Conflicker

Update your anti-virus (software) definitions. There's a new "worm" supposed to be coming...

I hiked in Wilkie today

I went hiking in the east side of the Wilkie unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. I saw a couple of Bald eagles and a lot of gulls, ducks and Canada geese. I also found some owl pellets. You can see little bones and hair (in them) that the owl couldn't digest.


This scrub brush is prime deer habitat.

Woods along Rice Lake

Creek

Owl Pellet

Bald Eagle

Rice Lake

Cutris Recognized as Outstanding in his Field

Cutris Recognized as Outstanding in his Field
UnAssociated Press
March 25, 2009

Cutris, was recognized as out standing in his field today.

Mini Waterfall

During yesterday's hike, I made this short video of one of the many, mini waterfalls. Some of these run all year, and some are from snow melt from the bluffs.

Long Meadow Lake Hike

We went hiking today at the Long Meadow Lake unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. We started on the proposed state trail and came back on the Bluff Trail. The wind was calm, the sun was shining and it was about 60 degrees (Fahrenheit).
Here are some pictures.

Abbreviated Fast Food

Hmmm...
Do I want to get something at "By's?"
Maybe I should go to the Golden Arch.
Hmmm...

Happy Spring!

Spring arrived a few minutes ago!

Ponzi Scam

Cutripedia

Recently, the news is full of something called a Ponzi scam. People like Bernard Madoff and Tom Petters swindled other people out of their life savings. But where did the term "Ponzi" come from?

During the 1970's, characters from the TV show Happy Days created a spin-off show about an alien, called Mork and Mindy. This alien introduced the characters to the Star Trek crew. Eventually, the character Fonzie was accidentally merged together with Potsie during a Transporter accident. The new creature, being comprised of both Fonzie and Potsie, was called "Ponzi."

"Ponzi" had the aggressive traits of Fonzie, and the stupid traits (and great singing voice) of Potsie. Eventually, this new being tried to bilk Richie, Mr. Cunningham and Ralph Malph, out of their life savings by selling fake shares of stock in Arnold's Drive-In. Fortunately, Scotty was able to reverse the process by beaming Ponzi back through the transporter--separating Fonzie from Potsie.

Thus, the origins of the term "Ponzi Scam."

AIG Sucks!

American International Group Inc. sucks. Don't get me wrong, Citibank sucks and so do a bunch of others. Recently, the news has been about
how AIG used its government bailout money to give bonuses to executives. This is exactly what the bailout money was not supposed to be used for!

Apparently "they" did it so the "best" employees wouldn't quit. With all of the talented people currently out-of-work and losing their jobs, let them quit! How hard would it be to replace them? Are these "best" employees so sure they can find new and better jobs?

Are average Americans upset? I think so. We have seen our incomes shrink and expenses grow. Now our tax money is going to bonuses for executives!
Yeah... they need to pay it back...

Who are you lookin' at?

"Why are you lookin' at me like that?"

Ice Out Video

Here is nine seconds of ice flow on the Minnesota River from yesterday.

Muddy Boots

Our friends Mike and Sue decided to stay inside and play with toy trains, because they were afraid to walk in the mud on our hike at Bloomington Ferry. Here is a picture of the mud.

Bloomington Ferry Hike

We went hiking in the Bloomington Ferry unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. It was an absolutely beautiful day! We saw Bald Eagles, Common Mergansers, a Swainson's Hawk, Robins, assorted woodpeckers, Canada Geese, Mallards and more! The ice was breaking up in the near 50 degree (F) temperatures.


Here I am at "The Tree of Much Damage."

Ice Window

Common Merganser

Marsh

Canada Geese

Bald Eagle

Beaver

Friday Reflection

I can't talk about work, as there are "spies" who monitor such things. Suffice to say, I've been figuring out a digital television media system. It's a bulletin board that circulates postings (on TV) and also has both a news and a weather crawl. It's been quite a learning experience. The small amount of support I can get is usually completely useless. I have over the last few days, figured out the system pretty well (on my own by trial-and-error) and I have it up and running.

In other news, it seems that this blog (once under scrutiny) has taught me how to expand the capability of the work related website that I help to update. Will the spies be angry that what I do during my own free-time has increased my productivity on the job?

