Video: Live From Main Street Minneapolis

FYI, if you ever find yourself wondering how independent progressive media in Minneapolis feel about playing host to the GOP convention this fall, wonder no more. They were pretty vocal about it earlier this week for Laura Flanders.
You can watch the full video here.
Source

New St. Paul Laws: Let’s Par-Tay Till 4 a.m.

Might the Republicans want to drink until 4 a.m. at their convention in St. Paul in the summer? Some legislators there think so.

In a proposal being considered in the Minnesota House, the last call for alcohol would be pushed back two hours from the usual 2 a.m. for all establishments within a 10-mile radius of the convention site.

The sponsors hope to spur spending at the convention from Sept. 1 to 4 — and also to make the Twin Cities metropolitan region seem “more sophisticated,” as one lawmaker put it.

“Las Vegas is open all night long, and New Orleans is open till dawn,” said Representative Phyllis Kahn, a Minneapolis Democrat who is a co-sponsor of the proposal. “I spend a lot of time in cities like New York and Montreal, and they all seem to have later drinking times.”

The change, which would last roughly 11 days and require suspending a state law, would also allow liquor sales on Sundays. A business that objects to the change would be free to close at 2 a.m. “The 2 a.m. closing hour is actually pretty common,” Ms. Kahn said. “But Paris and London barely have closing times at all.”

Ms. Kahn said she wanted her area to seem at least as sophisticated as other American cities.

“Somebody asked me if I was going to stay up until 4 a.m. partying,” she said.

The answer was no.

Article here

Great Story From My Hometown

The Lane Game: Seniors participate in Wii bowling tourney

The thundering roll of balls helped turn the multipurpose room of the Sally Griffin Senior Center into a virtual bowling alley Friday.

It sounded like bowling. It looked like bowling. All that was missing was the pin setter, the beer and the garish shoes.

Dozens of seniors from the Peninsula gathered for a Wii video game bowling tournament that pitted teams from The Park Lane Residence by Hyatt in Monterey, Meals on Wheels drivers from Pacific Grove, and the Griffin Center against one other

Greeeen Minnesota

I'm used to my friends in the Bay Area being avid recyclers and composting, but from my experiences in Minneapolis, it's far less common. I was pleasantly surprised when I found this article on composting in Minnesota:

Hennepin County in Minnesota has developed a multi pronged approach to recycling that now includes organic composting. This program allows individuals and business to separate their trash into two bins, one for stuff that goes to a landfill and one that is stuff that can be composted. 25% of the trash is organic and can be composted: in restaurants it is estimated that over 75% of the waste is organic and does not need to go to a methane producing landfill. Five new businesses are signing on each week and the county is working to meet it’s goal of recycling 50% of it’s waste.

For more information you can contact Randy’s Sanitation in Delano Minnesota.

Once you get in the habit, whether it’s a business or a household, you can reduce your waste, reduce your cost and contribute in a easy way to help the environment.

Congratulations Hennepin County businesses!

Brett Favre Featured in the Onion

I know that most of you are Viking fans, but there must be a few Packer fans amongst my readers. This morning the Onion featured your beloved hero Brett Favre.

GREEN BAY, WI—The Green Bay Packers addressed questions concerning the current status, future plans, and whereabouts of recently retired quarterback Brett Favre by announcing Monday that they had sent him to the country to live on a beautiful farm with a very nice family.

"We know you loved Brett Favre, but he wasn't happy here. He couldn't stay here," Packers general manager Ted Thompson told hundreds of quiet but tear-streaked Packer fans assembled at the televised Lambeau Field press conference. "And he loved you, too—he loved you very much indeed—but he needed to go someplace where he could run and jump and throw his favorite football around. And he couldn't do that here anymore."

Generalities, Misperceptions, True, and Confrontation

Max Sparber on MNSpeak posted a pretty funny, well funny to me, link from metroblogger: Top 10 Things Idiots at SXSWi have to say about Minneapolis.

The comments on the MNSpeak posting are hilarious. Minnesotans are just as guilty in regards to stereotypes of other cities. I came across many, many more California stereotypes than I could list today. But to hear the commenters talk it's as if each of these "idiots" at SXSW is performing a personal affront to them.

Most of us are uneducated when it comes to other cultures. True, we're one nation, but each geographic section is vastly different than another. Checkout the current Democratic primaries for further proof. We could all use a class in cross-cultural awareness. I think it sure would help with a lot of the awareness in the United States. For that to happen, Minnesotans or for that matter anyone must be less judgmental of the misperceptions of these idiots. It takes correcting people a time or two for it to sink in. But for that to happen you'd have to be confrontational, and we all know how Minnesotans love confrontation. There I go again with my generalizations...

Bay Area's Take On MN Issue

I've written previously about the smoking ban, but I forgot to write an entry about how certain Minnesotan businesses are circumventing the smoking ban in a very tricky manner. If I wasn't so anti-smoking in public venues, I'd be impressed that they found a loophole. Don't know what I'm talking about? Under their Weird News section the SFGate has an AP article describing the bar owners wiley ways:

All the world's a stage at some of Minnesota's bars.

A new state ban on smoking in restaurants and other nightspots contains an exception for performers in theatrical productions. So some bars are getting around the ban by printing up playbills, encouraging customers to come in costume, and pronouncing them "actors."

The customers are playing right along, merrily puffing away - and sometimes speaking in funny accents and doing a little improvisation, too.

The state Health Department is threatening to bring the curtain down on these sham productions. But for now, it's on with the show.

