Beautiful Weather, Not Much to Report, More July 2011 Storm Photos

Sunday, August 28, 2011. I've been a little distracted this week: a lot, actually. The Sauk Centre Gills have been helping my son-in-law and #2 daughter at the Spiral Light Candle company. They've got a website up, SpiralLightCandle.com, with a video showing how the self filling candle works.

Now that I've gotten that shameless plug out of the way, a few words about the beautiful weather we've had, Sauk Centre School's open house this Tuesday, and 'day after' photos from that storm we had back in July. Like this set:


Sinclair Lewis Park, down by the lake, lost quite a few trees during that storm in July. July 11, 2011.


What's remarkable is that the gazebo and the 'umbrella fountain' came through in one piece. And that nobody was hurt or killed. July 11, 2011.


That tree took part of the sidewalk with it. This was in Sinclair Lewis Park, but the tree-and-sidewalk situation was pretty common around town. July 11, 2011.


It takes a lot of force to snap a tree like that. July 11, 2011.

That's it for today. I've been up to North Dakota for the weekend: a sort of family visit plus working with candles. I'm glad we went, glad we're back, and in need of sleep. Good night.

Telephone Cramming Links, Summer Clouds, and Enjoying Summer

Sunday, August 21, 2011. The Sauk Centre Herald is running a story about a scam that's costing us about $2,000,000,000 dollars. That's nationally: The Chicago Sun-Times published an editorial about cramming, and why Congress should let the FCC get the new rules they want. (Chicago Sun-Times (August 3, 2011))

Basically, cramming is a company getting your telephone service provider to add a little to your bill. Cramming companies often work through a middleman, and keep their bogus charges low enough to avoid getting noticed. That's the idea, anyway: checking your monthly bill for charges you didn't authorize is a good idea.

Here's more about telephone cramming:

• FCC
  • "Cramming - Unauthorized, Misleading, or Deceptive Charges Placed on Your Telephone Bill"
    Fact sheet
• Office of the Attorney General, Minnesota, Lori Swanson
  • "Attorney General Swanson Sues Telephone Bill 'Crammer'"
    Press Release (January 7, 2011)
  • "Your Legal Rights: Don't Get 'Crammed'--Avoid Unwanted Charges on Your Phone Bill"
    Fact sheet

Enough of the 'public service announcement.'

Once again, I've got photos to show off.


Much depends on what a person decides to notice. There's an empty sidewalk, a lawn with some bare ground: but look closer - - -. August 21, 2011.


- - - There's also a set of cheerful sunflowers in bloom. August 21, 2011.


This morning at Our Lady of Angels church. Just
one word: Aww. August 21, 2011.


Summer clouds south of the Sauk Centre School. August 21, 2011.

I see that Sauk Centre Public School's
open house is August 30: a week from Tuesday. Classes start September 6 - and the first two-day vacation is October 20 and 21. Why there's a vacation there I
didn't see.

I plan to get out and enjoy summer while it's still here. Maybe next week will have more days like today. Or, maybe not.

Mid-August: What a Beautiful Day!

Sunday, August 14, 2011. I've heard that 'a picture is worth a thousand words.' I hope you feel that way, since that's just about all I've got today. I got back last week from that trade show in Pennsylvania, and am still a bit tired. Odd - thirty years ago, I could do this sort of thing with scarcely any noticeable effect. (Links to posts I wrote while there: "Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show")

Anyway, here are those pictures.

There's something I wanted to get done tonight - what was it? Photos. Right.


Those 'stop for pedestrian' signs are out again. I suppose it could have something to do with school starting soon. August 14, 2011.


MCCL rummage sale at the fairground. The sign at the main gate, actually. August 14, 2011.


The Stearns County fairground is pretty quiet now. Look carefully, and you'll see two midway rides, packed up but still parked on the grass. August 14, 2011.

It's been one of those beautiful summer days - complete with fleecy clouds. I hope you had a chance to get out and enjoy it.