tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-101636412024-03-12T17:57:08.607-07:00Poor Immigrant's SonPoints of interest from a first generation American and son of Swiss immigrants.Hans Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063748083195729903noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-79264752764252338732010-08-30T21:46:00.000-07:002010-08-30T22:17:59.560-07:00One Of My Dad's Favorite Sayings ...... has been scientifically confirmed. <a href="http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2014332,00.html?xid=rss-topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">Research on alcohol consumption</a> found that, on average, moderate drinkers outlived heavy drinkers, who outlived non-drinkers. <br /><br />The headline, "Why Do Heavy Drinkers Outlive Non-Drinkers?" focuses on the difference between the non-drinkers and the heavy drinkers, which, of course, obliges me to quote Animal House: "My advice to you [Flounder] is to start drinking heavily." Bluto's advice is the wrong take away from this research, though. The differences between heavy and non-drinkers are not significant when you compare them to the moderate drinkers. <br /><br />The real take away, is my dad's wise advice: "Everything in moderation".Hans Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063748083195729903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-34699101881581446662010-08-30T17:53:00.000-07:002010-08-30T22:27:37.786-07:00Ndamukong Suh sets record for hardest metered football hit<object width="384" height="216" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="ESPN_VIDEO" data="http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all"><param name="movie" value="http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="wmode" value="opaque"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"/><param name="flashVars" value="id=5073955"/></object>Hans Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063748083195729903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-71405377054352608372010-08-28T13:41:00.000-07:002010-08-28T13:46:12.148-07:00A whole lot of lanternsReminds me of the 4th at the Woods... if we added 1,000 lanterns, that is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nikdaum.com/news/mai474big.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 1000px; height: 666px;" src="http://www.nikdaum.com/news/mai474big.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.nikdaum.com/news/mai474big.jpg">via</a> <a href="http://StumbleUpon.com">StumbleUpon</a>.Hans Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063748083195729903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-70942852056434970972010-08-16T06:34:00.000-07:002010-08-16T06:36:01.501-07:00On How to Live“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” - Hunter S. ThompsonHans Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063748083195729903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-52609999500468645502010-05-29T15:27:00.001-07:002010-05-29T15:37:46.713-07:00Can we have reasoned public policy without God?No. Not really. You'll have to <a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/are-there-secular-reasons/">smuggle Him in</a>, though.<br /><br />Tip of the alpenhorn to <a href="http://bradv.blogspot.com/2010/05/tim-keller-on-art-of-persuasion.html">Brad Vermurlen</a>. If you think Christians don't think, you haven't read <a href="http://bradv.blogspot.com/">Brad's blog</a>.Hans Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063748083195729903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-49388333932852419132010-05-24T09:06:00.000-07:002010-05-24T09:08:44.732-07:00For Lost Fans<a href="http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/1394.html">Joy of Tech</a> has a great graphical summary of Lost.Hans Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063748083195729903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-47690773590586423452010-05-21T19:58:00.000-07:002010-05-21T20:38:21.920-07:00What is my purpose?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">"We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him."</span><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; ">Colossians 1:15-16 The Message</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I wrote down ... "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">and finds its purpose in him" from a message at church two weeks ago. I often am puzzled about my purpose. I don't seem to fit right anywhere. I'll never find my purpose by pursuing it or by "finding myself". I can only find it in pursuing Him and asking to be part of his purposes. Everything else is blind alleys and trap doors to terror. Though all paths look promising at the start, it is not so.</span></span></span></div>Hans Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063748083195729903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-30778098321667965502010-02-23T05:13:00.000-08:002010-05-29T13:30:12.904-07:00Commas save lives.This <a href="http://www.dweebist.com/2010/01/commas/commas/">Successories-inspired poster</a> brought to you via Dweebist.com.