The article itself is interesting, but what I really found funny/interesting were the comments from the readers in response to the law/article:

jmd3606:Kevgoins, gee why don't we just have our gov't switch over to a dictatorship that way they can all tell us what we can and can't do because somethings are just too dangerous. How about stairs maybe we should outlaw those...someone could trip and fall. Cars are bad too...too many accidents. Excuse me, but adults should be able to make those kinds of decisions themselves. If I want to have a trans-fat laden dinner and follow it up with a cigarette I should be able to. And if you don't want to be around the smoke then you don't have to go to places where the smoke is.

ninety9 wrote: I'm a guy about 60. When I was a kid the harm done by smoking was regarded as a bunch of hooey put about by uptight adults - along the lines of say, sex [hey, even consorting with 5-fingered Mary] was bad. But In the 60's and 70's it really did come out that smoking was overwhelmingly harmful. And there was a big shift away from it by hipper somewhat arty types for that reason. Its so depressing to see that same crew in the majority of those smoking outside music bars these days. Where the hell did "healthy is hip" get lost?

BenderRodriguez wrote: I'd like to see some actors playing characters with lung cancer ... or speaking through a hole in their necks ...

calrhody wrote: As much as I dig the anti-smoking laws (less laundry and less painful hangovers!), this is pretty funny. I'm sure the collective town of Berkeley is pissed they didn't come up with this one. Maybe they can dress up like actors and rip a few bingers in the Marine recruiting station. They should probably learn to swim pretty soon.

jpk1 wrote: It is perfectly legal to inhale secondhand smoke in Minnesota, just as it is in California. If it makes you happy, you breathe in all the secondhand smoke you want! What is not legal is forcing others to breathe in secondhand smoke on the job. Why: because it's toxic. Secondhand smoke kills. Secondhand smoke causes heart disease, lung disease, and cancer. That's why you're protected from having to breathe it in at your workplace. And bars are a workplace. That's the point. And this "play" misses that point completely. Secondhand smoke is no different from radon or carbon monoxide or PCBs or methyl mercury: it is an airborne toxin and carcinogen, and it is a heart and lung pathogen. Secondhand smoke kills. Any workplace that forces you to inhale it, is an unsafe workplace.

More Local Politcal Talk

Pete Smith is at it again with his article on Huffington Post: Anyone smell a first amendment zone? For those of you that don't know, the Republican Convention is being hosted in St. Paul, MN, this year. Both the DNC and the RNC will be sure to have protesters this year. St. Paul announced their plan to handle the expected onslaught of protesters.

Smith said:

The guidelines include a primary event area (the area in and around the Xcel Energy Center, a secondary event area (a wider perimeter, the boundaries of which are yet to be determined) and something called a, "designated public assembly area".

And:

According to the guidelines, groups and organizations ho have applied for and received permits will assemble in a, parade staging area". Then they will march along a, "secondary event area parade route" to that designated public assembly area.

But my favorite line from Smith was:

Can you feel the waves of gratification? Can you imagine yourself hiking back to wherever you parked the Prius, 'No Blood For Oil' sign under your arm, thinking, "There. Guess we told those bastards off"?

I'm not sure if I'll still be in Minnesota in September, but there's no doubt that I'll have to check out the scene at the protest.

Minnesota Politics

I read a lot of political blogs and the Huffington Post is one of my favorites. While it leans far left (who am I kidding? I'm a CA moderate, which is pretty far left across the nation), it's nice to see well thought out, argued points of view from that perspective. Conservatives have won the war of words for decades now, and thanks to the blogosphere, things seem to finally be changing.

Tonight Pete Smith wrote a stinging critique of Minnesota governor Time Pawlenty: Hey, Senator McCain - Take our governor. Please.

I've never been a big Pawlenty fan, but his refusal to sign off on the five cent gas tax was the final straw. Following the HWY 35 bridge failure he said he'd consider such a law to improve the state's infrastructure. At the time, it was politically the right thing to say, but he needs to get his conservative credentials up now that he's got the White House in mind.

The extreme weather here forces us into two seasons: winter and street repairs. Simply put, Minnesotans needed to stop borrowing money to work on the roads. The work needed to be done and the time is now to do. I was proud of the six Republicans who switched sides to override Pawlenty's veto. It's a shame they've now been disciplined by GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert.

They deserve to be commended. I've listed their names below:

Bud Heidgerken of Freeport
Neil Peterson of Bloomington
Ron Erhardt of Edina
Kathy Tingelstad of Andover
Rod Hamilton of Mountain Lake
Ron Abeler of Anoka

Thank you for cutting through the gridlock. Minnesota and I thank you.

U.S. Bank Skyway Open

From Eden Prairie News:

The U.S. Bank Skyway Open returns to the downtown Minneapolis skyways Friday, Feb. 29, and Saturday, March 1. The custom-designed mini-golf course will give Minnesotans a chance to help a good cause while “putting” their way through the downtown Minneapolis skyways. Proceeds from the event benefit the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office/Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities’ Rebound program.

This sounds awesome. I wish I could at least check it out. But I have plans all weekend. Check it out, if you get a chance. For those of you that don't know what the skyway is, here's the Wikipedia that describes it best and shows pictures.

More info here: Skywayopen.org

Token Academy Awards Entry

Minnesotans seem to either love or hate Diablo Cody. She won every local end of the year award and yet many still view her as a carpetbagger. I enjoy her blog from time to time. I haven't seen Juno yet, but after winning an Academy Award last night for best original screenplay. I don't know her personally, but I've met a few people who have. None of them have terribly good or bad things to say about her, but hey, that's sort of the Minnesotan way, isn't it?

Something struck me while reading the San Francisco Chronicle's entertainment writer Tim Goodman review of last night:

Best adapted screenplay: Diablo Cody. She was working pretty hard to keep that dress together. But she's a perfect example that no matter who you are, if you turn on a pitch and get all of it, you can go places.

I did see her dress and wow, she sure knows how to leave people talking. Was Juno all it's been cracked up to be? Did she deserve the award? Some people love it, while others hated it. What say you?

I've only seen four movies at the theater in the last year: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Borat, Ian Curtis' biopic Control, and Sweeny Todd. I'm not a completely void of pop culture. I mean, I did recently start watching Lost on DVD and am now on to season two. Netflix has remain my friend even without venturing out to the theaters.

