Hi Jason- my name is James. I have a little blog here that nobody reads. OK I have a few readers. But it’s fun to write. Kind of like kicking a ball around in the backyard by yourself. I like writing about places I visit and about things I read in the news. Which brings me to you dude! I just read about you and your quest to obtain a blood sugar sniffing dog. And raising money with a lemonade stand? Genius. If a sick blond haired little boy selling lemonade while pining for a puppy doesn’t tug at the old strings nothing will. And the fireman outfit? Again, you know cute.

I’m fairly critical of the media and especially critical of the way local news edits and spins stories to create what THEY want, rather than the truth. So when I saw the story “Diabetic boy needs dog” my eyebrow raised a bit. And unlike most other stories I’m barely qualified to comment on, I’m a type 1 diabetic - just like you. That gives me a bit of credit. I also checked out your site pawsoflife.com and read more about you.

First - I’m sorry to hear that you were recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I know exactly what transpired when the doctor sat with you and your parents in that little room and explained what diabetes was. Like most folks they probably thought only overweight people confined to motorized scooters developed diabetes. Nope - type 1 is genetic, and many healthy people just like us have it. Your mom probably cried and pontificated about how you and your family’s life will change, and lamented about how you won’t be able to live a normal life.

I know this because 20 years ago my sister was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at your age. My mom and dad had to learn how to take care of her, how to spot and correct her blood sugar ups and downs, and how to administer injections and medicine. And blood sugar monitoring equipment was stone age compared to what we have now. And you know what else sucked? After watching my sister live with diabetes through childhood and teens I was diagnosed myself at age 20. How’s that for a kicker? It’s a rarity really, as most type 1 is early or late in life. Anyway for 12 years now I’ve checked my blood sugar, taken shots, and made it a part of my life. But you know what? It’s not that bad…

After the initial minor life modifications and learning curve I can honestly say that very little in your life will change, and again, it’s REALLY not that bad. As for finger pricks and injections? Hey, it’s a part of life now. You’ll get used to it. Having diabetes is annoying at times. It still sucks sometimes for me too. When I’m out at the bar with friends and we run off to a movie, or more often another bar, I don’t want to have to slow my friends down taking my blood sugar. And I need to ensure I carry food with me at times. Trust me, you don’t want to go hiking eight miles and not be stocked with power bars. You don’t want to keep your blood sugar too low if you’re snowboarding or exerting energy for the day. And while you don’t want your blood sugar to be low, you don’t want to remain consistently high either. I admit it IS a tricky balance.

But all that said: If I had to CHOOSE a disease or illness to have, type 1 diabetes would be my number one choice. Well maybe psoriasis, just not on my arms. Hey we aren’t in wheelchairs. We have our arms and legs, and they work. We can see, hear, smell, and do EVERYTHING anyone else can do. Diabetes is 100% completely controllable. It takes discipline, strength, and skill. But you’re young, and smart enough to run a lemonade stand. Hence I think you’re smart enough to take care of your body and learn the intricacies of it.

If you look through my site, (and excuse the profanities – I usually don’t write for nine year olds,) you’ll see pictures of me doing everything a normal person does. I bike, swim, travel, scuba dive, fly airplanes, and I do it all with type 1 diabetes. Is diabetes annoying at times? Certainly. But it’s never stopped me from doing anything I wanted in life.

Now. This dog business. I had a golden retriever growing up. He was great, and I still miss him. (Speaking of needles.) Who on earth told you that you need a dog to tell you when your blood sugar is low? I love dogs. I think dogs that find people alive in earthquake rubble or dogs that assist blind people are incredible. As are their trainers.

You really need an insulin pump combined with a constant glucose monitoring system. Your mom says on your site they aren’t completely accurate. That’s correct; however no method of measuring your daily blood sugar is completely accurate. Twenty years ago my sister had to match up a blood sugar stick to a set of colors. This cumbersome process took two minutes. Today my blood sugar meter takes about 20 seconds and gives me a specific number. You’ll rarely get a 100% accurate reading, but that’s irrelevant, because what you should be concerned about is the TREND of your blood sugar. Is if going up after a big meal? Is it descending rapidly after a long soccer game? WHERE your blood sugar is going is more important that the NUMBER it’s at. Also a dog isn’t going to bark out your blood sugar number. See what I’m getting at? It’s up to you.

If I may quote your mom from your site:

Right now we have 3 options. We can continue testing our son around the clock. Option 2 is a continuous glucose monitor which would subject Jason to technology that is not yet accurate, having another infusion site (like a small IV), and doesn’t save any finger pokes. Or the option we have pursued and been approved for - a service dog (and best friend) that can help us know when Jason is in need of medical attention.

