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Believe it or not, I'm interested in revisiting that hipster thread. Well, sorta. First, I want you to read this NY Mag piece on 'grups' (Alexis will appreciate the Star Trek reference), which are essentially aging hipsters.
This is something I've been recently obsessing over. Just the other evening, I was standing in line for a Metric show, looking around at all the kids in the crowd, wondering how much we have in common. I ask my similarly-aged friend who runs a blog that all these kids probably read, "When do you think we'll stop going to shows?"
Who else here wears jeans to work every day (because I can, dammit) and wonders if this was allowed 10 years ago? Who else is surprised to see themselves get into intelligent discussions about the new Bloc Party album? Who else ponders for endless hours how many of the jokes on last night's Veronica Mars that 15-year-old girls get -- and how many you missed? Who else wonders when they got so interested in programming on VH1, MTV2, and Comedy Central -- and wonders why they'll probably never watch Lifetime?
In other words, has there really been a fundamental change in which what was previously 'youth culture' has became the dominant culture? And is it a bad thing that we don't act like our parents?
"I don't wanna grow up!" -- Tom Waits.
(I know, this isn't local. Sorry.)
Does anyone know of any local golf courses that are open or plan on opening soon? Getting antsy.
Also, Pat Kessler on KTLK does a bit called brushes with fame where callers talk about their chance run ins with celebrities. I think it would be cool to hear people's chance encounters with Twin City celebrities who most people would know. Mine is that Eric Eskola of WCCO radio rides my bus, which is a lame brush with fame I will admit.
And what's with Lost having a character from an address in Wayzata? The address is fake, in case anyone was wondering.
Right on Rex! It's like you typed the thoughts in my head for me...except in my head I spell it Bloc Party:) Yeah, going to concerts is where I especially feel the effect. I have just learned to live with it, but perhaps you are right that 'youth culture' is becoming more prominent. Perhaps the proliferation of information sharing (a.k.a the internet and mass media) provides the stimulation to keep our minds curious and youthful.
Also, if the post is relevant to me (a local), does that make it a local post? Sorry, waaaaaay to theoretical.
Pat Kessler is my brush with fame. I keep meaning to call in and gush over the fact that I've met him.
I wanted to do a post on on the Lost character -- he deserves his own thread!
Has there been a fundemental change in the Twin Cities where 'youth culture' is now dominant? Absolutely.
Not shaving, wearing jeans, sporting iPods -- and the additional characteristics of BoBos listed in the NY Mag piece -- has certainly become the norm for GenX and the following generations in the Twin Cities. I'll admit, I'm pumped because I've got all the classic console games on my modded XBox.
But there are still a few people out there who try to act like adults.
Is it a bad thing that we don't act like our parents? Absolutely not. The self-serving, self-centerd, whiny, and delusional Baby Boomer generation should fuck off. But I say that understanding we're going to have to figure out how to run a decent society.
I read that article the other day, and then that night, while at the Neko Case instore performance, I noticed like 5 mid-thirties guys with 1-3 year old kids with. And most looked like the guys in that article.
I think it's great that living a "hipster" life doesn't have to end at 30, or end with marriage, or end with a kid. A few years ago I thought that once I was too old to go out to indie shows at the Entry, I had to start listening to Cities 97, or only listening to Alt-Country.
Who knows, maybe in 50 years, people will be calling the Gen Xers - the greatest generation!
Anybody have a good recommendation for a groom's dinner for about 40 people? Located in South Minneapolis would be ideal, but really anywhere but downtown Mpls would be fine. Thanks!
So that's the Gen X response. Since I think I'm almost exactly in the middle of Matt's and Tom's ages, I wonder what they think about this.
One thing that was running through my head while reading this was, "What would I have thought of this article when I was 20? Would I be saying, 'Look at those pathetic aging hipsters who think that having a MySpace account makes them cool.'"
moe - I had my groom's dinner at the Vintage in St. Paul last summer, in the outdoor patio area for about as many people, and it was quite lovely. Great appetizers, wine, and main courses (accomodating to vegans, too).
Personally, I think it has more to do with the extended life expectancy than anything.
More importantly, I think this article is talking about a very specific population segment. The vast majority of people around do not fit the profile outlined in the article. It is a perfect case of egocentric perspective ('egocentric' has a negative connotation, but I don't really mean it that way).