I'll also have to check out Minnesota's own the Cohen Brothers' No Country For Old Men soon. Maybe I'll make a day of it and watch both Juno and No Country For Old Men?

Star Tribune's Weatherman is Bored

I've heard many different descriptions of weather here. I've never heard, until now, it described as "hazy moonlight." How about you?

Reason #1 For Why I Dislike the Winter

ICE.

I hate the ice. I just fell walking back to my car, since I'd forgotten my drink in it and didn't want it to freeze.

Here I was ready to write this happy review of my night and POW!

OW! And we're out of ice. My elbow hurts. Frozen peas it is.

Civic Engagement

Today I started what will become a weekly occurrence for the rest of the semester. I'm tutoring every Saturday for two hours at the Minneapolis Central Library. I've ridden my bike past the library many, many times. I've driven past it even more, but when I need my library fix I've always stayed in the neighborhood I lived in, mostly due to the lack of public parking, and by public, I mean FREE. The northeast library has become a regular stop for me. Let's just say I was impressed. As beautiful as the library is from the outside, the inside is even more jaw-dropping. It seems sort of silly to refer to a library in those terms, but that's exactly what it is.

The employees, however, really need to communicate between departments. No one seemed to know that there was adult tutoring on the fourth floor, and I wasn't sure where to go. Once I made it to the fourth floor, after stops in the teen center tutoring hall, everything went smoothly. My supervisor Kelly was very helpful and apologetic for the lack of cohesion between departments.

I spent most of the time helping a young east African girl with basic math. I don't have much experience with east Africans. I've had a few conversations with classmates over the last year, but beyond that I'm a newbie to their culture. I've been fascinated with the large number of east Africans in the Twin Cities, just as I have been with the large Hmong population.

As the time was running out in the tutoring hall, a second young east African girl arrived needing help with her U.S History. It's amazing how complicated the battle of the Alamo and "Manifest Destiny" are when broken down into the basic elements. Words that aren't English and yet are a part of our basic English vernacular, such as San Antonio and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, are very difficult for a ESL student. Some nouns (names and places) are also very difficult. I could feel my ethnocentric American version of history come out. True, the Alamo was a 4,000 to 200 battle that lasted much longer than expected - 13 days to be exact, but those Americans had moved into Mexican territory, staking claim to land that belonged to Mexico. Her textbook glossed over this part, leaving her to reason that it was a slaughter on the part of Mexico.

I was supposed to leave at 3:00, but I couldn't bring myself to leave before she finished the chapter. Watching her, a girl in her late teens who I'm sure has experienced her fair share of violence in her homeland, ask me to define a troop or a soldier was an interesting experience. You read about east African boys younger than her that are forced to fight in tribal wars. Are these boys soldiers? Are these boys part of a troop? The Continental Army had teens fighting against the British.

My mind wandered as she struggled with the word Houston, as in Sam Houston, and I explained that Houston was now a city in Texas that many survivors relocated to after Hurricane Katrina. I hope that by giving her a current event to connect these historic events to it would help her learn the details. I went on to explain that the American settlers were immigrants in Mexico's land that decided they no longer wanted to follow Mexican law. I could see the light bulb going off in her head. Immigrant was a word she understood. I'm looking forward to these Saturdays I'll have at library. I'm looking forward to helping our new neighbors learn about us as I learn about them.

Indie Coffee Shop.com

From Erica M at Metroblogs:

IndieCoffeeShops.com is a pretty nifty Google Maps mashup. Here are all the currently listed indie coffee shops in the Twin Cities. You can filter for wifi, food, alcohol, non-smoking, outdoor seating, and "one-of-kind" (whatever that is).

This is a great site, but I've already noticed that two coffee shops I've enjoyed are missing: Uncommon Grounds and Audobon Coffee.

MN Barack Obama Results Party

click on image for album
Later in the night I headed down to Trocaderos for the Barack Obama results party. I was so busy at the caucus I had no idea what was going on around the nation. For all I knew he'd done well in my precinct, but had done poorly everywhere else. We had another gathering after the New Hampshire, and most of us know how that turned out. Following New Hampshire none of our local dignitaries were present. This time, however, the night was hosted by Congressman Keith Ellison and Minneapolis mayor RT Rybak.

Drinks cost way too much, but luckily Tony, the observer from the Chicago Obama headquarters, purchased one for me. I had an interesting conversation with Congressman Ellison about Senator Amy Klobuchar and the rest of the uncommitted super delegates in Minneapolis. Mayor Rybak has more energy than an energizer bunny. I could see him getting picked on as a child.

I announced my precincts results over the microphone and, according to a few friends, was on the news while on stage with the rest of the precinct captains. I wish I'd seen it. I'm not even sure what channel it was. I'll have to see if I can find the video to post here.

Overall, it was a fun night. Watching how seriously my neighbors take civic engagement, the camaraderie of the Obama campaign. Let's just hope come September I'll have more time to contribute to the presidential campaign.

Caucus Night: Precinct 10, Ward 1 NE Minneapolis

Click on the image for the album

Super Duper Tuesday

I love my California brothers and sisters, but last night they really dropped the ball. Last night California had the opportunity to be at the forefront of change and instead they mostly voted to keep things the same. I assumed twenty-four years of two families running our government is everything that most Californians are against. Fear of the unknown, fear of the uncertainties that were to come with an Obama ticket kept Californians voting against the majority of the country. Minnesotans voted with the maverick and against the establishment. To be expected, I guess, with a state that voted Jesse Ventura governor. Hillary had most of the DFL establishment on her side, the state's best organizers, and yet at the grassroots level Obama had community involvement across the state.

