"Diebold has made the testing and certification process practically irrelevant. If you have access to these machines and you want to rig an election, anything is possible with the Diebold TS--and it could be done without leaving a trace. All you need is a screwdriver."

Let's go buy us some external flash memory and screwdrivers!

Posted by adam at 06:58 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by speechie
Filed under

You might think this photo has been altered, but I assure you it hasn't. The streets of Barronett are actually named like this.

I asked a local convenience store clerk, "Why all the fractions?"

She said, "I honestly have no idea."

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 10:03 AM | Permalink | 12 comments, last by Andy D
Filed under

Don't hack Amazing Grace's page, people. Bad, bad karma.

I can't read about honey wheat now.

Posted by creeko at 10:32 PM | Permalink | 9 comments, last by ZB
Filed under Bitching

Apparently it's gonna be hot tomorrow.

I thought Tamara was exagerating when she mentioned this but I guess not.

I'll likely be chugging down a case of Gatorade at work tomorrow. I'll be on the roaster from about 6:30 to whenever I can get enough coffee roasted to cover the day.

Try to keep cool.

Posted by in.dog.neato at 05:38 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by in.dog.neato
Filed under

It was something like 104 at our house this day...

Posted by ZB at 02:57 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Kitsune
Filed under

Posted by in.dog.neato at 07:46 PM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by adam
Filed under

This is the weekend for the Free Range Film Fest. In Wrenshall. On the organic farm. In the amazing barn.
Click here for schedule, directions etc.

Posted by clumsy at 01:29 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by Paul Lundgren
Filed under

Dear Mr. Vernon,
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Friday night starting at 8:46pm in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make a movie telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain... and an athlete... and a basket case... a princess... and a criminal... and we all love outdoor movies...
Does that answer your question?
Sincerely yours,
the Breakfast Club

Posted by tamara at 10:01 AM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by eclectic_poly_pair
Filed under

TONIGHT * Thursday, July 27th * 9:30pm

Calling all pirates, weirdoes, rawkers, poets, writers and prestidigitation aficionados.

***

Norman's Bar on First Street is now [insert finger snapping and pointing] Aces.

The only way to truly inaugurate and experience such a unparalleled coup de main of swank for the first time is with a rowdy flash mob of hipsters, hooligans, home-wreckers, Heiko, Hugo, and some of you damn homebodies to overrun, bewilder the bartenders and disappear into the night like a rag-tag band of highway robbers.

Brouhaha forms up at Carmody's at 9:30pm where we shall plan the preferred method of attack.

Posted by adam at 04:49 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by adam
Filed under

that i've lived in duluth ...

Posted by traceydee at 04:36 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Jeff
Filed under

Sorry about the late update Tuesday was fun in.dog.neato had his daughter with, get them started youg, she is cute. Enjoyed the getting to play new people, Paul is a good player I hope to play him next time we meet for go. The sorta score card for the night was Nik 1 win out of 1 game, Amarath 1 win, 1 loss out of 2 games, Paul 1 win, 1 loss out of 2 games, in.dog.neato 2 losses out of 2 games, Hopper250 1 win out of 1 game. I'm not sure when i'll be available next week as i lost my work schedual somewhere i'll post a comment tonight when i know for sure. The Brewhouse was quite full on tuesday so any suggestions of other places in town to play would be great. See everyone on another day.

Posted by hopper250 at 09:57 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Current Events

this is the penalty I pay for being
this is the penalty we pay for living
this is the penalty I pay for lying
this is the penalty we pay for dying

this is the price we pay

Posted by -Berv at 03:57 AM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by -Berv
Filed under Duluth Scene

Recently it occurred to me that my music collection is a bit stale. It’s been a fairly long time since I bought any new stuff or explored for new albums to listen to. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I’m specifically looking for recommendations for albums that came out in 2006, and by artists who are new as well.

I don't have many preferences as to genres. I like everything from hip-hop to country to emo. Basically, I just want to know if there's a 2006 album that you think is really, really good. Can anyone help out?

Posted by Barrett at 02:04 AM | Permalink | 17 comments, last by devdogg
Filed under Music | Recommendations

Norm Coleman's 81-year-old dad just got busted having sex in a car with a woman quite a bit younger.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/15128663.htm

Posted by The Professor at 10:56 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by in.dog.neato
Filed under Politics

Lookie here.

Posted by vicarious at 08:42 AM | Permalink | 16 comments, last by zombie pub crawl
Filed under

Please?

http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/uppermissvly_loop.php

Posted by Drifter at 07:41 PM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by PJ
Filed under Current Events

When I was a child and didn’t agree with my mother, I’d use the age-old threat of running away. This was around the ages of 6-7, and I really never had a “running away to” destination. The process generally consisted of me dramatically yanking my wicker suitcase from the closet, disposing it in the living room in front of my mother, then packing the possessions I would need for my trip – this was usually pajamas and my Holly Hobbie rag doll. Frequently my destination ended-up being Mrs. Mile’s house, a neighbor lady who would feed me milk and cookies. I’d stay there for maybe an hour, then return home happy.

