PART 1

PART 2

Posted with permission from Monroe. Click on the strip for larger version.

Posted by Starfire at 08:18 AM | Permalink | 16 comments, last by heiko
Filed under Art | Creepy Duluth Stuff | Current Events | Duluth History | Duluth Scene | Funny Stuff | Serious Substantive Matters

Once again, in an effort to reduce acute alcohol poisonings by encouraging physical activity away from bars, I’m hosting the Fourth-Annual Homegrown Social Run.

Everyone is welcome to attend and jog, run, speed-walk and/or stand their truck drinking PBR tall-boys and heckling people for wearing short-shorts.*

+ Meet at the first parking lot at Chester Bowl (by the playground equipment)
+ We’ll leave promptly at 4:45pm on Friday, May 2.
+ Expect to spend about 45-60 minutes in the woods – I think we’ll do the route the NMTC uses for their Chester Creek race
+ The pace should be relaxed, as Al Sparhawk will be out of town

In the past, we’ve had four to 10 people come along (including such luminaries as: Dusty Olson, Tim and Brad Nelson, Matt Livingston, Rich Narum, Al Sparhawk, Chris Godsey, Chad Salmela, Marc Gartman, Jamie Ness and, of course, myself). Will this be the year Starfire graces us with his presence? What about Blah blah blah-ler? Might a certain mayor of Duluth attend? Will Burly Burlesque bust harrier skills like British aircraft? Join us Friday evening to find out!!!

Continue reading "Homegrown Run -- Friday" »

Posted by cork1 at 07:54 PM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by cork1
Filed under Creepy Duluth Stuff | Promotion | Serious Substantive Matters

I was about 11 years old and a boy scout (i might have still been a cub scout at that time). like any self respecting scout, i had a subscription to boy's life. if you've never read boy's life, you were missing out. boy's life was the single greatest cause of loss and destruction to every tool in our house. i tried to build so many things in that magazine. that magazine probably gave birth to half the steam punks out there.

boy's life also did something else very well. it flooded the market with cheap greeting cards. yes the back of every boy's life had a catalog of things you could obtain by simply selling overpriced greeting cards. they taunted you with a picture of a go-kart and a 10-speed bike but you could never sell that many greeting cards in your life. no matter, my heart was set on this beauty.

oh how i dreamed of having a calculator on my wrist. the possibilities. i would never again be without a device to do quick calculations. i would be able to tell time and find the square root of 999999 all with one device.

so i signed up. and i sold, and i sold, and i sold. family were more than generous. no one needed that many greeting cards but they loved my effort. i'm fairly certain most of them still have a full box of cards in their basement somewhere. but i did it. i sold enough cards to adorn my wrist with the greatest technological advancement in the history of the world.

the day the watch arrived was one of the greatest days in my life. i opened the box and the smell of new plastic arose from package. i pushed a button. it was a weird rubbery knob that kind of rocked. there were so many buttons! i had never seen this many buttons on a watch before. and there's a stopwatch. sweet! i'm going to time my pinecar derby racer.

i stuck out my left wrist and strapped that baby on. it was too big. i was a scrawny kid and this watch was massive. no worry, one of the useful skills learned in boy scouts was how to punch leather. a plastic watchband is nothing compared to leather. my awl went through that black rubber like butter. now the watch fit. it was like king arthur pulling out excalibur. i hopped on my bike and swiftly rode over to my best friend jason's house. we marveled at it. we did calculations. "what is 1000 times 1000?" "make the alarm beep" "oh cool, spell a word. type 7734 and look at it upside down!"

a year later i went swimming and forgot to take off the watch. it died. i tried to dry it out but it was too late.

you can have your fancy TI scientific calculator. i'll take my casio calculator watch any day.

Posted by they once called me king neal at 01:13 PM | Permalink | 9 comments, last by Sarah F to tha Z
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

The triumphant return of the PDD Game Night!
Thanks to everyone who came! Thanks to DragonPort Games for allowing us to take over their backroom!
Last night's game: A rousing rout of RoboRally!

