Conner's Blog

It’s Friday today, which is good because I woke up yesterday thinking it was Friday. That was disappointing. I had a hard time deciding what to post today, a lot of stuff in the reader, but here goes, the standard wacky and disconnected collection of posts from the last week or so.

• This made me smile
• A fantastic photo from a new blog I recently discovered
• Crystal posts a really interesting recipe that involves turning an apple pie into a lollipop.
• The inspiration for what will probably be a very short lived night out to play strip Foursquare.
• Salt and Fat, a fantastic new food blog, posts a recipe for eggs poached in tomato sauce, which is something I’ve been meaning to try for years.

So that’s that, have a wonderful weekend, avoid the roads whenever possible, and if you see me out and about yell my name loudly so I can buy you a beer.

I took a little blogging hiatus and it was refreshing, but now Friday Five is back with more fun, more randomness, and even more awesome things written by people not named Conner.  Today is a roundup of links that came across my reader that caught my eye. Enjoy.

• If you have a birthday coming up, The Heavy Table has a great roundup of great restaurants that give free desserts on your special day
• Bigboxcar points us to a photo of a giant rubber ducky
• Febgiving has been declared and I’m coming out as a supporter, get your stomachs ready
• MN Headhunter posts a really great writeup of being offered his dream job
• Unclutter showcases the best unitasker items of the year

Have a great weekend all, I’m off to the frozen tundra of Grand Forks to take in a hockey game and catchup with old friends. It should be fun, and I hopefully I don’t have a repeat of last years trip.

Today’s five includes a few touches of vulgarity, excellent design, and beer.  What more can you ask for?

• I really like this poster that you need to  make. Christmas present anyone?
• Ed calls out Zygi Wilf for the welfare recipient that he wants to be. (note: I don’t want the Vikes to leave, but when we can’t pay for roads we can’t pay for a stadium)
• Nicole concocts a plan involving Sarah Silverman, brisket, and nudity. I’m all for it.
• Love this serving glass.
• If you ever want to know what beer you should drink, this chart has you covered.

Have a great weekend everyone. It’s supposed to be in the 20s, so get out there and enjoy it. I for one am going to be playing in the snow all weekend. Of course by playing in the snow I mean running from the bus to the bar as quickly as possible because even 25 is too freaking cold.

Can you believe we are only one full work week away from Christmas?  Shocking, I know. Here are five things that caught my eye this week. Enjoy.

• Some interesting tips for non-writers from a Hugo award winner.
• From what could be my favorite new blog this year, Letters of Note, the message sent immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor commenced.
• A sad but uplifting story of a shop dog from south Minneapolis.
• The Heavy Table posted a delicious looking Gnocchi recipe that I intend to try soon.
• I love this design that includes a great Oscar Wilde quote.

I hope all of you have a fantastic weekend, we are supposed to get to 25 above on Saturday, which is going to feel amazing.

Art and I had a conversation about old blog posts earlier this week.  This got me thinking about some of my old posts.  So today’s post is self serving and contains five posts that I really enjoyed for some reason.

• My last birthday corresponded with a celebrity meetup
• I gave up on online dating
• I explained, with a video, just how rural of an area I grew up in
• I informed the females of the Twin Cities how they can keep me from stalking them
• I explained how Twitter brought me back to the world of social networks

Bonus Item:  I also wrote a guide to Minnesota winters which I enjoyed.

P.S. I apologize for the ridiculous amount of typos you will experience while reading these posts.

Happy Friday the 13th everyone, get out there and enjoy the warmth, it’s bound to end sometime.

If I do nothing else for anyone today, at least I can make my readers smile.  Here are five links that will make your day better, guaranteed.  If they fail to make you smile I respectfully argue that you aren’t human and therefore aren’t included in my guarantee.

• The greatest elevator sign ever. Or at least the funniest.
• A taste of spring, because if you live in Minnesota you know you need it.
• Pandas
• A fabulous photo
• And one of the great memos ever, which contains more than than a few bad words

Happy Friday everyone, enjoy the weekend, and I promise to punch Mother Nature in the nose if she doesn’t give us at least some sunshine.

Today includes five things you should check out over the weekend.

