Russ wears a custom-baked, onion bun hat
I tip my bun hat at you.
Posted by RAD at 11:59 AM | Comments (2)
April 28, 2005
I was not a good waiter
During my yearlong lull from college in 1997, before I became a top-secret
janitor, I worked at Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern for 3 days. I was a waiter. I
was a horrible and horrific waiter. I sweat a lot. My family is cursed with
something called “The Dale Family Sweat Complex.” We sweat even in below zero
temperatures. It’s a genetic thing. A curse.
The first day on the job as a waiter, my pen exploded in my breast pocket,
creating a finicky black stain on my new yellow work shirt. I tried in vain to
cover it with the ratty green apron adorned in stupid foodie buttons and
Bennigan’s slogans that I was forced to wear. The stain was a conversation
piece.
I hated being a waiter. I sucked at it. I did not even bother learning the menu
or the seating chart or the selection of liquors. I was sent home early on my
second day because I had not studied these important things. I was a uninspired
waiter slacker.
My third day, I was being trained during the lunch rush and spilled a tray full
of Bloody Marries on a table full of women in business suits on their lunch
break. Into their laps the beverages went. It was embarrassing. All I could say,
in a stilted, childlike voice was, "I ... uh ... spilled it."
The wait staff evidently did not teach me the proper tray-holding techniques.
Dirty bastards. I still see the beverages toppling over in slow motion, the look
of abject horror on their faces and their loud wheezes as they stood up to
display massive red stains on their pretty work jackets, blouses and skirts.
Ugh. The entire freakish scenario haunts me forevermore.
The ladies were pissed off. They got a free meal and the restaurant had to pay
for their dry cleaning. I got a scolding. I clocked out for my break, took a
shot of Jagermeister and went home, never to return. When management tried
calling me, I told them I had been killed in a car accident on my break and to
never call again. 2 days later, I was hired as a top-secret janitor. The glory.
Posted by RAD at 09:45 AM | Comments (4)
fugly mofo
Take a look at this beauty. He looks like character from the Star Wars. Wouldn't
wanna mess with this fugly mofo. He's a cop killer.

Fugly MoFo
Posted by RAD at 08:24 AM | Comments (2)
April 27, 2005
pink toenails
I have a pretty large web presence. Be it my two websites or message forums that
I participate in or whatnot, my words are spread throughout the global village.
If someone wants to drop me a line or stalk me or slay me, I can pretty much be
contacted via email. I have received hate mail, biscuits and gravy questions and
shout outs, astronaut and their affiliate readers, insurmountable amounts of
praise and strange yet interesting messages of all sorts. Somewhere in the
vastness of cyberspace, on more than one occasion, I mentioned that I think
women’s feet with pink toenails are sexy.
It is true. I do not deny it. I think it’s hot. It’s sexy.
Imagine my surprise when I receive strange emails with picture attachments that
survive the virus scan. Since March 2004, I have received two pictures from
across the globe, of women I know not, and their pink toenails. Fascinating,
sinister and flattering.

Ladies, keep ‘em coming! You will remain anonymous! LMMFAO!
Now my website, the RADHOLE, besides documented searches for “coke whore,”
“grabthar,” “german squat toilets,” “raccoon excrement,” “uganda shea butter,”
“squalor,” “blinky’s fun club” and “biscuits” can add the glorious distinction
of “pink toenails” to the list. I think that is totally awesome.
Posted by RAD at 09:17 PM | Comments (5)
Hypo-aqua-niss-issist
In high school, I used to act like I was allergic to everything. Mainly water
and wood.
I stated proudly that I was allergic to water and people believed me. In my
pocket I carried around a little urine jar filled with a silicone substance and
passed it off as my medicine. Since I was allergic to water, people would wonder
how I took showers and/or how I had blood since most of the human body is water.