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dweebist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/commas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.dweebist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/commas.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-90891952871151737202009-11-20T10:40:00.000-08:002009-11-20T10:47:32.627-08:00Where I've been.As much as I love travel, I've only seen a small percentage of the world. Hoepfully, my dad will complete this map and I can show you how many more places he's been than me.<br /><br /><img src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=t&chs=440x220&chtm=world&chf=bg,s,336699&chco=d0d0d0,cc0000&chd=s:9999999999&chld=USCAMXBMFRDELICHITAT" width="440" height="220" ><br/>visited 10 states (4.44%)<br/><a href="http://douweosinga.com/projects/visited?region=world">Create your own visited map of The World</a><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=t&chs=440x220&chtm=usa&chf=bg,s,336699&chco=d0d0d0,cc0000&chd=s:99999999999999999999999999999999999999&chld=AZCACOCTDEFLGAILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMONENVNHNJNMNYNCOHOKPARISCTNTXUTVTVAWVWI" width="440" height="220" ><br/>visited 38 states (76%)<br/><a href="http://douweosinga.com/projects/visited?region=usa">Create your own visited map of The United States</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-36564226429785774232009-11-13T09:38:00.000-08:002009-12-05T12:23:52.405-08:00How to play the piano like Phillip Glass<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nNiOqa1nWgI&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nNiOqa1nWgI&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I like his style of piano. I used to think I didn't like piano, but I've changed my mind about that. How about Mad World, used for a Gears of War ad. It's by Gary Jules, but is a musical cousin to Phillip Glass, no?<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ccWrbGEFgI8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ccWrbGEFgI8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-54966506654834300492009-10-28T10:22:00.000-07:002009-10-28T10:50:01.806-07:00Lucky 13My brother, Andrew Schmid, completed his 13th Detroit Free Press Marathon on October 18th. <br /><br />Andrew has a propensity for getting media attention. He was in last years highlight video and this year, he's in the audio. If you go to the <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20091019/SPORTS23/91019013/1401/Videos--Watch-the-Detroit-marathon-finish-line">FreePress Marathon page</a>, you'll hear him (at 12 seconds in) exclaim, "Relief! Relief! Just glad it's over. Train more next year". Now you have to realize he just ran a 3:20:39 marathon and ran the last mile hard to make sure he qualified for the Boston Marathon. <br /><br />He made last year's <a href="http://www.wxyz.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=15706@wxyz.dayport.com&navCatId=16">marathon highlight reel</a> on Channel 7 WXYZ, receiving his finishing medal while the reporter says, "an accomplishment they'll carry with them forever". <br /><br />I asked him about his propensity to get media attention,above thousands of potential rivals. I suggested he should try to get on Reality TV. His response "I was just filling the balloon for Bethany (his youngest)."<br /><br />Andrew's only regret this year is losing to fellow Michigan grad, and Haslett resident, Nick Stanko.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-72191324836647206892009-10-01T11:02:00.000-07:002009-10-01T11:05:30.281-07:00Watch my nephew fight crime.He's the one shown alone and then with another officer on <a href="http://www.ketv.com/video/21153609/index.html">the Omaha news</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-56095207780301074322009-08-14T13:39:00.000-07:002009-12-05T12:27:13.652-08:00Crash for ClunkersAn entertaining and creative way to deal with old cars, boats, buses, and bailers via USA Today. <br /><br /><a href="http://usat.gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-usatoday-206-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=immersiveproduction&maven_referralObject=1214814014"><blockquote>Have we ever had to digitize that many bums before?</blockquote></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-61894672107555482192009-07-11T11:20:00.000-07:002009-07-11T11:36:45.968-07:00Are ultra-endurance athletes out of their minds<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/sports/playmagazine/05robicpm.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all">That Which Does Not Kill Me Makes Me Stranger</a> is a 2006 New York Times story by DANIEL COYLE on Jure Robič, now four-time Race Across America Champion, and the brain-body fatigue system.<br /><br />Read the whole thing. For those who like excerpts, here you go.<br /><br /><blockquote>The last days are marked by hallucinations: bears, wolves and aliens prowl the roadside; asphalt cracks rearrange themselves into coded messages. Occasionally, Robic leaps from his bike to square off with shadowy figures that turn out to be mailboxes. In a 2004 race, he turned to see himself pursued by a howling band of black-bearded men on horseback.