Historic Carver

Founded 1857
Originally published by DK on January 17, 2021 at 7:11 pmFounded 1857
Originally published by DK on January 17, 2021 at 7:11 pmhttps://substreet.org/
Originally published by DK on January 17, 2021 at 1:04 amWelcome to the first Flash-free day of the rest of your life
Originally published by DK on January 13, 2021 at 11:14 amWhen he entered office four years ago, Republicans controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress; when he leaves, Democrats will hold all three. The last time that happened was 1892…
Originally published by DK on January 7, 2021 at 10:14 amAbridged edition
Originally published by DK on December 30, 2020 at 11:56 pmThat Han Solo thing is made of soap – per CMK
Originally published by DK on December 30, 2020 at 3:55 pmhttps://video.tpt.org/video/tpt-documentaries-lowertown-rise-urban-village/
Originally published by DK on December 14, 2020 at 12:01 amThe tweet I published earlier this week about old technology lead me down another rabbit hole the last few nights. All this started with a review of equipment at work, some of which have been running non-stop for more than four years without a reboot. We are in the process of reviewing maintenance contracts and it seems everyone needs to get creative these days when it comes to pandemic capital spending and the lifespan of various technologies.
This got me thinking about the many computers I’ve had over the years, long-departed applications and obsolete storage formats. I remember my dad having paper punchcards at his job when I was little and over the course of my career, I’ve managed tape drives, 5.25-inch floppies, 3.5-inch floppies, Zip and Jaz media, CD-Rs, DVD-Rs, external spinning disk drives, SSD drives, thumb drives and various forms of cloud storage. The storage capacity on my current home workstation is insanely large compared to those earlier days, in physical form factors that are smaller, lighter and less expensive by unit than ever.
I’ve always tried to have multiple backups of my personal data in different formats, but it’s amazing how many files have made it this far in my life. Even for the weird, obsolete file formats, many of today’s applications have good importers and translators to open ancient files created with long-gone programs. Old video game ROM files from original arcade games can usually be emulated on current hardware (although I’m having trouble getting MAME to work on Big Sur). I came across this article talking about the shelf life of old game console cartridges from Atari, Mattel, Nintendo and others that still start up and run like the day they were first sold.
That article also talks about NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity and the software used to run multi-year, remote missions. What an amazing engineering and technology challenge! I look back to the multimedia CD-ROM golf guide that I produced in 1999 using the authoring tool mTropolis and old versions of Photoshop and Illustrator. While I still have a few copies of the CD laying around, I don’t think I have any machines that can actually run the guide. My current version of Photoshop (22.1), however, can open all of the original media files. I was also able to open my 1995 résumé file with a current version of Word (16.43) and rediscovered what was very likely my first email address:
Speaking of email, this is probably the only tool I’ve used over the years that I don’t really archive. I would hazard a guess that most of the work emails I’ve written or received in previous jobs are long gone. Even the latest version of Outlook at my current job doesn’t tell me how many messages I have in my inbox any more – it’s just one long, infinite scroll. I’ve been using Google with my personal email domain for years (7.37GB out of a 15GB quota), but I rarely go back more than a month or two to look for things.
My daughter asked me about JPEG and PNG tonight and it’s really nice that these formats have been around for a while now, working on many different platforms and with many different applications. Keeping these files organized is a seemingly endless task, but at least there is little concern about losing access (as long as my backups remain solid). I do occasionally run across old music files that have strange DRM tied to them, but it’s easy enough to replace those. I won’t get into the vinyl > cassette > CD or Beta/VHS > DVD > Blu-ray conversation here, as it’s depressing how many times I’ve purchased and re-purchased the same content over the years.
I’ve been publishing this site for almost 15 years now and would love to have it available to future generations of my family. Web publishing isn’t free, though, and even with the recent switch to AWS, it’s still something that requires time and money to keep online. I should be mirroring the site on my workstation (which I used to do), so that if the public site eventually goes dark, at least the family could run it locally. WordPress, PHP and AWS upgrades (not to mention the issues around things like the RedHat/CentOS dustup this week) mean that online sites can’t really be “frozen” without active maintenance.
Website durability might be my hardest nut to crack…
Originally published by DK on December 10, 2020 at 11:54 pmMy latest research rabbit hole started when my friend Brad told me the Montgomery National Golf Course website said MNGC was one of architect Joel Goldstrand’s best designs. We’ve played a lot of rounds on Goldstrand courses over the years and I was curious to 1) know what he was up to now and 2) come up with a list of my personal favorite Goldstrand courses. Jim Souhan helped me out with the first part by interviewing him last year before the 3M Open.
Now in his 80s, the Plymouth resident has designed or renovated more than 100 golf courses during his career in several states (the majority in Minnesota). He also had an impressive playing career, winning a Minnesota state high school title in 1957, two NCAA titles at the University of Houston, the Minnesota State Open in 1973 and 1985, a tie for 12th at the U.S. Open at Hazeltine and an appearance at the 1971 Masters (82-77-MC). He was a pro at Minneapolis Golf Club for 16 years and won the Minnesota Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year award in 1979.