Here, in Minnesota, the caucus system was a sight to be seen. I’ve never experienced hands on version of democracy like this. I can only harken back to my days on the student council in high school. Well crafted, while at times hilarious, resolutions were rose, which in turn were voted up and down, volunteers to be senate delegates at the state caucus while others volunteering to be school board delegates.

I love my neighborhood more now than at any other point. Watching my neighbors of ALL races; sexual orientations; young and old waiting in line; running out of ballots yet remaining calm when new ballots were made; with only one goal in mind – to participate in representing his or her neighbor.

The presidential portion went smoothly. I along with the help of our observers from in Obama campaign head quarters was able to help the convener. She in turn allowed us to hang our Obama posters. Hillary’s campaign seemed to give up on Minnesota a long time ago. Maybe her campaign saw the larger prize in the bigger states, but by ignoring much of the Midwest, she also showed where her loyalties lie.
I live in a truly unique neighborhood, and I’m more proud now than ever to call these people my neighbors.

NE Minneapolis, Precinct 10 ward 1:

Barack Obama: 136
Hillary Rodham Clinton: 62

Video From Barack Obama Rally, Minneapolis, MN

Barack Obama Rally, Minneapolis, MN

more images from rally behind link

Minnesotans are passionate about their politics. I think that might be as a result of having such an educated electorate. The founders intended the United States would have an active, educated electorate. Over the years, with the rising cost of education, the electorate has become more and more dumbed down. Reactionary instead of proactive, one might say. This year really feels different. This year, it feels as though, people have said enough is enough of the same ol' same ol'.

Today was dedicated to Barack Obama. I was up late last night working on homework and wasn't up and in line for the rally as early as I'd intended. This might have been a great thing. My feet are still sore. As an precinct coordinator, we were given special green tickets that put us on the floor, giving us a better view, and yet battering our poor feet. Brad and I arrived at 11:30 knowing that doors were opening at 1:30. Doors opened closer to 2:30 and by 4:30 just then was Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak introducing Jane Freeman, the widow of former Minnesota governor Orville Freeman, who at 87-years-old was awfully spry as she finally introduced Mr. Obama.

Mr. Obama's message had a different tone today, more in line with John Edwards populist message. It's only natural that Mr. Obama would hone in on the Edwards support. I could give a run down on the substance of his speech, but I'll leave that to other people.

I will say that this was the most I've ever felt part of a community in Minnesota. Minnesotans of all races, creeds, sexual orientations were all there together in support of one cause. I especially enjoyed conversing with Laura, a precinct captain, from south of St. Paul. She was a riot, in her 40s, an employee at the U, a democrat from Texas, who loves Dave Navarro and Jane's Addiction. Her energy was inspiring. She'd moved here for her fiancé and immediately became active in Minnesota politics.

I hope the energy captured in the Target Center carries over to Tuesday and the caucuses across Minnesota. The support on campus has been surprising. I've always heard, and the stats back it up, that twenty-somethings aren't active. Something about Mr. Obama changes that, at least I hope so.

Tomorrow we're making more phone calls, gathering last minute support and challenging those to come out Tuesday. The attention Mr. Obama's visit today brought should show he's not taking Minnesota lightly and that Minnesotans will see his views are most in line with theirs.

Local Obama Links
Bemidji Pioneer - Bemidji,MN,USA
Worthington Daily Globe - Worthington,MN,USA
Star Tribune - Minneapolis, MN USA
Pioneer Press - St. Paul, MN USA
Minnesota Public Radio - St. Paul, MN USA

Two Nations Under...

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

The pundits like to say that Minnesota is a "purple state." We blend progressive and conservative values like few others in the nation. Yesterday President George W. Bush attended a fund raiser at the San Francisco International Airport. For those of you that don't know, SFO is not located in San Francisco -- just as the Minneapolis-St.Paul Airport is not located in either Minneapolis or St. Paul.

While SFO is a short drive from San Francisco, it might as well be a whole 'nother world for Mr. Bush. This might sound strange since most of America looks at San Francisco as a hub for the arts, culture and music, but Mr. Bush has never stepped foot in the city of San Francisco.

How is that possible, you ask?

Well, half of this country has ignored, despised, ridiculed, and shunned the other half for the last seven years, while the other half has thumbed their noses at the their "red neck" cousins who put us in this mess. Never been has it been more bluntly stated than Mr. Bush's appearance yesterday.

We are two nations that long ago forgot what it was like to walk in the shoes of the other. Never in my lifetime has it been more important to become involved politically. Disillusioned as we may be, we do have some power.

Tuesday is the caucus in Minnesota. I believe our best chance to bring back these two nations back together is to elect Senator Barack Obama president of the United States of America. I've been semi-active in his Minneapolis campaign. Not nearly as much as I'd like to be, but as much as I can be under the current situation. As a precinct captain, I will be at our precinct's caucus Tuesday evening helping our supporters bring Mr. Obama to office. You can find your caucus at the secretary of state's website. The grass roots energy in Mr. Obama's campaign is inspiring. It brings me back to AP Government and Civics class my senior year of high school.

Our generation was challenged to be active citizens and somewhere along the way we went off that track. This is our opportunity to make a difference, to create change with our bear hands. Saturday afternoon Minnesotans get the opportunity to hear Mr. Obama speak at the Target Center. Doors open at 1:30. Tickets were free, but over 20 K have been given out.The event is "sold out."

Hopefully if some of you haven't decided yet who you'll be supporting Tuesday, you'll attend the rally with an open mind and open heart, with an opportunity to become proactive citizens in mind. Never before have I been as emotionally involved with a candidate, but for anyone that knows me, they understand that morals, my word and my ideals are things that I hold dear. Mr. Obama shares those ideals, and he is our best opportunity to turn our country around and into a "purple nation."