I showed them my “medicine” and all questions ceased. I told them I took sweet
smelling powder showers in a specially designed waterless chamber. I said my
blood was replaced with a silicone substance similar to my medicine. I was such
a good actor.
I even got out of doing dishes when I worked at Ritzy’s (America’s Food
Favorite) fast food nostalgia. My boss felt sorry for me because I made myself
puke after doing dishes and blamed it on my H2O hypersensitivity.
Hypo-aqua-niss-issist. This was before the internet and a quick research Google
to see if I was full of shit. I was of course. It worked all through my high
school jobs.
I was a nerd in school anyways, so I would fake allergic reactions to wood in US
History class. My peers would mock and jeer me and poke at me with wooden dowel
rods and flag sticks. I would secretly scratch my arm until a “rash” would form,
fake some dry heaves, make myself sweat and request to go to the nurses office.
Once I got a hall pass, I wandered the halls freely, peering in on my Droogs in
their classes, making strange noises and doing funny dances outside of my
sister’s classes, all while laughing at them for being cooped up in the
sweltering classrooms while I was walking the halls like a God. If the hall
monitors would bother me, my symptoms would resurface and I would slowly skulk
towards the nurse’s office. It was wicked awesome.
It was particularly fun during Senior week water competitions. Good times.
Posted by RAD at 01:53 PM | Comments (1)
April 26, 2005
After the Thunder Hail Storm

Posted by RAD at 09:21 PM | Comments (1)
April 25, 2005
Discover Launch May 22

Space Shuttle Discovery's STS-114 mission now has a targeted launch date of May
22, with a launch window extending to June 3. HURRY UP ALREADY!
Posted by RAD at 12:03 AM | Comments (0)
April 24, 2005
"Feasting with Weenis" excerpt
Excerpt from FEASTING WITH WEENIS pilot episode: 001-01 "It’s not that bad." (c)
2004 Russell A. Dale
ACT ONE
SCENE A
INT. BEDROOM – MORNING
(BO, DINNER)
BO WEENIS, 32, A THIN BEARDED MAN, SITS ON THE COUCH AND TYPES ON HIS LAPTOP.
HIS MIDGET PIG, DINNER, SITS WITH HIM. INTERCUT WITH MANY SCENES OF PEOPLE
AROUND TOWN READING HIS NEWSPAPER COLUMN. HIS MUGSHOT PICTURE ACCOMPANIES THE
COLUMN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BO (V.O.)

Welcome loyal readers to another riveting and informing “Feasting with Weenis.”
For 7 years I have rambled on about the food at area restaurants. My life
changed at the Ox Head Café in up-town Denver off 16th and Stout. A simple plate
of buttermilk biscuits slathered in white gravy altered the very fabric of my
existence. My face is now known.
INT. OX HEAD CAFÉ – EVENING
(BO, TODD, MANDA, HOST, TRACEY)
TODD, MANDA AND BO WAIT IN THE CROWDED LOUNGE OF THE DIRTIEST YET SWANK CAFÉ IN
ALL OF TOWN. BO CARRIES A SATCHEL, A VERY DISTINCT, COLORFUL PATCHWORK JOB.
TRACEY, THE OWNER, WALKS AROUND THE RESTAURANT. THE HOST ATTENDS TO HIS DUTIES.
BO (V.O.)

Nestled between a shady convenience store and pretentious poetry cove, the
café’s looks were deceiving. It was a dirty yet swank restrent with a homey
feel.
BO

Now remember, I'm Kriegmeister Totenfeffer tonight.
MANDA

You embarrass me with your strange little aliases. Why not use your real name?
BO

I'm Bo Weenis the food critic. I can't very well reserve a table under my real
name. I'm undercover.
TODD

My favorite aliases are Roger McRed Jaw and Thomas Tyler Thornbody.
MANDA

Don't encourage him Todd.
BO

I like Milty McGuillicutty MD.
TODD

What are you ordering?
BO

The quest tonight is biscuits and gravy.
HOST

Totenfeffer your table is ready.
BO

I'm Herr Totenfeffer.
BO’s party is seated.
BO (V.O.)

My hunt for biscuits and gravy has taken determination and left no room for
bashfulness. A faultless mess of mongo buttermilk biscuits slathered in peppery,
white sausage gravy is a find of a lifetime.
TABLE:

BO

Weenis Unlimited is venturing into fashion design.
TODD

What do you know about the fashion industry?
BO

I've designed some flashy pants. Look at this sketch.
BO retrieves a cheaply drawn piece of artwork with a pattern and design for a
pair of pants. MANDA studies the drawing.
MANDA

It's a bunch of scribble.
The waiter places a plate of biscuits and gravy in front of BO. BO eats.
MANDA (CONT.)

