My brother, who doesn’t work for the Salt Lake Tribune, reported that Brighton Ski Resort opens its ski season today, with a natural and artificial snow base of 20 inches.
When I lived in Utah during the 80’s my skiing and rock/ice-climbing mates and I always hoped the resorts would open before Thanksgiving, and sometimes they did. If they didn’t, we’d sneak in with our 3-pin cross-country skis and practice telemark turns down slopes and trails that hadn’t yet been groomed to opening-day standards.
I miss the first snow of the season. Living in Florida tends to warp reality in terms of season- and weather-awareness. Here I am, blithely planting pansies, marigolds, strawberries, winter salad greens and garlic sets while folks in northern climes are hunkering down for winter – tuning up the snow blower, shrink-wrapping their water-ski boats, weather stripping door jambs and windows.
Did you get snowed on last night? James Lileks did, and he has a great post on the topic today at The Bleat. And don’t miss the frozen Jack Nicholson screenshot atop the page (from The Shining, of course).
tags: skiing, snow. Utah, Brighton
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Better Living Through (Food) Chemistry
Jones Soda of Seattle, Washington is marketing a smoked salmon pate'-flavored soda as part of its annual variety sampler, to go with favorites such as turkey and gravy, corn-on-the-cob, and pecan pie sodas. Now isn't that just damn skippy? Why not lay in a case or two for the holidays?
The Clog Almanac wants to know when Jones Soda will come out with an oyster soda. To our palate there is no finer flavor than that obtained from the marriage of that delicious shellfish and the salty liqueur bathing its uncooked tender flesh.
You might be aware that the tiny Olympia oysters grown and harvested in Washington state are legendary among oyster lovers. Enjoy this article from the Oct26-Nov1/05 issue of the Seattle Weekly and you'll be Jonesing for oysters, if you aren't already.
tags: Seattle, salmon, oyster
The Clog Almanac wants to know when Jones Soda will come out with an oyster soda. To our palate there is no finer flavor than that obtained from the marriage of that delicious shellfish and the salty liqueur bathing its uncooked tender flesh.
You might be aware that the tiny Olympia oysters grown and harvested in Washington state are legendary among oyster lovers. Enjoy this article from the Oct26-Nov1/05 issue of the Seattle Weekly and you'll be Jonesing for oysters, if you aren't already.
tags: Seattle, salmon, oyster
Carnival of the Vanities #165
The Carnival of the Vanities #165 is up today at The Examining Room of Dr. Charles.
The Clog Almanac thanks the Dr. for including therein a link to this post about blog tags, which appeared in these pages earlier this month.
The Clog Almanac thanks the Dr. for including therein a link to this post about blog tags, which appeared in these pages earlier this month.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Iran Government Hardens Against Cultural Reforms
The new Iranian government is taking a severe stance against cultural reforms achieved under the previous government.
So who and what are in the sights of the new Minister of Culture, hardliner Mohammed-Hossein Saffar-Harandi? Here's a partial list: books and book-censors; cinemas, theaters, films and film censors; newspapers; cultural associations.
One expects writers and intrepid Iranian bloggers to round out the list. Who else might be intimidated or silenced? Teachers and professors? Moderate or secular political candidates? Civil servants? judges?
Restricting the tenuous freedoms and cultural opportunities that the Iranian people have experienced is an ill-omen, with disturbing implications for the future.
tags: Iran, reforms, culture
So who and what are in the sights of the new Minister of Culture, hardliner Mohammed-Hossein Saffar-Harandi? Here's a partial list: books and book-censors; cinemas, theaters, films and film censors; newspapers; cultural associations.
One expects writers and intrepid Iranian bloggers to round out the list. Who else might be intimidated or silenced? Teachers and professors? Moderate or secular political candidates? Civil servants? judges?
