Gorgeous Man-Made Ice Geyser - Duluth, MN

Photo by Nathan Carlsen (Duluth, Minnesota / Smithsonian.com) / Source / Via (NSFW)

This photo was one of 50 finalists in the 2012 Smithsonian Magazine photography contest.

The Massive Lightning Strike at a Rangers'/Twins Game

Video Screencap

During the 4th inning of the Texas Rangers' game vs. the Minnesota Twins on July 8, 2012, a storm produced a thunder-clap that freaked-out everyone on the field like I've never seen before. I had one of these the other night at home that caused me to seriously worry about going outside to get a lawn mower out of a truck bed. I can totally relate to these players & umpires.

Here is the video. (Courtesy MLB)

Spurs Update

I forgot to post about the Spurs vs. T-Wolves game Wednesday. It seems that it's the losses or the easier wins that I forget. Another reason that I fell into that trap is the entire Spurs Nation has been waiting for our first back-to-back-to-back, which started tonight. It wasn't much of a contest, but what did you expect?

This Minnesota team is just not the same without Ricky Rubio, who was lost for the season a few weeks back because of a torn ACL. They were also playing without Nikola Pekovic (ankle issues). But these things will likely help this team in the future, as it provides good game-minutes for first round
Image Source (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

pick Derrick Williams, and time for JJ Barea to mesh with this team a little more. It was never really in doubt as we jumped out to a 32-16 lead after 1-Q, and withstood a sub-par 2nd-Q to lead by 9 at the half.

Learning that Tony Parker was feeling tightness in a hamstring, the rest of the squad would have to play without him for 2½ quarters, as Pop chose to retire him for the evening. But welcoming Stephen Jackson back to SA in his first home game was easy, and Pop's challenge would be met.. quickly, as the Spurs went on a 20-8 3rd-Q run to take control for good. We would lead by as much as 27, but finished of the WIN 116-100. (Here's ESPN's boxscore..)

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Just a few hours ago the Spurs began their first back-to-back-to-back of the season at home vs. the Dallas Mavericks, after having just played them in Dallas on St. Patrick's Day. Parker is in street clothes, as expected, but so is Tiago Splitter (unexpected back spasms). It was only yesterday that we learned of the signing of former Trailblazer Patty Mills, and then just today Boris Diaw was signed after being bought-out (given up on by) Charlotte. Wow!

So with this turn of events, and no "real" PGs, Manu would start the game, and Gary Neal would be his back-up at the "point". I say it that way because Manu's almost a PG anyway. That can't be said about too many shooting guards in the league. It was defense, however, by
Image Source (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

both teams that was the theme of the 1st-Q. Our youngsters were providing the home spark early in this one, as a DeJuan Blair dunk & jumper would close out the 1st 24-21.

Offenses would pick up markedly in the next stanza. Bonner would hit 3 threes, and then here comes Boris Diaw. Literally hours from being in Charlotte, the guy hits the floor for us! Gotta love Pop. Green, Kawhi and Diaw together would spark the crowd with key defensive stops, and a 52-45 halftime lead.

As is the case sometimes, Spurs came out FLAT for the 3rd. We failed to share the basketball; Mavs made key changes on offense; and there was too much standing around on offense. The 15-4 Mavs run put us behind 63-58, but after a timeout, Bonner & Neal would hit some quick easy ones after great stops, followed by Diaw's first points as a Spur. Then with the game tight and the crowd tense, both Manu and Neal would hit critical threes. 70-63 after 3-Qs. So after their 15-4 run, we ended the 3rd on a 12-0 run.

But we weren't finished. Just as soon as the 4th-Q clock went from 12:00 to 11:59, Jackson, Manu, and Green would add 10 more to Jason Terry's 2 to complete a 22-2 run, and a lead of 80-65. Both Terry's and Dirk's frustration were becoming obvious as Terry was swiping randomly at balls, and Dirk even complained about Kawhi's defense one too many time for a quick technical. We held Dirk to 5 of 21 shooting, 16 pts. and 2 boards. Nice! They would come to within 11, but it was our relentless defense, and scrappy play that led us to a wonderful 104-87 WIN. Heck, Eric Dawson even came in and recorded 6 pts. on 3-3
Image Source (Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE)

shooting and also had a sweet block.

Six guys in double figures (two more with 8). Total team effort. Super defensive display, and a statement game that evened the season series 2-2. The biggest difference between this game and the one last Saturday was on the boards. Timmy pulled down 12, Kawhi & Jackson grabbed 8, and Manu had 7, as we out-rebounded them 54-34! Huge fix right there.. Kudos, gentlemen! Here's the ESPN boxscore..

One more thing. Last week when I learned of the Jefferson/Jackson trade, I was like "Ehh, I see that it saves us a lot of money, but ehhh...". Then I learn the deal for Patrick Mills is going through. Realizing with TJ Ford's retirement, and Cory Joseph just not taking shape yet, I was still like "Ehh - I guess that's OK". Today when I heard they pulled the trigger on grabbing Boris Diaw, with whom one of the worst teams in the league became disinterested, I was again like "Hmm... ehh.. I guess he's a big body we need. But ehh.."

It only took a game and a half for Jack. I don't miss RJ at all. You can count on Stephen to score the basketball. You can count on him to mix things up on defense, and make things happen. And he's been here before - he knows. Then Diaw does a 1-day turnaround, and I'm already impressed with his poise inside. I've been saying all along that we've needed an experienced BIG to help out. And you know what? He's also a pretty good ball player too. Then Pop finally puts Eric Dawson in to show what he can do, and what do you know. He does NOTHING BUT produce. Has anyone ever gone 3-3 with 6 pts. and a block in just over a minute?

