Interesting Stuff (to me anyway)

Pioneers

mikemjensen Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Life's Truths, Utah Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey kids,

A few weeks ago, we stopped at the dam of our newest favorite reservoir. I had noticed the little info marker before but never took the time to read it. This time I did.

IMG_20160710_115113856IMG_20160710_115110437

It took me a few passes at it to get it.

If we look hard enough, most of the obstacles we face are not entirely unique; only to us. If you look around, there are signs where others have passed. They already forged a path and you can have the confidence that it’s passable.

Pioneers give me courage. If they did it, why can’t I?

 

Post #50-64

 

$4 Memories

mikemjensen History, Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Uncategorized Tags: , , , 2 Comments

Hey kids,

If you spend enough time at the thrift store, you’re bound to find something that interests you.

For me, the things of interest are either an item of nostalgia or an item priced extremely cheap. The best things are both. Recently I found a video collection of the original Pink Panther movies for $4. Score!

MCDTROF EC032

I remember watching these movies on the weekday 7 o’clock Movies on TV. Laid out on the floor, pretending to do my homework, I would laugh at the seemingly endless comedy.

I’ve watched only the first movie of the series so far. I’m now not so sure why I enjoyed them so much. But then again, I don’t ever remember seeing that one.

Spooling up the next one right now; I hope to be laughing soon.

The $4 can still be recovered.

 

Post #50-8

Star Wars Day on the Dark Side

mikemjensen Interesting Stuff (to me anyway) Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey kids,

I always miss this one, or at least remember way to late to use it.

So here it goes:

May the Fourth be with you.

I’m going to have so much fun today.

Speaking of Star Wars, I still think Darth Maul was too good of a character to waste on one episode. The double bladed sword, the martial arts, the tattooed face; he was the villain to fear.

Dart Maul carried, or at least did not share, his tortured past. He loved being a Sith; I never sensed any conflict in him. He went right to work with the Jedi, issuing no one liners, no insults, and no taunting. He did not fear the Jedi- not even two of them. He had style, he had hate, and he had skills; skills even I could appreciate.

darth maul.jpg

I really don’t want to know anymore of Darth Maul’s background. I hope he doesn’t come back around as some half robot, half soul searching Sith wannabe. He was the one that made Episode 1 work for me.

Darth Maul- the villain we never knew so we could like/hate him the way bad guys need to be.

Post #374

To Vlog or Not To Vlog

mikemjensen Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Internet Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

I really enjoy doing video.

I mean, I’ve always like watching stuff, but recently I’ve been learning how to edit video and make my own little videos.

I know I’m way behind the curve on this. In an age of YouTube celebrities, I can’t imagine what I could do that would be original or interesting. But I think I want to try. In doing this blog every day for the past 200+ days, I’ve learned how tough and how easy it is to just do something after deciding you want to.

I want to start vlogging. I’m not sure I can handle a daily vlog but I’ll decide on some regular interval. For my own sake.flat,550x550,075,f

A staff member recently posted on the workplace wall, “We are what we repeatedly do, Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” It’s attributed to Aristotle.

Whatever we decide to do, it may not be perfect at first. Or ever. But once we commit to doing something on a continual basis, it’s bound to get better.

I think I’ll be a better video-er.

 

NaNoWriMo: 28,601/50,000

Day 267

A Mountain by Any Other Name

mikemjensen Alaska, Interesting Stuff (to me anyway) Tags: , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

President Obama is scheduled to officially change the name of North America’s tallest mountain from Mt McKinley to the native name of Denali. Here are my thoughts:

Mt. Denali-Bolshaya Gora- Densmore- McKinley- Denali

Mt. Denali-Bolshaya Gora- Densmore- McKinley- Denali; elevation: 20,320- 20,237ft

One, I flew past Mt. McKinley, err, Denali once. It is the most impressive mountain you will ever see. Seemingly right off the wing of the airplane, it is as tall (20,000 ft.) as it is massive. The mountain is huge! If I can ever find the photo I snapped of it, I will add it to this blog.

Two, I didn’t know it was up to the president to do that kind of thing. Does he do this kind of thing often? Seems like a little outside of a president’s priority, but who am I to judge?