Restricting the tenuous freedoms and cultural opportunities that the Iranian people have experienced is an ill-omen, with disturbing implications for the future.
tags: Iran, reforms, culture
News Feeds Breed Non-Sequiturs
Amusing non-sequiturs that pair an organization's news page subtitle with the headline of the first news item pepper the Breaking News page at WeBlogALot. A few examples from today's aggregate are quite funny when read as a single news headline:
Bad credit mortgage - Bush Arrives in Japan to Start Asia Trip
Long term care insurance - Teen murder suspect faces extradition...
Instant car insurance quote - Karachi car bomb kills 2: police
Baldness stories - NFL: Cowboys strike late to silence Eagles fans
Mortgage amortization - NBC cancels Stewart's show
First mortgage - McNabb hurts groin
What did I tell ya?
tags: feeds, news, aggregator, newsfeed, headlines
Bad credit mortgage - Bush Arrives in Japan to Start Asia Trip
Long term care insurance - Teen murder suspect faces extradition...
Instant car insurance quote - Karachi car bomb kills 2: police
Baldness stories - NFL: Cowboys strike late to silence Eagles fans
Mortgage amortization - NBC cancels Stewart's show
First mortgage - McNabb hurts groin
What did I tell ya?
tags: feeds, news, aggregator, newsfeed, headlines
61 in '61: Roger Maris Then And Now
Roger Maris was voted the American League MVP for the second time, on this day, November 15, in 1961. That year he hit 61 home runs, breaking Ruth's record on the last day of the season.
Mr. Maris, in the form of a TOPPS baseball card, occupied a hallowed spot in the top drawer of my dresser when I was a wee child in Boise, Idaho. As I recall, his card was second in the deck, behind Mickey Mantle, just ahead of Whitey Ford, Willie Mays, and Al Kaline.
Fast-forward ~40 years: I have had dealings with Roger Maris Jr. over the past couple of years here in Florida. He is a straight-up centered gentleman who enjoys and appreciates Nature, and he is one of those unique family men that finds time to sponsor and coach a kids’ softball team every year. I believe that says a lot about a man’s character.
tags: baseball, Maris, 1961
Mr. Maris, in the form of a TOPPS baseball card, occupied a hallowed spot in the top drawer of my dresser when I was a wee child in Boise, Idaho. As I recall, his card was second in the deck, behind Mickey Mantle, just ahead of Whitey Ford, Willie Mays, and Al Kaline.
Fast-forward ~40 years: I have had dealings with Roger Maris Jr. over the past couple of years here in Florida. He is a straight-up centered gentleman who enjoys and appreciates Nature, and he is one of those unique family men that finds time to sponsor and coach a kids’ softball team every year. I believe that says a lot about a man’s character.
tags: baseball, Maris, 1961
Monday, November 14, 2005
Carnival Of The Capitalists
The Clog Almanac welcomes all visitors from The Entrpreneurial Mind, host of this week's Carnival of the Capitalists, which linked to this post. And a warm welcome as well to those who found this site via other means. Your patronage is appreciated. Enjoy.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
The Price Of Liberty: $5 And A Pint Of A.A.
Five dollars and a pint of Ancient Age whiskey are apparently the price of a vote in Liberty, KY. A Casey County man was found guilty of buying votes despite his lawyer's reasoning that he was only participating in good old-fashioned (read "good ol' boy") electioneering. A damning taped conversation submitted as evidence records him offering to buy votes from the parents of two siblings from whom he'd previously bought votes with cash and whiskey.
Juicy details of the trial appear in this article from the Danville Kentucky Advocate Messenger.
Tags: Kentucky, elections, fraud, whiskey
Juicy details of the trial appear in this article from the Danville Kentucky Advocate Messenger.
Tags: Kentucky, elections, fraud, whiskey
Chinese Olympic Mascots, Money, and Pollution
Senior Chinese officials unveiled the "Five Friendlies" this past Friday, mascots for the Beijing Olympics to be held in 2008. The unveiling of the stylized panda, swallow, Tibetan antelope, carp, and olympic flame took place in an elaborately staged event at a Beijing sports arena.
