Future Poltergeist

To say that the last year in Minnesota sports has been bad is a vast understatement. It has been nothing short of brutal. What do I mean? The Minnesota Gophers football team went 3-9 and fired their head coach part way through the season. The Minnesota Gophers basketball team started 11-1 and then lost 13 of their last 19 games. They went from a ranked team to one that missed the tournament. The Vikings celebrated their 50th season by going 6-10 but it was the most spectacularly awful 6-10 season in team history. They were plagued by injury from the beginning, had to beg Favre to come up from Mississippi and generally played poorly. They also had two games postponed, something that is almost unheard of in the NFL. The Timberwolves had the worst record in the NBA and are completely wretched. The Wild had a winning record but missed the playoffs. The Twins ended the 2010 season on a 2-9 run and were swept out of the playoffs. Right now they are 34-45 and have one of the worst recor...

Relia continues to get lots of pub but the big changes in our house are really with DF. He is going through one of those amazing cognitive spurts that is both amazing and exasperating. First the amazing: His speech is getting wider. His favorite word is still 'uh-oh' but he is working hard on 'thank you'. Yesterday he surprised us by saying 'Nana' and then looking around for her. He's still shy with strangers but he is coming out of that shell a bit. When we're out in public he likes to surprise people with 'hi!'. Never fails to get a smile from them. He can obviously understand more than he can say. This includes knowing where certain food is and what areas of the house he wants to play in. No more of that 'out of sight, out of mind'. That last one is probably both in the 'amazing' and 'exasperating category. What else? He is a world class climber (for his age group). Simple things like steps, of course, but he has...

While Relia is talking about her various parts: Relia: And I have two hands. And one big head! Me: Do you have a tail? Relia: Indeed I do not. Where does she get this stuff?

Somewhere in Canada.

This story surfaced a while back but I forgot to write about it then. So instead you get a Sunday evening tale. A popular resort in the UK has changed the rules on their bumper cars : Managers at all three of its famous seaside resorts have issued the crazy edict insisting guests drive safely and avoid all contact. Now holidaymakers are supposed to drive calmly round the track in one direction, following each other and overtaking only when there is enough room to do so. Bemused customers at the sites in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness have described the ride as an "exitless roundabout". I don't know what bit of craziness led to this but I'm guessing it was fear of lawsuits. If Nigel hits Benny too hard then you hold the resort at fault or something like that. In a more reasonable age, we'd assume that anyone who voluntarily rode bumper cars was doing it so they could hit and be hit. This brings to mind my one and only encounter with bumper cars...

Whole list (with links) found here . Any guesses on the #1 longest?

(The second word in the title should be italicized, but I don't know how to do that. To get the full FP experience, go back and read it as if it is italicized. Go ahead, I'll wait.) Today we entered week two of our summer experiment to live in our home as if at a rustic cabin without a kitchen sink or a dishwasher. That hasn't made our kitchen unusable but it has made me strongly averse to dirtying any dishes. Well, not just me. Anyway, as a direct result we have been eating out more lately. The FP Gal said she budgeted for it, so there you go. Today we packed up the clan and went to Davanni's restaurant for a mix of pizza and hoagies. Very yummy stuff. It has long been a favorite of the FP Gal seeing as she grew up here in the Cities around them. I was introduced to them at work, it being one of our go-tos for takeout lunch. Anyway, we went there to eat but also to see their new attraction. A Coca-Cola freestyle machine. Basically it is a fountain pop mach...

Last night while putting Relia down to sleep. Relia: Daddy, I'd like a story about a girl who has no heart. Me: Let me see. (Thinking about a girl who learns to love or some such.) Relia: And then her daddy looks at her and wonders why there are no cuts or blood! Me: Uh . . . That's it. No more CSI for her!

First you make eye contact with the subject. Then you get to your feet as steadily as you can. Wait until the subject has crouched down and then launch yourself, face first, into their belly. Your arms won't reach very far but don't worry, their arms will. After they've cuddled you for a minute, spin around while still leaning back against them. Then, and only then, can you toddle off leaving a big smile on the subject's face.

If I had a) more money, b) a different house and c) no supervision of living space, I would live like this.

This was in the FP Gal's head and now it can be in yours too! Man, I love 80's music. Dig that opening. They just don't make them like this anymore.

