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…

Band Box Diner, Elliot Park, Minneapolis 

Friday at the museum

Randolph Heights and Ramsey Junior High, St. Paul

Purple Rain @ First Ave

The Pop Shoppe (product) reappears in Edina

Don’t think I have a lot of these

Why can’t I have normal hair?

My great grandfather Charles

The very first Eastview principal (1997)

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.