Trespassing at UMD’s Old Main in 1992
One summer night in 1992, when I was 19 years old, I came home from doing something forgettable and found three of my friends waiting for me. They said I should grab a flashlight and come with them on an adventure. (more…)
Some great storytelling events coming up!
Local storyteller extraordinaire Elizabeth Nordell is organizing the following exciting events. Be sure to put them on your calendar!
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Workshop Opportunity with the Upright Citizens Brigade
The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre is the greatest producer of comedic talent in America today and the Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company brings the very best of our theatres in NYC and LA directly to you.
The Upright Citizens Brigade Touring company will be in Duluth on Sunday November 14, 2010 at the Teatro Zuccone in Downtown Duluth. Show is at 7pm with a special opening performance by the Renegade improv team at 6:30pm. Tickets are $12/advance or $15/door.
The Upright Citizens Brigade will be hosting a workshop from 2-5PM on Sunday Nov. 14 and there are a limited number of spots open. The workshop is $30.00. Please contact Crystal at 218-336-1416 if you are interested in this workshop opportunity.
Cholera flaring up again
Word is in from our two favorite Duluth nurses in Haiti, cholera is spreading quickly after the rains. Please check out their blog at peacelovehaiti.blogspot.com to see pictures, hear stories, and help any way you can. Julie ended up in a ditch last night when her tower of cots collapsed. No pictures of that though!
Thanksgiving 2010
What is open in Duluth on Thanksgiving? We used to travel to the TC to go to Dunn Bros. for coffee (they were open until noon), reading the Black Friday ads, then down to a casino for a magnificent dinner buffet.
Where can I snag some coffee and dinner in Duluth on this most Thankful of Days?
Video Archive: Dennis Anderson knocks down a few Grain Belts and shows off the film equipment
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1ZXpJEO18g&feature=related
This video appears to be from the early 1970s. Watch the high-pressure air send Denny’s hairpiece flying! (Plus bonus footage: A Jack McKenna forecast.)
North Shore Sessions Sarah Krueger and Russian Bride
Videos for Sarah Krueger and Russian Bride via northshoresessions.com :
Holidays Book Sale
The Friends of the Library are holding their “Littlest Sale of the Holidays” again this year: Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 7-8, 10 am-3 pm at the Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St. Shop for new and like-new books for adults and children.
What part of a district should an elected official live in?
I’ve seen several references to Cravaack living in an outer ring suburb, and the implication that this is inappropriate. It appears he lives in Chisago City, which, while perhaps being a Cities outer ring suburb, still falls into the 8th Congressional district. If, indeed, this is in the district, then what’s the point, really, of implying he is inappropriate to be the district’s rep?
I suppose it’s been conventional that the rep comes from Duluth or the Range but from the geographic perspective, any resident of a district should be eligible to be elected as long as they meet other legal requirements, no?
To imply that someone who lives on the outer edges of a legally defined district should not be its elected rep seems specious to me. That’d be like saying a person who comes from Maine or Washington State or some such location distant from the geographic or population centers of our country should not be able to be elected president.
This is why it is important to pay attention to who gets to draw the legislative districts–there is real power in being able to carve up districts to benefit your party, especially given the information that is available via databases about demographics, voting patterns, income, etc.
I’m not a partisan of Cravaack and did not vote for him, so I am neither defending nor attacking him–just wonder if the PDD community has any thoughts on the idea that a representative should come from a particular part of district to represent it.
Minnesota Deer Hunting Opener 2010
I come to you from my tree stand near Cotton. Curious how you Northland hunters do this opening weekend 2010.
I harvested a small buck and have seen a few doe. But otherwise pretty quiet, hence the reason I am posting while I try to pass the time. I know it’s ideal to have snow opening weekend but this weather makes it easy to sit up in this tree longer.
Be safe and good luck!
Permanent McLight Pollution?
Have you recently looked out into the evening sky to be welcomed by what would seem to be a search beacon?
I don’t know that I have ever witnessed it while I have lived in Duluth, however, years ago, it was common practice to hire a “searchlight advertising” team help promote your special event.
This new searchlight seems to be something altogether different.
Of course, some might applaud the re-opening of the London Road McDonald’s, and it might even be searchlight worthy, but it seems that the searchlight that is emitting from McDonald’s is permanently fixed on top of the building. WTF?
(Admin note: According to McDonald’s Duluth-area supervisor, the light is not permanent. It will be in use for about 30 days.)
Are we to expect that this light will constantly beam into the sky, luring unsuspecting folk to this establishment? Forever polluting our night space?
When I look out toward the big dark lake, that’s all I care to see … black … nothing else … thank you very much.
I suggest that we begin here, with a letter-writing campaign urging that they turn that damn light off.
Famous Mountaineer to Speak at UMD
At UMD Chemistry Building, Room 200, 7:30 pm on Thursday, Nov. 11.
Climate Change: The Evidence and Our Options
Lonnie G. Thompson
The Ohio State University
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Secretary Oberstar?