August’s running-away threat: “I’m going to ship myself to Australia!” He then proceeds to search the house for a box or hamper; basically any container that he can fit into. Then he fits himself in it and sporadically shouts out other threats: “I’m not taking you with me!”… “I’m going to live with Koala bears!”…”I won’t send you postcards!”….
Then he must get tired of being cramped in the box and discards his travel plans.

What was your running-away threat?

Posted by Purple at 06:47 AM | Permalink | 20 comments, last by c-freak
Filed under

Posted by enealio at 08:59 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by adam
Filed under

I'm writing a rather lengthy fan/review essay on yesterday's Low show at Washington, with hopes of publication in various music/culture-related media. I wonder if any of the several folks who were video-recording the show might be willing let me see the footage. It would help my story a bunch. You can email me here. Thanks.

Posted by vicarious at 05:41 PM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under

Went and saw the new Phillip K Dick movie, A Scanner Darkly, this past weekend, as I was in the Twinkies anyways. It was pretty good overall. I have not read the book and so can not compare it to same. As well I tried not to overexpose myself to movie spoilers beforehand to keep it somewhat fresh. It was more a drug/addiction movie than a sci fic movie, so was not exactly what I was expecting. There where some genuinely funny scenes, and some of it was a little predictable. Definitely was a Dick-ian, (Dick-ish?) story, a bunch of second guessing as to people’s identities and what exactly was real vs. hallucination. I like the animation aspect quite a bit, with exception of how they did the eyes, the eyes where very dead/flat looking. Which MAY have been intentional given the subject matter, but intentional or not they detracted from the overall effect.
I would say it is a movie worth watching, I don’t think you would miss much by waiting until it came to DVD, and in fact that might help, as you can re-watch confusing parts. Overall I’d give it a solid ‘B’.

Posted by edgeways at 11:53 AM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by ironic1
Filed under Movie Reviews

the job has been filled suckahs!

Posted by c-freak at 10:06 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by Shaun
Filed under

The Book TV Bus will be parking itself (MTV style) in front of Northern Lights Books and Gifts this upcoming Saturday, 7/29 from 11am-2pm. That means that we'll have three hours in which to be filmed appreciating literature to, perchance, appear in the background a severely edited spot on The Deuce of CSpan.
I've read a little bit about other stops the BookTV Bus has made, and they've been a little underwhelming for the authors. But we do have the chance to support the authors, editors and poets of our region by stopping by the bookstore. Northern Lights Events for the BookTV Bus
I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Louis Jenkins, as I've just spent some time rereading some of his poems and one of his translations of another poet.
Please stop by if you're going to be in the Canal Park Area. It'll be nice to have some Duluthians who love literature in the background rather than just befuddled tourists wondering where the Bridge is.

Posted by jmcc at 08:37 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by jmcc
Filed under Duluth News | Duluth Scene | Geeky | Promotion

Low will be performing their critically acclaimed album Things We Lost in the Fire tonight at Washington Studios. This is in preparation for a show in London on July 26th. Special guests include Mark De Gli Antoni (formerly of Soul Coughing) and Dana Cunningham.

This is a free show which will start around 6:30. Alan says to bring your own dinner.

Posted by Starfire at 12:17 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by laurie
Filed under Art | Duluth Scene | Music | Promotion

Does anyone want two Golden Smog tickets for the show at First Avenue tonight? We will sell them to you at face value ($20). We are unable to make it to the show. Opening band starts at 8 pm.

Posted by harriet lane at 11:10 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Music | Music

In Birnamwood, Wisconsin, badgers are anything but elusive.

Glorious, no?

Yet still, he's a mere shadow of his former self.

(Old-school giant badger picture--the one where he's leering over the log--courtesy of World's Largest Roadside Attractions, which is chock-full of fiberglass treasures nationwide.)

You see, the World's Largest Badger used to be even MORE ferocious. (I know, hard to imagine!) Tall and menacing, he loomed over a gas station shaped like a log (with a not-so-menacing giant squirrel on top of it) until 1998, when the cruel winds of fate blew into town and turned the log from a gas station/tourist trap into...

The storage shed for a strip club.

The badger was cut down in size (I'm not sure how much of him is buried in the ground, exactly) and buried in a spot overlooking the highway. Then, at some point, the entrepreneurial spirit of the exotic dance club operators told them to build a fence in front of him. (?) Now, when one drives by "Northern EXposure" on Hwy 45, all they get is a mere glimpse of the badger from the road...

This is what happens when you pave paradise and put up a strip club.

