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October 31, 2006

DAI Artist Nexus

DAI Artist Nexus
Every First Wednesday of the Month
Next Meeting: Wed., Nov. 1
Lincoln Center - 2229 W. 2nd St.
6:30 pm – 8 pm
FREE

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Duluth has a thriving art community filled with artists of all mediums and backgrounds. The Duluth Art Institute has opened its Lincoln Center doors to artists looking to connect with each other, whether it is through networking, collaborating, supporting, sharing ideas or simply socializing.

We have successfully hosted a handful of meetings so far, and look forward to seeing how the group continues to develop. Meetings have an open structure and may transform in the future, depending on the group. So far, artists have expressed a great amount of interest for the group and other topics including: the business of art, developing a portfolio and presenting in a professional gallery space. David Hodges, exhibitions coordinator, will be presenting on Wednesday, Feb. 7 on the topic of: Submitting an Exhibitions Proposal in the Digital Age.

As the group develops, it is the hope that the Nexus becomes a matching point for artists, fostering the arts community. We encourage artists to bring ideas ranging from technical to conceptual. You may bring current work or just yourself and a food to share if you wish. Everyone including artists of all ages, skill levels and mediums are welcome.

Say it ain't so....

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From Yahoo:

LOS ANGELES - Bob Barker is heading toward his last showcase, his final "Come on down." The silver-haired daytime-TV icon is retiring in June, he told The Associated Press Tuesday.

"I will be 83 years old on December 12," he said, "and I've decided to retire while I'm still young."

He'll hang up his microphone after 35 years as the host of "The Price Is Right" and 50 years overall in television.

Though he has been considering retirement for "at least 10 years," Barker said he has so much fun doing the show that he hasn't been able to leave.

"I've gone on and on and on to this ancient age because I've enjoyed it," he said. "I've thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm going to miss it."

Reaching dual milestones, 50 years on television and 35 with "Price," made this an "appropriate" time to retire, Barker said. Besides, hosting the daily CBS program — in which contestants chosen from the crowd "come on down" to compete for "showcases" that include trips, appliances and new cars — is "demanding physically and mentally," he said.

"I'm just reaching the age where the constant effort to be there and do the show physically is a lot for me," he said. "I might be able to do the show another year, but better (to leave) a year too soon than a year too late."

Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corporation, said Barker has left an enduring mark on the network, calling his contribution and loyalty "immeasurable."

"We knew this day would come, but that doesn't make it any easier," Moonves said in a statement. "Bob Barker is a daytime legend, an entertainment icon and one of the most beloved television personalities of our time."

Barker began his national television career in 1956 as the host of "Truth or Consequences." He first appeared on "Price" on Sept. 4, 1972 and has been the face of the show ever since.

A CBS prime-time special celebrating the show's longevity and Barker's five decades on TV was already under way, a network spokesman said.

To kick off his retirement, Barker said he will "sit down for maybe a couple of weeks and find out what it feels like to be bored." Then he plans to spend time working with animal-rights causes, including his own DJ&T Foundation, founded in memory of his late wife, Dorothy Jo, and mother, Matilda.

He said he'd take on a movie role if the right one came along, but filmmakers, take note: "I refuse to do nude scenes. These Hollywood producers want to capitalize on my obvious sexuality, but I don't want to be just another beautiful body."

Freemantle Media, which owns "Price," has been looking for Barker's replacement for "two or three years," Barker said. And he has some advice for whoever takes the job: learn the show's 80 games backwards and forward.

"The games have to be just like riding a bicycle," Barker said. "Then he will be relaxed enough to have fun with the audience, to get the laughs with his contestants and make the show more than just straight games, to make it a lot of fun."

As for his fans, Barker said he "doesn't have the words" to express his gratitude.

"From the bottom of my heart, I thank the television viewers, because they have made it possible for me to earn a living for 50 years doing something that I thoroughly enjoy. They have invited me into their homes daily for a half a century."

But when it comes to saying his final TV goodbye, Barker said he'll do it the same way he does each day on "Price": "Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered."

Homegrown 2007 dates?

Yeah, it's six months off, but I found a good ticket price. Can anyone confirm that the main dates will be May 4-7?

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Will Bone Appetit appear? Perhaps maybe probably not for sure.

Out of the Hat - Actors and Techie Needed

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Out of the Hat is happening this weekend (Friday and Saturday, November 3 & 4) and is looking for additional actors for both days (especially Friday) and a Techie for both days. For more information go to the Renegade website or contact Brian Matuszak directly.

Oh, and show up Friday or Saturday. This time around it will be in the Tech Village, next to, but not in, the Playground at 7pm both nights. Tickets are $15 for one night or $20 for both nights.

NEED TOASTERS (real ones, not Cylons)

Working Class Theater is performing True West and needs toasters. LOTS OF 'EM!!

Looking for old style toasters... silver, nothing modern looking.

Need older models of typewriters as well.

If you can help out..call 624-7262 and leave a message for Michelle.

October 30, 2006

Duluth Makes HuffPo

Link

October 28, 2006

FREE show tonight!



