"DPW truck watches citizens remove snow and calls police"

This is interesting. Racine Uncovered reports that Dino's Restaurant and Twins Food Mart on 16th Street took it upon themselves to hire a contractor to remove the dangerous snow mounds on their sidewalks. A DPW truck driver sat in his truck and watched the process for half an hour, then called the police. The police responded and found no problem. Read and see about it here: http://racineuncovered.org/?p=30119

I wonder what the DPW driver's problem was?

ordering early pizza for the game

I tried to order a pizza from Pizza Rut for the championship game. I ordered at half time, and got a delivery time of twenty minutes after the game ended. Not only that, but it never arrived! This time I will not be denied. You can pre-order days, even weeks in advance, so I did. 5:00 pm, Sunday. I'm ready.

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! What a crazy week! With the storm and everything going on it is hard to believe it is Friday already. This week's questions are about high school.

1) Did you like high school?

2) What was your favorite class?

3) Describe yourself in high school.

4) Did you go to the prom?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Weekend

Even though the blizzard is over, be careful out there.

Green Flash Near Kitt Peak

I was on the east side of Tucson taking sunset pictures. From this point, the Sun is setting just to the south of Kitt Peak. I got a pic tonight of a modest green flash at sunset.

Click to embiggen. You can see the Mayall 4 meter dome at the far right and the sideways 7 that is the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope toward the left of the peak in the full size version. The Sun is setting to the south of Kitt Peak which means that it will soon be setting directly behind Kitt Peak as it journeys northwards as summer approaches. One of my goals is to get a pic of a green flash behind some of the telescopes.

Two things about this pic. First, I am shooting with a Canon 70-300mm zoom lens now so I get a slight boost in magnification. Second, my camera is in the shop so I took this with a borrowed Canon T1i which has a higher pixel count than my usual camera. I can tell a difference when I crop the image.

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.

The Age Gap

At 85 years of age, Boudreaux married Marie, a lovely 25 year old. Since her new husband is so old, Marie decides that after their wedding she and Boudreaux should have separate bedrooms, because she is concerned that her new but aged husband may over exert himself if they spend the entire night together.

After the wedding festivities Marie prepares herself for bed and the expected knock on the door.. Sure enough the knock comes, the door opens and there is Boudreaux, her 85 year old groom, ready for action. They unite as one.. All goes well, Boudreaux takes leave of his bride, and she prepares to go to sleep.

After a few minutes, Marie hears another knock on her bedroom door, and it's Boudreaux, Again he is ready for more 'action'. Somewhat surprised, Marie consents for more coupling. When the newly weds are done, Boudreaux kisses his bride, bids her a fond good night and leaves.

She is set to go to sleep again, but, aha you guessed it - Boudreaux Is back again, rapping on the door, and is as fresh as a 25-year-old, ready for more 'action'. And, once more they enjoy each other.

But as Boudreaux gets set to leave again, his young bride says to him, 'I am thoroughly impressed that at your age you can perform so well and so often. I have been with guys less than a third of your age who were only good once. You are truly a great lover, Boudreaux.'

Boudreaux, somewhat embarrassed, turns to Marie and says: 'You mean I was here already?'

The moral of the story:

Don't be afraid of getting old, Alzheimer's has its advantages.

Russian inventor shows off propeller backpack

I want one of those. In the summer, I could use roller skates or blades. A few years ago, I could have built one in mom's garage. Now I don't have access to facilities or parts. To hell with Segways, I think this is the wave of the future.

"Snow flakes."

Snow flakes.

I counted till they danced so
Their slippers leaped the town,
And then I took a pencil
To note the rebels down.
And then they grew so jolly
I did resign the prig,
And ten of my once stately toes
Are marshalled for a jig!

--Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson (1830 -1886) was an American poet who led a reclusive life. Her poetry was almost unknowm until after her death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Dickinson

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my Racinesicles! How are you? Are you digging out yet? Oh my, oh my, oh my. Even I, of Zoltar® fame, would not dare to predict the total amount of snow we’re going to get from this one. Lake effect snow is notoriously fickle. In any case, I hope we have enough to satisfy the blithering and blathering weathermen and women who have been relentlessly yammering about this storm for the last 72 hours. I don’t know which is worse, the constant harping and hyperbole from the media, or the storm itself. Give it a rest, please. We live in Wisconsin. It is winter. Please inform us and then STFU. (I learned that from Junior.)

Such weather concerns are far from the minds of our illustrious Green Bay Packers as they prepare to meet the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV this Sunday. As I have stated elsewhere, I predict a Packers win. No matter what happens, though, our Packers have played an extraordinary season and I congratulate them on that. They have overcome great odds to get to where they are: NFC Champs. Hail, o mighty Packers! Defeat the Steelers on Sunday! Crush their skulls and grind the dust into the field! Oh my.

