Steven Tentis

I assure you I am alive

2006-07-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

I know I have not made a post on here in like 2 months but I assure I am alive and well! LOL

This is messed up

2006-05-19T11:54:00.000-05:00

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/17/unmarried.ap/index.html

Cool Speech site

2006-04-18T14:19:00.000-05:00

Check out this site. Its really cool, it will actually read back to you anything you type in, in basically any language. Very cool technology.

http://public.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php

There are 75 band names hidden here can you find them.

2006-03-29T11:03:00.000-06:00

Quick Buck? No thanks

2006-03-25T17:44:00.000-06:00

So this drunk 18-year-old from Queens,N.Y. trespasses onto train tracks with his friends and tries to outrun the 7 train. He falls and his legs are amputated at the knee. And then he gets $1.4 million dollars. Check out the link, its amazing. Growing up in Mandan we where always told to stay off the tracks, it was just common sense. This guys actually gets hurt badly for being a idiot and gets over a million dollars for it. Granted it is really to bad he lost his legs it really is, but he had no buisness messing around on the tracks.

World Leaders Urge Condoleezza Rice To Take NFL Commissioner's Job

2006-03-24T11:08:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON, DC—With longtime NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue recently announcing that he will retire in July, political leaders across the globe have taken an uncharacteristic interest in the sport of football, urging one potential candidate—U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice—to accept the high-profile position.

"I have had the…singular…experience of working with Ms. Rice on more than one occasion, and believe she is perfectly suited for this position," said British Prime Minister Tony Blair, one of many prominent political figures who held an impromptu press conference upon hearing that Rice, a longtime football fan, had expressed interest in eventually becoming commissioner. "Although I am in fact ignorant of the particulars of American-style football, I am sure its sporting league is one that Condoleezza is perfectly capable of managing."
Rice had publicly commented several times on her ambition to become commissioner, most notably in a televised interview during the Super Bowl XL pregame show. However, international interest in installing Rice in the position, while always high, peaked last week with the news of Tagliabue's impending retirement.
"We live in uncertain and chaotic times, and America never needed Condoleezza Rice more," Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said in an international radio address Tuesday. "With radicals in the NFL Player's Association demanding a new collective-bargaining agreement, and instability threatening the very revenue-sharing structure that professional football was built upon, she is clearly a stabilizing figure who must help unify this sport."
Aziz was then called away to deal with escalating nuclear proliferation in the Kashmir region, during which he repeated through his aides that Rice's leadership and diplomacy was desperately needed in professional football.
"Secretary of State Rice owes it to the world to take this bold step forward in her career," said Sonia Gandhi, the president of India's National Congress Party and the widow of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. "If she was named commissioner of what I understand is America's favorite sport, it would not just be a great moment for America, but a great moment for women in politics worldwide."
"Ms. Rice would finally be in a position where she could positively impact the lives of millions of Americans," Gandhi added.
Support for Rice's appointment to the NFL commissioner post has poured in to the State Department from prominent statesmen worldwide, including several letters of recommendation from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has worked closely with Rice since she took over the State Department from Colin Powell; a televised message from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has dealt with the U.S. primarily through Rice since his election; affirmations from almost every diplomat Rice met during her recent 10-day trip through Chile, Australia, Samoa, and Indonesia; and a letter co-written and signed by both acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas, prime minister-designate of Palestine.
Although the State Department has not yet officially responded to the overwhelming outpouring of support for Secretary Rice's career change, Rice issued a short, tersely worded statement formally thanking the over 85 diplomats, heads of state, and religious leaders who spoke in her favor on the issue.
In a press conference late Tuesday, however, President Bush announced that he is strongly against Rice leaving her current post, saying that she is a valued Cabinet member who excels at her position, and that "if anyone from this administration should get that job, it should be me."

TO can Rap Faster than you

2006-03-20T13:47:00.000-06:00

I found this article over at the Guys from Deadspin. Very funny stuff. TO the rapper! LOL
Terrell Owens Can Rap Quicker Than You
In recent months, we have done everything in our power to institute a moratorium on Terrell Owens-related news, if just so that, if we were hit by a bus tomorrow, we would be able to talk to our maker with our pure heart, free of egregious sin.
But, alas, we have no choice now. As you surely know, over the weekend, Terrell Owens signed with the Dallas Cowboys. It’s a three-year deal, and there’s absolutely no way that could go poorly, nope.
The real fun, however, is to be found at Owens’ official site, where T.O. can be heard rapping about joining the Cowboys. Seriously. We tried to transcribe the lyrics, but our ears wouldn’t stop bleeding. We jotted down, “To the haters who said I wouldn’t get my money/I laugh, say ‘Ha ha, that’s funny’” and “I’m back and I’m better than ever/I’m back and I’m getting this cheddar/This time I’m a Cowboy/And I’m got ‘em sayin’ wow, boy.” And then we died. Right there. This is a ghost typing. A deeply unhappy ghost.
TerrellOwens.com Terrell Owens Is A Cowboy [The Cowboy Roundup]

Daunte as a Phin, Dont let the door hit you on the way outta town.

2006-03-16T12:51:00.000-06:00

The Sopranos are back baby!!!