1. An amazing article about baseball that isn’t really about baseball.
2. The New York Times Room For Debate blog discusses the honey bee problem.
3. A great video from the State Fair, stick around to the end the sunset is worth it.
4. Martha And Tom calculate the value of the farmers market, The Wedge, and Rainbow.  You may be surprised at what they found.
5. A poster I would hang in my apartment without hesitation.

Finally I leave you a bonus self promotional link to my first YouTube video.  I caught a baby orangutan showing off for the crowd at Como Zoo.

There will be no Wednesday Where? today.  I’ve been home most evenings and couldn’t find anything in my photo archives that seemed like a good candidate.  Sorry about that.  Instead I give you nine new blogs to peruse.  They have been added to my Minnesota Reading List page.  Please add any comments over there.

• All Those Possible Worlds – A tumble blog in the truest sense, lot of updates so subscribe with caution. (They are good updates though, so it’s worth it)
• insights outsights - Another tumble blog, lots of inspirational content.
• MNStories – Video’s by Minnesotans about Minnesota.
• Blog, Blog, Blog – Kassie’s new site, replacing Mmmmmm, Dinner.  Following her 101 in 1001 journey.
• Name Taglines – Name tags not found at your last convention.
• That’s how we do it in the T.C. – Replacing We Have Mixed Feelings about Sven Svengaard.
• The Punsultancy – Brought to you by the same guy who brings you Hey Look it’s Art.  If you enjoy groaning give it a try.
• T****y Photoblog – I refuse to write the whole title here, but even with a name that isn’t fit to print the photos are stellar.
• a simple exchange – Only 50% Minnesotan but 100% fun and inspirationa.

Because I’m lazy and hate coming up with new post ideas, I’m starting a new feature to compliment Wednesday Where?  It’s Friday five.  It’s five items that have something in common.  It may be five things that drove me nuts this week.  Five funny words, five posts I think you should read.  Basically the only rule is I limit it to five items and there has to be a common thread.  Today I give you five things that made me smile this week.

• Via Flickr user blueintheburge a lion who is a caption just waiting for writing.  (She does a damn good job on her own.
• Art and Emily review U Otter Stop Inn and I agree with everything they say.  In fact I was there on Tuesday night this week.  Don’t worry though I didn’t dance like Art did.
• My friends Marissa and Adam got a new family member, if that photo doesn’t bring a smile to your face I can’t help you.
• Kaeti shared this letter and after I got done being misty eyed, I took it as a challenge to see the good in things.
• I doubt you will find this inspirational poster on many office walls, but I think the point should be noted.

I should mention that this idea was stolen in part from Bob Collins who authors the News Cut blog for MPR.  His Five at eight feature is never a disappointment and is a must read if you enjoy learning new things or getting the real story behind the headlines.

I have a pretty big post I was working on this week but I just can’t get it finished.  I’m hoping to get it finished over the weekend, but it’s something I’m pretty excited to publish so I may take a little longer than normal to write it.  So today you get some thoughts and some links.  Photos are minimal but that’s okay.

• If you haven’t seen this mashup of the Brat Pack dancing to Lisztomania yet you’re missing out.  I’ve watched this video multiple times and it still gets to me.
• An onion tart is featured over at Orangette
• I never finished my post on seeing Solid Gold at the Lynlake Streetfest but here is a photo.  More can be found here.

• Simple, Good, and Tasty writes about a school in Newark that put growing lunch into the students hands.  I love this idea, I think everyone should grow their own food at least once.
• Do you restrict your hi-res photos on Flickr, read this please. (via Deets after Dark)
• The lock and dams in Minneapolis are pretty prominent features on your river, still I can’t help but wish we had this. (via kottke)
• No smoking in the Metrodome gives up the best thing I’ve seen in a while.  A Twins logo outside that will soon overlook real outdoor baseball.  Related:  Look at that view!
• A completely valid use of an ad.  Tim Olson, I agree with you.
• Freshtopia.net has a recipe for a virgin ginger mojito.  I tried it and it was good, and you could even ad rum if your feeling rebellious.  (found via heidiohlander)
• And because I’m posting this an hour before Friday, always remember, the Flickr: Last 7 days interesting photos link is always, always, always worth a click.

Have a fabulous Friday and enjoy the heck out of your weekend.