This is a picture of my second grade class that appeared in our hometown newspaper, the Riceville Recorder. There were many more of us but I suppose they couldn’t all be in the picture with the newfangled computer they had us using. It was actually a teletype terminal that connected to a “mainframe” computer at Luther College in Decorah, IA (via an acoustic modem hookup). The terminal was kind of mounted on a dolly that let the teachers wheel it all around the school. We played Oregon Trail and a MasterMind knockoff called Bagels.
Why did Obama win the Nobel Peace Prize?
Rachel Maddow provides some excellent historical perspective as well as outlining exactly what Obama has accomplished.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
My apologies if you had to watch a commercial before the video started.
Vital Statistics
Bike odometer: 2557
Aches & pains: occasional dizziness (high blood pressure medication)
Current reading: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Dry: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs, Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton
Recent listening: Bach, Mojo Nixon, The Beatles, Adam Ant
Recent viewing: Medium, Mad Men, Heroes, Brainiac, Fringe, FlashForward, Simpsons, Family Guy, Glee, Leverage
Recent playing: Doodle Jump
Recently accomplished: Fixed backups, Scout finances, yard cleanup
Imperative To Do: Return cans, put antenna in the attic, clean office, finish Best of 2008, rebates, replace rusted grill parts, set up Iowa liaisons, clean roof
I Gotta Feeling
Canadian university students look like they had fun making this one-take video where everyone lip synchs to a Black Eyed Peas video (via Crooks and Liars).
Like endless rain into a paper cup
As you probably know, we had a very hot summer this year in Portland. During one heat wave, temperatures reached 107 on some days and didn’t get below 75 at night. Round about that time I found myself thirsty quite a lot. It was hot and our air conditioning infrastructure is lacking so I thought it was because of the heat that I was drinking so much water. Around about the same time I also started urinating much more often than I had ever before. Again, I chalked it up to the heat and increased water intake but I still noted a couple of events that were unusual. First, one night I woke up having to urinate which is something that almost never happens to me, especially if I go to the bathroom before I get in bed. Soon it was happening to me every night but I still didn’t put it together.
I also felt incredibly tired most of the time. The last few hours of work each day were very difficult and I would often end up in the comfy chair a few feet from my office, watching MSNBC’s political block. The fatigue had arrived rather gradually and I didn’t really notice it until our Family Camp with Troop 820 in June. When walking long distances there was difficult in terms of muscle fatigue, I chalked it up to the altitude and the weight I had recently gained. It got worse and worse all summer but even these were not clue enough for me.
Continue reading “Like endless rain into a paper cup”
Blowing through the jasmine in my mind
With only two weeks of summer remaining it’s high time I updated you about what’s been happening in the Ring household.
For the second year Troop 820 (Thomas’ Boy Scout troop) held an unofficial “family camp” in June. If you recall, last year we went to Idaho for three days of biking. This year we drove to La Pine, OR, where we camped in the “high desert” at 4100 feet. I was huffing and puffing there for two days before I realized that the altitude was the problem. During a bike ride to the shower I figured out that deep breaths counteract the lack of oxygen. Once I knew that, I no longer dreaded getting off my ass and walking to the next campsite. While we were there, the boys enjoyed a long bike ride and floating down the Deschutes River. It wasn’t really that warm but I think the altitude made it feel warm.
Continue reading “Blowing through the jasmine in my mind”
Graham Digging Chameleon Circuit
Graham got a little bored at the Scout meeting. Luckily, he brought along his iPod which was freshly loaded with his new CD by Chameleon Circuit. All of the music is Doctor Who themed which is pretty cool. That Graham found it on his own is even cooler. My son, the nerd.
Give Me Novacaine
Thomas really likes to play songs from American Idiot.
Vital Statistics
Bike odometer: 2529
Van odometer: 155709
Aches & pains: mosquito bites (healing)
Current reading: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk
Recent listening: Seconds of Pleasure by Rockpile, Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Revolver by The Beatles, Faith and Courage by Sinéad O’Connor
Recent viewing: The Lady in the Water, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (series), Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Sphere, Dear God, Roadside Prophets, The Last Days of Frankie the Fly, The Golden Compass, Truth or Consequences NM, Helvetica, A Scanner Darkly, I’m Not There, The King of Kong, The Killing of John Lennon
Recent playing: Peggle (for iPhone)
Recently accomplished: Bachelor week, Caravan DEQ and registration, cat boxes
Imperative To Do: Read Sam’s script, return cans, put antenna in the attic, clean office, finish Best of 2008
Sleeping Jewel
Be sure to click on the thumbnail and then click the “All Sizes” icon beneath the title. It’s breath-taking.