2006-03-10T18:00:00.000-06:00

The Puck at Field of Dreams

2006-03-06T22:28:00.000-06:00

RIP Kirby

2006-03-06T22:09:00.000-06:00

Puckett was born in Chicago, Illinois. An unheralded player in high school, he showed no signs of being a great player until after he had left the team at Bradley University in 1980. He decided to give baseball a second chance a year later, after catching the eye of scouts while playing recreational ball in Chicago. He moved on to Triton College (in Illinois) and was subsequently drafted by the Twins in the first round of the 1982 baseball draft.
At the time, Puckett was a slap hitter and outstanding defensive center fielder. Puckett produced a .382 batting average in his first minor league season, with Elizabethton (Tennessee) in 1982, and was promoted to the major leagues in less than two years, earning a spot on the Twins roster on May 8, 1984. Called up to replace center fielder Jim Eisenreich, who was suffering from a severe ailment that eventually was revealed to be Tourette's syndrome, Puckett quickly proved himself. On May 8, he became only the 9th player in history to record 4 hits in the first full game of a career, by going 4 for 5 against the California Angels [1].
He was one of the league's best rookies in 1984, batting .296 and leading all American League center fielders in outfield assists, with 16. He had a similar season in 1985, when he played in every game and batted .288. Coincidentally, in 1985, the song Centerfield by John Fogerty was released as a single. The single created an immediate association in Minnesota with the electric performance and humble personality of the team's rapidly rising center fielder.
In his third season, Puckett burst into stardom. It all began in the off-season, when he worked with hitting coach Tony Oliva on driving the ball for distance. Despite his small stature 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m), Puckett had the immense strength and quick wrists of a power hitter. In 1986, he added this to his game, blasting 31 home runs, raising his average to .328 and winning the first of his six Gold Glove Awards for outstanding defensive play.
In 1987, Puckett led the Twins to their first title in the World Series after batting .332 with 28 home runs and 99 RBI in the regular season. His performance was even more impressive in the seven-game Series upset over the St. Louis Cardinals, batting a whopping .357.
The Twins won even more games in 1988, though they finished second in their division to the powerful Oakland Athletics. Puckett had his statistically best season, hitting .356 with 24 home runs and 121 RBI, to finish third in the MVP balloting for a second straight season.

Kirby is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
He won the American League batting title in 1989 with a mark of .339, making him the first right-handed batter to win the title in eight years. He continued to play well in 1990, but the Twins slipped to last place in their division.
In 1991, the Twins got back on the winning track and Puckett led the way by batting .319, eighth in the league. Minnesota surged past Oakland in midseason and captured the division title, then upset the favored Toronto Blue Jays in five games in the American League Championship Series. Puckett batted .429 with two home runs and six RBI in the playoffs to win MVP honors.
The World Series that followed is considered by many to be the most exciting ever. Both the Twins and their opponent, the Atlanta Braves, had finished last in their respective divisions in the year before winning their league pennant, something that had never been done before. Going into Game 6, the Twins trailed three games to two and had to win to stay alive. Puckett helped to hold off a late Atlanta rally with a leaping catch off the outfield wall that stole a sure double by Ron Gant. The game went into extra innings, and in the first at-bat of the bottom of the 11th, Puckett hit a dramatic walk-off home run off Charlie Leibrandt to keep his team alive. This dramatic game has been widely remembered as the high point in Puckett's career. The images of Puckett rounding the bases, arms raised in triumph, are always included in video highlights of Puckett's career, often accompanied by CBS Sports commentator Jack Buck's words, "And we'll see you tomorrow night!" The next night, Puckett's Twins won 1-0 in 10 innings for their second World Series title.
The Twins contended for one more season and then began to slip, but Puckett never did. In 1994, he won his first league RBI title by driving in 112 runs in just 108 games, and he was having another brilliant season in 1995 before having his jaw broken by a Dennis Martínez fastball in late September.
He recovered fully and returned to the Twins for spring training in 1996. On March 28, after tattooing the Grapefruit League for a .360 average, he woke up unable to see out of his right eye. He was diagnosed with glaucoma, and several surgeries in the months to come were unable to save his vision in the eye. On July 12, Puckett announced his retirement from baseball at age 36. His lifetime batting average of .318 was the highest of any right-handed batter since Joe DiMaggio.

Puckett was one of seven Twins to be part of both the 1987 and 1991 World Series teams. The other six were Randy Bush, Greg Gagne, Kent Hrbek, Al Newman, Gene Larkin, who made the winning hit in Game 7 of the 1991 series, and Dan Gladden, who was the runner Larkin scored with that hit.
Kirby Puckett is credited with giving the nickname "Donnie Baseball" to New York Yankees' legend Don Mattingly

Kirby Quotes--
"I was told I would never make it because I'm too short. Well, I'm still too short, but I've got 10 All-Star games, two World Series championships, and I'm a very happy and contented guy. It doesn't matter what your height is, it's what's in your heart." -- at his 1996 retirement press conference.

"Don't take anything for granted, because tomorrow is not promised to any of us."

"Kirby Puckett's going to be all right. Don't worry about me. I'll show up, and I'll have a smile on my face. The only thing I won't have is this uniform on. But you guys can have the memories of what I did when I did have it on."

Party Your Arse Off Big Ben Your in The SuperBowl

2006-02-01T11:32:00.000-06:00

Who else thinks if this was a Vikings player our fantastic media here in town would be all over this story. Personally I want the T-Shirt thats tight. Big Ben Pimpin with the Patron baby.