Jason, listen to me: A dog won’t change the fact you’ll STILL need to check your blood sugar every few hours. I do it at my desk every few hours at work, in the morning before biking to work, at home in the evening, and when I’m out with friends. I could have Lassie sitting right next to me yet I’d still need to monitor my sugar levels. Also according to what I’ve read a dog will only alert you when your glucose has reached a point of too high or low. What’s the point? You should already know where it’s going. And as mentioned, a constant glucose meter will do this for you.

Plenty of kids are diagnosed each year with type 1 diabetes. The weapons to combat this disease are knowledge of your body, eating and insulin delivery to match your daily activities, and having supportive family and friends. We have technology now that can basically give you a virtual pancreas. That’s pretty darn cool. And it’s more discreet than a dog. Plus, you don’t want a dog taking care of you - YOU want to take care of yourself. Relying on a dog to observe your blood sugar swings would cause more hassle and inconvenience than just doing it yourself. You want to be like a normal kid. Carting a dog around school will not make you seen as normal. Eventually you’ll realize you KNOW your daily patterns, activity habits and eating scheduled, and you know what to expect from your body. By the way does this dog bark at ALL blood sugar extremes? If we were standing in line at Subway and my blood sugar was high would be bark at me? Just curious.

I say keep the lemonade stand going, but when you reach your goal $25,000 donate it all to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Better yet keep hustling the media and get a company to match it. $50,000, or even a portion of that money invested in research by knowledgeable people will help many MORE children like you. You and your brother would have the satisfaction of making life better for many other children, some that don’t have the resources and availability to medicines that we’re fortunate enough to have.

I know, I know - you still want a the dog! I did too when I was your age. Why not adopt a puppy from Maxfund? Hey no kid should get to fly pass the responsibility of house training a dog. Sorry Jason - I had to, you should too. You’ll still make the news, but it’s a wiser decision that will benefit more people, including yourself.

Feel free to drop me a note. I may disagree with your family’s assessment of requiring a dog - but friends can disagree and still be pals. If you have any questions send me an e-mail. And should anyone read this and think I’m a total jerk for picking on a little kid - here’s a link to the PawsofLife site if anyone wants to donate. I might even order some chocolate chunk cookies. I love those. Almost as much as I love sun chips and a cold beer on a hot summer day.

All the best - James

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I love hostels and small boutique hotels. But would I overnight at a furniture store? Hmm, no. But if you’re passing through Norway and care to spend the night in Ikea store you’re in luck. They’ve opened a hostel at their Oslo location.

Now I could go camping in the downtown Denver REI flagship warehouse store downtown I wouldn’t turn that down.

I love Gizmodo’s comment:

The Ikea in Oslo is opening up a free hostel for shoppers who want to continue the clusterfuck that is the Ikea shopping experience for day two. 30 participants will get free dinner, breakfast and the joy of sleeping on dormitory-style beds. Plus, shoppers keep the sheets (good call), a bathrobe and slippers, too. For those who area looking for a more romantic getaway, Ikea is happy to oblige…

And the Guardian article:

It brought us Swedish meatballs, Billy bookshelves and endless queues on the London North Circular on Saturday afternoons. Now Ikea is going one step further and opening the Ikea Hostel, where customers can stay overnight if they haven’t finished their shopping. Later this month, Ikea Norway will let shoppers sleep overnight in one of its two Oslo warehouses, an operation that will last a week. “It will be like an alternative hostel,” said company spokesman Frode Ullebust.

“There will be the regular dormitory with lots of beds stacked up together. We will also have a bridal suite, with a round bed and a hanging chandelier, and the luxury suite, where customers can enjoy breakfast in bed,” he said. Family rooms will also be available for parents and children to join into the Ikea fun. None of the guests will be charged for their stay.Mr Ullebust said that, as far as he knew, this was Ikea’s first foray into the hotel business. Every night, the 30 lucky few will be able to stack up on meatballs, Norwegian salmon and cranberry mousse, as Ikea is offering free dinner and breakfast at the usual canteen.

Whereas Brits may associate the Swedish furniture giant with screaming kids, traffic jams in the parking lot and an occassional riot when a new warehouse opens, it seems Norwegians see a trip to Ikea as the ultimate tourist attraction.”Around 900,000 visitors come to visit Ikea during the summer holidays. It’s more than one of the biggest attractions in Norway, the Holmenskollen ski jump, gets in one year,” claimed Mr Ullebust. “We have five Ikea stores in Norway, all situated next to the four biggest cities, which are all in the south in the country. We found that people from the north of Norway include a visit to Ikea as part of their holidays,” said the spokesman. “The Ikea Hostel will make the destination complete.” Overnight stayers can check in to their new abodes from 10pm, an hour before closing time, but will have to be quick in the morning. “The shop opens at 10am so if they are lazy, people might get woken up by shoppers testing out their mattresses,” said Mr Ullebust.

