Just a reminder about the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign and invitation to meet them at a pot luck

Saturday, August 2, 2008

March begins: Salvation Army (27th Ave W,) at 9 AM

March ends: Cleighton, Jackson and McGee Memorial (2Ave E and 1st St.) at 11 AM. Press conference at 11.

Pot Luck: Loaves and Fishes Hannah House, 1705 Jefferson St. 6 PM Please call Michele at 728-0629 if you are coming to the pot luck or if you would like more information.

POOR PEOPLE'S ECONOMIC HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

THE MARCH FOR OUR LIVES

On August 1st the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign will launch "Operation March For Our Lives." Operation March for Our Lives will be a statewide march/bus tour through Minnesota to collect economic human rights violations documentation. The portrait of poverty that this documentation paints will be presented at the Minnesota Truth Commission.
Human Rights Monitors will collect economic human rights documentation. We're encouraging Minnesotans to watch our website and to visit us along our march and to bring us your stories of trying to pay for healthcare, losing your home to foreclosure, high unemployment on your reservation or how you didn't have enough food to feed your children this month.

Operation March For our Lives will also serve as a vehicle to place representatives of Minnesota's various branches of government & opinion shapers on notice about their obligations under human rights treaties.

The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign is building a movement that unites the poor across color lines. Poverty afflicts Americans of all colors. Daily more and more of us are downsized and impoverished. We share a common interest in uniting against the prevailing conditions and around our vision of a society where we all have the right to health care, housing, living wage jobs, and access to quality primary, secondary, and higher education.

For more information about the campaign see www.economichumanrights.org

Posted by ozone914 at 10:11 PM | Permalink
Filed under Current Events | Politics | Serious Substantive Matters

The very excellent THEMES returns to Duluth... along with fellow metro dwellers City on the Make. All rounded out by Duluth's own Portrait of a Drowned Man.

Posted by pmc3 at 05:06 PM | Permalink
Filed under Music

This event starts earlier than all the others so do stop by and have a beverage won't you?

Posted by Starfire at 03:55 PM | Permalink | 1 comment by ironic1
Filed under Art | Current Events | Duluth Scene | Promotion | Recommendations

You've all seen those ads on the televison with the Mob Boss talking about the Employee Free Choice Act and how it's bad for the worker because it eliminates the secret ballot. WCCO's Pat Kessler tells you why that's false and how the ad is misleading.

Posted by tamara at 02:12 PM | Permalink | 1 comment by nbayuk
Filed under

Tonight's the Spirit Valley Day Parade at 6 p.m. Come hang out on Grand or Central Avenue and catch all the action!

*Pic above is PEZ boy from the Geek Prom "float" in 2006.

Posted by Purple at 01:54 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by purple
Filed under Duluth Scene

Posted by c-freak at 08:36 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by magus
Filed under Music

Charlie is opening up for the Gear Daddies at the Zoo Friday night, then hightailing his ass to Mahtowa!! By saturday night, some drunk woman usually lights the wood pile on fire and some freak from carlton does his best every rose has a thorn acoustic rendition. good times!!

http://www.hwy61folksfestival.org

Posted by jay at 08:19 AM | Permalink
Filed under Music

Get Your War On, the satirical comic strip created by David Rees, will air animated shorts on 23/6.com in the near future. Get Your War On used to run in the RipSaw and appears regularly in Rolling Stone and alt weeklies around the country.

Posted by adam at 07:56 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by rex
Filed under Art | Politics

(photo by barrett chase)

SOUTHWIRE

SONGS IN D

AZURE DU JOUR

friday, august 1 | 9pm | bev's jook joint | free (i think)

ben small, neighborhood organizer and (former) bartender extraordinaire, is moving to st. paul to go to law school. come see the rawk/roll and help send ben off to school with a raging hangover.

Posted by maria at 05:39 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by maria
Filed under Duluth Scene

For your viewing pleasure: Fred Tyson is on the YouTube.

::Bayfront Park concerts go until 12AM::
11PM Sunday – Thursdays. Old people who don't like things cited as reason for compromise. Roger Reinert renamed "that nice young man" by blue ribbon, blue haired Hotel Duluth 2008 MN Representative search committee.

City Councilor Jeff Anderson, btw, is the jackass with the Humvee. So, the bounty's off.

Posted by adam at 05:14 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by C
Filed under Music | Scabies/No-see-ums

I don't know if this was posted here before or not, but I was fooled!!!

Posted by nbayuk at 08:45 AM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by zra.
Filed under

Before continuing, I should apologize for not being able to find a passable first season with Rex Smith and Marilyn McCoo, but Dionne Warwick should suffice.

Without much further ado, let the painful childhood memories commence:

Sorry Folks...Really.

This, along with Dirty Dancing, American Graffiti, Grease and Grease 2 were my childhood. This is the reason I should be forking out thousands of dollars for therapy.

Posted by in.dog.neato at 06:43 AM | Permalink | 9 comments, last by Bad Cat!
Filed under Bitching | Good Riddance | Music

my employer wants to hold a beginner yoga class twice a month at our office in the hillside. do any PDDers dabble in teaching yoga or know of someone who does? the local yoga places either won't do anything offsite or are pretty pricey. email maria at aicho dot org if you know the sweet hookup.

Posted by maria at 01:47 PM | Permalink | 10 comments, last by huitz
Filed under I Need Your Service

Check out his crazy plant growin in Hartly. Like no chlorophil man. Found it on the internet. http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=677( I stole the photo)

Posted by fluffybeaver at 10:45 PM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by Sonya
Filed under

There we were.. Enjoying Heliphinofestival. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw something in the pool. I crept closer to investigate, camera in tow. And to my terror... This is what I saw. The evil creature then fled the scene, hauling a banjo case and a cowboy hat. I'll never forget that naked writhing body, lurking in my swimming pool.