Portrait of a
Drowned Man

+

The State
Champs

Sat. 10.28.06

Twin Ports Brewery

10pm | FREE | 21+

October 27, 2006

I promise to never do this again.

I hate to use PDD to unload this thing, but I really need to get it out of our small apartment. It's a long story how I came to own this bike (read on below), but I have no use for it, so I need to sell it.

About the bike:

- basically a brand new heavy-duty mountain bike
- has 21 speeds, I believe
- has front fork shocks
- would fit someone 5'3" thru 5'9"

It's a 2006 model and costs $400+ new. Yours for $200.

Email me here.

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When I moved to Duluth I left my mountain bike in a friend's garage. When he sold his house he said he'd take the bike with him to his new house, which I assumed he did. Eighteen months later, I aked him if he still had my bike, and could my girlfriend retrieve it from his house when she came to MPLS?

She went to retrieve my bike. But my bike had somehow morphed into this smaller, non-purple bike. My friend doesn't know what happened to my bike or how this new bike came to be in his possession. But he owed me a bike, so I got this one. Which is too small.

It's all a great mystery

thomdonaldson(at)gmail(dot)com

It's a party. It's a fundraiser. It's your annual Emerson freakout.

Come in your best, scariest, weirdest, freakiest costume to the Emerson Halloween Fundraiser.

Saturday, October 28th, 8pm - 2am. 1030 West 3rd Street, Auditorium entrance.

Why? For the Accelerati, DT's, Keep Aways, Supreme Rockers, and more kick-ass music that I can remember right now.

Why else? To help this unique housing co-op obtain a new boiler so we aren't freezing our cooperative arses off too much longer.

A $10 donation gets you food, beverages and a super neato (and spoooooky) time. Guaranteed.


Door prizes include:

- Special Norby Edition Ipod
- 1981 Magnavox 12" black and white TV
- 110 year-old boiler

Lame. Lame. Lame. LAME LAME LAME!!

This show was to take place at the Great Lakes Aquarium. The combination of techno, lasers, costumes, limited admission, water and fish was going to make this probably one of the best parties I'd ever been to. I was going to come to Duluth, from Minneapolis (where there are a lot of parties like this), and bring a lot of friends. Then we were going to spend a lot of money the next day in Duluth eating establishments and buying "Duluth is a cool city" t-shirts, because we would finally, truly believe it in our hearts.

I've never been so excited to attend an event in Duluth. It was going to be HUGE. So please. Someone tell me why this show was cancelled by the City.

On the plus side, it's in Minneapolis now, so less driving for me. On the minus side, a bunch of DJs have been cut, and there will be no water, and no fish. It will now be just like any of the other 10 Halloween DJ extravaganzas in Minneapolis that night.

UPDATE: the promoter for the event posted some information about the cancellation. Here is an excerpt:

As of October 25th, 2006, City Officials have denied us our right to hold the event 'Heaven in Hell' within the Great Lakes Aquarium - A City owned facility. Although the Aquarium holds Special Events on a regular basis, and just about every other establishment will be holding a Halloween Event in Duluth, our event in particular has been singled out and shutdown because of the genre of music that would primarily be played. (Electronic Dance Music) Authorities have labeled this event as a 'Rave' type event and have used their 'scare tactics' to attempt to destroy what we have spent months organizing.

Since a City Official told me outright, that the authorities will do everything they can to make sure the event doesn't happen successfully in Duluth (a risk that I'm not willing to take). - WE ARE FORCED TO MOVE THE EVENT 'HEAVEN IN HELL' TO A DIFFERENT CITY - That city being MINNEAPOLIS.

The GLA was looking forward to this event - so what's the deal here?

x-mas will be fun this year!

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can't wait for my neices & gf to unwrap these!

October 26, 2006

What's your favorite?

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What's your favorite urinal stance?

Added the last one for enealio.

...ATHSH! Issue 5 Release TONIGHT

Oct. Showcase Thurs. 10.26.06


Doing what we can to keep Duluth's music scene alive. Come check out some new bands tonight at Pizza Lucé! Music starts at 10pm sharp. FREE JUNK like issue number 5, stickers and buttons will be on hand. The $3 cover helps produce future issues of ...ATHSH!.

tonight

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October 25, 2006

Photos of UFO...

...Convention wanted. Send to [email protected] by Saturday to maybe see them in the next "High Plains Drifter." Thank you PDD community!

Blue Man Group Coming to Duluth!

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Blue Man Group will be performing March 28 at the DECC! It's the rock tour which is a different show than the one I work at in Chicago. It is pretty cool and I love that it's coming to Duluth!

PDD Blog Round Up

food-amazing-pdd-posts.jpgCulinary Issue...

Tamara cooks up the Moody Food.

Barrett goes organic with his Mac & Cheese Fetish.

Purple fights the cold with Chick Pea Curry.

benefit

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help out my friend's dad & see 2 of duluth's finest

Duluth's Living Version of Vincent Price

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John Ruvelson -- No Halloween costume necessary.

