Goodbye Habeas Corpus
The Senate has voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act , which contains a provision that would allow the military to abduct American citizens, on US soil, without charges or trial, indefinitely. Ex CIA analyst Ray McGovern discusses it here. Both Minnesota senators voted yea. This is a big deal!
William (Billy) Harper found dead at UMD
UMD released the name of a student found dead in his dorm Monday. William “Billy” Harper, 19 from Coon Rapids, was discovered dead in his room at Heany Hall on Monday. Lisa Erwin, chancellor of student life, says it appears he died of natural causes. Billy Harper was enrolled in the Labowitz School of Business and Economics. He was very active in sports and talented football player in high school. My prayers are with his friends and family.
Poverty in Duluth
A public lecture by Dave Benson (executive director of the Damiano Center) happened to a standing-room only crowd at 5pm in the UMD Library Rotunda. I had to sit in the next room and listen intently. (more…)
This week: Avenged Sevenfold, The Nutcracker, Rubber Chicken and more
Tuesday, Dec. 6
The College of St. Scholastica counts down to the lighting of its Christmas trees with a candlelit event.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
Avenged Sevenfold plays at Amsoil Arena.
Thursday, Dec. 8
Dink Tank, Duluth’s only resident sketch comedy act, is back with Return of the Dinks.
Friday, Dec. 9
Two productions of The Nutcracker open tonight. One at the Myles Reif Performing Arts Center in Grand Rapids and the other at the DECC. In its second week is Rubber Chicken Theater’s fourth annual holiday sketch-comedy revue. This year it’s titled “The Running (Unopposed) Man, or, Another Fine Ness You’ve Gotten Us Into”
Saturday, Dec. 10
Lower Chester Park re-opens with ice skating, concessions and a proclamation from the mayor. R.T. Quinlan’s hosts a night of indie rock with A Winter Downpour headlining.
Keep checking the PDD Calendar for continuously awesome events.
Hair Pride?
For all the beards and mustaches raised in Duluth this fall, I expected more of a bang for the end of M’ovember harvest – the epic month of facial hair. Was something posted somewhere? A gallery?
I do some freelance work for SwimCreative and see they posted this video of Mike Malone getting a classic shave on their Facebook page.
Ten Minutes with Photographer John Heino
John Heino photo from his Radiance series.
Just posted at Ennyman’s Territory, an inside glimpse of the creative energies that drive John Heino.
Symptoms that men Paul Lundgren should never ignore
Now on Yahoo News, Paul Lundgren‘s Doppelganger. And it looks like he needs to take it easy.
Bonus trails?
I was just trying to figure out trail mileage in Hartley on the internets. I found a good enough map on the Hartley Nature Center website, but while poking around I also saw on aerial maps that there is a lot of contiguous greenspace across Howard Gnesen Road to the west. Anyone know what is over there? Is it private or public, and are there trails? Not that there aren’t enough trails in Hartley to get good and lost without heading out of the park boundaries.
Duluth’s a beautiful town, man
From last week’s City Pages, “Wilco’s John Stirratt talks about the band’s Minnesotan ties“:
Jeff Gage: Just last year, you guys became honorary citizens of Duluth. Have you been doing any house shopping up there yet?
John Stirratt: I don’t know if I want to move any further north — not that I want to sound wimpy to a Minnesotan. But that’s a beautiful town, man, it really is. I would totally hang out there during a summer.
Duluth’s Downtown Casino
As someone still fairly new to town, I’m not sure I understand the whole story behind the legalities of the Fond-du-Luth casino downtown.
Is it located on sovereign Indian territory or is the Fond du Lac band just the landlords? Why do we have such an eyesore that encourages anti-social behavior in our downtown at all? Isn’t there some way to make it go away entirely in favor of say, a museum, or a book store, or affordable housing, or a cafe?
[BTW — I come from a family of origin where the scourge of gambling wreaked havoc. Yeah, yeah, I know people can enjoy gambling and do it responsibly — but can’t we at least leave that out of downtown and off in Nevada or on reservations? (Of course, I don’t think it’s really healthy for reservations either, but if that’s a sovereignty issue I respect that.)]