Customers will also be able to take their bedsheets home afterwards. “It’s a nice souvenir,” he added, “We will also give them bathrobes with the Ikea Hostel logo on, and some slippers, so they won’t get cold at night.”

Anyone planning a visit? Leave me a note below :)

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At first I thought this was another Google spelling error.  Given the other instances I’ve noticed and occasionally posted over the past year, such as this and this, I wouldn’t be surprised if Google hasn’t fired their atrocious proofer yet.

But then I realized it’s too clumsily worded to be a mistake.  It’s a joke by Google News.  Is it funny?   I don’t go to a major news collection site to be entertained.  In that regard I find it inappropriate, irritating, and stupid.  Not that I’m against sick humor.  I still break the ice at parties with a good Challenger joke.  But when I want to read serious stories I don’t want witty quips.

In further research this headline was actually taken from this more irreverent Register article - in which Google borrowed the headline for the rotation of this story.  But still, for an enormous news aggregator I don’t want crass and tacky puns.   That’s exactly why I READ the news rather than watching it on local TV. 

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Last week I attempted to hunt down err, well I don’t really know what it’s called.  I see guys around town with small satchels made of canvas and burlap.  You know, the kind worn by hipsters wearing metro tight jeans, shirts with patches, biking to a Bright Eyes concert.  They’re commonly known as a “murse”, or manpurse.   Or as Seinfield says, “A European Carry All!”

Being the gift buying procrastinator that I am didn’t grant me sufficient time to mull about Buffalo Exchange or other area consignment stores.  Fortunately a poster over on the “Your Choice” branch of Lonely Planet suggested Manhattan Portage.  Turns out they had exactly what I was looking for, and a plethora of other cool urban transport gear.

They carry a selection of backpacks, shoulder bags, “murses”, and laptop bags.  Not only are their styles unique, but their service is exception.  I called them up Friday to inquire about next day shipping, and after confirming it could be arranged my order was taken right over the phone, and I was guided to style and color suggestions for my recipient.  (Rather than being directed back to the web.)  Personal service like that deserves a plug.  Plus messenger and organizational stuff like that is just too sexy.

Their site is manhattanportage.com  And their retail store is at 258 Elizabeth Street, NYC.

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Back in April I gave Java Creek a plug as my favorite new local coffee shop. I’m running a “post repeat” as I love them so much.

Starbucks is raising their coffee prices again. I’m not a Starbucks hater - I’ll visit them on occasional if straying from my morning routine. But if you live in downtown Denver there’s many many other places to go. Or perhaps you’re still upset that your local Deidrich location at 9th and Downing or 12th and Clayton has now become a greedy Daz Bog? I still am. Go visit Java Creek at 2nd and Columbine. It’s a great place to crank up, or wind down and relax.

Independently owned and operated, they have an excellent selection of coffee, salads, breakfasts, and fresh sandwiches. That’s “FRESH” made sandwiches. Not the kind that are mummified in plastic two days prior and sit in a display case white the mayo and cheese to congeals together. Java Creek has big tables, a sunny sidewalk patio, funky mugs, and a wonderful vibe.

With Starbucks prices rising it’s never been a better time to support your indy coffee shop.

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Did you know that a company called Freshpair sells a pair of underwear with an iPod holder?   Brilliant!  I think it’s a fun item.  And I’m not being sarcastic.  Perfect for these hot sticky days when you just want to laze around in your tighty whities.  Or maybe share an earbud while cuddling in front of the fire with your sweetheart.  Anyway this company sells some cool and sexy gear - and for a gift I recently ordered a pair of iPod underwear.  

Along with my order came a flyer encouraging me to celebrate this year’s 5th annual “National Underwear Day” on August 7th.  Of course the hot models adorning the flyer caused me to give it a second glance.  From Freshpair.com

Founded in August 2003, National Underwear Day is an event that evokes the care-free attitude of Sixties ‘happenings’, when free spirits took control of public spaces as venues for their art, their message. Our message at Freshpair is the belief that underwear deserves a lot more recognition than it gets. Americans spend more than $13 billion on intimate apparel each year and for that kind of money, we feel it is our duty to tell the world. With National Underwear Day, we’ve taken underwear out of the dresser drawer and into the streets - by sending twenty male and female models out clad only in our finest undergarments.