But still, I am thankful that the proprietors of "Northern EXposure" kept our ol' buddy the badger at all--and hey, at least they haven't hung bras & g-strings off his claws or anything like that.

Posted by Mary at 02:28 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by samh
Filed under Weird Stuff

I am moving to the bustling metropolis of Farmington, MN (or somewhere near there) in about a month. That means my log home is for sale. Please help me find a buyer for this home. If not for me, do it for the children.

Posted by Xenolith at 09:05 AM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by Bad Cat!
Filed under Promotion

Shrek: Ogres are like movies.
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes. No.
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry.
Shrek: No.
Donkey: Oh, you leave em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs.
Shrek: NO. Layers. Movies have layers. Ogres have layers. Movies have layers. You get it? We both have layers.
Donkey: Oh, you both have layers. Oh. You know, not everybody like movies. You know what everybody likes? Parfaits. Have you ever met a person, you say, "Let's get some parfait," they say, "Hell no, I don't like no parfait"? Parfaits are delicious.
Shrek:No! You dense, irritating, miniature beast of burden! Ogres are like movies! End of story. Bye-bye. See ya at 8:54 at Leif Erikson Park with my blanket and bug spray!

Next week's movie: "Breakfast Club"

Tonight, we shall be having a festive gathering beforehand at our place beginning at 5pm. Bring something to pass, drink and something to grill. We shall be heading to the park no later than 8pm. Email me at pyntathotmaildotcom for directions to our place. Everybody is welcome! :D

Posted by tamara at 08:10 AM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by eclectic_poly_pair
Filed under

After 13 wonderful years on East 5th Street I am moving. V-Nick and I are buying a new home and we will be moving in August. That means I have an opening in good ol 1217 E 5th St. There is so much history to this place that it will be hard to leave but it is time to move on.

So if you know of any cool folks that want to rent a 2 bedroom apartment close to pretty much everything drop me an email.

$650/month plus utilities (heat and electric.)

2 bedrooms, 1 bath and a Big kitchen with pantry. Free laundry in basement and 2 off street parking spots. The porch was rebuilt 2 years ago and it Rawks! 1 block to busline, 5 minutes to downtown by bike, 5 blocks to the Co-Op and just a short block to the Shanty Liquor store. Also the wonderful Chester Creek is only 1 block away.

I would prefer no pets but we could talk. The neighborhood is pretty quiet and I would like it to remain that way. This is a great place to live, I will miss it but I won't be far away.

Posted by Starfire at 10:27 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Mary
Filed under Promotion

So it was just me and Amarath (from Kiseido Go Server) there. We looked at my old game a little and talked about some of my sloppy moves, it was an off game for me. He had been playing GURPS for part of the night and was a little distracted at our game. Amarath (W) v Hopper250 (B) H2 result W+26. Amarath and I are going to head down to the Brewhouse Patio to play Tuesday at 7:00pm and look forward to playing with more people.

Posted by hopper250 at 09:53 PM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Current Events

From a recent Duluth News-Tribune:

I’m sorry but someone has to say it: You simply do NOT post an ad in July for a dog that got ran over by a Hum-Vee back in March. Quit wasting your money. Put it to better use…like gambling. GIVE IT UP! Move on already!! I repeat: Saffron is NOT in Duluth! SAFFRON IS FARKING DEAD!!!

Posted by -Berv at 10:31 AM | Permalink | 12 comments, last by -Berv
Filed under

Detrimental Information is a zine by John and Luke Holden. Come to the release party. Here's a behind the scenes video about the making of DI.

Posted by Ca-chee at 10:17 PM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under

Hey, Perfect Duluth Day,

I've read this for a really long time, but I've never posted because I've never had anything interesting to say. Until now!

So I've lately been exchanging emails with Mike Wisti, who's the leadsinger of a really good band from Minneapolis called The Rank Strangers. Do you know them? They played at Pizza Luce a couple of years ago, and it was one of the best shows I've seen in Duluth or anywhere. But they just played in front of me and my roommate and a couple of her friends. Which was sad.

But Mike Wisti wants to play another show in Duluth, and I told him that I'd try to use my contacts to get him a show that, like, people would show up to and stuff. But I don't really have any contacts, so I"m posting here.

So whom should I get in touch with? I don't know anything about booking shows, and any information or insight that anyone could provide would really helpful and really cool.

Thank you...

Posted by rich at 08:39 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by Angel
Filed under Music

So the results are Nik (W) v. Hopper250 (B) h9(thats a 9 stone handicap) W+Resign; Nik (W) v. Hopper250 (B) h9 (game 2) Unfinished. It was nice out on the Brewhouse Patio where we were joined by 2 PDD members ironic1 and another who's name escapes me at the moment. We will play again tomorrow at Robin Goodfellow's 7:00pm the more the merrier. I will be bringing one of my old games to review and study. See every one there.