WEIRD

2006-01-28T20:15:00.000-06:00

This is weird, read all then open a word document
*1) New York City has 11 letters
2) Afghanistan has 11 letters.
3) Ramsin Yuseb (The terrorist who threatened to destroy the Twin Towers in1993) has 11 letters.
4) George W Bush has 11 letters.This could be a mere coincidence, but this gets more interesting:1) New York is the 11th state.2) The first plane crashing against the Twin Towers was flight number 11.3) Flight 11 was carrying 92 passengers9 + 2 = 114) Flight 77 which also hit Twin Towers, was carrying 65 passengers.6+5 = 115) The tragedy was on September 11, or 9/11 as it is now known.9 + 1+ 1 = 116) The date is equal to the US emergency services telephone number911. 9 + 1 + 1 = 11.*Sheer coincidence..?! Read on and make up your own mind:*1) The total number of victims inside all the hi-jacked planes was254. 2 + 5 + 4 =11.2) September 11 is day number 254 of the calendar year. Again2 + 5 + 4 = 11.3) The Madrid bombing took place on 3/11/2004. 3 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 11.4) The tragedy of Madrid happened 911 days after the Twin Towers incident.*Now this is where things get totally eerie:*The most recognized symbol for the US, after the Stars & Stripes, is theEagle. The following verse is taken from the Quran, the Islamic holy book:*"For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. Thewrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah andlo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced: forthe wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace."*That verse is number *9.11 of the Quran*.*Still unconvinced about all of this..?!

Try this and see how you feel afterwards, it made my hair stand on end:Open Microsoft Word and do the following:(Trust me this is weird, it only takes a second or two) 1. Type in capitals Q33 NY. This is the flight number of the first planeto hit one of the Twin Towers.2. Highlight the Q33 NY.3. Change the font size to 48.4. Change the actual font to the WINGDINGS*What do you think now?!!*

Teacher forces Pa. Bronco fan student to take test on floor

2006-01-24T12:18:00.000-06:00

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. -- A 17-year-old high school student said he was humiliated when a teacher made him sit on the floor during a midterm exam in his ethnicity class -- for wearing a Denver Broncos jersey.“ If he felt uncomfortable, then that's a lesson; that's what [the class] is designed to do. It was silly fun. I can't believe he was upset. ” — Ethics teacher John Kelly The teacher, John Kelly, forced Joshua Vannoy to sit on the floor and take the test Friday -- two days before the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Broncos 34-17 in the AFC championship game. Kelly also made other students throw crumpled up paper at Vannoy, whom he called a "stinking Denver fan," Vannoy told The Associated Press on Monday.Kelly said Vannoy, a junior at Beaver Area Senior High School, just didn't get the joke."If he felt uncomfortable, then that's a lesson; that's what [the class] is designed to do," Kelly told The Denver Post. "It was silly fun. I can't believe he was upset."Vannoy was wearing a No. 7 Broncos jersey on Friday, because he is a fan of John Elway, the Broncos' retired Hall of Fame quarterback.Vannoy said he was so unnerved he left at least 20 questions blank on the 60-question test, and just wants out of Kelly's class because he's afraid the teacher won't treat him fairly now that the story reached the media."I'm going to have to deal with him for two more nine weeks [school quarters] and he's going to want revenge somehow," Vannoy said Monday. "I took the test. I'm shaking. I'm furious. I didn't know what to do."Kelly, who wore a Ben Roethlisberger jersey Friday, and his principal, Thomas Karczewski, didn't immediately return messages left on their school voice mail Monday.Big Beaver Falls Area School District Superintendent Donna Nugent said she was aware of the situation, but said confidentiality rules prevent her from commenting specifically."We'll take whatever action we need to in order for the student to feel comfortable," Nugent said.

Idiotic Colts Fans

2006-01-19T13:32:00.000-06:00

I am actually really surprised that Colts fans think that if they traded away the best QB in the NFL it would help them win a superbowl. What a joke. Heres a idea how about you guys give us Peyton and we will gladly give you Daunte! Heck we will eveen pick up the reaming amount of Peytons contract. Heres the link to the article it is really a joke the way some of these fans think.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs05/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2295236

Hometown Gear

2006-01-18T15:38:00.000-06:00

I found a site today for all you Mandan alum where you can get pretty much anything. Its a site thats sells Mandan Braves Gear. Check it out!

http://ps.webstorepackage.com/hotc/mandan/

Tice article

2006-01-04T12:13:00.000-06:00

This is a story from the trib that I feel was done really well regarding the whole Tice firing. I for one am extremely happy he was canned.

Spare us the breathless hype on firing of Ticeby Sly JonesGiven how big businesses are run, it's surprising that the Vikings coach managed to keep his job as long as he did.So we're supposed to feel sorry for the professional football coach who got fired after the last game of a season in which he lost control of himself and his team? We're supposed to feel pity because he received the news in a last-minute meeting with team owner Zygi Wilf? We're supposed to weep for him because, according to one breathless reporter, the coach "walked into the cold Minneapolis night, into the arms of his wife and children, who waited for him by his car"?I don't think so. Leaving aside the bald-faced hypocrisy of media types who spent the fall and winter blasting Mike Tice's leadership and now say they're sorry to see him go, let's analyze the situation rationally.I speak for thousands of average Minnesotans who have been fired every which way: by telegram, by voice mail, in letters that were sent to the wrong address, by secretaries relaying information from their bosses. I speak for those who have been fired while on a luxury cruise, whose names were removed from their doors surreptitiously, whose offices were sealed and later turned into cloak rooms, who were escorted from the workplace by building security on their birthdays.The Minnesota Vikings are a big business and those who own that business have a responsibility to the public. Most of us who know a little about how big businesses are run were surprised that Tice managed to keep his job as long as he did. After all, if you'd been caught scalping Super Bowl tickets -- and coercing your employees to give you their tickets -- would you still have your job? I don't think so.If you'd approved a trade that brought the Vikings Napoleon Harris for Randy Moss, if you'd imported a trash-talking and now trash-acting Fred Smoot, the king of the illegal downfield chuck, and if you'd lost control of your players to the point that they thought nothing of having a sex party on two boats on Lake Minnetonka, would you still have your job? I don't think so.Tice didn't sanction the love boat fiasco, but his lack of leadership allowed it. When you play for a coach, you should respect him so much that everything you do -- everything -- is cast in the light of how he will feel about it, how it reflects on the team, and how it affects the community. That's not what happened. Instead, the knuckleheaded Vikings players who urinated on some poor woman's lawn in Minnetonka ensured that the night would be memorable in other ways. Is Tice blameless for this situation? I don't think so.Wilf is an impressive man, a businessperson who not only made the right decision but did it in a businesslike fashion. He kept his word to Tice and let him hang onto his job long after he should have been fired. Tice's affability and his coaching acumen should give him a leg up on other coaching candidates at major Division I football teams, which is where the man belongs.Now what we need is a football coach cut from the cloth of Bill Parcells who will whip the team into shape, go toe-to-toe with the owner on player and free agent signings and tell the media to sit down and shut up. The people in this town who make their living covering the Herculean feats and failures of professional athletes mostly resemble the clowns at rodeos: Their job is to attract the bull and distract the crowd. They do it well because they take themselves so seriously.It's time for levelheaded business coverage of the Vikings, with business reporters laying out the implications of hiring and firing decisions. How does this move position the Vikings to be a better organization? What was the leadership style of Mike Tice and why didn't it work? What are the implications of the Vikings' failed season on the pending stadium deal in Anoka -- and, by the way, did any stakeholders in that deal tell Wilf that Tice had to go?These are the questions that should be asked and answered. Will we get those answers from the sports media of the Twin Cities? I don't think so

