I am CuTRis

Today I hiked the West Wilkie unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. It was a nice day in the middle twenties (Fahrenheit). It was warm enough, but I fell through the ice on my crossing from one side to the other. My solution was to keep moving to generate heat. Eventually, the strain of going through all of that new snow made my left knee ache. I was happy when I got to my car three hours later. I saw some six to eight Bald Eagles, six swans, lots of ducks including Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes. I saw a lot of assorted woodpeckers, and seen the kill-site where one lost its life. Another interesting feature of this area is the hundreds of Robins that winter in the mud from the discharge of the Blue Lake Waste Treatment Plant. Here are a few pictures.

With every Christmas gathering this year there was snow. This morning it is still snowing... Still, if you can avoid driving, it is spectacular!

Cutris Caught on Security Camera UnAssociated Press December 19, 2007 This security camera picture shows Cutris heading into the weight room just after 7:00 AM CST, for a brief workout before his shift (which starts at 7:15 AM CST). Cutris was seen leaving the weight room a few minutes later, to begin his shift working as a Technical Assistant. That picture was as boring as this one, so it was not included here. Despite capturing presidential candidate Cutris on the security cameras, there was nothing out-of-the-ordinary to report.

A student at the alternative learning center was sitting in the PC lab with a big can of something this morning. He tried to ignore me when I told him to get rid of it. I repeated, "Hey! No food in the PC lab." He informed me that he had a name and it wasn't "hey." I repeated that he needed to get rid of the can. He got up, used the "F" word and told me "don't mess with the crib, dog." I guess maybe he had some childhood issues and they might have even involved a crib and a dog. He was at least 6' tall. One would think he could graduate to a "big boy" bed pretty soon and give up the crib.

Apparently another coward has decided to shoot unarmed people to death in a public place. Had he not done such a horribly cowardly thing, I might have considered him a tragic figure. Now I consider him a coward of the lowest sort. There are lots of "suicide prevention" signs, literature and advocates. This is a good thing, and I can relate, having known several people who killed themselves –including my friend Steve who did it when we were both age 13. That said, for anyone who wants to take others along down your road of death, do us all a favor and put the first bullet through your own brain. None of us are impressed by a coward who thinks he is "going out in style," by killing unarmed, innocent men, women and children. Coward

I have been searching a state run website for years, to see what job opportunities are available. I am always amazed by how poorly it works, and by the way upgrades seem to make it less functional and less "user-friendly." When I ask for help or make comments on the feedback form, I'm always told everything is working fine. Here is a "sanitized" dialogue from today... From: Job Bank To: Cutris Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 07:42:28 -0600 Subject: Job Seeker Account - Feedback Hello Cutris, Thank you for taking the time to e-mail us. In regards to your e-mail about problems with our website; as far as we know everything is up and running. There was a rebuild last weekend and it should have improved searching according to zip codes, counties and words. If you are still having problems please call us at 555-555-5555 so we can discuss and identify the particular problem. Linda Job Bank Cutris replied, 12/05/2007 8:01 AM Sorry to tell you, since Monday I have not been able t...

Cutris Crosses Pacific with his Johnson December 5, 2007 UnAssociated Press Leaving from Kaneohe, Oahu (Hawaii) on December 4, 2007, Cutris has apparently crossed the Pacific Ocean in less than two days, as he docked in San Francisco Bay Wednesday morning, December 5, 2007. He made the journey in a 15' Alumacraft boat, powered only by his Johnson. The 6-hp Johnson outboard motor has been in the family for years, and according to Cutris , his Johnson functioned superbly for the entire trip. "Most of the boat contained 2-cycle gas, and food and water for the trip," said Cutris . "It was a little scary at times, but my Johnson pulled me through." When asked why he had attempted this dangerous crossing in such a small craft, Cutris replied, "I guess I've never considered the boat, or my Johnson to be that small. Both are very sturdy, and the experience was very pleasurable."

December 3, 2007 RE: Urgent Message from Cutris for President Headquarters Cutris for President Headquarters would like to announce that Cutris has accepted the nomination of the Cutris Party, for President in the November 2008 election. At a press conference today in Eagan, MN, Cutris answered questions and played a song about chocolate chip cookies on his guitar. When he was asked about accepting the nomination, he said, "yes."

