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Orange and white kitty — stray? feral?

A medium-sized orange and white cat has been coming to eat on my deck for the past (at least) two weeks. It runs when it sees me — so no photo (yet). I will try to catch it and see if there is a collar or chip and what shape it’s in. Lakeside — near London Road and 54th Avenue East.

No trespassing!

What’s the deal with the fences and no trespassing signs that were put up and eventually taken down midway up the Glenwood Road hill in Lakeside on county land. Is this the over zealous property owner who’s trying to sell the chunk of land below it? Perhaps they need to learn the property boundaries.

Winter Wasp Woes

I have wasp problems. At least, I think they’re wasps … could be hornets, I hope not. Anyway I know I have nests in the porch ceiling pretty bad, but it’s possible they are also in the walls too. How bad? I’m afraid to know, but the real problem started last year on New Year’s Day, a couple hours into 2013.
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Minnesota Wine Exchange closing?

Did Minnesota Wine Exchange go out of business? Or is it just changing locations?  I bought a half-price gift certificate and went to use it, but it looked like they were packing up.

I really need to stop buying these gift certificates. I think it’s a curse to the business. I bought three for Thai Krathong and never got to use them. Sad to see these unique businesses go.

Five Perfect Duluth Years on WordPress

A minor anniversary for Perfect Duluth Day: Five years ago today we stayed up late on a Friday night and switched to the WordPress publishing platform. From September 2005 to January 2009 PDD used Moveable Type and looked like this:


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This thread’s for you, Mr. Black Lab

After skiing the Lester, I was pretty cold and a little wet, but decided to go down and check the ice structures at Brighton Beach anyway. The few people there sat in their cars but I walked out and gave them something to look at — a guy walking around looking at the lake. Then I witnessed an improperly dressed dude walking his Labrador turn back abruptly to the safety of his car. Black Lab you ask? Hell no! The cold didn’t bother him one god damned second. He was living in the moment. Happy as can be.

This thread buds for you, Mr. Black Lab.

More thoughts on Duluth neighborhoods

All of the recent postings have reignited my interest in our city’s neighborhoods. Their unique aspects are really interesting. And there are so many things I still don’t know, even after living here for 20+ years.
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Going without garbage service

I use Hartel DBJ as my garbage hauler and it is a great company, but I hardly produce any waste during a month. I am wondering if anyone in Duluth goes without garbage service. Can a person bring trash to a collection site and pay a fee whenever the garbage can is full? How about recycling? Are there places to bring those items?

I called WLSSD yesterday and they said they don’t take household waste and a person must have a provider to take away trash.

Duluth neighborhood boundaries?

I was just thinking, of course Duluth itself has clearly defined boundaries, but how about all the neighborhoods within? You always kind of know about where you are, but where does say the Heights turn into Kenwood or Norton Park turn into Morgan Park, etc. Are there even really boundaries? Thoughts?

North Coast iOS Developers!

Krekeltronics, a small Minnesota-based firm, is looking for iOS developers! We’d like to talk to independent experienced folks looking for a bit of stability, burnt out corporate subjects seeking a simpler lifestyle, or even skilled recent grads looking to pair with someone.
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The National Weather Service has issued an erect nipple advisory for northeastern Minnesota. Be careful out there.

Minnesota Shoplifting Detain/Restrain Laws?

Does anyone know the laws regarding detaining/restraining suspected shoplifters? I walked out of the mall tonight and found three Younkers loss-prevention staff holding a woman face-down in the snow, with their knees on her back attempting to handcuff her while she was telling them she couldn’t breathe.
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Happy Xmas (War is Over)

On this chilly morn, the blue light of the moon reveals the carnage left on the battlefield of the War on Xmas. Last year’s Apple product, the old tube television, and mounds of torn wrapping paper clutter the otherwise barren landscape. Though the media pundit generals have refused to sign the Declaration of Armistice, the conflict is over. The body count was surprisingly low- a Christmas miracle, one might even say. According to official reports, there was only a single casualty. Ironically, it was a Salvation Army bell-ringer who was assaulted by a “true believer” who was so insulted by the charity worker’s exhortation of “Happy Holidays,” that they had no other choice but to punch them in the face. We can only pray that the Peace holds — and that cooler heads will prevail. In closing, let us wish a Happy Birthday to Albino Jesus.

