…but happy anniversary moon nerds!

The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable.

It’s not every day the “Beatles of the train world” rolls into your city, but last night we heard the train whistle blow on the largest operational steam locomotive in the world, also known as Union Pacific’s Big Boy #4014. Currently on a Midwest Tour to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad’s Completion, this Big Boy was on display at Union Depot today. How could I not walk the two blocks from our loft to check out this impressive piece of history?

Turns out there are a lot of choo-choo nerds in these parts, so lines were a little long to view the one car exhibit. There was also another line to view the inside of the engine cab, but I didn’t wait for that one. You could walk around both sides of the train, though, so there was plenty of opportunity to get some cool pictures without nine million other people in the shot (more pics after the jump). They also had food available on the platform and there were a number of vendor booths in the Waiting Room hall with all kinds of interesting stuff for sale.

Built in 1941, the #4014 is the only operating Big Boy of the eight that remain in existence. It was used in revenue service to haul trains weighing up to 4,200 tons over Utah’s Wasatch Range until 1959, traveling 1,031,205 miles during that period. The Big Boys are 132 feet long, weigh 1.2 million pounds (more than a 747), output 6,290 horsepower and have a top speed of 80 miles per hour. After retirement, this Big Boy spent time resting in the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California. In 2013, Union Pacific regained ownership and started a multi-year restoration project in their Cheyenne Steam Shop. The locomotive was converted from coal to oil and in May 2019, Big Boy #4014 completed a successful test round trip from Cheyenne to Nunn, Colorado.

Video: Bringing the Big Boy Back to Life

I remember the old NSP bills (green envelopes too, I think)

https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/8519368/american-pickers-host-explains-finding-aerosmiths-pre-fame-tour-van-and-saving

Still have to finish the remix level

Glad we went when we did

Bandana Square + Rockhopper

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2019/04/30/feature/the-case-of-dorothys-stolen-ruby-slippers/

Not our favorite place in Europe, but still tragic news from a historic city

You can take the mask off the Lone Ranger and put it on someone else, but it ain’t the Lone Ranger…

https://worldwideweb.cern.ch/

I thought I felt a little déjà vu

We may live without friends, we may live without books. But civilized man cannot live without cooks…

My very first car – a something Dodge Colt (’84?)

Like the surface charge space, though

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googie_architecture

Elton & Sandra Davis – your fries made my childhood better

The Admiralty had demanded six ships; the economists offered four; and we finally compromised on eight…

Can’t imagine the logistical planning required for this

Feel like it’s almost time to revisit Paisley Park

Finally found the “then” pic

What a great combination of theater, music and history

https://www.wired.com/story/apple-infinite-loop-oral-history/

https://www.mnstatefair.org/about-the-fair/attendance/

Union Station, Chicago

For the longest time, I’ve had this image of a video game in my mind that I thought was a metaphor for life. It was a racing game that used forced perspective, with the road stretching to the horizon and an endless supply of other cars coming at you that you needed to avoid and pass. I got really good at the game, basically being able to play non-stop, never losing and only quitting when I got bored. Pass, pass, pass…run up the score.

Today I thought I’d research this game, always thinking it was Enduro by Activision. I never had an Atari 2600, though, so if this is the game, I must’ve played it at a friend’s house (I seem to recall using the “paddle” controllers for it). I had a number of Intellivision driving games (Auto Racing, Bump ‘n’ Jump, Triple Action), but none of them fit the look and feel model I’m thinking about…

Don’t think I saw a Vikings game, but saw lots of Twins there

They came out *nine* years ago (to celebrate Lincoln’s 200th birthday)

Highest quarter pipe jump ever @ X Games

Back in my high school days, I had the option to take more than your average amount of history classes: Ancient Civilizations, Western Civilizations, American Experience. St. Paul Central’s Quest program was an early precursor to AP and IB type coursework and Mr. Demers, the history teacher, was one of my all-time favorites. I also was a fan of geography, so when you mixed in the opportunity to travel that my mom’s work allowed, history literally came alive for me.

This past week I’ve been watching the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick ten-part documentary on the Vietnam War. It amazes me how much I didn’t know about this historical event that played out during my lifetime – especially since my father participated in it directly (and it’s the reason I’m not a native Minnesotan). Now I’m looking forward to lunch with him and having an opportunity to ask questions about a topic we’ve never really discussed much (something I wish I’d done with my grandfather and World War II).

I found it interesting to see so many similarities between then and now politically. We like to think that our current environment is the most divisive ever, but this has really been America for a long time. As Thomas Polgar, the Saigon station chief for the C.I.A. wrote in his last cable from the embassy: “Those who fail to learn from history are forced to repeat it. Let us hope that we will not have another Vietnam experience and that we have learned our lesson.”

Note to self: research how so many Midwest politicians rose to play such prominent roles during this period of history (Humphrey and McCarthy in Minnesota, McGovern in South Dakota).

(Not the Musical)

Glensheen Carriage House

One of the best capitol buildings in the country, IMO

Mom, dad and both grandparents on the marryin’ day

Great exhibit at BGFA

http://www.vulture.com/2018/03/mike-d-beastie-boys-in-conversation.html

Donkey Kong Country sure seemed prettier back then

Please don’t mess up the legacy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_Army

Landmark Center (but just on one side)

The History Theater was smart to bring this back

The throw-back games wall @ Hot Plate

https://www.bl.uk/harry-potter/articles/harry-potter-at-the-british-library

New Kenner cards are a blast from the past

A return to the Soudan Underground Mine

#77 – Gary Larsen

Crosby, Toews and a midget Zach Parise

End of an era 🙁

United Crushers, behind the Gopher Stadium

The good old days (although I usually went to the one in Southdale)

Rice Park and Landmark Center

North side of the Rayette Lofts, St. Paul

She asked, so here’s an example

Joined NWAFCU almost 32 years ago – can’t believe they used to have your SSN right on the statement

First from Eagan, first of those born on 1/19 – my results sheet and bib from the 1996 Bloomsday 12K in Spokane

Inaugural St. Paul Central High School Honor Society, 1986

Cleaning and packing can be fun

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Eyes

http://fxrant.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-death-star-and-final-trench-run.html

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter…

…but it will still be missed. Last few days of the Oak Grill @ Dayton’s 12th floor

So much more elegant than email and Snapchat

The Fairmount was a little worn, but so full of history

Royal BC Museum dioramas rule

Crystal Castles @ Up-Down Minneapolis 

Elie Wiesel Visits Disneyland

Not what I expected…