News and Current Affairs
Shorter Days for All of Us?
Maybe this isn’t really a local enough topic for PDD, but given the earlier post on whether we’re vulnerable here to earthquakes, a Yahoo news story today seems interesting and relevant. The Chile quake apparently may have shifted earth’s axis, and made earth days slightly shorter. And this has happened before with big quakes, too.
Reminds me, too, of a Harper’s article from 2000 about dam building. There’s a quotation in that article that says: 
“The planet accommodates 40,000 large dams–dams more than four stories high–and some 800,000 small ones. They have shifted so much weight that geophysicists believe they have slightly altered the speed of the earth’s rotation, the tilt of its axis, and the shape of its gravitational field. Together they blot out a terrain bigger than California.”
So, any thoughts–think we’re headed towards shorter Perfect Duluth Days due to earthquakes and dam building?
Journalistic Integrety at Stake, part 2
Personally, I didn’t care much about the accuracy of Jeff Tweedy quotes in various media, but I believe I’ve found a media issue of the utmost importance to our society.
In the Duluth News Tribune’s report about Superior High School wrestler Nikola Bogojevic winning the state championship in his weight class, this paragraph jumped out at me:
Moments later he grabbed Superior coach Bill Gedde and put him in an airplane spin — made famous by professional wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper — to celebrate the title.
Since when did Roddy Piper make the airplane spin famous? I remember Mike Rotunda using it as his signature maneuver in the 1980s, but I don’t remember ever seeing Piper do it. I mean, I suppose it happened, but I just don’t associate that move with Piper.
Am I right here?
By the way, congratulations to Bogojevic for his victory, his awesome season, and most of all putting his coach in an airplane spin. That’s epic.
What is the risk of earthquakes in Duluth?
Does anyone know about the seismic issues in this area? What kind of risk are we at for an earthquake? If one occurred in Lake Superior, could a tsunami be generated? If so, how big? Any other relevant facts or thoughts related to this?
Major earthquakes and shifts in weather patterns seem to be the norm these days. Does this align with anyone’s scientific knowledge or religious beliefs associated with the “End Times”? And, if you think it is the end times, is Duluth a good place to be? I sure think it is.
Brewing beer in Duluth and Superior
Topic #1: According to a story from the Associated Press, a Minnesota House panel will consider a bill today that would make it legal to brew beer in basements. The story specifically references home brewers. Personally, I have brewed beer in at least two different Minnesota basements, and I had no idea it was illegal to do so.
Reading what I think is the overview of the bill, however, it seems to have nothing to do with home brewing. It’s about producing “beer or other beverages for commercial sale.” Am I missing something?
Topic #2: The local micro brewing industry sure seems to be taking off. In addition to Lake Superior Brewing Co., Fitger’s Brewhouse and Thirsty Pagan Brewing, Carmody Irish Pub began brewing beer recently and a brewpub is in the works at Clyde Park. Further into the future, another brewpub could be popping up in Canal Park at the old Duluth Spring Co. location. I wonder how the total gallons produced in the area will compare to 50 years ago.
For those of you who just don’t understand the Tea Party movement
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV6bNpNU4ls&feature=player_embedded
Cheryl Skafte IS Don Ness!
Cheryl Skafte as Don Ness.
John Munson as Rockin’ Johnny Rocker, Morning Drive Homicide Detective.
Christa Lawler as Christa Lawler. And music from Sara Thomsen.
That’s a lot of entertainment for just five dollars.
The Rubber Chicken Radio Hour, broadcast live on KUWS 91.3FM this Thursday at 8pm. (But all the fun is had in the live studio audience at The Shack in Superior…) Call (218) 213-2780 for tix.
Duluth’s Tentative Good News
So, which are you most excited about?
* Duluth being in the running for ultra-high speed Internet access.
* Duluth being in the running for a plant making wind turbine tower tops.
* Plans to finally connect the Munger Trail and the Lakewalk.
* The recent interest by developers in creating student housing at the old Armory on London Road.
What are the odds-makers saying? Can Duluth nail down all four of these? Even one would be awesome. I’ll bet we get at least two.
MPR interview with Mayor Ness – Duluth tries to land high-speed Internet via Google
The mayor of Duluth is ready to throw his city’s hat in the ring for a new Google experiment to test ultra-high speed Internet access.
MPR’s Steven John talks to Don Ness about his city’s plan.
The axe falls again at the DNT
What happened?
The News Tribune laid off two employees today, including education reporter Sarah Horner.
Why?
It’s a long story. And I’ll preface it by saying that while this comes from someone on the union side of the fence, what follows are facts that I don’t believe the company would protest.
Duluth antique dealer sick of appraising Smurf collections
Antique dealer sick of appraising Smurf collections.
The Onion just republished this 2002 story, which many of you may have missed eight years ago.
Gigabyte broadband from Google – in Duluth?
Here’s a press release we’ll be sending out about our intent to explore Google’s offer to bring gigabyte speed broadband to an entire community. There are many unanswered questions and any application may be a long shot, but it would be a game-changer for Duluth. I think it’s worth putting our best foot forward and see what happens… If you want to help out, check the bottom of the post. See you around… Don
Mayor Don Ness has indicated the City of Duluth‘s intent to pursue a partnership with Google to bring fiber-to-home connections to city residents. Google plans to select a community to test ultra-high speed connections at more than a gigabit per second later this year through a competitive process.
