Jordan Independent - cold - Comments

A simple Google search

Mathias Baden — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:53:42 -0500

A simple Google search revealed:

- a life coach that follows your philosophy (http://www.orgcoach.net/newsletter/march2001.html);

- a band named after the Fat Tuesday party held on a particular day -- bet you can't guess which day!!! (http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?arti...);

- someone who claims that day isn't really Brandon's made-up holiday at all, rather that it's National Grammar Day (http://beingfearless.blogspot.com/2008/03/march-fourth.html);

- and, quite appropriately, people marching in the streets (http://www.pdx.edu/events/18454/).

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

I have to say, I'm not the

Brandon — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:13:59 -0500

I have to say, I'm not the only one who thinks March 4 is the best day ever. I've been following a story on ESPN's Web site about a woman trying to become an Olympic athlete. The latest chapter in the story recently popped up on espn.com, and the woman found out she would be able to race for St. Kitts and Nevis on March 4. She didn't mention it was Moped Day, but she did mention that it was an amazing day:

"This is the greatest day on the calendar for anyone on a quest, anyone seeking answers, anyone who ever doubted herself and wondered if she should keep going. March forth." (at almost the end of the story)

Check out the story at http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=olympianpart10&lpos=sp....

Aside from the Moped Day love, it's a pretty interesting concept. You should start at part 1 and read all the way through.

I think the answer must have

Brandon — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:02:43 -0600

I think the answer must have something to do with thumb wars.

Either that, or this science teacher Web site has the right answer: http://www3.nsta.org/main/news/stories/science_and_children.php?news_sto....

Who are you going to believe: some site that is run by a national organization with a specialty in the area, or me – a communications graduate from the second-smallest state school in Wisconsin? I think the choice is clear ...

Why do they call them

iceman — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:38:33 -0600

Why do they call them opposing thumbs any way ? Who or what are they opposing ?How many othe creatures have such digits ?

You’re right, I didn’t

Brandon — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:35:44 -0600

You’re right, I didn’t think about that this morning. Now I kind of want to try it, though, and tape my thumbs down for a day at work. Anyone else interested in a thumbs down day?

Without thumbs, you can't do

Mathias Baden — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:57:07 -0600

Without thumbs, you can't do much, can you? At least not the same way as you used to when you had thumbs.

When I was in elementary school, one of my teachers ran a week-long project on understanding people with disabilities. One day, I had to use crutches. Other kids spent the week in wheelchairs, even during physical education and recess.

Another day, every student had to operate without thumbs -- we taped them to the rest of our palms so we couldn't use them. It wasn't easy, and I learned something about people who are different than me.

Bet you didn't think of that when you froze your thumb to the doorknob.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Actually, the Packers will

Mathias Baden — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:13:27 -0600

Actually, the Packers will be going Bowl-less this year.

Just as the Vikings shouldn't have gotten to the playoffs, the Packers weren't meant for the Super Bowl. It's better that way. Saves embarrassment. The Giants will be the ones who make or break the Patriots' perfect season.

Come playoff time, the hottest teams -- not necessarily the best ones -- win.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

It sounds like it will be

Tom Schardin — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:10:55 -0600

It sounds like it will be Ice Bowl II.

On the radio, they said

Mathias Baden — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:05:59 -0500

On the radio, they said it'd be a nice day today, so enjoy it. Huh?

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Good job Brandin - This is

bigbobbob — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 12:50:48 -0600

Good job Brandin - This is the first posting - I have seen in any newspaper - and I have opened quite a few, that developed into a movie. This is very well done and if a few 'glitches' appear who will notice or care. I had no idea the being a 'Newspaper Editor' was so hazardous. Take care. JI is deserving of its awards.

It may not be something with

Brandon — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:04:52 -0600

It may not be something with which you often feel, but I’m pretty sure the nerve endings in my forehead had gone numb. A friend responded after seeing the video that he hoped I could feel my forehead again. Luckily, I can.

That’s an excellent

Brandon — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 10:52:56 -0600

That’s an excellent question! As a proud native of P-ville (or, as some have taken to calling it in recent years, P-Vegas), I know the story well. I'll share it with you, with a little too much information:

Platteville is home to Wisconsin’s first teaching college (formed in 1866), and that college, according to Wikipedia, joined with a new mining college in 1907 (you can see the M and a bell symbolizing education in the school's official symbol). And that’s what the “M” stands for – mining. Zinc was found in the area in the early 1900s, and there was a huge mining boom. The "M" is a big whitewashed letter M on the side of a hill. The school doesn’t have a mining program any more, but it is a big engineering school. One of the engineering programs takes care of and cleans the “M.” Every couple of years they re-whitewash the whole “M,” and every year they do an “M”-lighting ceremony where they light it up with candles and you can see it throughout the area. It’s pretty cool.

Hopefully this summer I can do a few more moped videos that show the actual “M” – maybe even a hike up the hill or a view from the top.

Oh, I should also point out that there’s about a million urban legends about “The Big M,” but my favorites are that it’s full of gold bars stolen during prohibition, and that a Japanese company challenged its claim to “World’s Largest” but lost that challenge when the “M” was measured.

"I can't feel my forehead!"

Mathias Baden — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:57:01 -0600

"I can't feel my forehead!" That's my favorite part of the video.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Your moped trip was

J-Town Knitter — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:06:16 -0600

Your moped trip was breathtaking and exhilarating! However, your video adventure leaves one unanswered question. WHY is the biggest M out in the country near Platteville, Wisconsin? Please report in. After all, it's your job.

Ha, ha! Thanks -- you gave

Mathias Baden — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 10:31:06 -0600

Ha, ha! Thanks -- you gave me a good laugh today. To see what kthill is talking about, read my blog about text messaging at http://www.jordannews.com/node/1920.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)