Lilac Barricades

In conversation today it came up that few new houses sport the kind of lilacs it takes decades to develop, big productive lilac bushes like these, a wall of them to sanctify the spring air, to lay its blessing on the death of May, the birth of June. The breeze coming out of the north had a chill to it, but these big breeze filters put their stamp of approval on every whiff.
If we say thanks to veterans today for the gifts their suffering brought us, we can also look at the gifts handed down to us over the years from someone, ever so many ages ago, like those who envisioned these flowering lilacs when they planted the twigs and watered them. I hope the owners of those new houses will favor their successors by leaving them blossoms like these.

Short Bus Student Revenge

Tasteless activities await on sites like Online Games, where you can play games like "Short Bus Rampage," with a description provided that will tantalize everyone who's wanted to take a school bus and run over children:
Drive over and murder all the school children as you get your own back on them for bullying you! Drive over them all and then out of the scene by the time the timer runs out or the police'll be on you! Good luck killing all the bullies!

Of course, there's no way to tell who the bullies are, so you're encouraged just to run over everyone. Not that you should run over bullies, of course.

Gateway to Appleville

I don't know what pollinates apple trees, but these trees are definitely flirting with the powers that be. With rain in the forecast, it may not be long before the petals have fallen, but today, they all had their hands in the air.

Apple Trees in Bloom

For now I'll just let these apple trees do the talking about what's been going on for the past couple of weeks. While I've been busy with other activities, the apple trees have pulled up from their roots and down from the sky these bouquets for our pleasure. Before you know it, the blossoms will be apples dropping into the yard.

New Windows for Beadle Hall

Yesterday a crew was scoping out Beadle Hall to get ready for putting in new windows, including arched windows that have not been seen for 40 years or more. Meanwhile, there will be refugees as our offices become uninhabitable this summer.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

A little video celebration of our Spanish-speaking neighbors, via con YouTube: Disney's Three Caballeros.

And, from 1986, The Three Amigos.

Spring Events

Spring this week was in evidence, not just because we had a small crowd of people at the house on Saturday for the Kentucky Derby, but also because it was warm, warm, ever so warm. At least by our standards here in the frozen north. Quick, how long till frost? Grow, stuff, grow!

For the derby party we were able to invite guests out to the porch for the first time this season, and they were appreciative of the space and comfort there. Too bad the race was marred with poor Eight Belles and her demise.

We also put behind us the old house on Catherine Street, vacant since July when we moved into this big unit. We signed the papers on Wednesday, the buyer signed on Thursday, and we got our check that day. But we're happy to have it out of our hair.

Meanwhile, it's time for the city-wide cleanup, with free stuff at the curbside all over town. Much of it will reappear at garage sales and even in the flea market this summer. It's spring, it's finals week, and it's time to finish the semester!

Zombie vs. Humans at Goucher College

Students are playing a game on the campus of Goucher College in Baltimore where students become either zombies or stay human, and only nerf guns or balled up socks stand between humans and zombie-hood. Check out the article and especially the video here.

Almost May (It just doesn't look it)

Our late winter storm appears to be finished with its ham-handed reminder that it holds sway in this part of the country. After having told some Norwegians from north of the Arctic Circle that we here in SD say we have two seasons--winter and road construction--he said they too have only a pair--a white winter and a green winter. How many words do you have for winter?

Spring in South Dakota, Blizzard Style

Snow continued to give South Dakota a beating, at least for those of in the eastern half. The video and photos here were from this morning, and the snow continued all day, the wind driving full force.

Video to Tighten Your Glutes

JB points to this video that will could give you a coppery taste in your mouth it's so spooky. From southern Spain, this walkway video is bold enough to keep you off-balance for all of its six minutes. Watch it full screen!

"Sleeping it Off in Rapid City"

The title of the book jumped out at me from the NY Times: Sleeping it Off in Rapid City, a new book of poems by August Kleinzahler. Read the review and an excerpt of the title poem.

Omaha and Back Again

Thursday the wife and I headed down to Omaha for the "Death, Murder, and Mayhem" Symposium put on by the University of Nebraska, where I delivered a paper on the use of Native American imagery in violent electronic games. I had a good turnout, and the participants asked good questions about violence and racial stereotyping.

We enjoyed staying at the old downtown area and checked out some of the shops and eateries, and we went to a play that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize: "The Man from Nebraska," by Tracy Lett, put on by the Blue Barn Theater. Saturday we enjoyed lunch in the 70 degree sunlight.

Saturday, before we left, I had to drive onto the Omaha Marathon course where it used to finish uphill into the domed arena, the site of my just-too-late finish that kept my first marathon from qualifying me for the Boston Marathon (to be run tomorrow!) by 34 seconds. Then we hustled home again, jiggety-jig.

Computers and "Writing"

Imagine the volumes you could write if you could just get the computer to do most of the work--like the writing itself--for you. A guy who should be a hero to our English for Information Systems majors at DSU has figured that out. What's the answer? Algorithms. A New York Times article describes how Philip M. Parker has "licked the problem," publishing over 200,000 books, by having computers search for publicly available information, compile it, and put it into a book, which will be printed on demand. You can watch a demonstration of his method for books and video (and games) on Youtube. Consider the implications! It's worth a look.

Three Steps Forward, No Steps Back

Another Sign of Spring in South Dakota

Two steps forward, one step back.

Signs of Spring

From wasps appearing in the office and intruding on private email correspondence, to muskrats wandering onto dangerous roads, to robins hopping across the lawn, to snowmen melting into nothing, it appears that spring is here. Finally.

Evidence of Being Human

While hypertext and technology are evidence of human intelligence and tool-making capacities, it's also important to recognize that being human also means making poop, as has been true for 14,000 years in North America, according to a new discovery. Not only did they poop, they pooped in caves. I'm sure it made the caves less livable.

Hypertextopia

My students and I tried out a hypertext fiction site today. Thanks for the tip, Dan. It's like living in Hypertextopia!

Saying Goodbye to Lance

Services were held this afternoon for DSU student Lance Parliament, who was in one of my classes. His death came in a fatal car crash with a bus last Wednesday as he returned to Madison from Sioux Falls. He was a good young man, and the services revealed how much he had connected with the people here, from faculty members and administrators to students in his classes. He was a welcome addition to the classroom and will be missed.