You stole this from a kindergartener.
BO

(to Manda, mouthful)
You gotta be jivin' me? Ya you jivin' me.
(to Todd, mouthful)
Hey I like pants. Einstein wore pants. Children the world over need pants. They
starve without pants.
TODD

Your pants.
BO

(still eating)
Scurvies pants.
MANDA

You know just as much about fashion as the kid who drew this picture.
BO

I drew it. Mmmmm. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
MANDA

Hungry?
BO

(with mouthful)
Mmmmmmmmmm. I've found it. Ohhhhhhhhmmm.
TODD

Found what?
BO

(in ecstasy)
I'm serious. I've been probing 10 years for the best plate of biscuits and
gravy. And this is it!
Café patrons look in their direction as more moans of ecstasy come from BO
sloping the food into his mouth.
TODD

You am spillin' it down your front!
BO

That's what happens when it's so good. Mmmmmmmmm. You gotta try this!
BO offers TODD and MANDA a sloppy, drippy spoonful.
TODD

No.
MANDA

No thanks.
BO

You're missing out!
Enter TRACEY, a stunningly beautiful Texas woman.
BO (V.O.)

Never before had such a stunningly beautiful Texan provided me the means for the
best breakfast entrée I have ever consumed.
TRACEY

I see y'all are enjoying the meal.
BO

Ma'am, my quest is complete. This plate of biscuits and gravy has saved me.
TRACEY

Why thank you. It's an old family recipe.
BO

(to Todd)
A Texan!
BO gets down on one knee and proposes to TRACEY.
BO (CONT.)

Teach me. Please! Be my biscuit Sensei. Be my gravy Queen!
TRACEY

I'm glad you like it.
BO

The name's Bo Weenis ma'am. Dr. Bo Weenis.
TRACEY

Bo Weenis the food critic?
BO

Shhhh, not so loud now, it’s a secret. I will write the most astonishing review.
Let me sweep you off your feet and take you away from this dirty place.
TRACEY

I'm Tracey and this is my place. I’m the owner.

TRACEY notices the drawing.
TRACEY (CONT.)

Nice pants. Can I get y’all anything else?
BO

Another round of this succulent B&G please.
TRACEY goes about her work.
BO (CONT.)

I’m tellin’ ya, this is good stuff.

BO is animated. A dollop of gravy flings from his spoon into TODD’s eye.
TODD

Bo, you best watch yourself!
MANDA

Are you okay?
TODD

No it burns. It burns!
MANDA

Let’s go find the emergency eyewash.
BO

Sorry Todd, I got a bit carried away.
MANDA

You’re a freak.
TODD

I’ll see you later Bo.
TODD and MANDA leave. BO continues to eat.
(c) 2004 Russell A. Dale
Posted by RAD at 07:37 PM | Comments (0)
April 22, 2005
The New Supes

Photo by David James/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc
A link to a Hi-Res version of the picture.
Brandon Routh as Superman in Superman Returns. Superman rules. Wolverine is
better though.
Posted by RAD at 07:34 AM | Comments (1)
April 21, 2005
U2: Vertigo 4-20 at the Pepsi Center
The evening of April 20, 2005 changed my life forever.
I have seen U2 4 times previous, dating back to my first U2 live experience with
the Zoo TV Outside Broadcast show on October 21, 1992 at Mile High Stadium. I
then saw Pop Mart on May 1, 1997 at Mile High. Twice did I see U2 in 2001, at
the Pepsi Center, April 6 and November 7.
Then 2005 rolled around. This was by far the best concert I have seen in my
life. The energy in the Pepsi Center was tangible. The band was in top form. The
crowd was insane with screams and song. The show rocked and exceeded my
expectations. It couldn’t have been any better.