Posted by hopper250 at 08:39 PM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by in.dog.neato
Filed under Current Events

Also on KUMD (103.3FM) today at 1pm and 3pm.
www.joykillssorrow.com — www.jerree.com
Cost: sliding scale donation ($4-$8 range suggested)

Posted by pansy at 09:55 AM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Ca-chee
Filed under Music

Feeling a little too secure? Try The House House of Lies to warp your world.

Posted by Bad Cat! at 07:26 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Web Fun

Send the Earth into a new orbit with a synchronised jump on World Jump Day!
In Duluth, you'll need to jump on July 20th, at 5:39:19. If anyone gets up that early, could you jump twice for me?

Posted by Bad Cat! at 07:03 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Geeky | Weird Stuff

Audio of the Duluth Wilco concert now is up on their site.

Posted by Purple at 07:43 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Music

before after

Superior, Wisconsin – In a dire vegetarian crisis that’s starting to draw national attention away from events in the Middle East, Somalia, and North Korea, Superior Mayor David Ross’s lawn still looks like $#|+. A local candidate for the forthcoming mayoral election issued the following statement:

“You think the southern Lebanese have it bad, what about the herbal carnage in Mayor Ross’ dead and dying yard? Those water-starved plants are undergoing Guantanamo-style water deprivation. Oh, the humanity! I’ve had just about enough of his horticultural genocide. If he refuses to do a good job on his lawn, I guess I’ll have to do it myself. Swift action must be taken! I’m looking for volunteers for a water brigade to carry up water from the St. Louis River to his yard. He lives about a ¼ mile from the river. I figure we’ll need about 150 volunteers. I’ll bring the bucket. By the way does anyone else think that picture of the desert above is somehow lewd?”

There’s been no word from the Ross camp yet. –News Service Reports

Posted by -Berv at 05:07 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by -Berv
Filed under Politics

Last night Mary and I went for a lovely swim followed by a stroll on Park Point. As we were walking, Mary noticed a Bacardi bottle with a piece of brown paper in it. It turned out to be a secret message from "Bobby" of Duluth. He left his phone number and instructed the finder to call at let him know where the bottle ended up. We are going to call and pretend to be from Germany. Oddly, this is the second message in a bottle that I have come across in my lifetime. The other was on an island in Alaska.

Posted by zoey at 10:08 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by ironic1
Filed under Found Stuff

The faded and deteriorated tank-top on the left is a hand-me-down from one of my brothers. I’ve worn it for at least 20 years. It was probably acquired from Beagle’s Bike and Ski Shop in about 1980.

Beagle’s was the place where all the West Duluth kids got their bikes back in the day. The store was on the corner of Central and Grand Avenues. It closed in the early 1980s.

I started to realize about 10 years ago that my favorite shirt wasn’t going to last forever, so I traced the logo onto a piece of paper before it totally faded.

Barrett Chase acquired that piece of paper at some point, and on Saturday he surprised me with the grey T-shirt on the right.

On Sunday I took my last bike ride in the blue tank-top. The ceremonial burning will probably take place the next time I use my grill.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 09:48 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under

Man was it windy and hot at Green Man on Saturday. I missed the 2nd stage tent collapse by 5 minutes. Here is the aftermath.

Posted by Starfire at 12:21 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by Purple
Filed under Anecdotes | Duluth History | Duluth Scene | Music

The quality of this job is terrific. The bottom slogan, "The Change is Forever," is original. All the other text has been pasted on.

Posted by Barrett at 11:57 PM | Permalink | 9 comments, last by Mark
Filed under Art | Photos | Politics

This isn't a joke or a hoax. I have heard from several reliable, independent sources that prior to 1972 nudity was mandatory in Duluth's junior-high swim classes.

The classes weren't co-ed, of course; there were separate classes for boys and girls. Also, I *think* the girls wore swimsuits that were provided by the school. For the boys, however, swimsuits of any kind were not allowed. Boys swam naked.

The thing is, I've never been able to find out why nudity was mandatory. Whenever I ask the guys who tell me about this, they always shrug and say, "That's just the way it was."

Does anyone out there remember this? Aside from titillating some pervy gym teacher, what purpose could nudity possibly have served?

Times have changed, that's for sure.

Posted by Barrett at 10:29 PM | Permalink | 36 comments, last by richard herrick
Filed under Duluth History

My car was so hot on Saturday that it decided to clunk out in the middle of I-35, just before the downtown exit. Let me tell you, nothing says “Perfect Duluth Day” like dodging four lanes of freeway traffic (plus an on-ramp) and scaling a hill full of dry grass in the searing heat to get to the friendly M&H store for coolant.