<br /><br />‘‘By the third day, we are Jure’s software,’’ says Lt. Miran Stanovnik, Robic’s crew chief. ‘‘He is the hardware, going down the road.’’<br /><br />‘‘That is our method,’’ Stanovnik says. ‘‘When Jure cannot go any more, he can still go. We must motivate him sometimes, but he goes.’’<br /><br />In this dual-brain system, Robic’s mental breakdowns are not an unwanted side effect, but rather an integral part of the process: welcome proof that the other limiting factors have been eliminated and that maximum stress has been placed firmly on the final link, Robic’s mind. While his long-term memory appears unaffected (he can recall route landmarks from year to year), his short-term memory evaporates. Robic will repeat the same question 10 times in five minutes. His mind exists completely in the present.<br /><br />From the time of Hippocrates, the limits of human exertion were thought to reside in the muscles themselves ...<br /><br />‘‘It was as if the brain was playing a trick on the body, to save it,’’ says Timothy Noakes, head of the Cape Town group. ‘‘Which makes a lot of sense, if you think about it. In fatigue, it only feels like we’re going to die. The actual physiological risks that fatigue represents are essentially trivial.’’<br /><br />Fatigue, the researchers argue, is less an objective event than a subjective emotion — the brain’s clever, self-interested attempt to scare you into stopping. The way past fatigue, then, is to return the favor: to fool the brain by lying to it, distracting it or even provoking it. <br /></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-75788685239836036062009-07-03T11:16:00.000-07:002009-08-26T19:45:21.515-07:00If you suffer from vertigo. you shouldn't go ...... to the new <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1196967/Dont-look-Terrifying-view-glass-box-balcony-jutting-skyscrapers-103rd-floor.html">Sears Tower</a> all-glass observation balcony. The imagines let you know what your getting yourself into.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-32264403491322257762009-07-03T11:13:00.000-07:002009-07-03T11:45:50.053-07:00Saluting our pyrotechincal heroesRhett and Link's salute to our <a href="http://bit.ly/XvX51">pyrotechnical heroes</a>. <br />If you can keep a straight face, I salute you, too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-55322262925650239952009-06-29T21:17:00.000-07:002009-06-30T07:19:57.448-07:00Tour de France previewEither Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador are playing major head games with the competition or they are a team torn between two lovers ... I mean, riders. I'm excited to see how this race plays out, not just for Astana but in general.<br /><br />If you'd like to follow the race on the web the <a href="http://www.letour.fr/us/homepage_horscourseTDF.html">official site</a> is a good source of information. The live ticker is nice if you can't see the action on TV. <br /><br />My favorite site is <a href="http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/">Steephill.tv</a>, though. They have links to more resources including live tickers, streaming video links, TV schedules, last kilometer and daily highlight videos, stage profiles and maps. <br /><br />The race is 21 days of racing plus 2 rest days, so if you're short on time, you can conserve time by focusing on key moments that will likely be decisive to who wins the overall competition, commonly referred to as general classification or GC. If you take the abridged approach, you will miss other aspects of the race, like competition for the king of the mountains and sprinter's jersey, and some stunning scenery, but if something exciting happens in the race, you can always watch the rebroadcast or catch it on your DVR.<br /><br />Here are the dates and stages that should have impact on the overall victory.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Mountaintop Finishes<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br />Mountaintop finishes are significant because riding is generally most aggressive when the roads turn upward and finish on top. When there is a subsequent descent, riders tend to get reeled back in on the descent or the flats after the descent.<br /><br />July 11 Barcelona (Spain) → Arcalis (Andorra) 224km<br />July 15 Pontarlier → Verbier (Switzerland) 207km<br />July 25 Montélimar → Mont-Ventoux 167km<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Time Trials</span> <br />Time trails are a race against the clock with no drafting (hiding from the wind), with the exception of course of drafting behind your teammates in the team time trial.<br />July 4 - Individual Time Trial (ITT) 15.5 km<br />July 7 - Team Time Trial (TTT) 37 km<br />July 23 - Individual Time Trial 40.5 km<br /><br />I'd love to say more but have to run. Viva le Tour.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-87444637990575802582009-06-22T08:19:00.000-07:002009-06-22T08:26:04.154-07:00FDA warns on Zicam useThe FDA is warning that Zicam can cause long term or permanent loss of smell. I know some of you are thinking, it would be OK if you smell less, but this is referring to your ability to sense scents. Here's the <a href="http://consumerist.com/5292846/fda-stop-using-zicam-nasal-gel-its-associated-with-loss-of-sense-of-smell">story</a>.