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.