Now that’s unnecessarily verbose copy.  And come on’.   Is anyone really sold on “National Underwear Day?”  You can’t blame companies for developing new marketing concepts.  But a healthy cynic like myself sees “National Underwear Day” for exactly what it is:   An ad campaign.   I’m all for showing off hot models in underwear.  No complaints there.  But do you really need to elevate sexy clothing to something to that level of importance? 

In the heat of Manhattan summer, our underwear ambassadors wander through heavily-trafficked locales modeling some of today’s hottest brands for unsuspecting - yet pleasantly surprised - shoppers, tourists and die-hard New Yorkers who think they’ve ’seen it all’…until now. More than just eye candy, our models conducted various surveys on undergarment choices and asked people to sign a petition which urges official recognition of this underwear-honoring day.

Official recognition?  Official by who?   The government? Hallmark?  Calendar makers?   Who and where exactly would you turn in a pile petition to in order to nationalize underwear day?  If a hot model in underwear came up to you on the street and requested you fill out a petition would you do it?  Yeah I would too.  But I’ll bet the petitions make a beeline for the dumpster after their names are harvested into the marketing database.  If anyone at Freshpair would like to correct me I’m more than willing to listen - even better how about the guys pictured below come over to my house and explain it to me.

Despite the grandiose self promoting dumb campaign I like their selection and site.   They sell pajamas, swimwear, full figured mens and womens, and of course a huge selection of men’s supergay underwear and t-shirts.   Plus an iPod holder for your underwear?  Ingenious.

Check them out at freshpair.com

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I was e-mailed the link to Clark and Michael this morning.  Michael Cera is the 19 year old actor who played “George Michael” on Arrested Development.  If you haven’t seen Arrested Development put it in your Netflix que already.  The subtle humor, weighted references, and physical comedy are top notch.  And of course it’s been said over and over this show deserved to continue much longer than the three seasons it aired on FOX.

Michael Cera and Clark Duke have created a series of webisodes documenting their fictitious life of pitching projects and attempting to climb the ladder of Hollywood.  They play the part of many people I’ve met while living in L.A. for five years:  Overly confident screenwriters who are certain their scripts and “projects” merit the highest of attention.  Between meetings with agents they engage in the most mundane of daily activities.  I love the scenes set at the laundromat.

There are 10 episodes so far.  I love the “Perfect Strangers” type opening.  Clark Duke’s cocky attitude combined with Michael Cera’s nervous adolescent appearance and hilarious facial mannerisms make these two a hilarious comedic duo.

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This is a highly interesting and excellent debate about Web 2.0 and the explosion of self published critics, musicians, and musers at large.  More importantly it’s about the general public, as in US, being able to FIND these people and exchange thoughts and ideas with them.

Andrew Keen, author of “The Cult of the Amateur: How Today’s Internet is Killing Our Culture,” argues that the web is filled to the brim with useless noise, and says to let the professional critics disseminate our daily stockpile of news and entertainment.  David Weinberger argues that within the noise and chaos of Web 2.0 there ARE talented individuals worth acknowledging, and while they may not be recognized in any field whatsoever - their information is as valuable as a newspaper critic.

Andrew Keen makes some excellent points, but I tend to side with Weinberger .  Gen X and Y are savvy, smart, and know how to filter through the mountain of shit in order to find what they want online.  And they know when crap is crap.  No one is arguing Will Ferrell’s landlord video is anything close to with Citizen Kane.  No one is suggesting that because a million videos of dancing hamster exist that we as a society are eschewing Shakespear.  On the net there are consistent gems of logic, reason, and dissent worth reading.  For example a favorite site of mine, The Consumerist, let’s customers put companies on trial for their misdoings.  Like the local TV station’s “Troublefinder”, only EVERYONE can do it.  I especially like Weinberger’s response to “Let the professionals guide us”

The mainstream media’s business model does not aim at nurturing talent. It aims at moving units. It therefore does exactly what you complain the Web does: It panders to the market. If you want to see the “democratization” of talent you fear, just look at a Top 40 chart…

It’s a lengthy exchange but worth a read.  I copied the original article below as the link will expire shortly.  p.s. Support net neutrality!

Wall Street Journal Article Below:

The Good, the Bad, And the ‘Web 2.0′
July 18, 2007

The explosion of blogs, social networks and video-sharing sites has allowed any Internet user to become a journalist or filmmaker or music star. But is this democratization of information — often called Web 2.0 — the future of the Internet or a looming disaster? The Wall Street Journal’s Jamin Brophy-Warren invited the authors of two recent high-profile books on the subject to debate. Andrew Keen, who wrote “The Cult of the Amateur,” argues the Web has become overwhelmed with useless noise. David Weinberger, author of “Everything is Miscellaneous,” argues that Web 2.0 tools let users filter out irrelevant (or inaccurate) information. A condensed version of their discussion, carried out over email, is below. (You can read the full text here.)

