Did you know...

that the nearest black hole to our planet is 1600 light years from Earth in the direction of Sagittarius, orbiting V4641?

Braiding now legal

Remember this post about the unfair licensing requirements for hair braiders in Minnesota? Well, the rules exempting braiders are now in effect, so the system worked.

Rollercoaster of...

In 2001, I visited Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio and rode Millenium Force, which was the tallest steel rollercoaster in the country at the time, rising to 310 feet. Steel Dragon 2000 in Japan is taller, but is not currently running due to an accident. The same is true of the current record holder, Kingda Ka, in New Jersey. I was surprised to learn that two of the 4 tallest steel rollercoasters in the world are not currently operating.

This year I am going to Magic Mountain in California, which just opened its seventeenth rollercoaster Tatsu, breaking the tie with Cedar Point for the park with the most rollercoasters. There is debate as to whether Superman The Escape is actually a rollercoaster or simply a ride, because it is does not travel a circuit like most coasters do. If it was counted as a coaster, Magic Mountain would actually have 18.

Books

So, I just read my first book since January, which is a little misleading. I did a lot of reading for school since then, and read several short stories in The Scribner Anthology in February and March, so I am not a total clod. I am starting out with two lighter books to get my momentum up again, Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts and Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner. I have seen the movie version of Heart and I loved Weiner's first two books. When I finish those two, I'll move on to something a little more challenging.

TJ's is here

Trader Joe's in St Louis Park is open! It looks like they will open some other metro locations in the future.

If you think you might come to California...I think you should

I was contemplating where I would like to spend my birthday this year when A Long December came on the radio and solidified my decision: in June I am Goin' Back to Cali. I've been to California twice before, one week just in San Francisco and a Labor Day weekend in Berkeley and Yosemite. I have not yet been to LA, and some friends are going to San Francisco the weekend before my birthday, so I am doing both! I fly out to SF, spend four days by the bay with A&G, then I head down the coast in a rental car. Things I want to see are Monterey Bay Aquarium, Big Sur (parts of it), various coastal animals like sea lions and such, the Santa Ynez Mtns, and the Santa Barbara Zoo. Hearst Castle is a maybe. Then I am going to Magic Mountain and then into LA for 3 more days before flying home. I leave in 5 weeks... can't wait.

All my caliroadtrip tagged bookmarks

My Geek Code

GM/B$ d- s:+ a- C++ PS+ PE- Y+ t+ X-- R+ tv++ b+ DI++ G e h- r- x?

What is yours?

I can't get this outta my head

The Night Chicago Died
Daddy was a cop on the east side of Chicago
Back in the U.S.A. back in the bad old days

In the heat of a summer night
In the land of the dollar bill
When the town of Chicago died
And they talk about it still

When a man named Al Capone
Tried to make that town his own
And he called his gang to war
With the forces of the law

I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother what a night it really was
Brother what a fight it really was
Glory be!

I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother what a night the people saw
Brother what a fight the people saw
Yes indeed!

And the sound of the battle rang
Through the streets of the old east side
'Til the last of the hoodlum gang
Had surrendered up or died

There was shouting in the street
And the sound of running feet
And I asked someone who said
"'Bout a hundred cops are dead!"

I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother what a night it really was
Brother what a fight it really was
Glory be!

I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother what a night the people saw
Brother what a fight the people saw
Yes indeed!

And ther was no sound at all
But the clock upon the wall ......
Then the door burst open wide
And my daddy stepped inside
And he kissed my mama's face
And he brushed her tears away

The night Chicago died
(Na-na na, na-na-na, na-na-na)
The night Chicago died
Brother what a night the people saw
Brother what a fight the people saw
Yes indeed!

The night Chicago died
(Na-na na, na-na-na, na-na-na)
The night Chicago died
Brother what a night it really was
Brother what a fight it really was
Glory be!

The night Chicago died
(Na-na na, na-na-na, na-na-na)
The night Chicago died
Brother what a night the people saw
Brother what a fight the people saw
Yes indeed!

Season Finales - (the ones that matter)

May 11th - My Name is Earl and The Office
May 14th - Survivor, L&O:CI, Grey's Anatomy (Part 1)
May 15th - How I Met Your Mother, Grey's Anatomy (Part 2)
May16th - Scrubs
May17th - The Amazing Race
May 18th - That 70's Show and Will & Grace both air their Series Finales
May19th - Numb3rs
May 21st - Simpsons, Family Guy
May 22nd - King of Queens, 24
May 24th - Lost

Webtracks

City Pages' annual Best of edition has pixel art by Eboy, which I dig.

I found this quote on a coaster at a bar, but I like it anyway:
"We do not remember days. we remember moments." -Cesare Pavese
I also like this one: "If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears."

Ever been mistaken for an employee while shopping? I have and it is hilarious.

Myspace is not just for 14-21 year olds - it's for me too.

Trader Joe's is "coming soon" to Minnesota, before the end of May hopefully. I was 100% wrong about the location. I forgot all about Excelsior Boulevard. Could they have built any closer to Whole Foods?

Also, the new library downtown opens May 20th, or for $250 (or more!!) you can attend the benefit on the night of the 19th. This includes a progressive dinner, and I really need to attend something like that.