The stereotypical view of car mechanics (lying to your face so they can get their next boat payment out of your wallet) is probably fueled by ignorance — not ignorance of mechanics, but ignorance of automobiles. I’ve been in situations where mechanics try and use my ignorance to scare me into getting things done. It’s especially difficult when you’re pulling into the garage of a mechanic that you’ve never had a prior relationship with. I speak from experience, having moved seven months ago (has it been seven months already?).
All posts by Jonathan
First time kayaking
Yesterday for the first time in my life, I went kayaking. After I got out of work, I went over to Lake Wingra (a small lake, not too far from work), stopped at the boathouse and rented a kayak. I was out on the water for about an hour and I am hooked.
Summerfest 2005
I wasn’t about to miss going to Summerfest this year, just because I moved 80 miles to the west this past December. However, geography did have an influence on the number of days I went (two compared to my annual average of six days while living in the Milwaukee area).
Now using WordPress
I’ve just completed a major overhaul of this website and am now running WordPress as my blogging software. While the design of the site may not look a whole lot different, the change to WordPress brings a lot more flexibility for me and more features for you.
Effigy Mounds National Monument
My favorite part of my camping trip last week, was a visit to Effigy Mounds National Monument. Located across the Mississippi River (in Iowa) and about 15 miles north of Wyalusing, Effigy Mounds National Monument has over 195 mounds built by native peoples between 750 and 1,600 years ago. These earthen mounds probably had a strong religious significance for those who built them. Probably a means of connecting the people to the land, the spirit world, and their ancestors. In fact, some were used for burial purposes.
Camping at Wyalusing
This week I went on my first camping getaway of the year when I visited Wyalusing State Park, near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Wyalusing is located on the bluffs overlooking the spot where the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers come together.
How can he say that with a straight face?
Flipping through the Sunday morning talk shows today, I hit upon G. Gordon Liddy criticizing Mark Felt, recently announced as Deep Throat, for his “unethical actions.”
So, here is the man who actually performed the act of political espionage, breaking into the democratic party headquarters, spewing on about unethical behavior in others? Am I the only one who finds this totally absurd?
In the news recently, the Downing Street Memo has finally come to light. How three years ago, the Bush Administration had decided to “fix the intelligence” to support its policy of invading Iraq to remove Saddam Hussain from power. Would that we had someone with the courage of Mark Felt’s convictions, three years ago.
Radio Paradise
I recently had the best musical discovery of the year. I realize 2005 is not even half over, but after listening to this discovery over the past week or two I have no doubt it will be my best of the year. No, it isn’t a new band, or a new CD. It’s Radio Paradise, an internet-based radio station.
Commercial free, Radio Paradise is completely listener supported and, in this listener’s humble opinion, very worthy of any support you can give it.
An open letter to the scam artist who called the library today
Dear Madam,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the library’s copier. I am sorry I was not able to provide you with the copier’s model number, however I am familiar with your techniques which result in unsuspecting victims being sent unwanted, outrageously priced copy supplies they had never ordered.
San Francisco travelog
Yesterday I returned from a trip to San Francisco, where I attended a users group conference for the catalog software my library uses. I was able to take some free time in between the conference programs to see some of the sights.
