Football Epilogue

Image by Jeon Sang-O from Pixabay Spring is officially here! The vernal equinox was this past week and now we have more daylight than night. It is amazing how fast the days have become long, extending natural light well into the evening hours. One of my favorite things about Minnesota are the long summer evenings with light on the horizon until nearly 10 pm Naturally, the season change, here in Minnesota, was greeted with sub-freezing temperatures. It is also quite blustery out with a stiff north wind with what is perhaps winter's last hurrah. However, it is more likely the penultimate or antepenultimate hurrah. Snow in May has happened in recent memory.  With the weather fluctuating between nice and friggin' freezin' we dance between getting outdoors and hunkering down. The earlier week witnessed temperatures in the 60s F. Comfortable enough for a jog around my favorite little lake (sub-20 minutes for two miles!) in shorts and a light jacket. It was a little cooler a coup...

Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay While I love the song, I have to admit that getting the daily 10k steps leaves much to be desired in winter walking. Before delving into my recent walking challenges, I do have to make a very real brag. With the help of Noom, and may some luck, I was able to maintain my weight through the holidays! I consider this a sizeable victory, as it is tough for anyone to do.  That said, the colder winter weather and Covid weariness has made for some challenges to the habits that ran smoothly in fairer weather; particularly for getting in those precious steps not to mention my overall activity level.  I was fairly gung-ho at the start of the cold. My smart goal of at least 5,000 steps during the workday and filling in the rest at the gym in the evening was working well.  Then the real cold came along with the snow and ice. In one particular moment of feeling invincible, I went out for a walk and within 500 steps had a nice slip and bruise on the...

By now most of us are accustomed to having to work out someplace other than the gym. Here in MN gyms have been shut down for the last four weeks along with restaurant indoor dining, schools, etc. while we weather the second wave of Covid infections.  I was getting into a pretty good habit of going for a jog a few times a week and working out with my home gym equipment in the garage. I was also walking to lunch on a regular basis; a two mile loop up to the local service station for a banana and some manner of protein. The shop even stocks some hard boiled eggs so I don't have to get a roller dog each time. However, I must admit a cheddar-wurst is a bit of a treat for me (I skip on the bun as they're usually overly bready anyway). I only had one suspect occurrence with the juevos where it looked like they had a run in with a mushy banana and I opted to stay away for a little while. Fortunately, I caught the bum eggs before they gave me a bum...bum. Digressing, the onset of the pr...

 So my data obsessed side has me still recording and plotting data from the MN Covid Situation Update page . It's largely to see how things continue to play out. Here are a couple of key points: The new case rate is holding steady around 5.2 %. This rate seems to hold regardless of the number of new tests administered: Hospitalizations and ICU numbers are also holding relatively constant in the low 300s and mid 100s, respectively: The data has "positive tests" and a "no longer needing isolation" values. Taking these data (probably overly simplistically) as sick versus cured their difference shows a clear second wave, of which we are about where the first wave peaked: Deaths appear to be accelerating ( plot on MN Covid website ) The percent of deaths from assisted living facilities continues to decline and is now below 75% of total deaths. Likely from the virus largely having run its course through the facilities To me, this data is saying a few things: B...

UPDATE: I found a severe issue in this original calculation. I neglected to normalize to the number of tests being administered. Please disregard the crossed-out below graph. Here is an updated version showing the peak of infection rates as being at June 2nd. Likewise deaths are increased to around 2,500 and total cases is also revised up ~10x. What follows here is the old data/report. Conditions can change, especially if social distancing restrictions are relaxed, but here is some fitting on the cumulative covid19 positive test cases.  A logistic fit yields excellent agreement over the whole curve. If the fit is to be believed, doing a little calculus and differentiating the fit curve shows that we are just passed the peak (i.e. inflection point) in number of new cases per day. Keeping up with some social distancing shows things really slowing down in early may. Note that the curve is asymmetric, so the way down is longer than the way up. According to...

