If you haven’t heard, the Duluth Art Institute will soon be starting screenings of Robert Hughes’ Shock of the New, which is a fantastic eight-part series on the rise and fall of the modern art movement. Not only will you be able to rest your eyes on the handsome and talented Robert Hughes, but you will be able to do it for free.
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(Getting to the end — thank you so much for putting up with these January in Duluth encroachments in this wonderful space.)

Last day of January and I have a few sackfuls of questions with incomplete/partial answers. With time running out, maybe you can give me a few hints on my homework? Below, I’ve boiled down a list of [A] v. s, isolating dichotomies about life here in Duluth — if you have a few extra intro/outrospective minutes to kill today, I’d love to hear how you’d weigh in on any or all of these. Of course, in each matchup there’s no need to declare a clearcut winner (balance in all things), so your answers can take the form of one word or a phrase or a few thoughts or an essay if you’re exceptionally motivated:

(1) Isolation v. Community.

(2) Passion v. Responsibility.

(3) Nostalgia v. Trailblazing.

(4) Cynicism v. Optimism.

(5) Underdog Mindset v. Inferiority Complex.

(6) Willing Confrontation v. Passive Aggression.

(7) Coffee v. Beer.

(8) East v. West? How deep is the division?

(9) “Come enjoy our wonderful city!” v. “Stay the hell out.”

(10) If Duluth were un-propered into a regular vocabulary word, “duluth,” what part of speech would it be (to duluth, a duluth day, look at that duluth) and what would its definition be?

But not forever, I’m thinking.

So tomorrow is the last day of January in Duluth (and everywhere else too). I’m going to be writing a post in the morning asking some bigger picture questions I’ve been thinking about, but haven’t answered definitively. Look out for that (also, if you’ve been following and holding back, you can tell me what you really think about the project — but wait for tomorrow to do that).

For today, I have a morbid question. If you knew tomorrow were your last day on earth, and you were to spend it entirely within Duluth/immediate surrounding area, what would you do? A last day, in Duluth.

The January Days are dwindling and the need to gorge on as much Duluth as possible is rising. I spent an hour with Mayor Ness today — he’s a wonderful guy. Also, I had an odd idea I might try to execute this weekend if anybody is interested.

Is anybody out there a film person? I have a very short film I’d like to make — named “100 Seconds of Solitude” — that’s reasonably simple in concept/shooting but might be a little tricky to edit. If anybody wants to spend some time this weekend on a fun project, I’ll bring the beer!

Bjørn Jørgensen Image taken: Jan. 22, 2012 Location: Grøtfjord close to Tromsø, North Norway

Also to listen to the effects, check out the software defined radio from Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The low and middle bands show the activity.

I recently got hosed big time by Go Daddy. My domain was up for renewal and instead of notifying me, they sold it. Now I have a new domain, but I lost my search engine standing (my old site was numbers 1,2 and 3 for a Google search of my name). Anyway, if you have a minute, give my new site a click and help a guy out. Thanks.

tim-kaiser.org

January in Duluth rolls on, including a piece on Rich Narum’s monthly dip in Lake Superior for over 15 years.

I have an invitation to offer — I’m looking for Wisconsinites and other Midwesterners who have relocated to Duluth to talk about their process of adjustment, assimilation, and Duluthification. I was looking to record parts of this conversation, this Saturday, at Anchor Bar in Superior. Any immigrants interested in a drink and chat?

The Tiny Art Show, a large group exhibition at the Prøve Gallery showcasing small pieces of artwork, will be held Friday, Feb. 10. All mediums are welcome, including but not limited to; canvases, prints, custom toys, stickers, and sculptures. As long as it fits in a 12-inch by 12-inch box, it qualifies as tiny art.
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Well, I parked my vehicle on Third Street around 4 p.m., opened the door, and the wind ripped the door right off.

