Microblog

On a walk with a friend, cooled off in a large Asian supermarket. Noted the nonreturnable durian. “Its odor is best described as pig-excrement, turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock.” (Wikipedia.) Left with a bag of matcha Japanese Kit Kats.

Started setting up a 55-bin system to organize parts for our hobbies and home maintenance, replacing dozens of plastic shoeboxes. About a quarter of the bins will hold bulk and bulky LEGO Technic parts. The bins are easily subdivided, making parts more available.

In the Somali language there’s no P (puh) sound, so we reviewed the difference between puh and buh (B) sounds. (With puh, you can feel your breath.) The definite article (the) is another challenge for Somali learners: in Somali it’s a suffix to the noun, so it’s too easy to forget to use it in… Continue reading Minding Our Ps and Bs

Rode trails from Stillwater back to Minneapolis. This leafy section, the Brown’s Creek State Trail, is a former rail trail that rises slowly from Stillwater to connect with the Gateway State Trail, another leafy rail trail, that took us towards St. Paul.

After dinner at Dock Cafe, looking out at the St. Croix River in Stillwater, we walked across the now pedestrianized lift bridge towards Wisconsin. Earlier, we checked in to Water Street Inn for the night, having cycled from our home along lovely trails.

Me: “OK Google, add toothpaste to the shopping list.” We’d like to change the wakeup words to “OK Janet”—a kind and wise Scottish housekeeper for two doctors in a 1960’s BBC TV series. Unlike with Google Assistant, Janet would offer to pour a “wee dram” and toothpaste would never run out.

Finished a working prototype of the y axis of a gantry crane (the part that carries the hoist). I aimed for smooth motion, minimum parts, and maximum symmetry. Next I’ll prototype the x axis. Eventually I plan to give the completed crane enough smarts to operate autonomously.

Reminisced with a friend while we explored the Northwest Airlines History Center. Resisted bashing the gong while improvising the “Northwest Orient (insert the sound of a gong) Airlines” jingle. Got the inside scoop from a retired pilot who flew one of my favorites, the 747-200. Click through to hear the jingle.

After a fasting blood draw, made up for lost time with corned beef hash and a fried egg at diminutive Al’s Breakfast in Dinkytown. The transfer from the griddle to a plate in front of me was performed with a minimum of movement.

On my way to Coastal Seafoods for my 20% senior discount, paused to admire the lovely car-free Milwaukee Avenue Historical District. In the 1970s, the federal government planned to replace this neighborhood with apartment buildings, but clever local resistance forced the feds to back down.

This is the best time of year for local green beans. Got these beauties at the farmers market. Tonight I’ll serve some of them with classic comfort food: baked mac and cheese.

Cycled over to Orchestra Hall for a late afternoon chamber music recital featuring members of the Minnesota Orchestra. The final piece, “Jazz Variations on a Theme by Paganini,” ensured that most of us went home in a good mood.

Watched crews setting up Aquatennial fireworks on Stone Arch Bridge today. This is one of the biggest fireworks shows in the country, expected to draw around 250,000 people to the riverfront tonight. We’ll watch from our balcony.

Diagonal elements can be problematic in LEGO, so I’ve set myself the challenge of building a LEGO Technic model that includes a strong, minimal horizontal structure incorporating diagonal trusses. Today, on my cycle ride, I studied a 140-year-old bridge, looking for inspiration.

Walked with a friend and gawked at one of the oldest (1905) school buildings in Minneapolis, now apartments. Recharged at Key West Bistro with, of course, key lime pie.

Still 88° at 6:00 p.m. Grateful for AC.