(Photos taken with my Blackberry... sorry, Edge, I'll get a good photo of you next time!)

Continue reading "We did not play Stratego... euphemistically or otherwise..." »

Posted by tamara at 06:18 AM | Permalink | 12 comments, last by Eldon Krosch Jr.
Filed under Duluth Scene | Geeky | Photos | Serious Substantive Matters | Weird Stuff

Pre-Cooked Double Cream Stout Roast with cool beer foam action!

Post-Cooked Double Cream Stout Roast

If I had to figure what I'm the most geeky at, it'd have to be cooking (and the subsequent eating!) I love to cook. I pore over ritzy food magazines and drool at the knives that cut cans in mid-air. My pasta pot is like my third arm. I belong to the Cooking Club of America. I love making comfort food or food that has unpronounceable ingredients that I can only order online from a great store like Kalustyans... I buy antique cooking implements (and use them a lot!) I have a whisk collection.

Yup, I'm a food geek.

Anyway, I was pondering if a food geek could really be a geek in the traditional sense of the word. So I wikipedia'd geek.

According to said Wikipedia, "Formerly, the term referred to a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken, bat, snake or bugs." Hmm... biting the head off live animals. Food. Biting. Animals. Food.

So it seems to me that a food geek must be the original geek, at least if you believe Wikipedia's account of the word. And I do... oh yes, I do.

Continue reading "I geek, therefore, I am." »

Posted by tamara at 07:01 PM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by tamara
Filed under Geeky | Recommendations | Serious Substantive Matters | Weird Stuff

(I dug this up while reading January's Harper's Weekly magazine in the break room today at work.)

From responses by the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, in Fort Greely, Alaska to a recent survey on new MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat).



The vanilla pudding is so good I ripped it open, licked the inside, and rolled around on top of it like a dog.

Am I supposed to add water to the peanut butter dessert?

Shitcan the meat chunk and give out more granola.

I don't personally like the cheese, but I can trade with it.

Should add Copenhagen dip.

Why in God's name would you put a vegetable in a MRE?

It sounded like a flatulence symphony in my tent all night.

The way it turned my mouth blue flooded my mind with childhood memories, and for a moment I was at peace.

Posted by in.dog.neato at 04:39 PM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by zra.
Filed under Found Stuff | Funny Stuff | Serious Substantive Matters

I was walking my dog this morning and came across two beer bottles in someone's front lawn on Kent Rd. At first I assumed they were a couple of empties, which I don't mind picking up, but then noticed they had caps on. I kicked one and it was full! What's wrong with people that they can waste perfectly good premium beer like that? If I were ten years younger I would definitely drink them. They are pretty crusty with road salt and that makes me a little nervous. Another thing you should know is that today is my birthday. My wife says that it's a sign. If I were cleverer with this whole internet stuff I would post a survey but I need to know; are these beers drinkable?

Posted by chadp at 11:10 AM | Permalink | 25 comments, last by heysme
Filed under Bitching | Found Stuff | Serious Substantive Matters

with geek prom coming up and the death of gygax i though it would be a good idea to present this. it may have been on here before, but it's always good for a laugh.

Continue reading "fear of girls" »

Posted by they once called me king neal at 07:03 AM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by Bad Cat!
Filed under Funny Stuff | Geeky | Serious Substantive Matters | Web Fun

Since we were discussing this earlier, I thought it appropriate.

Posted by ironic1 at 11:00 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by Beverly
Filed under Puzzler | Serious Substantive Matters

Stand up, men! Be proud and pisseth erectly! And wash your hands, too.

And, while we're on the subject, what's your favorite urinal stance?

Continue reading "Thou Shalt Wash Thy Hands after Ye Pisseth" »

Posted by ironic1 at 06:15 PM | Permalink | 13 comments, last by eclectic_poly_pair
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

Posted by adam at 02:14 PM | Permalink | 49 comments, last by zra.
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

Press release feb. 26, 2008, 09:40 a/m.

