Vikings go outdoors!

The Vikes are headed outdoors for the first time in 29 years! The team and the U are prepping TCF Bank Stadium for the MNF game with the Bears. The video preceding this post explains why it's needed. A rare opportunity to watch the NFL outdoors in Minnesota, but if they tear the roof off the dome and install real grass, this could be a regular deal. My friend Steve Rushin penned an excellent article for SI this week to put the doomed dome to rest: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/steve_rushin/12/15/metrodome/index.html

RIP Metrodump: The indelible image from the Blizzard of 2010

Check out the new Danny MacAskill video, great cycle stunts and beautiful Scottish landscapes. He is the master of balance and braking skills. Teeth-grinding, sweaty palm action. I believe you can see the Firth of Forth. The Firth of Forth is near Fife to the north.

Danny MacAskill - "Way Back Home"

KBJR Reunion...long past due

I'm way overdue with this posting, taken in September at the Fox9 studios. Former KBJR cronies, from left to right: Mike Birkeland, Jimmy Rich, me and Paul Moore. Birkie called me out of the blue while on a Cities PR junket for his energy co-op and we met for brews. Paul joined in and we crashed Fox9 and hung with Jimmy for a while. It was great, and long overdue. Jimmy still keeps a filthy desk and has Old Blue. Paul runs his own communications company. Birkie's put on about 70 pounds ;-)

Winterfest 2011: I've a ticket...and a conflict.

Winterfest 2011 sold out in about two seconds last week, but I scored one of the 700 tickets. Don B got it for me, but how you ask? Perhaps he knows a hacker or two down there at Seagate in Shak. Can't miss evening for hard core beer geeks, and my buddy Jonesey is handling marketing tasks for the MN Craft Brewers Guild. However, I may have to skip this one, as it's Greta's 11th birthday that night, and Don B is out of town for a girl's hockey tourney in Grand Rapids. "Should I cut down on the beer or the kids new gear? It's a big decision in a town called Malice."

RIP: Goldy Gopher shovel

My Goldy Gopher shovel, purchased during my eight winter stint at 56th & Newton, is now in the dumpster. The blade had long worn off, but the scoop worked great until it cracked while shoveling out from a recent dusting and contact with some ice chunks. Replaced by a completely character-free, but nearly identical design model purchased at Home Depot.

"Carlitos...I want to eat the pilot."

I watched an outstanding History Channel documentary over the weekend on the Uruguayan rugby team that survived more than two months in the Andes mountains after their plane crashed in October, 1972. 29 people died following the crash and an avalanche two weeks later, but 16 lived by engaging in anthropophagy, or eating dead people as a means of survival. Check out the lower left of the photo: that's a human spine. My new life hero is Nando Parrado, the guy who calmly led the survivors through the ordeal, including digging his teammates out of the avalanche, which was the worst of the chilly challenges they faced. Nando and Roberto Canessa hiked for ten days is some of the remotest terrain in South America before they were discovered by a huaso (skilled Chilean alpine horseman). The two climbed a 15000+ summit at a 45 degree angle with no alpine equipment or experience in high altitudes. All were rescued two days later by the Chilean military. Undoubtedly the best survival story I've read/heard/watched.

Bruce Foxton and Paul Weller reunited...INCREDIBLE!!!

See the video below, evidence of former Jam members Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton playing together for the first time since 1982. Absolutely stunning news, and quite frankly a development I thought would never happen. Now Rick Buckler needs to get involved, but that's probably not going to happen. Foxton and Weller began speaking again after Paul's dad John Weller died last summer, and Foxton attended the funeral. This Wikipedia entry describes what happened next: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_Up_the_Nation. The news made me emotional, as I thought this day would never come.

Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton

Candles & Leather

It's been a while, but I need to post comments on the book I read last summer, seen here: The Man Who Ate His Boots. The story centers around Britain's foolish quest to discover the Northwest Passage in the early 19th century, and the man most closely associated with it, Sir John Franklin. Franklin's follies included two expeditions that resulted in disaster, one in which his underlings ran out of food and had to eat candles...and their own boots. The incompetent Franklin was eventually knighted, and later led an expedition in which 129 people perished in the Arctic after resorting to cannibalism. After that, the Brits called it quits, and the NW Passage was eventually discovered by a Norske who listened to the natives. He did this by adopting and adapting: adopting survival techniques like building igloos, which allowed him to adapt to the ungodly cold conditions. The Brits found the Inuits to be savages and figured they had no idea what they were doing, which of course is brainless. The one image I'll take from this book is the description of Greenland Inuits, who had never seen other people before. They thought British ships were alive because they had wings (sails) and were dumbfounded by wood. All around, an excellent read from the Hennepin County Library!

Nowhere to go but down

The drama queen took the stage today and let it be known that he's going down to Chinatown. Favre has no chance of duplicating 2009, as he will not toss nearly 5 TDs to one INT, have a passer rating over 100 and lead the Vikes to the NFC Title Game. The schedule's too tough and Favre's too old. However, as long as Packer fans are annoyed, that's fine by me.

Scenes from the Saturday night grand finale bonfire

The Siren 17

Here's the UMD gang, dependents, friend and canines who braved the heat and downpours at the Ness cabin in Siren, August 11-16. We will never forget: the Kelly's gas gauge, bean bags and cribbage, the Thursday night storm, Shelly's big toe, Tor attacked!, circles of death and the Saturday night bonfire. An excellent replacement for the Yellowstone trip, now re-scheduled for August 2011.

RIP, REI

My beloved REI backpack is no longer functional, as the zipper broke on June 12, 2010 at our campsite along the Namekagon River. I have had this backpack for nearly 20 years, and it's been my companion on numerous BWCA trips, Europe, Mexico, Canada etc. Replaced in July 2010 by a Kelty Comanche 5600. Remember: keep all REI receipts, because you can return an item for a refund or replacement if it ever fails from REI. I didn't save mine :-(

Soggy suds snobs

Don Bloyer and I crack open a pair of Surly Bitter Brewers after the rain subsides, June 11, 2010. Speaking of Bitter Brewers, that is Wisconsin's Major League baseball team after a tough loss.

Namekagon River adventure

A rather enjoyable and significantly soggy Namekagon River adventure with our pals the Bloyers took place June 11-12, 2010. We had a three hour delay to due an MCS that stalled out over Burnett County that morning, but we made a run for the river during a break in the deluge, leaving from the Ness cabin in Siren, WI. Surly Bitter Brewer & Furious were the featured ales on this watery trail, which featured abundant wildlife, including bald eagles, deer, coyotes and two 12-year-old boys. Our trip was shortened by about 10 miles, but we paddled the County K to Riverside Landing stretch. We camped just NW of Stuntz Brook. This portion of the river is not exactly free flowing, as all agreed there was a lot more paddling involved than anticipated. There were two sets of rapids, Class I at best, but Don and Emily Bloyer nearly t-boned another canoe stuck in some downed timber along one chunk of rapids. All in all, we had a good time, but the next trip will be on a lake, in order to bypass the one night assembly and tear down.

Welcome to Trail and Ale, the life and times of Marshall Ness

Finally a blog to document my outdoor and craft beer experiences. No FaceBook and it's inane commentary for me, thank you.