Who would have guessed

2006-01-04T11:43:00.000-06:00

Just when you thought nothing interesting happened in your community especially of all places Eagan, something like this happens. This is actually really sick and hard to believe it happened just right up the street.

A 23-year-old man is accused of killing his stepmother Friday after his parents tried to get medical help for him. His lawyer said he plans a mental illness defense.
Jim Adams, Star Tribune
A 23-year-old Eagan man with a history of mental illness was charged Tuesday with the grisly slaying of his stepmother in his father's Burnsville home.
Stephen R. Miles is charged with one count of second-degree murder. He is being held in the Dakota County jail without bail pending an evaluation to determine his mental competency.
The charges said Miles hit his stepmother in the head with a hatchet and then decapitated her with a knife in the kitchen about 9 p.m. Friday.
Miles told police that his father and mother took him to the doctor Friday morning after he asked for help because something was wrong with his head. He said he didn't want to wait for his upcoming neurologist appointment. The complaint continued:
An emergency room physician at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina said no beds were available. The doctor suggested they go to the University of Minnesota Medical Center's Riverside campus in Minneapolis, but Stephen Miles wouldn't go, his father, Roland Miles, told police.
They returned to the Eagan home where Stephen Miles lived with his mother and grandmother. The father and son then went to the father's home to play chess.
Stephen Miles told police that when they arrived, his father's wife, Maris Jo Miles, 68, was upset that they had been at the Eagan home and asked them both to leave. Roland Miles asked his son to go outside and help him clear snow from the driveway.
Stephen Miles said he got a hatchet from the garage and went into the kitchen. He hit his stepmother in the head several times with the hatchet blade and cut off her head with a knife. Then he went outside and told his father what he had done. His father ran into the house, saw his wife's body and called 911.
Police found the son sitting by his father on a patio bench at the house. The knife and hatchet were found near the victim.
Police said Stephen Miles has no criminal or violent history. But police were called in October to his home in Eagan. Miles had not taken his medication and tried to pry a filling out of his mouth because he thought it was a tracking device, said police spokeswoman Danielle Anselment.
Miles' attorney, Marsh Halberg, said Miles has had mental health problems, including depression, since he was 6 years old but the episodes have grown worse recently.
Halberg said he will present a mental illness defense.
Fairview Health Services, which operates Fairview Southdale Hospital, said that it is doing a full review of the case but that no patient needing a bed is turned away. Spokesman Ryan Davenport said privacy laws prevent discussing the case, but added in a statement: "Any patient who presents for care at our emergency department receives medical evaluation and treatment."

Happy New Years

2006-01-02T13:01:00.000-06:00

Hey everybody! I hope you all had a safe and happy new years this year. JOri and I had a great time.Heres a toast to you and many more great years to come and good luck in 2006.

Living Large on Liberty Island

2005-12-29T11:45:00.000-06:00

I came across this interesting article earlier today about a guy who lived on liberty islad with his family as a child its really interesting. If you follow the links provided it links you to the full interview where he discusses behind th sceen knowedgle of events that took plac while he was their.
National Public Radio has a great interview with Mike Moffitt, who lived on Liberty Island for ten years while his dad was head ranger there:
"People would ask 'What part of the city are you from?' I'd say, 'Staten Island.' I got so tired of explaining Liberty Island. And 99 percent of the people would not ask one more question..."
He and his brother and sister did normal kid things -- riding bikes and beachcombing -- but there were a few unusual side benefits.
"Occasionally my dad would take us into the torch," Moffitt says. "I don't know if he was breaking some rules... it's locked to the public. It's pretty scary. The arm is always moving. And you're on a fairly thin sheet of copper."
Mike lived on the island in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but it seems likely that someone from the Parks Department still lives on the island today-- which means there might be another generation of Liberty Island skateboarders growing up there right now! [Related: Google Maps has a satellite view of the island-- the house seems to be on the north side.]

Merry Christmas Everybody

2005-12-13T20:16:00.000-06:00

We took the kids to see the fatman today. Mikayla this year really wants to get a Dora the Explorer Kitchen and a Dora the Explorer Mini-car. I am thinking Santa will have room in his bag for the kitchen not sure about the car. I dont know about anybody else but man did I want on of those mini cars when I was a kid I always thought they where so cool. Back thenthey cost like $500.00 luckily now days they have gotten alot cheaper in price. To bad I will not be able to fit in and take that baby for ride when we decide to get her one, LOL. Colin of course will be happy with whatever he gets considering he doesnt really know whats going on, LOL unless of course its chocolate then he will be all over that. As for Jori and I, new boxers and socks are always great to get,LOL. Hope everyones holiday this season goes great.