Shell oil developing 4 billion dollar wind farm in Texas panhandle. Not to be outdone Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens announced hie own wind project in the same area , a 10 billion dollar project. Pickens made his money on betting early on promising new energy sources.
Our federal government is going to spend 100 billion dollar deal outsourcing the building of flying gas tanks to the french. Meanwhile locally the Decc hocky rink and the gambling sports train move forward at an estimated cost of 500 million dollars. Change you got to love.

Posted by Frank at 06:54 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by frank e.
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

"Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb."

Posted by Mary at 12:32 PM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by Drifter
Filed under Funny Stuff | Serious Substantive Matters

There is a battle going on the funny side of the street between Brian Matuszak, the Renegade Board, and Teatro Zuccone (the Zeppa Foundation backed new owners of the venue at 222 E. Superior St.). It has to do with the terms of the lease and who gets what, especially when it comes to running the box office for Renegade productions. Brian has stated he's willing to resign over the issue. More can be found in this Duluth News Tribune article.

I am one of the Renegade regulars mentioned in the article who got the letter from Sue and I have to say, from the letter, I'm concerned. I contacted one of the board members to get a different point of view, but she didn't want to comment on it, understandably. So, without the board coming forward and giving their point of view on the lease, I'm apt to take Brian's side of things. Hey, Renegade Board, I'm all ears.

Posted by ironic1 at 09:15 AM | Permalink | 40 comments, last by iw
Filed under Current Events | Duluth News | Duluth Scene | Overheard in Duluth | Serious Substantive Matters

Posted by in.dog.neato at 06:33 AM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by Buttonhead
Filed under Funny Stuff | Serious Substantive Matters

doesn't someone 'round here have a daughter named hazel? i have a hazel hankie for her that i found at an estate sale. i have a number of monogrammed things, (belts, shirts, and such) but none of them have MY name on them. the ironic-ish fun of wearing things with others names on them has worn thin for me. i think we need a swap spot...

maybe the only real beneficiaries of a swap would be guys named bill or tom who need button-up work shirts, but i think it's worth a ponder. thoughts?

Posted by greyophelia at 12:56 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Beverly
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

So, I'm going out on a limb here to try to establish a Hash Kennel here in Duluth. Hash House Harriers can only be described as a "drinking club with a running problem."

I used to hash when I was in the Navy many many moons ago, and now that I'm sort of interested in picking up the activity again (running), I find myself unable to commit to the more structured "hoity toity" type running groups.

Hashing is a ton of fun, and the more the merrier. It plays out like a follow the leader run with "hares" marking the course with a 10 minute (or so) head start, and the rest of the pack (hashers) in pursuit. There is most always beer and other libations at the completion of the run, and members of the kennel (hash group) get to have nicknames (which, by the by, is the origin of my post handle...in.dog.neato.)

Continue reading "Harriers Wanted:" »

Posted by in.dog.neato at 06:04 PM | Permalink | 12 comments, last by pcm
Filed under Duluth Scene | I Need Your Service | Promotion | Serious Substantive Matters

I Falls is now officially the "Icebox of the Nation," legally edging out Fraser CO for bragging rights and the title...

"In 1988, a meteorology professor at St. Cloud State University submitted an affidavit saying Fraser can’t be the nation’s icebox, “because 11 months out of the year its meat would thaw and its ice cream would melt, while throughout the winter all meat and ice cream would be safe in International Falls.”

Incedentally, this morning's low temp in I Falls: -30 with an expected high of -22...and a wind chill of -47 to -44.
Fraser CO: a balmy high of 35, low of 3.

Posted by in.dog.neato at 09:18 AM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by tony d.
Filed under Current Events | Earth | Media Watch | Serious Substantive Matters

Hey, folks! Chris Correia from Duluth Solutions here. I'm looking for folks to discuss books online on the Duluth Solutions discussion forum.

Are you part of an existing club or group which currently meets face to face and is interested in, or willing to, expand your discussion to include other people online? Are you someone who is interested in connecting online to discuss books with others?

