjoyed in the stands...

UPDATE: A few reasons why Budweiser entered the World Cup arena and why it's a good decision:

Despite the criticism, Budweiser has made a smart strategic decision for three reasons: First, nothing else in sports and entertainment equals the World Cup for global interest, opinion and passion. Second, there is clearly a strong consumer association between soccer and beer. Third, Budweiser is still largely a U.S. brand (only 17% of Budweiser sales are outside the U.S.), but it has global aspirations. Sponsoring the preeminent global sporting event is an efficient way to gain global recognition.

Off

I'm headed to St. Louis tonight for the Hogan-Flores wedding. The Seattle trip was a huge success - seriously, I'll post some pix. Soon. When I'm home on Sunday?

Beer me. Coffee me.

A new study by the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland, California, and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association's Archives of Internal Medicine, suggests that coffee consumption may help prevent cirrhosis of the liver.

In essence, the study suggests that by drinking coffee, people may be able to counteract the effects of long–term and heavy alcohol abuse, which can destroy healthy liver tissue. However, there are some caveats to the study.

For example, the study concedes that there could be other substances or genetics that helped the subjects of the study avoid liver disease. And the physicians involved said that they would no go so far as to recommend coffee as a treatment for cirrhosis.

Take tres

In October, I posted a list of takeaways/recaps Alicia and I complied after our MBA roadtrip. Then in December I updated the list in honor of our New Years trip.

We aren't planning another Madison-Chicago trip in the upcoming future, but since we are roadtripping to MKE for Summerfest the weekend of July 8-9 it put me in the mood for an update...

TO DO
Zoo Imax
Minneapolis Institute of Art - MUST do now that the Graves wing opened this weekend
Summit Brewery Tour
Frank Lloyd Wright home (Purcell Cutts) - but we did find out tours are second Saturday!
Cribbage Tournament at the Otter
Loft Living Tour
Frank Lloyd Wright fan club - not as dorky/crazy as it sounds? haven't found one yet
Hard core book club - I started going in May and I really like it!
Hang out w/ Minta - I have her email but so far, hasn't happened. Maybe a Muckenhirn pool party will spark this one???
Architecture tour at the Walker (NEW)

TO EAT
Ethopian food - perhaps Addis Ababa by the West Bank?
Chatterbox - I've done both Mpls and Highland Park - how do you like them apples?
Rossi's -
Dino's -
St. Paul Mexican restaurant -
Asian restaurant by Beth's house
Martini Blu happy hour
Zumbro Cafe (NEW)

The Zumbro Cafe and Walker architecture tour are the only new things I added to the list - am I missing anything? I'd also like to go hit golf balls sometime but I doubt that's something Alicia would validate for list addition.

Weekend update

I've been having a super fun time in Seattle - I'm staying with my Aunt Jeanne (from my trip last summer) and her family and they've been touring me around. I know you care about the details so here they are:

Thursday - Twins vs. Mariners - and the Twins WON! Yipee! Safeco field was super - I really liked the views of DT from the 3rd level. They were advertising upcoming promotions and one was Singles Night - you get a game ticket and a pre-game reception and they seat you in one section alternating boys in one row, girls in the next to encourage mingling. 4 Singles Nights sprinkled throughout the season. Love it.

Friday - Hit up the Nordstrom's half-year sale. Friday's shoe of the day is the evidence.

Saturday - Big tourist day to DT Seattle. We visited Pike's Place Market, toured the AWESOME library (it was the architectural tour given by a real architect so it was good stuff), had lunch at a cute crepe place in the market but away from the weekend craziness (thank Joe for finding it). After lunch, we bought salmon for dinner, visited the Frye Museum, walked by St. James Cathedral, and did driving tours of Broadway Street and the mansions up on the hill before visiting the conservatory at Volunteer Park, and heading home for yummy salmon dinner.