I will never be the same.

Posted by gwanto at 10:30 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by christine
Filed under

Well, the internet is all abuzz with the disclosure of Dr. Edgar Mitchell (6th man to walk on the moon) on Kerrang Radio this past week that extraterrestrial visits are real, the Roswell crash was real, world governments have been covering up the fact of these visits from the world population, and that extraterrestrial craft are in the skies all the time. Neato! Here's the interview...

For letting us know that the truth is out there I award Edgar Mitchell a whopping big Geek King Seal of Approval.

As always, please feel free to send me nominees for the Geek King Seal of Approval. This concludes this royal announcement.

Posted by ironic1 at 07:27 PM | Permalink | 1 comment by The Professor
Filed under Geeky

Does anyone know where I can go to get my ceramic drums skinned?
I have a large and medium sized ceramic drum set and am looking for someone with the expertise to skin these.
I don't mind paying some cash as long as it's done well, that's why I haven’t attempted it on my own.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
-j

Posted by jgangi at 01:01 PM | Permalink
Filed under Music

This was waiting for me on my answering machine at my church today. Really put me in the mood to do a wedding. It's kinda ominous but the more I listen to it the more I dig it. It has a Quentin Tarantinoesque vibe going. I love the guy's voice. Also note the time code. The guy left this message at 12:39 in the morning.

Posted by ironic1 at 08:09 PM | Permalink | 13 comments, last by Lucie
Filed under Overheard in Duluth | Weird Stuff

My roommate, Scott, is a genius. Look at what he built:

Yep, that's a motorized trailer that he welded to his bicycle. Scott's Huffy now goes (when pressed) 26 miles per hour, and travels 60 miles per gallon of gas. Here's video-proof.

A few weeks ago, Scott and I took his bike-pusher up scenic 61 to Ed Johnson's Junque Shop. This was its first journey outside of the ten-block radius surrounding our house. I rode my regular, thigh-powered bicycle. "I'll set the pace," I said, because I'm clever. "Just try to keep up."

What followed was nothing short of epic. Which would emerge victorious? Man or machine? Man's capacity for building enormous thigh muscles, or man's ability to attach utility motors to bicycles? John Henry or the steam drill?

???

Well the latter, of course. Or it would have, if this had actually been a contest, and if Scott hadn't taken pity on me and slowed down after I began feeling dizzy and nauseated (it was really hot).

But we made it to the Junque shop, which is thirteen miles away. So the bike-pusher passed its first test. And it's functioned every day since. Scott is OPEC's worst nightmare. He should probably watch his back.

But when you look at all of the things I brought home that day, I think it becomes clear who really won.

(I did.)

Also, it should be noted that I had donated plasma earlier in the day, which hurt my performance immeasurably.

The aftermath:

Posted by rich at 01:40 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by huitz
Filed under Duluth Scene

Ms. Dean's recent post about Neko Case got me thinking.

Just about every venue in town has a website where they post events, but almost NONE of those sites have an RSS feed.

If the Mitchell Auditorium, Marshall Performing Arts Center, Bayfront Park, the DECC, Movies in the Park, Sir Benedict's, Pizza Luce, Carmody, Teatro Zuccone, the Play Ground, etc., had RSS feeds on their websites, people like us could subscribe to them with our Google Reader or whatever, and always be informed about what's going on in town. Plus the information could be custom tailored to our specific individual interests.

That's how I read newspapers. That's how I read blogs. It should be how I find out about events, but it isn't.

Fitger's Brewhouse is the only site I can find with a valid feed. Burrito Union also has a feed, but I put it into my RSS reader and found myself subscribed to vegguide.org.

Amazing Grace has a section called "news feeds" but it's just a worthless part of the template they use, much like the "podcast" link at the bottom (there is no podcast).

The Orpheum has a feed, but the calendar hasn't been updated in months.

Why no feeds, Duluth?

Posted by Barrett at 12:37 PM | Permalink | 13 comments, last by Nick
Filed under Bitching | Duluth Scene

From Minnesota-nice peace picnics to lock-down street blockades, there's something for everyone at this year's Republican National Convention!

Here's your chance to learn more...

RNC Protest Forum
Sunday, July 27
5-8PM
Peace Church Fellowship Hall (1111 E 11th St)

- Hear from organizers with the Welcoming Committee, the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign and the Peace Island Conference about their plans to greet the Republicans when they land in St Paul in September
- Meet up with like-minded folks
- Learn about buses and ride-sharing from the Twin Ports, housing options and legal support.

5PM simple (vegan) beans and rice supper and info tables
6PM panel of RNC protest organizers
7PM small groups discussion/action planning

The forum is sponsored by the Northland Anti-War Coalition and is free and open to all. If you plan to join us for the meal, please drop a line to Madeline or Travis (218-728-0629) so they can prepare enough food.

Posted by ozone914 at 10:21 PM | Permalink
Filed under Current Events | Politics | Serious Substantive Matters

I found this (scroll down to see Neko) by accident today and was very excited. Neko Case, Mitchell Auditorium at the College of St. Scholastica, September 17th. Tickets are on sale today.

Posted by ms dean at 02:39 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by quintep
Filed under Music

Just a reminder:

Cracker
Head of the Lakes Fair
Friday, July 25
8pm | Free with $7 fair admission

Posted by Barrett at 02:04 PM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by ironic1
Filed under Music | Promotion

Posted by Kitty Brand at 12:19 PM | Permalink
Filed under R.I.P.