We traveled to the venue during a thunder hailstorm and were stuck in traffic
much of the way. MELT, Rob, my sister and I started the celebration at
Brooklyn’s at the Pepsi Center, 901 Auraria Parkway. Brooklyn’s was freakishly
packed so we went next door to Brauns bar and grill, 1055 Auraria Parkway. We
put our names on the waiting list for grubs and treats then headed down to the
basement where shots of Jagermeister and pints of Guinness and 1554 were the
order of the moment.
As I was getting my drunk on, I received a call and text messages from my pal
Amy in Colorado Springs. That was the first of many highlights of the evening.
The staff of the restaurant called our names and we rushed upstairs and were
seated at our table. We feasted and had more shots of Jagermeister. We left Rob
to meet up with normsquatch (they did not have tickets and were hoping to score
some from the damp and shady scalpers standing in alleyways and street corners)
and headed to the show.
We skipped through the rain to the Pepsi Center and rushed up the stairs to the
third level. We were in Section 348, way at the top, and even had our own dance
floor right behind our seats. Our seats were perfect. Shortly before U2 took the
stage, normsquatch and Rob, who bought tickets for 40 bucks from a midget
scalper wearing “Fly Shades,” arrived in our section. The show began and I sang
and danced and screamed and danced and sweat. I brought along a pair of
binoculars, which were a nice thing to have. I could care less if I could see
Bono, Edge, Larry or Adam. It’s all about the music.
The massive television screens and tracer lights along the stage were
spectacular as well.
Bono praised Colorado a lot. During the show he said, "Here’s where it all
started for us," after “Elevation.” He also said that Coloradans and our local
radio stations have always been good to the band. He made references to Red
Rocks several times including getting the crowd super pumped-up with the lyric
“under a blood red sky” in New Year’s Day, a really special local reference to
the classic 1983 live show and album. THE CROWD WENT NUTS! He also sang, "See
the hailstorms,” during "Beautiful Day."
U2 played 7 songs from their new album, “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb,” an
album that some critics have panned. I love this album and it was nice for them
to play so many songs from it. U2 has nothing to prove when it comes to putting
on a show, and they are showmen for sure. They did a great job of merging the
old tunes with the new, songs that spanned the 25 years of the band’s existence.
I enjoyed each and every song that they played. There is something special about
hearing the songs performed live. Even the old skool U2 songs were refreshing
and new. And The Edge! What can be said about The Edge? His is the best
guitarist in the world.

A particularly grand highlight was the portion of the show from “City of
Blinding Lights” to “Beautiful Day” to “Miracle Drug” to “Sometimes You Can’t
Make It On Your Own” to “New Year’s Day” to “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” The people
in the arena were on their feet, screaming and singing and stomping along. It
was a religious experience. I was in a state of awe. After each song that
played, I was mesmerized and flabbergasted and believed I couldn’t ever witness
something so majestic. I was wrong, as each song that followed raised my wonder
to even more heightened levels.
And then the Argentineans showed up in our section, or maybe they were always
there. Next thing I knew, MELT had his shirt off and was dancing with them on
top of the concrete slabs behind our seats. 8 cups of Coors were flyin’. Apple
pie was flowin’. The musik was remarkable. I cannot stress enough how
outstanding this concert was.

MELT and the crazy Argentineans
I woke up sore today from exhausting and dehydrating myself during the show. My
voice is shot from hollering. In my opinion, this was the best concert of my
generation. I was more than pleased with the whole experience. I am also glad
that I got to enjoy the show with my sister and good friends. It was truly a
memorable time.
MELT: How are you feeling today!? lol
Here is a nice review from the U2 website.
U2’s Set List, 4-20-05:
Love and Peace
Vertigo
Elevation
Cry/ Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart
City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Running to Standstill
Pride in the name of love
Where the Streets have no name
One
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because of You
Yahweh
"40"
Posted by RAD at 09:07 PM | Comments (4)
Two can play this game
This is not Russ. This is Allison hacking into RADHOLE. Russ emailed me the
other day to inform me that instead of flying out to visit me this summer, he is
going to the X Prize Cup. Can you believe I've been replaced by the bizarro
space olympics or whatever? Shocking. SHOCKING! I see how our friendship works.
This strange turn of events leaves me no other choice than to come out to Denver
to camp on Russ's steps. I will need a toothbrush.
Posted by Allison at 10:39 AM | Comments (6)
April 20, 2005
“Shocking" News
New Pope Benedict XVI kind of, sort of, bears a resemblance to Emperor Palpatine
if you look hard enough and put him in a black cloak and envision him with force
lightning shooting from his fingertips.
Am I going to Hell for comparing the two?

