June 2020 Posts

Short story about PDD blog comments’ infinite recursion of self-referentiality

With regards to a recent sarcastic comment by Vicarious about me posting on PDD about an interview I did about a PDD post, I was reminded of this Richardson brothers story. It was inspired by a war in the PDD comments section back in the old days, but the gist is infinite recursion in blog comments.

Robin Washington interviews Jim Richardson about PDD Confederate essay

Robin Washington interviewed me on Wisconsin Public Radio about the essay I wrote for PDD denouncing my white Confederate heritage.

PDD Video Lab: Cruising the Duluth Harbor on the Flame

In this edition of the PDD Video Lab we take a cruise with Lorraine and the kids on the Flame excursion boat in 1964. At the midway point of the video, the scene switches to the Edgewater Motel.

Bear with cheeseballs container stuck on head rescued

KARE-TV out of Minneapolis reports a family fishing on Marshmiller Lake near Bloomer, Wis. — about 100 miles south of Duluth — pulled “a cheesy ball container” off the head of a black bear swimming on the lake.

The rescue was captured on video. The raw footage is below.

Happy 17th birthday to us

There are free birthday cupcakes at Wussow’s drive-through from 5:10 to 6:30 p.m. (or until they are gone) tonight, June 29, in celebration of Perfect Duluth Day’s anniversary!

Coldsnap Photography Pro-Am Series with Christian Dalbec

John Gregor’s ColdSnap Photography is holding “pro-am” presentations. Last week’s session featured Christian Dalbec. Dalbec finds a way to make a sleepy shore exotic and exciting. Check out the presentation on Zoom.

Duluth You & Me: Summertime Racers

Use the link below for a printable PDF for your drawing and coloring pleasure.
Duluth You & Me: Summer Time Racers

Follow the Duluth You & Me subject tag to see additional pages. For background on the book see the original post on the topic.

Floaty Flotilla event canceled due to small craft advisory

Hi all. I am canceling the Floaty Flotilla at the last minute because the wind has kicked up enough for a small-craft advisory. Will reschedule for when the water is like glass. Thank you~

Floaty Flotilla


 

PDD Quiz: June 2020 in Review

See how much you remember about the events that made headlines this month!

The next PDD quiz will explore area swimming spots; it will be published on July 12. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by July 8.

Steve Solkela jumps a bike while holding an accordion

Iron Range musician/stuntman Steve Solkela straps on the squeezebox and leaps over a moving bicycle … because … fun.

Postcard from Franklin School in 1910

This postcard was mailed 110 years ago today — June 27, 1910. It shows Franklin Elementary School at 411 E. Seventh St., and the surrounding neighborhood. Franklin School was demolished in 1979 and is today the site of Hillside Sport Court Park. More on the history of Franklin School can be found on zenithcity.com.

Ripped at JT’s Bar in 2000

[Editor’s note: Set your Gayback Machine to the last few months of the Clinton administration. For this week’s essay we’ve once again pulled out a relic from the archive of Slim Goodbuzz, who visited JT’s Bar at 1506 N. Third St. in Superior and penned this report for the June 28, 2000 issue of the Ripsaw newspaper. Additional historical notes: JT’s closed in the summer of 2011 and was replaced by Shenanigan’s Bar. In late 2012 it became the Whiskey Ward, which closed in 2013. Izzy’s BBQ Lounge & Grill opened in August 2014 and remains there today.]

The first time I went to JT’s, I was young and foolish. I didn’t know it was a gay bar. “This place looks like a gay bar,” I exclaimed to the room, provoking a barrage of turned heads and strange looks. But despite embarrassing myself in public, I actually ended up having a pretty good time that night.

Then, a few weeks ago, a press release from the White House showed up at the RipSaw office reading, “I, William J. Clinton, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2000 as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate our diversity and recognize the gay and lesbian Americans whose many and varied contributions have enriched our national life.” So, I decided to get drunk at JT’s. I simply could not pass up an invitation like that.

Selective Focus: LampsnTime – Rob and Teresa Reese

When you walk through the Duluth Antique Marketplace on Grand Avenue, like most antique malls, each booth has its own specialty and feel. But when you approach the LampsnTime booth, even from a distance, it’s clear there’s another layer of personality to it. Rob and Teresa Reese transform old discarded items into reimagined pieces of functional and decorative art.

LNT: With Teresa’s fascination with the Borg technology portrayed in Star Trek and Rob’s interest in all that is “haunted” naturally we fell in love with the Steampunk alternate history of the “Past that never was.” We repurpose all sorts of odd pieces we happen upon into industrial lamps, clocks, steampunk accessories and Assemblage art.

Six years ago, Rob made a lamp and friends expressed a desire to purchase one if he made more. That was the start to what we have become, Lampsntime.

Interview with Artist/Activist Votan

Artist and activist Votan visited Duluth’s American Indian Community Housing Organization with his family to show support and bring supplies during COVID-19. Video produced by Jeremy “JayGee” Gardner.

Ingeborg von Agassiz – “Elixir of Love”

A new track by Duluth’s Ingeborg von Agassiz.

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