After Free Range Film Festival come over to Luce for Kid Dakota, Canine Heart Sounds and Portrait of a Drowned Man!

Posted by pmc3 at 07:28 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by skud
Filed under Music

SHOW ONLY TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR JUST $15.00! Call the Rubber Chicken Hotline at (218) 213-2780!

Enjoy a wonderful Finnish-themed buffet dinner, featuring fresh baked Rye and Finnish Farmer Flat breads, Finnish meatballs, baked fish with lemon dill butter, Finnish Pasties, cucumber/dill sour cream salad, orange raisin cake and raspberry whip for dessert.

Following dinner, it's three one-act comedies by Finnish playwrights, including "Personal Ad" by Edith Koivisto from Hibbing, Minnesota.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Proctor Area Community Center. (100 Pionk Drive, Proctor, MN). Dinner seating is at 6:30pm. On Sunday, dinner seating is at 12noon. The performances follow dinner. Tickets are $30 per person and must be purchased in advance by calling (218) 213-2780.

Posted by St.G at 06:41 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Nate
Filed under Promotion

Come see the show the Duluth News-Tribune calls
"A thoroughly charming and slyly funny storytelling play with moments of real power."

Thursday, July 24th
Friday, July 25th
and
Saturday, July 26th

All performances are at 7pm
Tickets are just $15 for adults / $12 for students and seniors!

For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.renegadecomedytheatre.com

Posted by Andy at 03:43 PM | Permalink
Filed under Art | Duluth Scene | Promotion | Recommendations

One of the more famous faces who dropped in to see the new store at 18 W 1st St, Mr. P from Silent Hill found happiness in finding a good deal on the new Wall-E game for his PS3!

Posted by St.G at 02:48 PM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by Danny
Filed under Promotion

You can read about the nominees and vote for your favorite over on the Duluth News Tribune website...

*Sorry, Conan, you've already had your turn.

Posted by Mary at 10:20 AM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by tamara
Filed under Current Events | Duluth News | Promotion | Serious Substantive Matters

I spent 45 minutes starring at the exit gate at the Tech Village Parking Garage yesterday afternoon. Here's how it went down.

My brother and his family were in town visiting and we went to Pizza Lucé for a late lunch. We got our cards validated at the Looch. Then we went to the card machine in the lobby to run them through there. It spat both of them out without any transaction. I shrugged and figured that since they were validated maybe we just had to take them to the gate. At the gate the machine there also wouldn't read the cards.

Okay, don't panic. Here's a helpful button marked "press for assistance" so I did. Nothing. Occasionally the little red light would light up and I'd hear a hopeful beeping noise, but nothing.

Okay, still, don't panic. There's a phone number here on the ticket and on the sign on the gate. 218 591-8931. I'll try that. No answer.

Oh wait, my brother found another number on the booth. 218 730-8931. Oh, there is no such number anymore.

Hmm... Can I panic yet? I call the police. A helpful lieutenant calls me back and he says he'll come over with a pass card and let me out. About 10 minutes later he comes and swipes the pass card. Nothing. His card doesn't work either.

I decide to skip panicking and watch in amused disbelief. The helpful lieutenant calls someone, apparently some working phone number, and from the conversation he's advised to disable a gate and break me out. Finally he forces an entry gate up, setting off alarms, and we get out.

Has anyone else had this problem with the ramp? Is it Lucé's validation that screwed it up or is it just the system?

I will add that some people were able to get out of the ramp normally while we were sitting there waiting for liberation.

Posted by ironic1 at 07:52 PM | Permalink | 12 comments, last by AndrewS
Filed under Bitching | Duluth Scene

Saturday July 26, 8-3

Furniture: mission style dining table and chairs, china hutch and buffet, many assorted chairs, side tables, etc.
Baby/Infant/Toddler Gear: clothes, toys, stroller, pack and play, high chair
Lighting Fixtures: art deco and other styles
Kitchen: dishes, utensils, etc
Electronic Gear: Geek errata, computer components, camera equipment, retro electronics
Clothes
Art
Vinyl albums
Garden supplies
Holiday(some vintage and antique) and interior decor
Kitsch and high quality, bohemian flotsam and jetsam

Come check it out!

Posted by baci at 02:04 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by reddomain
Filed under

Casting Call for BIRTH: a theater for social change production

Auditions for the September '08 benefit production of Karen Brody's critically-acclaimed play "Birth", directed by Emily Parr, will be held Tuesday, July 22 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. on the 3rd floor of Harbor City International School, 332 West Michigan Street, suite 300.

Auditions are open to all who are interested - no previous theater experience necessary! Roles are available for ten adult women and two adult men. WOMEN OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO AUDITION.

This is an independently produced, fundraising and awareness-raising benefit production of "Birth," not affiliated with a theater company, and all roles are volunteer positions. No prepared is necessary; materials will be provided at the auditions (actors may request material prior to the audition by contacting the coordinator at 218-590-1891 or via e-mail at [email protected].) Dress comfortably, in clothing that you can move around in easily. Also, please bring (or be prepared to provide) as detailed a schedule as possible of your availability from July 29 through September 29.

"Birth" will be performed at the new Harbor City International School theater September 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2008. Actors must be available for production on all 4 days. A read-through will be held in the week of July 28 with rehearsals beginning in August (exact dates to be determined based on the various schedules of the cast and crew). Actors may anticipate rehearsals 1 or 2 days per week until the last three weeks prior to opening when rehearsals will be 2 to 3 times per week. Tech Day will be September 21.

"Birth" is a play based on over one hundred interviews playwright Karen Brody conducted with mothers across America who gave birth between 2000-2004. It tells the true stories of 8 women painting a portrait of how low-risk, educated women are giving birth in America today.