Just blogging about it is making we sweat.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 01:16 PM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by -Berv
Filed under Bitching

So I was directed over here by one of the many people I have met at Robin Goodfellows while playing Go there last Thursday. He said to lookup the post and see what was up. I did and now am inviting any one to join us on Thursdays to learn and play Go at 7:00 at Robin Goodfellows. We have three players so far and would love to add more to the roster and maybe even get several days and locations to meet and play.

Posted by hopper250 at 10:12 AM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by in.dog.neato
Filed under Creepy Duluth Stuff | Current Events | Duluth Scene | Geeky | Weird Stuff

Y'all gonna make me post some pictchaz up in hyeah, up in hyeah.

Posted by -Berv at 08:39 AM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by zoey
Filed under Photos

We live by the beautiful Lincoln Park and walk our dog there often.on the road above the park(I think its lincoln parkway)there is a tombstone.It is very hard to read due to erosion but i
think the name is "Day" and the year of death is 1937.The "died here"
is pretty clear.Anybody know anything about this??
electic poly pair

Posted by eclectic_poly_pair at 12:31 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by eclectic_poly_pair
Filed under Duluth History | Found Stuff | Weird Stuff

Dietrich: Dr. Jones, surely you don't think you can escape from this island?
Indiana: That depends on how reasonable we're all willing to be. All I want is the movie.
Dietrich: And if we refuse?
Indiana: Then your Fürher has no prize.
Dietrich: What is this... movie?
Indiana: "Raiders of the Lost Ark." It's showing at 8:56pm at Leif Erikson Park Bowl. It's free.
Dietrich: What does one take to a... movie?
Indiana: A blanket and bug spray and perhaps something to drink.
Dietrich: I shall check out this... movie.

See you tonight!

Next week's movie: "Shrek"

Posted by tamara at 10:26 AM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by in.dog.neato
Filed under

Speech of J. Proctor Knott, of Kentucky, delivered in the U.S. House of Representatives on the St. Croix and Superior Land Grant, January 21, 1871.

On January 27, 1871, a forty year old congressman from Kentucky, who was little known outside of his state, sought recognition on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. In the next half hour, however, he would change that. He would take up the question of whether federal lands should be given to the St. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad in order to build a new line that would run from Houlton, Wisconsin, on the St. Croix River, to Superior, Wisconsin, located at the western end of Lake Superior and, as it happened, close by a scraggly Minnesota village of some three thousand people, called Duluth.

According to the Congressional Globe, Knott was interrupted by "laughter", "great laughter", "roars of laughter" and "shouts of laughter" a total of sixty-two times. Once he had finished, the bill for the railroad was dead as it could be, and he had made famous, by mistake, little Duluth, which the railroad had never meant to put on the map in the first place.

Read the speech here.

Also, I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that J. Proctor Knott is the man for whom the city of Proctor was named. Correct me if I'm wrong (i.e. "I may be full of shit.")

Posted by Barrett at 08:35 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by ironic1
Filed under Duluth History

If you live in Duluth and don't go swimming in Lake Superior today you must have a screw loose. The water is perfect. I just got back from my morning swim and I could have stayed all day. So get out there my fellow Duluthians the water beckons!

On a side note one of my favorite bands The Meat Purveyors are sleeping at my house right now. They snore and smell but they also RAWK the BLUEGRASS! They are performing at Green Man tonight and then again at the Brewhouse with Charlie Parr around 10. The Brewhouse is free but Green Man costs a little bit.

Posted by Starfire at 08:14 AM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by Barrett
Filed under Duluth Scene | Music | Promotion

I had no idea.

(By the way, entry #700.)

Posted by ironic1 at 05:30 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Paul Lundgren
Filed under Creepy Duluth Stuff | Found Stuff

Posted by edgeways at 03:13 PM | Permalink | 9 comments, last by Bad Cat!
Filed under

Rummage Sale tomorrow (Friday, July 14th)
502 N. 81st Avenue West (Norton Park)
9am-3pm

Tons of girls clothes size newborn - 5
womens' clothes, furniture, decor, household items
books, games, kids toys, and other assorted stuff

Posted by KellyK at 01:05 PM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Current Events

Behold.

Posted by vicarious at 01:01 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by Purple
Filed under

It's just too damn hot!!!!

Posted by ericswan at 12:05 AM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by rvxox890
Filed under Promotion

I fucking quit.

Posted by adam at 10:18 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by edgeways
Filed under

"... Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have shown the active agent in magic mushrooms can induce a mystical or spiritual experience and prompt positive changes in behaviour and attitude lasting for months.

The study, published this week in the journal Psychopharmacology, is believed to be the first of its kind since the 1960s. Until then, compounds of the drugs had been used in psychotherapy but the practice fell into disrepute as their abuse led to severe side effects.

The Johns Hopkins study involved 36 healthy, educated adults. Most were middle-aged and had no family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder.

