Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Where would the Web be without newspapers?
I won't attempt to answer the question that's the subject of this post, but I will point out that the Web PLUS local newspapers can yield some cool stuff. Such as this amazing tidbit, which turned up in my Google news alert for "Sandsmark."
From the International Falls, Minnesota Daily Journal:
From the International Falls, Minnesota Daily Journal:
50 YEARS AGO
Fairland’s last remaining dwelling will be moved by the owner, Ed Sandsmark, to Birchdale. Friends and relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Sandsmark, Fairland, gathered at their home Saturday evening for an informal farewell party. Mrs. Sandsmark will operate the telephone switchboard there.
Labels: fun, history, Internet, news
Monday, July 20, 2009
It was 40 years ago today ...
Our family was driving to South Dakota when Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon. I remember watching it on a snowy black-and-white TV, somewhere in the heartland. (Normally, we wouldn't spring for a motel - much less one with a TV - so this was a big deal.)
That summer, Gulf Oil gave away paper cutout models of the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) if you bought a tank of gas. Mike and I got several of these during the trip, and one survives to this day - it's been hanging in the attic for decades.
Another of the paper models was built with a Black Cat payload. That one never made it back.
P.S. Turns out you can download, print out, and build your own Gulf LEM, along with many other spacecraft. Now that's what the Internet was made for.
That summer, Gulf Oil gave away paper cutout models of the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) if you bought a tank of gas. Mike and I got several of these during the trip, and one survives to this day - it's been hanging in the attic for decades.
Another of the paper models was built with a Black Cat payload. That one never made it back.
P.S. Turns out you can download, print out, and build your own Gulf LEM, along with many other spacecraft. Now that's what the Internet was made for.
Labels: history, Internet, news, personal history, science, travel, TV
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Was Lincoln a procrastinator?
I came across this quote from Abraham Lincoln today, and laughed with recognition:
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."
Labels: fun, history, politics, psychology, quotes, words
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
SF Chronicle's Constitution Day Quiz
I'm proud to announce that I got 8 1/2 out of 10 on the Constitution Day Quiz in today's San Francisco Chronicle.
I got questions 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 correct. On question 4, I narrowed it down to two possible answers, one of which was correct. In a day or two, if I remember, I'll post my answers on questions 3 and 4.
How did you do?
I got questions 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 correct. On question 4, I narrowed it down to two possible answers, one of which was correct. In a day or two, if I remember, I'll post my answers on questions 3 and 4.
How did you do?
Labels: constitution, history, holiday, law, patriotism, surveys, United States
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Mountain View (Cemetery) People
I happened across a cool blog today: Michael Colbruno's Mountain View Cemetery Bio Tour. The name says it pretty clearly: Colbruno photographs the graves and gives biographies of prominent people in Oakland's Mountain View Cemetery.
I did some Googling to find out about Mr. Colbruno. I'm not sure if the keeper of this blog is the same Michael Colbruno who is an executive with Clear Channel and a board member of the Chabot Space & Science Center. I'm pretty sure he's the same guy who runs the MikeOpera blog. (If you see this, and it's you, let me know!)
I plan to spend some more time with the blog when I'm able to come up for air. Meanwhile, I was up at Mountain View last night, freshening the flowers on Jane's niche (the heat is already taking its toll) and noticed that the new gates are almost complete.
I did some Googling to find out about Mr. Colbruno. I'm not sure if the keeper of this blog is the same Michael Colbruno who is an executive with Clear Channel and a board member of the Chabot Space & Science Center. I'm pretty sure he's the same guy who runs the MikeOpera blog. (If you see this, and it's you, let me know!)
I plan to spend some more time with the blog when I'm able to come up for air. Meanwhile, I was up at Mountain View last night, freshening the flowers on Jane's niche (the heat is already taking its toll) and noticed that the new gates are almost complete.
Labels: blogs, history, Jane, people