Man Condemned for Naming Butt "Mohammad" December 3, 2007 UnAssociated Press A British surgeon traveling abroad in the Sudan met with hostilities as he tried to teach good hygiene to Sudanese children. Dr. Ian Bumm apparently uses a polystyrene buttocks to demonstrate proper wiping techniques to children in third world countries. To help to get the children to pay attention, Dr. Bumm starts out by allowing the children to name the false bottom. One particular group of mostly Muslim children in the Sudan chose the name "Mohammad." Even though Dr. Bumm convinced the children to name the fake butt, "Donald," Muslim religious leaders around the world called for his immediate execution. As a result, Dr. Bumm decided that he would actually go ahead and name the foam buttocks, "Mohammad." The action has caused a backlash of flag burning, chanting and shooting in the air, as those who were offended demanded that everyone be killed and then jailed. Dr. B...

This message is stamped on the train cars that are always parked in the Black Dog Preserve . I totally understand the logic behind this, but I wonder if it is really necessary to put up a sign? I mean, even if you were stranded out there for a couple of years or something, would this ever really be an option?

How can the Minnesota Vikings lose so bad and then win so big? Yesterday's 41-17 win against the New York Giants, actually made them look like a good team. Even with Adrian Peterson sidelined for the last two games, the Vikings still won both of them with the running of Chester Taylor. Yesterday, the defense was the key, as they picked off four of Eli Manning's passes and scored on three of them. Also a nice surprise was the conversion of third downs and Tarvaris Jackson's seemingly new found scrambling abilities. Too many times I have been disappointed by this team when I started getting excited about their play, but in this all-but-lost season they couldn't have picked a better time to pull it together -with a wildcard playoff spot in the balance. Perhaps winning now will save Brad Childress' job, but will it be able to prove that the Vikings are "significant," as the coach now claims?

Yesterday we Hiked from the headquarters of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Among the things we saw, was a small but 8-point (White-tailed deer) buck and two Bald Eagles.

Cutris Saved by 4-year-old Girl November 19, 2007 UnAssociated Press 2008 presidential candidate Cutris was involved in a melee of sorts this evening. He had decided to go to a local establishment, according to police lieutenant Mason Dixon. “A bar fight erupted in there,” Dixon said. “Someone attacked Cutris , but fortunately there was a children’s birthday party going on in the back of the bar. A 4-year-old girl attending that party, who was also a jujitsu expert, came to the rescue of Mr. Cutris . By the time we got there, she had beaten up two large men, and Cutris was safe.”

Cutris Defeats Al-Qaeda with a Stick November 19, 2007 UnAssociated Press Cutris reportedly had a busy weekend, as the 2008 presidential candidate allegedly rode his bicycle to Pakistan last evening, and defeated Al-Qaeda in a pitched battle using a stick that he had found along the side of the road. At first he thought that he had rode to the convenience store on Nicollet Avenue, but he was actually in Pakistan at the time. Sources say that the stick used was neither a large stick, nor was it a small stick. Cutris is known to have been the champion stick fighter in his Boy Scout troop, as well as having used Gorock Sticks during his hikes in the Minnesota River Valley. At 4:72 AM, Cutris was seen riding his mountain bike back home to Burnsville along Highway 13. Reporters clamored for the story, but when asked if he had ridden to Pakistan, he said, “maybe I did, and maybe I didn’t.” Sources inside of Pakistan say that Al-Qaeda took a “damn good thrashing” at the end of Cutris’ stick....

Cutris uses giant tennis racket to save Earth November 18, 2007 UnAssociated Press Preliminary information from NASA, the American Meteorological Society, and NORAD, indicates that Cutris has saved the Earth for the second time this year. Apparently a giant meteorite was headed directly at the Earth on Saturday. Scientists had seen the meteorite coming, but the Bush/Cheney administration insisted that the meteorite did not exist. Cutris happened to learn of the danger when he was bird watching in the river bottoms and noticed a huge fireball coming at him through his binoculars. At first he thought it was a smudge, or maybe a bug crawled on the lens, but then he realized it was a meteorite. A customer of Tennis Champion, insists that he saw Cutris in the store about 4:31 PM on Saturday, and he purchased a Mongo Slapper 5000 tennis racket. He says that Cutris walked out into the parking lot, tested the wind with a finger, and then swung a spectacular backhand, just as a gigantic meteo...

RAM or Random Access Memory is the driving force of your computer. Your memories are stored on the hard drive, but the thought process is like the RAM of your brain. Of course, the brain is not run by pluses and minuses... or is it? The chemically and electrically charged brain is an organic computer system. Without your knowing it, the brain can even reroute itself after an injury. Computers and brains can both be affected by viruses and such, and doctors and computer technicians help us to keep our systems working smoothly. The network is like a city or government body. We need network administrators and politicians to decide the best course of action to keep things up and running. There's no computer in the wilderness, yet the ant colony runs like a machine; cause and effect are the driving force behind the program. Instincts and life-cycles have programs that send information to the brains and systems of plants and animals. I believe that it is time for me to power down until m...

