Ice Station Zebra

Erin at Ironworld. This rules.

[9:08pm] dr_jerkface: http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=97466&Page=1&Negative=81459
[9:08pm] scottydont: you can't be too careful, dr_
[9:09pm] scottydont: !translate to german under lake boat


Camouflaged freighter Lake Portage, Duluth Harbor.
Photographer: Olson
Photograph Collection ca. 1917
Location no. HE5.22 p2
Negative no. 81459

The Pew survey did not find evidence of anti-business sentiment growing. Fully 76 percent of voters agreed with the statement, "The strength of this country today is mostly based on the success of American business" -- the same percentage as in past years.

Conversely, public support for labor unions appears to be weakening: the percentage of people agreeing that "labor unions are necessary to protect the working person," has dropped from 74 percent at the start of this decade to 61 percent this year. The decline was sharper --- from 76 to 53 percent, a 23 point fall -- among independent voters than among either Democrats or Republicans.

That's just super.

You will be startled to learn that despite my highly fluid body language, I did not win this battle.

Today was cold and windy--we could see big whitecaps out on the lake, so we decided to grab the kids and drive up to Stoney Point, about 15 minutes north of town, reportedly the most storied surfing spot on Lake Superior. It was really funny--we turned on Stoney Point Drive, stopped the car to go down to the beach, and were distinctly underwhelmed. Then we got back in the car and drove on about 400 yards around a little pointlet--whoa. Quite a difference.

This one's for you, Dad.

You guessed it, 100 more photos of ice.

This was early March 2007, about the only snow we got that winter. I really like this photo.

Tonight, as Kristin was getting in bed early, she noticed that the bed was wet. A little cautious sniffing removed the dog as a suspect. It was about that time that Erin pranced in and said "April Fools."

A session of "we're not really mad at you, but..." followed.

We're going to have to get her back next year though.

Happy 31 March.

Chester Bowl Wipeouts from Brian Barber on Vimeo.

Mr. Freeman had long been critical of Israel, with a bluntness that American officials rarely voice in public about a staunch American ally. In 2006, he warned that, “left to its own devices, the Israeli establishment will make decisions that harm Israelis, threaten all associated with them and enrage those who are not.”

Huh, that is tough.

This reminds me a lot of the old A. Whitney Brown quip post-Tiananmen about the world's toughest job being police sketch artist in Beijing.

A. The Army is testing helicopter de-icing again. Maybe the new presi-chopper.

Me: Your outfit looks nice, but you need to at least wear knee socks with your skort today.
Erin: [etc. etc. etc.] I'm going to bite your finger off. [etc. etc. etc.]

Sigh.