Head Slapper of the Week

I ran into a story that in the past week that pictures of a Florida church are making the rounds on the internet for an 'interesting' reason.  Take a look:

The Church by the Sea in Madeira Beach, Florida has been called the 'Chicken Church' for some reason.  Officials at the church obviously do not appreciate the tourist taking pictures, but not worshiping.

Sometimes the building is what it is.  Three Head Slaps.

An Exhibit that Brought Back Memories

I was driving home from Minneapolis this week when I saw a banner hanging in front of the Minnesota History Center a few blocks from my home that displayed the following:

Now that got my mind spinning (which may be a good or bad thing depending on your point of view and the time of day).  I've always been interested in the Civil War for as long as I remembered.  


In fact,  when I spent a year in DC after Carleton,  I recalled reading my favorite history book around that time, The Battle Cry of Freedom:

After reading this book,  I really became interested in the different sites of the Civil War.   On weekends I would drive my car (a Suburu, not a Prius) to different sites of the Civil War.  I've also tried to find sites when I'm visiting the area.  I've been to the following places:

Gettysburg

Antietam (Yes, Mr. Dickey, I know it's Sharpsburg)

Harper's Ferry

Bull Run (Yes, Mr. Dickey, I know it's Manassas)

The Wilderness

Incidentally,  during the Battle in The Wilderness,  Stonewall Jackson got wounded and had his arm amputated.  The arm was buried at The Wilderness.  I learned about this fact from my economics professor (now Beloit College President) when I was a Carleton student.  So while at the Wilderness I decided to find the buried arm, and I did at this location.

I immediately called my professor's home onsite and his first reaction when I told him on the phone was "Ohhh, you found it! I'm so so proud of you."  Memories.

Oh,  I did also visit the Confederate White House too.   After all, I'm Mellow Yellow.

There is so many great historical facts about the Civil War that I'm always interested in learning more about it.  Minnesota actually does have actual Civil War history from the Civil War.  From the account in The Battle Cry of Freedom,  the 1st Minnesota had a valuable part at Gettysburg.  It was the only regiment that Major General Winfield Scott Hancock had delay a Confederate Alabama brigade from puncturing the Union's defense line at Cemetery  Ridge.  Well, Hancock ordered the 1st Minnesota to charge the Confederate brigade so he could get enough time for reinforcements to arrive.  The 1st Minnesota did just that, all 262 of them charged against 1,600 Alabamans  and got the job done and the Confederate threat was snuffed out by twilight.  Only 47 1st Minnesota infantry  survived the charge, but they did eventually pick up the flag of the 28th Virginia Infantry to bring back to Minnesota and it hasn't been returned since.  

I guess I could go on and on about my affinity for Civil War history,  but I think I should just go to the Minnesota History Center exhibit and satiate my curiosity.  You probably should too.

Gophers beat Indiana!! Shaka Who?!!

The Minnesota Golden Gophers Men's basketball upset Indiana, the #1 ranked team in the country.  Folks were excited!!

Update:  I've been asked if this was the most thrilling sports event that I have attended in person.  No!  The following even is the most thrilling sports event that I have attended in person:

Go 'Dogs!

Head Slapper of the Week

I ran across this video of Master Cannon, apparently one who is promoting Unitarianism in a unique perverted form.   I don't know what is more disturbing, the message or the delivery of the message.

Cultish?  I would say so.     Three Head Slaps.

A Year Later

As you know as readers of this blog,  since December 2011 I committed myself to losing weight and improving my health.  Well, this past week I was at my regular check-in at Medifast and they told me that it was about a year ago that I reached my goal weight of 170 pounds from around 200 pounds.  Actually, today I'm down to around 155 pounds, so I've continued to lost about 45 pounds via the Medifast plan.  Need proof, here it is:

A picture of me at the Big Ten basketball tournament in March 2011:

Kind a thick chin there, don't you think?

Now,  a picture of me at the Big Ten basketball tournament in March 2012:

Difference?  You be the judge.

I feel better, I'm in better shape and have notably more energy now than I did back at 200 pounds.   Hopefully with the Almighty's help I can maintain this commitment to health.  

Head Slapper (Video) of the Week

Talk about about passing the bacon:

Need I say more?   Two Head Slaps.

Gong Hei Fat Choi!!

As a public pronouncement,  we are currently in the middle of Chinese New Year, which is a big, big deal in China and Southeast Asia.  It's a mixture of a cultural and a mythical-based festival that has been around for centuries.  This past weekend I drove up to Duluth with two boxes of live lobsters for the large feast on the beginning of Chinese New Year.  Based on what I heard from the boxes driving up, I don't think the lobsters appreciated the ride.

Here's the "mythology" behind Chinese New Year.

"According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nian (Chinese: 年; pinyin: Nián). Nian would come on the first day of New Year to eat livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nian ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people. One time, people saw that the Nian was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nian was afraid of the color red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian. From then on, Nian never came to the village again. The Nian was eventually captured by Hongjun Laozu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nian became Hongjun Laozu's mount.^[10]"



I have to say I don't believe in mythology, but I do enjoy the fellowship and a feast that includes a whole lot of seafood and meat. Folks have told me I need some protein.  I confess that also do not deny the red envelopes offered to me.

By the way, for those who are interested, this is currently seen as the Year of the Snake.

So as they say in Cantonese:  Gong Hei Fat Choi! (Happy New Year!)