I am CuTRis

What would virtual fishing (see previous post) be without a virtual boat ride? Just click on the video and enjoy cruising across the lake (from the driver's seat)!

In case my previous post made you wish that you were fishing, here is a video so you can enjoy it from your computer.

We spent a few days in Ely, MN . We rented a nice cabin with a boat and canoe, on White Iron Lake. We also spent some time looking out over Lake Superior, and visited the North American Bear Center . We had a great time. Here are a few photos. Outside the cabin Inside the cabin White Iron Lake A little bit small... Ted, one of the Bears at the North American Bear Center The Marina in Silver Bay The Breaker in Two Harbors

Cutris Survives being Run Over by Tank! UnAssociated Press June 15, 2009 This photo emerged of Cutris being run over by a tank. Apparently Cutris was double-dog-dared to do it. Later a seemingly uninjured Cutris said that he survived the ordeal by wearing his new jeans, which were still stiff. These new pants apparently withstood the pressure of the tank and saved Cutris from serious injury. Please don't try this at home!

We went to the Military Expo at the Fort Snelling Military Museum on Saturday. Cutris with plane Big Gun Video of Tank Crushing Car

At midnight tonight, television goes from analog to digital. Will it be better? Perhaps, though I am one of those musicians who still uses an old amplifier with vacuum tubes--because (I've had it "forever" and) the sound is better than the solid-state amps. If you use an antenna, the problem of reception (still) exists, though bad reception won't be "fuzzy" anymore. Instead, the picture will "break up" and stop. If you have cable this shouldn't be a problem. Regardless, if things are running well, the resolution should be considerably better. Just remember to dispose of the old set properly.

I want to get a dog, but right now is not a good time. To practice , I've just been walking around the block carrying a little plastic bag...

We visited Historic Fort Snelling yesterday. This 1820's military outpost is now a historic site in Minneapolis, along the Mississippi River. Here are some pictures and a video of the cannon firing!

Cutris Escapes from Tiny People with Small Bananas June 5, 2009 UnAssociated Press This picture of Cutris shows him admiring the small bananas he said he took when he escaped from a land inhabited by "tiny people." Cutris claims the people were afraid of his great size when he wandered into their land, and when he accepted their hospitality, they got him drunk and tied him up. Cutris claims he broke loose from the "tiny ropes" and took the bananas for food as he escaped from his miniature captors. Aside from the bananas, there is no other proof to substantiate Cutris' story.

I found this moth on our house last night. I haven't identified it yet, though I did attempt to find it on the WWW. If you know what kind it is, let me know. I used my hand in the second photo to show the size. The coloration was gray and patterned so it would have been virtually invisible if it was on a tree trunk.

Does this really work???

Kim Jong-il Claims Missile Test is to Return Lost Wallet UnAssociated Press May 29, 2009 North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-il is claiming that his country's latest long-range missile test, was simply to see if this would be a good way to return the lost wallet of an unnamed South Korean official. Kim Jong-il claims that there is no malice in the missile tests or nuclear bomb tests his country has been involved in. Jong-il also said that if provoked, North Korea would "blow everyone to hell." Then he said he wished everyone would just leave him alone!

Cutris Complains about Squirrel Feeding UnAssociated Press May 29, 2009 Cutris issued this statement today regarding the feeding of space squirrels by neighbors on the Food Planet . The neighbors here are turning the space squirrels into "little beggars." They refer to them as "wildlife," but clearly these nuisance animals are not wild and tend to feed out of bird feeders and garbage cans as well as numerous handouts from "do-gooders." It is this feeding that has allowed the population to get so out-of-control. I'm left with one alternative. Then, I will return to Earth--since I miss my wife and have been away too long. My project to grow zero calorie vegetables in zero gravity to produce unique cuisine has failed. Space Neighbors Remedy for overpopulation of Space Squirrels

Cutris meets his Nemesis UnAssociated Press May 28, 2009 Cutris was apparently attempting to grow zero calorie vegetables in the zero gravity of the Food Planet , when he met his nemesis, "Ass-tro Squirrel!" Ass-tro Squirrel has dug up, chewed off and destroyed Cutris' space garden! Just what Cutris plans to do now is unknown. Cutris Ass-tro Squirrel

Cutris Fights Giant Cockroach UnAssociated Press May 28, 2009 It seems that Cutris’ trip to the Food Planet has turned into a dangerous one. This image from a Food Planet security camera shows Cutris locked in mortal combat with a giant cockroach. The final image (too graphic to show) shows the cockroach imploding, as Cutris peels back its exoskeleton.

Cutris Cooks in Space UnAssociated Press May 27, 2009 Cutris has beamed this image back to Earth. It appears to be a plate of food that he has prepared in zero gravity. More information is available in the book Zero Gravity Cooking with Cutris! Cutris was not available for interview at the time of this story.

Cutris Thought to be on Food Planet UnAssociated Press May 26, 2009 Cutris is thought to be back in outer space, according to UnAssociated Press sources. It is thought that Cutris may have built a new flying saucer, like the one he found and used to travel to the moon. Since he is interested in cooking and eating, Cutris may have gone to the Food Planet . His last trip into outer space left him hungry, and Cutris will likely journey to a more "satisfying" location this time. Photo of the Food Planet taken by the Hubble Telescope .

Triceratops was a large, horned, plant eater of the Cretaceous Period. Triceratops had a single, short nasal horn and long horns above its eyes. Many specimens have damaged bones—perhaps from combat with rivals or predators. Tyrannosaurus rex was the largest known meat eating dinosaur. At more than 37 feet (12 meters) long, it was almost as tall as a modern day giraffe. Massive and powerful, the Tyrannosaurus rex had forward facing eyes and a heavy tail for counterbalance. Stephanopoulos is found in Washington DC, where it is a hunter of politics. An intelligent dinosaur, it characteristically leans slightly toward the left while stalking its prey.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but they're called June Bugs. So don't they know that it isn't June yet? They are hanging around our back steps because they like the light. Another thing... if they like the light so much, why don't they come out in the daytime?

I remember way back when my brother made a drivable car from two old junk cars. He had a bumper sticker on the back that was altered slightly, so it read "Escape Wisconsin." At that time, Wisconsin had a lower age drinking age than Minnesota, and the highway patrol and police scoured the border, looking for young Minnesotans who had had too much to drink before returning home. Since then, I've seen another "oddity" or two involving Wisconsin (such as their allowing bear hunting with dogs) that makes this bumper sticker appropriate. Of course, the real slogan is, Escape To Wisconsin, but that is what made, and makes the joke funny. On my way to and from work each day, I've noticed that there is a mass exodus from Wisconsin. About half the cars I see on the short stretch of East 94 that I take between downtown St. Paul and White Bear Avenue, have Wisconsin license plates. Now I realize that it could be, that some Minnesota residents have cars registered in ...