I have finished my latest novel, "Cottonwood." I am planning to do another final edit, but I have begun the painstaking process of trying to find a publisher and/or an agent. I sent out about eight inquiries yesterday. Though they all say it takes weeks or months for a reply, I was lucky enough to already receive two rejections. The first said it "didn't fit with (their) current projects." The other claimed to love historical fiction, but (this agency) doesn't represent any fiction. I fully expect to get rejected by all of them (as is the nature of the business), but I'll keep trying. I'm sure I could get it published through Publish America again, but I found their organization to be unwilling to do any marketing. I don't want to go that route again.

This morning's sunrise, as I seen it.

Someone who has been causing problems for me and someone else has finally gotten what he wants. His interference and need to have power, has finally gone his way; so he thinks. What he doesn’t know is how this will ultimately play out if he doesn’t do the right thing. He is stubbornly bound to traditions that don’t belong in this century or on this continent. He has, ultimately gotten his way because he is pressuring one of his own family members into complying. I have refused to participate because this tradition is plainly and indisputably wrong and despicable. It is, however, a matter of one’s point-of-view as seen through different cultures. At this point, all appears to have gone his way, and it is time now for him to return the favor. If he is too stubborn, the particulars of the matter will eventually be known, as I refuse to lie about it as much as I refuse to participate. Once this information gets out, the embarrassment he has been trying to avoid will come crashing down on h...

Vote Cutris for President! ...His picture is bigger, so that means he's better. People who wish their pictures were bigger shown below.

We wanted a "quick snack" on Saturday and pulled into a McDonald's on Suburban Avenue in St. Paul. Ordered: Repeated 3 times to person "in" order kiosk. Couldn't hear that person well. 1 Filet-O-Fish w/out cheese $2.29 1 Dbl. Cheeseburger $1.00 1 McChicken $1.00 Tax $0.31 Total $4.60 Person at window asked for $4.70 That was when we found out he was charging us for someone else's order. Repeated order 2 to 3 more times. Gave "window person" $5.60. Person tried to give 60 cents back because it was "too much." Informed person that we wanted $1.00 back. Paid $4.60 At next window, person tried to give us someone else's order. Repeated order 2 to 3 more times. Waited. Was told to pull up to the "#1" on parking lot. Waited... Waited... Waited... Went inside and asked for money back. Was given money and asked if I wanted "a pie for waiting." Replied "no, I'll just contact corporate," (we'll see what ...

The Minnesota Vikings showed what they are capable of on Sunday November 4th, when they defeated the San Diego Chargers, 35 to 17. Adrian Peterson broke the NFL, single-game record by rushing for an unprecedented 296 yards. So why are the Vikings 3-5 so far this season? One reason could be the fact that the Vikings have no starting quarterback. Tarvaris Jackson is supposedly the starter, with Kelly Holcomb backing him up. With those two injured, Brooks Bollinger put on a good performance the last time he was called on (late in the game), and then yesterday, led the Vikings to victory against the Chargers. So does anyone, including head coach, Brad Childress, realize that Brooks Bollinger is the best quarterback, currently on the roster? Apparently not, as he keeps trying to force Jackson and then Holcomb to the front of the pack. Apparently the coach is always the last to know, as he only recently elevated Adrian Peterson to the starting role over Chester Taylor, who while respectable,...

Yesterday we went hiking on the Bluff Trail in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. It was a fantastic day! There is nothing like a late fall hike on a bright sunny day.

On October 30, we had a beautiful, late fall day. It got up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and I went hiking in the Central part of the Wilkie unit in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. I like the fall and winter for hiking, because of the lack of biting insects. There were only two or three hardy mosquitoes that weren't "done in" by the single freeze we've had so far. Perhaps they hatched after the frost. After an extremely dry summer, the late rains have the Minnesota River swollen. My hike was pleasant, as I was in short sleeves and comfortable. I saw some wildlife (mostly birds), including a Great Horned Owl, a Red-tailed Hawk (white phase), some Pileated Woodpeckers, and one Downy Woodpecker that let me take its picture. My other photographs (below), include a Bald Eagle's nest, and me in front of an enormous cottonwood tree. My orange cap is due to bow hunting (for deer) going on right now. I did see one hunter and adjusted my course away from his po...