Andrew Keen is author of “The Cult of the Amateur: How Today’s Internet is Killing Our Culture.” He is an Internet entrepreneur who founded Audiocafe.com in 1995 and worked at several Silicon Valley start-ups. He is the founder and CEO of afterTV LLC, a consulting firm, and writes a blog here. 

David Weinberger is author of “Everything is Miscellaneous: The Power of the New Digital Disorder” and co-author of “Cluetrain Manifesto.” He worked as a marketing consultant and executive at several tech companies, including Interleaf and Open Text. He is a fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Center and writes blogs here and here.

Mr. Keen begins: So what, exactly, is Web 2.0? It is the radical democratization of media which is enabling anyone to publish anything on the Internet. Mainstream media’s traditional audience has become Web 2.0’s empowered author. Web 2.0 transforms all of us — from 90-year-old grandmothers to eight-year-old third graders — into digital writers, music artists, movie makers and journalists. Web 2.0 is YouTube, the blogosphere, Wikipedia, MySpace or Facebook. Web 2.0 is YOU! (Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2006).

What do you think? Has the Internet become overrun with useless noise? Or does Web 2.0 give citizens access to a depth of information never available before? Join the discussion.Is Web 2.0 a dream or a nightmare? Is it a remix of Disney’s “Cinderella” or of Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”? Have we — as empowered conversationalists in the global citizen media community — woken up with the golden slipper of our ugly sister (aka: mainstream media) on our dainty little foot? Or have we — as authors-formerly-know-as-the-audience — woken up as giant cockroaches doomed to eternally stare at our hideous selves in the mirror of Web 2.0?

(more…)

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From Gizmodo.com   Some pictures of the Google street fleet.   These Chevy Colbalts’s have 360 cameras mounted on the roof, and will cruise down neighborhoods and arterials while snapping pictures in every direction.

So far only primary streets in major cities have been photographed, (with much controversy at first.) Personally I’m all for it. I’m guarded about my privacy. I check my credit reports, keep a separate mailbox address, but photography on public streets isn’t a violation. It’s the same whether you’re snapping a photo of a local landmark for yourself and Grandma to see, or sharing it with the entire planet.

The fact I can “walk down” major cities right from my desk is cool. It’s what the internet was made for.  Just like the commercials for communications companies that idealistically show a classroom in middle America sharing lesson plans with kids in Japan.

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I missed this great cycling advocacy article from Time Magazine back in late May.   It highlights communities that are investing nominal funds for cycling infrastructure.  These include bike parking, repair stations, and changing facilities near business areas or downtowns.  Combined with a healthy public attitude these encourage more people to bike to work and for regular errands.

A similar facility for Denver commuters is the outstanding Cherry Creek Bike Rack, run by Campus Cycles, at 2nd and Detroit.  Living nearby I’ve stopped in many times en route to work for some air or a quick adjustment.

My only negative thought about large “mega hub” bike complexes is that if they require an ADDITIONAL cumbersome step to get to work then they won’t be used. Reading about Chicago’s “Cycle Center” leads me to believe it’s quite extravagant.   (I’d love to hear from people that use it, I plan on checking it out during my next visit.)  But not everyone follows the same route to work.  I certainly wouldn’t park at a “hub” if my office was another half mile away.  I want to go to work, not a garage and then another walk or train ride.  To me four to six small bike stations spread around a business district or office parks would be more beneficial than a single giant “hub.”

In addition to bike commuter stations it’s necessary for office buildings and employers to provide ample bike parking on site.  They need to embrace cycling, and not equate a bunch of bikes in front with poor college kids. (As is the attitude of the Denver Tech Center, which limits the number of bike racks.)     However overall these bike hubs are a great concept and a step in the right direction.  Hopefully more communities large and small will embrace these type of “hubs.”

 Time Magazine Article from May 24 below:

Using a bicycle to get around has always been a bittersweet proposition in Southern California. Sure, it’s eco-friendly, an excellent cardio workout and a pleasant alternative to snail’s-pace public transportation, gridlocked freeways and king’s-ransom gas prices. The drawback is finding a convenient, theft-proof parking spot. “When you can find a safe parking spot on the street, it’s often 100 feet or more from your destination; and if there is secure bike parking, it’s usually behind the building near the weeds next to a trash dumpster,” says Russ Roca, a local photographer who doesn’t own a car and hauls up to 200 pounds of equipment on his bike’s trailer attachment. “Bike riders are treated like social pariahs and second-class citizens.”