I haven’t played all of his courses, but here are my favorites (in rough order):
The Golf Advisor website has a comprehensive list of Goldstrand courses, while RJ Smiley at Tee Times Magazine has a fun story about Minnesota architects (Goldstrand ties with Don Herfort for biggest impact on Minnesota golf history). Explore Minnesota Golf also published a short video interview with Goldstrand back in 2010. I think Joe Bissen should head over to Plymouth with a note pad and tape recorder – a Goldstrand book would be awesome!
Originally published by DK on November 30, 2020 at 9:01 pmBack in high school, I loved studying history. Richard Demers was my favorite teacher, leading such courses as Ancient Civilizations, Western Civilizations and American Experience as part of Central’s Quest program. As I mentioned on my biography page, I took eight semesters of history, along with one independent study about the history of classical music. His euphemism for tests, OTEs (“opportunities to excel”), is something most of my high school classmates will recall fondly. They were always very difficult, but I’m grateful that grading on a curve was a thing back then.
Another concept that Mr. Demers taught in “Ancient Civ” was the Greek notion “excellence of body, excellence of mind.” This resonated deeply with me, but Google has not located authoritative references for this saying that I clearly remember (perhaps the Mandela Effect is in play?). The closest I’ve found is the Greek term arete (not to be confused with mountaineering’s sharp ridge separating two cirques or glacial valleys in mountainous regions). This line in the arete Wikipedia page jumped out at me:
It was commonly believed that the mind, body, and soul each had to be developed and prepared for a man to live a life of arete.
While I don’t recall the word arete being used by Demers, I do remember him discussing the concepts of paideia and the education of the aristocracy. It seems there is much more to learn about these concepts from Aristotle and Plato – perhaps some light reading for the long Minnesota winter?
Originally published by DK on November 29, 2020 at 7:51 pmThey be turkeys
Originally published by DK on November 24, 2020 at 2:13 pmInteresting times, indeed
Originally published by DK on November 7, 2020 at 4:12 pmOriginally published by DK on October 29, 2020 at 11:36 pm
We would have to have 6 oz. Coca-Cola in the studio. When they were working on the Traveling Wilburys’ first album, Roy told Tom that the sugar and the syrup put just a little smooth on your voice…
Originally published by DK on October 19, 2020 at 11:04 amSo long, Dacha Batinich
Originally published by DK on September 25, 2020 at 10:55 pm“May her memory be a revolution”
Originally published by DK on September 20, 2020 at 7:25 pmWhat’s the difference between a bookkeeper in the garment district and a Supreme Court justice? One generation.
Originally published by DK on September 20, 2020 at 4:56 pmOriginally published by DK on September 6, 2020 at 11:45 am
Joe Biden is the Democratic equivalent of George H.W. Bush — another ambitious vice president who believed in loyalty and decency more than in any particular set of ideas…
Originally published by DK on August 18, 2020 at 9:21 amI forgot that was one of my first ever projects – NWA Newswire, February 11, 1992
Originally published by DK on August 15, 2020 at 8:47 pmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_OfficeVision
Originally published by DK on August 15, 2020 at 8:23 pmSample from when I was eight – Hawaii trip recap
Originally published by DK on August 9, 2020 at 8:16 pmThe Magic Kingdom Club was quite a deal
Originally published by DK on August 9, 2020 at 8:12 pmMy dad’s 50th high school reunion
Originally published by DK on August 9, 2020 at 4:08 pmOriginally published by DK on August 8, 2020 at 9:27 pm
Silver certificates are cool – 1928 one dollar note from the Smiths
Originally published by DK on August 1, 2020 at 7:42 pmHome of the Anishinaabe and Dakota
Originally published by DK on July 24, 2020 at 10:23 amIggy from the block
Originally published by DK on July 24, 2020 at 12:43 amAs I started reading through Joe Bissen’s new book, More! Gone. Minnesota’s Lost Golf Courses Part II, I realized that not only are there a lot of closed courses I actually played, there are also a large percentage of the courses I included in my Minnesota Golden Links CD-ROM back in 1999 that are no longer here (43 by my initial count). Joe was kind enough to include a chapter with a list of all the closed courses he knows about, so I thought it would be fun to go back to my original Photoshop files and post the screens for the ones that are no longer open for play (pics after the jump – please excuse the ancient Photoshop techniques and poor color corrections).
Joe says in the introduction to the new book that he isn’t as interested in the courses that have closed recently, but it’s amazing how many of the entries in my 1999 guide are gone (including a few that opened after my guide and are already closed). There are a number of inconsistencies between his list and my guide, as I only included public courses that were members of the Minnesota Golf Association (MGA). Make sure and check out his original book Fore! Gone: Minnesota’s Lost Golf Courses, 1897-1999, as well as his website. Fun stuff.
