Reid's Blog

Weekend To-Do List

2010-03-13T21:41:00.001-06:00

~~Disassemble bathroom~~
Reassemble bathroom
Think about video cameras
Fill phone book
Figure out trip financials
Fix fish scale
Play Zuma's Revenge
Phone call
Fix Popups

31st Annual Pasta Party

2010-03-07T20:52:00.000-06:00

Erin threw me a wonderful pasta party for my birthday. We made a giant loop of pasta that was 18+ meters long.

Crawfordsville Visit

2010-03-07T20:42:00.000-06:00

Last week, Erin and I went down to Crawfordsville to visit her mom.

Milo the cat.

Creepy (but apparently valuable) doll.

Twin driveways leading to the house Erin's sister will be renting.

Erin's sister's rental comes with an outhouse (the land used to be a campground). There's no women's.

View Southeast from Washington Avenue Bridge

2010-03-07T20:14:00.002-06:00

Weekend To-Do List

2010-03-06T13:24:00.009-06:00

~~Blog some photos~~
~~Have awesome birthday party thrown by lovely wife~~
~~Make a great hole in the bathroom wall~~
Think about video cameras
Fill phone book
Figure out trip financials
Fix fish scale
~~Play Zuma's Revenge~~
Phone call
~~Vacuum, mop, sweep~~
Fix Popups
~~Do dishes~~
~~Do some work~~
~~Clean out e-mail~~
~~Clean up after party~~
~~Go to Menards~~
~~Blog party pics~~

Lens Focal Length Analysis II

2010-02-22T22:13:00.000-06:00

Last year, I posted a histogram of lens focal lengths from my Stevens Canyon adventure.

Here's the histogram for my recent Grand Canyon adventure. This time, I took just one lens, the Nikkor 18-200. It's again a bi-modal distribution, but it's not quite so lopsided; on the long end, while there's a spike at 200mm (the max), it doesn't feel quite so confining. On the other hand, it sure would be nice to go wider than 18mm!

Alternative kits include the Nikkor 16-85, or a (perhaps not quite so horrible) two-lens kit, maybe the 16-85 plus a 55-200 or 70-300. Of course, long lenses get heavy (the 70-300 is 750g). Also, it would be a blast to take along the 10.5mm fisheye.

Bridge at sunset

2010-02-22T21:16:00.000-06:00

Weekend To-Do List

2010-02-20T10:44:00.009-06:00

Set up new phone
Figure out trip financials
Write blurb on how to buy Reid presents
Fix fish scale
~~Work on pack weight~~
~~Clean out e-mail~~
~~Clean out Google Reader~~
~~Play Zuma's Revenge~~
Phone call
Upgrade slice kernel
~~Vacuum~~, mop, sweep
~~Work on trip photos~~
~~Fix plant stand~~
Make pouch for bus pass
~~Clean off table~~
~~Pick up living room~~
~~Think about Twitter~~
~~Unpack~~
Fix Popups
~~Do laundry~~
~~Wash dishes~~ 2x

Entering Interlocking Limits

2010-02-18T22:29:00.000-06:00

It's Light Out When I Go Home, Sometimes

2010-02-16T18:52:00.000-06:00

One of the nice things about late February is that it's finally light enough in the evening that I can leave work while the sun is still in the sky and not feel like I just got there. It's also a nice photo time.

Severed Alligator Head

2010-02-14T16:59:00.001-06:00

This severed alligator head was a gift for Erin, but it also attended some of the sessions.

Weekend To-Do List

2010-02-12T22:24:00.010-06:00

Vacuum, mop, sweep
~~Write cranky letter to US Federal~~
~~Secret item~~
Work on trip photos
Fix plant stand
Make pouch for bus pass
~~Hassle elected officials about health care, partisanship~~
Clean off table
~~Run~~
~~Shovel driveway & back walk, etc.~~
~~Secret phone call~~
Apply for jobs 2x
Work on Apache bug
~~Post alligator blog post~~
Think about Twitter
~~Tinker with backpack weight~~
Unpack
~~Go to play~~

CSCW 2010 #2

2010-02-10T23:19:00.000-06:00

Cliff.

Do not feed the alligators.

Brent.

Moira.

Jackie.

Jackie's fish.

No more fish.

CSCW 2010 #1

2010-02-09T00:12:00.000-06:00

Fancy Olympic hotel.

Travis.

Sarah.

Kurt.

