Get the ball rollin'

The latest from Ok Go; a fantastic piece of music, videography, and downright childish whimsy. This too shall pass.

Olympic Bomb Scare

The 2010 Winter Olympics concluded with a heart-throbbing battle royal on the ice as the USA scored with 0:24 seconds left in the third period to send the gold medal hockey match to overtime. The game ended with the Canadians claiming gold on home ice. But it wasn't after one of the most intense and entertaining matches in recent history. Few stoppages in dynamic play, heroic goal tending, and no lack of end-to-end attacking hockey reminded us all of what a grueling sport hockey is. This was just the kind of event to end the Olympics with; an adrenaline filled match set before a raucous crowd (well as crazy as Canadians get). The power and conviction felt during 'Oh Canada' was enough to send chills down my spine. This single game was a reminder of the talent, endurance, and grace that are the pinnacle of winter sports. And just as this event came to a climatic end, I was reminded of those events not worthy of the air space they occupy. So for all those that embrace figure skating; I leave you with this video, my closing argument for removing the event from the Olympics. Any questions?

Kids Play

Yesterday I took a break from the rigmarole of the working world and enjoyed a lunchtime urban excursion. Like most working class blokes this was a series of nodal errands; an all too practical excuse to escape. So here I am walking up the hills of Seattle, enjoying the momentary sun and just taking in the vitality of the dense sea air. Up the first hill I pass a daycare playground. The yard is protected by a chain-link fence. Now I ponder does the fence exist to keep the kids from experiencing the dangers of the urban world beyond its boundaries; or does it exist to prevent people like me from escaping the real world for an afternoon of bliss? There is a small hill in the yard, kids running every which way. One little lad runs up the hill, then turns downhill...arms outstretched he lets gravity control the speed and cadence of his little legs. For just a moment I hope and wish he would take flight. Another girl methodically walks the serpentine trail up the hill. Each foot tasting the topographic texture in a deliberately experimental fashion. I wonder what she will be when she grows up. I move beyond the yard, the sound of traffic increasing and the fragrance of spring in February strong upon my tongue. I reach Third, turning north and find a huge pod of children out for a stroll. I elude them behind the next door, my responsibilities persuading me to complete my next stop. But my soul yearns to feel their youthfulness. As I exit I find them earnestly waiting for the bus. Most who wait for the Metro pass the time in silent isolation, but these kids know how to make the most of the moment. Aligned along the extent of the stop, they joyously gesticulate the 'honking' signal. Car after car unleash their horns in a primordial plead by their owners to return to a simpler time. Each honk is complimented by a gleeful eruption of screams and shouts of satisfaction from the youth. And then the mother lode approaches; a bus, streaking by unleashing an important lesson to all...live the moment.

Never Trust A Computer You Can't Lift

Here is a wonderful throwback video; Steve Jobs demos the 1984 Mac. Wow, how far we have come.

Bacon Cheese Turtleburger

For my friends out there with young kids. Here is a new one; the Bacon Cheese Turtleburger. Think of it as "arts and crafts" plus a gastronomy lesson. What is more patriotic than beef, bacon and cheese?

The Food Beast Blog described it as:

Handmade ground beef patties, topped with sharp cheddar cheese, wrapped in a bacon weave…then the next step, add Hebrew National hotdogs as the heads, legs and tail. Next step? Place on an oven rack, covered loosely with foil and baked for 20-30 minutes at 400 degrees. A little crispy, not too crunchy…just how a turtle should be, no?

The Comeback

A nice musical tribute to the next chapter of my life. Energy is returning and it is time to get off my ass and return to a state of ambitious pursuit. So buckle your seat belts cause I don't know where this crazy adventure is going to take me. Life is full of ebbs and flows; but this surge promises to be great. Let's call this the comeback.

Liveable Communities

"...when you have so little that is of value in the public domain no wonder people want larger yards to escape into. But if you no longer have to escape the public world you perhaps don't need as big a private domain."

Urban Scarecrow

Let me begin by stating that not all scarecrows are friendly or pleasant to look at. They are not simple minded folk who will whisk your poor ruby slippered ass on some magical psychedelic LSD trip. Scarecrows can be mysterious, elusive, and downright creepy. Now my experience with the urban species is limited; after all I am a simple country boy. But yesterday I ran across an amazing specimen. Scarecrow Man was a collection of plastic drugstore bags and scraps of clothing, giving him a rustic 'blowing in the wind' motif. The collection yielded a lumpy sun-bleached weaving of urban grime, nests, and earthen musk. One foot shoeless, the other housing a casually draped tube sock, he listed towards the right. Scarecrow Man was working, his patchwork quilt shoulder bag hung heavily. His face was green, the cucumbers absent from the clay facial mask he so naturally wore. Two sticks were knotted in his hair, precariously emerging above his nape like insect antennae. And most frightening of all he walked with a limp; who is this man and what is his story?

Joy of Infographics

Via: Online Schools

Pucker Power

A wonderful mini-documentary about individuals that have transformed being laid-off into positive life changes (35:57).