Originally published by DK on July 16, 2020 at 11:38 am
Sooooooo sad
Originally published by DK on July 8, 2020 at 6:59 pmhttps://theathletic.com/1902636/2020/07/07/us-bank-stadium-rejected-designs-retractable-roof-big-shard-of-ice/
Originally published by DK on July 7, 2020 at 8:16 pmGolf courses I’ve played that are no longer open:
Can’t remember the last new one that opened around here…
Originally published by DK on July 7, 2020 at 9:46 amUm, what the hell, Mickey?
Originally published by DK on July 6, 2020 at 5:03 pmOriginally published by DK on June 26, 2020 at 10:08 pm
Lakeside Bar
Originally published by DK on June 24, 2020 at 7:26 pmFebruary 1969
Originally published by DK on June 14, 2020 at 7:44 pmI read a lot of words, but not enough of them are in books. This one I took from my parent’s house on Lombard and brought up to Croftville Road for the weekend. Turns out my sister purchased it for my dad when she visited Highclere Castle as part of her Downton Abbey tour. I never knew that the real Downtown Abbey Lord was Howard Carter’s partner (George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon), but I’ve loved Egyptian history ever since the 1982 World’s Fair (and multiple Ancient Civilization courses from Mr. Demers at Central). This was a quick, light read, with a few pictures I know I’ve never seen before (hello, Tutankhamun mummy).
Now on to my pile of Economists…
Originally published by DK on June 8, 2020 at 2:36 pmInside harbor walk, Grand Marais, Minnesota
Originally published by DK on June 7, 2020 at 1:24 pmOriginally published by DK on May 28, 2020 at 9:27 am
Railroad bridge over the Mississippi
Originally published by DK on May 25, 2020 at 5:05 pmDave’s Bar, San Francisco, California
Originally published by DK on May 8, 2020 at 12:15 pmOne of the highlights of grade school for me was Scholastic’s Dynamite magazine. It appears I started to subscribe to that in 1976, lasting until 1982. I found a box of these in the basement of my parent’s house on Lombard as we were getting it ready to sell, but they weren’t in great condition. I scanned and posted the entire issue from August 1979 here, if you want to get a feeling for what it was like.
Now that I have my ancient Canon scanner working again with my iMac, I thought I’d scan the front and back of the issues that survived the trip down to our loft. SK will now get the originals for her art projects and I get to keep the digital scans (which you can see after the jump).
Dynamite Magazine, August 1979
Thanks for the memories…
Originally published by DK on April 9, 2020 at 6:21 pmDisneyland Hotel postcard, circa 1983
Originally published by DK on April 8, 2020 at 9:45 pmBut my mom really liked it
Originally published by DK on April 5, 2020 at 4:18 pmRichie Rich was my Leng’s Fountain go-to buy
Originally published by DK on April 5, 2020 at 4:03 pmDynamite magazine – ah, the memories
Originally published by DK on April 5, 2020 at 12:25 pmAlways hustlin’
Originally published by DK on April 5, 2020 at 11:56 amPowerBook 5300cs
Originally published by DK on April 3, 2020 at 10:25 pmThat’s still about right
Originally published by DK on March 29, 2020 at 2:48 pmBusy day in the neighborhood
Originally published by DK on February 22, 2020 at 10:30 am…that will take a really long time.
Originally published by DK on February 22, 2020 at 8:20 amI wonder if that IIc in the corner will boot up
Originally published by DK on February 21, 2020 at 3:40 pmSlowly, desparatly slowly, the remains of passage debris that encumbered the lower part of the doorway was removed. With trembling hands I made a tiny breach in the upper left-hand corner. And then, widening the hole a little, I inserted the candle and peered in. The hot air escaping from the chamber caused the flame to flicker, but presently details of the room within emerged from the mist…
Originally published by DK on February 6, 2020 at 10:55 am1969 was a good year
Originally published by DK on February 5, 2020 at 4:01 pmThat’s just sad
Originally published by DK on February 3, 2020 at 2:32 pmhttps://deadspin.com/lets-watch-princes-super-bowl-halftime-show-the-best-w-1772302774
Originally published by DK on February 1, 2020 at 1:21 pmOriginal turf sample from U.S. Bank Stadium
Originally published by DK on January 30, 2020 at 10:06 pmOff with his head!
Originally published by DK on January 14, 2020 at 10:47 pmThe Ghost Bride @ Fairmont Banff Springs
Originally published by DK on January 14, 2020 at 10:17 pmOld shot of the Banff Springs course
Originally published by DK on January 13, 2020 at 8:27 pmThanks for the memories, Mortenson
Originally published by DK on November 30, 2019 at 5:35 pmI’d say that’s about right – thanks, BK!
Originally published by DK on November 16, 2019 at 9:46 pmSounds like a lost Wilbury song
Originally published by DK on October 27, 2019 at 10:06 pmVikings and runestones
Originally published by DK on September 28, 2019 at 1:10 pmRose Street Patisserie
Originally published by DK on September 21, 2019 at 2:08 pm…but happy anniversary moon nerds!
Originally published by DK on July 21, 2019 at 1:08 pmThe justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable.
Originally published by DK on July 20, 2019 at 10:00 pm