October 24, 2006

Free Range Films Roam Free

If you missed your favorite film festival in a barn this summer we're showing some selections from "The Free Range Film Festival" at Beaners TONIGHT, Tuesday, from 7-9.
Highlights include "Harvest Queens" about a small town beauty pagent in Canada and "The Worlds Most Dangerous Polka Band" about, well, just come find out.

October 23, 2006

Nonchalant Moment

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My favorite moment during the Nonchalant Jaunt was when Barrett and Jerree found a plastic baseball and bat, and immediately started playing. Barrett threw the first pitch and Jerree ripped it directly back at him, putting a wicked welt on his chest. Oh the humanity.

(For now I'll file this under "anecdotes." There should be a category called "wacky injuries.")

The most fun you can have with your clothes on

Portrait of a
Drowned Man

+

The State
Champs

Sat. 10.28.06

Twin Ports Brewery
10pm | FREE | 21+

Dear Beer

I have a question about growler etiquette. So I bought a growler of beer from South Shore Brewery - is it tres gauche of me to bring it into another establishment like the Brewhouse or TPBP to get it refilled?

Dear Deer

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Need I say more......

October 20, 2006

THE MARCH OF PENNIES

WHO: ALL DULUTH RESIDENTS who value their human rights, and the protection and enforcement thereof provided by the Duluth Human Rights Office and Ordinance.

WHAT: BRING YOUR PENNIES to the Duluth City Council meeting to show support for and help fund the Duluth Human Rights Office, which is in need of $75,000 in funding from the City to stay open - that's LESS THAN ONE PENNY PER DAY PER HOUSEHOLD. Note: The City Council will be voting on a resolution to accept the grant from HUD (see brief history below).

WHEN: OCTOBER 23, 2006 AT 7:00 PM

WHERE: CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS (3rd Floor) in Duluth City Hall (411 W First St.)

HOW: When called upon, DEPOSIT YOUR PENNIES INTO THE BIG COLLECTION BOWL (at the front of the public seating area near the podium) which we will then present to the City Council as a donation to help fund the Human Rights Office.

WHY: Sometimes it takes more than letters, phone calls, petitions, and speeches to effect change. Some changes demand, and appreciate, A LITTLE STREET THEATER - delivered with deft amounts of humor and compassion.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ISSUE:

On September 7, 2006, Mayor Bergson presented his 2007 Budget for the city of Duluth, which called for the closure of its Human Rights Office (HRO) due to lack of funding. The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has offered a grant to help provide funding for the HRO. On Monday, October 16, the HRO received the official form (HUD 1044) awarding $120,000 for 12 months effective September 27, 2006 for Capacity Building in accordance with the Interim Agreement approved by the City and signed by the Assistant Secretary of HUD on that date. The grant document, along with the statement of Work and attachments, has been given to CAO John Hall, and a copy to Bryan Brown for legal review. The City Council must now approve a resolution accepting this grant, and then it must be signed by the Mayor. An additional $75,000 is still needed to fully fund the HRO (a cost of less than one penny per day per Duluth household).

PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN "THE MARCH OF PENNIES" AND HELP PRESERVE THE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN DULUTH!

Thank you and see you there,

Bridget Riversmith
Duluth Commission on Disabilities

Turn around, Starfire

The other day LP said that I should be Starfire for Halloween "because she dresses in purple." Since we don't have cable, it took some questioning before I learned that besides being a local hipster, Starfire is also a female superhero on Teen Titans. So I went on You Tube to do some Starfire research and found this:

I found this pee-inducing FUNNY! See, in September I read at Laurie's wedding, and what I read were verses from Total Eclipse of the Heart. Now that it's over, I really, really wish I would have belted the lines even though I would have been off-key and scared Laurie's older relatives.

In regards to a Starfire costume, I would not be caught dead in such an ensamble. Unless I was 50 lbs skinnier and going to Stargate. I bet cartoon Starfire would hang-out at Stargate. And she's in love with a "titan" Robin? Really? I was always more an aquaman kind of gal. Local hipster Starfire was Aquaman at Geek Prom II. Not saying I have a crush on the in-the-flesh Starfire, just bringing this full circle.

Sweet Land Film in Duluth

Sweet Land is returning to Duluth. It's an award winning, independant fim set in a 1920's southern Minnesota farming community. I was about to go down to the cities to see this film until I heard it was making its way up 35. It's a busy weekend with a lot of exceptional events, but, if you have the chance, I encourage you to reward Duluth Ten for bringing in an Independant film. (I should mention that the film was first shown at the Play Ground last May before it had a distributor, and the Play Ground should continue to garner support for their endeavors and collaborations.)

The story is one of endurance, determination, community, intimacy and how the landscape serves to shape and confine all those human realities. Selim does not dwell any longer on any of these themes than people within the circumstances would. The story of the hard working farm and love of the land has being Hallmarked so many times, that it’s easy to be suspicious. But Selim crafts the movie in such a way that it surpasses sentiment alone and becomes part of an experience.
Robert Frost discussed the “sound of sense,” the sound of conversations barely heard but no less significant. Selim captures scenes of sense: the distance of memory, the textures of experience and the sweeping and vivid colors of wonder. This is a movie made with tremendous affection and care for the characters and their environment; a truly enriching movie for young and old alike.