I have just received news that my friend Wendell Patrick has passed away. I met Wendell in November of 2000, while working for Hennepin County’s Chemical Health Division. He was retired, but working on special projects. I was lucky enough to work on some of these projects with him. Wendell was the self-proclaimed “president of the liars club.” In reality, he was full of stories and was a pleasure to talk to. I’m not sure how old he was, but his health had been failing. He lost his wife a couple of years ago to cancer, and his son to a motorcycle accident prior to that. He was an African-American man, who was above the petty racial things that often take place. He knew racism from way back, and recognized individuals, rather than individual color. Wendell had been a cook in the army in Korea. He had experienced drug addiction there, and had “cleaned up” while being (literally) shipped back home to the USA. He helped a lot of people with his kindness and insight. Along the way, he and I ...

Presidential Candidate Cutris Involved in Scandal October 26, 2007 UnAssociated Press Paparazzi following presidential candidate Cutris , took these two pictures of the man who could be the next leader of the United States of America. The first (circa 2006) shows Cutris blatantly touching a sign that appears to say, "do not touch." The second photo was more recent, and shows Cutris scaling a wall just to the left of a sign that says, "do not climb on wall." Some people are stunned by his blatant disregard for rules. Others seem mildly amused and say it isn't a big deal. What the voters think will be what counts, as they will go to the polls in just over one year and either vote Cutris into office, or vote for some other shmuck.

My traveling companion and I visited Duluth (Canal Park) and Two Harbors on Thursday last week. On Friday, we visited Goosberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse.

I have the week off from work due to MEA. I have a lot of things I want and have to do, so Tuesday (yesterday) I had set aside to go into the (West) Wilkie unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The west end is closed all summer because of the heron nesting colony that resides there. I decided to go hiking, despite a continuous rain. It was 54 degrees Fahrenheit, so it wasn't cold, though I got really wet! There wasn't a lot of wildlife out for viewing, but it was still a beautiful sight. Here are some photos.

My job as the Technical person at the Alternative High School where I work, has meant that I am now setting up and proctoring online exams. Of course, at the alternative learning center, the students are about as interested in taking exams as they are at learning. I'm looking forward to next week, which is conferences and MEA. That's because I have the week off! I'm looking forward to some time in the woods.

The President has vetoed a bill that would allow 4.4 million more children to have health insurance. His reasoning is that it is too expensive. In fact, it would cost 35 billion dollars over five years. The President’s budget proposal for next year (2008) includes a request for another $137 billion for military operations, $5 billion for indigenous security forces, and $3 billion for diplomatic operations and foreign aid. If the requested amounts are appropriated, the total amount of funding provided since 2001 for all operations in the war on terrorism would reach $747 billion. So in short, $35 billion to help American children achieve healthier lives is “too expensive.” Vote Cutris in 2008. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdoc.cfm?index=8497&type=0

Cutris may have Reinvented the Wheel October 3, 2007 UnAssociated Press Inside sources reporting from outside of Minneapolis, have reported that there are reports circulating about Cutris having reinvented an invention that was already invented, but could be improved by using the reinvention that Cutris has now invented. One source on the outside, reported that insiders have revealed that Cutris may have reinvented the wheel, which is a very old invention indeed. Considering the age of this invention, it was assumed that not much new could be invented to the already often modified concept. Cutris has now, apparently modified numerous modifications in an apparent revamping of the entire concept of the wheel. Cutris was unavailable for comment, but one outside source looking to get inside, reported to reporters that he (Cutris) was seen riding in what appeared to be a car that was rolling on something that appeared to be wheels.

This is too funny! http://www.haruth.com/Jokes/theirack.htm

Yesterday I was asked to setup the PC lab for NWEA testing. I have been at this job for nearly a month, and have had no training on NWEA testing. I waded through documentation, was blown-off by a tech support person (on the phone), and I tried to put this puzzle together. It felt like I was “shooting in the dark.” This morning, I was back at it again. I had decided that the routing path was not right, and I needed to reload the software and direct the path to the correct folder on the correct server. Then I discovered that I could load the program once on one machine, and then copy it onto the network where I could then copy it into each machine and thus skip the installation process for the 25 PC’s. I also had to change a few browser settings and import some data into a shared file on the network. Today felt better, like I might be doing it right. I hope so, but it is hard to come in with no training or experience in a huge application like this and just know what to do. Still, that i...