Duluth is one of many cities around the world organizing productions of "Birth" as part of BOLD 2008 (http://www.boldaction.org). BOLD (Birth On Labor Day) is a global movement to make maternity care mother-friendly that raises awareness about maternity care issues, raises money for organizations working to make maternity care mother-friendly, and validates mothers' birth experiences in all communities worldwide.

The 2008 BOLD in Duluth proceeds will be donated to two organizations working towards mother friendly maternity care – Birthing Ways Doula Connection and the Northland Birth Network.

Volunteers are also needed for a wide variety of roles in organizing this event. Please contact Deb McLaughlin if you are interested: 218-590-1891 or e-mail: [email protected].

Posted by doubledutch at 12:45 PM | Permalink | 1 comment by Dan
Filed under Art

Wanted to make sure everybody saw this.

Posted by The Professor at 06:41 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by The Professor
Filed under Funny Stuff | Music | Web Fun

I just heard about this last night and thought I'd post it for anyone with the inclination and cashola to attend.

Steve Earle with Allison Moorer
Saturday, July 19, 2008 | 7:30 PM
College of St. Scholastica | Mitchell Auditorium
$35.00

Posted by Barrett at 03:47 PM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by eco eco
Filed under Music | Promotion

...I just got this today and thought that I would pass it on to my fellow PDDers...

DULUTH, Minn. — A coalition of groups and Native American activists will conduct a free public “Walk & Rally for the Lake,” Sunday, July 20 to draw attention to the nearly 1,500 barrels of hazardous military waste that were dumped by the Army Corps of Engineers into Lake Superior near Duluth in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s.

The free Lake Superior Day event is also a celebration of the success of the Red Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in being awarded a $603,000 grant to expand its investigation of the status of the aging barrels.
The 5-mile walk will move along London Road from Brighton Beach (63rd Ave. E. & Congdon Blvd.), and end with a rally and music at Leif Erikson (11th Ave. E. & London Road). In case of bad weather the rally will take place at the (Quaker) Friends Meeting House, 1802 E. Superior St.
At 10:00 a.m. walkers will gather at Brighton Beach, just past Lester River , and the walk will start at 11:00 a.m. It will finish at Leif Erikson Park at about 1:30 p.m. with the rally and music beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Speakers for the event include Rick Defoe of the Duluth American Indian Commission, Jean Buffalo of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Committee, former Chairwoman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Duluth City Councilor Sharla Gardner, and Wisconsin State Representative Frank Boyle of Superior. Jan Conley of the Lake Superior Greens will MC and the musical entertainers are Duluth’s own singer/songwriter Rachael Kilgour and internationally renowned folk singer David Rovics.
The event’s endorsers and sponsors include the Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes, Earth Protector, Don’t Waste Michigan, Grannies for Peace, Great Lakes United, Great Northern Solar, Lake Superior Greens, Loaves & Fishes Catholic Worker, the Northern Futures Foundation, Nukewatch, North American Water Office, Northland Anti-war Coalition, Duluth’s Northland Reader, Seeds of Peace, the Progressive Foundation and Veterans for Peace Chapter 80. The Walk and Rally for the Lake are part of the annual Lake Superior Day celebration promoted by the Lake Superior Binational Forum. –30-

Posted by erktheviking at 02:20 PM | Permalink
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

The thing that makes me angrier than high gas prices is that the very act of pumping gas has become complicated.

It used to be simple: Insert nozzle, flip the lever up, pull trigger. Even Goober Pyle could do it without thinking.

Now you have to push a series of buttons indicating your payment method, octane rating of the fuel, etc. — and it’s different everywhere you go. No matter how they lay out the options or try to use a bright color to highlight the “start” button, there will never be a simpler way than the good ol’ lever.

It’s become so complex, the Hermantown Amoco now has a screen with instructions (pictured above).

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 09:35 AM | Permalink | 39 comments, last by huitz
Filed under Bitching

Posted by baci at 09:35 AM | Permalink
Filed under Promotion

I'm a big fan of local dialects and language quirks. I grew up near Milwaukee, where we had bubblers (water fountains) and schnibbles (scraps of anything), and where we always were going by the grocery store, instead of to the grocery store. A lot of the unique phrases go back to the area's German heritage.

Something I've noticed up here in Duluth is how people add "the" to all kinds of nouns: They live on the Rice Lake Road; She goes to the Cloquet High School; etc. I've never heard it in other parts of the country.

On a side note, people around here adding "the" seems to be the opposite of our neighbors to the north. Canadians remove "the" from a lot of situations: He is in hospital; She is going to university.

Is adding "the" just a Duluth / Northeastern Minnesota trait, or has anyone heard it elsewhere? Does anyone know the origin / reason for people adding "the"?

And, while we're at it, how about contributing your own favorite local language quirks.

Posted by akjuneau at 10:22 PM | Permalink | 51 comments, last by silly goose
Filed under Overheard in Duluth

Troll bait.

Posted by adam at 01:41 PM | Permalink
Filed under Media Watch

DNT article: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=70423§ion=homepage

"Let Mayor Ness know your opinion(s) on the Bayfront Festival Park concert curfew issue" - Thursday morning on the KQ Morning Show

email: [email protected]

Mayors office: 218-730-5230

City Council: [email protected]

Posted by boywonder at 11:43 AM | Permalink | 42 comments, last by boywonder
Filed under Duluth News | Media Watch | Music | Politics | Serious Substantive Matters

We're trying to start our own little yearly music festival deep in the middle of the woods. Stop on by or camp the weekend! Charlie Parr, Paul Metzger, Cello Dreams, Tim Kaiser, Dave Krejci, Colleen Myhre, Birthday Pony, Sneaky Pete, Darwin Xylophone and more! For more info, please visit http://www.ifthousands.com We're up against some serious competition with the Free Range Festival, but we hope to see you there... er, here! It's gonna be a great time. We promise!

