Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Public Enemies Float

Public Enemies Photo blog

Here comes an Alberta Clipper!

Hey Mr. Wizard - what's an Alberta Clipper???

An Alberta Clipper is a fast moving low pressure area which generally affects the central provinces of Canada and parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes WHICH, includes Columbus. Most clippers occur between December and February.

The clippers originate when warm, moist winds from the Pacific Ocean come into contact with the mountains in the provinces of British Columbia and then Alberta. The air then travels down the east side of the mountains, forming chinook winds in Alberta, then develops into a storm over the Canadian prairies when it becomes messed up with the cold air mass. The storm then slides southward and gets caught up in the flow around the mass of high pressure which always inhabits cold polar areas, sending the storm barreling into central and eastern areas of North America.

There are two other variants to Alberta Clippers, Manitoba Maulers and a Saskatchewan Screamers (weather geeks get bored so they must name everything) It all depends on where the storm was born.

Here is the typical path of an Alberta Clipper

And here is the current weather map


Get used to this - the pipeline is loaded with storms for the next few weeks every few days.

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There has been talk about a Public Enemies Columbus 4th of July Parade Float. If you have never endured the Parade in Columbus you have you really should. Columbus puts on quite a show.

The talk is having a float if there is enough interest. Perhaps I could talk Stop Light Dude into bringing up one of his stoplights for the parade. I think we MUST do something. I contacted Graham Man and maybe we could get a dozen Picture Cars to partake???? Maybe we can get Bob Wagner to ride in a car and wave at people (or yell at them telling them what to do??)

Perhaps a float for the Columbus Seven? Maybe only have six, we could have an empty chair for one of them. Have another guy just lay on the float (perhaps overnight, we won't tell him the parade is over) and Left Hand Louie walking back and forth randomly.

SOMEDAY I'll have to print the WHOLE STORY about the Columbus Seven.
HEY-I just googled 1933 Graham and clicked on images and a photo of me came up!!
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Tonight is the 1st Wednesday of the month so we'll be at the Kurth. I'll bring samples of Creamy Dreamy my first "light" beer. I'm pretty sure I can add a little honey malt (just a touch) to the recipe for a creamier taste.

HOWEVER - As of January 1st, Grinder's Island is implementing a new rule. A small token of appreciation will be accepted for bottled beer.

I'll have to leave to a tiny bit to lose 400 chips in a Poker Tournament. The final week of a Poker League is here and I'm in 5th place but with 400 chips (far behind the 35,000 chip leader). Should take 10 minutes to lose it and be back.

You know there are some pretty BIG poker games in Columbus with $1000 pots!!
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On December 3rd 1979, 11 people were trampled to death at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati Ohio when the doors opened for a Who concert. This marked the end of Festival seating for a while. I wonder what will be done with tramples at WalMarts . . . . probably nothing. What idiot in charge allowed the crowd to become frenzied - single file it like most other stores!!!

In 1818 Illinois became the 21st State and Wisconsinites have been regretting it ever since!

Illinois was a problem state for immigrants who were unaccustomed to the soil and vegetation of the area. Strange but beautiful prairie lands east of the Mississippi and north of Lake Michigan presented a difficult challenge. The immigrants were accustomed to the heavily forested lands Kentucky and Tennessee, they did not know what to make of the vast treeless stretches of Illinois. They assumed that because of the lack of trees on the prairie was a sign of inferior farmland.
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One final thing - I got a call last night from Illinois (I love those guys) . It was from a woman who wanted a Columbus Poster . . . . . oops . . . . I wonder if her husband reads this . . . . . never mind!

Have a great Wednesday!

Rod

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

ALERT = GAME ON!!!!

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Correction - The Field trip to the Columbus Water Works is December 12th.

ALERT ALERT!!! GAME ON!!!!

Rianna's lead is slowly being taken away

I've been waiting for the Counter Attack!! It's down to 46 to 42%

LET'S GET TO WORK PEOPLE!!!!

Carol Alt's (on right) new book called MODEL, INC is looking for a model for the cover and a good friend Rianna (on the left) is in the running for that cover.