Curling: Why not?

The Duluth Curling Club is having open houses next week, October 23, 24, and 25 at 6pm. Come down and try it out!

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Duluth Curling Club

October 19, 2006

FALL FESTIVAL AND SALE 1-6 PM, OCTOBER 20

We are hosting our 4th Annual Fall Festival & Sale on Friday, October 20th, 1-6pm. This sale is a way to showcase and sell our hand woven rugs and handmade paper. Come out and support a great non-profit organization! We also have a bake sale, silent auction, take a chance game, door prizes every 15 minutes, entertainment by local talent: Wendy Gethen, Lauren Burton, Randy Ellestad, Jim Madison, Jody Anderson & friends.
We are located in the old Knife River school (204 Central Ave - a little over a mile past Tom's Logging Camp - Highway 61 N/Expressway). Watch for signs. Call with questions 834-5767.

Come get your Thrillz

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Little pirate's school is having a fundraising event today at Carnival Thrillzs from 3-9 p.m. We basically earn money by offering discounted rides. Tickets are $1.00 (actually this year a $1.08 due to a new computer system that has to charge tax), and it's one ticket per ride. If you go, say you want to buy Raleigh edison tickets at the cash register. We get a percentage from arm bands, if you prefer to go that route. There are also special $1.00 refreshment deals for Raleigh.

'Zines!

One week from today!


Oct. Showcase Thurs. 10.26.06


Come join us for music and 'zines about music.


Thurs. 10.26.06 | 10pm | Pizza Lucé

October 17, 2006

¿moo?

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'Three years after the Food and Drug Administration first hinted that it might permit the sale of milk and meat from cloned animals, prompting public reactions that ranged from curiosity to disgust, the agency is poised to endorse marketing of the mass-produced animals for public consumption.

The decision, expected by the end of this year, is based largely on new data indicating that milk and meat from cloned livestock and their offspring pose no unique risks to consumers.

"Our evaluation is that the food from cloned animals is as safe as the food we eat every day," said Stephen F. Sundlof, the FDA's chief of veterinary medicine, who has overseen the long-stalled risk assessment.'


...I hope this is some elaborate hoax.

boo

So what are you going as for halloween?

Also what are the best and/or worst costumes you've ever seen?

Nonchalant Jaunt IV

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It began in 2003.
Eight Duluthians set out on a quest to walk the entire width of the city via Highway 23 -- from the former Wabagon Supper Club to the Lakeview Castle. Seven of them made it. One had to drop out of the group and go to work.

It continued in 2004.
Seven Duluthians set out to walk the entire length of Skyline Parkway -- from Mission Creek to the end of Occidental Boulevard. Three made it all the way; four got too comfortable at the former Buena Vista Restaurant and went no further.

It became nonchalant in 2005.
After realizing the first two jaunts were quite chalant, seven Duluthians set out on a truly nonchalant adventure, meeting at the top of Enger Tower and wandering around aimlessly, as documented by this video from Starfire TV.

Now, it’s 2006.
The plan is to meet on Sunday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m., at the Clyde Avenue Boat Launch and run wild from there. (There is no reason to believe anyone will show up with a boat, but it could happen.) Similar to 2005, there is no plan. We’ll make it up as we go.

The Clyde Avenue Boat Launch is -- you guessed it -- at the end of Clyde Avenue. Turn east off of Grand Avenue between the Riverside and Morgan Park neighborhoods, then head down Clyde Avenue and you’ll hit the dead end in less than a half mile.

Questions? Ask in the comments or find me Saturday night at the UFO convention.

fetish ball oct 21 main club

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Venus De Mars & the House of Flowers
The Keep Aways
9:30 p.m.
$7
$5 if you come in fetish fashion
featuring:
Lady Careina
Lady Tanya
corporal punishment!
Leather by Boots
Chainmail by Nessa

PDD Blog Round Up

Purple considers A Year without Beer.

Barrett loses with the ladies because of the Hockey Helmet Kid.

Paul takes us to the graveyard for some Desecration.

BadCat! would rather be creepy and Sleep Alone.

Ironic1 asks the pereniel question, What Shall We Declare War on Next?

October 16, 2006

Foley-Bot.

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Introducing the Foley_Bot! Have an IM chat with Mark Foley, all responses are from his actual IM chats. Very funny.

Creepy People

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Very interesting ad from Dove showing the process used to make models appear more beautiful than humanly possible (the photoshop part is especially creepy).
Evolution

October 14, 2006

Wild Marijuana Forests of Afghanistan

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Taliban fighters take refuge in the wild pot forests of Asia. The plants absorb heat to foil thermal imaging systems, and are too soaked with water to burn. The Canadian troops in the area are pretty tenacious though so they kept trying, with phosphorus, diesel, everything. Some brown plants on the edge caught fire, but it got the troops downwind high, so they gave up. Gives new meaning to the term, "Let's smoke 'em out." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6052270.stm

October 13, 2006

R.I.P.

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1973-2006

October 12, 2006

Tonight 6p-8p

Ok, so Luce' isn't the absolute best place for an art show, however...