Posted by gwanto at 09:43 PM | Permalink | 1 comment by Tim K
Filed under Music

Lake Superior Brewing Firkin Night

Wednesday July 16 5pm tell it's gone.

Come enjoy a cask of LSB's limited release "Meheen's Mild"

Meet Brewer's Dale Kleinschmidt and Levi Hansen

at Hell's Kitchen, 310 Lake ave. South

218-727-1620

Posted by dbrewing at 03:31 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by (flat)eric
Filed under Art | Art

In less than two weeks time you can watch good movies in a cool barn: www.freerangefilm.com

Posted by squash at 03:13 PM | Permalink | 12 comments, last by speedtheplow
Filed under

The YWCA Spirit Valley Young Mother's Program is laying down a weight loss/physical fitness challenge among the residents and staff. If anyone has unused fitness equipment that is in good shape that they would be willing to donate to the program, please let them know.

Also, if there are any nutrition educators out there that might be willing to donate an hour or so to give the young moms tips on healthy eating and weight loss, it would be appreciated!

Contact Tammi: 218-624-5451 x 10

Posted by Debbie at 02:09 PM | Permalink | 1 comment by Laura
Filed under I Need Your Service

As we celebrate Finnish culture let's give a shout out to those geeky Finns who well deserve a Geek King Seal of Approval.

Finland ranks #1 in both Technological Achievement and Vacation Days. (The U.S. ranked #2 and #45 respectively.) So them Finns aren't just geeks, they are well rested geeks with plenty of time for making fan films...

And they're smart too. Finland ranks #1 in MENSA members per capita.

And they elect geeks to their parliament as well. Check out Jyrki J.J. Kasvi (pictured right) of the Green League. His website has Finnish, English, and Klingon translations.

This has been a special Finnish edition of Your Geek Culture Update. Keep sending geeky suggestions to me. I love 'em.

This concludes this special royal announcement.

Posted by ironic1 at 10:43 AM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by Clive
Filed under Geeky

Finn Fest 2008 is coming up next week and I propose a FinnBlogging challenge. Now through the end of the festival let's educate each other about Finland. Music, history, art, strange facts, you get the idea. The festival starts July 23 and goes through the 27th. Oh and it would be a good idea to take in some of the events as well.

I kick off the challenge with the Finland national anthem.

Posted by Starfire at 09:24 AM | Permalink | 11 comments, last by huitz
Filed under Administration | Current Events | Duluth History | Duluth News | Promotion | Web Fun

Hey, remember that post I made a few days back about the DNT and its commenting system? It turns out that suddenly everyone's frustrated about the same syndrome. Internet: we must decide. Either we can give a voice to every anonymous talk-radio reject in an effort to drive up hits, or we can provide quality content to a comparatively small number of intelligent readers.

Or, we can (gasp!) come up with a new idea, a new model that is more structurally sound. But for now, read on:

In theory, it's a great thing. We're giving the people a voice! But the reality is that commenting either attracts loathsome people or somehow causes ordinary people to express themselves in a way that is loathsome.

...

Maybe commenters are just on one side of a cultural disconnect between two incompatible ideas of what the social conventions of the Internet should be. One is based on the standards of real-world, off-line politeness. The other is a kind of communal game in which whoever is cleverest and pushes the most buttons wins.

-- Time Magazine (7/10/08), via Fimoculous

Why should we all build our homes and give residence to the trolls under them? Comments on blogs inevitably implode, and we all accept it under the belief that "open is better!" Open is not better. Running a blog is like letting a virtuoso play for 90 minutes are Carnegie Hall, and then seconds after their performance you run to the back Alley and grab the most inebriated homeless person drag them on stage and ask them what they think of the performance they overheard in the Alley. They then take a piss on the stage and say "F-you" to the people who just had a wonderful experience for 90 or 92 minutes. That's openness for you... my how far we've come! We've put the wisdom of the deranged on the same level as the wisdom of the wise.

-- Jason Calacanis (7/11/08), via Gawker

Posted by Barrett at 12:40 AM | Permalink | 22 comments, last by pH
Filed under Bitching | Media Watch

I have a song, sung here by Aretha Franklin, that never fails to cause me to have chills down my spine and/or tears in my eyes, no matter who is singing it. (And I've heard some really odd versions!)

Is there a song that does that to you?

Posted by tamara at 01:49 PM | Permalink | 25 comments, last by skyline
Filed under Music

IRON RIVER, WI: prints by ginny maki
at the
Lake Ave. Cafe from 5-7

a series of intaglio prints documenting one person's relationship to a small wisconsin town. join us tonight for the opening reception. the show will be up until late september.

394 Lake Ave. South
722-2355

Posted by Maria Suzanne at 11:34 AM | Permalink
Filed under

Patrick and Karen are seeking the quiet life in the country!
Serious inquiries only. (218) 722-2890, 720 E. 4th Street, Duluth, MN 55805
$229,000, can start showing house after 7/21/08. Call for an appointment.

This property is a beauty and a great opportunity for the right person. House is 2500 square feet, with up to 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, a large kitchen, a living room, and a piano room/breakfast nook/dining room. Property also has 600 square feet of commercial/retail space which is currently being used as a vintage clothing store. Sale of business is included in sale price and includes all fixtures and supplies, a large inventory, and training. Store grosses between $2500-3500 per month (financial records can be provided) and is in an excellent location with heavy foot traffic and car traffic, close to the Whole Foods Co-op and other 4th Street businesses.

