New Glasses!

Has been about three years since I had my prescription updated so was time to go out and buy some new glasses. The first pair I just got today are the fashionable IC! Berlin Wildeshausen frames (pictured above), with thin and light high index of refraction anti-reflection, anti-scratch, and anti-UV lenses. As soon I put them on I said, "I can see!" The innovative thing about them is that the hinge has no screws, but implements a patented way of putting two pieces of ultra-light sheet metal together.

Wilde translated from German means wild, but I could find no word for shausen. Looking up Wildeshausen on Wikipedia turned up this interesting piece of info of the city of Wildeshausen in Germany:

Alexander Church

The founding of the Alexander - Church goes back to 814. In 807 Waltbert, a grandson of Duke Wittekind, brought the relics of the sainted Alexander from Rome by way of the Alpine mountains to Wildeshausen. Alexander died, as well as his mother and 6 brothers, as martyrs during the persecution of Christians in the first century. They were executed. Waltbert donated a "Chorherren Stift" (it is a sort of monastery, where the cleric lived to the rules of the Benedictines) named "Alexander Kapitel". It was to be used as a mission for the surrounding area (called Lerigau, or Largau). Wildeshausen became an important place of pilgrimage, which gave the town an economic upswing. Church and "Stift" owned many valuable treasures. The church and "Kapitel" were richly decorated with pictures. Before the completion in 1270 a long time of construction must have preceded it. During renovation artistic and historic frescos were discovered. The Alexander - Church is the only basilica in the area of Oldenburg. The style documents the transition from the late Roman to the early gothic style of the 13th century. The Alexander Church is the greatest work of art in Wildeshausen, well known far beyond the area. Connoisseurs of church music appreciate the organ concerts on the newly installed (1970) Kleuker Organ.

That may not be completely relevant, but hey at least you learned something?

Keep tabs on the Quantum Void to read an update on my alternate pair of frames that I bought, but needed to be special ordered because the manufacturer puts the custom lenses in. They should be ready in a couple of weeks.

Kashe Li (It's Hard)



I really like this guy's hand drawn animation. His name is Roy Iddan and he made this animated video for the Israeli rock group Jirafot (The Giraffes)

Weekend in Madison

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but have been quite busy with life and work. I spent a weekend a couple of weeks ago in Madison to celebrate the life of one of my best college friends, Mike McLean. Apparently he had a fatal affliction since birth that is still incurable to this day that finally caught up with him. I never was told of his problem until now, but knew that I liked him right away when I met him, because he lived ever day as it was his last. I Don't know that I've ever been to a eulogy that has lasted two hours and needed to cut people off at the end due to time constraints.

So, back to my old stomping grounds, the University of Wisconsin Madison, where I was educated among the world class from all cultures. This was the place of many of the highest highs and lowest lows in my life. It feels good to be back. Hello Bucky (which I had a stuffed version of as a child, who says subliminal influences don't work?)


The Wisconsin State Capitol. Second largest dome in the country behind the capitol building in DC.


My hotel, the Hilton Monona Terrace. Nice digs, except for the false 4am fire alarm that I had to wake up to and exit down the stairs from the 8th floor on my last night there.

I had a luxury suite overlooking Lake Monona and the Monona Terrace. The Terrace is a convention center and a Frank Lloyd Wright design that did not exist while I lived there.


The after-memorial service was held at the Brocach Irish Pub. Just as Mike had decreed in his last wishes, everybody was having a toast to his fine existence in this world.


The next day, I sat on the patio of Brocach again and drank some "Haas." I watched people for some time and after awhile decided that I was sufficiently "crazy" enough to jump back into Madison culture. What comes next is discovering a whole new part of Madison that frankly I before was too poor and naive to experience before as a student.

The Ocean Grill Champagne Restaurant. Great place to drink some bubbly (ahem, at $30 a glass if you want the real stuff) and soak up the sun, which by chance, also looks great shining through a $30 glass of bubbles.


My best friend Steve (traveling from DC, also close friend of Mike's) and his wife call and want to go to dinner. OK, where to? Well there could not have been a better choice. The Muramoto presents a tapas-style Japanese dinner. I cannot praise this place enough. The cuisine was perfect in texture, color, temperature, and of course taste. On top of that they have a full selection on bottles of Sake. Apparently Sake is only served warm if it is the cheap kind. We ordered some G-Joy, which tasted better than any Chardonnay I can remember. Pictured is the owner and chief chef.


Onward to the Maduro Cigar Bar, one of the few places left exempt from Madison's newly initiated anti-smoking laws. Cigars only please. Turns out I accidentally left my debit card there (had run out of cash reserves), but after calling them, they gladly sent my card back to Tulsa with a note that sweetly said, "Until we see you again!" (Kinda unlike the guy in Tulsa working at a hotel counter that kept my card and went on a Walmart shopping spree.)

Cheers Mike!