Update on previous report regarding SD tallest building

2005-12-04T10:47:00.000-06:00

State's tallest building withstands demolition

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Thousands of spectators gathered Saturday to watch the demolition of the city's tallest building — but the Zip Feed Mill tower was no pushover.
The 202-foot-tall concrete structure dropped slightly, leaned a little — and stopped. Onlookers at viewing spots all over downtown groaned and gasped — with a few jokes mixed in.
"The leaning tower of Zip," one woman said.
"The building won!" yelled another man, to the cheers of onlookers.
The abandoned feed mill elevator, widely considered the tallest building in South Dakota, was being demolished to make way for office and retail space.
The property owners had turned the event into a fundraiser for the Dakota chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Residents bought T-shirts and $1 raffle tickets for the chance to trigger the blast and stood outside with temperatures in the teens to view the tower's demise.
Crews had drilled holes into the tower's supporting columns and stuffed them with explosives, intending to drop the tower like a falling tree.
However, the rear of the tower was so rotten it wasn't stiff enough to push over, said Jim Redyke, president of blasting specialist Dykon Explosive Demolition of Tulsa, Okla.
"As the weight was transferred to the back side, it crushed the back walls, and it crushed the basement wall," Redyke said. The tower collapsed into the structure's basement and got wedged.
Crews planned to return to knock it down with a crane, but that might not happen until Thursday, said Jeff Hanson, spokesman for the site's co-owners, Raven Industries and Howalt-McDowell Insurance.
Officials examined the site and determined the tower would hold, but the site remains fenced off and watched by security guards.
The blast may have been enough to knock off the tower's tallest building status. The Qwest Tower in downtown Sioux Falls wasn't far behind at 195 feet.
The tower opened in 1956 as one of the most modern feed elevators of its time but ceased operations in 2000. It stands in an industrial section just east of downtown in this city of 134,000.

Batboy

2005-11-30T12:15:00.000-06:00

Superhero in training

BOOM!!!

2005-11-14T21:28:00.000-06:00

Check this out! The tallest building in the entire state of South Dakota is up for demolition and for $1.00 you could be the lucky one to win the oppurutunity to push the button to blow it up. Its no North Dakota State Capital but it still would be sweet to see.
http://www.blowzipup.com/index.php

Packers — Dumbest Team in the NFL

2005-10-25T18:00:00.000-05:00

This article courtesy of my friends at www.packerssuck.com. I am honestly surprised the Vikings did as well as they did. But I guess when you have Matt Birk on your team he will kind of tip the scale in your favor.

According to the Wonderlic Personnel Test, the dumbest team in the NFL happens to be the Green Bay Packers.
The Wonderlic is used by teams as part of their package of factors for drafting strategy.
The Minnesota Vikings players are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for 14th among the NFL's 32 teams with an average Wonderlic Personnel Test score of 21.5, according to a story in the Friday September 30, 2005 issue of the Wall Street Journal. The Wonderlic, a 12-minute standardized test with 50 questions, is given to college football players hoping to be taken in the NFL draft.
The Journal gathered test results from websites, published reports and individuals close to the NFL and then verified "as many as we could with agents and teams and calculated the average scores for each team."
The Journal reported Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper scored an average 21; center Matt Birk, a Harvard grad, had a 46.
The St. Louis Rams players finished atop the listings with a 24.6 average, followed by the Oakland Raiders (23.3), Tennessee Titans (23.2), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (23.2) and San Diego Chargers (23).
Last? The Green Bay Packers had a 19.1 average, with nine players scoring below 14.
Packer wideout Javon Walker had an extremely low score of an almost unheard of... 9. It almost makes you wonder if he knows how to read. Did he actually graduate from high school and college or did they just promote him so that they wouldn't have to deal with him anymore?
It is nice to see that the Packers are at the bottom of the league in terms of this Personnel Test. Perhaps this has some reason to do with their quick 0-4 start during the 2005 NFL season.

Crazy!

2005-10-06T11:20:00.000-05:00

Snake chokes on Everglades alligator snack
October 6, 2005
MIAMI -- The alligator has some foreign competition at the top of the Everglades food chain, and the results of the struggle are horror-movie messy.
A 13-foot Burmese python recently burst after it apparently tried to swallow a live 6-foot alligator, authorities said.
"It means nothing in the Everglades is safe from pythons, a top-down predator," said Frank Mazzotti, a University of Florida wildlife professor.
At least 150 pythons -- abandoned by pet owners, or possibly the pets' offspring -- have been captured in the Everglades in the past two years, said Joe Wasilewski, a wildlife biologist and alligator tracker.
The gory remains of the latest gator-python encounter -- the fourth documented in the past three years -- were discovered and photographed last week by a helicopter pilot and wildlife researcher.

A bite too much
Everglades National Park/associated Press
The dead snake was found with the dead gator's hindquarters protruding from its midsection. Mazzotti said the alligator may have clawed at the python's stomach as the snake tried to digest it.
In previous incidents, the alligators won or battled to an apparent draw.
Pythons could threaten many smaller species that conservationists are trying to protect in the Everglades, including other reptiles, otters, squirrels and wood storks, Mazzotti said.

