Knife skills

The Japanese have the high end knife market cornered. Here's a cool photo spread of the process.

Also, as my friends have probably noticed, I've nearly abandoned up late thursdays recently. My only excuse is that I have re-prioritized (thanks Kipps for the terminology) a few things in my life (work, school, travel) and don't have the time. I'll definitely keep bringing random postings and thoughts here, but for my current lifestyle, I've found a new internet journal thingie that just seems to get me better. I'll be making many more updates over at my Tumblr. I've also started this sustainablity site with some quality peeps over at Sustainy. See you there!

This is exactly like I felt after my wisdom teeth came out

"Dad, Is this going to last forever??"

My favorite video - Friendly Fires

Bonus that I found it on Friday. Party!

New P.O.S. video

Wicked animation

I've been super absent from up late thursday lately. A spell of traveling, the start of a couple new enterprises, including a new blog project and the start of school, have pulled me in many directions. I'm finally back home and getting things back under control.



Here's one of four amazing animation videos that won a contest sponsored by Radiohead and aniboom (a you tube for animation projects). This is so creepy, but still really fun and hopeful. I must say, I have no idea how dude created this crazy stuff. Head to aniboom to check out the other winners.

From Cool Hunting

Uptown in the 612

Pops clued me into this exploratory photo blog of uptown Minneapolis, near where I grew up. I stole this pic from there, and am pleased that some person on the interweb is practicing photography by documenting the seasons and scenes that are familiar to me. Nostalgia mixed with beauty is a pretty good thing for a Thursday morning.

Obama makes the news

A link to all the inauguration front pages from newspapers around the globe.

Service and Transparency in a new Administration

I thought a lot about the Obama campaign (and wrote a little). This morning there has been a big to do about the shift of the white house web site. I couldn't care less about the graphical layout but I read a new post that was pretty interesting. Reading through, I'm sure it was no coincidence that they talk a bit boastfully about their new administration's approach to communication with the public. Early in the post I read,

Just like your new government, WhiteHouse.gov and the rest of the Administration's online programs will put citizens first. Our initial new media efforts will center around three priorities:

The three new priorities are:

1. Communication
2. Transparency
3. Participation

I must say, I am feeling pretty empowered by what they are saying. But also concerned. There is a fervor right now around Obama, government, change and service. While my current levels of enthusiasm have pushed me to add the whitehouse.gov site to my bookmarks (can we take a moment to think about how profound that action is in itself?), I'm also thinking long term.

Communication and participation are two-way streets and busy ones when operating effectively. I have faith in Obama and the administration right now, but on the flip side, I'm weighing my faith in myself and everyone else in that conversation. Simply put - are we, the people, ready to step up and engage with our leaders to guide and develop change the same way we would engage and guide the paths of our careers, our educations or our families? It's another managerial consideration, another responsibility on our collective plate. Are we going to make time? Are you?

The opportunities are there. An email from the campaign told us to submit ideas for a presidential briefing book prior to the inauguration.

We wanted to tell you about a new feature on Change.gov which lets you bring your ideas directly to the President.

It's called the Citizen's Briefing Book, and it's an online forum where you can share your ideas, and rate or offer comments on the ideas of others. The best-rated ones will rise to the top, and after the Inauguration, we'll print them out and gather them into a binder like the ones the President receives every day from experts and advisors. If you participate, your idea could be included in the Citizen's Briefing Book to be delivered to President Obama.

Now that Obama has taken office, we are given the chance to engage directly with the Office of Public Liaison.

We've all had an epic day. Now what are WE going to do with it?

I told you so!

Yes!!! I've been telling people a story about the time it was MAD cold in Minnesota and I went outside in minus 60 degrees windchill (with all exposed skin covered) with a glass of hot water and tossed it up in the air. The water totally vaporized instantly and it looked like I had just pulled a Harlem Globetrotters fake bucket of water trick (only with a cup of magic disappearing dust). So when I saw this over at Boing Boing, I was thrilled! Now all you doubters and all you people who looked at me like I was not only crazy for telling the story but certifiably insane for going outside in that weather, watch this video below! She should have used a bucket though, not a wimpy little spray bottle.

My Idol

She's 13, she plays drums.

From a friend at work via this site.

Jizz in my pants

Ok, so the guys from SNL made this and it already has 15 million views. But me, I watch this...



Granted it's not the most amazing video ever. But what makes it so cool is that it is totally real. It's not an artists rendering or imagined by mathematicians. Science and telescopes gathered the data from a dying star 330 years ago. I mean, this is the first time we are able to see one of the biggest explosions we as humans can comprehend. Oh crap, yea, I jizzed in my pants.

From Wired, more here.

Oh Man. This is great.

I am so thankful for the world we live in. Where amazing things can happen anywhere, and then be captured for the world to see your bare ass hanging upside down from a chairlift while your son watched your junk dangle. 

I was on this very chairlift but days ago, so I feel a special connection to this most amazing of occurrences. 

Pic of the day 1.5.09

From Tex Tubbs on Atwood in Madison, Wi. I love the fixture and what the little digicam did with the lighting, the guacamole wasn't too shabby either.

Random shots

Here are some shots from my holiday travels.

Happy New Year

Here's to another year of life's epic ups and downs. Kinda like this, only not as scary...