I'll set up a specific discussion board on Duluth Solutions for each book that clubs/groups/people want to discuss. My hope is that people are interested in expanding discussion of books and ideas to a broader group than those people with whom we naturally or usually associate.

Contact me at chris@duluthsolutions.com if you are interested or have any questions

Posted by Chris Correia at 10:40 AM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by tamara
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

Continue reading "Support Our Oops v.2.0" »

Posted by in.dog.neato at 07:58 PM | Permalink | 11 comments, last by ironic1
Filed under Bitching | Current Events | Politics | Serious Substantive Matters

love,
tamara

Posted by tamara at 12:42 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by tamara
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

I love movies.

Posted by mayday at 08:52 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by tamara
Filed under Art | Bitching | Movie Reviews | Serious Substantive Matters

Boy I hope I don't sound stupid again , but what the hell. Yesterday when I was on the computer there occurred a noise caused by a surge , who knows, but different. It got me thinking about the fact that I haven't backed up my stuff. Having lost my hard drive once and not liking it. I started looking to see how to do that. I see there are many ways. CDs ,DVD, key drive, external hard drive, online backup etc. I kinda like the external hard drive which backs up everything as you use your computer. Is that expensive? Actually, thinking about this, I don't want to try this by myself. Starfire , can you do this and would you still like to trade? I would still like to hear everybodies opinions as I can't be the only one in this position.

Posted by Frank at 07:28 AM | Permalink | 13 comments, last by baci
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters | Serious Substantive Matters

Boy I hope I don't sound stupid again , but what the hell. Yesterday when I was on the computer there occurred a noise caused by a surge , who knows, but different. It got me thinking about the fact that I haven't backed up my stuff. Having lost my hard drive once and not liking it. I started looking to see how to do that. I see there are many ways. CDs ,DVD, key drive, external hard drive, online backup etc. I kinda like the external hard drive which backs up everything as you use your computer. Is that expensive? Actually, thinking about this, I don't want to try this by myself. Starfire , can you do this and would you still like to trade? I would still like to hear everybodies opinions as I can't be the only one in this position.

Posted by Frank at 07:28 AM | Permalink | 13 comments, last by baci
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters | Serious Substantive Matters

Ari Derfel of San Francisco started saving his trash in Dec of 2006...just to see how much he'd accumulate.

Check some of the comments on his blog...I find it interesting (and almost humerous) that conducting an experiment of this type really set a bunch of neo-conservative meme trolls on their ears...

Posted by in.dog.neato at 06:12 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

And the worst part is, for all I know, next Christmas might be too late.

Posted by Barrett at 03:05 AM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by funkenschutz
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

in recent light of these dipshits:

i've decided to live the rest of my life like this:

just saying......

Posted by c-freak at 11:36 AM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Nettles
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

Spent the day NOT driving when I was suppose to, instead I spent the day with the new turntable and Audacity converting a number (what number exactly?) of old LPs into MP3s... including ...

Posted by edgeways at 08:33 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by Beverly
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

Posted by in.dog.neato at 06:46 PM | Permalink | 15 comments, last by rex
Filed under Music | Puzzler | Serious Substantive Matters

Posted by in.dog.neato at 08:03 PM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by baci
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

Although Duluth didn't make it ... our friends in Ely did.

Posted by traceydee at 10:17 AM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by sam
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

With all the seriousness lately on PDD, I thought we should bring to the forefront one of the most serious issues facing PDDers today: which A-list stars are going to be on Celebrity Apprentice? Yes, Donald Trump has promised one of the most intriguing Apprentices yet, chockful of A-list celebrities to compete for $250k donated to the celeb's favorite charity. Yes, that's right, A-list stars, the Donald promises!

The A-List:

Stephen Baldwin
Omarosa
Gene Simmons
Tito Ortiz
Lennox Lewis
Carol Alt
Vinny Pastore
John Cena
Marilu Henner

Check out that list - winners, all of them! A-list for sure!