It is interesting that we can get a daily account of the number of cases of Covid19. For the most part we get a reporting of the total number of cases and the number of new cases.  Being I live in Minnesota, I track this data the most. As reported in the news, testing is limited and the data likely does not reflect the true coronavirus infections; testing seems to focus on capturing the worst cases. Still, there are some interesting things to tease out, even if you're playing with just the news reported data. My disclaimer here is that I'm doing minimal analysis and really when it's this early in the "pandemic" I'm trying not to let the "Belief in Small Numbers" [Kahneman and Tversky 1971] cause me to jump to any conclusions.  Also, I apologize that my graphs aren't as fancy as, say, the Star Tribune's or the Johns Hopkins app. Frankly, I'm feeling kind of lazy towards a fancy visualization tonight. Looking at the total num...

It's 10 °F (-12 °C) outside. At least it's usually sunny on the coldest days here in Minnesota.

Dabbling with the Google Maps API I'm in a tinkering mood. I also have a couple of ideas that involve messing around with Google maps. Thus, I researched embedding a map on my page. It's pretty basic so far, there's a lot of hunting through references and tutorials for the right commands and I had to learn a little about Google Map's application programming interface (API), javascript and GeoJSON (a map data format for adding features to map data). So here it is, Bloomington, MN with an itty-bitty flag. Simple first steps to perhaps something bigger.

My kids on top of Lutsen Mountains overlooking lake Superior. When you hear "Minnesota" you often think of all the aspects of a cold snowy winter, except for skiing. However, the Twin cities area as well as northern Minnesota are home to a few gems. Skiing here is a little different. Runs are shorter, with ~400 vertical feet being the maximum elevation you'll find in the Cities, but there's a lot more opportunity to hone your technique. Lindsey Vonn even got her start on the Minnesota slopes at Buck Hill before becoming a downhill superstar. Areas such as Afton Alps (a member of the Epic pass family) and Welch Village are vast in the sheer number of runs and varied terrain. The close proximity to the Twin Cities also means there's a lot to do when your ski day is done. If you live in town or are visiting for an extended time, you can easily drop the kids off at Hyland Hills for a few hours while you go off to dinner or shopping at the Mall of Americ...

I think I've caught the golf itch again this year. I'm finding myself wanting to get out and hit and hit and hit. I think it started with a golf-centric Las Vegas weekend in February with one of my good friends from grad school. The view from the first tee at Siena Golf Club. We played two full rounds. The first was Arroyo at Red Rocks and the second was at Siena Golf Club . My game wasn't the greatest, but it was fun; and apparently the flame was (re)lit. Enough so that I signed up as a sub on the golf league I played on a few years ago and I'm playing in a tournament with that group this weekend. The weather here started to cooperate in early April and I was able to get to the driving range shortly thereafter. I've also started watching some YouTube videos trying to improve my play. One thing I noticed from my Vegas golf was my driver seemed dead compared to my friend and the people we were paired up with. I'm still trying to decide if it...

Yesterday was warm. Warm enough to conclude that summer is here along with all the activities that help keep us moving. Moving even if we'd rather be sitting in a cozy adirondack chair with a cold sparkling beverage. Beverages sometimes need to wait though in the wake of tall grass and dandelions.  Dandelions in thick enough clumps to make you wonder about the potency of the winterizer/weed and feed fertilizer. Fertilizer that did indeed seem to make the grass grow long. Long enough that it was time for mowing. Mowing in my yard is a good 30 to 40 minute workout on account of the hills. Hills that sometimes cause me to slip and definitely cause a good sweat. Sweat that, mixed with the dust and pollen, gives the eyes a mild irritation. Irritation that has the decent feeling of doing something physical, even if it is just giving my lawn its first proverbial "lowering of the ears". Ears were important for me to turn down the sensitivity on for the second portion of my ...

The view from atop Hyland ski area in Bloomington, MN Compared to the last few years, this Minnesota winter has been hard. The persistently cold temperatures with only one small warm streak in January, mixed with weekly snowfalls has left the state frozen and white. Probably too cold for many of the out-of-town folks who were here for Superbowl LII on Sunday. Indeed I've been struck with a small case of cabin fever as well. However, it should be a time to embrace the winterness and partake in outdoor activities. Early in January I took a trip to Utah. That officially kicked-off my ski season. Utah was awesome. The ski areas are vast and varied. We (gf and I) skied Deer Valley on the Park City side of the mountains and Brighton on the Salt Lake City side of the mountain. I came home ready for more. Fortunately, my kids are now of the age where they are capable skiers. As an added bonus the Minnesota Ski Areas Association  has a program this year where fourth graders ski ...