<br /><br />via <a href=" http://twitter.com/noeljesse/status/2211376834">Noel's tweet</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-42849490874256863372009-06-16T12:13:00.000-07:002009-06-16T12:18:15.228-07:00Best Car Review I've Ever Seen<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_KIqdS1SO0">Top Gear ‘Thoroughly Tests’ a Ford Fiesta</a><br /><br />via <a href="http://daringfireball.net/linked/2009/06/15/top-gear">DaringFireball.net</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-51703486593463004872009-05-29T08:02:00.000-07:002009-05-29T08:10:45.373-07:00MovingThe Haslett Choirs sing this song after their final spring performance each year. It's not a traditional choral performance, they're all sitting on the floor facing the back of the stage while a slide show of captured moments of their times with HHS Choir. They invite alumni to come forward to sing along. It's a sort of send-off for the seniors. I'd cry at the performance every year if I had the courage to.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ti3EWCbtZGk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ti3EWCbtZGk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />This is not their performance of the song, but they sound very similar. It's much more powerful live, knowing the people singing it and who they are singing it to.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-83863277128583813242009-04-20T10:04:00.000-07:002009-04-20T10:08:47.941-07:00If Everything Were Maththis <a href="http://www.morenewmath.com/">New Math</a> would be required material. True and amusing.<br /><br />Tip of the hat to <a href="http://daringfireball.net">John Gruber</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-56714899185457350802009-04-14T18:14:00.000-07:002009-04-14T18:22:02.930-07:00Good Passing Makes it Look Easy<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7ortWLYEYnM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7ortWLYEYnM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />via <a href="http://www.soccer-training-info.com/great_passing.asp">Soccer-Training-info.com</a><br /><br />I keep telling my players as our passing improves the game get easier. When you watch these highlights you think a team should be scoring on every possession. Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-71525431952350672332009-04-03T20:28:00.000-07:002009-04-04T10:48:37.742-07:00Alpenhorn HeroI've been hoping developers would extend the Guitar Hero idea to ther instruments. Finally Microsoft's seen the light and announced <a href="http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/a/alpinelegend/">Alpine Legend</a>. Now I can become the Alpenhorn Legend of my childhood dreams.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZUBQknWUEYU&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZUBQknWUEYU&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-79766292715748895152009-04-01T10:19:00.000-07:002009-04-01T10:26:54.976-07:00Latest in Dynamic Wireless NetworkingCheck out this Qualcomm preview of their technologies under development. Amazing!
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<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3agYeT-T9co&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3agYeT-T9co&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10163641.post-76567373628950739392009-03-27T08:33:00.001-07:002009-03-27T08:57:08.821-07:00Get money to work, don't work for money<blockquote><br />“We don’t make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies.” - Walt Disney</blockquote><br /><br />This Disney quote was John Gruber's muse for his self-described <a href="http://daringfireball.net/2009/03/obsession_times_voice">dueling rant</a> with Merlin Mann at SXSW earlier this month. <br /><br />Another more powerful image John quotes in his summary that you will not quickly forget is from Jonathan Coulton.<br /><br /> <blockquote> But somewhere along the way the bottom line started improving, and I became less obsessed with tracking every little thing. Now I sort of think of the whole engine as a special genetically engineered cow who eats music and poops money — I have no idea what’s going on in its gut, and I have the luxury of not really caring that much about the particulars. […]<br /><br /> The state of the industry makes a lot more sense when you think of it this way, all these new business models rising and falling, internet radio choking on insanely high performance royalties, Radiohead and NIN giving stuff away and making a killing. This is the thing about the new landscape that drives everyone crazy: you can’t see inside the cow; you can only build one, feed it music, and wait for it to poop.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />You can listen to John and Merlin's dueling rant <a href="http://www.43folders.com/2009/03/25/blogs-turbocharged">here</a>. I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but can recommend it because these two never disappoint. John's summary is <a href="http://daringfireball.net/2009/03/obsession_times_voice">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0