NPR is having a poll for the best science fiction or fantasy novels and has asked for people to submit a list of nominations. I'm a sucker for this type of thing so noodled a bit and came up with this list: Time Enough for Love - Robert Heinlein. Some 2500 years in the future there lives an incredibly old man, one who has lived since 1911 or so. He has decided that it's time to end it all but his descendants keep him alive so he can share his accumulated wisdom. This book is high on talk-talk and is easily my all time favorite. War for the Oaks - Emma Bull. Set in the Twin Cities of the 80's, this book deals with a war between good and bad faeries. It centers on a musician who has been thrust into the middle of the whole deal. Very good storytelling. Has one of my all time favorite characters (the Pooka). Filled with local geography. The Diamond Age - Neal Stephenson. It was tough to figure out which of Stephenson's books to go with here. I picked 'Di...

(Sorry about the lack of a post yesterday, my free time was taken up reading this book.) Let me start by admitting that I don't pay much attention to crime stories. I've long thought them too salacious and intrusive and basically not worth my time. This book has changed my mind. Bill James (the author) is best known for bringing a statistical look at baseball and I'm sure I'm not the only reader who picked up this book only because of its author. By his own estimation he has read upwards of a thousand 'true crime' books and this book is something of a way for him to organize his thoughts on the subject. It wanders between crime stories and crime theory in a way that would be annoying with a lesser writer but his conversational style is compelling. I found it hard to put down. There are several parts to this book. The bulk of it is made of discussions of various famous murders in US history. I learned a ton. In most of these he offers his opinions of inno...

A happy Father's day to my dad first of all. We were down in Austin yesterday and got to see him for a few minutes. He chased the kids for a bit (as is his wont) and it was very pleasant. Most of the trip was spent with Mom, well, nearly all of it and that was very nice too. She has planned a trip and the FP Gal wanted the rest of us out of the house so it all worked out well. We stopped at the cemetery so we could see the card catalog that she'll eventually be using. (Btw, the kids love to wander there around and sometimes on top of the stones. I suppose this is common enough but I'll admit that it freaks me out a bit.) Lunch was at the Tendermaid. The FP Gal was pretty actively jealous that we got to go there. It's not the least bit toddler friendly and eating was not easy. But it was yummy and we made it. Later we went to the A&W where they had high chairs, tables and (yipee!) frosty mugs of root beer. That worked out better. The FP Gal gave me a very...

For years I argued that the Oscars were making a mistake with the Best Picture category by having five films duke it out, regardless of its type. Comedies and dramas are so different that it's difficult, if not impossible, to judge them against each other. Two years ago they expanded the number of nominees to ten in an effort to expand the types of movies that make the nomination list. This week they decided to scrap that system and go to something new. Starting next year there can be anywhere from 5-10 Best Picture nominated films . The process goes like this: First, all the ballots are separated into separate stacks according to which film is listed as a first choice. Second, any movies that reach the five percent threshold are automatic nominees. Their stacks are then redistributed to their second or third choices according to a mathmatical formula. Their second or third choices count as partial votes when added to the remaining stacks. Third, at the opposite end...

A very brave robin has started hanging out in our backyard. I don't know if it's a mommy staying near younglings or what but the robin bop bops around on the ground. The kids can be fairly near without him/her flying off. Today I suggested that Relia name the Robin. (The FP Gal is afraid that I am turning into my mom.) The conversation went like this: Me: Relia, what should the robin's name be? Relia: Cathy. [This has been her go-to name for some time now.] Me: No. You just named your toy pony that and it would be too confusing if they had the same name. Relia: What about Ni Hao Kai-Lan? [Name of a kid show that I can't stand.] Me: No, that wouldn't be a good name for our robin. Relia: (pause) What about Field Guide? Me: 'Field Guide'? Relia: Yes, Field Guide! Me: Ok. So we now have a robin named 'Field Guide' living in our backyard.

Relia helped me pick this one out.

It was an active day here on Walton mountain. Or at least it seemed that way. There was lots of running around and playing in pools and swinging on swings and once Shiva, Destroyer of Kitchens was done with her work we even went out to eat. (The destroyed kitchen makes going out an easier sell.) Once nice thing with the long summer days is that we can usually run Relia hard enough that she conks out pretty quickly once in bed. Twice this week the FP Gal has carried her in asleep from the car and put her right down for the night. Tonight wasn't quite that easy but it wasn't at all hard. Well before 9p they were both asleep and we had the night to ourselves. We fired up the Netflix and started watching ' The Third Man '. She said she was up for some Hitchcock and I quickly said "this is Hitchcock-esque" and started it. I'm always afraid of pushing her to see movies because I have a tendency to oversell them. This time I hit the right balance and sh...