Remote Car Starter and Installation
Winter is upon us, and we have decided to get a remote car starter. We are new to the area, and do not know much about these things. We thought the nice people here might have some advice on what remote starter to get and what local Duluth/Superior business is good to install it. We would like to have a remote starter that can start the car from far away, and have it installed by some good people in the area. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks!
Yee-eee-eee-haaaw!
Personally, I find it impossible to drive past a situation like this and not have a Dukes-of-Hazzard fantasy. And it always surprises me that no one goes for it. A trailer positioned like this is clearly a stunt-jumping invitation for any West Duluth dirtbag with a muscle car — and I don’t see how any judge could disagree.
“You’re not dead til you’re warm and dead.”
[ted id=796]
Duluth got a mention in this 2010 Ted Talk by cell biologist Mark Roth: Suspended Animation is in our Grasp.
More specifically he mentions the miraculous case of Janice Goodger …
There was a 65-year-old woman in Duluth, Minnesota last year that was found frozen and without a pulse in her front yard one morning in the winter, and they brought her back to life. The next day, she was doing so well, they wanted to run tests on her. She got cranky and just went home.
Highly Controversial Marc Gartman Chocolate and Cheese Ween poster revealed!
I ran into Marc Gartman last night, who had this item hot off Miss Zoey Cohen’s drawing pad.
Although I audibly groaned to myself at every stage of the Ween cover art controversy (starting with “Ween … and you?,” continuing with “Sex and Rock and Roll,” and finally dragging to a temporary halt with “This is what a feminist looks like“) I now personally endorse as much disagreement and debate about this as possible.
The Art Scene This Weekend
Just posted at Ennyman’s Territory, “Twin Ports Area Arts Scene Gears Up for the Holidays.”
This is a small collection of things to see and do here in Duluth and Superior. Always get the full skinny by reading The Wave and The Reader.
Duluth Preschools
My daughter just turned four in October. She won’t make the cut-off for kindergarten next fall so we’re looking for a preschool to enroll her in next fall. Any recommendations?
Tycoons soft opening expected soon
The rumor going around is that Tycoons Alehouse & Eatery is having a soft opening Dec. 1. Can anyone confirm or deny? Does anyone know when it will finally open? Inquiring minds want to know!
Contract position with Duluth Public Arts Commision
— Duluth Public Arts Commission Coordinator Job Description —
The DPAC Coordinator performs administrative support for the Duluth Public Arts Commission. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: attending monthly and all ad hoc DPAC meetings; take detailed and accurate minutes at each DPAC meeting; manage communications internally including emailing meeting minutes and monthly reminders of meetings; manage verbal and written external communications when appropriate with artists, art venues, other community organizations, press and others as directed; making meeting arrangements above and beyond monthly meeting: screening and directing telephone calls for DPAC commissioners; tracking submissions and communication from DPAC Web page; preparing reports and financial data; manage Web page updates and changes; manage airport boxes up to and including transportation of art pieces, installation of pieces, provide secure and temporary storage for art pieces; general customer relations.
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Trampled by Turtles – “Where is My Mind”
Produced by Justin Gustavison and edited by Angel Gustavison.
Siberian Husky for Adoption
This little guy came from a hoarding situation in September. All the dogs have found new homes and he’s the last one! He’s being fostered in Duluth through the Range Regional Animal Rescue. He’s learned how to be a pet and is ready for his forever home.You can see his PetFinder page for more info.
The shelter named him ‘Kelsey’ and we’ve changed it to ‘Dasher’! You’ll understand why when you see him outside!
Because of Dasher’s background, he cannot go to a house with small animals. He is a younger dog and needs a yard to run around in.
Darin Bergsven featured in Lake Voice
Here’s a nice profile of musician Darin Bergsven. Thanks to the Lake Voice for singing about one of our local unsung culture heroes.
Full disclosure: Darin’s a good friend, and I’m quoted in the article, but that does not detract from his, or the article’s, awesomeness.