All I ask is for you to go to the MODEL INK link and look for her. Vote often (hit the back button and vote again). If she wins she will get to go to NY for more shooting and all sorts of model stuff.
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Amazing Race standings and a look ahead

Mark 20 points
DJ and Jenny 21
Colette 22
Rod 23
Andy 24
Everybody EXCEPT DJ have Nick and star coming in 1st place so DJ NEEDS then NOT to come in 1st. In fact if they cam in 3rd it would really help her.

Mark needs Ken and Tina to come in 3rd but he has the inside track at the moment.

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In a recent study by the Turnkey Brand Index the Packers are #1 out of 122 professional sports teams when it comes to fan loyalty. But when it comes to fans outside the local market? Only #2. It seems the New York Yankees are America's Team. The Packers are a close second. The Dallas Cowboys? A distant fourth (Red Sox third and Lakers fifth).

I think the Packers being #2 is amazing considering the size of Green Bay compared to New York, Boston Dallas and Los Angeles.
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What's happening in the theaters??

Lots of people I know have gone to see Four Christmases and it looks like Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon will each get to notch another $100M blockbuster to their resume's. Despite bad reviews it seems people are in need of laughter. The movie is doing much better then predicted.

Bolt - that animated cute puppy movie. Bolt opened lower then expected but had a GREAT 2nd weekend and is looking forward to a few weeks all by itself in the kids animated are of the theaters.

Twilight! Are you a Twi-Mom?? LOOK OUT BELOW!!!! It crashed but still has grossed $117M which no one is crying over since it only costs $37M.

Quantum of Solace is still going strong and is at $141M after 17 days!22% ahead of Casino Royale and 18% ahead of Die Another Day. The global haul for Quantum is $481M so far.

Australia - Despite poor reviews it's still doing poorly (unlike Four Christmases). It's made $20M in five days and is a long way from break even at $137M. One problem was that 65% of the audience was over 25 and 52% are female. Many in those categories were choosing Christmases and Quantium while the younger crown were watching Twilight. Another problem is that with it's 2 hour running time theaters can not show the movie as often in a night. Australia is doing about as predicted.

This coming weekend Punisher: War Zone, Frost/Nixon, and Cadillac Records. There is a rumor that Frost/Nixon will have a Public Enemies trailer but I think it is only a rumor. I've heard nothing hard.
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We went to the Columbus parade Friday and it was MUCH warmer then last year. I didn't have my good lens but managed to get some photos AND have an idea for next year. Here are a few photos.

Look at this little float, oh so cute!!

But wait!!! What does my camera find???

ADVERTISING!! You can tell it's Christmas -
SHAME on you Duffy!

A few more photos.



NEXT YEAR I'm thinking of getting a Public Enemies float. We could get Left Hand Louie dressed up as Dillinger and he could shoot candy out of a fake Tommy Gun at the kids! THAT WOULD BE SWEET - it would really get the crown excited!

BUT WAIT - I find there is a hidden side to Columbus. The Flaming Bloomer Queen Competition of 1942. As told by Todd the Dodgey Carriage Classic Dude here is some historical knowledge that many did not know about. As you recall in yesterdays blog the "Knights of Prometheus" was a men's fraternal organization dedicated to preserve world peace and more importantly "lantern making" or Fire Wrangling as it was called back then.
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"Fire Wrangling" in that time period was a very competitive industry. It is alleged that in April of 1898 the D.C. district 13 of the K of Pythias road quietly into Columbus on their donkeys (that Washington/Donkey connection was actually the event that gave birth to the Democratic party but that's another newspaper article) with a plan to infiltrate the Columbus K of Promethus headquarters on James Street.

They quietly purchased the vacant land located at 122 N. Dickason Blvd. (now Studio 28) in May of 1898 and completed construction of that existing structure in September of 1898. Upon completion of that building they opened a haberdashery shop ironically called “Pythias Secret” specializing in the sale of bloomers and undergarments.