A few weeks back the Guardian asked readers what their favorite science fiction book is. Some 500 readers responded. A few days later it was pointed out that of the 500, only 4% were written by women. It has been widely pointed out that this is appaling and efforts are being made to bring more women authors to mind when readers are asked for favorites. I feel raw over the whole thing. I was one of the 500 and I answered honestly that my favorite book is Heinlein's 'Time Enough For Love'. And it is. This is my proverbial desert island book. When I was in the hospital, this is the one that Jodi knew to bring to me. It's not a perfect book but it speaks to me. And damn it, I shouldn't have to defend why something is a favorite of mine. So why was the gender split so heavy towards male authors? It's impossible to tell the gender of most of the responders but I'd guess it was heavily male. And favorite books are usually books that have stood the long test of ti...

We have a toy cell-phone but it is not as fun as the the corded one pictured here . DF has taken to wandering around the house and talking on it. Of course his parents wander all over while talking on their phone so it only makes sense. Once we get on the phone we're like a family of Wilburys .

Today was the first day of the FP Gal's summer break. Obviously that will make life around the house very different. Since both of us are home during the day we can more easily plan things to do. We started out with the Minnesota zoo today. It was much busier than I'm used to. One of the advantages of being a stay at home parent is that you can pick and choose a little as to when you go places. That means I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to crowds. The FP Gal didn't think it was crowded at all. Weather has been fairly cool here for the past few days. Last week we went from being the hottest city in the country (honestly) to very cool June weather. Highs in the 50's and 60's kind of cool. It's hard to figure. Though if I have to choose between an unusually cool summer or an unusually hot one, I'd go for the cool one every year!

Six years ago today the FP Gal and I tricked our family and got hitched. (You probably don't need to hear the story again but if you do, you can find it here .) It's been a busy six years. And frankly, it's hard to believe that it has been six years. Both because that seems like it couldn't have been that long ago and that six years isn't enough time for the things that we've done. Anyway, FP Gal, I'd do it all over again!

There was a report earlier this week that the NFL had made plans for an eight week schedule if the labor situation forces enough cancellations. According to the report: Under the reported plan, the eight-game season would start in late November and culminate with the Super Bowl in Indianapolis Feb. 12. The NFL has previously cleared the way for the Super Bowl to be played as late as Feb. 12. The league is looking to give teams five weeks before the season to sign free agents, hold training camps, and possibly play preseason games. I thought it would be useful to look at what such a schedule would mean. The current set up is very simple. Each team plays: Two games against each divisional opponent, both home and away (6 games). A game against every team in a different conference division (4 games). A game against every team in an opposite conference division (4 games). A game against the same place finisher in the other two conference divisions (2 games). It's a very ba...

I think this is South America and not Iceland, but I could be wrong.

An interesting article from Wired discussing how e-books are inferior to paper ones. The author gives five reasons and I thought it would be fun to go through them. 1. An unfinished e-book isn’t a constant reminder to finish reading it. He feels that the sight of a book lying there nags him to continue in a way that e-books don't. I have some sympathy for this. I've raced through good books on the Kindle but bad books really drag. That's true in real life I suppose, but they're easier to avoid in digital form. 2. You can't keep your books all in one place. This is a problem for people who buy books from several different stores and devices I guess. I've got just the Kindle so this isn't an issue for me. But I can see where it would be. I'm hoping that eventually we'll have common formats and buying books from all over will be like buying music MP3's. So far that isn't the case. 3. Notes in the margin help you think. He wants a better...

Every fall the FP Gal and I go through at least one moment of tension when I want to be home in time for a game to start and she's upset with me because the DVR will record it. Her point is that I can still see it, so I should just be patient and wait. My point? Well, it's different when it is recorded. It just is. You don't find that compelling? Then read this article here listing reasons why the recorded experience just isn't the same. Excerpt: 1. The removal of commercials erodes drama: If I record a sporting event, there's no way I'm sitting through the commercials. That would be like volunteering for a DUI. One of the central pleasures of self-recorded TV is eliminating our forced exposure to advertising. Yet this is probably an error, at least when consuming sports. It's during those moments when nothing is happening that the drama of a game becomes most palpable; this is why static sports like baseball and golf generally feel more gut-...

I ver much approve of this .

