I just returned from a camping vacation at the Northern Highland/American Legion State Forest in northern Wisconsin. Below is a picture from the Plum Lake Hemlock Forest State Natural Area. It’s a nice hike from where I was camping at Star Lake.
All posts by Jonathan
R.I.P. Exec-PC
I signed up with a new ISP the other day. It felt a little weird as I’ve had the same ISP for seven years. Unfortunately, because of corporate buy-outs which led to bad service at inflated prices I was ready to leave. It’s a real shame. Long before the Internet was available to the mass public I was a member of Exec-PC BBS (a computer Bulletin Board Service). Even though the Internet has Flash animations, fancy graphics and a global community, somehow it was more fun reading simple text only messages and exchanging files with a local community of users. I think it was around eight years ago, they began to offer Internet service and it had the same high quality as the BBS. Five years later Exec-PC became the largest ISP in the midwest and the owner decided to sell his company (a good decision, I would have done the same). Service has been on a steady decline since. I am especially pleased about one thing though — all the sleazy, scum-sucking spammers have yet another dead e-mail address in their databases.
MLB All Star Game
Over the past few days, I’ve been trying to make up my mind about what to think about Major League Baseball shutting down the all-star game at an 11th inning tie. After reading all the editorials, I’ve come to the conclusion that baseball fans are on the lowest point of MLB’s priority list. The multi-millionaire players could have cared less about finishing the game. I can’t help but imagine if this situation would have happened fifty years ago, the players would have said, “sure we’re tired, but we want to finish. Major league baseball games do not end in a tie.”
The managers of the two teams wanted to make sure all their multi-millionaire players got their chance in the spotlight, so in the first nine innings, they used 17 of the total 19 pitchers they had. To his credit, I did read that the last pitcher for the American League said he could have pitched a few more innings. The other players and officials of baseball should have let him.
In a way I almost feel sorry for Bud Selig. I believe he has been unfairly criticized on a lot of issues during his tenure as commissioner. But in this case, he made the wrong decision.
Now the baseball players and owners are arguing over how to split all the money they rake in, and the possibility of a strike or a lock out looms on the horizon. The only question on my mind is, how soon until football season starts?
Summerfest 2002, part 2
Summerfest is over and I ended up going five times this year. I must admit I thought the musical line-up was a little weaker compared to years past. Some of those same old acts are definitely due for a break next year. Seeing a group like the BoDeans headline the main stage year after year is getting a bit stale. On the other hand I did see (and hear) some great concerts. My favorites this year (starting with the best) were Guided by Voices, Midnight Oil, Femi Kuti, Train, Third World, Yellowman and R&B group Christopher’s Project. How’s that for en eclectic group? Oh, and in case you’re interested, just 352 days until Summerfest 2003.
Summerfest 2002, part 1
Yesterday was day two for me at the biggest music festival in the United States, Summerfest. What an excellent place to hear live music, eat great food, have a beer or two and people watch. Summerfest is yet another reason that I feel lucky to live where I do (which is about 10 miles from the grounds). I’ve been there for two days and I’ve already seen five excellent bands, the best being Guided By Voices — what a great live band. Looking at the schedule this year my favorite band name is “Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys.” Sadly (or maybe fortunately, I don’t know what they sound like) I did not see their show.
Oak Leaf Trail
Sometimes I feel lucky to live where I do. Tonight after supper I took myself outside and hopped on my bicycle. Just a short three blocks away and I’m riding along a parkway, more specifically on the Oak Leaf Trail here in Milwaukee County. Just a few miles later and I’m pedaling along the part of the Oak Leaf Trail that goes through Grant Park — one of my favorite bike trails to ride on. On this section of the trail you ride through numerous combinations of woods (including a few with a delicious pine scent), open grassland and along bluffs with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. While cruising along tonight I was fortunate to see a beautiful sunset in the west and a blue heron sitting with his head high in the middle of a pond. And to think I was considering not going out for a ride tonight because it was too warm and muggy…
Al Gore searched
From today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Al Gore searched twice during Wisconsin trip. First when he left the airport in Washington and the second time when he flew from Milwaukee to New York. What a perfect illustration of the lack of common sense these newer measures are from the office of homeland security. I’m sure that the former vice president was considering an act of terror on the plane, yet the possibility of a random screening dissuaded him from carrying out his plan.
Oh look, an elderly woman is getting on the plane. Make sure she doesn’t board with that crochet needle!
Camping at Perrot State Park
I spent all last week in the great outdoors, camping at Perrot State Park. It was the first time I was at Perrot and I was pretty impressed.
Miller Park / MLB
Last night I saw a baseball game at Miller Park for the first time. I must admit I was impressed. The retractable roof was very welcome on a cold, damp evening in Milwaukee. The Brewers even played a good game, beating the San Diego Padres 2-0. Too bad they lost today though. One of these days Major League Baseball has got to adopt some type of revenue sharing, like professional football and basketball do. It’s the only way small market teams (like the Brewers) will be able to compete. I admit I’m not the worlds biggest baseball fan, but I might be if there would be some hope of different teams playing in the World Series, instead of the same ones that keep buying championships year after year.
Neil Finn: One All
Yesterday I bought a new CD by one of the best singer / songwriters around, Neil Finn. He writes intelligent lyrics, beautiful pop melodies and he can also rock out a bit. The new CD, One All is his second solo album. Listening to music has always done a lot for my psyche and my sanity. Since Neil’s early days with Split Enz and later with Crowded House, his music has always been a big part of my “sanity maintenance collection.” It’s amazing to me that an artist of his caliper doesn’t seem to get the recognition he deserves, a least here in the United States. Hopefully he does better in his native country of New Zealand.