I've been feeling the need to get more cardio. Honestly, part of it has to do with going to Iron Maiden with a friend who "runs 4 to 5 miles every day". So, ok, time for me to saddle up and get moving as I see room for improvement in my workout.  I'm not looking to compete, but instead felt more motivated. Thanks, Old Top! The nice part about living in the land of 10k lakes is that there area a lot of little lakes with paths around them. Thus, for the last couple weeks I've been packing a small bag of workout clothes, changing at the end of the work day and taking a jog around Mt. Normandale Lake pictured above.  I don't typically feel the need to run a marathon so something between 1.5 miles and 4 miles feels perfect. This lake has an excellent path with just enough elevation variation to have to kick into small hill gear and a second lap (which I'm already starting to do) doesn't feel entirely daunting. There are enough shiny happy peopl...

After work today, my girlfriend and I took a walk around a nearby lake. The days are getting shorter and tonight's air is was cool and brisk. Still there was moisture on the path left from last nights heavy rains. The hills of the local ski area and park overlooked the small lake and shown shades of bright yellow, orange and brown. Fall has peaked and the trees and shrubs, once laden heavy with the colorful leaves were showing signs of finally giving out to barren dormancy. Overlooking it all, the peculiarity of a lone ski jump sets an atmosphere of the impending winter. It's a sight I missed during my years in California where the Steinbeck-ian browns of tinder dry summer grasses would gradually heed to wave upon wave of storm system and reveal a brilliant green that makes Dublin, CA a true sister city of it's European namesake. Storms that are slowed as they beat up against the precipitous rise of the Sierra Nevadas. The dropping temperature and diminishment of lig...

I'm traveling for work over the next day or so. Attending a workshop in Washington DC on the topic of magnetic tunnel junctions. It's a collection of many of the usual suspects that I see at conferences and is a good venue for industry/academia. I love that I get to come back to DC every so often. I feel it puts me in a minority of people who do. However, after working as a postdoc in the area in, what is nearing a decade ago, I see the charm of the place. Not to mention there are familiar faces that I can meet for dinner and drinks. Sitting in here in this workshop I was trying to think of a tidbit on DC that's somewhat related to the (initial) intent of the blog. Then I recalled, "isn't this one of the fittest areas in the country?" Indeed, at least according to the American Fitness Index website. It's number 1. Interestingly, the Twin Cities are number 2! Now what does this mean? The reports summarize data across a number of areas from the ...

It's NHL playoff time here in MN. Here's my view for the MN Wild v. Dallas Stars game from last night. The Wild, down 0-2 in the series, rallied to win 5-3. It was a very fast and physical game where the Wild had to come back from an early 0-2 deficit.

View from my seat watching the Minnesota North Stars/Wild alumni team square off against the Chicago Blackhawks alumni as part of the Wild's Stadium Series . Both the Minnesota alumni and the actual team won their games. The alumni game had lots of shenanigans including Dino Ciccarelli getting in a mock fight at the start of the game along with plenty of hog-piling on the goalies. It was a little bit of cold and a lot of fun in the outdoor stadium (TCF Bank stadium at the University of Minnesota).

Granted Hyland Ski Area is no Heavenly and MN skiing is very different from in the mountains (more time on the lifts, more ice), it's still a great time and a great place to learn!  My daughter, Norah, gaining mastery of the slopes. She actually made it down some of the intermediate runs and even a black diamond!

Golf Season in Minnesota is short. Too short. We are now in playoff mode for my golf league and a 5:30pm tee time guarantees very long shadows on the course by the fifth hole. I bought a new sleeve of Titlest proV1X balls. I think it helped off the tee, but my mid irons and putting just killed me. Unfortunately, that's the extent of Dwan GC : drive, iron, putt on moderate length par 4s). I ended up shooting my worst round of the year...a 53 (net 40). Oh well. I'm hoping to get a few more rounds in before the snow flies...

Going through some old photos at my folks I came across this gem. 8th grade football squad. Can you find me? The transition from July to August starts bringing dreams of two-a-days and thoughts that I could still play.... #TBT