But that may be starting to change. Long Beach has pioneered the creation of commuter-biking hubs offering valet parking, showers and repair services, and other cities in California and elsewhere in the U.S. are beginning to take note. “The concept is growing fast and helping bike commuting move from an invisible subculture to an organized pursuit that’s part of the fabric of everyday urban life,” says John Case, a retired real estate financier who brought the Bikestation concept from Europe to Long Beach in 1996. Its popularity prompted public agencies and private groups in San Francisco, Berkeley, Palo Alto and Seattle have followed suit. The city of Santa Monica provides free valet parking on Sundays outside the farmer’s market. The city of Chicago and McDonald’s built their own Cycle Center in Millennium Park three years ago. And earlier this month, the mayor of Santa Barbara, home to 5,000 daily bike commuters, cut the ribbon on the newest Bikestation, an $80,000 self-parking garage inside an auto parking garage, offering showers, a changing area and a bathroom for fee-paying members. Bike parking centers in Pasadena, Santa Monica and San Diego also are in the works.

(more…)

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Yes we are still writing need to start writing our trip reports from Munich and the Czech Republic. I’m sure my seven regular readers are disappointed at not seeing a ton of great pictures from my snazzy drop down menus above. But it’s easier to post bits and fragments from various places we visited as I have time.

Among them? Prague’s Pivovarsky Dum Restaurant and Pub. After arriving in Prague tired from a day of traveling, as well as an unexpected train change, (a reason to check back for that story,) we arrived Prague’s main station and took the metro to Miss Sophie’s Hotel in Prague 2.

I had been looking forward to eating a hearty Czech meal and sample some beer. The girl at the front desk told us to walk a few blocks toward the river to the Pivovarsky Dum. We were seated family style, meaning you and your chair share a large table with other diners. Everyone there was in a great mood, and a boisterous Dominoes game was in progress a few tables away.

I had read about Czech food before I left, which is basically summed up by meat meat and more meat. I eat healthy at home, but love indulging in some more fattening plates now and then. Plus when you’re traveling you’re usually walking most of the day, so it’s well justified. Check out part of their dinner menu: It’s typical of most restaurants in the region. The prices are in Czech Crowns, and the two prices represent the two portion sizes.

CZECH CUISINE CLASSICS

*Brewer´s Goulash with Bohemian Dumplings 115 185
Roast Pork with Bohemian Dumplings and Sauerkraut 115 185
Beef in Candelsauce with Bohemian Dumplings 115 185
*Drinker´s Zesty Pork Medallions with Rice 115 185
Wiener Schnitzel with Potatoes 115 185
*Pork with Thyme in Beer Gravy with Spaetzles 115 185
Bohemian Platter 115 185
(Roast and smoked pork, sauerkraut, red cabbage)
Potato Dumplings Stuffed with Smoked Pork, Sauerkraut 115 155
Venison Fillet in Cranberry Sauce, Bohemian Dumplings 165 255
Hunter´s Roll with Potato Pancakes and Red Cabbage 165 255
Venison Ragout on Red Wine, Potato Croquettes 165 255
Rabbit with Garlic, Potato Dumplings and Spinach 165 255
*Maltster´s Rabbit, Spaetzles 165 255I had the Bohemian dumplings and sauerkraut the first night, and roast pork the second. A fine food connoisseur I am not, but eating this hearty fare and putting down the (way too easy to drink) beers was a perfect way to wrap up a long day of traveling through the German and Czech countryside.

Pivovarsky Dum is at Jecna Lipova 15 120 44 Praha 2. Phone 296 216 666 pivodum@iol.cz They’re open from 11:30am to 11:30pm

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I attended Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo yesterday.  As with every Cirque du Soleil show it was a fascinating blend of gymnastics, costumes, emotion, live music, and humor. I preferred the ethereal and emotional music of Alegria over Corteo, however the gymnastics and athletic feats of Corteo were jaw dropping as always. 

Corteo is the story of a clown imagining his own funeral.  The weight of the theme is balanced out by the beauty of his thoughts, humorous reflections from boyhood to present, and the parade of characters involved.

I also loved the self deprecating humor in which Corteo subtly displays.  Cirque du Soleil knows their shows are seen by some as overly bizarre and abstract.    Corteo’s host references the audience with third wall jokes, and during a scene in which a remote controlled spotlight chases a dancer around they make light of the technical aspect by “losing control” of the robot after it develops a mind of it’s own.