What’s with the new rail cars?!

Did anyone notice some odd-looking rail cars on the train tracks along I-35 this morning? They appear to be of particularly odd shapes and not like anything I’ve seen before in the area. Any info from PDD? I was driving to work so I was unable to snap a quick photo. They sure look mysterious like some type of submarine or large underground tanks.

Old Central Clock

Has anyone else noticed that the old Central High School clock has stopped?! I hope it’s going to be fixed. I enjoy hearing the bells ever 15 minutes.

Wandering dog in Lincoln Park

I came home tonight to a lost dog in our driveway. A golden retriever mix of some sort (smaller for a golden). Golden and white colored. No collar. When we tried to coax her closer, she ran away. I followed her down the block and she tried to take shelter on a porch but bolted when I tried to get a hold to bring her in somewhere warm. She is obviously very scared and it’s too cold for her to be outside tonight. If you are missing a dog, please come look down Restormel Street and the surrounding area. I went for a walk to look for her once I got warmer clothes on but couldn’t find her again.

Snow emergencies?

I just don’t get it. When Duluth gets more than a couple inches of snow, we plow one side of the street, and the following Sunday we plow the other. For example, if 13 inches of snow falls on Monday, the parking side remains unplowed until Sunday. You can’t park on the side that was plowed, and the side you must try to park on won’t be plowed for days!

WTF? Is there any logic behind this? Coming from Minneapolis, it’s absolutely bizarre. The “second” plowing happens no matter what — why wait until the following Sunday to do the rest?!

Give or take some of the rules, here’s the reasonable plan.

Lost dog in Lincoln Park

I was walking in Lincoln Park just an hour ago and this female dog seemed to not know where to go. She was poking her nose in snowbanks back and forth for blocks along Third street. She wouldn’t let me get close enough to see her tags. She’s golden hued, sort of like a short-haired golden retriever if there is such a thing. She has a white muff (chin and neck). She’s donning a red collar. The likelihood that someone reading this will find her is minimal, but I figured the readership here would know people who know people to take care of these type of things. It’s not that warm out there.

Another accolade for Duluth

“America’s Best College Towns” from Travel & Leisure

Lefse-perate

Too much?

I’m looking for gluten-free lefse. Has anyone seen any around?

Good activities for visiting relatives

I have three coming over for Thanksgiving, including a conservative brother in law. Here’s what I have so far: comedy at Dubh Linn, Karpeles Manuscript Museum, Duluth Art Institute and Bentleyville. Hockey game? For the girls: pedicures, possible drag show? I have lots of fun eating places lined up; may need more other stuff. I know — we can sit around and play cards and board games, too.

Gift Guide?

Is there a gift guide out there for (very) small businesses to advertise in?

I don’t have much of a budget so I can’t buy into big fancy ones, but there must be something out there for the little guys. Help?

(This is not a ploy to get free advertising. It’s a real question.)

Stolen Bicycle: Park Point Break-ins

Hello fellow Duluthians. ‘Tis a sad day on Park Point. It appears another round of robberies has occurred. I had a bicycle stolen out of my garage last night. Pretty ballsy I must say, the thing didn’t even have flat pedals so I am surprised they were able to get off with it. Anywho, if you happen to spot a red Masi Randonneur with a leather saddle, front racks and goofy swept leather handlebars around town, please be so kind as to shoot me a message.

Cash reward for any info, and on account of being a bicycle mechanic, free tuneups for a lifetime!

Cheers,
Justin 218-310-7961

Twelve Years a Slave

Does anybody else think that the local Marcus Theater movie selection blows?

I was really hoping to see Twelve Years a Slave on the big screen, and I was waiting patiently. Apparently it isn’t going to be shown in Duluth/Hermantown because we need Thor to be shown on seven screens instead, and because Jackass Grandpa needs to run for a month.

Did I just totally miss it or something? I at least hoped Zinema 2 would pick it up, but I haven’t seen it there either.

“Awareness Now”

I’m looking for information about a public activist campaign from the 1960s called “Awareness Now,” or something like it, possibly co-sponsored or sponsored by the Duluth chapter of the NAACP.

If you can help, post below or email!