Three, The poor mountain is going to develop an identity crisis, if it doesn’t already have one. It’s gone by more names than a Cold War era spy. And had its elevation officially lowered.

Four, do all mountains already have previous names that merit changing them back? Is this going to be a new thing? Or is it only because it being #1?

Five, I really wish I was in Alaska right now too.

Six, I wonder if the fish are biting.

Seven, what was this blog about?

Eight, oh yeah, I’m OK with Denali, but I wish the state of Alaska would’ve done it instead of needing a president to do it. It’s a state rights thing for me.

Nine, I feel sorry for William McKinley. He had to be proud to have a mountain, and such a big mountain, named after him. Of course, he’s dead now so I doubt he’ll file any protest, but I hear Ohio has.

And ten, I’ve always thought Denali was a better name for the biggest mountain in North America, especially since it means Big Mountain. It’s better than McKinley, and way better than the third alternative, Suburban.

 

Day 189

Something Worth Remembering

mikemjensen History, Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Life's Truths, Quote Tags: , , , 2 Comments

Hey Kids,

I’m not sure if there are people who wish to live forever.

I don’t mean in the Spiritual, Heaven-dwelling living forever. I mean by not dying. At least not for a long time. I know that no one really wishes to die young but with the average lifespan for men at 72 and 76 for women; are most people OK with that?

I’m not obsessed with death and I don’t really worry about when it’ll come. I hope not for a while and I hope it surprises me when it does. I agree with the late Olympian Bob Richards who wished to be shot at an old age by a jealous husband.

But when death comes, I hope to be remembered for at least a little while. I hope a few people are sad to see me go, or maybe know there will be a few who will miss me on the holidays. More importantly, I hope I did something worth remembering which is more important than being remembered.

I’m amazed by some people and the legacy they leave behind. The fact that their names and feats are remembered for years, centuries, and millenniums after they are gone; is remarkable. It’s never for the person just being a good person, but for what they accomplished and for what they did for humanity- sometimes good, sometimes bad.

But only one person I know of lived a life so respected that even his arm, when lost in battle, got its own grave marker. General Stonewall Jackson. He may have fought a losing war for a lost cause, but he did it with a style that’s still remembered today. He held his ground and inspired those around him to do the same.34a01bc8b5c09fa2a6dac87526d037bc

Over 150 years later, I tip my hat.

 

Day 176

A Good Time To Come Along

mikemjensen Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Internet, Vanity Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

You know what’s cool? Living in an age where almost any piece of information is available within minutes on the Internet. (Remember when we called it the “Web” or the Information Super Highway?)

I check the online weather radar on the days when we have storms moving though and try to skirt home between the downpours. It worked great today.

on-the-internet-nobody-knows-youre-a-dog-memeCan’t remember some name or factoid? Google what you know and you’re an instant genius.

TED talks. A bunch of them are full of crap, but I learn constantly by streaming them at my desk as I do data entry.

Today I heard about a WWII story that I had never heard before. Looked it up, found out some details, learned of a detailed book of the event, and pondered the thought of writing a future book about it. Without the internet, it would’ve been a passive story that I half-understood and most likely forgot before I had a chance to research.

I think some of the things from the past are sorely missed and I wonder how life passed in old west times. However, I’m thankful to live in this day and age where the world and all its wonders are right there on my screen.

And to think how cool I thought digital watches were when they first came out.

 

Day 74

Shields Up!

mikemjensen Interesting Stuff (to me anyway) Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

Force fields.

For my entire life, at least as far as I can remember, Star Trek has had them.

Later in life, Star Wars had them.Star%20Wars%20-%20D6%20-%20Equipment%20Stats%20Netbook_img_109

As an adult, I was made to believe I understood them. As much as fiction can make someone understand a technology that doesn’t exist.

When the aliens came in Independence Day, the shields on the wrong side almost spelled Mankind’s doom. But the tide may have turned. Force field technology is seemingly no longer in the future. At least as far as Boeing is concerned. They filed a patent on it.

Transporters, I hope, are soon to follow.

I hate traffic.

 

 

Day 29