Paul Lundgren Posts

A superficial — and less superficial — look at the candidates for Minnesota governor

Aug 24, 2010 15 Comments

Setting aside the issues and personal party affiliations for a moment, which candidate for Minnesota Governor has the best website in terms of appearance and functionality?

Farheen Hakeem (Green)
Tom Horner (Independence)
Tom Emmer (Republican)
Mark Dayton (Democratic Farmer Labor)
Ken Pentel (Ecology Democracy)
Linda S. Eno (Resource)
Chris Wright (Grassroots)

As for substance, all the candidates seem to like to provide an “issues” section with a few paragraphs of philosophy about a handful of topics. So far, I’ve only seen two somewhat detailed position papers on the state budget:

Minnesota Works: Horner-Mulder Budget Outline
Mark Dayton’s Deficit Solution


News and Current Affairs, Politics

Rick Boo, Hot Rod and Hung at the NorShor

Aug 23, 2010 12 Comments

(Note: This post originally linked to a slideshow about the NorShor’s history, which is why comments to the post rave about time travel.)


History, Photos

Primary Election Sample Ballot for Douglas County, Wisconsin — Sept. 14, 2010

Aug 23, 2010 No Comments

Wisconsin is keeping it old school, with a traditional September primary. Here’s what’s on the ballot:

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News and Current Affairs, Politics

Hot Orpheum Centennial Action

Aug 20, 2010 No Comments

Photos from Thursday night at the NorShor, courtesy of the On 3 Design photo booth.

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Art, Events, History, Music

Duluth Parks and Recreation Master Plan

Aug 19, 2010 2 Comments

PDFs of the most recent draft:
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapters 4-5

There will be a public meeting to review the draft plan on Monday, Aug. 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Offices, 12 E. Fourth St. It’s your chance to talk to consultants, city staff, and the Parks and Recreation Commission and tell them what you think.


News and Current Affairs, Outdoors

The NorShor Theatre’s Mighty Tower

Aug 18, 2010 28 Comments

In preparation for the events this week honoring the Orpheum Theatre’s centennial at the NorShor, Tony Dierckins put together a slide show with some fantastic historical photographs. You can see the whole thing on Saturday — it’ll be looping in the NorShor’s balcony theater — but here’s one of my favorite images:

This is the tower that used to be part of the theater’s marquee. You’ve probably seen photos of it from the other direction, but this one uniquely looks out over the lake. The tower stood 65 feet above the theater, weighed over 300 tons, and was completely sheathed in porcelain. It used 3,000 lights and was said to be visible from 60 miles away.


History

Hey, wait, I wasn’t paying attention and now I’m upset and want everyone to go over the whole thing again from the beginning

Aug 17, 2010 30 Comments

So, remember a few weeks ago when I tried to spit out as much information as I could about the planned development in Riverside because apparently local news organizations didn’t think it was particularly controversial and had no interest in reporting on it until after the Duluth City Council voted?

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News and Current Affairs

Art in Bayfront Park, Aug. 21-22

Aug 16, 2010 No Comments

In between Tribute Fest and the Orpheum Centennial at the NorShor Theatre is another big event this weekend, the Bayfront Park Art Fair.

Over 80 artists will display their gallery-quality art in Bayfront Park on Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22. Admission is free. Food vendors range from mini donuts, cotton candy and cheese curds to hot dogs, burgers and chicken fried rice.

It’s gonna be a perfect Duluth weekend. Click the links above for the details.


Events

Duluth Turban Lady, 1997

Aug 16, 2010 11 Comments

In 1994 I worked for six months at the Holiday Stationstore at 3401 Grand Ave., next to Wheeler Fields. The store closed around 2003 and the building is empty now. As you can imagine, there were a number of characters that frequented the store. One of them we called Turban Lady.

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Photos ,

The Great Hawk Chase

Aug 14, 2010 1 Comment


Events, Outdoors, Sports

The Life and Brawls of Thomas Madden — former chief of West Duluth Police, saloon keeper and old fashioned thug

Aug 13, 2010 8 Comments

This post is a follow up to the post requesting information about Duluth’s old bowery district. The focus here is on Tom Madden, who managed to find himself in the news a lot. Set the Wayback Machine for 1891 and we’ll go in chronological order from there.

Dec. 13, 1891 | Duluth News Tribune

WILL IT BE MURDER?
——————————
Patrick Mulligan May Die From Injuries Received From Chief Madden.

Patrick Mulligan, who runs the “Little Diamond saloon on Central avenue, and who had his jaw broken a few days ago at the brickyard bagnio by a blow from ex Chief of Police Madden, was taken yesterday to St. Mary’s hospital, where he is now hovering between life and death. His jaw was set by Dr. Magie a day or two ago, but serious inflammation has set in, and the doctor said yesterday it would probably be necessary to put a silver tube in his throat to enable him to breathe. His case is a very serious one and the chances are even between life and death.

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History

The Duluth Accordionaires — Music to Eat Pizza By (1967)

Aug 12, 2010 19 Comments

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History, Music, Photos , ,

Duluth 2010 Primary Election Results

Aug 10, 2010 6 Comments

With 4,136 of 4,136 precincts reporting:

FEDERAL OFFICE


United States Representative, Minnesota District 8 Independence Party
Timothy Olson — 2,515 | 100%

United States Representative, Minnesota District 8
Republican Party
Chip Cravaack — 26,602 | 100%

United States Representative, Minnesota District 8
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
James L. Oberstar — 56,369 | 80%
W.D. (Bill) Hamm — 13,836 | 20%

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News and Current Affairs, Politics

A special primary election day message from the guy in Cotton who reminds us we’re all a bunch of toys

Aug 10, 2010 8 Comments

Yeah, this sign is from the 2008 election — and has been posted on PDD before — but it’s still up, and the “I told you so” has been added since then.

Whether you’re a toy or not, you still have the right to vote and bitch. You even have the right to not vote and still bitch. So take that for what it’s worth.

Sample ballot posted here.


News and Current Affairs, Politics

Iron Ore Bar in Tower, Minnesota

Aug 08, 2010 9 Comments

I heard it referred to by one of the locals as “Beirut.” It’s actually quite the normal-looking bar on the inside.


Photos, Recommendations ,
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