O.K., the door wasn’t literally ripped off so that it tumbled down the street, but it bent all the way backward. Instead of stopping at the usual 70-degree angle, it opened all the way up to a nearly 180-degree angle.

I didn’t take a photo at the time, because my first instinct was to quickly pull the door back and close it. Once it closed, I considered that a major victory and left it that way. Here’s what the damage looks like today:

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If Duluth could go on dates (the city being embodied as a person), how would you answer any or all of the following questions:

(1) If Duluth were after an eligible date prospect, where would Duluth look?

(2) If Duluth were taking somebody out on a first date and needed to impress them, what would Duluth pick?

(3) If Duluth were on an early relationship date and really wanted to test the date’s mettle, what would Duluth pick?

(4) If Duluth were settled into a longterm relationship, what would its regular date spot be?

(5) If Duluth were going to propose, what spot would Duluth pick to do it?

P.S. The January In Duluth project is going well! So far, getting to know Duluth in a flash is just as challenging and overwhelming as it is fun and thought-provoking.

Finding 101 things to do in Duluth through anonymous means is not hard — of my ninety-nine problems, Google running out of suggestions isn’t one. So, the generous feedback on PDD has been wonderful (thank you so much, by the way), if not a touch overwhelming. Forget January — all these personal recommendations could fuel an entire lifetime in Duluth. For the rest of the month, I’ll continue to chase after as many Duluth experiences as I can, but on PDD I’d like to pivot my questions slightly.

To really wrap my head around Duluth, I’m going to need conversations and people, and I think this is the right place to seek those. Recommendations and maybe some invitations? Here are a few questions to start:

(1) Who is the best storyteller you know in Duluth? And I don’t mean that in a “who is the most polished stage performer” kind of way — I mean, of the people you know, when you’re at the kitchen table after dinner, who tells the stories that make you laugh/think/react the deepest?

(2) What are some sayings/maxims/cliches/proverbs/aphorisms/truisms/localisms/apophthegems about Duluth and the people who live here in particular? I’d love to hear extant wisdom, or if you’re feeling motivated/creative, you can make up your own originals (it might be fun!). If an apple a day wards off doctors, what keeps Duluthians away? If Duluthians were horses, what would beggars do? When in Duluth, do as …

(3) Finally, what is the best single standup arcade game in Duluth? I’d really like to test out some hypotheses.

P.S. I’ve started a Facebook page where I’m going to start asking a steady stream of questions. If you fancy yourself an ace Duluthian and generous sharer, think about giving that page a follow.

It seems like it’s high time somebody broke the pancake and french toast records at Uncle Loui’s. But who could manage such a feat … without blowing a hole in his or her innards, I mean? Will they stand forever and have to be “retired” as I believe the previous, pre-fire, records were?

Uncle Loui's Pancake and French toast eating records

I arrived in Duluth on Sunday night and I’ll be living in town for the next 31 days, trying to learn/produce as much as possible about Duluth through a project named January in Duluth. As a central part of this, I’ve started a blog at januaryinduluth.wordpress.com where I’ll be collecting thoughts, photos, audio pieces, etc. Also, you can expect a steady string of posts/questions from me on PDD until the end of the month.

Unfortunately, whatever minor illness my family was incubating over the holidays is now hitting me full-on. I’m currently nursing a tea and box of Fisherman’s Friends, hoping that my throat/head will clear up soon. In the meantime, I have three questions you might be able to help with:

(1) Where is the best publicly-accessible place to plunk down and do laptop work in Duluth? (hopefully coffee, comfortable seating, friendly people, etc.)

(2) I’m looking to cook a hearty soup that might be a slow-acting medicine/panacea/lunch. Any suggestions? Home recipes?

(3) What should I do in Duluth? Any and all suggestions are welcome. (I’ll be much more specific in the future, but I thought I’d start as broad as possible)

There was a scintillating pure white light on the south shore of Lake Superior from around 3 to 3:15 a.m. It looked big but binoculars did not make it much clearer. It shone all the way across the lake onto my bedroom wall! I have seen it before but don’t recall when. Does anyone know what this was?

