OLD BLOGWhen and Where Does this Real World Begin?

[posted by Troy] Dude, I said that we moved. Stop reading this blog and go to our new blog.

We've Moved! [posted by Troy] This will mark the last post to our blogspot site. We have stepped up to something a bit better:When and Where.... Stop by and check us out. Leave a comment with us!!!

Category: Things that shouldn't have been created [posted by ZelderBar]

• 10 Worst Album Covers Ever
• Magnetoids
• Nun Urinals
• Trump's Hair

Beer Du Jour: From Heather & Josh [posted by ZelderBar] Last evening, I enjoyed a supple brew, which was a birthday gift from my cousins Heather & Josh. It's called TommyKnocker Maple Nut Brown Ale from the Tommyknocker Brewery in Idaho Springs, Colorado. This lead me to wonder, what in the name of starbuck is a "Tommyknocker?" Naturally, I've heard of Stephen King's Tommyknockers, but that really doesn't tell me much. Using one of my library's reserach databases I came across an article from the Saturday Evening Post that says:

"The Tommyknockers came to California with the Cornishmen in the latter days of the Gold Rush, and there were those who swore they'd seen them then--wizened little men scarcely a foot high who knocked on tiny anvils with hammers the size of darning needles to warn the miners of impending disaster. "Knackers" they were called in Cornwall, kin of the elves and the sprites. It is said their origin goes back in a folk memory to some ancient, forgotten race forced by the first Celt invasions to hide in the moorlands and the cliffs; but when John Wesley rode his horse from one Cornish village to another, there were still many who believed they were those who crucified our Lord, destined to work out their doom forever deep in the dark earth." (Craven, Margaret. "The tale of the Tommyknockers." Saturday Evening Post. 266:4 (Jul/Aug 1994): 42-51.

There are still people out there who claim to have seen tommyknockers (see "Waking the Tommyknockers") out knockin' in local mines. I figure if you drink enough maple Nut Brown Ale, your chances of seeing a Tommyknocker increase.

Burns and Erickson (Jason & Malone that is) [posted by Kim] Take a look at this photo of Jason with Malone at the park, taken by Katie or Chad when Jason was out visiting. I just finally checked my e-mail to find it waiting for me. What an adorable shot. =)

Most Illinoisians Don't Realize Our "Anarchist" Past [posted by ZelderHistorian] People from around the world visit a concrete statue in a cemetery in Forest Park Illinois which was put up in honor five men sentenced to death by the state of Illinois. These men were convicted of starting a riot in Haymarket Square, despite the fact that several men were not present. They were labor organizers fighting McCormick Reaper to give their workers an 8 hour work day (reducing hours per day from around 10 or 12). In 1893 Govenor John P. Altgeld pardoned the 5 men convicted (which didn't do much good for the ones who were already put to death). Read the history of the Haymarket Tragedy from the Chicago Public Library. Lucy Parsons, one of the wives of the Haymarket protestors, went on to be a great leader for workers' rights and for women's rights in Illinois. Now, after a century has passed the Chicago police still do not want to allow the city to name a park after Lucy, because they claim she was an anarchist. It seems pretty ridiculous to me. But, none-the-less, there's your history lesson for the day.

Message in a Bottle to Yourself in the Future [posted by Troy] Here's a metaphysical question for you, will you be the same person in 10 years? How will you view your past (present) self? Well, now you can send a message to yourself in the future. You can type out your message at FutureMe.org, set a day and year, enter your email address, and hit submit. Then at the day and year specified, you'll get a message from yourself. Use this a virtual string around your figer. Cast off messages to yourself into the abyss of the future. [Kim's note: as long as the company doesn't go out of business by then]

50 Years Ago Today, God Created Color. [posted by ZelderTube] At first we could only see the world in black, white, grey and a sandy brown. Then we started experimenting. At first, we just had a little red at parties. Then it was some blue only after lunch. Then it was just some yellow in the morning with cofee. The next thing, we were heavy users. It was red, green, yellow all the time . We were hooked. We'd see red and out of nervousness, we'd see green without even knowing it. Then we moved away from the gateway colors to the hardcore colors. Orange, purple, skyblue, fuchsia, taupe, TAUPE?!?! For the love of God, where would this end? We'd be driving down the road and have an auquamarine flashback! Anyway, today marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the RCA Model CT-100, the first commercial color television, into the market. Well, it's all downhill from here. The televsion is our friend, entertainer, and life-long addiction. The Internet is the only thing that may surpass our need for a TV fix. Checkout these facts about color television.

Troy's in the News [posted by Kim] The below photo was on the front page of the Neighborhood section of the Daily Southtown (south suburban newspaper), check it out. Monster Show, Daily Southtown

The dog is in the House [posted by Kim] Just thought I'd share some of the pet pictures from the week. Purdy (the pug) has already introduced me to many other dog owners on my block (esp. pug owners) there seems to be a secret club of dog owners in the city. If you have a waggily tail on a leash you are automatically in. Robbie (the cat) however, does not want me to join this club!

Pet Identity Problems [posted by ZelderBar] Well, my family never had cats growing up. It all started when Grandma Swanson (and other grandmas, if I remember the story) made my parents get rid of the cat when I was born. Thus, our house was cat free. We did however have a small dog (from Grandma Swanson, no less) that liked me and no one else. Thus, I have considered myself a dog person for my entire life. Now, Kim has a cat (see post "Cat in the Box..." on February 26th, 2004), and I've grown to like cats. Anyway, this week we are dog sitting Kim's parents' pug (the lower end of the dog spectrum, but everyone else thinks they are cute), and the dog reminds me of the good/bad/ugly of dog ownership. Am I a cat person or a dog person? Dog people can't understand why anyone would hangout with an animal that you can't take to the beach, camping, underwater, etc. Cat people wonder why anyone would befriend an animal that is so insecure to learn tricks just so that you give it attention. (This book review from Salon sums up the debate amazingly well.) Thus, it's the boring pet people (cat) against the insecure needy pet people (dog). I've decided that this debate is ridiculous. Actually, I am sorry that I've wasted this much blog space on it. I'll just say this, the people who are most passionate about this debate are the people who bring their pets to sit on Santa Clause's lap or put the pets on the holiday cards. Hey! Cray-Zee pet people. STOP! Don't put your misplaced parental instincts on some poor animal. Have/Adopt/Befriend a child. Children are trainable, insecure, and rewarding all at once. (So, I've been told.)

St. Patrick's Day Photos [posted by Kim] I know you're all dying for me to post more photos, so here you go. We've shown you the Downtown St. Patrick's Day celebration and we've shown you the Southside St. Patrick's Day celebration but here are the long awaited St. Patrick's day Pub celebrations. That's right, this time it really was March 17th, the river was really green and Jason was out to party with us. This is my favorite photo from the night, ha ha. Enjoy.

"Euskadi/Basque Country" [posted by T. Anton] In honor of my bother-in-law, I'm posting some sites about the Basque Country. I have to admit that I need to educate myself on this area of the world. Take a look at these helpful sites:

• Euskadi/Basque Country:Historical, government, language, cultural, business, and tourism information about the Basque region of Spain in the Pyrenees. Also includes information about Basques living abroad and image galleries. Searchable. Available in several European languages.
• Basque Homeland and Freedom: This site presents an overview of the history, structure, and terrorist activities of Spain's Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) group, which has a goal of "self-determination for the Basque country, Euskadi." Features a list of ETA attacks from 1998 through 2002, and updates about ETA activities. From the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT). (from Lii.org)