Information Privacy

I struggle with the issue of information privacy. One of my pals finally goaded me into joining Facebook. I think I have it locked entirely down so only friends can see my profile, but there are so many settings I am not entirely sure. It is still a bit creepy for me as I feel it inherently provides some false sense of privacy that may lead to over-sharing of information.

I view the blog is something entirely different. I have no expectation of privacy. Here I have 100% control over what I write and zero percent control over who sees it, just like my newspaper column. And strangely, there is rarely ever been a negative comment. One person objected anonymously to a post where I wrote about liking the KQ92 morning show four years ago. Another person objected to a post where I said I loved my '93 Ford Festiva the summer before last. That's OK, a lot of people find the KQ morning show and Festivas objectionable.

I fastidiously avoid posting about religion, politics, work or anything racy. One thing I worried about when starting the blog was whether some stalker would find it or some weirdo would start sending me creepy emails. Neither has occurred in the past five years, so I suppose that was an unfounded fear. Perhaps my fears of Facebook (or SpaceFace as my hubby likes to call it) are completely unfounded as well. What are your thoughts? How private is your Internet information?

Sandwich Artist Feeds Starving Programmer

Simplify, Simplify. Instead of three meals a day, if necessary, let it be one. - Henry David Thoreau, Walden, p. 56

I thoroughly enjoy the Veggie Delite sandwich from Subway. Not so much for the content or quality of the food, but for the cheery demeanor of my favorite sandwich artists. I used to work near a Subway where all the employees had tattoos on their neck and scowls on their faces. After being chastised for requesting a glass of water with my sandwich, I was a little intimidated and loathe to return.

Now I work near a Subway with downright fabulous employees. The manager greets me by name every time he sees me. My favorite sandwich artist always gives me extra jalapenos. I don't even have to ask. No one there has ever given me a hard time for asking for a glass of water. The other day the credit card machine was down, and I didn't have cash, so my sandwich artist just let me pay him back for my Veggie Delite today. He looked surprised I remembered and gave me a discount as a thank you.

After a rough morning at work, just having someone cheerfully help with with my sandwich makes my day. The simple pleasures in life are the sweetest. If I had to pick a favorite all-time meal, it would be a Veggie Delite prepared by a cheery sandwich artist.

Farmington Dew Days 2009

Farmington Dew Days is back. A while ago my favorite city festival was renamed to Rambling River Days and the logo was changed to a group of restroom sign people holding hands. You know the generic man and woman that decorate restroom doors - they were prominently featured in last year's logo. Even the gender-neutral wheelchair person got in on the logo action. This year the Farmington festival is returning to its roots, hearkening back to the time when Farmington consumed the most Mountain Dew per capita of any town on earth.

Although the Kiss the Pig audience last weekend was mainly comprised of a motley group of senior citizens, little Miss Farmington contestants and roadies for the cover band Touched, I hold great hope this weekends events will sport better attendance. I'm looking forward to the motocross competition Friday night and the carnival and outdoor movie "Twilight" on Saturday. I hope to see you there!

Defensive Driving

Right now I am reporting live from downtown Rosemount, where I am on my lunch break from defensive driving class at nearby Dakota County Technical College. This morning was classroom instruction. Distracted driving can get you killed. Do not use cell phones, drink coffee or allow pets or passengers to move around the vehicle unrestrained. Anything that takes your eyes off the freeway for 2 seconds can lead to you traveling the length of a football field without looking where you are going. That said, now that I've rid the Smart car of coffee cups and turned off the radio, I'm ready to hit the course for some undistracted driving challenges.

On Channel 10 Tonight: Windows 2000

The news this past week was filled with stories about the switchover from analog to digital TV signal. When the switchover was first announced, I posited it was a conspiracy by flat screen manufacturers to force consumers to give up their beloved console television sets. Since then I've gotten extra basic cable (local channels, plus C-SPAN, WGN and in case you are really having trouble sleeping, C-SPAN II.) Tonight at I clapped on* the console for the first time since the switchover. I flipped through the channels looking for The Simpsons. I'm guessing the digital switchover wasn't painless for the Farmington/Rosemount area branch of the cable company. Channel 10 is currently broadcasting the Windows 2000 Professional screen saver with an audio soundtrack of contemporary Christian rock. The soundtrack seems out of place to me. After spending a few years saddled with a work laptop running Windows 2000, I'm certain quite a few people have taken Christ's name in vain while using that OS. There's nothing heavenly about Windows 2000.

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* I use a Clapper to turn the TV on and off since it lacks a remote.

Fargo Rock City

Fargo Rock City : A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota by Chuck Klosterman

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I had to rate this book as amazing because it features an entire chapter on Guns'N'Roses. I spent around a year, year and a half, where I listened to Appetite for Destruction once a day either on my way to or from work. Now that I know someone else out there has done the same, I don't feel so bad about my level of obsession. In addition to being obsessed with Axl Rose, Chuck Klosterman is both a humorous and insightful writer. I recommend Fargo Rock City to any metal head or anyone who has to live with one.


View all my reviews.

Minnesota: Your Next Eco-Adventure Vacation

I came across a stunning Minnesota reference in David Brooks' "Bobos in Paradise":

. . . today's educated executives thrill and then eventually bore you with their high-altitude conquests. . . . In the midst of such soliloquies I used to wonder why these North Face Folks didn't just take their two-week winter vacation and go to Minnesota to join a road crew. If they wanted brutal conditions, a tough challenge, and team camaraderie, at least in Minnesota they could have filled in a few potholes and had something to show for their misery.

Mr. Brooks, I completely agree. Why climb a mountain when you can achieve frostbite here in Minnesota? I have a few grey bits of flesh on my toes to brag about. Although those are do to a completely pedestrian story about a broken car heater, when I embellish it a bit, it's nearly as captivating as any executive's story about their latest eco-adventure.

Brooks, David. 2000. Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. pp.210-211.