January in Duluth is fast approaching (a refresher on what that project will be)! As always, twenty-four short hours at a time. During the month, I’ll be posting on PDD regularly to ask for suggestions/recommendations/answers, as this seems like the exact right place for Duluth-related ideas. In fact, I’d like to start the project with your input.

I’ll be driving to Duluth on Jan. 1 and 1/2/12 will be my first full day in town. So, rather than begin with an obvious orientation hitting the most major landmarks/places/people, on that day, I’m hoping to start the project a little backward — with experiences that are hidden/concealed/secret/obscured. Experiences you recommend.

Whatever your favorite Duluth-minutia happens to be, I want in (whatever you’re willing to share, of course). Whether it be a quiet conversation with a person that represents Duluth perfectly or a favorite car dealership jingle or a quiet, tucked away street with familiar houses or a hilarious joke scratched in a restaurant’s bathroom stall. Be an expert of your own trivia. I just have one request — I don’t mind climbing fences, chatting my way into a back room, or any of that, but I’d prefer that I can reach your suggestion without trespassing (too blatantly).

I’ll do my best to try out as many suggestions as possible on 1/2/12 and record the results. Thanks in advance!

(You can also just e-mail me anytime at <januaryinduluth @ gmail.com> with any suggestions on anything else I should be checking out while I’m around. The website will be coming very shortly too!)

I’m from Milwaukee, and when I travel, there are usually some brands/products from my region around to remind me of home. If there are motorcycles, there’s a good chance there’s Harley. If people are drinking shabby beer, there’s probably Miller. If there are toilets, there’s probably Kohler (from Sheboygan). And of course, there are a lot of smaller ones too.

What are some Duluth brands, large/small/in between, that I could expect to find around the country/world? I’m looking for anything from the obvious to the obscure.

A couple days back, when I asked for get-me-up-to-speed-on-Duluth book recommendations, I was regaled with the collected consciousness of PDDers — I’ve bought a couple to read pre-arrival and will buy more when I arrive (Book Store at Fitger’s, right?).

Next question — music by artists from Duluth. What should I listen to as I prepare? Any/all genres. Contemporary, classic, anything in between. Also, if there are lists/resources that collect this information already, please point me in those directions too. Thanks!

So, I’m definitely going to be doing the parachute/suitcase project I mentioned on PDD last week (thanks for all the feedback by the way!). I have slightly more than a couple weeks before plunging into 31 days of Duluth, and I figure I’ll have time to read a few books before arriving. Any suggestions on books that might help me prepare? Non-fiction, fiction, collections of essays, or anything that will help me get my head wrapped around the city. (Also, ideally the book will be available on Amazon.)

I’m an independent radio/media producer currently living and working in Milwaukee. However, for a variety of reasons, I find myself strongly drawn to Duluth (I’ve visited a few times and a couple close friends currently live in Duluth).

To satisfy that interest, I’m thinking about spending next month implementing a project I’ve cooked up called January In Duluth. The idea is fairly straightforward — I’m going to spend the month (1) getting to know as much as I can about the culture/people/history/state-of-mind in Duluth and (2) exploring how the winter cold effects a community (I’m currently sitting in the half-outside section of a coffee shop, practicing/conditioning myself).

I’d be coming into the city looking to listen and learn, so conversations in physical and digital spaces would be a central part of my approach. All of the stories, conversations, interviews, videos, photos, etc. produced would then live on an interactive website, much like this one.

Since such a project would rely so heavily on the kindness and knowledge of strangers, I thought this would be the perfect space to kick up a short conversation about the prospect of January In Duluth. Does this project sound interesting to you, either as a person who might share some thoughts about Duluth or perhaps an audience member? Beyond your own feelings, is this the kind of project Duluth might respond to? Any feedback will be warmly appreciated!