Yesterday was a good day. My deck was finally finished on my condominium. It got painted, closing a 57 day process that left me without a deck for some of the best weather of the summer. Still, when the maintenance guy who was painting told me that other decks in my vicinity are now going to be condemned for structural reasons, I knew that I was lucky and once again, “someone” is looking out for me. It all started when my patio door was getting stuck, and I produced the letter that I received when I moved in, saying that my deck would be replaced last year and my patio door this summer. My jammed door was replaced and then the maintenance guys said they would do my deck the next day. Due to rotting support beams, it got kind of out-of-hand and became a really big project that a contractor had to be hired to fix. I’m going to need to sell one of these days, and it would be hard to sell a condo with a condemned deck. Now I have the finest deck in the kingdom! At my new tech job, I have ...

Why is it called the “missionary position?” Is it the position favored by missionaries? Is it a blatant reference to the many sexual improprieties perpetrated by a certain segment of religious clergy? Perhaps it has nothing to do with missionaries. Maybe it simply means that you are on a mission! Merriam Webster online says it is a name given to the position by Trobriand islanders. These people are from islands in the SW Pacific, in the Solomon Sea; attached to Papua New Guinea. Perhaps they noticed a lot of missionaries using this position.

In a world where no one seems to give a crap, at least my butt does.

Today I was planning to re-image ten laptops. Then the calls came in. We are experiencing network difficulties. It is in two phases. The wireless connection is unavailable in certain areas of the building. The other issue is some PC’s in certain rooms are alternating between connected to, and not connected to the network –and back and forth. This is happening on desktops wired directly into the network. I’m waiting for a call from the Network Administrator, who is currently investigating an error message involving a bogus virus warning. In the meantime, I have a teacher who can’t wait for the situation to be fixed, and has swapped the teacher machine for a student machine. What was “accomplished” here, is that these machines had to be reset after the teacher’s attempts to fix the problem herself. The problem is not with the PC’s, but with the network . Impatience causes more work for me. I believe that I shall never want for something to do on this job.

My new job is going pretty well. On the seventh day, I had to re-image (clone) a whole computer lab. That was 25 PCs, and it takes a long time. It really has nothing to do with me being new, because I know the procedures; it’s just that there are a whole lot of them. I believe I have to log into each PC four times before I have all of the settings completed. I was also encountering network problems too, and had to route around them to finish re-imaging. I think it might be one of our master switches, so I have Bob coming out to look at it. “I’ll be talkin’ to Bob,” (Blues Brothers reference). I really like my new gig though. I’ve been keeping really busy, and I’m learning a lot of things.

On the anniversary of 9-11, I would like to stress the following ideal. No matter who you are, you cannot and should not attempt to make anyone else adopt your personal set of beliefs. This includes your religious beliefs, ideological beliefs and so on. Whether you are the President of the USA, a cowardly terrorist, or an immigrant who is trying to force your future in-laws to follow your one-thousand-year-old traditions, you have no right to expect others to live their lives the way your think they should. Here in America, we are free to choose, though some would argue that “we are doing it all wrong.” I will not become a Muslim, simply because al Qaeda says that I should. I will not change my mind, and decide that the war in Iraq is a good thing because George W. Bush thinks that I should. I will not alter my core values because someone is threatening me. I am an American. I am proud of the fact that I am an individual. I am proud of my personal convictions. I am a good person, even ...

As we approach the sixth anniversary of the cowardly attacks on civilians in the World Trade Center, Osama bin Laden is supposedly (according to al Qaeda’s media production company) going to release a new video, and why not? His others were such big hits! What really caught everyone’s eye was the picture of Osama sporting a new, darker beard without all of the grey. Could it be that bin Laden has discovered Grecian Formula? It seems that the man, who lives in a cave and wears a dirty-white-cloth robe, is vain enough to dye his beard! What a dork. Hint, maybe it's an old picture...

While I haven’t been hiking as often as I would like, due to things li ke flooding, mosquitoes, heavy plant growth and lack of free time, I have wanted to get out into the woods again. I like the cooler months for hiking, and those long months are getting close now. While I really enjoy hiking off-trail, I also use many of the existing trails. In fact, I am active in maintaining these trails when needed. Sometimes a tree or other plant may start growing in or across a trail. Then I need to remove it, by whatever means that I have available. On other occasions, trees sometimes fall or are blown down by strong winds. Here again, if the logs aren’t too large, I will often remove them from the trail. Sure it can be difficult work sometimes, but a few minutes of effort to keep a trail open is well worth it.