Chicago-based artist Patti Kremer and Duluth artist Bridget Riversmith will present an exhibit of their new work titled "Colors in Canvas and Cloth" October 12 – November 9, 2006 at Pizza Luce in downtown Duluth (11 East Superior St.). An opening reception will be held Thursday, October 12 from 6 – 8 p.m. The art exhibit is free and open to the public.

Kremer's work features whimsical patterns, animals, and figures rendered in vibrant dyes on silk and a variety of other textiles.

Riversmith uses brightly colored gouache, watercolors, and acrylics on paper and canvas to illustrate characters and scenes from her imagination, dreams, stories, and the collective unconscious. Her work has been recently exhibited in Toronto, Canada and Budapest, Hungary.

For more information, call 218-391-7661 or visit www.redrabbitriversmith.com.

Thanksgiving at the Gay Frame.

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Adrian Orange a/k/a Thanksgiving is coming back to Duluth and he is playing at the Gay Frame. Supporting him is Lake. This is also a mini house warming party so come on by, check out our new digs and hear some great music!

Saturday, October 14
Social hour 6pm | Concert 7pm
5 dollar donation.
1201 E 7th St. Duluth, MN.
Any questions shoot me an email.

How many of me?

IT'S WORKING! IT'S WORKING!


HowManyOfMe.com
LogoThere are:
47
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

It's not as much fun as googleing & reading about the Michelle Rowleys of the world, but now I know there are less than 50 of us in the US. However, there are 0 purples, so perhaps I should just make a legal name change.

October 11, 2006

Unexplained Phenomena! Abductions! Psychic Freak-Outs!

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October 10, 2006

How to Make Tater Tot Hotdish

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Okay, after we've finally got the school year going, the Harbor City School Tech Club would like to announce the first of at least two geek related events this school year. 10FWD will be Friday, Nov 10th from 7p-10p at HCIS. An evening of Star Trek releated togetherness. We'll attempt to turn the 4th Floor stage area into some kind of blend of the lounge of the Enterprise and the cantina from Mos Eisley. We're looking for anyone who cares to join us and especially anyone who cares to contribute to the nights festivities with some form of organized antics....From watching TOS with the sound off and making up dialouge to a reading of federation history to levitation contestes to romulan trivia...bring it...please contact baci-at-harborcityschool-dot-org if you have something. Costumes optional but encouraged...this is only the call for entries and a pre-announcement...look for a poster soon!

Happy Power of Ten Day

Powers of Ten Day - 10/10

I remember seeing this film when I was a child at a science museum. It's still an intriguing study of scale.

Motorcycles and Bicycles and Mopeds, Oh My!

Our View: Law has cyclists seeing red – and driving through
Duluth News Tribune
Published Tuesday, October 10, 2006


Take a drive down a major urban thoroughfare during the wee hours and chances are pretty good the traffic lights will all be green. Smooth sailing ahead, right?

Not necessarily, especially if that road is in Minnesota or Wisconsin and there’s a motorcycle on a cross street.

In the Badger State, a new law that took effect Oct. 1 allows motorcycle, moped and bicycle riders to go through red lights if the signal hasn’t changed after 45 seconds and there’s no traffic coming. A similar law has already been on the books in Minnesota, allowing cyclists to go through red lights after “a reasonable” amount of time. Ditto for Arkansas and Tennessee.

Why? Well, traffic lights on many streets are activated by magnetic or electronic sensors built into the roadway. Lights on major roads usually remain green until a vehicle arrives at the intersection on a cross street.

That works fine for cars, trucks and buses. But motorcycles, and especially bicycles, may not have enough metal to trigger the sensors, meaning a law-abiding cyclist would have to wait forever unless a car or truck comes by.

“I’ve come home late at night,” Milwaukee lawyer and motorcycle rights advocate Tony Sanfelipo told the News Tribune. “You could sit there all night waiting for the thing to trip.”

The solution, then, is the law, which basically allows cyclists to treat red lights as stop signs. While that’s fine in theory, in practice driver behavior such as “rolling stops” suggest not all cyclists will bother counting to 45. And changing the law isn’t the only answer: Oregon inventor Scott Kauffman has come up with a device called the Green Light Trigger that attaches to a motorcycle and allows sensors to recognize their presence.

“It’s not rocket science,” said Kauffman, whose $14.95 ($24.95 for the deluxe model) device is one of a couple on the market.

Sanfelipo likened that to a tax on motorcycles. “Why should we as motorcycle users be subject to having to buy an additional device?” he asked, adding, “I’ve gotten mixed reviews on whether or not those things work.”

They may not even be needed. An online bicyclists’ forum suggests attaching magnets to the bottom of your shoes will do the trick, and the Oregon state bicycle manual says leaning your bike at about a 15 degree angle over the sensors (which are visible as thin lines cut into the pavement) will do the trick.

Whether Wisconsin or Minnesota lawmakers investigated those alternatives fully enough before passing the laws could be debated. But for now, the law is clear: Motorcycles can, after a stop, go through red lights. Remember that and be careful.

--

Discuss amongst yourselves...