At two eight-hour drug sessions held at two-month intervals, they were given either the hallucinogen psilocybin, the active agent in magic mushrooms, or a placebo.

More than 60 per cent had a mystical experience when given psilocybin. More than two-thirds rated it in the top five most meaningful and spiritual experiences in their lives, likening it to the birth of a child or the death of a parent. One in three said it was their single most spiritually significant experience.

However, one-third reported significant adverse reactions, such as fear and paranoia."

* The Age

* CTC.ca

* Japan Times

* Wallstreet Journal

Posted by adam at 10:15 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by in.dog.neato
Filed under

Harvey Plasch and Eric Huie host their 2nd annual Bar-B-Queer fundraiser for Duluth/Superior GLBTAQI* Pride Saturday, July 22nd, at their fantastic home from 7-11pm. Food and beverages are provided along with door prizes, games and hijinks.

Tickets ($30) are on sale now at Jitter's Coffee & Tea House and A Touch of Plasch in Duluth / The Main Club and JT's Bar & Grill in Superior. Limited space is available and Harvey needs to order the food, so get yours now, yo.

* Duluth/Superior Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Allied, Queer, Intersex Pride: 20 Years—Almost Legal! Celebrating 20 years of Pride in the Twin Ports.

Posted by adam at 09:54 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by wingsofjudas
Filed under

OK, I REALLY want to write about how you should sponsor a homeless PEZ dispenser so that I can rescue it at MNPEZcon 11, but the following subject seems to overrule my selfish wants.

My friend's brother has lymphoma. He was diagnosed a year ago and he's had a really rough year besides that--nasty divorce and ugly custody issues.

He was in the ER again yesterday for complications with his chemo and has been feeling really sick lately. She (his sister) wants to do something nice for him and I wonder if any of you want to help. She's asking that people shower him with cards, postcards, burned CDs, pictures, stickers -- anything fun you can send in the mail. His favorite bands are Phish, moe., and Umphrey's (probably in that order). But he also loves old-school Dead and straight-up rock n roll.

Simply a postcard is fine, too.

If you're into this idea, send me a message: michelle.rowley at gmail dotcom. She's also interested in doing this for other people if you have someone you'd like to shower with mail, let the fun begin...

(Oh, and if you'd like to sponsor a homeless PEZ disenser, you can email me about that too)

Other stuff he likes: He also likes cartoons and video games. He's been known to watch hours of Adult Swim and play hours of X-Box.
Non jambands he likes are Sonic Youth, The Replacements, Oasis, Tenacious D, old school punk, metal, basically anything that rocks.

He likes books--mostly sci-fi and/or fantasy like Robert Jordan, Harry Potter, the Dark Tower series, Lord of the Rings, etc. But also biographies about musicians, the scene, etc. I'm sure he'd love a PEZ dispenser, because who doesn't?

Posted by Purple at 02:36 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by Purple
Filed under

Confession #4930 - 09/26/2005 - 05:33 PM

My dad and I were in France. We had rented a car and were driving around Normandy, etc. I was about 25, I think. Anyway, travel always messes with my bowels and I had the trots pretty bad. We got to Rouen and couldn't find the hotel. I had to crap and farted a couple of times. We finally found the hotel, but the room was not ready. My problem seemed to pass, so we drove to the center of town and walked around the cathedral area, etc., where Joan of Arc was executed. I noticed these three college-age girls following us around, but I didn't think anything of it. When we finally got to the hotel and I got in the bathroom, I pulled down my pants and learned that one of my earlier farts had blasted liquid crap through my underwear and jeans. There was a perfect brown circle right where my crack was. The college girls were following me because they were making fun of me. I hate the French!

you can find more hilarious scat & piss-pants stories here.

Posted by c-freak at 01:32 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by Purple
Filed under

Roger Keith Barrett, born 1946, has died.

He lived his life as Syd Barrett.

Posted by JJLee at 09:45 AM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by in.dog.neato
Filed under Music

Gradishar described the contortionist as ‘‘a really flexible person. She could touch her heel to her forehead.’’

I kinda wanted to go to the NorShor Experience last night. Now I know what I missed. Has anyone out there gone to the New old NorShor yet?

Posted by Starfire at 08:15 AM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by Mary
Filed under Current Events | Duluth News | Duluth Scene

Well I sure did! So here's a call to trek / tech fans in PPDD-town. Bakke, a recent HCIS grad, has an impressive dvd collection of TOS star trek. She let me borrow them and I've been watching...with the sound off...adding my own dialouge...well as we all know , this can be fun alone..but much better with others....so I have this idea of a Trek night....some TOS straight up, some TOS with improv voice over...some next gen..if everyone showed up in costume, it'd be

10 Forward

Posted by baci at 08:25 PM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by Bad Cat!
Filed under

If you have an extra 6 minutes and 28 seconds to waste on the internet, please visit You Tube today and view the 48 Hour Film we shot in beautiful Wrenshall, Minnesota. Just search for a little gem called "Conversion Van." (And if you do give it a rating, don't be stingy.)

