http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/panoramic_photo/pnpics.html

Check out more at the Library of Congress site.

I thought that the “1000 foot shitters” was great but she may have topped it with “I am still stuck on the beaver!”

Good luck in Haiti. Miss you on the news!!

Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States and many other books died this week.

Here are references I found to Duluth and Minnesota in “A People’s History of the United States” (more…)

Jitterbug Julie Pearce is leaving the Northland’s NewsCenter. She says this will be her last weekend anchoring the newscasts.

Hello all, yes, the rumors are true… this weekend will be my last weekend as a news anchor for the NewsCenter. This has been a hard decision for me. I’ve been with the NewsCenter now for about 4 years. I work with some amazing people and have truly enjoyed my time there. The big bright studio lights, the cameras, and… deep connection to our community have been extremely rewarding and exciting.

from her facebook page.

After a couple of weeks doing nursing and helping people in Belize she came back and bought a one-way ticket to Haiti to do medical support for people there who have been devastated. (more…)

This was interesting to me. On the Plane Conversations blog, author Alan Howell reviews a 2001 book by Atlantic contributor James Fallows called “Free Flight: From Airline Hell to a New Age of Travel.” In the book, according to Howell, Fallows says that the Klapmeier brothers of Duluth’s own Cirrus Design created the first of three major innovations that would change the way people travel. How did the prediction stack up?

In the last nine years, how did James Fallows’ case studies fare?

To date, Cirrus has manufactured and sold more than 5000 aircraft and has been the number one, best selling aircraft in the past decade – not bad for a start-up company with a non-conventional design. Like other aviation companies, Cirrus has been severely impacted by the economy but will survive in some form. The aircraft has been too successful and the market will continue to demand new models with improved technology.

Read the whole article here: Free Flight: What has happened since James Fallows wrote the book

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I’ve had the occasion to park in the Tech Village ramp a few times in the past week, and while I was able to exit promptly each time (unlike others’ experiences), I did notice something odd about the machine that takes validated tickets as you drive out.

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Arrowhead Regional Arts Council

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is Hiring an Assistant Director

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is looking for an individual knowledgeable about the regional arts community, self motivated, computer literate and eager to be part of an organization serving artists and arts organizations in the Arrowhead. ARAC has an immediate opening for a full-time Assistant Director to assist the Executive Director, the Board of Directors and to oversee selected grant programs which will receive funding from the new Arts and Cultural Heritage Amendment passed in November, 2008.

Interested individuals need to submit a cover letter explaining their interest in the position and their skills and abilities along with a resume by January 15, 2010. The ARAC will fill this position by January 31, 2010. Application may be made by email or mail.

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Here’s a really cool video showing one R&D company’s view of the future of e-readers. Having been in the publication design biz for years, I loved seeing somebody take the idea of an electronic magazine beyond the blog or web site format. Some of the stuff they do in here is really cool, and features the photography and art beautifully.

Mag+ from Bonnier on Vimeo.

Somewhat related, I saw a few posts today speculating about the fabled Apple Tablet, what it will actually be, and whether it will be a disappointment or not. I was saving up for an iPod touch, but I think I’ll wait to see what shakes out from Steve Job’s announcement in a few weeks.

Overheard in Target, 10 p.m. Dec. 22 amid Christmas shoppers. I probably wouldn’t have thought this was so funny before I had kids.
Indignant college-age woman to second indignant college-age woman:
“It’s just so, like, what a freakin’ 6-month-old would say!”

Can anyone shed light on this?

From Everything Else

Image: Fox21online.com

The Duluth Police have 3 city blocks on lock down and employees at SMDC have been asked to stay inside and cannot go home.  I heard there was explosives found in a car behind the Twins Bar.  Anyone know what’s going?

[Update] Some dumb ass was “transporting” some dynamite in his car for a “friend” and then got cold feet.  He then pulled over and called the police.  Thanks Pear Head for the link. [Northlandsnewsletter]

Last night I walked past a house that reeked of a fetid oil recently sprayed from the anus of a West Duluth skunk.

Two kids, who looked to be about 11 years old, were walking the sidewalk toward the odiferous house as I was walking away. They seemed to know that something was going on. Another kid, maybe two years younger, came from across the street and shouted, “Did they kill the skunk yet?”

“No, but they’re about to,” one of the other kids answered.

“Awesome!” the younger kid yelled with great enthusiasm, running over to join them.

I continued on my way, as I often do in these situations, only to wonder later why I didn’t hang around for the full story. It seems that, at some point in my life, getting to Kmart became more important than witnessing an execution.

I guess it is less harmful than a house full of cats.

Dear Duluth,

I am sorry to have to let you know this way, but seeing your name is in the title of this website I thought it would good place to contact you. I have spent the last year thinking about our relationship and living situation and there is no easy way to say it but I am leaving you.

It is not that I don’t love you, I do. And most of the past dozen years have been good, but I have to admit I am attracted to other cities.

I want you to know that of your group of close friends you’re a shining star. Eveleth, Gilbert and Virginia–I am sorry to say–I find boring, and they depress me. And as for your sister Superior, well, she is a drunken, dirty whore.

Though there are many things about you that I enjoy, like your beach, your urban wilderness and your downtown, the truth is that you are just so cold most of the time. Sure, when you are in a good mood you are almost perfect, but seeing you that way for only 5 or 6 weeks a year is just not enough to fulfill my personal desires any longer.

I would love to tell you where I am going next but I honestly don’t know. I think I will wander for a while and visit old friends out west. I hope we can still be friends and I will come visit you in the future.