Interesting article on the importance of roughhousing for kids. This makes me feel a little better about Relia's insistence on messing with DF. Right now she wants to bump him around when he's walking. Often he doesn't even understand that she did something, simply that he's being knocked over. Part of me is frustrated by this but I try to remember that my siblings and I were pretty rowdy with each other. At some point he'll probably be bigger and more aggressive than she is too. I imagine the bumping will stop sometime before then. Let me be clear, mostly she gets along pretty well with him. In fact, I'm amazed at how often she works to make him smile and laugh.

When the Apple Tv is idle for more than a minute or so it goes into a screen-saver mode. (I've been listening to an internet radio station this morning so it's been idle for some time.) We have it set up to show a never ending collage of family pictures. For the first time that I've ever noticed DF is watching them today. I'm sure he has seen them but today he is paying attention. Whenever the picture changes and it's someone he recognizes, especially Relia, he says "Hi!". He has been saying it clearly and in context and I hereby declare it to be his first word. So mote it be.

Let the week begin!

Sorry for the light posting. The FP Gal went out of town to party with other teachers and I was a single dad for some time. (Btw, I can not express enough how much respect/sympathy I have for actual single parents. Can't imagine how hard that is.) Anyway, they wore me out Friday and Saturday. Today we were a whole family again and we had a full day. We went to Lake Nokomis. Relia and the FP Gal played in the water while DF and I chased around the picnickers in the shade. Good time was had by all. We had planned a trip to DQ on the way home but Relia fell asleep so we just went home instead. There were many naps when we got home and then I went grocery shopping. By myself. You don't understand how nice solo shopping is until you've had kids. Dinner tonight was over with the FP Gal's folks. Steaks on the grill and stuffing (a surprisingly good combo). We got the kids back home much later than usual. And . . . I got to watch more 'Twin Peaks'. As I sa...

While driving this morning Relia and I had a disagreement about the headband she wanted to wear. She thought 'no one will like me if I don't wear it', while I thought 'I'd like one day of people not pointing at us while I sheepishly explain that she dressed herself'. Anyway, the argument raged on until it hit this roadblock: Me: You are not wearing that out of this car and that's final. Relia: Yes I am! Me: No you're not! Relia: Uh-huh! Me: Nuh-uh! Relia: Uh-huh! Me: (deciding that I was done arguing) Relia: Uh-huh! Me: . . . Relia: UH-HUH! Me: . . . Relia: Daddy! (pause) You need to say 'nuh-uh'! Note: she did not wear the headband.

Earlier this week Relia showed off her green thumb. Or as she told me "I planted a maple syrup tree!". All very exciting but with one serious downside. She expects the syrup today . She keeps asking if it's ready now. Or how about now? Now, is it? Anyway, today while we were driving home from preschool she asked when she could have an apple tree so she would have her own apples. I decided to take the bull by the horns . . . Me: Relia, trees take a very long time to grow up. If we planted an apple tree we wouldn't have apples for a long time. Relia: Yes we would! Me: No, honey, it takes a long time. Do you see these big trees on both sides of the road [points to either side of Park]. They were planted even before Nana and Grandpa were born. Relia: Nana and Grandpa were born 100 years and . . . two weeks . . . away! Me: 100 years and two weeks? Relia: Yes! Me: Um, that's not quite right honey. Relia: (pause) Are the trees older than Grandma D? Me: Um, some...

Very cool video here of a painstaking recreation of our early Capital (and Capitol!). I'd love to see this type of thing with the twin cities area as well. ( via i09 ).

Via Lileks today : Tuesday night was unusual; the Precious Schedule was upended with a five-hour block of duty – first a funeral visitation in a far-distant part of town. Wife’s uncle. There was a video in the corner playing old photos; nice work, but – I know, I know, this is awful and petty – it used a stock 80s-style Microsoft font whose name escapes me. Made me think I should just put my own post-mortem slideshow in the can so I can control these things. . . . I told my daughter not to use this font on my memorial. Rolled eyes. Okay, whatever. What font do you want. I don’t know. There are fonts that you love, that say something to you, but they’re not about you. Hard to pin that down. “I’ll put Hobo on your tombstone,” she says. “I’ll come back and haunt you.” I had a very similar conversation with my Dad on Monday. His beef is with plastic flowers on graves. He also threatened to come back and haunt. So . . . if you need to talk with Dad after his unfortunate demise,...

There have been an absolute flood of wonderful time lapse astronomy videos lately but this one stands out. Instead of watching the sky rotate above the Earth, this one has kept the night sky steady to show how it's the planet doing the serious moving. Very cool.