Speaking of the Super Bowl, are you having a party or going to one? No, I’m not looking to crash your party; I’m just cuprous about what my Irregulars are doing on such a festive and historic occasion. I plan to watch the game on TV with Junior and some of his friends. (If they get a little too rambunctious, I just slip a pinch of Zoltar® brand Relaxium into their sodas. Zzzz….) I’m grilling brats and hot dogs on the porch, if Junior clears the snow off. We’ll also have some potato salad, some veggies, some snacks, etc., etc. Maybe a little wine for me. (Hic – oh dear.) What are you having? Where are you going? Who is going to win?

I want to comment on a local story that the Journal Times published online last Friday:

http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_1632ede0-2b40-11e0-bcc0-001cc4c002e0.html

The article is entitled, “Crime rates drop in 2010 - Racine rates decline for second year in a row” and it is one of the biggest loads of crap I have read in a long, long time. I consider it terribly unfortunate that those who run this city think it is better to try to deceive our residents than it is to work with them towards solutions to our problems. I thank Racine Uncovered for publishing a response to such hogwash:

http://racineuncovered.org/?p=29333

I get so angry when someone lies to the people of my beloved Racine. Grrr! I can make you go bald.

Finally, my friends, I present a very pertinent video for your perusal, “Snow Shoveling Tips by Dr. Vogelmann:”



Chiropractors make a good buck, don’t they? I wonder if he’s single.

Thank you for reading my blog today. I hope that wherever you are, you are safe and warm. We’re having a blizzard, but who isn’t these days? I love you dear, dear readers.

Please forward your spam and threatening messages to: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Listen to the dear doctor and take it easy out there today, please. If you don’t have to go out, don’t. Today would be a good day to practice navel gazing or self-hypnosis. Or maybe navel hypnosis. Réaumur!

Open Blog - Wednesday

If you're snowbound today, just stare at the picture above and relax. 

I hate asking this but...

My friend knows a couple that have two children with a rare genetic disorder. The cute kids probably won't live past twelve years of age, and be a burden even though they are cute and seem normal now. My friend has been pushing all her friends to vote for a PEPSI funded research grant, and at the moment they are in first place inn the grant contest. Just squeaking by though. I would like anyone interested in helping out, to vote each day. i think you can vote twice a day even.

Thanks


http://www.refresheverything.com/curesanfilippo

The Big Snow Blog

"A blizzard in the forecast" - http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/article_1a3e9212-2d53-11e0-8b4e-001cc4c03286.html

National Weather Service Blizzard Watch - http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=mkx&wwa=blizzard%20watch - "NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS COULD BE A HISTORIC BLIZZARD CAPABLE OF PARALYZING PARTS OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN."

Are you ready?

Are you afraid?

Or are you eagerly awaiting it?

Then we're supposed to drop into the deep freeze again.

Personally, I hope they've overestimated the snowfall amounts.  But I'm resigned to whatever happens because it is winter in Wisconsin, so there's not a lot you can do but make sure you have enough food and whatever else you need  for a couple of days.  And try to think spring.

Open Blog - Monday

Me, too.

St Paul Winter Carnival

http://spwc.smugmug.com/popular/1/462218661_VbdZK#462218661_VbdZK
These are pictures from the St. Paul, MN Winter Carnival. The snow sculptures are amazing!! We didn't get there to see them in person, but this is a good place to see all of them without freezing your tootsies off!
Check out #2! Is that SER??

This link has some pictures of the ice sculptures.
http://www.365twincitiesmn.com/day-264-ice-sculptures-at-the-st-paul-winter-carnival/

Catapot

No, that's not a typo. Drug smugglers have recently been using a catapault to send bales of marijuana over the U.S.-Mexico border.



When will they learn to build a trebuchet?

Be My Valentine?

I'm so glad that you allow my strange mind to flourish without too much ridicule.. 

I had a bunch of stuff floating around up there: my band's cd/album cover, Valentine's Day, poetry and limericks, and Sassa's naughty valentine. It all gelled into this overnight. 

Now I see that there is a poet laureate contest?  Hmmm... Somehow, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be interested. :D

"Apply by Feb. 15 to become poet laureate of Racine or Kenosha"

"Racine and Kenosha Public Library systems have extended the deadline for submissions of the poet laureate program to Feb. 15.

"Poets are encouraged to submit applications to become the poet laureate of their respective communities. The poets laureate will be crowned in early April during National Poetry Month.

"The honor also includes publication of the poets’ work and a $500 award, given to each poet, from the Friends of the Kenosha Public Library and Friends of the Racine Public Library.

"Poets must be age 18 or older and a current resident of Racine or Kenosha counties in order to apply. Application forms and more information are available at all library branches in Racine and Kenosha counties. Forms and information are also available on the Web at www.mykpl.info and www.racinelibrary.info"

More: http://www.journaltimes.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/article_1cd1563a-2a57-11e0-8f34-001cc4c002e0.html