So be it … Jedi! I think it's hilarious.
Posted by RAD at 10:31 AM | Comments (6)
Tonight, tonight
"Tonight, tonight,
the world is full of light,
with suns and moons all over the place.
Tonight, tonight, the world is wild and bright,
going mad shooting sparks into space."
U2, MELT, my sister and I will be at the Pepsi Center tonight. The band is
touring its "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" album, but I am more excited about
the boys showing some love to "Boy," U2’s debut from exactly 25 years ago.
Words cannot describe the excitement coursing through my veins. A lengthy review
shall follow.
Here is an awesome article about U2 and their classic Red Rocks show on June 5,
1983. Some say it was the show that defined them as a band, a 19-song show with
84 of the most electric minutes in rock history.
"Today the minutes seem like hours
The hours go so slowly
And still the sky is light
Oh moon
Grow bright
And make this endless day
Endless night"
Posted by RAD at 09:19 AM | Comments (4)
April 18, 2005
Order Confirmation
Opening Day, 3 Adult tickets to:
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Date: Thursday, May 19, 2005
Time: 7:00pm
UA Continental 6
3635 S. Monaco Pkwy.
Denver, CO 80237

Life is good. Real good.
Posted by RAD at 02:24 PM | Comments (7)
random
Tell me something completely random.

Posted by RAD at 11:03 AM | Comments (11)
Mars Looker
I am a Mars Looker. Are you?

I doubt it. You could care less about the Mars. Why must you scoff at the Mars?
Look to the skies. Look to Mars. Not the candy bar. The planet. The Mars. Next
stop: Mars.
Some current Mars missions:
Mars Exploration Rover Missions
Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Odyssey
ESA Mars Express
Posted by RAD at 12:14 AM | Comments (2)
April 17, 2005
U.S.-China Space Debris Collide in Orbit
On January 17, the U.S. Surveillance Network of space-watching gear detected the
collision of a U.S. Thor Burner 2A upper stage (which tossed a satellite payload
into Earth orbit back in 1974) and a fragment of the third stage of a Chinese
CZ-4 launch vehicle that exploded in March 2000.
The incident happened in low Earth orbit (LEO) some 550 miles (885 kilometers)
above Earth.
For an interesting read, check out the Orbital Debris Quarterly News. I read it.
You should also.
Check out an Orbital Debris PSA, penned by myself and yet to be filmed.
Posted by RAD at 08:03 PM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2005
soon

Posted by RAD at 02:03 PM | Comments (2)
XPC&PSE
That’s right friends, the X PRIZE CUP! Countdown to the X PRIZE CUP and Personal
Spaceflight Expo is coming in October 2005 to New Mexico, a precursor to the X
PRIZE CUP 2006 and then 2007 will formally open the full XPC&PSE with the start
of competitive race to space flights and low altitude races. I am going this
year. I mentioned it back in May 2004. I already have my hotel in Las Cruces
booked. This event is a cross between Champ Grand Prix racing, the America's Cup
and the Olympics. I can hardly wait.
Here is the press release from New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

Events this year include X PRIZE CUP team demonstrations, an exhibition and the
largest-ever space education day and space-related community events statewide.
There will be demonstration flights of reusable space vehicles by future X PRIZE
CUP contenders, preview flights of the Tier-1 X PRIZE Rocket Racer, static
hardware displays of the X PRIZE team vehicles, flight simulations and
opportunities to visit with astronauts, spacecraft designers and X PRIZE team
leaders and pilots, Education Day at the Alamogordo Space History Museum for New
Mexico’s next generation of engineers, pilots, astronauts and space
entrepreneurs with more than 2000 students participating.
Also during the event, Zero Gravity Corporation’s G-FORCE One will conduct
weightless flights utilizing the only FAA approved zero-gravity aircraft.
Hot damn what a good time. Anyone wanna go?
Posted by RAD at 10:27 AM | Comments (0)
April 14, 2005
Do Techies dream of Grub-a-dub-dub
Do Techies dream of succulent grub-a-dub-dub? You bet.
Last night, MELT and I went forth on the Denver to shoot some footage with an HD
video camera. I was well prepared and teched out with MP3 player, police
scanner, Motorola Talkabout two-way radios and Bluetooth hands free cellular
phone headset. The maps of D-Town were computing and flying. It was a beautiful
spring evening although the City Park magic hour of sunset was a letdown due to
clouds over the Rockies. We met a fellow in City Park shooting large format
photography for a local company called Image Zone. Amazing pictures on his
website.
The long shoot took us from City Park to Commons Park to the Millennium Bridge
to the Holy Ghost Church at 19th and California Streets (this historic church is
surrounded on three sides by the 1999 Broadway building, which was designed so
it would wrap around the church at its base).