Weekend To-Do List

2010-02-06T14:03:00.004-06:00

~~Go to bank, grocery, Target~~
~~Write down phone numbers~~
~~Go to library~~
~~Shovel sno~~
~~Pay bills~~
~~Review checklists~~
~~Write down books~~
~~Pack~~
~~Gather paperwork~~
~~Fix Erin's headlight~~
~~Vacuum~~, mop, sweep
Write cranky letter to US Federal
Secret item
~~Weigh backpacking items~~
~~Clean up living room~~
Work on trip photos
Fix plant stand
Make pouch for bus pass
Hassle elected officials about health care, partisanship
Clean off table
Run

Trip Report Shout-Out

2010-01-31T22:25:00.001-06:00

I love outdoor adventures, and for the past few years, I've written up detailed trip reports afterwards, with lots of photos. I just completed updating them all to my new visual design. I'm quite proud of these reports (many of which I co-wrote with my lovely wife, Erin) — to be blunt, I haven't seen better trip reports anywhere on the Internet. I now have 14 reports published, with 1,384 photos. So if you have some time, take a peek and let me know what you think. Here's the link:

http://reidster.net/trips/

I also have begun to put together some how-to notes (e.g. gear checklists), which are on the same page.

The above photo is from my latest adventure, this one 9 days in the Grand Canyon backcountry. Report to follow.... :)

Weekend To-Do List

2010-01-30T11:11:00.008-06:00

Vacuum, mop, sweep
Write cranky letter to US Federal
Secret item
~~Clean out e-mail~~
Weigh backpacking items
Clean up living room
Work on trip photos
~~Blog post about trip~~
Washington job app
Fix plant stand
Make pouch for bus pass
Hassle elected officials about health care, partisanship
Call 1-800 Contacts about price match
Clean off table
~~Watch the Obama video~~
~~Date night with Erin~~
~~Go to grocery~~
~~Run~~
~~Update trip reports~~

Weekend To-Do List

2010-01-23T11:28:00.006-06:00

Vacuum, mop, sweep
Write cranky letter to US Federal
Secret item
~~Clean out e-mail~~
Weigh backpacking items
Clean up living room
~~Go to library~~
Update old trip reports to new format
~~Add ads to blog~~ (ugh - damn that's ugly)
Work on trip photos
Blog post about trip
~~Do some work~~
~~Play Plants vs. Zombies~~
Fix plant stand
Make pouch for bus pass
Hassle elected officials about health care
~~Salt/sand sidewalks~~ (no need)
Shovel if needed
~~Order contact lenses~~
~~Do laundry~~
~~Clean out Google reader~~

Why You Should Avoid US Federal Credit Union

2010-01-16T14:16:00.001-06:00

I'm a customer of US Federal Credit Union. Today, I opened a letter from them dated January 6 (I've been out of town for a couple of weeks), explaining that:

Effective Wednesday, January 27, 2010, the US Federal Credit Union ATM located in the McNamara Alumni Center ... will no longer be in service.

This seems to be the final chapter in the demise of credit union service for the University of Minnesota community. Let me tell you a story.

I came to the U in late 2001. I chose to bank with the University of Minnesota Federal Credit Union. They rocked. Why? First, they treated me like a human being. Second, they gave me a very nice auto loan when TCF laughed in my face (and rolled their eyes vigorously when I told them why TCF turned me down). Third, they were located extremely conveniently right in the middle of campus in Stadium Village. I was happy.

Fast-forward to early 2007. The UMFCU membership was asked to vote on merging with US Federal. I voted no, but the measure passed. On April 1, UMFCU disappeared and everything was re-branded US Federal. Aside from the now-rather-corporate look and feel, so far so good.

Then, US Federal torpedoed the Stadium Village branch. (I don't recall the exact date, but I believe this was sometime in 2009.) WTF? The "closest" branch was now in South Minneapolis, near Lake & Hiawatha. Note that I don't ever bring a car to campus (and this is very common among the University community). The Minneapolis branch is a moderate detour when I'm biking to work, but it's not in a neighborhood where I like to lock my bike outside, and when I'm bussing it would burn an hour to stop in. This wouldn't be so horrible because there was still an ATM on campus, except it didn't take deposits. Banking went from extremely convenient to a major chore.

Now, they are removing the ATM too. The closest alternatives appear to be somewhere in Prospect Park ("just blocks" from the existing ATM according to the letter, but it's actually a full mile) and at Bullwinkle's at Seven Corners on the west bank. Neither takes deposits.

The bottom line is, US Federal Credit Union either doesn't want business from University of Minnesota people or is so utterly clueless about the University community that it appears so. I encourage you to immediately close your accounts and take your business elsewhere. If you wish to make your displeasure known, write to:

Bill Raker, President/CEO
US Federal Credit Union
1400 Riverwood Drive
Burnsville, MN 55337
bill.raker@usfed.org

(As an aside, I also discovered that back when the merger happened, savings accounts were silently converted to a type carrying life insurance, for a fee of course. This garbage was "disclosed" in the fine print - clearly designed to discourage people from realizing they are paying for a service they don't need and thus opting out. Again, more customer-hostile behavior.)

