Random
Shopping Advice…
I have developed a slight Mountain Dew Throwback problem — a love for a soda that I grew up on, with NO HFCs. I avoid HFCs where possible.
But where can I find this tasty soda in Duluth? Do you know of a gas station or corner shop that still has some?
Selling a sea kayak
I’m looking to sell my sea kayak (decent boat used like 6 times, hence the sale). Besides Craigslist, are there places in town that I should be posting physical fliers?
Great Lakes Documentarian
A friend of a friend is looking to buy a cheap but lake-worthy boat in Duluth. He’s an artist working on a project documenting threats to Great Lakes fresh water.
He wants to start in Duluth and work towards the Ocean. He is looking for somebody that hangs out with small-fishing-company-types, or lake-ecology-research-professor types that might get his quest for a boat started.
This is his website: www.recycledcarbon.com
Open Letter
Dear manufacturers of pretty much every electronics product,
Thank you so much for including a plastic sleeve for the owner’s manual. It would truly be a shame if such an important document as an owner’s manual were to ever be damaged by dust or spilled liquids during the two minutes between it coming out of the box and getting jammed into a file cabinet.
Sedaris preview?
What you can expect Monday, or not expect.
https://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/jun/02/author-headline-goes-hyere-and-hyere/
Lexicon update
I moved to Duluth in September 2006. Almost a year ago, I wrote a post about words and phrases that seemed unique to Duluth and/or the region. At that point, most seemed pretty odd to me; none had entered my vocabulary.
But I realized this week that at some point in the past few months, I’ve started regularly using one of those language quirks – adding “the” before road names. As in, “Oh, yeah, I saw that house, too – out there on the Rice Lake Road.”
It’s interesting how something little like that really makes you feel grounded in a place.
Now hiring
The Last Place on Earth wants you to get your resume ready.
Nearly Threadjacked: Taconite Curtain
This just about became a threadjack for Mary’s “I’ll give you a medal … ” post But propriety seized me just before I hit post when I realized this was probably a post in it’s own right.
It all started when I finally clicked the urban dictionary link to taconite curtain that Adam provided: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Taconite%20Curtain
I have to kick myself that that actually qualifies as “urban” but it’s hilarious and very well written, folks. It wasn’t until I’d read it that I caught the “Iron” v. “Taconite” connection, as in, Europe has (had) the “iron” curtain of totalitarian socialism, but we’ve only got this really dense rock with some iron in it, “taconite.” You people are all way too clever for me.
Lakewalk Saturday
Don’t know if this got any publicity. All I saw was the DNT editorial today that tomorrow morning at 9 is gravel spreading time for the new path by the Ledges.
REEL Youth Film Festival
Kids can do some crazy things with cameras – see some examples at the REEL Youth Film Festival on Saturday, May 30th at 6pm in the Free Range Film Barn. Its free and open to the public and there will be organic popcorn.
Directions at https://www.freerangefilm.com/directions.html
"Adventures to the Rainbow Tiara"
“I’ll give you a medal if you get out alive.”
“You’ll never see another town like Duluth. It’s not a tourist destination, but it probably should be. Depends what season you’re in there, though. There are only two seasons: damp and cold. I like the way the hills tumble to the waterfront and the way the wind blows around the grain elevators. The train yards go on forever, too. It’s old-age industrial, that’s what it is. You’ll see it from the top of the hill for miles and miles before you get there. You won’t believe your eyes. I’ll give you a medal if you get out alive.”
Bob Dylan,
Rolling Stone #1078, May 14, 2009
Duluth Superior Sailing Association Open House June 6 from noon to 4
Come learn about Duluth Superior Sailing Association and its programs June 6 from noon to 4:00 p.m. Sailing season and classes for children and adults begin.
Marty McFly’s house
The real "McFly" house used for exterior shots in Back to the Future. Click for Google maps link.
Liquor Store Math
The Next Level column in this week’s Transistor answers an important question for Duluthians:
Is it worth driving to Superior to save money on off-sale alcohol?
Farmers Market at UMD this Wednesday!
UMD Farmers Market
EVERY WEDNESDAY
2:00-4:30
UMD Kirby Plaza Bus Hub
LOCAL Produce, Music and Artisans!
Contact:
Leah Nelson
nels5131@d.umn.edu
218.940.2138
Campus Map: https://www.d.umn.edu/parking/lots.html
Ride the Bus or Park Free!
What you might find at the Market:
· Fruits and Berries
· Vegetables
· Flowers
· Maple syrup
· Baked goods
· Transplants
· Herbs and Spices
· Much more!
· ALL LOCAL!