Only in California

I was not surprised when I heard Sean Young checked herself into rehab. I met Ms. Young at Lighthouse Cinema my senior year of high school. Living on the Monterey Peninsula, we were used to having celebrities at the theater. She showed up my the theater with an entourage of 20 some and wanted everyone to get in free to a sold out showing. She started yelling, screaming and then almost physically attacked the manager. Members of actors guild receive a card that allows them free entrance plus one to any movie theater in the nation. We generally didn't care about additional comps, but there just wasn't space and she wasn't hearing that. We never would have allowed 20 anyway, but so yeah, that's my crazy abusive Sean Young story and now the quack is in rehab and it's only fitting.

Altruism

Moving to Minneapolis I expected to study print journalism at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. Along with the fact Minneapolis is a major metropolitan, it was the main reason I picked University of Minnesota over Uhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifniversity of Oregon. I never expected that a semester in I'd give up my dream to be a journalist and instead concentrate on a degree in strategic planning.

Strategic planning is the technical term for public relations. I have years of similar experience running my own production company in the Bay Area. Strategic planning is a track within the journalism school, so the variation is not that far from my original path. Everyone needs PR. However, not everyone can afford to pay an individual to work only on public relations. This holds true with especially true with the direction I want to take my career.

Instead of working for "the man" I intend on working in the non-profit sector. There's no doubt my time in Minneapolis has affected this decision. I have friends who run their own non-profit, those who work for non-profits and those who volunteer at non-profits, but Minnesotans are truly the most altruistic people in the country.

The level of non-profit organization community involvement is truly amazing. The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is an excellent hub for the organizations across the the state. This semester I'm volunteering at a local non-profit for an English literature class. We'll learn Thursday which organization we've been assigned to. My #1 choice was the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center in north Minneapolis. I've seen what the PWCC does for north Minneapolis and I"d love to be a part of that organization.

I'm looking forward to being more involved in my community. How weird is that? Minneapolis has become my community, but it has, and I'm looking forward to finally working in the time to be active and give back. I've been volunteering for the Barrack Obama campaign (more on that in another entry), but that's about being active in a much larger community. Maybe this direction is coming with age, as I mature. Maybe my eyes have finally opened up to the opportunities to give back, but I do know that observing the community around me has had a major influence on these decisions.

Creeping Along, Although Barely

Rarely do you hear anything about the Hell's Angels in the press anymore. They are a relic in today's gang wars. That doesn't mean they aren't out there, as we learned today, when a federal jury handed back the keys to the Angels' clubhouse. There aren't many Minneapolis members left, as the article claims eight or nine Minneapolis members. Most have been sent to jail thanks to the governments crackdown on methamphetamines.

Growing up in California, we hear a lot about the Hell's Angels. They were active participants in the 60s counterculture, often acting as "security" for Bill Graham's legendary rock concerts. They were founded on Oakland, CA before spreading west across the nation. Because my great-uncle was an active member and I'd hear random stories from his sisters, I've been fascinated with the Hell's Angels from an early age.

Years ago I read and was disappointed with Hunter S. Thompson's Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. It wasn't that Thompson's "new journalism" wasn't fascinating, because it was.Thompson's ego simply got in the way for me to truly delve into the underworld he experienced. I've been looking at Frost-Bite in a similar light. Frost-Bite is my attempt to write in a style not unlike Thompson or Tom Wolfe or Ted Conover.

I don't know how well I'm doing yet, but then again, I'm just starting the process and have many plans for the future. It was strange seeing Hell's Angels as the headline story on the Star Tribune's site. I hadn't thought about them since my great-uncle passed away due to complications from lead poisoning from prison tattoos. I guess the Hell's Angels are still around, although barely.

School's Back

Apparently there's a new club on the U of M campus, Kinky U. Katherine Kersten wrote an interesting take on the club in today's Star Tribune. And by interesting I mean, she really has no opinion at all. It's written as an opinion piece without any real opinion behind it, which reads more like an infomercial than a piece of journalism.

School started this week and of all weeks did it really have to be this cold? The hustle and bustle of first days jitters along with the serious bite of Minnesota Winter. I lucked into rides to campus this semester, meaning no early morning waits for the bus. I am thrilled about this. I can't say it enough. THRILLED.

Yesterday in class I overheard three girls debating the upcoming Super Bowl. Only the debate wasn't over who was going to win and why, the debate was over who had the cutest butt and how one of the debaters wished Randy Moss wasn't so ugly. I've always enjoyed the fact that Minnesotan women have such a high sports IQ. I know that the appearance of the athletes isn't the #1 concern of all of these fans, but I'm sure a sigh of relief was heard across Minnesota when Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer signed to long term contracts this week.

Fighting Perceptions

From Pioneer Press:
Backers of the image makeover for Minneapolis and St. Paul say stereotypes of us - often false - need to be combated with facts. Here are a few examples:

Stereotype: It's freezing.

Rebuttal: It's not that much colder than Chicago, and it doesn't have skyways. Plus, our summers are awesome.

Stereotype: There's nothing to do but go to the Mall of America.

Rebuttal: We have museums, stores and recreation, all within the core cities.

Stereotype: There's no economy up there.

Rebuttal: We've got more corporate headquarters than Chicago, and our economy traditionally outstrips the nation's.

Stereotype: You're not very sophisticated.

Rebuttal: We've got colleges and universities everywhere, we're highly educated compared with other metropolitan areas, and Men's Journal named us "smartest" on their list of "50 Best Places to Live."

In May I was camping with some friends in Oregon. I felt myself getting defensive when describing Minneapolis. For as many issues as I've had socially in Minneapolis, I really do love the city and the state. It was funny to see this rundown of rebuttals. I'll have to remember these next time I'm confronted.

Over Where? Over There, I Never Go Over There

From MPR.com...
"Where are you from?"

"I'm from St. Paul," said Ron.
"How do feel about calling it Minneapolis-St. Paul from now on?"
"I'm not too much in favor of calling it Minneapolis-St. Paul. I don't like the name Minneapolis," Ron explained.
"I don't even go over there," Don said.
"Why's that?"
"Two reasons. I get lost is one reason. The second reason is I don't want to get beat up over there. So I stay home," said Don.