1999 Broadway from orbit courtesy of DigitalGlobe
We then went to the old D-Town standby, the Denver Diner at 740 W. Colfax Ave.
We grubbed. We grub-a-dub-dubbed. Coffee, water and Southern Breakfast (sausage,
biscuits and gravy, hash browns, scrambled eggs) made for a delicious meal at 10
o’clock in the evening.

Grub
Then we headed back to my place to shoot footage of a candle being lit by a
match. I had to sign a location and image release.
Posted by RAD at 09:42 AM | Comments (2)
April 13, 2005
twins

Posted by RAD at 09:22 AM | Comments (4)
April 12, 2005
meltdown in the city
Since I was off yesterday, I witnessed a quick meltdown firsthand after the
April blizzard of 2005. Normsquatch and I walked around downtown Denver and I
snapped off 111 pictures. We went to the Denver Public Library. We looked at a
lot of old maps of Denver. DPL will be a very good resource for me in finding
historical facts for my novel. I shall return to get a library card.
On the walking tour of Denver from normsquatch’s house, we found ourselves at a
rally at the state capital by Americans Against Terrorism. We saw a bus on
display that was destroyed by a suicide bombing.

The bus
We also passed by many coolie business:
Ogden Theatre at 935 E. Colfax Ave, Denver CO 80218, (303) 830-2525
Wax Trax Records at 638 E. 13th Ave (13th & Washington), Denver, CO 80203, (303)
831-7246
For a good Americano coffee, try the Gypsy House Café at 1279 Marion St, Denver,
CO 80218, (303) 830-1112. I prefer to support local coffee houses instead of
Starbucks.

Today will be more of the meltdown. The high is supposed to be 57 degrees, 10
degrees higher than what we saw yesterday. Springtime in the Rockies indeed.
Posted by RAD at 08:22 AM | Comments (3)
April 10, 2005
the April blizzard of 2005
They're calling it the April blizzard of 2005. I love it. It's not as much snow
as the Blizzard of 2003 though. That was the most snow I'd ever seen in my life.

Posted by RAD at 10:21 PM | Comments (4)
Springtime in the Rockies 2005
Only in Colorado. It was in the 60s yesterday and 70s a few days back but now we
are under a WINTER STORM WARNING in Denver today. Spring snowstorms are the
best. March and April are Colorado’s snowiest months. We are expecting 10-12
inches. No flights are leaving Denver International Airport due to blizzard
conditions.
The snow will be a memory soon as high temperatures will be back in the 60s by
the end of the week.
Of course I am working a 10-hour shift today. The drive home will be a bitch.
Fortunately I have Monday off.

Posted by RAD at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2005
erased from existence
Jimmy the 6-year-old radhole fan has grown up, leaving his taunting of me
behind. So long Jimmy. May you spit bile on someone else from now on.

Posted by RAD at 07:36 PM | Comments (1)
April 08, 2005
Kennewick Stewart
Kennewick Man or “Ancient One” is the 9,300-year-old human skeletal remains
found in July, 1996 below the surface of Lake Wallula in Kennewick, Washington.
Read recent news and debate about Kennewick Man here.
A clay model based on the skull looks disturbingly like Patrick Stewart. It’s
Kennewick Stewart. Creepy. Engage.