Minnesota Refrigerator
The realization that I'd stacked all the drinks next to the mini-fridge instead of in it struck me funny, somehow. Errr, never mind me.
Where else in the entire nation can you get cheaper refrigeration?
To tell you the truth I like it in Duluth.
The Day Your Childhood Died
This is a public continuation of a conversation I had with my girlfriend this morning.
We were wondering how many other people can remember the moment when they realized that toys no longer were fun? Not your adult toys like jet skis, cameras, or hand guns, but the stuff you had while your age was in the single digits. Blocks, GI-Joes, a hoop with a stick, etc..
My moment came when I was about ten. My older brother’s friend came over and gave me this little toy metal truck he had to play with. I instinctively took it to the living room floor and started pushing it in circles. It took several laps until the newly forming adult parts of my brain woke up and sparked off some internal dialog†.
Adult Brain: “Why are you doing this kid? It’s not any fun.”
Child Brain: “But it is a toy truck. I’m suppose to be pushing it around and pretending that I am hauling away sacks of grain from the imaginary mill to be delivered to the grocer under the couch!”
Adult Brain: “Do you really think the imaginary people under the couch need you shipments of invisible wheat to stay alive any more?”
Child Brain: “Of course! They’ve always relied on my grain!”
Adult Brain: “Not for long sonny. You’re childhood is being pushed aside much like your pretend mill and grocer will be once that Wal-Mart under the ottoman finished construction.”
Child Brain: “Waaaa! I’m just a kid! Leave me alone! This is suppose to be fun.”
Adult Brain: “Not for long. Face the facts boy. You are not finding this fun any more.”
Child Brain: “You’re right. My childhood is dying. What should I do?”
Adult Brain: “Check in the bottom of daddy’s night stand for some matches.”
Child Brain: “Then what?”
Adult Brain: “Burn things!”
At that moment, I realized my innocent childhood was drawing to an end, and my simple toys would no longer be fun to play with.
Does anyone else remember this exact moment in their life? Please describe it in the comments.
†Some dialog may be embellished for dramatic effect.
Stimulus Watch-Duluth projects total $413,263,980
I’m hoping the crater-sized pot hole that nearly swallowed my car on a recent trip to Kohls (Sundby Road) falls under MSA street reconditioning. I realize the Lift Bridge takes a lot of paint, but $5,000,000 worth? That’s crazy talk. https://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_city/Duluth/MN
Musings on a basketball rolling downhill
I was driving down Lake Avenue yesterday morning when I noticed a kid, maybe 7 or 8 years old, who – in my opinion – had just intentionally chucked an old basketball down the hill from about Fifth Street.
For a brief moment, the ball and I were traveling side-by-side (the ball, unfortunately, going against traffic in the uphill lane). When I stopped at the four-way stop at Fourth Street, the ball, of course, kept on going. I glanced in my rear-view mirror and saw the kid jumping up and down – again, I think in joy at watching the thing sail downhill, and not in protest of an unfortunate lesson in physics and topography.
Jack Chick Plays Vol. II
Jack is back…
Jack Chick, that is. Colder by the Lake Comedy Theatre presents The Jack Chick Plays, Volume 2. It’s a hilarious, irreverent (yet thoughtful) look at the world of religious tracts, adapted for the stage.
Directed by Jean Sramek, and featuring the talents of Christa Schulz, Chris Nollet, Cheryl Skafte, Cathy Podeszwa, Gary Kruchowski, Tony Keane, and media artists Chris Julin and Rob Wittig, The Jack Chick Plays is something both saints and sinners will enjoy.
June 4-13
Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Communion Wine Post-Church Matinee:
Sunday, June 7th at 2pm
Tickets: $10 at the door starting at 6pm (11am on Sunday) or on-line at www.duluthplayground.org
Winners in Play Competition at the Play Ground
Lake Superior Writers Announce Winners in Play Competition
“The Voice of the Turtle” by Teresa Boyle Falsani
“The Voice of the Turtle” explores life’s losses, the unpredicted impact of important decisions, and the challenges of commitment over the long term.
“This Too Shall Pass” by Matt Wall
will also play
See these award winning plays on
Sunday, May 24
2pm at the Play Ground
Both plays will be performed in reader’s theater format
Free to the Public.
Elusive U.S. Coast Guard Licensing classes…
Ok.. So I heard that there’s someone in the Twin Ports who teaches classes on the U.S. Coast Guard regs and rules that are needed to successfully pass the U.S. Coast Guard exam for ship captains..
Anyone know whom this elusive somebody might be and how to get a hold of him/her?
thanks
jason
amundsen72@yahoo.com