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Post by billhammond on Sept 2, 2023 13:49:40 GMT -5
Dub, what was the verdict on your truck's transmission?
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Post by billhammond on Sept 2, 2023 13:37:23 GMT -5
Back from my mini-road trip to the muni airport at Glencoe, MN, a most pleasant outing indeed. I sat across from a corn/soybean farmer and we both marveled at the quality and humongous size of the sweet corn they were serving along with really good brats and kraut. Some cool plane arrivals, including a Vans kit plane painted to look like a wartime P-51. I mused along Hwy. 212 that it must be a popular route to/from SoDak, as I saw a lot of SD plates. I also mused that Kia must be selling a lot of Telluride SUVs, cuz I sure see a lot of them on the road. Or maybe I just notice them more than most because of their distinctive amber running lights:
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Post by billhammond on Sept 2, 2023 13:14:46 GMT -5
Because of our kids' work schedules, we're going tomorrow - it's always a family event. Tomorrow it's supposed to hit 99. We'll take it slow and easy, but we can't miss it. STAR TRIBUNE excerpt: So you're planning to go to the Minnesota State Fair during the Great Heat Dome of 2023? We like your style. Be sure to hydrate and take breaks from the sun and heat. Here are a few ways to stay cool. Bring a water bottle, cooler, canteen, etc.Fair guests are always allowed to bring their own water bottles, as well as coolers, so take advantage. At least 20 water fountains and bottle refill stations are located throughout the fairgrounds — find them with the water drop symbol on the official fair map. Find a misterWe've always taken them for granted, but "misters" issuing cool, refreshing water vapor are stationed all over the fairgrounds — eight of them, to be exact. Expect a polite line to get misted. We have the previously undisclosed locations, from north to south: North End Event Center, Murphy Av. Fine Arts Center near First Aid East, Cosgrove St. Between the Kidway and the restroom building along Cooper St. Between the Grandstand and Dan Patch Park, beneath the SkyRide on Dan Patch Av. West Dan Patch Av. near First Aid West and the Care & Assistance building. Outside the Leinie Lodge Bandshell on Cooper St. Outside the Compeer Arena on Judson Av. At the Christensen Farms Stage, next to the Miracle of Birth Center on Judson Av.
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Post by billhammond on Sept 2, 2023 8:24:12 GMT -5
I have been spending a lot of time in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region over the past two years. While there, few things have sparked more enthusiastic conversation than the annual Minnesota State Fair. In town this week with the fair in full bloom, I made sure that I made time to go. After Richie's dill pickle cheese curd tacos, Union Hmong Kitchen's galabao, chicken on a stick, Corn Roast's corn on the cob and a twist ice cream cone, I felt disgusting and happy.
That's about the time that I realized I had lost my wallet. Surrounded by what looked like 10,000 people, I assumed all was lost. However, the lovely people working at an information booth near the Fine Arts Building suggested I go to the lost and found office and ask if someone found it. Ridiculous as that sounded to this East Coaster, I walked across the entire fairgrounds to find a small lost and found office near the midway. Inside, I told them my sad story. "Oh, my goodness," one of the workers said. "An older woman just rushed clear across the fairgrounds to turn a wallet in" — my wallet — "hoping that the owner with a D.C. license was still here and would be looking for it." I asked the worker if the woman perchance had left her name so I could thank her. He looked at me, laughing, and said, "People don't do that here."
Minnesotans really are different. They are really wonderful.
Ben Hecht, Washington, D.C.
•••
I went to the State Fair today with a few relatives and we made the rounds from the cattle barns to the midway and beyond. We ate lots of food on sticks (mostly deep fried) and we shared space and a few light conversations with fellow fairgoers. Along the way we stopped at the agriculture, dairy, eco and arts buildings and the DFL and the GOP sites. The weather was pleasant. The crowd, though large and growing rapidly, seemed peaceful. I felt hopeful, content. Then I saw "it" — a booth with huge lettering: DUMP BIDEN. It was jarring, mean-spirited, inappropriate and out of place. It made me angry, but mostly it made me sad. It seemed so unpatriotic, so un-American, so not Minnesotan. It didn't ruin my fair experience, but it did cause me to wonder when or if we will return to a time of civility. Will we choose to meet our differences with a handshake or a fist?
Michael Farnsworth, Minneapolis
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Post by billhammond on Sept 2, 2023 7:51:54 GMT -5
Three scorchers on tap for the State Fair's final days -- 97 predicted for today, 100 for tomorrow and 98 for Monday, and humid, as well, I suspect. Still, I'll do a little road trip today to a fly-in gathering in farmish Glencoe, about an hour's drive to the southwest. I've been to this annual affair a couple of times previous and like it because instead of the usual pancake breakfast, theirs is lunch, with grilled brats, sweet corn and sauerkraut, everything but the beer.
Sorry to hear about Jimmy Buffett -- had he been ill?
On edit, I just heard via the announcer on the wireless that today is VJ Day, pretty significant milestone in history.
It's also National Bacon Day, so sizzle up, folks.