I know, I know, it doesn't *seem* like it will be important but come January when we are all shivering in our hovels and it's pledge season (again) on PBS, you'll be thanking me!

*I feel sick.

Posted by tamara at 10:47 PM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by nbayuk
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

Well, we saw his featured video on YouTube and now comes the price of fame. John talks with MPR about the pain that comes with being featured on YouTube.

Yeah, I hear ya John. You put yourself out there and often you're being flip and off the cuff and then you get raked over the coals for every little thing you say. Like you said in the interview, most of the comments you can just brush off but some hit home hard. I've had that happen (though I've never had 2400 comments in my inbox) and it can make me feel physically ill. Some comments get in your head and roll around and around like a gerbil in a wheel and you just can't shake it.

Anyway, the interview is worth reading or listening to.

Continue reading "John Holden on MPR this morning" »

Posted by ironic1 at 07:08 AM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Lukie
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

OK. I know the deadline for the contest was yesterday but only one of you have submitted a design so I am extending the deadline till Saturday at 5PM. That should give you folks who were working on something that little extra time you needed.

See you at the Parade!

Posted by Starfire at 10:17 AM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by Beverly
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters | Web Fun

Ely's hospital (Ely-Bloomenson) is in serious need of a new MRI...but these suckers are 'spensive!
Fortunately they're in the running for a new machine, but here's the catch: there's an online contest to award some lucky community hospital the new machine.

it runs on votes (of course) so naturally, the hospital with the most votes wins...

SO...community conscious PDDers...head on over to WELY.com and click the link, watch the vid and vote...

please.

Posted by in.dog.neato at 06:47 AM | Permalink | 11 comments, last by molly
Filed under Current Events | I Need Your Service | Promotion | Serious Substantive Matters

I almost killed you when I tried to change lanes in the tunnels on 35 today. I think I recognized you but couldn't be sure. Regardless, I'm really very sorry.

I drive a green van, but please don't hunt me down.

If I can do anything to make this right (if its still bothering you), or you just bitch at me, send me an email. Sorry.

-Dave

Posted by d.mauling at 09:41 AM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by xkabukislaybaler
Filed under Serious Substantive Matters

DNT: Do you think crime is getting worse in Duluth?

Charlie Bell: I think people have moved into Duluth that don’t belong here. I think we see people walking the streets that don’t fit the identities, that don’t fit what we normally have, don’t fit the citizens that have lived here for years and years. They do stand out.

Read the whole interview regarding crime in Duluth with Charlie Bell and Don Ness here.

Posted by Starfire at 07:01 AM | Permalink | 48 comments, last by Chris
Filed under Creepy Duluth Stuff | Current Events | Duluth News | Politics | Serious Substantive Matters

I'm on the Interwebs! See me tell you why I like Donny Ness for Mayor.

Posted by Starfire at 08:46 AM | Permalink | 14 comments, last by adam
Filed under Current Events | Promotion | Serious Substantive Matters

The Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault (PAVSA) will host the 27th Annual Art Auction this fall featuring all new, original artwork, fine foods, two cash bars, and live entertainment. All of the proceeds will directly help fund support services to victims of sexual assault and PAVSA’s mission to end sexual violence in the Northland.

Where: Holiday Inn Great Lakes Ballroom
When: Saturday, November 10, 2007

Doors Open at 5pm
Silent Auction 5:30-7pm
Dessert/Live Auction 7:30-8:30pm
Exquisite Gourmet Appetizers: All Evening

Live music performed by Sterling Waters

Admission Tickets: $45.00 ($22.50 tax deductible)
To Purchase Tickets: Call 218-726-1442

Visit www.pavsa.org for up to date auction items available

Continue reading "27th Annual PAVSA Art Auction" »

Posted by pmanisto at 01:21 PM | Permalink | 1 comment by edgeways
Filed under Art | Duluth Scene | For Sale | I Need Your Service | Music | Promotion | Serious Substantive Matters

This Sunday we will have 6 homes for sale on tour. There are all new construction and all are gorgeous. It will be f