Posted by RAD at 01:31 PM | Comments (6)
April 07, 2005
never-nude

Dr. Tobias Funke from FOX’s "Arrested Development" is a never-nude or in German,
nein wholstandig nude.
“Arrested Development” is one of the greatest television shows ever. I proudly
watch it. You should also, lest it be cancelled.
Posted by RAD at 12:33 PM | Comments (5)
Allergic to bees
For the longest time I thought I was allergic to bees. I do not know why I
thought I had an abnormally high sensitivity to insect venom. I was always under
the assumption that if I were stung by a bee, my body would swell and I would
stop breathing and die.
A few years ago, while driving to the bank, I was sitting in the turn lane when
I felt something sting me in the back. I reacted, reached behind me and pulled
out a bee, which then stung me in the hand.
I sort of freaked out in the turn lane and prepared to die. The people in cars
behind me probably thought I was having a seizure. I began to sweat and was
waiting to begin sneezing, coughing, wheezing, feeling congested and developing
hives or swelling. I experienced slight anxiety and weakness but no difficulty
breathing or tightness in the chest or lightheadedness and palpitations.
Thankfully I did not loose consciousness. I then realized, while standing alive
in line at the bank, that I wasn’t allergic to bees.
Do you have allergies?
Posted by RAD at 10:43 AM | Comments (5)
April 06, 2005
Space news recap
I haven’t spoken of exciting spacey news lately. Here is a brief recap of recent
and interesting news:
Rovers Spirit and Opportunity “go” for 18 more months
Spirit and Opportunity, the twin rovers on Mars, have received NASA funding for
another 18 months of operation. The rovers were originally designed for a
three-month stay on the surface and have so far been operational for more than
14 months. Follow the mission here and check out the gallery of awesome
pictures. I have followed this mission since before their landing and even
watched the landings live on NASA TV.
Space Shuttle Discovery is closer and closer to launch
Weeeeeeee! Discovery swiftly approaches its May 15 launch date and was attached
to the fuel tank and rocket boosters on March 29. A space shuttle hasn’t flow
since the tragic loss of Columbia on February 1, 2003. I am ready to see the
shuttle fly again. It’s been too long.

Space Shuttle Discovery is attached to the External Tank and two Solid Rocket
Boosters. PHOTO CREDIT: NASA
STS-114's launch window is from May 15 to June 3. The next launch window occurs
between July 12 and 31 when lighting conditions allow NASA to photograph the
shuttle's daylight ascent in search of falling debris that could cause damage to
the orbiter. The public should see some different views of the launch, including
views from two modified WB-57 aircraft that will track Discovery’s launch from
an altitude of 60,000 feet. Exciting times. Exciting pictures!
First confirmed picture of a planet beyond our Solar System
Star GQ Lupi and its fainter planetary companion, thought to be one to two times
as massive as Jupiter, has been photographed. Over the past decade, astronomers
have found about 150 extrasolar planets, but none of them have been directly
imaged.

ESA’s SMART-1 probe has imaged Apollo landing sites on moon
The European Space Agency’s SMART-1 (Small Missions for Advanced Research in
Technology) could put to rest all of those idiots who claim that men did not
walk on the moon from 1969-1972. The probe has so far imaged landing sites for
the Apollo 11, 16 and 17 missions, as well as spots where the former Soviet
Union’s Luna 16 and Luna 20 automated vehicles landed. The images have not yet
been released. When they are, I will definitely mention it. I am curious to see
such spectacular digi.
Posted by RAD at 11:22 AM | Comments (1)
Falling down
I’ve fallen down many times in my life. I was a clumsy youth who sucked at
childhood sports, wore an eye patch, slammed my fingers in car doors, wore crap
Halloween costumes, couldn’t roller skate, hated Valentine’s Day and struck out
in T-Ball. Falling down was another indignity I suffered.
As a child, while playing carefree like, I leapt and bounded face first into a
sandbur sticker patch. This weed can be found in waste areas, cultivated fields,
on roadsides and in lawns. Sandburs have sharp, spiny burs that stick to fur or
clothing or pierce a child’s delicate skin. They hurt. Why the Dale kids were
playing in a Pueblo, Colorado waste area is unknown to me. I think it might have
been an elementary school.
My little brother J. Charles was so horrified at my pain that he grabbed onto my
grandmother and dragged both him and her into the sandbur patch as well. It was
an interesting drive home, J. Charles and I weeping in pain, my sister amused
with grandma Bailey and mother silently chuckling.
Some time ago, also in Pueblo, I was trying to cross a creek and fell in. I
tried to get up but kept slipping on the algae and sludge, creating a hilarious
flailing dance in the muck.
Once, while carrying a massive slice of cake on a paper plate, I walked
face-first into a sliding screen door, crushing the cake into my chest as my
youngster form ripped the screen door from the track and I toppled onto the deck
at a party at one of my mom’s friends house. Embarrassed, I brushed myself off
and returned to the table for another piece of that delicious cake.
I haven’t fallen down in years, but it is only a matter of time before it
happens again.
Posted by RAD at 09:29 AM | Comments (6)
April 05, 2005
radhole51