Madden Bug

2005-10-04T17:24:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a bug in a roster update for the online version of popular NFL game "Madden 2006", a player who is 6-feet-3, 305 pounds -- appears in the game to be 7 inches tall. It's the bug that makes Michael King look like a bug.
King, who is a lineman for the New York Jets was apparently the victim of a typo made when the rosters were updated.
The game makers, EA, offer periodic updates during the National Football League season that take contain updated information such as player trades and injuries so teams can have the most accurate rosters. But in the most recent update, King's height was entered incorrectly and wasn't noticed until it was downloaded by thousands.
"You can barely see him on the field, unless you go into replay (mode)", said Phil Frazier, a "Madden" producer. "He's a tiny little guy". (see below)
But not all players are complaining, and the general reaction to the bug has been laughter with some calling it the "best bug ever".

Jeeebus

2005-09-25T17:14:00.000-05:00

So surfing the web today I come across this site devoted to some statue in Ohio or something like that about a giant Jesus statue some church built next to the highway that people are now starting to claim has elemanated deaths on the highway. Check out the site though its pretty funny.

http://www.jeeeb.us/

Vikings new Stadium

2005-09-21T08:34:00.000-05:00

I am pretty excited about the new stadium! Its really looks like it will be sweet!

My Friend Stanley

2005-09-20T16:49:00.000-05:00

Stanley paid a visit to my work today.

DUH! Which way did he go! Which way did he go!

2005-09-19T16:02:00.000-05:00

I am officialy on the "Fire Tice" wagon! Before I just dealt with him and it really didnt matter when he made bone-headed calls, but now he is still a bonehead and the entire Vikings squad is horrible. He needs to go and he needs to go now, Our season does not have much potential if he keeps running the same offensive junk all year so it really wouldnt hurt to bring in a new head coach and revamp the entire system mid way into the season. We honestly do not have a prayer, and yes I understand its only the second game of the season but lets be realistic here these guys blow. They look flustered they look confused and they seem to have no direction. Now I read today Tice is taking over calling the offense plays which they say he did the last 5 minutes of the game against the Bengals. Wow that worked out great, Got one TD when teh Coincy Defense really could care less what happened and decided to call all these time outs at the end of the game risking possible injury to other players. Not to mention I wonder how the team feels in their offensive cordinator now??????? Your head coach basically takes away his job, I have a feeling all respect is now lost for him. WHAT A MESS!!!!!!

THE GREAT BRETT FAVRE! LOL

2005-09-12T16:42:00.000-05:00

Hey Packer fans look at your allmighty Brett Favre! Maybe its time to hang up the bOOTS ESPECIALLY NOW THAT YOUR #1 RECEIVER IS OUT FOR THE SEASON. The Packers are done in 2005-2006 put a fork in them now. They will begin their cellar reign today.

2005-09-03T15:18:00.000-05:00

The Salvation Army is currently providing services to storm victims and first responders in the Gulf Coast states.
A $100 donation to The Salvation Army will feed a family of four for two days, provide two cases of drinking water and one household clean-up kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets, and cleaning supplies
How to donate
Online
Phone
Mail
In Person
Please use one of the following links. Due to your overwhelming response, these servers may be busy at times. Please be patient.
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To donate by phone, call:
1-800-SAL-ARMY
To donate by mail, send checks, earmarked 'disaster relief,' to
PO BOX 4857JACKSON, MS39296-4857
Visit your local Wal-Mart or Sam's Club to donate to The Salvation Army's Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

More Information
For further information on our relief efforts, and all of our other work, please visit our main website.

WOW!!!

2005-08-24T16:19:00.000-05:00

(The term "family bond" takes on new meaning when used to describe Dick Hoyt and his son Rick, Massachusetts natives who personify what it means to live for another human being. In 1962 Rick was born after a complicated labor, where a dangerously coiled umbilical cord cut off oxygen to his brain. The family was told by doctors that in Rick's vegetative state it would be best to institutionalize him. Nonetheless, the Hoyts were committed to raising their son as "normally" as possible and knew that behind Rick's physical handicaps lurked a healthy mind. With the help of Tufts University, which had developed cutting-edge technology allowing Rick to communicate through head movements, the Hoyts discovered he was a natural sports fan and healthy competitor. Five years later, in 1977, Dick pushed his son's wheelchair through a five-mile benefit run and found the race had given Rick the miraculous feeling of being able-bodied. With that knowledge, Dick subsequently dedicated his life to giving Rick the feeling as often as possible. REAL SPORTS' Mary Carillo, in collaboration with Sports Illustrated, chronicles a journey that began with love. )

I am truly in awe of this man. Last night I caught the segment about Team Hoyt on HBO REAL Sports and the segment brought me to tears. It was so emotional and as a father myself made me relate to how I would do impossible feats for my son or daughter like this man. Just the fact that he completes 5k charity runs while puhing his son and completes them in above average time truly amazes me. I have taken the kids with me running many times and let me tell you it is not a easy thing to do. The extra force that is being applied to your running adds double the work load and really makes you focus on the run. To think this man has did this in the 5k a 10k a freaking full blown marathon and get this guys a Triathalon is above amazing. After I got done watching the segment the motivation and desire to run came all back to me and I went straight to my treadmill and pounded out 5 miles. These last 12 weeks have been so tiring and to see a man like this do what he does really makes me look at this in a whole new light. If you want to learn more about his cause and his running accomplishments, swing over t9o there website and read alittle about these two it will be well worth you time!http://www.teamhoyt.com/

James Blunt

2005-08-11T09:29:00.000-05:00

So I a came across this guy while listening to random music on some British airways and absoulutly love the guy! He is one of the freshest new artists I have heard in a long time! I really enjoy the song "You're Beautiful" You all must check it out. Here is a link to his site. Very origal stuff, and deep lyrics.
http://www.jamesblunt.com/