From Star Tribune/Hot Dish Politics:
[T]he president called at breakfast Wednesday morning … Staffers who were gathered with Oberstar at the Duluth Holiday Inn heard Oberstar tell Obama, “Mr. President, I want you to know that while my service in Congress has ended, my commitment to public service has not, and I’m ready to assist your administration in any way.”
To which, the president reportedly replied, “Let’s let the dust settle and talk again.”
The Wails of November
Last night at the Brewhouse I mentioned to Cody, the guy next to me at the bar, that I liked the comic on the cover of this week’s Transistor, even though I have to admit that I don’t understand it.
He told me he understands it perfectly, then started talking about fractals and how the comic is referring to a famous Japanese picture and so on. Maybe it was the Starfire Ale, or maybe I’m just stupid, but no matter how hard Cody tried, he couldn’t get me to understand this comic.
Obviously there’s a play on the phrase “Gales of November” going on. There seems to be some roller derby girls surfing. That’s about all I can make of it.
Can anyone explain this comic in a way that I’ll understand?
Day of Truth and Reconciliation
The Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial folks and the various offices and commissions on diversity at UMD co-sponsored a day on “truth and reconciliation” on Nov. 4. The Griggs Center (a large multimedia-capable meet space seating 200, I’d guess) was filled with students, faculty and staff. Julia and Dick of CJMM walked the audience through the history of the lynching, the history of the memorial, and through some basic reflections on racism as personally experienced and as structurally defined.
The day included showing videos and a reading by Michael Fedo, as well as a tour of the Memorial.
Events Calendar | University of Minnesota Duluth events.d.umn.eduI’m grateful that this resource was available to the UMD community. The day was a success.
Credit Union
This morning I miss my local credit union. Grocery store gone, hardware store gone, bank gone. It makes a difference to me.
Coffee with a Lakeview
I have been thinking lately about how much I miss Lakeview Coffee House in Fitgers. It was an awesome spot to spend an hour on a cold, blustery day watching the lake with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. It was pleasant and unrushed.
So, where is a good place to go now with a decent view of the lake where you can get a warm beverage and wile away a couple hours? I’ve tried Va Bene, but it’s a heckuvalot more expensive and they aren’t keen on you lingering. Dunn Bros. lost its lake view after the construction of Edgewater. Thoughts?
Zombies again
The Zombies were out in force last week. They will be out in force again this weekend, and every weekend until Zinema 2 gives notice!
Watch Walking Dead, again, at Zinema, free at 9pm Sunday. Support the local cinema and support Dragon Port comics and games, its partner.
Northern Lights Express Passenger Rail: Stimulus or Boondoggle?
There have been a number of posts on PDD in the past regarding the Northern Lights Express passenger rail project, which would create a 155-mile train corridor connecting Duluth to Minneapolis. With Congressman Jim Oberstar’s loss to Chip Cravaack in Tuesday’s election, and Cravaack’s stated lack of support for the project, the subject of the NLX seems worth revisiting.
However, I’d like to provide some special guidelines for commenting on this post, because we’ve seen in the past that there are some pretty passionate supporters and opponents of this project, and its pros and cons tend to get lost in personal attacks and partisan silliness.
So, let’s try a little experiment. What I’d like to see is three different types of comments.
1) Simple links to news and information related to this subject, without any commentary whatsoever.
2) Comments labeled “Pro” at the beginning, which list one good thing about the project.
3) Comments labeled “Con” at the beginning, which list one negative thing about the project.
Keep it brief, resist the urge to respond to other people’s comments, resist the urge to make multiple pro or con comments, resist the urge to bash Cravaack or Oberstar, resist the urge to comment about these guidelines.
Ready. Set. Go.
Buck battle in St. Paul
Shot by Craig Kuberski on Monday through his basement window.
New Brewfest coming to Black Bear!
The Great Twin Ports Taste-Together Brewfest & Wine Tasting is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 19, at Black Bear Casino. I know one of the brewers coming (Northwoods out of Eau Claire) and they make awesome beer (the Floppin’ Crappie is the best). Find out more info about this at twinportsbrewfest.com.
Apple Pressing at Hartley Nature Center!
Families with preschool-aged children are invited to come to Hartley Nature Center this Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10am to noon for a program on apples and apple pressing. The program is for adults and preschool age children and the cost is $7 for non-members participants or $4 for Hartley members participants. Class size is limited to 30 people. Please call 724-6735 to register.
More information on other monthly Saturday Sprites programming can be found at hartleynature.org.
Grey Surf Rebels – Luce, Nov. 13
Grey Matador
The Surfactants
American Rebels
So much rock! This is one that’ll melt your face clean off. Not for the faint of heart! Start hydrating now.
Food shelf benefit
It’s time for the 4th Annual Fine Spirits, Cheese & Chocolate
Food Shelf Benefit.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010
Place: Garden House Green House
11517 S. Cemetery Road, Solon Springs
Time: 2pm – 7pm
Cost: $15 + food shelf donation