The following is a statement from Mayor Ness on the city’s intent:
We want Duluth, Minnesota to be at the forefront of a new gigaband revolution in America. For America to be competitive into the future, we need to be aggressive at investing in our data infrastructure. To unfairly paraphrase Tip O’Neill “All bandwidth use is local” – Google’s community initiative will be a powerful tool to demonstrate the positive impact of local broadband improvements.
Denfeld and Ordean – DNT nails it
I think today might be the third time the Duluth News Tribune has editorialized that Duluth’s two high schools (when the long range facilities plan is complete) should be called Denfeld and Ordean. (‘Denfeld,’ ‘Ordean’ preserve past, discourage east-west divide.)
I couldn’t agree more, and I wish the school district would finally put this issue to rest. Are you with me, people?
That Didn’t Take Long
Referring back to an earlier PDD post on Supreme Court decision related to “Corporate Free Speech.”
So, they say they’re doing it ironically, but a liberal PR corporation is now running for Congress. Here’s a NY Times brief news, and funny-scary first campaign video. How long before a corporation actually does run for Congress? Any Duluth bookies making odds on that?
Thanks, mevdev, for sending me this one.
Minnesota Olympians
I am not a huge sports watcher. I like the Vikings, I appreciate the Twins and once in awhile I will watch a bit of the NCAA Men’s BB Tournament in March. But I do enjoy the Olympics. Especially the Winter Olympics. And I think part of the reason that I appreciate the winter games so much is that there are so many local athletes. I’ll admit, my favorite aspect of the “Miracle on Ice” game from (ouch) 30 years ago now is that so many Minnesotans played a role in that underdog-david-vs-goliath-come-from-behind-victory.
Here are a few lists of Minnesotans that are in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver from Bob Collins MPR NewsCut blog, and the Star Tribune, plus a cursory search of the NBC Winter Olympics web page. (more…)
Help Duluth YMCA Camp Miller get 50k grant from Pepsi Refresh Project.
The local Duluth Area Family YMCA is in the running for a grant offered by Pepsi in their “Pepsi Refresh Project” (Learn more here) to build a high ropes course at Camp Miller. They are current ranked #2 and need your help by voting for them. It is easy, click, signup and vote. Vote now here — >: https://www.refresheverything.com/YMCACampMiller
Comment on Sulfide Mining
Please remember to comment on the toxic PolyMet metal-sulfide mine Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) if you haven’t done so already.
The deadline is this is 4:30 p.m. this Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
We can’t allow Minnesota’s rivers to be damaged by acid mine drainage like rivers have been throughout Montana, Pennsylvania, and Ontario. Making comments creates an important public record for future lawsuits.
Comment:
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2051
More Info:
https://waterlegacy.org/sulfide_mining
Please pass this allow to any friends who might be interested.
Jitterbug’s Newscast
I thought that the “1000 foot shitters” was great but she may have topped it with “I am still stuck on the beaver!”
Good luck in Haiti. Miss you on the news!!
Wind Power Jobs
The news this morning of a major wind company considering Duluth, Superior, and the Iron Range is something we should really go after. There are four states in the running. If you like this type of development, contact your congressman. I’m sure they know about this but I think it would be really important to go do this. This could be huge for Duluth. This opportunity will not come every day. Thanks to those folks who were out front on this and got it to this stage. Anything I can do to help, ask.
Minnesota video producer’s contest-winning commercial won’t air during the Super Bowl
Despite being re-cut CBS ruled the spot, featuring a couple cubical clowns breaking wind, broke the barrier of good taste.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvRQ_9J_GDg&feature=player_embedded
Northland’s News Center? (the MLK version)
Came here to post on this but I see dlhmn beat me to it with a comment on my earlier post Northland’s “News” Center?
SMDC Rejects Contract Offer, Authorizes Strike
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/156923/publisher_ID/36/
FYI, SMDC netted $28.7 million in profits (despite being a “nonprofit” hospital) in 2007 and purchased over $5 million worth of property last year. CEO Peter Person makes $1.1 million per year. The average medical transcriptionist makes just on the threshold of a living wage – $35,000 per year. Solidarity! (Stay tuned for info on how you can help out…)
Recovering from Christmas (seen in Duluth)
A couple of items that struck me today. People apparently just dump their old trees in the Mount Royal Shopping center parking lot. And this sign didn’t seem to be doing much to stop them.
I also have been seeing a lot of construction equipment out clearing sidewalks. Near as I can tell about 2/3 of the city is covered in 2 inches of ice. Beneath the snow, that is.
News Tribune dumps Karwath, McLoughlin
Two more high-ranking executives in local media are out of work. Duluth News Tribune Executive Editor Rob Karwath and Circulation Manager Tim McLoughlin were laid off today. This follows the firing on Monday of Julie Moravchik, who was news director at Fox 21 News.
Duluth News Tribune Publisher Ken Browell released this statement:
Effective today the company has restructured management within the Editorial and Circulation Departments, resulting in the elimination of two management positions at the News Tribune. Executive Editor Rob Karwath and Circulation Manager Tim McLoughlin have been laid off. Both of these individuals have made significant contributions to the News Tribune during their careers. These were difficult business decisions. I will miss Rob and Tim both personally and professionally.