Funny, I've heard this debate from both sides. St. Paul natives rarely move to this side of the river and, while less rare, Minneapolis natives don't make the jump across the river either. For some reason, northeast Minneapolis has a better rep' with St. Paul natives. It's like we have some sort of street cred. We don't live in Uptown, we don't live in south, and heaven forbid we live in north Minneapolis.

But over here in northeast we have a bit of a working class, community, neighborhood. We have both dive and more upscale bars, restaurants, churches. Boy, do we have churches. Every other block seems to have a church on the corner. All of Minneapolis, with the exception of south, is very accessible.

Northeast Minneapolis is the closest thing St. Paul and the most accepted. I personally rarely go to St. Paul, though recently that's changed more. St. Paul just feels so far away and as I've said in a previous entry that when I first moved here smoking indoors was still legal. That immediate introduction to St. Paul soured me on it and just now has my life habits directed me back towards St. Paul.

Subzero Homelessness

It's -10 right now, which is easily the coldest it's been since I moved to Minneapolis, and it got me thinking about homelessness. Where would I be right now if I was homeless in Minneapolis? I assume I'd find a shelter, but there are only so many shelter beds to be had. I could go away from the cities and find a shelter. I know one thing I'd never do is sleep in a dumpster - not in this weather.

I wonder why homeless people even stay in Minnesota. Years ago I remember cities would put people on buses and send them to San Francisco. Last year Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani had a series of suggestions for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome to deal with San Francisco's homeless problem.

It's funny to hear a New Yorker try to tell a San Franciscan how to run his city, as if politics in SF is even remotely similar to NYC. The weather here keeps homelessness from being at the levels of either coast, but these arctic temperatures make any level more critical. It's scary to think about any one out there right now, but I'm sure there are thousands.

Reasons to Move to Minneapolis

Tony Galarza from www.aiapvc.org/

Today, while I sat in my doctor's office, another patient asked me if my sweatshirt referenced Oakland, CA. Rarely does anyone comment on the front of the sweatshirt. Most people love the back of the sweatshirt and I get a lot of compliments.

The woman was excited when I told her it was. She was born and raised in Oakland and moved here nine years ago. She didn't ask what brought me to Minnesota, but I couldn't help but ask her. Her response was one I'd never heard before. But to be honest, I rarely ask what an individuals motivation is for the move to the Twin Cities.

She moved to Minneapolis for the air quality. She went onto say that Minneapolis has the best air quality of an urban city in the nation. I'd never heard that before. I've noticed that the air quality is better than the Bay Area. But I have only lived in two urban settings so I don't have much to compare it to.

It got me thinking, is Minneapolis really the best? According to the Earth Day Network, Minneapolis ranks 15th in the nation closely trailing Tucson, AZ, Omaha, NE, Billings, MT, and Virginia Beach, VA - all of which are tied for 11th. So we're not #1, but that 15th is still great when you look at who trails Minneapolis. Oakland is much further down the list at 41 out of 72 urban cities. At the top of the list is Sioux Falls, SD and our cross river neighbor Fargo, ND is ranked 4th.

We all have our different reasons for moving to Minneapolis, but chalk air quality up one reason to move to Minneapolis I'd never thought of.

Taking Issue With Pioneer Press

I should first say that I rarely read the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. I scan the headlines for anything that catches my eye. Yesterday's Pioneer Press article, "Do redistricting right, coalition of Minnesota political all-stars tells Legislature" did just that. I'm huge opponent of gerrymandering. I'd go as far as saying that it's one of the biggest faults of our current electoral system.

For those of you that don't know, gerrymandering is the reestablishing of electoral districts in favor of gaining seats for political power. Former U.S Representative Tom Delay was one of the worst at this in the late 1990s, and this helped multiple Republicans get elected in Texas and disenfranchised thousands of African-Americans who now found themselves living in Republican dominated districts.

So as you can imagine, I was thrilled to see a bipartisan effort to design electoral districts fairly. However, further down in the article the journalist paraphrases a University of Minnesota study, "That fuels political polarization, a study by the U's center said."

While I know that the "U's center" is making reference to the "University of Minnesota's Center for the Study of Politics and Governance," mentioned earlier in the article. This is not an obvious connection for someone outside of Minnesota. For one of only two major newspapers in the state to write for an audience of a few is disheartening. Yes, Minnesota is a few when we're talking about a much larger scale of the United States political system.

The subject matter at hand is larger and more serious than just a Minnesota issue. I can see college students researching a paper and coming across and wanting to cite this article. The reporter makes no reference to the term "gerrymandering" or that this is a problem that does occur across the country. By giving the audience no context to the problem, the reporter's minimizing the issue and selling the reader short.

The Star Tribune does a much better job at covering the same story, "Reformers want politics out of political mapping." At least they provide historical context to why this is important in Minnesota and how it's affected the constituency in the past. But again, there's a term for what they are describing, there's a larger context to the issue that both reporters ignore. We should know that the "reformers," as the Star Tribune calls them, are taking an even more impressive stand in the larger context of national politics. Limiting our World view helps no one, especially the reformers at hand.

A Favor to Ask For Live Journal RSS Readers

I have Live Journal readers who are actively comment on Frost-Bite. I appreciate your comments and the discourse we have, but can you please comment directly on the Blogspot entry. Follow the URL is listed at the top of the feed for access. I do not receive notification when you respond to the feed on Live Journal and the links disappear after a week and with it all of your comments. I hope you enjoy reading my entries and I'm looking forward to you following me when I move Frost-Bite over to frost-bite.us very shortly.

Again, thank you again for following Frost-Bite.

Travel Guide

Lake Calhoun, mid-summer, photographed by Me.

