Dave Sorensen
Duluth Motorcycle Mechanic?
Where do I find a good motorcycle mechanic in Duluth? I found an old PDD post on the subject, but the one guy named in it is having health problems.
Goodbye Habeas Corpus
The Senate has voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act , which contains a provision that would allow the military to abduct American citizens, on US soil, without charges or trial, indefinitely. Ex CIA analyst Ray McGovern discusses it here. Both Minnesota senators voted yea. This is a big deal!
How’s Business?

I am wondering how Duluth small businesses are fairing during The Great Recession. I’d like to hear from business owners, employees, the self-employed , the unemployed, etc. How is business compared to, say, ’07? How are you adapting? I’m really curious about this, and I don’t want to start an overly-political thread here. So, how’s business, Duluth?
Michele Bachmann at her most coherent
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFB6LQ1-WKU
Cravaack Town Hall
I didn’t wanted to go off topic on the thread regarding signs and free speech at the Cravaack town hall meeting, so I thought I’d start another one to discuss the content of the meeting.
Fukushima’s Potential Fallout for North America
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGonec787ME&feature=player_embedded
This is from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research for April 14 through 18. You can adjust the model to run for radioactive Iodine, Cessium, etc. Here. There is no “safe” dose of radiation, according to Dr. Helen Caldicott
Let’s Discuss Social Security
Someone recently wondered why there had not been a PDD post regarding Social Security being “bankrupt.” Here goes:
Social Security currently has a 2.5 trillion dollar surplus. This is partly due to Ronald Reagan raising SS taxes on working people. Then he started to raid the fund to make it look like he could cut taxes on the rich and corporations, bloat the military, and still “balance” the budget. Well, he still wound up turning a surplus into a massive deficit, but I digress.
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Duluth mentioned in film Trumbo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCA179Pqsn8
Dalton Trumbo was one of the “Hollywood Ten.” Duluth is mentioned in passing in the documentary Trumbo. And judging from his description of the weather he must have been here.
Bemidji Beaver Returned

The Bemidji City Council voted on Tuesday to return the beaver sculpture which had been removed from display over concern that decorations on it resembled a pudendum. DNT story here
Downtown Ace Hardware closing
Losing Daugherty Hardware was bad enough. Now Ace Hardware downtown is closing. The big-box stores cannot compare, and downtown takes another hit. Poop!
Mayor Ness in New York Times
The mayor’s jump in the lake to support Google Fiber made a splash in the New York Times. How about that?
Bridge to Heaven
I heard that Japanese tourists visit Enger Park to view the “Bridge to Heaven,” as Park Point resembles a famous pine-tree covered sand bar in Japan. Both are viewed upside down, by bending over and looking between your legs. Here



Christmas Spirit
Farmer Doug and Lois Hoffbauer , who sell xmas trees out of the farmer’s market, are offering these free trees to their neighbors. How nice is that?

Ledges Section of Lakewalk
I just learned this section of the Lakewalk is open. Does anyone know when it opened, or the story about volunteers working on it to meet a deadline? The Private Property signs are on 23rd Avenue East. The other signs are at the beginning of this section of the Lakewalk, at the end of 23rd. How about a sign that reads “Public Welcome”? (more…)
Violet Days in Nov. Funny Times

Not only is Violet Days in the November issue of Funny Times, but Twiggy the waterskiing squirrel is shown skiing in Duluth!
More on Skyline Parkway
Here are a few excerpts from Duluth’s Skyline Parkway Corridor Management Plan of 2003:
“New buildings should be compatible with surrounding buildings in size and scale and SHOULD NOT BLOCK IMPORTANT VIEWS.”
“Limit residential development where it can damage … IMPORTANT VIEWS.”
“Avoid lakeside (downslope) development whenever possible.”
Where in Duluth?
They could have at least added a couple coils of razor wire for ambiance.
Pipeline to Superior

Duluth/Superior is mentioned in this article about the pipeline which will bring Tar Sands Oil through town. Go here.
Harold Nelson Dies

Harold Nelson, the old fellow often seen walking along Central Entrance and elsewhere, was struck by a car and killed. The News Tribune has an article in the August 16th edition.
Hells Angels FAQ
My favorite question on the Hells Angels Web Site FAQ page: “Shouldn’t there be an apostrophe in Hells Angels?” I don’t think the answer is correct, but, uh, do you wanna tell ’em?











