Paul Lundgren Posts

Minnesota Cold: Shooting a Super Soaker

Nathan Ziegler, principal at Hope Academy in Minneapolis, shares his fun cold experiments.

UMD professor in Antartica

UMD Geological Sciences Professor John Goodge traveled to Antarctica to collect and analyze rocks to build a better picture of the continent hidden beneath the polar ice cap.

Check out the New York Times slide show Rocks, Ice and Science in Antarctica and the Scientist at Work blog to get your geek on.

Kessler leaving Northland’s NewsCenter — third notable Duluth TV departure of 2011

The Duluth News Tribune is reporting that Northland’s NewsCenter meteorologist George Kessler is leaving Duluth for the state of Virginia.

This follows the previously announced career change of Eyewitness News‘ Sandy Drag and retirement of Dennis Anderson.

The icons fly from us.

How to Use a Condom / Owner’s Instructions for Rainshow’r Model RS-502

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Crackbrained20010117TheBottom

As published in Duluth’s Ripsaw newspaper, Jan. 17, 2001.
 

Get well soon, Craig Minowa

From Cloud Cult’s website:

Cloud Cult has announced the cancellation of the band’s upcoming performances at First Avenue (January 21) and Lutsen (February 5). On Thursday, Cloud Cult’s Craig Minowa was hospitalized with heart issues.

Although the condition necessitates a temporary hiatus from performances, doctors are suggesting a noninvasive heart surgery would likely be performed in the next few weeks to bring permanent remedy to the problem. We apologize for any complications, and we look forward to returning with more energy than ever in the coming months.

R.I.P. James Bothwell, 1986 Principal, Morgan Park School

James W. Bothwell died on Jan. 13. He had a long career as a teacher and principal in St. Paul, but in 1986 he had a stint in Duluth as Morgan Park Junior High School’s interim principal, following the mid-school-year retirement of longtime principal Milan S. Karich and preceding the launch of Jon Vomachka’s reign.

I was in seventh grade and not much of an outlaw during Bothwell’s brief term, so I don’t have any good stories to relate, but I remember him seeming to be quite a nice guy. Does anyone have more specific memories to share?

Ensculptic — Minnetrista, Minnesota

Ensculptic Ensculptic interior

The name of this house is “Ensculptic,” which is short for “environmental sculpture in plastic.” Most people prefer to call it the “Mushroom House,” “Flintstone House,” “Hobbit House” or simply “That Weird House in Minnetrista.”

The place is now known as “The Foam House” on Houselogic’s “7 Crazy Houses” list.

Tim Pawlenty on The Daily Show

[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]

The complete, unedited interview from last night.

Second Annual Duluth Renters Summit

More info on the Home Line website.

Mike and Kurt’s Kiteboarding Session in Mahtomedi, Minnesota

Ski Hut Cross-country Ski Weekend

January 14 and 15

Lessons in classic and skate techniques. World Cup skate ski, boot and pole demos. Details at Duluth XC Ski Club website.

Giant Panda becoming China King Buffet

The Giant Panda restaurant at 215 N. Central Avenue in West Duluth has closed.

ChinaKingWestDuluth

No, Amsoil isn’t moving its corporate headquarters into the Spirit Valley Shopping Center. A woman unloading the truck said a new Chinese restaurant, under different ownership, is moving in. She said it will be called China King Buffet and be open in a few days.

Duluth Lakewalk East Extension

The city of Duluth and the Short Elliott Hendrickson engineering firm are holding a design charette for phases 4 and 5 of the Lakewalk East Extension on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 9:30 a.m. in the Duluth Radisson Hotel’s Great Hall.

The extension will be from 60th Avenue East to Brighton Beach. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2012. Federal, DNR and local funding has been secured.

The charette will discuss possible routes and trail design. RSVP Matt Bolf (mbolf @ sehinc.com) if you plan to attend.

A Guy in an Orange Jacket Climbing the Ice at Casket Quarry in West Duluth

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I should note that this guy is using climbing equipment, and he’d he dead if he wasn’t, because he fell about three minutes after this photo was taken.

PDD’s little upgrade and the glitch with the Smart Unread Comments plugin

If you’re one of those compulsive people who likes to read every single comment on Perfect Duluth Day, the past few days have been a challenge for you.

The “Comments” column on the left is supposed to show which posts have new comments you haven’t read, but it hasn’t been working since PDD upgraded to WordPress 3.0.4 on Dec. 31.

In the meantime, if you’re noticing anything else not functioning properly since the upgrade, let us know. The comment thing is the only thing we’ve noticed.

UPDATE: The problem was fixed on Jan. 3, so there should be no more issues.

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