I stumbled across an entry in a travel blog touting "Minneapolis is The Largest City in Minnesota." While the headline left something to be desired, the entry skimmed all of the bases rather than covering.

A) Location: [Minneapolis] lies on both banks of the Mississippi River, just north of the rivers confluence with the Minnesota River and adjoins Saint Paul, the states capital.

B) Roots: "Minneapolis was born when two mills were built to cut lumber and grind flour for the men of a nearby fort." It fails to mention the huge numbers of Norwegians, Scandinavian and German immigrants that made their roots here.

C) Orpheum Theatre (Although they call it the Orpheus Theater): "When you walk into the huge theatre and get a glimpse of its gilded ceiling and huge chandeliers, you will feel like you are taking a step back into the old vaudeville days of 1930."

D) Shopping: No sales tax. What it does leave out is that most of the shopping is in Bloomington at the Mall of America and not Minneapolis. Let's give some credit where credit is due. Although I hate going to the MOA.

E) Health Conscious: [Minneapolis] has the "2nd highest percentage of people who bike to work." What it leaves out is the reason it's so easy to bike to work. The bicycle lanes throughout downtown, southeast and northeast and the green ways make all sections - minus, sadly, north Minneapolis, which is like the red headed step child of the Twin Cities - easily accessible via bike.

F) Sporting Events: It glosses over this aspect of Minneapolis. Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Lynx and all of the Gopher sporting events are available on a nightly basis to guests. Rarely do events sell out, so any tourist can go out to the old ball yard, if they so chose.

G) Arts: Minneapolis has "peerless museums," and a "music scene that has amazed listeners for decades," but they fail to mention that there are more theater seats per capita in the Twin Cities (mostly Minneapolis) than anywhere in the country. Any night of the week you can see top notch talent perform. I've been to old and new Guthrie and hope to see more plays this year. Where is the mention of the Walker Art Center or the Minneapolis Institute of Arts?

H) Parks: [Minneapolis] has "no less than 170 parks and recreational gardens..." I'm not so sure about this fact. Ah hah, according to the Minneapolis Parks.org, there are 150 parks in Minneapolis. While the parks are great, the entry makes no mention of the lakes. How can someone write an entry about Minneapolis and leave out the chain of lakes? Lake of the Isles, Lake Harriet, and Lake Calhoun are my favorite places to bicycle in the summer. What about in the winter? Taking the family tubing at Buck Hill in Burnesville promises good times even for the grouchiest of family members.

I'm sure the entry was written from a series of brochures or one poorly written and researched brochure. I really don't understand the need for such a blog. Why start something if you're going to half-ass it? We get it, "Dallas is a City in The United States" and so is Seattle, if you believe the blog. It seems like a waste of time to me. Although it was a funny to read Minneapolis described in 400 words by someone who had never been here.

Weekly Rundown of Links

Bay Area Links
SF Chronicle: 'Dykes on Bikes' trademark OKd - challenger rebuffed by high court
Appeals court allows S.F. to enforce health care law
San Jose Mercury: Editorial: California's kids deserve better
Group including Stanford, Monterey Bay Aquarium form center to protect oceans
Morgan Hill man cited for three DUIs over holidays now in jail
Oakland Tribune: Rockabilly Revival: Take a trip to the historic 23 Club in Brisbane for a night of Rockabilly fun.
Wikia Search founder: It's terrible
Contra Costa Times: Not staying abstinent

Twin Cities Links
Star Tribune: Larry Etkin: Investing in the arts is investing in our future
Minnesota has healthiest hearts in the nation
Do you live next door to a pot palace?
Pioneer Press: December DWI sweep arrests 3,354
Dakota County / Woman, 19, sentenced for sex ring
Minnesota Education / Magazine: Kids' future looks bright
From MNSpeak WCCO News 4: Man Who Had Sex With Dead Deer Gets More Jail Time

Traffic Meltdown

By Bruce Bisping , Star Tribune
I've vented many times about the horrible driving in the Twin Cities. It seems that no one has the ability to merge. Merging used to add an extra 20 minutes to my commute from Uptown into Roseville. But things have gotten "better" in recent months. I've learned tricks to get from point a to point b, with as little traffic as possible.

My commute to my doctor's appointment in St Louis Park took and extra 30 minutes this morning. I couldn't see what was happening on the other side HWY 94. Normally, the drive takes 15 minutes tops. There are times when you can add an extra 20 minutes due to other commuters rubber necking a car broken down on the side of the road.

Rarely is the accident serious. Only once have I seen anything warranting my attention - a Toyota Camery upside down, with smoke billowing from the engine. Usually it's a car with a blown tire. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to sit, waiting and waiting, and for it to turn out to only be a car broken down on the side of the road.

Today, though, it was the commute home on 694 E towards downtown. Unable to merge onto 94 W, I drove to through downtown. Thank goodness the architecture downtown is so amazing or I would have been really annoyed.

Is The Barn All Its Cracked Up To Be?

Because I've never experienced a basketball game at the University of Minnesota's basketball arena, "The Barn," my opinion isn't completely formed on Tubby Smith's recent comments in the NYTimes that "he wanted a new facility to replace Williams Arena, the venerable field house known as the Barn and the Gophers’ home since 1928, but was willing to wait while the university completes football and baseball stadiums" and again today in the Pioneer Press,""It's something I'm sure that everybody wants to see at some point in time," Smith said. "We know that (if) we're going to do the things we have to do, that they're going to want a bigger and better place.""

I've been reading the raucous responses and Benjamin Polk from City Pages scolding Smith for even considering a move, and yet I still haven't formed an educated opinion. I see a lot of dedicated fans holding onto the past, and at the same time refusing to look around the country. Top notch athletics programs need new arenas to recruit the best athletes and attract the most fans.