By the way, we did well in the 48 Hour Film contest. "Conversion Van" picked up an award for Best Music Score. For which we give much thanks to Brian Barber, Crew Jones and Naked Jesus.

Posted by mike at 10:27 AM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Bad Cat!
Filed under Movie Reviews

I've recently been researching a trip to Thailand for next summer when I ran across a particularly awesome site. I feel http://www.hospitalityclub.org/ is very much in tune with the culture and principles of Duluth.

It's purpose is to unite people seeking housing while traveling and those willing to offer their homes. As anyone who has stayed with a host family before knows that this is the way to go. You make friends and you are much more enriched in the culture than staying in a hotel or hostel.

Of course, there is the inherent risk that you might choose to stay with a serial killer. I doubt anything can be done to screen for such a character on the internet. There are comments on members from other members who know them possibly to try and verify their awesomeness. Unfortuanately, they could just be a cult of serial killers. I guess we'll just have to trust that all people, deep down, are good.

Posted by Harrison Cross at 10:52 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by zoey
Filed under Promotion

While hauling some stuff to my compost pile, i found to our delight a great number of these plants in bloom.
I know vegatables as i have a organic garden but know little of flowers.I am guessing these do not grow wild.
i took photos,thinking some one here might know?

We bought the house a year ago, it was built in 1886 and we are still making cool finds on the property.
last fall we discovered we had a rock garden that had been let go years ago. Along with everything else, we are refurbishing it.BTW this is our first time posting and we sadly are not geeks,so if we mess up forgive us
D&L aka eclectic poly pair

Posted by eclectic_poly_pair at 05:31 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by Mary
Filed under Found Stuff

I know I posted once today already but...this picture and story warranted attention...

I found the full story on my favorite athiest's blog and again on the Tennessee Guerilla Women's blog.

Jaudice James put it this way...It's proof that if you live in America, the Christian Right owns your ass.

Frankly, it scares me.

Posted by in.dog.neato at 05:24 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by edgeways
Filed under Current Events | Photos | Weird Stuff

Posted by in.dog.neato at 05:00 PM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Weird Stuff

And the 911 dispatcher was more concerned with the fact that my cell phone was breaking up.

I awoke this morning to find I was out of coffee, which in it self is an emergency situation. It's pissing down rain, but I MUST have coffee. My body is also telling me I need food, so I begin my drive down to The Sunshine Cafe
As I'm yielding at the corner of 26th Ave. W. and first, I gaze to the left and witness the front porch of a house completely in flames. There is absolutely no one about. No tenants standing outside crying about the loss of their home, no neighbors gawking for entertainment -- nobody. Except for me, in my car, manically honking the horn. I call 911 from my cell phone, get out of my car to get a better assessment of what’s happening; it’s still pissing down rain.

As I’m trying to tell the dispatcher that there is a fire at 26th Ave. W and first, she keeps repeating, in an irritated tone, “I can’t hear you from that phone….I can’t hear you.” I get back in my car and begin screaming at her “FIRE! 26TH W AND FIRST! ..."FIRE!” Shortly thereafter the fire trucks arrive.

By the way, today’s breakfast specials at The Sunshine Café are the mushroom omelet or the Swedish pancakes. I highly recommend the mushroom omelet.

Posted by Purple at 10:27 AM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by in.dog.neato
Filed under Bitching | Creepy Duluth Stuff | Duluth News | Recommendations

Have you seen Superior Mayor David Ross's (Ross'?) lawn lately?! I have, and Wholly Key-riced in Heaven, it looks like complete freaking $#!+. I realize its been a hot dry summer but come on now. The Right 'Honorable' Mayor's lawn is completely crummy-looking: dead, dry, and brown. That lazy bastard doesn't even have to get off his skinny little ass to mow it - he has a riding lawn mower! I could do better with an amputated arm and fukkin SICKLE (or scythe, whatever) for crying out loud. He's got his blades set WAY too low, and the sun just burns the grass on his south-facing hillslope. If he set his blades any frickin' lower, he'd be polishing his lawn, not mowing it. How can he be expected to govern a major metropolitan Tour de Force like Superior, when he can't even mow his own gahddamm lawn properly?! Heaven forbid, if a grassfire started on his property and he could no longer be Mayor, who would take his place? Huh?! It sure as hell ain't gonna be me! (unless someone asks nicely) Voters, I leave it for you to decide.

Posted by -Berv at 04:19 PM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by monkeyfurry
Filed under Politics

apparently, in the future, gold bars will be the currency of the universe.