Before Call of Duty and Elder Scrolls, there were these quirky little things called Text Based Adventures. Primitive on the graphic front (with NO graphics in them), these were the first dungeon crawlers and computer based rpgs like Minnesota’s own Oregon Trail. In 1982, this was super addictive stuff. Well, as I’m an active user of Goolge Docs, I came to realize that it might be possible to use their forms and spreadsheets to “crowd source” the content for a text based “pub crawler” or some text based questing game based in the PDD ethos.

Sorry, this is where my mind goes when I’m feeling ill and home alone from work for the day. So I started a test survey. It’s not perfect or definitive and really just a test so I can have a bit of crowd sourced data to try and put together in game form.  Once there’s a few entries, I’ll make a game out of it. I hope to refine the survey to better automate the process. So, take a few minutes and unleash your inner geek. BTW, This is NOT an official PDD sponsored thing and no folk bands will be hurt in the programming of this game.

Here’s an actual photo of a letter that someone I work with received this week. She was just driving through the drive thru minding her business when the car in front of her paid for her coffee and egg sandwich, anonymously. It definitely brought a smile which I guess is the whole idea. Reminds me of that saying that was popular in the 90s: “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.” But it’s not random, at all. It’s called the “Drive Thru Difference” and I had heard about it being done as a consciousness raising campaign of KTIS-FM in the Twin Cities, and even read a blog about it awhile back. But apparently it’s happening in the Twin Ports with KTIS sister station KDNI-FM leading the way.

If you’re wondering about the mechanics of it (which I was), here’s a YouTube video of singer-songwriter Brandon Heath (who I really like) actually doing it at a Dunn Bros in the Twin Cities:

“>Brandon Heath Demonstrates the Drive-Thru Difference

Last night’s “Lost Grey Cat in Lincoln Park” post was the 10,000th post on Perfect Duluth Day. We didn’t realize it at the time, and forgot to drop balloons from the ceiling.

Quantity is no substitute for quality, so let’s celebrate by linking to favorite posts from the past. Dig into those archives and find your favorites. And find that lost grey cat, too.

One of my hobbies a few years ago was researching the adventures of “Wild” Bill Cooper, which resulted in an article for Minnesota Monthly that focused on his criminal history and purported demise.

Filmmaker Mike Scholtz picked up where I left off, and is producing a feature-length documentary that tells the whole Wild Bill story. In addition to the trailer above, there’s a Wild Bill’s Run website and Twitter feed. You’ll have to wait a few more months to see the final product, though. Watch for updates.

Join us for a zombie-themed symposium that is free and open to the public. Six UMD professors will give talks about how their work relates to zombies. Refreshments appropriate for the topic will be served. BYOB (Bring Your Own Brain).

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I will post them on HauntedDuluth.com for free! If it’s a major Halloween bash or a tiny haunted garage on Halloween night, I want to add it to my site!

Post your event info as a comment in this post, or email me from the HauntedDuluth.com contact page.

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Top Secret America Government Work Locations

Notice the red dot on the zenith city. I go to a’thinkin .. hmmmm … what!? who? Jeno? Loll? Storm Analysis Consultants? Hmmm…

Have you ever seen Duluth
when the Great Lake waves were pounding?
There must be some way out of there
You might end up lost or drowning

And the polkas at the Polish dance halls
And the carnivals of Spring
Rock and roll on that upright piano
And the kids make the high school rafters ring

Paste Magazine Song Premiere: Tom Russell — “Mesabi”

Most people who live in Duluth, Minnesota know about Duluth, Georgia. Just today, however, I discovered that there is a third Duluth — Duluth, Kansas. I had no idea.

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Matt the Electrician is coming all the way from Austin, TX to sing to us Duluthians.  He has toured with Erin Mckeown and the Weepies,  and apparently his uncle publishes the Duluth Shipping News.  

Sunday, Aug. 21, 8 p.m., Amazing Grace.  $10 suggested donation. matttheelectrician.com