Well done, Spurs.. Well done!

Spurs Update

Friday night the Spurs were in Minnesota for a little revenge against the scrappy young T-Wolves team we were playing when Manu broke his hand. No, I'm certainly not placing any blame here, but they did put it to us pretty good in that game (Jan. 2), 106-96, shooting 58%.. including 57% from three (12 of 21).

Fast forward to tonight. This game went pretty much as you'd expect. Both teams played great defense, as neither team allowed the other to get on too much of a run at any one time. Spurs jumped out to the early 10-2 lead, which was 22-21 by the

Image Source (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

end of the 1st Q. Sets of 4-6 point runs seemed to be the theme in this one, as that early 8-point lead was our largest.

• 31-27, Spurs.. Minnesota timeout.. 36-33, Wolves.. timeout Spurs. Halftime was 42-41, San Antonio.

• 49-44, Wolves.. Spurs' timeout.. Then back & forth throughout most of the third. Not sloppy, turnover-wise, nor bad-shots, just good defense. But Nikola Pekovic was owning us on the low block, for some reason, and it seemed like Tony & Tim were the only ones who could get shots to fall. Tied at 64 after 3 Qs.

Timberwolves pulled away by 6 early in the 4th, countered by Parker making 7 straight for us. Then Pekovic continued more of what he started in the 3rd Q. I'm guessing he took us a little by surprise, as it didn't seem like we were quite prepared for him. A Gary Neal three put us ahead 79-77 with 3:32 left, but then the Spurs decided to go cold. We missed our last 7 shots...

It boiled down to the T-Wolves simply executing better down the stretch.. They scored 10 more to finish us off 87-79. The LOSS could be attributed to the fact that we didn't seem to share the basketball nearly enough tonight (17 assists on 31 FGs, 55%). Compare this to our game vs. Atlanta 2 days ago (29 assists on 42 buckets.. 69%). With Minnesota's execution in the last 4 minutes, I have to give them all the credit. Simple as that.

Tops: Love 18p & 16r.. Pekovic 14p & 10r.. Rubio 18p & 10a. TP 20p &3a.. Splitter 12p & 7r.. Timmy 9p & 10r.


Next two are a back-to-back in both Dallas & Memphis - Sunday & Monday. Which game do you think Duncan will sit? I'd lean toward Dallas, since they've got a lot of players beat-up. But you never know, since right after our day of rest of Tuesday, comes another back-to-back at home against Houston & New Orleans.

Stats & quarter scoring image Via

A Nation Of Wusses

"We've become a nation of wusses. The Chinese are kicking our butt in everything," Rendell added. "If this was in China do you think the Chinese would have called off the game? People would have been marching down to the stadium, they would have walked and they would have been doing calculus on the way down." -- Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, regarding the postponement of Sunday night's Vikings/Eagles game until Tuesday night


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Source (and the rest of the story)

Minnesota's Eastern Border

Via

...totally looks like Alfred Hitchcock's profile. And no - now you can't unsee it.

Screwed By Technology

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Well it appears that Brett Favre is now pulling a Ben Roethlisberger. Or does it?

There is now something that's technologically very unique. It is the combination of Internet and incredible personal handheld machine. Of course, the cell phone. Which is now not just a phone, calendar, wristwatch, alarm clock, clock, long distance service, personal organizer, address book, roladex,

and portable answering machine. It is now something that's just as an important piece of our pocket contents as our wallet, car key, and home key. And it probably comes third.

It is now also a camera, and has also been that for some of this time. But now it is also a typewriter, instant messenger, hand held technology of the late 1990's, which used to exist on our desk. The same desk that is now analogically our desktop, or our main phone
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background.

It is also now capable of video recording, huge file storage, mass communication, large file transfers, better online capability than most computers 10 years ago... and so on.

How many mothers had their children arrested for finding a picture of theirs, which took the camera beyond so many technological thresholds? Most girls who had such a regular picture taken of them had no idea it existed, because guys were unequipped with the technology they are today. Similarly women are now able to "take advantage" of this technology as well. And it existed because of the camera first. Now it's existing all over again because of the capabilities of this new personal attachment we carry everywhere. And it's doing so for all of us in some way!

What Big Ben did was at best a misunderstood bad incedent, and at worst worthy of the punishment he received. The girl in that case was understandably somewhat lucky in that it was someone famous who did that to her. This girl in the Brett Favre investigation is lucky for that reason. But she's also lucky for a bigger reason - and that's because she and Favre worked for the same employer at the time.

This device is now becoming a major target of judicial systems everywhere - mainly due to

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texting. How much further is society gonna go before they accept the device as a major part of everyone's lives? Are they gonna make us stop eating burgers on the way to work? What about listening to the radio? Or having a soda in a cup holder next to us? You get where I'm going.

Go easy on Favre.

16,999,999 Bees Survive Crash

Via

Classless

First Alabama.. now Minnesota.

Doesn't anyone comprehend the concept of taking a knee anymore? You're the Vikings, and you're up 27-3 with 2 minutes to go in the game. It's 4th & 3, and you're at the opponents' 11 yard line. Your opponent is out of timeouts. What do you do??

Just sayin' ..