October 09, 2006

Stripes, hats, mustaches and nautical art

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Go enjoy a “cup of joe” and Dr. Thunder's aestetically pleaseing show, "Stripes, Hats, and Mustaches" (the art matches the orange & yellow walls!) at Beaner's through Oct. 31st.

And if you’re heading up the North Shore before Oct. 12, stop in at the Coho Café in Tofte to see his nautical themed show, "Return to the Sea."

Duluth aka The Legion of Doom


*picture not really from newspaper. i just needed an excuse to post it

On the front cover of today's Star Tribune.

Duluth 'just a different town nowadays


Gangs, drugs and fewer cops have bred a 20 percent increase in crime in the city.

DULUTH - Jennifer Randa didn't need to see the official numbers released this month by the Duluth Police Department: crime up nearly 20 percent from 2004 to 2005, with drug crime more than doubling and violent crimes up by 32 percent.

From the Union Gospel Mission, where she helps provide meals and clothing to the homeless, Randa monitors the daily fistfights and street prostitution, the bustling drug trade and random vandalism sapping life in the city's Central Hillside neighborhood.

"My son is 19," she said. "He's in school, studying to be a police officer.

"He was getting dropped off the other night after studying at a friend's house, and a guy came running at the car with a gun in his hand."

Her son and his friend drove off, she said. He called her later to say he would stay at the friend's house rather than risk another attempt to come home.

A month before, he was working at a gas station when it was robbed.

"I like to take a walk every day," Randa said, glancing at the mission door, thinking about the scenic harbor view from the streets on the hillside above, a view many consider one of the northern Minnesota city's premier attractions.

"But I'm scared to take my walk anymore," she said.

Less community policing

Tim Hanson, a 27-year veteran of the Duluth Police Department, took over as chief last week -- just in time to acknowledge the spiking crime statistics, which came after four years of declines.

From 2001 to 2004, crime fell 8.5 percent. Violent crime was down nearly 14 percent in the city of 87,000 people.

"Duluth had been making great strides in hiring officers who were assigned to identifying problems, identifying problem people and identifying problem areas," Hanson said. "It's called community policing, and it works."

But a citywide budget squeeze forced the department to trim its ranks and pull officers out of community policing, reassigning them to patrol and other duties.

"Duluth is definitely seeing more crimes involving drugs, more crimes involving gangs and more crimes related to those activities," Hanson said.

Assaults, robberies and burglaries all spiked in 2005, and indications are that the trends are continuing this year -- thanks in part to Shaune Aleck St. Germaine.

St. Germaine, 20, was free on bail on a burglary charge when he was arrested last week on two more burglary charges. Police suspect him in a dozen home invasions, especially worrisome because people were at home in many cases.

One crime statistic improved from 2004 to 2005: Sexual assaults were down, which authorities credited to more aggressive investigation, prosecution and sentencing.

More affordable housing and job opportunities would bring other criminal activity down, said Sharen Bergren, office manager at the Union Gospel Mission.

"People are frustrated," she said.

"There are no options for them. It's just a different town nowadays. The thing with the newer people -- we tell them they can't fight in here, but they don't seem to care."

Expanding drug trade

Much of Duluth's new crime involves turf struggles and carryover bad blood among gang members relocated to Duluth from the Twin Cities and beyond, Chief Hanson said.

"It's the drug wealth looking for new territories," he said.

For the average, law-abiding citizen, "this is still a pretty safe town," he said. But he acknowledges that it feels less safe.

"We're budgeting now for 2007, and the City Council and mayor are getting plenty of input on what people expect in policing," he said. "I'm hopeful we'll turn this around. I'm confident this is a blip."

He has 132 sworn officers, 14 fewer than authorized -- and 40 fewer than the number he needs to avoid pulling officers out of community policing.

Jim Rodman, a community officer assigned to neighborhoods in Duluth's west end, has had to break off that work frequently.

"This end of town always had a 'tough' reputation," said Rodman, who grew up in west Duluth. "But it has more rental properties now, and people don't know each other as well.

"It has become more violent. There are more drugs. We've had a string of burglaries in one neighborhood where, for 20 years, there was virtually no crime of that type."

Patrol is vital police duty, Rodman said, "but patrol officers don't go to community meetings. People here know me by my first name. They count on me to take care of their problems personally."

Walking without fear

Rhonda Johnson, 41, out for a noontime walk with a friend on a residential street overlooking downtown Duluth and the harbor, said the city should require landlords to screen tenants more carefully.

"I don't think it's [reached the point] where it's dangerous to move here," she said. "I don't see innocent people getting killed. Mostly it's people involved with drugs and other crime retaliating against people they know.

"I don't really fear for my safety here."

But a few blocks away, at the 4th Street Market in Duluth's Central Hillside neighborhood, Roxanne Kelly said she started tracking a change more than a year ago.

"I spend more time now wondering what I need to do to make myself safer," she said.

Kaye Dupuis works with Kelly at the market. "I think it's all the punks running around -- young kids the parents aren't controlling," she said.

But Terence Callender, 44, who moved to Central Hillside two years ago from St. Paul, said the spike in crime statistics "is just the police harassing people" in poor areas.