Sunday - Hit the road to visit the Chauteau Ste Michelle vineyard. They actually give a tour in addition to the actual tastings and it was great - maybe Napa vineyards give tours but I've never been on one as good as this one. I learned loads about stemware for wine, great tips on tasting wine, how aeration affects wine, and the geography of WA State wine production. Across the street was the original Red Hook brewery and we had lunch and a beer tour there. It was all that I expected - tour intermingled with beer tastings. Yummm.

Today I'm headed to a city about an hour E of Seattle for work - apparently our conference center hotel is "remote", has no TVs or phones in the rooms, and has fully stocked open bars throughout the center so that we can build teams through social events. I'll let you know how it is...

Artsy fartsy

I was browsing the interweb and found this Minneapolis Art website that shows almost 50 pieces of art in DT Minneapolis. Not all of the links work, but it's still pretty cool... Check out the art near your work or apartment.

New shoe Friday x 2

I took some time this afternoon to visit Nordsrom's semi-annual sale and picked up these two beauties - the brown ones I'll wear to Flores' wedding next week and the bottom ones are Kenneth. I don't think I have great taste in wedges but I think both of these are cute.

But if they aren't cute tell me now - if my taste is as poor in wedges as it was a month ago when I visited the MOA and had WT taste in the wedge department I'd like to know before I wear them...

Headed to NYC?

The Eames Lounge Chair:An Icon of Modern Design is on display through September 3 at the Museum of Art and Design in Manhattan. Granted, I'm not queen of art museums but this one I've never heard of - and it's located only a few blocks from the Rockefeller Center.

Wish I had a East Coast trip planned between now and then because it would be super fun to visit - I'll have to visit in November when I'm in NY.

YEAH for the U!

The architects that designed Camden Yards are on board for the Gopher Football stadium! If you haven't been to Camden Yards, schedule a afternoon there on one side of a trip to DC - I've only toured the park, not actually attended a game but it's awesome.

The fact that the architects were the FIRST to bring back the old-school ballpark feel in Camden Yards is a good sign for TCF (ick) Field.

How do we feel about this?

Madonna To Be New Face of H&M

I think I'm cool w/ this - althought I'll bet only 1% of shoppers match Madonna's demographics and they're all in Copenhagen where regular women in their 40s really do have Madonna's body.

I'll have to watch out for this to come to the MOA.

Beer v iPod winner announced

For those marketers trying to reach the affluent but elusive college crowd, take heart. Word is out today from Student Monitor, a Ridgewood, N.J.-based company which tracks student buying and interest, that the iPod has surpassed beer as the most “in” thing among college students. According to the study, some 73% of the students surveyed said iPods were “in,” surpassing even downloading the music that goes on the device, and came in ahead of bar-hopping, and IM-ing each other. In a tie for second place was beer drinking and spending time on FaceBook.com, which is a social networking site for the college set.

Could I possibly agree more?

Note to Republicans: The party's over Ineptness has ruined the GOP
Garrison Keillor
CHICAGO TRIBUTE
June 7, 2006

People who live in mud huts should not throw mud, especially if it comes from their own roofs. As Scripture says, don't point to the speck in your neighbor's eye when you have a piece of kindling in your own.

I see by the papers that the Republicans want to make an issue of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in the congressional races this fall: Would you want a San Francisco woman to be speaker of the House? Will the lectern be repainted in lavender stripes with a disco ball overhead? Will she be borne into the chamber by male dancers with glistening torsos and wearing pink tutus? After all, in the unique worldview of old elephants, San Francisco is a code word for g-a-y, and after assembling a record of government lies, incompetence and disaster, the party in power hopes that the fear of g-a-y-s will pull it through inNovember.

Running against Pelosi, a woman who comes from a district where there are known gay persons, is a nice trick, but it does draw attention to the large, shambling galoot who is House speaker now, Tom DeLay's enabler for years, a man who, judging by his public mutterances, is about as smart as most high school wrestling coaches. For the past year, Dennis Hastert has been two heartbeats from the presidency. He is a man who seems content just to have a car and driver and three square meals a day. He has succeeded in turning Congress into a branch of the executive branch. If Mr. Hastert becomes the poster boy for the Republican Party, this does not speak well for them as the Party of Ideas.