Hammer Time

2005-08-04T15:51:00.000-05:00

I honestly have to to say this guy really must have been watching one hell of a game to get this pissed off.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. -- A man who got angry with his wife because she wanted to cuddle after sex when what he really wanted to do was watch sports on television was sentenced to death for killing her with a claw hammer. Christopher Offord, 30, was sentenced Wednesday by Circuit Judge Dedee Costello, who said the brutality of the crime outweighed any mental problems Offord may have had. "The defendant struck his wife approximately 70 individual blows after spending a happy interlude with her," the judge said. "Her desire to cuddle after sex does not justify the extremely violent, brutal response of the defendant." Offord pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the 2004 slaying of Dana Noser, 40, at his apartment. He confessed to a bartender at a sports bar before his arrest. He told investigators that his wife had been nagging him to come back to bed. Offord did not speak in court but said in a jailhouse interview in June: "I figured I killed her so I deserve to die."

2005-07-12T10:10:00.000-05:00

Surfing the net today looking for great gag trophys for my family golf tourny I came across a little piece of history. Yes my friends The horses ass!!! The history this trophy holds alone would create one of the greateset comedy movies of all time. What ever became of this great trophy? Does it still exist or is it to be forgotten? Non the less the great horses ass trophy will always be something I will remember! LOL

Yo Quiero Taco Bell

2005-07-11T15:57:00.000-05:00

I have just began the slow fall into married life. My wife has actually talked me into purchasing a new puppy. She is 9 weeks old. So are you saying to yourself "well whats the problem, a puppy 8 weeks old what could be wrong",wellllll its a freaking tiny Chiwahwah, gods equal to the rat as a dog. So now I have this little thing running around our house pissing, and taking dumps the size larger than its leg. We have decided to name it "Mina" so I guess I cant accidentaly make it have a accident one day under the tire of my car now that we have named it.I am sure it will not be all that bad though, it will be nice to have a dog, although it would be much better if it where a lab but you cant have everything. Colin is allready into the dog food he thinks its a buffet on the the floor,LOL, we have since moved the dog food and water to a enclosed area so he stops eating the food. Mina and Colin get along great though they chase each other around the house all day. Kayla really likes the puppy too she loves to hold it and walk it around the house. And I dont even need to explain how Jori feels about it, we all know the answer to that(Paris Hilton is only her idol).So the journey starts now I guess, lets just cross our fingers the dog stays healthy and doesnt cost us a arm and a leg at the vet. I will post pictures soon of her so you all can see.

A problem I have with Christianity

2005-06-28T15:58:00.000-05:00

So I came across this very interesting statement today and thought I would place it on my blog to see what people thought. What is said really makes alot of sense I would be interested to see what other people think about this.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If God created Humans-- then he created us with rational thinking brains.Using my rational thinking brain I cannot prove or disprove the existence of God.God is willing to send me to hell for all of eternity because I do not believe in him.It seems to me that the failing is not mine... it seems as though God should make himself a little more apparent. The fact that he is willing to send me to hell for all of eternity because I don't believe in him makes me glad that I don't worship him. What kind of monster would send anybody to hell for all of eternity because they didn't believe in him? Especially when it could have been avoided if God only had the gumption to show himself in a little more apparent way. We spend around 80 years on this earth... I can't imagine anything that would warrant an eternity in hell... that's a ridiculous punishment.

Duck Tape Stuck at Prom Contest

2005-06-26T18:11:00.000-05:00

Surfing the net today I came across the duct tape website that is actually giving kids scholorships to school if they make a all duct tape dress and suit and wear it to there Prom.You have to take a look at the pictures of the entrants. WOW!!!!!
http://www.ducktapeclub.com/contests/prom/

I think the best is the couple that actually dressed up like ducks!!!(as in quack,quack)

We are moving on up!!

2005-06-26T10:13:00.000-05:00

Well its official we have gotten our new place.It is located in Eagan. We are very excited and look forward to getting all moved in.
Here are a few pictures of the place.

Star Wars

2005-06-24T16:24:00.000-05:00

I just stumbled onto this the other day. A guy made a 45 minute Star Wars Fan Film called "Revelations." The acting is bad, the women are goth-like and the guys are chubby with hilarious haircuts, like those guys from the audio/video club in high school, but apart from that it's not bad. "But then who am I to be critical?" he asked himself philosophically. The CGI is pretty impressive. He made it for 20,000 dollars. The last Star Wars movie cost 113,000,000 USD or something (before actor's salaries I think). You can watch the streamed version here:you-really-need-a-girlfriend-my-young-padawan.The details are kind of cool actually. They use an old "Victory Class" Star Destroyer in a shipyard scene (yes, I am ASHAMED that I know that). Darth Vader sounds like he has a frog in his throat though.Enjoy

July 4th in Mandan

2005-06-24T07:46:00.000-05:00

It is once again that time of year. On wednesday the family and I will be traveling back to where the west began,Mandan North Dakot to partake in the 4th of July festivities. As a added bonus this year to the normal fun our family on my moms side is having our family reunon.It will be really nice to catch up with all my cousins and the rest of my family. Of course the fireworks will be kickass they are not like the crap they sell here in minnesota(you from gods country know what I am talking about)I will try to make the rodeo this year and catch the Bull Riding that is always cool to see. The 4th of July fireworks show they have at teh rodeo grounds is also one of the best in the country so that should be great again this year. The annual bar crawl will also be taking place which is basically a trip down down main street mandan and hitting every bar on the strip getting a drink at each stop on the way. It really make for a good time.Update will follow when I get back on the 5th.