The most favored scene by all was watching a little person float through the arena under six large helium balloons, and gracefully make her way over the audience, enchanting them in the process.  The Epoch Times writes:

The most poignant act was simple. The Giant Clown and a little woman playing a child embraced. Then she flew away under giant white helium balloons. She wafted over the audience, subtly expressing delight, humor, apprehension, exploration. He watched with paternal care. As she sank toward the audience, she indicated she wanted a gentle boost for her feet. Audience members pushed her up and forward as one plays with a single balloon. The vignette seemed to talk about the tensions of parenthood—caring and letting go. It was suspenseful.

Corteo is in Denver until August 5th, then on to Los Angeles and Orange County for the remainder of the year.

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I wrote about Steve Horner back in January. Steve Horner is on a quest to abolish “ladies night promotions” in local bars and clubs under the trumped up guise of equal rights and discrimination.  The amusing part is that he’s a bitter, divorced, sad looking troll who probably couldn’t get any even IF the ladies were trashed off free drinks.  Ironically he also apparently hawks books on child rearing and family.  Steve was kind enough to comment and label me as a sexually depraved moron, while completely eschewing any logic or discussion of his issues.    (p.s. I’m not normally the name caller, but my attempts at logic back in January failed miserably.)

Also back in January Dan made a comment on my blog that he had received a phone call from Steve after posting his contrary views on several blogs, including mine.  This mirrored what was written in the Westword this week: Dissenters and those writing to newspapers and blogs about Steve’s moronic stance have been receiving argumentative PHONE CALLS from Steve himself!  Here’s Dan’s comment:

When I e-mailed Steve about his one man’s anti-ladies night crucade ended up getting so agitated that he actually ended up calling me at HOME (can you say “psycho”?) and challenged me to a fight! As tempting as it was for me to meet this clown and give him the ass kicking he so very much deserves, I realized that the cons far outweighed the pros.

Now in follow up to this June 28th Westword article the Westword has warned writers not to publish their names, as Steve Horner may track them down for a lengthy agitating phone discussion. Or perhaps a knock on your front door.  Ugh.  Fiendishly creepy!  Here are the July 12th issue comments

Editor’s note: Would that we could. Westword will be seeing Steve Horner in court next month because of one of those filings. In the meantime, letter-writers be warned: Stephen Crout is not the only one to report a dialed-in diatribe. The letter writer who requested that her name be withheld last week did so because she, too, was the recipient of a call from Horner after her letter on a subject unrelated to ladies’ night (not that there is such a thing, as far as Horner is concerned) was published in Westword.

What a fucking idiot.  In the public forum of Letters to editors, blogs, Web 2.0, and all similar community exchanges there’s an unspoken etiquette that a comment and opinion can be voiced and propagated without the details of your person being harvested and further exploited.  For example in my recent post on Andrew and Joshua I picked apart their highly personal blog to no end, but that’s a PUBLIC internet space. I would NEVER violate their private lives via phone, or further attempt to interact with any stranger beyond the public spaces of print and internet exchange.  Steve Horner not only fails at handling the concept of marriage, but is obviously lost on basic people skills as well.   But what else do you except from a bitter Kirk Van Houten clone? (Hey I tried to reason with him in my last post, but name calling is the only language that works…)

In the meantime if you’d like to give Steve Horner a ring -  surprise,  his number is:  303-721-6281

Or stop by his bachelor pad at the Summit Ridge Apartments: 

8330 E. Quincy Avenue, A307
Denver, Colorado 80237

Judge must have granted wifey and kids the house after she explained how much time Steve spent cruising the bars monitoring the alcohol transactions of females.

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I never knew this place was here until last week when a co-worker clued me in to the enormous selection of English beers and ales here at Pints Pub.   We tracked it down for dinner Saturday evening and had a great dinner out on the front porch.

Located in a large old house at 13th and Cherokee, (only a few blocks west of the main library and museum), Pint’s Pub offers traditional English food such as Shepard’s Stews and “Wimpys”, as well as fish and chips and vegetarian plates.   It was a light crowd early Saturday afternoon, and I got a chance to check out the British decor scattered about the old house.  (Don’t restaurants in houses just feel more welcoming and cozy?)

My favorite?  The light Airdale Ale.  Visit them and check out the multitude of Whiskeys and Ales available.  One of the largest selections in the city for sure. 