Celebrity actor/filmmaker Jackie Chan made a surprise appearance at the gala, and even claimed later that he had guessed the identities of 2 of the 5 - the panda and the Tibetan antelope - on a bet. Tsk tsk Mr. Chan. The Clog Almanac wagers that betting isn't a friendly or sanctioned olympic activity.
The marketing blitz for the Five Friendlies includes postage stamps and over 300 other licensed products. Sales of these items began yesterday and are expected to produce hundreds of millions $US. The Beijing games are estimated to cost around 38 billion $US. The Clog Almanac wonders if the mascots are more about money, and the marketing of China and Chinese patriotism than they are about the spirit of the games.
A promise to clean up the dismally unhealthy air pollution in Beijing was part of China's bid for the 2008 games. So far the promise is unfulfilled. As the 1000-day clock until the games ticks down, air pollution in Beijing is getting worse as coal-fired plants ramp up for the winter, and as an additional 1000 cars per day flood the streets of the capital. That's 1,000,000 more cars in Beijing by the time the Olympics begin.
The Clog Almanac has two bothersome questions about the Tibetan antelope mascot: Did anyone ask the Tibetans beforehand if their antelope could be co-opted by the Chinese for the Beijing games? How much Olympic licensing money will Tibet see in the end?
Tags: Five Friendlies, China, olympics, Tibet, pollution, Beijing, Jackie Chan
Celebrity actor/filmmaker Jackie Chan made a surprise appearance at the gala, and even claimed later that he had guessed the identities of 2 of the 5 - the panda and the Tibetan antelope - on a bet. Tsk tsk Mr. Chan. The Clog Almanac wagers that betting isn't a friendly or sanctioned olympic activity.
The marketing blitz for the Five Friendlies includes postage stamps and over 300 other licensed products. Sales of these items began yesterday and are expected to produce hundreds of millions $US. The Beijing games are estimated to cost around 38 billion $US. The Clog Almanac wonders if the mascots are more about money, and the marketing of China and Chinese patriotism than they are about the spirit of the games.
A promise to clean up the dismally unhealthy air pollution in Beijing was part of China's bid for the 2008 games. So far the promise is unfulfilled. As the 1000-day clock until the games ticks down, air pollution in Beijing is getting worse as coal-fired plants ramp up for the winter, and as an additional 1000 cars per day flood the streets of the capital. That's 1,000,000 more cars in Beijing by the time the Olympics begin.
The Clog Almanac has two bothersome questions about the Tibetan antelope mascot: Did anyone ask the Tibetans beforehand if their antelope could be co-opted by the Chinese for the Beijing games? How much Olympic licensing money will Tibet see in the end?
Tags: Five Friendlies, China, olympics, Tibet, pollution, Beijing, Jackie Chan
Saturday, November 12, 2005
The Gardener And The Boiled Peanuts
"There is no sadness at the coming of Autumn. All flags are flying at journey's end." - Anonymous
I breakfasted on boiled peanuts again. But I get ahead of myself.
Yesterday I planted some blooms to add color to the beds in front of the house. First, a multi-hued spate of pansies to soldier on as winter frosts dispatch the less hearty troops; then blue Salvia to add a vertical component and for their lovely color; and Mexican heather (Cuphaea) for year-round color and perennial greenery. Last of all I put in some bold splashes of color: Vivid scarlet geraniums and yellow and orange tiger lilies.
This morning I went outside early to review my handywork and to make sure no possum or armadillo had rooted the new plants from the ground or trampled on their tender shoots. It was very cool outside and I got quite chilled (now come the peanuts).