Three weeks later on a cold October evening they busted through the common wall and swiped 42 of the 63 patented designs for the K of Promethus lanterns. From the interior of the main building one can still see the silhouette of the opening now long since closed. The K of Pythias slipped out of town under cover of darkness never to be seen again. That event was forever referred to as the Great Flaming Bloomer Heist of 98. Many of you probably don’t know this but the City of Columbus sponsored a Flaming Bloomer Festival from 1899 into the early 1940’s. There was no greater honor than to be the Columbus Queen of the Flaming Bloomers.

As odd luck would have it a Columbus immigrant chicken farmer by the name Ebb Spragtight entered the Flaming Bloomer Queen Competition in 1942.

He roared into town in his 1936 Dodge pickup sporting a fresh pink paint job with a rainbow colored feather boa (another first) flowing from the AM antenna. As you can guess the sight of Ebb sporting high heels and a dress just ever so slightly above the knee was more than any small Midwestern town could imagine in 1942. The nail in the coffin of the Flaming Bloomer Festival was Ebb Spragtight’s photo on the front page of the then Columbus Journal Republican.

I propose we have a
Flaming Bloomer Festival float in next years parade.!!!
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OUCH!
Studies in the United States show that men who play five or more years in the NFL have a life expectancy of 55, Twenty years less than the average in the general public.

For linemen, perhaps due to their size, the life expectancy is 52.


I wonder . . . what if you BEGIN your NFL career at 55???
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My Subaru Outback went over the 100,000 trouble free mile mark this weekend. Not a spot of rust on it, only a couple dings and purrs like a kitten.
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You might have seen this but check out this 2 minute video of a solder being greeted by his two dog's after returning home from Iraq after 14 months.

Have a great day

Rod


Monday, December 1, 2008

Monday morning clutter.

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Public Enemies Photo blog

LOL - I can't believe no one told me Monday was spelled wrong! You guys are getting lax.

Watertown had 5.3 inches of snow. Columbus 1 inch.
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WHY did the Packers not squib kick that final kickoff. I remember yelling that at the TV as the ball was in the air! grrrrrrrrr!! Hello!! Knock! Knock! Anybody home? Let's see BEFORE that final kickoff Carolina was averaging about 40 yards per return and ONLY because Crosby - the last line of defense, was the guy actually tackling the guy!

FIRE THE SPECIAL TEAMS COACH!! He is the reason we don't have Ryan as our punter!

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Wednesday is the first Wednesday of the month so anyone looking for something to do drop in at the Kurth. If you do you MIGHT be one of the first to taste Creamy Dreamy. After one week in the bottle I sampled it last night and it's the best Bud I've ever had! YUMMO - BUD! LOL

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Remember - Friday will be field trip to the Columbus Water Works. I'll have things hammered out soon but my Water Contact is on vacation until Thursday - I'm thinking we can meet at The Kurth 6:00 to 6:30ish and go there (where ever it is). I hope they have free samples!

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I forgot my two brains today. I cleverly disguise my brains as thumb drives. Those that know me know that I keep my life on many spread sheets. I think if I had a brain operation they would take the top of my head off, peer in and see nothing but columns and rows! So today I will NOT be getting two sets of beer labels, and I will not sell 100 postcards to Walgreens and I can't update Amazing Race or update Football numbers (all on my breaks of course) and I won't update my beer pipeline either.

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I was reading about the City Council and was feeling sort of good about things but the article kept getting more and more negative.

First of all, for all the whiners that complain about Columbus tax's. For the 7th year in a row the mill rate is going down. Last year the mil rate was 9.35 per $1000, this year it will be $8 per $1000. In 2002 it was $12.13 per $1000.

Then there was all sorts of switching funds from one bucket to another and Roger Sneath says "I want us to return the city to a strong city council/weak mayor system. Sounds like a coup doesn't it? Then he goes on and diss's the Mayor saying Mayor Nancy Osterhaus' term has weakened the city council.

THEN I read that all these things happened while the Mayor is in the Hospital.

GEEZ - GAME ON!!