Shalen Hendricks, 20, another Central Hillside resident, said she and her daughter have their own way of avoiding problems.

"I keep in my house," she said. "And I don't have anything to steal."

Chuck Haga • 612-673-4514 • [email protected]

October 08, 2006

Home is where I can keep my stuff and see the Lake

I need a home, hillside prefered, no more than $500, yet less would be nice and I'm a lovely roommate. Any leads? Please do share. You are all awesome and no doubt have homes of your own. That's so great.

Go fast Rocketmen!

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to the 2006 rocketbelt convention. This is filed in Baci's MUST HAVE category.

public access

pretty sure i saw starfire playing music on cable access. thats all.

good vet for dog?

We moved to Duluth recently with 2 dogs. One is in the emergency vet clinic today but will be needing a vet to go to first thing tomorrow morning...and may need surgery.

Where is the best place for this?

Our dogs went to 'Alta vet' when we lived in mpls...we like vets who regard alternative treatments & conventional treatments in thier approach to medicine and treatment.

Please post soon with your thoughts...

UtopiaTown

On another blog, we've been given a challenge to come up with laws for a town that you've created. Here are mine. What would yours be?

TamaraTown

1) The Golden Rule is key: "Do unto others what you would have done unto you."

2) Families are important. Healthy families mean happy families. Parents will be able to take 104 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth and/or adoption of a child. Healthcare is provided by the government.

3) Minimum wage would increase as the cost of living increases. A COLA would be in effect at all times.

4) Equality is key. We welcome all persons and families dedicated to living lives that promote tolerance and equality of everyone. Violations of this will result in public humiliation and severe application of the Golden Rule.

5) Environmentally sound practices will be in effect at all times: recycling is mandatory, solar, wind and hydroelectric power shall be used as much as possible, biodiesel or electric cars are encouraged. Green space is encouraged.

6) Practice of religion is not allowed in the public school. Silent prayer is allowed as long as it does not interrupt the regular flow of the school day. Religion may be taught as a class, however, all major world religions must be taught and equally respected. All aspects of sexual education, including the use of birth control methods and STD prevention, will be taught beginning in the 6th grade. Such subject matter will be age appropriate. Schools will be run year-round, following the European and Japanese models.

7) Civility is key. Be polite to one another, help each other.

8) Guns are used by the police for the enforcement of laws. However, gun use by law enforcement is not encouraged. Private gun ownership is not allowed. There will be a gun rental service provided by the government during hunting seasons where hunters will be able to rent guns and purchase ammunition for hunting purposes only.

9) Bartering/trade for goods and services is encouraged. However, unfair practices will result in public humiliation and application of the Golden Rule.

10) Government shall be fiscally responsible. The budget shall be balanced at the end of each fiscal year, with the elected officials personally responsible for any budget shortfall, unless an unforeseen natural or unnatural disaster occurs, at which time, the entire population shall help contribute to balancing the budget on a sliding scale of contributions. Taxation will be kept to a minimum and only to help finance the government and its relevant operations. Taxation will also be on a sliding scale, with those who have the most paying the most and those who have the least paying the least. However, all shall pay something.

October 06, 2006

Found

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I found this picture in the box they keep the log book in at Caribou River Falls (between Little Marais and Schroeder). You can't see it, but on the lower border of the photo is written: "This guy was in my stenches class - word." It's signed "Jen" or "Jim" or some scribble resembling those names.

Of course, I left the picture in the box. It belongs there.

Working Class Theater's "Death and the Maiden"


So we got a great review for last night's preformance of "Death and the Maiden." Come and check it out and support new local theater at the Play Ground (Tech Village near Luce.)
Check out Our website at:
http://www.workingclasstheater.com

UFO Volunteers

Some free passes to the UFO Convention available in exchange for volunteer work - need people to work various doors tearing tickets etc. Date is Sat., Oct. 21st at Lakeview Castle, Cloud Cult/Labels/Crew Jones etc etc.Email [email protected] if interested. Also looking to get videographers, and we will getyou in free if you can provide us with any footage of the day's event/and/or hook us up with your cameras. Weirdos preferred.

PDD Blog Round Up

This week...

Edgewood takes the Cake.

Laurie runs the bases and cavorts with pirates.

Tamara turns out to be an Idealist.

Barrett considers deadly truck accessories.

Ironic1's daughter is a fairy.

Four Eyed Monsters MN Premier


Story:

A girl and a guy make a rule to meet up and not speak to each other. They have sex while still never having spoken! Instead they use notes, pics, music and videos get to know each other and slowly start to meld into one beast that has 2 mouths, 4 eyes and 8 limbs and takes up 2 seats on the subway!!! How long can their relationship survive as an art project??? And by the way, all of this really happened…

Minnesota premiere tonight!!!
Screening at the Varsity Theater tonight, Fri 10-6 @ 7:00 pm

1308 SE 4th Street Minneapolis, MN 55414

After the screening will be a multimedia after party with bands Kid Dakota and Aviette, video projections and a live video chat with the creators from the lobby. Just after the film the space will become the after party as the bands Aviette and Kid Dakota perform.

