Microblog

Introducing my first LEGO bike, based on a clever design I found via a Web search. A computer program maintains balance by making subtle adjustments to the steering by running data from an electronic gyroscope and three servo motors through an algorithm. The bike happily drives across a room, often without falling over. Next, I’ll… Continue reading A Self-Balancing LEGO Bike

At Coastal Seafoods, I pointed at a slab of fatty Atlantic salmon and asked for a piece to be cut from the thicker part then deboned. The cashier asked if I was a teacher, as they were offering a 20% discount to teachers. I replied that I was a volunteer English Language teacher, which she… Continue reading Teacher Appreciation

I’ve lived in the Twin Cities for 45 years and only today saw one of these cleverly camouflaged creatures on our window presumably sheltering from rain. It looked like a folded leaf! Its body was about two inches long, and it was walking vertically on its six legs, which seemed to have suction cups at… Continue reading Katydid’s Camouflage Fail

Spotted this parked in the Seward neighborhood. A quick Google search revealed that ‘Yhw’ is a vowel-deficient Hebrew deity. Looking closer, I noticed a compartment labeled ‘chalk.’ The orientation of the label suggested I was viewing the piece incorrectly. A photo search revealed it was by local artist Tom Saunders, who invites viewers to write… Continue reading The Hidden Question

Boarded an elevator in our building with a mother and her daughter, maybe nine, who was clutching a certificate. Curious, I asked her what it was for. She told me she’d completed the LEGO robotics part of summer camp. Impressed, I mentioned I build with LEGO MINDSTORMS. The mother beamed and agreed we needed more… Continue reading A Rising Star in STEM

Cycled the Mississippi River Trail upriver from our home to Anoka, my farthest point yet. After a leisurely lunch, I explored the scenic Rum River Trail (view shown here), along a tributary of the Mississippi. The Northstar train brought me back to Minneapolis, right into the heart of a Def Leppard concert crowd at Target… Continue reading Cycling Beyond the Cities

Yesterday Dwight picked up Shiitake and (new to us) Trumpet mushrooms at the farmers market. Tonight I’ll put them in a risotto. Many suggest not washing mushrooms, but I prefer to run them through a bowl of water, then dry them. Shiitake stems are full of umami, but sadly they’re tough and stringy, so they… Continue reading Mushrooms: My Two Cents’ Worth

It was raining, so I decided to walk. From East River Road, near the Franklin Avenue Bridge, I heard the sound of rushing water. Peering over a wall, I stumbled upon a hidden gem: Bridal Veil Falls. The stream has been tamed by a culvert, and the Falls diminished by development, and it lacks even a name sign. I later found photos of its untamed beauty. Click through for a glimpse of its past.

It was a drippy morning, so a walk was in order. I stopped for coffee at Downtown’s Spyhouse, a place I usually associate with winter. At various points today, including while sipping my coffee, I continued my research on bicycle balance. So far, I’ve seen enough convincing evidence that a bicycle can maintain equilibrium without… Continue reading Maintaining Balance

On my meander through a residential neighborhood, found an old-fashioned Italian deli where I sat down for lunch, listening in on local chatter. Two large meatballs in tomato sauce with bread and butter served on real dinnerware was about $8.

On the way home from a dental cleaning and checkup I realized the bus would stop opposite moto-i. I had to get off and enjoy a very serviceable bowl of tonkotsu ramen, my go-to comfort food. Maybe it was a reward for not having to see the dentist again until April 2025. I’m proud to… Continue reading A Taste of Somewhere Else

Last weekend there was a street art festival on Nicollet Mall in Downtown. The sidewalk chalk art had survived quite well when I reviewed it today, minus crowds.

We try not to miss Jake Shimabukuro when he’s in town. His musical style has grown increasingly complex and interesting over the years. He began the evening with his composition, “Sakura, Sakura” played Koto-style (Japanese instrument) on the ukulele. Later he played a piece that opened him to a wider audience in 2006, an interpretation… Continue reading Elevating the Ukulele

Our 14-year-old Dell was slowing down, so I gave it a new lease on life today by dual-booting Windows 10 and Linux (Ubuntu). Running Linux, it’s blazingly fast and handles almost everything Dwight and I need. Total outlay: $0.00 + too much of my time.

While cycling on a public road, I spotted this tangled industrial scene and stopped to capture it. A security guard told me to stop, threatened to call the police, then gave the middle finger when I said “go ahead.” I doubt anyone at General Mills will be upset with this photo of their grain silos.

Today was the day for my annual bike ride to the airport. My route included Fort Snelling State Park, which reopened this morning after flooding had subsided. I turned around at Terminal 2 and took the LRT home. I’ve never actually flown out of this terminal because I favor airlines in Skyteam or Star Alliance… Continue reading Two Wheels to T2