House is brick with the sought-after blue stone foundation, with a full basement. Built in 1908, house has been completely remodeled in past two years to include new carpet, refinished hardwood floors, new bathrooms, and all new windows. House is tastefully decorated and comes with all appliances.

Enjoy sitting on one of your two decks (or your porch) while waiting for the door dinger to alert you that customers are coming into your store. No more need for daycare! Do your laundry while you work! Believe me, it is a great set up!! Porperty also includes a new two car garage, and store space is handicapped accessible, including a handicapped parking spot in front.

$229,000 includes all! We can begin showing this place after 7/21/08. Please, only if you are serious about buying, call for an appointment to see. For sale by owners, Patrick and Karen Nelson. (218) 722-2890, or stop in the store Tues - Sat 11:00am - 7:00pm. See more pictures on Flickr.com. Here's the link, hope it works: http://www.flickr.com/photos/housestoreforsale/

Posted by elfin magik at 09:41 AM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by elfin magik
Filed under

Q: What's geekier than writing a fan song about how you miss watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and posting it on your website?

A: Writing a whole album of songs about Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

That's what Megan Gogerty did, a playwright, performer, and self-described wordsmith. I reported her initial effort on my blog back in February, but what I didn't know was that was only the beginning of her efforts.

Here are a sample of some of the track titles...

Joss Is the Boss (Give Him Your Money)
Kinda Wish D'Hoffryn Was my Boyfriend
Lipstick Wiccans
The Legend of Mr. Gordo
I Didn't Write a Song about Angel
and an updated version of I Miss Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Megan Gogerty, for geekiness above and beyond the call of duty, I give you an extra special big Geek King Seal of Approval.

And while we're on the subject of Joss Whedon and music, don't forget to tune into Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog this week for the world premier of Joss' webcast show starring Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion. The episodes will be up on July 15, 17, and 19 and then will be taken down on July 20. It looks like great fun!

As always, please feel free to send me nominees for the Geek King Seal of Approval. Just because I don't use them right away doesn't mean I don't cherish each and every suggestion. This concludes this royal announcement.

Posted by ironic1 at 12:31 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by ironic1
Filed under Geeky

January.. July.. its all the same, no?

C-FREAK WEATHER REPORT

"We're not scared really.. We can take cover where there's beer and food."

Posted by ae at 11:59 AM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by Paul Lundgren
Filed under Duluth Scene | Weird Stuff

Did you know that ships passing through the canal displace a large amount of water? And that, as gravity demands, this water must be replaced? I learned this today during a harrowing experience while kayaking in and around the canal.

I was planning to meet a fellow kayaker on the water by Bayfront Park to take in some free reggae. It was very windy from the west, straight down the canal towards the lake – gusting to 40+ MPH. I’m a solid paddler and fairly strong, so I was confident I could handle the waves, current and wind. I put in on the Park Point-side and played around at the end of the piers for awhile, riding waves and currents, crossing the canal a couple of times, and hanging out in the small calm spots right against the wall at the end of the piers.

I decided to make an attempt to get into the harbor, and made it halfway before my arms gave out and the wind won. The trip back to the end of the piers was very fast and fun. I hung around a little longer and decided make another attempt, but I had to wait for a big ship to come through. So I waited against the wall at the end of the east pier for the expected surge and wake from the ship. All was well.

Suddenly, as the ship was halfway through the canal, water started to run “downhill” from the Park Point side, around the end of the east pier, into the canal toward the harbor – basically upstream and against a 40MPH wind - as if the floor of the canal had suddenly dropped a hundred feet. My calm spot against the wall had become a fast-flowing river into (rather than out of) the canal and straight toward the ship - I was heading upstream and against the wind into the hull of the ship. I back-paddled with everything I had but was still getting sucked in, and most of the ship had yet to pass by me. Turning around and using a stronger forward stroke was not an option. It’s amazing how the mind comes awake in moments of danger – I instantaneously calculated my forward progress against the speed of the ship and I concluded that I was fucked. I visualized myself sucked under the hull and tomorrow’s DNT headline: “Duluth man drowns in shipping canal”. I actually started to pray to my particular helpers - a sure sign of perceived grave danger. I'm a sporto-adventure freak, and generally don't get too afraid of "situations", but I was really scared.

Meanwhile, throngs of tourists on the pier, ship crew members, and (most likely) the guys in the bridge shack were watching the spectacle. I was in near-panic mode, 75 or less feet from the ship, still getting sucked in, with a quarter of the ship still to pass. And suddenly a current pushed me away from the ship and around the end of the pier. I high-tailed back to the beach, sat on the sand, and took a breath.

Lessons learned: Ships displace water. Displaced water must be replaced. Ships are bigger than kayaks. When in a kayak, stay far away from ships.

Posted by vicarious at 04:24 PM | Permalink | 20 comments, last by clumsy
Filed under

Informal survey time....if there was a place you could go have access to a dry heated auto shop, tools, a nearby auto parts store..place to properly dispose of you spent oil, possibly a lift......would you use it? How much an hour would you think is a reasonable price to pay for access to something like this...would you winter store a motorcycle or scooter there? Fair price for that? Do you know how to do engine work but need a place to do it? Would you share your time with others? Please be so kind to give me some feedback on the efficacy of a Vehicle Maintenance Co-Op.