Posted by c-freak at 12:03 PM | Permalink | 11 comments, last by in.dog.neato
Filed under

Hey all, just a reminder that The Surfactants, Humanoid and Batteries will be rockin' the TPB in Soup Town tonight. It's the first live show for The Surfactants (my band) and it's also our Twin Ports CD release show. The show itself is FREE, so that extra chedder can go to a brand spankin' new hot-off-the-burner hand-cut until-my-fingers-were-raw-and-bleeding copy of our first album.

You can hear it all right now at www.thesurfactants.com. There's a steaming streaming version and a downright downloadable version. Of course, the best quality is on the CD itself.

I don't want to make this out to be a big Surfactants party though. We'll do our little 30 minute set and then leave the rest of the night to the real heros Humanoid and Batteries.

So come on out (10pm SHARP please!), get blasted and buy our new CD. It'll make you at least 3% cooler.

Posted by ZB at 10:45 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Music

"This is it! This is the answer. It says here... that a movie is going to be shown at precisely 9:04pm, tonight! If we can somehow... *harness* this movie... *channel* it... into the flux capacitor... it just might work. Tonight, we're sending you back to the future!"

9:04pm. Leif Erickson Park Stage. "Back to the Future." Bring something to sit on. Be there or be square.

Posted by tamara at 07:41 AM | Permalink | 9 comments, last by tamara
Filed under

Incidently, anyone notice what a lovely acronym the phrase "The War Against Terror" makes?

Incidently, incidently... Anyone going down to the Twin Cities to see A Scanner Darkly next week?

Posted by edgeways at 09:59 PM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Anecdotes

Spent all of last week here. No news, no work. Lots of hikes and a close encounter with a snake or two. (No pictures of the snakes, was too busy getting out of their way to photograph them)

Small Flickr Set here

Posted by edgeways at 10:42 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by edgeways
Filed under

Why are the only people who wear jean short overall's these days middle-aged moms with a ten year lapse in fashion sense? I wore a pair on my first day of junior high and saw an instant boost in my popularity. I hereby delclare this Friday, July 7th, Jean Short Overall Revival Day. I hear Little Sara's mom has a spare pair...

Posted by zoey at 02:13 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by PJ
Filed under Current Events

Whenever I'm feeling blue, or just silly, I go here and sing the songs out loud.
Yes, I am a geek: A PEZ geek.

In light of the recent concert, I’ve written a PEZ parody of Wilco’s “Box Full of Letters.” So put on your A.M. album, or go download the song, and sing along.

Click the extened entry for lyrics.

Got a box full of PEZ,
Think you might like to see
Some dispensers you might like to have,
But they all belong to me

Wish I had a lotta money,
'Cause that's the way it should be
To buy all the dispensers,
On Ebay I see

I just can't find the time
To organize my PEZ
The way I want it be

Then I’d let you see my PEZ
And you’d still be my friend

I got a lot of PEZ dispensers,
In my china cabinet
Some gifts that are duplicates,
But I’m not given 'em back

I wish I had a lotta new ones,
'Cause that's the way it should be
For all these new dispensers
Are enticing me

Just can't find the time
To buy all the PEZ
That I really do need

You'll come see my PEZ,
And you’ll still be my friend

I can't find the time
To organize my PEZ
The way it really should be

Just can't find the time
To buy all the PEZ
That I really do need

Posted by Purple at 10:25 AM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by -Berv
Filed under Geeky

So I headed back to Madison for the extended 4th of July weekend. On Sunday we decided to head north and hike around Devil's Lake. However, a stop was required to see Dr. Evermor's Forevertron. It holds the Guiness record for the largest scrap metal sculpture.

It's damn impressive to say the least.

And the Forevertron is only a small part of the hundreds of scrap metal sculptures he has made.

There is the bird orchestra. Each bird is made of at least one old instrument.

The most notable being this 3 story masterpiece.

These guys were all over the place.

How about some homemade action figures.

Dr. Evermor and his wife open their sculpture park to the public for free. They even take the time to sit and talk about art with anyone that wants to listen. And I recommend that you do. Here he is by one of his robot baseball players.

Feel free to take a look at all of my pictures here.

More info on Dr. Evermor and the Forevertron at http://www.drevermor.com

The next time you are near Baraboo, skip the circus museum and stop here instead.

Posted by enealio at 06:12 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by PJ
Filed under Weird Stuff

Posted by in.dog.neato at 05:33 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by clumsy
Filed under Weird Stuff

What a fantastic show. It sure is great to bike home from a show and not drive all night from Minneapolis. Thanks for stopping by Wilco.

Posted by Starfire at 12:23 AM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by mayday
Filed under Current Events | Duluth Scene | Music | Photos

Posted by Starfire at 05:02 PM | Permalink | 1 comment by in.dog.neato
Filed under Photos

Posted by Starfire at 08:27 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by tamara
Filed under Current Events | Duluth Scene | Photos