- Filter by:
- All
High: 27° / Low: 16° — Dude Weather Subscribe to Secrets Minneapolis / St. Paul
From the Strib: Former U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Rachel K. Paulose retaliated against a top prosecutor in her office who reported her for careless handling of classified homeland security reports, a watchdog agency said Wednesday.
Andrea Swensson tackles the 11 year legacy of the Minnesota hip hop supergoup the Heiruspecs. If you've somehow managed to remain unfamiliar with them, here are some started pages: Their Web page, their MySpace page (with music), and a recent video in which an Obama impersonator break dances.
Aaron points out that it is ridiculously easy to look up someone else's utility bills online here in the Twin Cities, and pay them, if you like. But is this a bug or a feature? After all, utility bills are public information. Aaron does a little digging, and then a little more. As it turns out, Mayor R.T. Rybak uses a lot more water than Aaron.
MnHotline has posted an ad looking for people to be in the audience for the taping of pilot game show, "Risk Your Meat," starring the ever bizarre Rich Kronfeld, formerly of Let's Bowl and, er, Dr. Sphincter. Not sure what this might be? It's a meat raffle, of course, and Kronfeld's version (YouTube video) has been hosted, on and off, at Grumpys for a while now. Still confused? Well, somebody on MnSpeak must have been to a meat raffle in the past -- share your experience!
Vikings defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams have been suspended for the last 4 regular season games. Both players had taken a weight loss supplement called "StarCaps." The supplement itself isn't banned by the NFL, but it contains an unlisted ingredient that is. Both Williams' argued that they had no way of knowing the banned ingredient was in the product. Sounds reasonable to me. Reactions from Reusse, Daily Norseman, Viking Age, Powers.
Ok MnSpeak folks, here's the deal: Having seen how it works in other states, I am selling ad space on my exams. I'm not kidding. I'm almost out of copies for the year, and I'm already over $1,000 out of pocket to buy the necessary books and materials. Give me some ideas on who to talk to and who might buy space. Star Tribune? Target? WCCO? Come on...help our children learn.
Brian Lambert interviews the newly-named Current PD, Jim McGuinn, over at mspmag.com. He'll begin overseeing things in January. While commercial music radio goes down the tubes, Jim's hiring restores my faith in terrestrial radio's ability to find the path back to BROADcasting; not NARROWcasting.
Some highlights:
"There's no doubt commercial radio is in trouble," said McGuinn, who is approximately twenty years younger than I am. "They're all dealing with the customization of choice everyone is struggling with. ["Customization of choice." I like that.] That struggle is what The Current is built on."
"The commercial stations I worked at had been hit with cost cutting so many times that really the only thing left on their minds was asking, 'What's the least amount of money we can spend on programming and still make it viable enough to sell to advertisers?'"
Touche', Jim. In the Age of the iPod, it's insanity for terrestrail radio to continue it's "niche" approach to programming. Hopefully, the Current can keep the bean-counters at bay with Jim's appointment.
Almost 200 uncounted ballots discovered in Ramsey County, that's what. To quote Jeff Rosenberg, "Conservative freakout in 3...2...1.... " Although, Ramsey County? Might they not favor Coleman?
TC Eats: Cosmos
We Got Served: Amazing Thailand
Camatcho Watcho: Forepaugh’s
TC Breakfast Club: This Bank Doesn't Need a Bailout
With word that a Lunds may be coming to downtown St. Paul, it's time to revisit one of the most important local questions: Where do you shop for groceries, and why?
Metro Magazine looks forward to the future of art: "No more year-end 'best-of' lists," they say "They are backward-looking and, frankly, who has the time?" In the meanwhile, MnSpeak's own Andy writes about A Day Without Artists. We might also consider what Minnesota will be like with fewer museums, as the Museum of American Art has, at least temporarily, closed.
Molly Priesmeyer looks at the Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (facts on the program; PDF from MnHousing.org) in which the Twin Cities will work together to purchase vacant homes in both cities. MnSpeak's own Ranty is quoted in the story: “I think it’s horrifying that all that money is going to demolition, for a number of reasons,” Nompelis tells the Daily Planet. “The first is that I don’t believe all of these homes should be demolished. It’s much cheaper and greener to renovate. And one of the things that could be used as an attraction to North Minneapolis is the low prices of these homes. By mowing these houses down we are removing opportunity.”
An eery letter The Rake got from Adam Minter two years ago: "...there was little indication that any serious effort was being made to halt potential attacks." And here's a blog post he wrote on Friday with pictures of Mumbai's "security." "In Bombay, we are in God’s hands."
Local Blogger Lily Speak sings the praises of Etsy, an online source for arts and crafts that allows you to search for artists by locality. In the spirit of the coming holidays, I thought I would round up some of my favorite locals on the site. Feel free to add your own, from Etsy or elsewhere.
Constant Dreamer
FriendlyMade
Nicedesigns
Barefootphotos
Kelly Newcomer
Aesthete Jewelry
King Mini
Are we headed toward a recession? According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonprofit organization, we've been in one since December 2007. Target is exprimenting with selling food to try and keep afloat. Medtronic has experienced slower than usual sales of pacemakers. Minnesota may lose 55,000 jobs. What are you doing to ride out the economic slump? And what's the difference between a recession and a depression anyway?
I generally like to send around emails once every few weeks to a few selected MnSpeakers asking exac…
kwattMax, I think I have seen your trucks on the road. This is you isn't it? …
DouglasGMax, you're so kind. Giving meat to those in need. …
mb21@workThe real question is: Can one ever get enough? I would say "Hells-to-the-no". …
Cat is Still CatI don't eat the meat myself, I just provide it for others. …
Max SparberMs. Parber - as a vegetarian, how do you propose people get their meat quota? …
mb21@workI generally like to send around emails once every few weeks to a few selected MnSpeakers asking exac…
Max SparberCat is biting her tongue a lot. Is she getting enough meat? …
DouglasGCat got her tongue... …
mb21@work"and bob is right..." Let me savor those words. I soo rarely hear them. …
justpbob*hand over mouth while continuing to bite tongue* …
Cat is Still CatMartin also plays Chuck and Sean's Trivia... and wins a lot. I suspect there's something going on. …
jeffkMornings on the Rev was Steve "tevo" Nelson, the outgoing PD, and Brian Oake. It always seemed to m…
FygarTongue is usually not part of a Meat Raffle Cat.... …
DouglasGMeat Raffle!? *bites tongue* …
Cat is Still CatNice! Good use of the contributor features of Wikipedia. …
Max SparberDon't forget about VulcanD00d's musical ability... …
DouglasGMeat Raffles! I was so enthralled by the notion of them when I moved to Minnesota, I created that Wi…
GregMartin is an occasional MnSpeak commentor. He's also an excellent local singer songwriter. Sean is t…
Max SparberI just Googled to figure out who Martin Devaney was and I didn't solve my question but it looks like…
sandburgJust Another Day Designs! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5051878 She's got great stuff, check …
KaylaThey made an appearance at the Martin Devaney show at Turf Club last Wednesday night and I thought t…
jeffkHave you thought about applying to DonorsChoose.org or similar organizations for money for projects?…
mcgsaSt. Paul Sunday Morning. Play some music McGlaughlin, and quit with the Yakity yack. …
RatHa! Bix is thinking the same thing I am re: sponsorships -- especially if you're hitting up corporat…
Cat is Still Cat