Category Archives: Uncategorized

Don’t Miss This

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There are sights and then there are sights. The rest stop  on East I-80 right outside of Iowa City is really worth a stop. It is a clever tribute to  Iowa Writer’s Workshop at the U of I, the oldest graduate creative writing program in the country.

Celebrating its 75 anniversary this year, the workshop can boast of 17 Pulitzer prize-winning authors and thousands of remarkable writers. This public works project is one that really works for that public.

A giant pen stands guard; it rests in a pool of ink after writing IOWA across the front of the building with a flourish.

Literary quotes are everywhere — in steel cut-outs that form the wind and shade buffers for the picnic tables, updated on an electronic message board that circles the generous lobby and inscribed on inside walls.

On the floor is a quote from Jack Kerouac from what else but On the Road? I was halfway across America, at the dividing line between the East of my youth and the West of my future.

Way to go, Hawkeyes.


Life in the Slow Lane

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Now here is a dilemma. I am in a McDonald’s asking for a cup of coffee in my own tall take-away cup, and she (the teen server) screws up her face and says, “Is that a Seeenior…?” clearly uncomfortable about the question but compelled by a comprehensive training course to ask.

I have a split second decision between vanity (“You nitwit, do I look like a senior?!) and parsimony, (“How much will I save for claiming to be a oldster?”)

I say as quick as I’m able, “Sure. Serve it up.”

So when was the last time you got a to-go cup filled to the brim for $.59? It was a clear case of wisdom-trumping, I hope I remember the lesson going forward though somehow I feel I’m gonna need more practice.

Packin’ It Up

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I spent the day in the basement pulling out plastic tubs, unwrapping a bunch of Christmas dishes and other holiday stuff and repacking them to send on to my niece, the one who is genuinely excited about adding my things to her holiday stash.

I had not unpacked the tubs for several years and felt a little melancholy as I looked at the things that I once looked forward to hauling out every year from the basement.   At the very same time, I was relieved that the things I treasured had a chance at another run.

I filled five tubs to give away.

Then I had a ham salad sandwich  on some really good whole grain wheat bread. And decided that it was a very good way to spend the day.

Doggelganger

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Want to see your dog match? Upload your photo to Doggelganger and in minutes you’ll be staring at a homeless dog that looks like you based on a digital analysis of your facial structure.  This clever campaign is sponsored by the Pedigree Adoption Program in New Zealand and was created by Colenso BBDO.

Image from Creative Criminals.com

When I did it, a 18 month old Mastiff Cross popped up named Carla; I can’t help think that Carla will quickly be snatched up by someone who actually lives in the country. After all, she has really good bones.

Soup’s On

Gallery

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This gallery contains 1 photo.

Special occasion coming up? How about dinner at a nice little hilltop place in Spain? El Bulli is a fifty year old restaurant that has repeatedly been named the top restaurant in the world by an international group of restauranteurs. … Continue reading →

Now these r yr shadow puppets

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Image from Wikipedia

Tim Noble and Sue Webster are British artists who have taken the childhood pastime of shadow puppets to a whole different place.

They like to pile up trash in mysterious ways (to me) and spotlight it to cast shadows on the wall they use as their canvas.

What is extraordinary (to me) is that the shadow images actually look like the artists themselves. I can’t help but stare at the trash and back again to the projected image in a vain effort to figure it out.

In fact I almost miss the pretty loud statements on consumerism and a society in decay, oh and the ephemeral joy of the artistic expression ’cause I’m so involved with how-did-they-do-it?  I’m also pretty sure that I’ll stick to a rabbit or the occasional barking dog.  If you want more, go to Environmental Graffiti.

Dirty White Trash with Gulls, 1998 (Photo pashasha)

Dark Stuff, 2008 (Photo Jose LuisRDA)

It’s Interesting

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Here’s the deal, this watch-like thing gives the date, time and — a coach and  monitor that records the intensity of your physical activity. Unlike a pedometer, the S2H Replay (could they think of a Better name?) calculates activities such as running, dancing and sports.

There is an unusual tie-in that makes this whole thing much more interesting than you’d think at the outset.

The S2H Replay costs $19.95  plus shipping and handling. But once you’ve bought one and started using it, you can accumulate points from doing your favorite activities for an hour and cash them in for rewards from merchandisers including Target and K-Mart.  Every 60 minutes, reset the device and earn some more.

Pretty painless. Ignore the blatant external rewards hook for a minute, and buy a bunch for your sedentary friends and family. (Though if I were you, I’d be ready for a backlash or two.)