Simply being a top notch institute of higher learning isn't enough anymore. U.C Berkeley built Walter A. Haas, Jr. Pavilion in 1999 replacing the once beloved Harmon Gymnasium, showing it's possible to keep the intimacy and grow in capacity and technologically.

Tomorrow I'll contact the U's athletic department to get press passes to cover and upcoming game. With classes starting in only a two weeks from now, Gopher energy should be in high gear as Tubby Smith continues to impress everyone within shouting distance from The Barn. I look forward to seeing the turn around in U of M basketball firsthand. With the impending departure of Johan Santana from the Twins and the sad performance of the Timberwolves, Twin Cities fans can use something to root for.

Favorite Local Blogs

Sharyn Morrow’s Weapons of Mass Distraction
Jodi’s I Will Dare.com
Peter Scholtes’ from the City Pages has an amazing local music orientated blog, Complicated Fun.
Ericka Bailie-Byrne’s surlygrrrl
Diablo Cody’s The Pussy Ranch
Minnesota community blog: MN Speak

Please, I’m on the lookout for more quality Minnesotan blogs.

Hook a brotha’ up.

A Late New Years Post

When I moved to Minneapolis, everyone I met told me that it’ll get easier, that I should just write off my first year, but in year two I’ll find my rhythm and will love the city. I loved the city in year one, so finding love for the city in question.

The initial winter shock was debilitating.

But as I’ve said in previous entries, once you figure out the rules to the game, the winter really isn’t so bad.

They were wrong. It’s only been in my third year that I finally feel like I’m hitting my stride. I’m at two and a half years. The culture shock was fierce. I’d never expected living in another “blue state” to be so different. I knew living in the Bay Area that I lived in a bubble. I just never realized how air tight the bubble was.

Greg said to me the other day that I’d have been “just like them” had I been born here. That thought, honestly, is what kept me going two years ago. I’d flipped my car. I’d lost all of my friends. I was alone here, but I kept thinking that we are - on some level - the same. Culture shock was one thing, but it could only get better – right?

Now that I’m in year three things are better. I’ve learned – mostly – how to dodge the MN vs. CA comparison conversations. The bitterness is gone. I have some amazing people who do truly care about me.

I’ve yet to find my niche, but I’m no longer looking for it either. I’m just me. Imagine the descriptors you use to define your identity with are no longer true. That’s how I felt that first winter.

I was not a student.
I was not a reporter.
I couldn’t even bring myself to write.
I was no longer a promoter.
I was no longer a friend.
I was no longer a brother.
I was no longer a son.

It threw me into an identity crisis, and over the last two years I’ve rededicated myself to finding myself. I’m there, finally. This is me and I’m completely comfortable again with whom I am. This next year is dedicated towards exploring Minnesota with my true self in mind – and I’m looking forward to it.

Weekly Rundown of Links

Bay Area Links
Oakland Tribune: UC Berkeley graduate among world's top solvers of Rubik's Cube puzzle
SFGate: S.F. Zoo's history of mismanagement; morale down under new director
The top 10 sex memes of 2007: From convictions to hoaxes, Violet Blue looks at 2007's most-clicked items
Contra Costa Times: County puts cuffs on drunk drivers

Twin Cities Links
Star Tribune: Emily Saunders finds the missing piece of her puzzle
The new face of driving drunk
DWI court succeeds by keeping keen eye on offenders
Diablo Cody 'cracked a door open and everything was Technicolor'
Pioneer Press: Readers share own tales of mouse bladders and rodent terrorism
MPR: Minnesota woman is a champion beaver skinner
'Madness in a bottle' makes a comeback
The Book Standard: Minneapolis Tops List of America's Most Literate Cities
Twin Cities Daily Planet: Top Neo-Nazi group leaves Minneapolis

Living on Minnesota Time

A co-worker of mine reminded me the other day that I wasn't living on "Minnesota Time." She'd given herself an hour to get to work, when normally the commute takes 20 minutes. I just made it on time, running in the door and completely out of breath. It seems that everything depends on the weather: from the clothes I put on my body to the amount of time I allow myself to get to class, work or an appointment. I don't have it down yet. I'm often still running late. I'm getting better, but she was right. I'm not living on "Minnesota Time."

I look at the weather report first thing each morning. My entire day is then scheduled around the day's forecast. I used to check the Star Tribune's website for the weather forecast, but I've recently installed the Forecastfox addon for the Firefox Web browser, which updates regularly.

Each morning I go over a check list:

[X] What is the temperature? From the low 30s to mid-20s - it's hoodie, long sleeve shirt and gloves weather, without the need for long johns. In the teens, winter jacket is a must, and depending on the wind chill, it might be a long john day. Once the thermostat reaches 10 degrees or below, long johns, long sleeve shirt under a short sleeve shirt, gloves, winter jacket, and winter boots are all a must. In the single digits, more likely than not, I'm also wearing a hoodie under my winter jacket along with the rest of the attire.

Also, depending on the temperature, it takes longer for my car to warm up. My Honda Civic doesn't like winters. The Civic handles the winter better than the Nissan Altima I owned when I moved here. There have been times when my car won't start, but for the most part, it takes a good 15-20 minutes to warm up before it's drivable. This extra time must be worked in to travel time.

[X]Is it snowing? Again, many things vary depending on "type" of snow, how much snow has come down, have the streets been plowed, extra time is needed for the commute (either by bus or car), extra time needed to scrape the snow and again time for the car to warm up.

I'm two plus years in now and I'm finally getting better. You'd think I'd be less stubborn and adapt to the seasons. The first thing most Minnesotans ask me regarding the transition into Minnesota is how I'm handling the winters.

Really, though, the winters aren't so bad. I know. I know, they've been mild the last three years. I've heard it before. Winter just seems to last forever. Once you figure out the "Minnesota Time" it's just a matter of layers and coordinating your outfit. I've got the the layers down. Now if only I can start living on "Minnesota Time" my life would be much less stressful.