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Post by billhammond on Sept 1, 2023 15:00:35 GMT -5
I had to switch flights so I will be arriving at CID around 12:30 or so Thursday. Rather than read 8 pages (I am still at work) to find it, where & what was happening on Thursday afternoon? I need to call the CS and get me a room one of these days but have been procrastinating. I hope to pack light with a guitar and a backpack. Any early semi-reliable weather forecasts? I don't want to over or under dress as I get cold easily these days. Thur-Sun looks to be in the upper to mid-80s, no rain expected until Sunday.
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Post by billhammond on Aug 31, 2023 10:44:10 GMT -5
Good morning 58F-82F sunny Another perfect MN State Fair day I won't be attending. Imagine being there with a huge crowd when a big thunderstorm moves through. Torrential rain with high winds and lightning. If you are near the Grandstand or Barn areas there might be some cover but a lot of the grounds have only trees to shelter under. *50k people on a average day and only comfortable shelter for maybe half that. The real lucky ones get the Beer Gardens to hide in.*Bill will fact check that I'm sure because I'm not 100% positive about the daily attendance. But the point is if there is rough weather finding a place to get out of it can be a problem on a crowded day. Strib excerpt: The number of people who went to the fair on opening day, always a Thursday, was a mere 106,327 — falling about 15,000 short of last year's opening day numbers, and about 24,000 fewer than 2019's record-setting opening day crowd. But Friday's fairgoers set a record for attendance on the first Friday of the State Fair, at 164,741. That number topped last year's numbers by more than 11,000. Saturday and Sunday attendance was also higher than 2022's numbers but weren't record-setting. Still, Saturday's number flocking to the fair — 212,850 — was about 55,000 higher than the 2022 gate that day. And Sunday's 173,724 was higher than last year but far less than the record of 209,969 for that day, set in 1994.
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Post by billhammond on Aug 30, 2023 17:06:00 GMT -5
Word on the street is that they sought out that location in hopes of meeting Mr. Hanesworth.
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Post by billhammond on Aug 30, 2023 16:20:53 GMT -5
I only just now learned of his amazingly brief military "career." From Wiki:
In March 1967, shortly before the expiration of his educational draft deferment upon graduation from law school, McConnell enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve as a private at Louisville, Kentucky. This was a coveted position because the Reserve units were mostly kept out of combat during the Vietnam War. His first day of training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, was July 9, 1967, two days after taking the bar exam, and his last day was August 15, 1967. Shortly after his arrival he was diagnosed with optic neuritis and deemed medically unfit for military service, and was honorably discharged. His brief time in service has repeatedly been put at issue by his political opponents during his electoral campaigns.
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Post by billhammond on Aug 29, 2023 18:27:47 GMT -5
97 cents a dozen at Aldi. Yeah, but those are sparrow eggs.
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Post by billhammond on Aug 27, 2023 19:19:31 GMT -5
PHOTOS, please!
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Post by billhammond on Aug 27, 2023 14:31:30 GMT -5
A song should never be autobiographical unless it's also autobiographical for everyone who wants to sing it. And why write a song that no one else would want to sing? No general audience wants to know our deepest secrets. They might care about us… but not that much. We don’t really care about our favorite songwriters either. They might be interesting people worth knowing something about but, unless they are personal friends, we don’t actually care about them. We might admire their work but that’s usually where it ends. Of course, lots of songs with first-person lyrics are not autobiographical per se, but stories told, memories described-- think "Me and Bobby McGee" or "City of New Orleans," for instance.
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Post by billhammond on Aug 27, 2023 12:03:18 GMT -5
I guess I misunderstood Alan's post. I thought he was saying he was not bringing a guitar because he is flying.
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Post by billhammond on Aug 27, 2023 11:23:32 GMT -5
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Post by billhammond on Aug 27, 2023 9:25:56 GMT -5
With a week to go, I guess I should ask if anyone wants me to bring anything special? I'll stop by Millstream and pick up some oddities from their brewing (now in cans instead of bottles). Maybe a few snacks from the Amana stores. Are there any special requests? Guitars someone wants to try out? Music gear (Mics, etc.)? Speak up now or it may not happen! I was thinking of bringing my TC Helicon Harmonizer. It needs an extra guitar & mic cable to be used. Space is limited as I am flying so I would need a little help there. You're welcome to use my Goodall, sir.
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Post by billhammond on Aug 27, 2023 7:57:29 GMT -5
Good day, awaiting the start of the Dutch Grand Prix, with national hero Max Ver Stappen on pole. It will be a long race for people like me who can't stand the color orange.
Gorgeous looking day again here. State Fair numbers should be impressive.
Looking forward to words and photos from the Guitar Summit.
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Post by billhammond on Aug 26, 2023 23:26:06 GMT -5
Fitting that he got so close to 100 without going over. Haven't had that good a laugh in a long time. I was just toggling through reader comments on the Strib's BB obit, and one of them quoted the NYTimes as using the same line, more or less. I WUZ ROBBED!!!
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Post by billhammond on Aug 26, 2023 18:34:40 GMT -5
Fitting that he got so close to 100 without going over.
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Post by billhammond on Aug 26, 2023 16:20:35 GMT -5
With a week to go, I guess I should ask if anyone wants anything? If it's a week away, I'm gonna be a week late!
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Post by billhammond on Aug 26, 2023 16:11:07 GMT -5
This is the Fretboard Summit thread for those of you confused about where you should post. It's all ePaul's fault, he started the drift.
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