Take care and much love,
Me

P.S. I am stopping to have a three-way with Minneapolis and St.Paul on my way out west. You know I have always had a thing for them. Good times.

I had given up on much Duluth art being discussed ever on MPR, after forever of hearing the Pioneer Press’ Dominic Papatola’s eye-rolling, painfully self-conscious weekly host chats, (yes, “host chat” a la Regis and Kelly, only if you added a condescending air to their blather). But then they added this interesting feature “Art Hounds” which is a great step in the right direction, only they’re very Twin Cities centric, as is standard for “the Network.” THEN, today I heard a familiar voice: Lucie Amundson, who is (if I’m not mistaken) a PDD and/or Park Point regular. Haven’t heard her on the “network” since election day. They should use her more. Good work, Lucie. Would love to hear you do stories in person sometime!

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/08/13/art-hounds/?refid=0

She talks about the new renegade theater show, hopefully there is a link there ^ and you can click and listen …

FB.

Three kids are playing or doing whatever in their backyard. I can’t see them, I can only hear them because they’re all yelling at each other.

Suddenly, the voice of what is likely the father drowns them all out with, “You better shutup all that screamin’!”

I’m not questioning this parenting method at all; I’m just telling the story as a fan of irony.

(Additional irony is that this follows the “Peaceful Waves” post. Serenity now!)

Looks like a protest.

Conversation between two pre-teen boys jumping on a trampoline in West Duluth today:

Boy #1: Says something about some girl.
Boy #2: Dude, that chick is UGLY.
Boy #3: At least she’s got some ass.

Aw, they grow up so fast.

One of the many bands playing during the sidewalk day’s car show covered Tommy Seebach’s Apache. I’ve never felt so much bliss flow though my body while walking down superior street. It truly was a Perfect Duluth Day.

Maybe you’ve read this post from my facebook note, but in case you haven’t succumbed to that monster…

…As some of you already know, I will be moving out of town soon to be with the love of my life, the wonderful and lovely Rebecca Zaban, in St. Paul.

Nine years is a pretty good run, though. I’ve made a lot of friends up here, and I’m grateful for all of you, but this no goodbye, just an update for those who don’t see me often enough to know what’s going on.

We’ll be living in the Irvine Park neighborhood for a while. I’ve got a job at Mississippi Market in the deli kitchen; my first day is on the 8th oh July.

Expect an all encompassing ART/BOOKS/MUSIC GEAR, etc. BLOWOUT-SALE-PARTY sometime in July at my old house (more details later).

It’s been fun, Duluth. I hope you will still let me sleep on your floor when I’m in town.

Peace out!

–Ben

P.S. @ Paul & Stephanie, as of last night I am now in possession of your painting that I owe you. Can I drop it off tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon somewhere before I head south?  if so, where?  if not, umm…  we’ll figure something out. I swear.

P.P.S. @ mevdev, I still have your Schoenberg Harmony book. And, sorry I didn’t return your call about the party invite. I meant to, but I forgot. Also, my phone is still sort of broken.

P.P.P.S. @ Starfire, do you still have any Duluth Quacks and/or gnome shirts? I want one, but I realize I may have missed the boat.

P.P.P.P.S. @ pdd, God, I’m going to miss this town! Bye everybody! Thanks for all of it!

This is one of the ways I see the city I love.

I saw the shoes hanging from the wire, the clock tower, and that brilliant blue sky and I needed a picture.

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I moved to Duluth in September 2006. Almost a year ago, I wrote a post about words and phrases that seemed unique to Duluth and/or the region. At that point, most seemed pretty odd to me; none had entered my vocabulary.

But I realized this week that at some point in the past few months, I’ve started regularly using one of those language quirks – adding “the” before road names. As in, “Oh, yeah, I saw that house, too – out there on the Rice Lake Road.”

It’s interesting how something little like that really makes you feel grounded in a place.

V.I.P. “Very Illustrated People” Tattoo Studio is business in Duluth, Minnesota. Owner Brian “B.C.” Carlson, a Duluth native, has been tattooing since the age of 13. Starting out as a hobby tattooing friends, it has blossomed into a great new business. After obtaining and successfully completing a professional tattoo apprenticeship with Dave Zappia, Brian has decided to continue professional tattooing in the Northland. Whether it’s tribal, old school, new skool, oriental, realism, black and grey, or custom, the clients ideas get manifested on the skin. Getting a tattoo at V.I.P. is easy and safe. The personable attitude of the crew, commitment of professionalism, and up-to-date safety precautions makes V.I.P. a great place to get inked.

Call for details. 218-728-8995. 5 North 19th Ave E, right around the corner from Amazing Alonzo Paperback Exchange. http://www.viptattoostudio.com/

Click more to see a cool starwars tattoo!
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I live within earshot of ALL the noise going on around the airport this week as the 148th Fighter Wing conducts some training exercises.

I’m used to all the military fighters and other planes overhead, and I still enjoy looking up into the sky to see them.

But sometime last night, I groggily woke up to what sounded like bugles playing over a tornado siren. I wasn’t sure if I had been dreaming until just now, when (in a fully awake state) I heard it again – and it was clearly coming from over by the airport. I’d never heard it before last night.

The sound is a constant tornado siren noise, with a few overriding bursts of what sound like bugles playing a melody of 8-12 notes. The whole thing lasts maybe 45 seconds. I’d like to know what that sound signals to the military personnel. Does anyone out there know?

The best thing I witnessed today was a child in a big, green, probably homemade helmet shouting at his friends, “Hey! Somebody punch me!”

Beat that.

OK OK OK

I am feeling bad for repeating the rumor that Two Harbors High School students cut down the “honking tree” as a senior prank.

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