Cutris Gives Wishes to Charity

Cutris Gives Wishes to Charity
March 12, 2009
UnAssociated Press

Cutris stated by telephone to the UnAssociated Press, that the Internal Revenue Service was taxing him for capital gains, due to his receiving three wishes from a magic unicorn and then creating a fourth wish by wishing for five wishes.

Thus Cutris has stated that he has donated all four of his wishes to charity, to avoid any tax penalties involved from coming out ahead.

When asked if he would get a tax break from his capital loss, IRS spokesman Ini Yoface, replied that it was unlikely due to the one-sided nature of taxation.

Cutris Believes Magic Unicorn Gave Him 3 Wishes

Cutris Believes Magic Unicorn Gave Him 3 Wishes
March 12, 2009
UnAssociated Press

Cutris told reporters today, that a magic unicorn gave him three wishes. When questioned about what he did with his wishes, Cutris replied that he had wished for four wishes several times, but each time he used a wish in the process, and so never was able to get above the original three wishes.

Seeing his dilemma, Cutris set out to remedy the situation by wishing for five wishes, which accomplished his goal of having four wishes.

The Cutris Octuplets

The famed Cutris Octuplets posed together for a photo today. They declined to do an interview, but wanted the world to know that they are fine.

Dingus McHarold & Billy Two-Shots (MOVIE)

Click on image to view large. Click your "back" button to return to blog.

Tooth

A year ago I told the dentist I had a problem with my tooth. He couldn't identify anything, though I said I thought it was the second from the back on the bottom, right.

Six months ago a different dentist couldn't verify any problem when I told her it had gotten worse.

Today I had root canal on that very same tooth. I'm a little upset that it had to get really bad, and nothing was done sooner. I guess that's how it goes sometimes...

March Hike at Rapids Lake

Today I went hiking in the ravines of the old section of the Rapids Lake unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. I saw a lot of wild turkeys, two Bald Eagles, one Red-Tailed Hawk, a Harrier (Marsh Hawk) and a cottontail rabbit. None of them were going to hang around for pictures though, so here's a few of the landscape.







Turkey Tracks!

Rush Limbaugh Wants Obama to Fail

Ultra-conservative Rush Limbaugh announced publicly that he wants President Barack Obama's policies to fail. This is further proof that Limbaugh is an idiot.

When George W. Bush announced "mission accomplished" from the deck of a navy warship, I really hoped he was right! I wanted the President to succeed. I think he did fail, and I didn't like his policies--but why would I want him to fail?

The problem seems to be that some people (like Rush Limbaugh) think the (in this case Republican) party is more important than the country. This is stupid. The party fighting needs to take a backseat to the good of the country.

No wonder nothing gets fixed if the parties and idiots like Limbaugh promote all this infighting!

VALUABLE COUPONS!

I admit that I cut coupons. Sometimes there are some good deals. Most often though, I can hardly believe that someone would think it is a great deal to "buy 6 tubes of toothpaste and get 25¢ off!" You'd need to have a warehouse with a method to ensure the use of products before their expiration date. It is hardly worth "saving" a quarter.

Here are a couple of coupons, based on some experiences when I found that just when I wanted to use one, it wasn't quite the deal I thought it was. Oh yeah, always read the fine print…

Click image to enlarge. Click "back button" to return to blog.

Top 10-Why I Enjoy Being an Old White Dude

The Top 10 Reasons Why I Enjoy Being an Old White Dude

10. My short pants don't go down to my ankles.
9. I can wear baseball style caps right-side-out, and with the bill facing forward!
8. I can enjoy music with a melody, not just percussion.
7. I can exist without continuous loud music.
6. I'm largely unconcerned whether or not I'm perceived as being a tough guy.
5. I don't need tattoos or body piercings to improve my self-image.
4. I can refrain from using the F-word, N-word, B-word, C-word and other cussing just to show how "bad" I am.
3. I can remove my winter coat, hat, and hood while indoors.
2. I can choose to have a dog that isn't a pitbull.
and finally…
1. I don't have to worry that my pants will fall down and I don't have to hold them up--because I can wear pants that fit!