Posted by baci at 11:32 AM | Permalink | 10 comments, last by jp
Filed under I Need Your Service

So I just purchased a djembe drum. The only problem is, I have no percussion background, and very little musical background (I played piano for 6 years but was terrible at it). So why did I buy a djembe? Well I thought they looked like fun, I love the sound of drums, and I would love to be able to sit around a campfire with my musician friends and jam out. It may be a lofty goal for someone like me, but anything is possible, right? And if I'm just a natural disaster, it always makes cool decoration.

I've heard it's fairly difficult to learn on your own...and I don't learn well that way anyway. So, does anyone know anybody in Duluth that gives djembe lessons? (another longshot...) Or any other way to learn how to play from the ground up around D-town?

Posted by Mel at 06:17 PM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by shane
Filed under I Need Your Service | Music

Hello fellow Duluthians! After renting here for about five and a half years, I've decided to put down some more permanent roots and buy a house. And despite the charming graphic a few posts down, I'm looking to buy in the Hillside.

Does anybody have any recommendations for realtors, particularly one that not going to hate me for buying a $65,000 house that won't net them a very big commission? My only caveat is that I'd rather stay away from Gables and Ivy, since I had a bad experience renting from them (landlord couldn't have cared less about the property, didn't even mention broken light fixtures or leaky roofs until the day we were moving in, didn't care if the other tenants blatantly violated the lease, etc.) and I've heard from some other people who were similarly unimpressed with Gables and Ivy.

But I'd like to hear your opinions, good and bad, about any real estate companies/agents that you've dealt with.

Thanks!

Posted by Sonya at 11:42 AM | Permalink | 19 comments, last by ironic1
Filed under I Need Your Service | Recommendations

There used to be big bonfire parties on Wisconsin Point during full moons. Not the usual random 10- to 20-person parties that still happen every night, but parties with 100 to 200 people. The parties went by the name of "Luna," and the organizer(s) actually printed fliers for the unsanctioned beer bashes.

I'm not sure why this flier says "Duluth, MN" because the parties were always in Superior.

As depicted in the photo, the cops showed up one time and announced that everyone must go home. One guy, who had rented a power generator and set up a DJ tent, actually managed to talk the cops into letting everyone stay. It was one of the greatest debates I ever listened in on.

First, the police were assured that no one was drinking out of bottles (I can't remember if keg beer was provided or if people were instructed to pour their bottled/canned beer into plastic cups upon arrival).

Then, the argument was made that if everyone was forced to leave immediately, some who planned to camp out would drive home drunk. Also, they might leave garbage behind. The party leader assured the police that the beach would be cleaner after the party than before.

I listened to this thinking there was no way Luna would be permitted to continue. To my surprise, the cops looked out at the disgruntled crowd and decided to compromise. They made a new announcement that everyone under the age of 21 had to leave.

What amused me the most is that they didn't actually card anyone, they just walked up to younger-looking people and asked how old they were. Those who said they were 21 were presumed to be 21. Oddly enough, several people actually said, "I'm 19," and were told to go home.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 10:24 AM | Permalink | 13 comments, last by Barrett
Filed under Superior History

[ Hillside ]

[ Lakeside ]

Crimes committed in the last 10 days according to crimemapping.com. Link via the DNT.

Posted by Barrett at 10:03 PM | Permalink | 30 comments, last by The Big E
Filed under Duluth News | Web Fun

This video was shot yesterday evening just outside of Cornicopia on the way to Bayfield.
All made it safe and sound.
Warning some F-bombs are dropped but for good reason.

Posted by traceydee at 05:20 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Zoyx
Filed under

Trying to access the DNT site and it's unavailable.
Ran out to check the sky and it's fine (not falling). Anyone know what's up?
I am embarrassed to admit that I need to get my obit info for the day - am I that old?

Posted by heysme at 03:49 PM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by heysme
Filed under Current Events | Duluth News | Good Riddance | Serious Substantive Matters

compliments of the (cough) american family associtation. (spit)
check it out here-be sure to read the super christiany comments section but don't try to add any. they moderate their batshittery heavily.

Posted by c-freak at 03:21 PM | Permalink | 24 comments, last by claire
Filed under

I'm visiting family in my hometown near Milwaukee, and today while cleaning and sorting in my old bedroom I uncovered a stack of 5.25-inch floppy disks with educational games like Oregon Trail, Number Munchers and something called Zoyon Patrol - all stuff from the company callled MECC.

Also on the disks: A word processing program called EZFrEd, a simulation game called Rice Farmer, the games Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego and Epyx's The Games (Olympics theme), and a bunch of disks with files I saved (though I have no idea what they were). All of these disks were used on Apple computers back in the day (IIe, II GS)

It would be fun to somehow access the games / data on these disks, but I'm wondering if there is any way (external drive?) to use these disks on a modern Mac computer. Is there any compatibility? If so, is it prohibitively costly / time-intensive? Any guidance would be appreciated.

Posted by akjuneau at 09:56 PM | Permalink | 19 comments, last by mevdev
Filed under Found Stuff | I Need Your Service

I really wanted to respond to Vicarious's comment about his pants with the lyrics to the Arrowhead Auto Body jingle. Unfortunately, I couldn't think of them so I went on an internet search thinking that someone somewhere has written them down and it led me to here. The man who wrote the Arrowhead Auto Body jingle. Click on "Now Hear This" and for a good chuckle, take a listen to the 3 Chevy Amigos and Laser Tennis. Many thanks to Vicarious for causing my good laugh for the day!

Posted by tamara at 06:44 PM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by Danny
Filed under Found Stuff | Funny Stuff | Geeky | Music | Promotion | Serious Substantive Matters

Posted by Maria Suzanne at 11:08 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by mevdev
Filed under Art | Music

I've noticed on the MPR homepage (on the right side )that they're requesting photos. I've seen some beautiful ones on PDD and wanted to get the word out -- so word. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/

Also, I am now a true PDD'r in that I finally live in Duluth - nearly. Actually I'm living in a hotel until our house/rectory is ready, but as I have no home to return to in Minneapolis - and I just got a Duluth library card -I think I live here now.