Personally I'm not on any side - I have issues with both City Council AND the Mayor. But I have issues with many things. BUT - they are all trivial.
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Here is an exciting photo from downtown Columbus:

Ever wonder what "K of P" means???

It stands for "Knights of Prometheus" a men's fraternal organization dedicated to preserve world peace and more importantly "lantern making". Another cool things about this building was that in 1895 it was it was a prototype design by N.E. Beamon. He only saw three buildings of his own design built. This one had the distinction of having a room with no entrance. He forgot to put a doorway into the room and it was completely bricked up before it was noticed.

There will be six historical homes in Columbus to tour this coming Saturday and for the first time a downtown historical apartment (see above). Tickets are $12 and $15 the day of the event. Call the Visitor Center 623-5325 for more information. DJ and I are doing the tour (with camera). Come on Down! Get to know your Columbus.

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Anybody see 60 Minutes last night about online Poker cheating? Most of it was accurate but some was not. I won't say I was actively involved with catching the guys but that was in my hay day of online poker and I was following the group of players that would catch the dude. It was all rather exciting watching it all happen.

There is a large online community and we all have a piece of software called Poker Tracker. It tracks OUR play and anybody we play against. I mean EVERYTHING they do is put into a database.

So a few guys in the nosebleed games ($25,000 pots) were noticing a few players that were SO bad and winning SO much that they felt something was up. Hundreds players started to gather information on certain players and it was found that some people were winning at 15 deviations. To put it another way - they were hitting a 1 in a million chance 6 times in a row.

So one the the forum members contacted Absolute Poker and asked for a hand history of his play. What he received was a spread sheet with EVERYTHING - including the IP address's of them WATCHING the games along with every car of every hand.

It seemed that whenever a player would log on and start to play a certain IP address would soon log on and watch. Over and over. So the players started snooping around and tried to contact that IP address which - oddly - was no longer in use when the persons address was found.

It was at that point when it was decided a forum was not the best place to play private eye and I lost contact with what was going on until it was over.

I have never worried about cheaters. For one thing I was making a bundle playing four low limit $5/$10 online poker games at once. The cheaters I felt were in the BIG games. ANYWAY - I'm getting off topic with more stuff to say.

I'll explain someday how I got the alias of Grinder (I was the 1st "Grinder" on the internet BTW). I was a card counter in Black Jack and ran a team. Cool stories there! :-) I think I'm banned from Hole in the Wall casino up north.

BTW - they say online poker can not be trusted? I say LIFE poker is worse. Party Poker has dealt over 3 BILLION hands and they have the hand history of every one of those. Can't do that in a live game.
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BEER - thanks Left Hand Louie for the compliment of Sean's West Coast Blaster (SWCB). Funny story (at the expense of Sean).

I gave Sean a 6-pack to take to Chicago for Thanksgiving. As we all know Sean is a Fermentor meaning he brews beer, mead, wine, sauerkraut and so forth. If he can get a yeast to fart he'll do it. So his brother is drinking a SWCB and says "This is the best beer you have ever made" At which point Sean says "Of course I had to remind him that I didn't make it. The conversation died for a little bit."

I read that and had a little coffee coming out of my nose.

I see somebody poked who'sinmybasement and he woke up out of his slumber. He commented on my ability to put up a weather bubble for bad weather and how PERHAPS the March weather bubble had something to do with June floods! If he was THINKING straight (obviously still in a foggy haze) he would realize that it was the Columbus government responsible (not any one in particular, just a vague wave at government as a whole).

My weather bubble only has a butterfly effect for a 1 week period and then the June Pacific High and Arizona Thermal Low take over again.
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AND LASTLY!

Deppfan sent this to me - it's an excellent trailer for Watchmen.

Rumor has it Frost/Nixon premiering Friday will have a Public Enemies trailer.

And I hope you are all going to see Bob Wagner's (1st asst Director of Public Enemies) "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Bob has been working his way up the Director ladder with "National Treasure" being his first 1st Asst Director (the guy that actually does all the work). Curious was his 3rd 1st Asst and Public Enemies was his fourth and I feel the hardest one yet!

Go see it - vote for Bob!!

Rod