This is an amazing project. I encourage you to visit their site and view their vlogs. If you get a chance, head down to the cities and support this DIY film project.

What's this? Minneapolis bands?! OOOHH!

Superhopper.jpg


There will be some rock. There will even be some poetry..huh?! And yes, there will be "mpls. bands."
Apperantly, some pretty damn good ones... and don't forget about one hyper-rockin' D-town band.
But don't take my word for it... come see for yourself!

October 05, 2006

This LOL is for you.

To the school bus driver who parked his empty bus on 4th street while he ran into Little John's market for some food, and left the stop sign and flashers running, causing a backup as the law abiding drivers who weren't sharp enough to realize it was an empty bus sat patiently for your return*. . .

This LOL is for you.

*Granted, his return did look like an "Oh shit!" shuffle, so we'll assume they were on by accident.

A-dredgin' and a-cappin'

StrykerBay.JPG

In case you've wondered what things look like down on Stryker Bay, where they're sorting out all the goop in the water, I present this photo.

For those who don't know where Stryker Bay is and why the water is full of goop:

Stryker Bay is in the Fremont area of West Duluth.

There was a lot of industry along the St. Louis River from the late 1800s until about 1960. Tar and coke plants, slaughterhouses and the like discharged toxic contaminents into the water. Those contaminents settled on the bottom of the bay and were left there for decades. The coal tar in some areas was said to be 13 feet thick.

The $50 million project going on right now involves dredging out some of the goop and capping the rest in.

Yummy.

For more info than you want, read the "Design Level Evaluation of a Remedial Wetland Cap." (It's a PDF, by the way.)

October 04, 2006

One hour of happiness. Actually, two.

state of the union

Ok, this sums up how the Republican s are looking nowadays.

riversmith_DFM_100606.jpg

Robert Anton Wilson Needs Your/Our Help

illuminatus.jpg

Cosmic writer and visionary, Robert Anton Wilson, needs help. His infirmity and depleted finances have put him in the precarious position of not being able to meet next month's rent.

" We must remember that thought is abstraction. In Einstein's metaphor, the relationship between a physical fact and our mental reception of that fact is not like the relationship between beef and beef-broth, a simpler extraction and condensation; rather, as Einstein goes on, it is like the relationship between our overcoat and the ticket given us when we check our overcoat. In other words, human perception involves coding even more than crude sensing. The mesh of language, or of mathematics, or of a school of art, or of any system of human abstracting, gives to our mental constructs the structure, not of the original fact, but of the symbol system into which it is coded, just as a map-maker colors a nation purple not because it is purple but because his code demands it. But every code excludes certain things, blurs other things, and overemphasizes still other things. Nijinski's celebrated leap through the window at the climax of 'Le Spectre d'une Rose' is best coded in the ballet notation system used by choreographers; verbal language falters badly in attempting to conveying; painting or sculpture could capture totally the magic of one instant, but one instant only, of it; the physicist's equation, Force = Mass X Acceleration, highlights one aspect of it missed by all these other codes, but loses everything else about it. Every perception is influenced, formed, and structured by habitual coding habits- mental game habits- of the perceiver.

All authority is a function of coding, of game rules. Men have arisen again and again armed with pitchforks to fight armies with cannon; men have also submitted docilely to the weakest and most tottery oppressors. It all depends on the extent to which coding distorts perception and conditions the physical (and mental) reflexes."
--Robert Anton Wilson

Donations can be made to Bob via his web site
You can also send a check payable to Robert Anton Wilson to
Dennis Berry c/o Futique Trust
P.O. Box 3561
Santa Cruz, CA 95063

October 03, 2006

Biff's Question Song...

Tom Wilson

asswipes!

more stolen gear:

To Whom It May Concern,

Please read, forward, and repost this to everyone you know & help me recover my stolen goodies:

Last night my car was broken into and the following items were taken:

1 x custom built fretless 5 string electric Jazz bass.
It has no recognizable markings other than the word "bartolini" written on both pickups. It has a transparent orange finish on a curly maple and mahogany body. Check out my picks on my page for a good photo.
1 x Fender 412 Cab
2 x Monster Bass Cables
1 x Monster Amp Cable
1 x Boss Reverb Pedal
1 x Dod Graphic EQ/Preamp Pedal
1 x iPod video 30 gb

The bass is not resalable because it is highly customized, but it is invaluable to me so if everyone could keep their eyes open I'd really appreciate it.

Cheers,

-Karl

October 02, 2006

PDD Puzzle

giftcenetrF.jpggiftcenetrN.jpggiftcenetrR.jpggiftcenterC.jpggiftcenterE.jpg

giftcenterE2.jpggiftcenterI.jpggiftcenterT.jpggiftcenterT2.jpgpuzzleG.jpg

I purchased these letters at a garage sale a few years back and at the time the woman said they spelled out GIFT CENTER so I always hung them in that order. Well I'm getting sick of the old GIFT CENTER so I thought I would hit up the PDD community. Give me some ideas! Use each letter once of course and it can be as many words as you like. Extra points for dirty stuff.

Thats it. Leave your comments below.