When the camera is on, unexpected things happen. This is radhole51. Right click
and "Save Target As." Quicktime required.
Posted by RAD at 10:31 PM | Comments (1)
Rendering Fun
How long as it been since you’ve thought about wasted animal tissues?
Visit a rendering plant sometime to spark your thoughts. There you shall see
glorious raw product on the ground of the rendering plant. The “raw” are
thousands of dead dogs and cats, heads and hooves from cattle, sheep, pigs,
aborted fetuses, horses, skunks, rats, raccoons, missing persons, dehydrated
food garbage and fats emptied from restaurant fryers and grease traps … they all
wait to be processed into useful products made for you and me. Are you hungry
yet? Can I offer you something to eat? A chicken sammich perhaps?
Shuffle those many animal parts into 10-foot-deep stainless-steel pits where a
giant auger-grinder turns at the bottom. Bask in the glory of the sweet sounds
of popping bones and squeezing flesh. It’s 90+ degrees in the plant and the
piles of carcasses swarm with a multitude of maggots. We’re on a rendering fun
spree!

Rendering is the process of cooking raw animal material to remove the moisture
and fat. The meat is cooked away from bones and “the soup” produces a fatty
yellow grease or tallow that rises to the top. The tallow is skimmed off. The
cooked meat and bone are sent to a press, which squeezes out the remaining
moisture and smashes the reminants into a gritty powder. Shaker screens sift out
excess hair, rings, tage and large bone chips. Once the batch is finished, all
that is left is yellow grease, meal and bone meal.
Just thinking about the wondrously fresh meat meal, meat by-products, poultry
meal, poultry by-products, fish meal, fish oil, yellow grease, tallow, beef and
chicken fat makes me smile with glee.
The tallow grease is used in cosmetics or candles. Cartilage, tendons and hooves
produce a gelatin and are used in products such as Jell-O, camera film and
canned ham gel. The meals are used for animal foods. Just think of all of the
fine products rendering produces.
Do not be sickened. Without rendering, cities of the world would be filled with
diseased and rotting carcasses. I wonder what would happen if researchers
experimented with cattle/hog manure and human sewage sludge? We could live in a
filth-free world.
Ladies, would you wear lipstick if it were made from human or hog feces? I
would.
Posted by RAD at 12:12 PM | Comments (4)
April 04, 2005
porch speaking no more
If all goes well, today I should have my landline telephone hooked up in my
place. I haven’t had a stable internet connection (except at work) since
January. It’ll be nice to have the internet at home again, even if I have to use
dial-up 56k modem fun. My computer was broken in my move so I am relying on my
handy Compaq Presario laptop aka "the workhorse.” A new computer in on my list
of things to purchase.
I look forward to perhaps chatting with old friends or being able to check my
email on something other than my techno phone. Plus I get horrible cellular
reception at home and a landline will allow me to talk at home instead of at
home on the porch.

HUNKER: The counter holds a coffee pot, PRO-97 scanner, TALKABOUT® 2-way radios,
new phone and a pint of 1554 Brussels style black ale
I have Monday off. Hooray. I think I’ll take a walk to Stella’s Coffee Haus when
I wake up and get a large Americano and then hunker down at the above-mentioned
laptop to write on my novel. My novel writing is going along great. I have put
into action a tentative deadline for my novel being finished by December 2005.
Posted by RAD at 12:04 AM | Comments (1)
April 03, 2005
Pearl Street Grill
The other day, Normsquatch and I went to Washington Park’s favorite gathering
place for dinner, the Pearl Street Grill at 1477 S. Pearl Street, Denver, CO
80210. I had a $5-off coupon for being new in the neighborhood. It’s a nice
little restaurant within walking distance of my home. We ordered some Guinness
and dinner. It was pretty good. The Mexican Egg Rolls were excellent, filled
with cheddar and Jack cheese, rice, jalapenos and served with house green chili
and soy sauce. They were unlike any appetizer I have ever tried before.
If in the area, give the Pearl Street Grill a try. mmmmmmmm

Guinness ... beverage of life
Posted by RAD at 08:58 PM | Comments (0)
April 01, 2005
Star Wars - Clone Wars, Vol. 1 (Animated) (2003)
I highly recommend Star Wars - Clone Wars, Vol. 1 (Animated) (2003). It is a
nice companion to the Star Wars lore and universe. It explains what fans always
wanted to know about the Clone Wars. The best sequences are with bad
motherfucker Mace Windu kicking some serious droid ass. Rent or buy Clone Wars
on DVD today.
I think this 69-minute cartoon is better than the first two prequels combined.

Posted by RAD at 12:25 PM | Comments (3)