People who want to take a swing at San Francisco should think twice. Yes, the Irish coffee at Fisherman's Wharf is overpriced, and the bus tour of Haight-Ashbury is disappointing (Where are the hippies?), but the Bay Area is the cradle of the computer and software industry, which continues to create jobs for our children. The iPod was not developed by Baptists in Waco, Texas. There may be a reason for this. Creative people thrive in a climate of openness and tolerance, since some great ideas start out sounding ridiculous. Creativity is a key to economic progress. Authoritarianism is stifling. I don't believe that Mr. Hewlett and Mr. Packard were gay, but what's important is: In San Francisco, it doesn't matter so much. When the cultural Sturmbannfuhrers try to marshal everyone into straight lines, it has consequences for the economic future of this country.

Meanwhile, the Current Occupant goes on impersonating a president. Somewhere in the quiet, leafy recesses of the Bush family, somebody is thinking, "Wrong son. Should've tried the smart one." Five years in office and he doesn't have a grip on it yet. You stand him up next to British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a news conference and the comparison is not kind to Our Guy. Historians are starting to place him at or near the bottom of the list. And one of the basic assumptions ofAmerican culture is falling apart: the competence of Republicans.

You might not have always liked Republicans, but you could count on them to manage the bank. They might be lousy tippers, act snooty, talkthrough their noses, wear spats and splash mud on you as they race their Pierce-Arrows through the village, but you knew they could do the math. To see them produce a ninny and then follow him loyally into the swamp for five years is disconcerting, like seeing the Rolling Stones take uplite jazz. So here we are at an uneasy point in our history, mired in acostly war, a supine Congress granting absolute power to a president who seems to get smaller and dimmer, and the best the Republicans can offeris San Franciscophobia? This is beyond pitiful. This is violently stupid.

It is painful to look at your father and realize the old man should notbe allowed to manage his own money anymore. This is the discovery the country has made about the party in power. They are inept. The checkbookneeds to be taken away. They will rant, they will screech, they will wave their canes at you and call you all sorts of names, but you have to do what you have to do.

Trivia of the Day

What MLB team got swept in a 4-game home series over for the weekend - the first time since 1995 this team has gone 0-4 in a 4-game series at home?

Things I've learned today

I have a bad habit of getting to the airport way too EARLY for early morning flights. For both my 6am flight to DC for vaca and today's 5:15am flight to Richmond, VA I got to the airport with over 30 minutes to spare. At 4am, it is NOT fun to have an extra 1/2 hour to sit around at the airport. I have a 7am flight from St. Louis to Mpls next week and a 7am flight to Vegas the end of the month - I'm going to work on not getting there too early.

I don't like watching TV without DVR. I'm bored in my hotel room so I figured I'd watch Kathy Griffin's On the D List tonight but the commercials, not being able to rewind, etc. is super super annoying.

Rural Virginia is a little creepy. Not awful awful, but not good. I have a bad habit of wanting to use my stupid Southern accent in front of people that talk in that accent to me and REALLY have to resist the urge to do so b/c that would make ME look super stupid.

I'm not sure if this is good or bad...

Your Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English

15% Upper Midwestern

15% Yankee

0% Dixie

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

How do you spell AWESOME?

B-e-e-r f-o-r B-a-g-s.

Crumpler, maker of assorted sizes/types of bags, is having a sale June 3-11 at their 2 NYC stores. Literally, you give them beer, they give you one of their bags. It's super fun, and all the dets can be found at their B4B website, including the formula for how much beer gets you how much bag - ranging from 4 cans of Boddington's for a little bag, to a case of Pacifico and bag o' limes for a big bean bag chair.

The Aussies featured on this video explain the whole thing - comical.