Posted by bird at 06:00 PM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by Ted
Filed under Duluth Scene

Posted by c-freak at 05:53 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by c-freak
Filed under Current Events

So regarding this recent discussion regarding this article, I think it's time we discuss the embarrassment to this community that is the DNT's "Talk" commenting feature.

Is this an accurate representation of our community's opinions?

Posted by Barrett at 02:32 AM | Permalink | 61 comments, last by chris m
Filed under Art | Bitching | Media Watch

So I've been living in Lakeside for less than 2 weeks now. When I went out to my garage this morning around 8:30 I noticed an abandoned bike on the street behind my house. I said, "huh," but didn't think much of it. When I went to take out the recycling and garbage later in the morning it was still there. About a half hour ago I got a knock on my back door. It was Officer Friendly asking me if I had any kids and knew about this bike that was on the street. Apparently a neighbor called it in. When I went out to take this picture the bike was gone.

I think this confirms Paul Lundgren's insightful "Abandoned Car" Theory of Neighborhoods in Duluth (which I will reprint in the extended entry so you don't have to search through all the comments).

I'm going to have to adjust to living in Lakeside.

Paul Lundgren's Abandoned Car Theory of Neighborhoods in Duluth (December 24, 2007)

Abandoned Car Test

Although there are many unique neighborhoods in Duluth, the city is essentially divided into three sections: West Duluth, Central Hillside and East Duluth. For whatever the reason, Duluthians are raised three different ways.

Say you notice there’s a strange car parked on the street near your house. The car has a flat tire and a smashed windshield. How will your neighbors to react?

In East Duluth the car would be towed within a matter of hours. The first person to notice it would call the police immediately and report the nuisance vehicle.

In the Central Hillside, everyone would ignore the car. It would sit undisturbed until winter, when the snowplows need to get through. Then, the city would have it towed. Although many people would notice the car for several months and recognize it as abandoned, it would never even become a subject of conversation.

In West Duluth, the car would go undisturbed for a few days, and then everyone would start talking about it. Theories of where it came from and what happened to its owner would abound. No one would call the police though. After a month or two, little kids would start playing inside the car until a few older kids would eventually come along and shoo them away. Then they’d push the car down a hill into a crick.

Posted by ironic1 at 03:55 PM | Permalink | 20 comments, last by c-freak
Filed under Duluth Scene

Someone posted a video on YouTube a few days ago that features footage from the KDLH and WDIO TV newscasts from the day after the 1988 fireworks explosion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqzJjZZQSo4

(my apologies for not embedding the video ... I have no idea how to do that and don't want to mess up the site)

There's footage of the fireworks explosion, of course... but I think getting to watch 1988-era Dennis Anderson and Michelle Lee, and the retro local news graphics, music, etc. is even better.

And, can anyone explain the WDIO station logo that seems to show a Viking staring at a boat and thinking about a paint can?

Posted by akjuneau at 12:09 PM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by heysme
Filed under Duluth History | Funny Stuff | Media Watch | Web Fun

I've been getting a lot of suggestions for the Geek King Seal of Approval and I really appreciate the input. One of the themes I've noticed has been Star Wars Mash Ups so I'm going to post a few here. Thanks to Meghan and Andy for the suggestions and keep 'em coming.

Meghan says: "Gnar Wars - perfect for Duluth geekiness! It has Star Wars AND snow!"

Andy says: "I found this on matrixsynth.blogspot.com, a blog devoted to synthesizers old and new. It may be worthy of your seal of approval."

I says: "What do you get when you mash up dialog of James Earl Jones from his prodigious career with scenes from A New Hope? Pure hilarity!"

Sith Lords are not only evil, they can be real assholes sometimes...

Roll credits...

This concludes this royal announcement.

Posted by ironic1 at 10:59 AM | Permalink
Filed under Geeky

I'd never seen one of these things in our backyard before. Or anyone else's backyard, for all that matter.

[But I don't get out much.]

Posted by The Big E at 12:52 AM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by The Big E
Filed under Weird Stuff

Bayfront Festival Park

Duluthians will celebrate Independence Day with Minnesota’s largest fireworks display and fanfare at Bayfront Festival Park as Minnesota’s own, Martin Zellar and the Hardway’s headline’s this year’s festival.

Gates open at 12 noon with DADS Sound Off Car Audio Competition, followed by music, food and crafts, with Martin Zellar and the Hardway’s starting at 8:15 PM followed by the fireworks presented by Visit Duluth, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau, at 10:10 PM.

Posted by boywonder at 09:20 AM | Permalink
Filed under Duluth Scene | Holiday | Music

Posted by in.dog.neato at 06:23 PM | Permalink | 9 comments, last by The Big E
Filed under R.I.P.

pizza luce, baby.

Posted by Sarcasmsetyourhouseonfire at 07:53 AM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by Mark
Filed under Music

What is the deal with PerfectDuluthDay.com's homepage title?

Perfect Duluth Day: trust funders and welfare sucking parasites

I've heard of self-loathing, but that seems a little bizarre!

Posted by Toneman at 01:41 PM | Permalink | 47 comments, last by huitz
Filed under Funny Stuff

PDD is 5 today. Anyone up for a little party? Carmody at 7pm?

Posted by Starfire at 12:29 PM | Permalink | 9 comments, last by Barrett
Filed under Administration | Current Events | Duluth History | Duluth Scene | Holiday | Web Fun