More at Pintspub.com  Photos from Classic City Brew.com  (Check them out too for a detailed list of brewpubs nationwide)

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Being a proud Nintendo Wii owner, (ok it’s Caleb’s, not mine),  I’ve practiced the new concept of remote interaction through actually moving my hand and arm, and not just punching remote buttons with my thumb.   This new device will allow you to ditch the remote, and use for hands for basic functions.  And no more digging through the cushions for the remote! From UK’s Daily Mail:

Daily Mail Article below: 

It sounds like the perfect invention for all those couch potatoes who find even using a remote control just a little too much like hard work.  Scientists have come up with a box that lets television viewers change channels, switch on the DVD player or switch off an irritating presenter with the wave of a hand. The controller’s built-in camera can recognise seven simple hand gestures and work with up to eight different gadgets around the home.

Not only will it be a godsend for lazy viewers, it could also save hours of fruitless scrabbling among the sofa in search of the remote control.  The all-seeing wave controller is the brainchild of Australian engineers Dr Prashan Premaratne and Quang Nguyen.  They believe it could be on sale within three years, ending the frustration involved in finding and using remote controls.  Dr Premaratne, of the University of Wollongong, said: “We all rely on remote controls to manage an increasing number of items including TVs, set-top boxes, DVDs and hi-fis, and the range of goods will continue to increase.
(more…)

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Hinduism is the religion of billions of people, including a vast quantity that reside in America.  Every day prayers to “Our father in Heaven”, and “Our Lord Jesus Christ” are spouted off at government functions from all corners of the country. (Except San Francisco, where prayers are made to whichever drag queens are sober enough to represent their districts at 8am.)  

In a rare occasion Hindu chaplain Rajan Zed offered a traditional Hindu prayer for the Senate today, and was immediately heckled and screamed at by a group of “Christian activists.” (Whatever the hell that means.) 

If this doesn’t make you embarrassed to be a Christian then you obviously haven’t removed your head from the sand.  Loving, peaceful, true in spirit my ass.  How about nasty, crass, self righteous and bigoted.    I don’t label myself with any religion, but in viewing this I’m sad and embarrassed for myself and my country.

Wait wait I’m getting to that:  Yes I know that not all Christians are like this, but to the content and accepting Christians:  Get off your ass and do something about it.  Go have a peaceful sit in or an inter-denominational celebrity dinner or something.  The people that hijack your good Jesus’ name and harness it for their quest of political and theological domination of our country are driving you further and further off the grid.   THIS is society’s view of Christians.  That SHOULD piss you off.

And to the scumbags hassling Rajan Zed?  Perhaps you might shut the fuck up for a jif and listen to what he has to say.  He may not label himself as “christian”, but he follows the teachings you claim dictate your life to a higher standard than you ever will.  

Brietbart article: 

Three people were arrested Thursday after staging a noisy protest as a Hindu chaplain read the opening prayer at the US Senate, branding his appearance an “abomination.”

US Capitol Police said the protestors, apparently Christian religious activists, were ejected from the chamber and charged with an unlawful disruption of Congress.

As Hindu chaplain Rajan Zed started to recite his prayer, one protestor was heard chanting “Lord Jesus, forgive us father for allowing a prayer which is an abomination in your sight.

“You are the one, true living God.”

Faith leaders from various creeds are sometimes invited to give the Senate’s daily opening prayer, though it is normally offered by the chamber’s Christian chaplain.

The pressure group Americans United for Separation of Church and State condemned the protest.

“This shows the intolerance of many Religious Right activists,” said the group’s executive director, Reverend Barry Lynn.  “They say they want more religion in the public square, but it’s clear they mean only their religion.”

The conservative American Family Association had been campaigning against the use of a Hindu prayer in the chamber, asking members to send emails and letters to Senators in protest.

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If you’ve never heard Alaska Senator Ted Steven’s “Series of Tubes” rant last year head over to YouTube and search it.  Even though Senator Stevens understands the simple concepts, he explains the logic and chain in a completely incorrect manner - and even though he’s probably a nice guy, his manner of speaking is abrasive and belligerent, akin to your old coot neighbor yelling at you to get off his lawn.

“I just the other day got an internet sent my by staff, but it got tangled up with all the commercial internet things.”

Now The consumerist posted this recent CSPAN audio clip of Ted Stevens inquiring about whether or not his land line can share a phone number for home, internet, and VOIP.  I have no idea who is answering his demanding questions, but I admire his patience.  Especially when Senator Stevens says he wants to ride his motorcycle while using wireless.

“Why shouldn’t I be able to say ah by just a little switch on my phone at home as wire I’m goin’ off the wireless I wanna use this as I ride my motorcycle.”

I hope he’s paying his grandson well to keep his Hewlett Packard in tip-top shape.  Take a listen:  

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