Nothing warms the hands and soul like a big bowl of piping hot boiled peanuts. I bowed to this great Southern tradition and stood at the kitchen window shelling and eating them, and sharing the briny nuts with our 3-legged Corgi Fergus.
tags: peanuts, Florida, gardening, Corgi
I breakfasted on boiled peanuts again. But I get ahead of myself.
Yesterday I planted some blooms to add color to the beds in front of the house. First, a multi-hued spate of pansies to soldier on as winter frosts dispatch the less hearty troops; then blue Salvia to add a vertical component and for their lovely color; and Mexican heather (Cuphaea) for year-round color and perennial greenery. Last of all I put in some bold splashes of color: Vivid scarlet geraniums and yellow and orange tiger lilies.
This morning I went outside early to review my handywork and to make sure no possum or armadillo had rooted the new plants from the ground or trampled on their tender shoots. It was very cool outside and I got quite chilled (now come the peanuts).
Nothing warms the hands and soul like a big bowl of piping hot boiled peanuts. I bowed to this great Southern tradition and stood at the kitchen window shelling and eating them, and sharing the briny nuts with our 3-legged Corgi Fergus.
tags: peanuts, Florida, gardening, Corgi
Kurt Vonnegut 1998 Commencement Address
Yesterday was the birthday of Kurt Vonnegut Jr., our generation's Samuel Clemens, in my opinion. I occasionally revisit Vonnegut's 1998 Rice University commencement address to savor its wit and simple honesty. Its a short speech - enjoy it.
Mr. Vonnegut's website is well worth taking the time to visit. You can even buy a T-shirt or piece of original art.
The apocryphal MIT sunscreen speech was actually an article that appeared in the June 1, 1997 Chicago Tribune, authored by Mary Schmich.
tags: Vonnegut, Rice, commencement address, sunscreen
Mr. Vonnegut's website is well worth taking the time to visit. You can even buy a T-shirt or piece of original art.
The apocryphal MIT sunscreen speech was actually an article that appeared in the June 1, 1997 Chicago Tribune, authored by Mary Schmich.
tags: Vonnegut, Rice, commencement address, sunscreen
Friday, November 11, 2005
Five "Friendlies" - Chinese Olympic Mascots
China unveiled its 5 *carefully* chosen 2008 Olympic mascots today, the "Five Friendlies".
One wonders if any of the mascots will be accused of being gay, like the British Teletubby Tinky Winky? I must admit that I've been extremely non-plussed by any of the recent cartoonish Olympic masocts to date. They just don't grab one's attention. At most they highlight cultural differences in tastes in a rather unproductive manner and detract from the spirit of the events.
Why have a mascot, period? No mascot has yet to garner international appeal, much less a spot in a widely syndicated cartoon series. Olympic mascots should go away quietly. That would be a very friendly international gesture.
Tags: China, olympics, mascot, Teletubbies, olympic mascot
One wonders if any of the mascots will be accused of being gay, like the British Teletubby Tinky Winky? I must admit that I've been extremely non-plussed by any of the recent cartoonish Olympic masocts to date. They just don't grab one's attention. At most they highlight cultural differences in tastes in a rather unproductive manner and detract from the spirit of the events.
Why have a mascot, period? No mascot has yet to garner international appeal, much less a spot in a widely syndicated cartoon series. Olympic mascots should go away quietly. That would be a very friendly international gesture.
Tags: China, olympics, mascot, Teletubbies, olympic mascot
Giant Knuckleball (Meterorite) Unearthed in Kansas
Kansas, the state that IS flatter than a pancake, has produced a unique 1400-lb piece of rock from space. The meteorite, found 7 feet undergroud by space-rock sleuth Steven Arnold of Arkansas, is classified as an oriented pallasite, the 3rd largest of its kind ever found. These conical iron-nickle meteorites have crystals that are aligned because the fiery rock mass plunged through Earth's atmosphere without spinning or tumbling.
"Flies through the air without spinning or tumbling": That's a knuckleball, friends.