I find this situation particularly amusing in light of US Federal's "Statement of Commitment to Members", which reads in part: "We will uphold our fundamental responsibility to actively serve the many communities within our field of membership. We will treat all members with respect and dignity.... [W]e will continuously improve and communicate our services in a meaningful way.... The credit union ideal is to extend service to all who need and can use it."

Sadly, I do not have any suggestions on alternatives. Certainly, you don't want to deal with TCF, the monster bank that the U is in cahoots with. Any such suggestions would be most welcome in the comments.

Northrop Auditorium

2009-12-30T22:35:00.000-06:00

Weekend To-Do List

2009-12-24T12:53:00.012-06:00

Long weekend! Lots of stuff to do.

~~Register for "classes"~~
Apply to schools - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
~~Shovel sno - 1x 2x 3x~~
~~Clean out e-mail~~
Vacuum, mop, sweep
Fix plant stand
~~Order "Christmas" presents~~
Sort/blog photos from the past week
~~Fix Thermarest(s)~~
~~Repair and test camping stoves~~
~~Test filter~~
~~Put together chlorine dioxide kit~~
Make pouch for bus pass
~~Inquire about returning photo map~~
Send note to trip members
Do trip tasks
~~Write eBay feedback~~
~~Fix snow shovel~~
~~Celebrate Christmas with Erin~~
~~Play Plants vs. Zombies~~
Complain about bonehead lawyer
~~Exercise~~

Incoming!

2009-12-23T16:55:00.000-06:00

Here's the current Minneapolis weather forecast from wunderground. Hmmmmm.

	Tonight Snow. Snow accumulation around 4 inches. Lows around 25. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
	Thursday Snow. Snow accumulation of 5 to 6 inches. Highs around 30. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
	Thursday Night Snow. Areas of blowing and drifting snow. Snow accumulation of 6 to 7 inches. Lows 25 to 30. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
	Christmas Day Snow. Areas of blowing and drifting snow. Snow accumulation of 3 to 4 inches. Highs around 30. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
	Friday Night Snow. Snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches. Storm total snow accumulation of 19 to 21 inches. Lows around 20. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
	Saturday Cloudy with snow likely. Snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches. Total snow accumulation 20 to 25 inches. Highs around 25. Chance of snow 70 percent.
	Saturday Night Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Lows around 15.

Olympia Trip

2009-12-20T18:43:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, we flew up to Olympia, Washington to visit my granny. My mom met us there. Here are some pics.

Erin at the "Beach House" on Steamboat Island, where my Granny Lou and Papa Frank lived when I was growing up. One of my favorite places.

Dinner at the beach house: my mom, aunt Zina, Granny, cousin Darby, cousin Bridgette, me, wife Erin.

Weekend Imbecile Report

2009-12-20T18:23:00.000-06:00

Last night I heard a loud "crunch" and looked outside to see some unidentified junk hanging off the rear bumper of the rental truck that's been parked next door for the past week. Then, a gray sedan with the passenger door missing backed into view and drove away.

I went outside to find our neighbor, Tim, on the phone with the police and so I went around the corner a bit to see if he'd stopped close by (he didn't).

Indeed, someone had (a) crashed into a parked object, (b) left their passenger door hanging of that object's bumper, and then (c) driven away.

A few minutes after the cops arrived, I overheard them saying that they'd found the car but not the driver, and there was blood in the car.

Frankly, I don't have a lot of sympathy for people whose behavior is so incredibly stupid. I hope they found the guy. I wonder if the car was stolen and that's why he ran.

The truck was bent up a bit, but probably not enough to merit any repairs.

Incidentally, this image was 2.5-3 stops underexposed and I managed to recover the above. I'm pretty impressed.

Weekend To-Do List

2009-12-19T12:04:00.012-06:00

~~Reboot~~
Work on trip stuff
Vacuum, mop, sweep
Fix plant stand
~~Blog/sort zoo pics, Olympia pics, truck pics~~
~~Order battery~~
Order Christmas presents
~~Profile schools & send to reccommenders~~
~~Go to REI, Ax-Man, grocery store~~
~~Clean out e-mail~~
~~Phone calls~~
~~Go to library~~
Dry spaghetti sauce
~~Shoe goo Erin's boots~~
~~Shovel sno~~
~~Take out trash~~
~~Do dishes~~
~~Exercise~~