PaulPrins.net

How awesome is this man from Superior, WI who has made a twine ball that is estimate at just under 20,000 pounds. Hat nod to you Mr. Kotera.

(via Fox News)

Just got back from the wedding of Katy and Sam. It was really a great time with beautiful weather in a gorgeous setting in a garden in rural Wisconsin. It was easily one of the most beautiful settings for a wedding I’ve ever seen. I loved it. Katy looked radiant and Sam was just a mega stud. I took a bunch of shots for fun that I’ll throw up to flickr in a bit (will post a few here to follow). You two know that we’re praying for you and are thrilled to have been present as you became ONE flesh.

May God bring countless others into His kingdom through the both of you in the  years to come.

There are few things that really get to me when it comes to nature. I’m not one to be up in arms about trees being cut down because of how old they are, or to get outraged about de-forestation in third world countries. I see the working of market economics in these situations and can understand them enough to ease my concern.

However when we design and put something into nature that inhibits the natural order of things, when it’s meant to be in a recreation area, I get upset. This happened tonight when my wife and I were walking through the few years old Purgatory Creek Recreation Area in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

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With widespread protests accross France against the new youth employement act. During the protest there was this band, on the back of a truck, and good music.

 

 Podcast Video [0:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (137)

For those of you completely disconnected from anything French over the last month, there have been a string of protests over a new law (CPE) that changes some rights of young employees. Mainly, anyone under 26 can be terminated during the first two years without cause/notice. Sounds rough, but you need to understand it is near impossible to terminate an employees employment right now in France and most people have the same job most of their life.

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BBC Article 1, 2

For background on the strike please view the articles above from the BBC. It was a very different experience to be a part of. Really makes one wonder if anyone will listen as you walk past hundreds of adults standing nodding their heads. Almost as if they are glad to see the youth take interest in something, and at the same time not really participating. I feel like the photo above captures the general attitude of the strike well, below is a group of people taking advantage of an oppertunity to take out hurts against the government. Cutting down the French and EU flags from the City hall and then trying to raid the building before being repeled by the cops. I’m not completely sure, but believe that the end incident was actually an act by the communist party of France, and wasn’t associated with the CPE strike. See the photo below for the falling cut up french flag off of the capitole building.

Recent Earthquakes
2005/12/13 Fiji (6.3)
2005/12/12 Afghanistan and Pakistan (6.7)
2005/12/11 Papua New Guinea (6.8)
2005/12/05 Congo (6.8)
2005/12/02 Northern Japan (6.4)
2005/11/27 Southern Iran (5.9)
2005/11/27 China (5.7)
2005/11/19 Indonesia (6.2)
2005/11/17 Chile and Bolivia (6.9)
2005/11/14 Northern Japan (6.9)
2005/10/21 Turkey (5.9)
2005/10/19 Eastern Japan (6.5)
2005/10/16 Eastern Japan (5.1)
2005/10/15 Taiwan (7.0)
2005/10/08 Pakistan, India, Afghanistan (7.6)
2005/10/08 California (4.2) weak
2005/10/07 El Salvador and Guatemala (5.5)
2005/09/26 Northern Peru (7.5)

I put the last one on there because it was a major quake and only a couple days outside of october. Intersting to me because I landed in France on teh 6th of October… Hmmm, yea. Not sure where I’m going with that. 15 since I’ve been here for 10 weeks… More then one a week.

Update: Just added another one from Fiji (that is two within 24 hours)