So, I just heard the Saint Cloud water system was found to have been contaminated by E. Coli and fecal matter. Unfortunately, I'm a big fan of water and not a big fan of TV. It may be too late for me...
I'm glad I haven't cleaned my toilet yet this week.

posted by Brett @ Monday, February 20, 2006 0 comments

So, today I was driving down to the Saint Cloud Airport. After turning off HWY-10, I found myself behind a semi going 35 in a 40 zone. I naturally want to maximize the amount of time doing something useful for the day, so I'm looking to pass this guy. About half a mile down the road the no passing zone ends, but the road in from of me is slightly incline so I wait until I can get a better view down the road, and then I go to pass the semi. I know from prior trips that the road soon becomes 55 so I'm not too concerned about going about that fast to pass him. Right as I'm almost past him, he honks his horn. So, having obeyed the law of the road, I'm dumbfounded. Was this guy one of those 5-mph-below-the-limit-in-the-left-lane-vigilates or what? Knowing I was in the right, I brush it off.
But those things stick with you, or at least that's how it is with me. I keep reevaluating the situation looking for some fault I performed. And if I don't reevaluate it, it feels like I'm automatically place some guilt on myself. Am I unique here in processing events like this?

posted by Brett @ Friday, February 17, 2006 0 comments

I just got my results back from the National Geographic Genographic Project, which I paid good money to be a part of. The project uses either Y-chromosome DNA from guys or mitochondrial DNA from gals to determine the migration routes of man from man's original origin in east Africa to pre-colonial times. The route analysis is done by testing the remains at historical sites across the globe, and then comparing the sites to one another. And so, for a medium sized fee, you can get DNA from your cheek tissue ripped apart and looked at by a trained professional to acquire fairly irrefutable proof as to your true genetic relation to the world.
I was a little surprised with how things turned out. I'm part of Haplogroup "I" which, genetically, is concentrated in central and southeastern Europe, especially the Balkans. This is interesting since on my dad's side of the family tree, all the males have been Swedish. Supposedly the sporatic spread of this genetic marker may have been due to a Celtic expansion across Europe halfway through the first millenium AD.
Interesting stuff nonetheless.

posted by Brett @ Sunday, February 12, 2006 0 comments