2005-06-12T11:19:00.000-05:00

Big Day June 14th!!!!2 year Anniversary

Fishing with Kayla

2005-06-06T15:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I took Kayla out fishing for her first time. I went over to our local WalMart and picked her up a bright Pink Barbie rod about the size of your normal ice fishing pole. Along with a Dora the Explorer bobber(yes they actual make them). After about 5 minutes of trying to remember how to set up the rod as far as remembering the fishermans knot and where exactly to place the weights and bobber I finally got to hooking the worm. While putting the worm on my beutifull little angle of a daughter repeatedly told me loudly to just stick the worm so the fish can eat it. So we get the worm hooked and its time to drop it in and see what we get. Well Kayla wanted to get right into things so she insisted on being the one to hold the pole. So I hit the release button and down went the line into the water. Thinking it would be several minutes before anything bit I turned around to make sure Colin was doing ok when I hear Kayla say something is pulling her into the water. This all took place within 5 seconds. Sure enough she had her 1st fish on the line. I can honestly say she was able to real that thing in all by herself,And once it came out of the water the look on her face was priceless. Of course the fish was about the size of a Golfball and there was no way we could keep it it was still a huge moment for her and for me. My part of the story goes like this: Its been about 5 years since I have unhooked those little sunnies and I paid for it. That little sucker got his fin into my hand a little.Note to self after that remember to grab those suckers and squeeze tight when removing the hook.Unfortunatly I did not get a picture being right when I was unhooking it it began to downpoor and we had to haul butt back to the house. So it will just have to be a memory I have about how my little girl got her first fish all by herself 5 seconds into her 1st attempt at fishing.

Superman

2005-06-04T09:06:00.000-05:00

I the past few months I have been following the filming of the new Superman flick. check out the link i supplied below if your a superman fan because there is some sweet behind the sceen filming footage.
http://www.bluetights.net/bulletin_list.php

Winery right in our backyard

2005-06-03T18:55:00.000-05:00

A buddy told me about this winery located very close here in the twin citys area that has some award winning wines. It would really be cool to check out sometime when they have there saturday afternoon wine tastings! Check out the link I supplied to their winery its pretty cool and shows a complete list of all the events they will be hosting.

http://www.winehaven.com/index.phtml

Its Official

2005-06-02T15:15:00.000-05:00

http://www.twincitiesmarathon.org/marathon/confirmationsearch.cfm

2005-06-01T17:36:00.000-05:00

The Kids!!!

Taking it to the Streets

2005-05-31T11:29:00.000-05:00

On Saturday I took the training outside. Man what a difference that made let me tell you. It was so refreshing to be outside and breath the fresh air and have something to look at other than a wall in front of me which I have at the Gym. I was able to get up to about 4.5 miles which I am very pleased with considering thats about the most I have ran at once in around 7 years. On sunday I was able to get My wife Jori to come out with me which was great! The kids have also been joining in the fun, I load them both in the double joggr and they really enjoy coming along for the ride. Half way on the trail there is a park so Kayla is able to get out and play and Colin can crawl around on the grass. They both really look forward to that. Somedays I am really asking myself how in the world I am going to get to the point of being able to do 26.5 miles for this marathon but I can honestly say I can feel my endourance rising everyday being I am able to go longer distances without having to slow my pace down. Its nice to have something to focus on athletically again like this, it really is uplifting training again.

Kale and Collards

2005-05-26T13:39:00.000-05:00

This is a great site about Kale. It for sure sounds really healthy, it may be worth a try.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/vegetabletravelers/kale.html

Juicer Part 2

2005-05-26T12:44:00.000-05:00

Not only does the juicer provide healthy drinks made of fruits it can also be the means to a great night. For example the other day I placed a whole fresh pinnapple in the juicer mixed in fresh coconut milk and some tasty captain morgan rum. Making what turned out to be one of the smoothest, silky , great tasting pina coladas I have ever had. The testing will continue.

Sand Volleyball

2005-05-26T12:37:00.000-05:00

I have joined a Sand Volleyball league this summer and have to say I forgot how much fun this sport really was. Over the winter I played indoors but it just does not compare to the sand. Our team has alot to work on but we manage to win games which is always great. As of today our record stands at 1win 1 loss.

Marathon Training is a go!

2005-05-26T12:29:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to get my fat ass off the couch and do something physical. Talking with a few friends I was introduced to the Marathon. A grueling 26.2 Miles around and across the twin cities. So here I am now 3 weeks into training and feeling a whole hell of a lot better about the way I look as the well as the way I feel physically and mentally. I still have a long way to go, but so far I am very happy with my results. For example when training began 3 weeks ago I could barely run nonstop half a mile as of today I am up to 3 miles at a steady pace. Yesterday I pumped up the speed on the treadmill to 7.1 and tried to see how far I could go without stopping. Low and behold I made a little over a mile. I made the mile in 9:02 which I am very happy about. One thing I have been very happy about is the weight coming off When I started my training I was at 212 Today I am at 201 this is all just from basically weights and running not to mention watching what I eat. I look forwrad to updating this site about my progress and then eventually on Oct2nd for the marathon itself a final post showing the payoff. Heres to a healthier more positive me!

The Juicer Part 1

2005-04-29T18:18:00.000-05:00

Today I bought a juicer. The juicer is the greatest thing man has ever created. For example who would guess placing a Apple,Carrot,papaya,orange,banana,mango,strawberries,and a pear would create the greatest cup up juice I have ever had. If you all do not own a juicer yet go get one! I will be experimenting with different vegatables and fruits and post comments on my blog. If anybody has a good idea for me to try place it on the blog and I will try it and let you know how it tastes.

Napoleon Dynamite

2005-01-30T09:01:00.000-06:00

http://www.collegehumor.com/news/2005-01-20.napoleon.php