Tags: Kansas, meteorite, baseball, knuckleball
"Flies through the air without spinning or tumbling": That's a knuckleball, friends.
Tags: Kansas, meteorite, baseball, knuckleball
SONY Suspends Antipiracy Measures For Now
Perhaps it was the outcry echoing around the blogosphere: SONY-BMG has agreed to suspend the inclusion on audio CD's of its controversial anti-piracy software that have proven to be a big burr under its corporate saddle and a boon to hackers.
Behold the power of blogs, again.
Tags: SONY, rootkit, copy protection, DRM, spyware, malware
Behold the power of blogs, again.
Tags: SONY, rootkit, copy protection, DRM, spyware, malware
Carlos Fuentes 1928 -
Today is Veterans' (Armistice) Day. It is also the birthday of Carlos Fuentes, the imaginative Latin-American author who is annually short-listed to receive the Nobel Prize for literature. Though he spent precious few years of his varied life in Mexico, he is considered a Mexican writer and a treasure.
Book collectors would do well to acquire pristine copies of his works. Surely they will appreciate when he is awarded the prize; and immediately upon his death.
Tags: Carlos Fuentes, Mexico, literature, Armistice Day, Veterans Day, Remembrance Day
Book collectors would do well to acquire pristine copies of his works. Surely they will appreciate when he is awarded the prize; and immediately upon his death.
Tags: Carlos Fuentes, Mexico, literature, Armistice Day, Veterans Day, Remembrance Day
Nitty-Gritty of SONY Decloaking Patch - Warnings
This link-rich post, by Mark Russinovich is a now week old, but is now required reading for those who need to know the nitty-gritty about DRM files on SONY media and the ramifications of trying to reveal and get rid of the hidden junk they plant on the computer that runs them.
Tags: SONY, DRM, decloaking patch, EULA, rootkit
Tags: SONY, DRM, decloaking patch, EULA, rootkit
SONY DRM, XCP Lowdown
Deep Links has a must-read article for those curious about the flap about Sony-BMG copy protection measures that can infect you computer with nasty pieces of hidden software. The article includes lists of specific CD's, and tips on recognizing labeling cues that indicate the files are present on a given CD.
Tags: SONY, DRM, XCP, spyware, malware
Tags: SONY, DRM, XCP, spyware, malware
Natonal Geographic Unveils Fossil Godzilla
Who could have guessed that Godzilla was an ancient marine crocodile?
Tags: Godzilla, fossil, crocodile, palaeontology, paleontology
Tags: Godzilla, fossil, crocodile, palaeontology, paleontology
Trojan Afoot Exploiting SONY-Bmg DRM Technology
The first trojan that exploits SONY's DRM technology has been discovered in the wild, reports The Register. Lots of comments over at Broadband Reports, which you might page through, if only to remind yourself of common/risable spelling errors on the geekweb.
Yes, there are lawsuits afoot as well, since you asked.
Tags: spyware, trojan, SONY, virus, rootkit, DRM
Yes, there are lawsuits afoot as well, since you asked.
Tags: spyware, trojan, SONY, virus, rootkit, DRM
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Life In The (Immigrant) 'Hood
The Wall Street Journal's online Opinion Journal ran this great article by Joel Kotkin that digs below the surface of the recent riots in France.
Kotkin discusses various aspects of the French socioeconomic system that underpin the unrest and despair in the immigrant banlieus: short work weeks, early pensioning, institutional welfare, tax burdens on young workers, lack of job creation, and emigration of skilled workers to the UK, Ireland, and the US, among others.
Tags: Europe, France, economics, banlieu, emigration
Kotkin discusses various aspects of the French socioeconomic system that underpin the unrest and despair in the immigrant banlieus: short work weeks, early pensioning, institutional welfare, tax burdens on young workers, lack of job creation, and emigration of skilled workers to the UK, Ireland, and the US, among others.
Tags: Europe, France, economics, banlieu, emigration
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