I've met Pat Kessler, too, but he's not as cool as easy ee so Pat is not my brush with fame.
And there has always been the 'cool parents' -- and they've always been in the minority. (in my experience).
Moe, I don't know what your $$$ parameters are, but how about the patio of the Craftsman?
Yeah, maybe. That's always a possibility with these trend pieces -- are they statistically accurate? Nonetheless, this one just "felt" right to me.
. . . or the restuarant down at Minnehaha Falls.
Burning question: How is MNSpeak pronounced? Is it minn-speak (like MNPass?) or em-en-speak?
minn-speak for me
I say minn-speak, but that was really because I heard other people pronounce it that way more often. (That's the worst part about the name -- the pronunciation requires a lexical question.)
BTW, isn't it sorta proving the NY Mag author's point that the synchronous conversation is about a groomsman dinner? I mean, that's not how my dad solved these dilemmas!
Would I be saying, 'Look at those pathetic aging hipsters who think that having a MySpace account makes them cool.'"
Nah, if you were 20 right now you'd probably be thinking they were pathetic for having a Facebook account.
I definitely see what you are saying, Rex. Though I would technically fall into the generation of "today," I have an extremely easy time relating to the 30-something and 40-something people I meet in "the scene" and in everyday life. I definitely get the impression of that group being more laid-back, more technologically "with it" and more interested in me and my generation than, say, someone even ten years older. What happened in the 80s-early 90s that caused this shift?
I definitely get the impression of that group being more laid-back, more technologically "with it" and more interested in me and my generation than, say, someone even ten years older.
Now, if only I can get one of them to offer me a job I'll be set.
It does depend what your $$$ parameters are, but I also think the Craftsmen is a good suggestion.
Facebook is an absolutely fascinating example, and should have been investigated by the author. Facebook pisses me off because I can't! use! it! You need a .edu email addy to register, and who has one of those except... 20-somethings! It's ageist.
On the other hand, there are so many people going back to school to get their MBA or whatever (so they can get ahead in their careers, though they'd never use that word) that maybe Facebook has a strangely paradoxical role in elongating youth.
Andrea, I think it's primarily a question of technology enabling people to be more in touch with the trends/news/toys/culture that just ten years ago you'd need to be immersed in a high school/college to be current on.
But while this may be more pervasive than it once was, I'm not sure you can say it's the majority by any means -- it's just a wider subculture than it used to be. The Blaine set isn't going to be quite as in touch, and may not have the desire to be either. I think Spaceman may be right in calling out the egocentrism of the aging hipster set.
Hear ye, village hipsters. It has been deemed "OK" to still go to concerts after you turn 30. The over-30 curfew has been repealed at last!
Note, however, that your identity is limited by your demographic group, so act accordingly.
Apparently corporate types are using Facebook these days, so it's not just the student set...
Another question I often ask myself: if I was a 16-year-old living in the middle of North Dakota, would I be using MySpace like all the other 16-year-olds in the country? Is it the equivalent of listening to Motley Crue (pervasive even to the rural edges) or equivalent to listening to Gang of Four (probably never sold an album in rural North Dakota -- and no, Fargo doesn't count, you city-slicker).
The answer is no. Two or three years ago when MoveOn did their "have your own bakesale" fundraiser, every state had at least one sale -- except ND. They're just on the wrong side of the divide.
Believe it or not, I already asked my alumni office if I could get an alumnus email addy. When they asked why and I said "Facebook," the conversation ended.
Mine is that Eric Eskola of WCCO radio rides my bus, which is a lame brush with fame I will admit.
Not lame. Eskola is easily the most articulate, interesting media personality in the metro area (sorry, DeRusha). Maybe I'm just a sucker for scarves, but he's one of the few that I'd enjoy sharing a pitcher with.
I think. I've never had a brush with him.
Eskola also has a giant moose head in his office, which is pretty cool.
Interesting time for this discussion. Last night I went and saw Neko Case. I felt old cuz I was all pissed that she wasn't coming on 'til 10:30 and didn't she understand that I had to get up at 7:00 this morning? And I still feel old because I want to go home and take a nap right now.
Anyway, as old as I'm tempted to feel, one of my friends have to tell of some "oldster" who was standing right behind him talking really loudly through the last half of the set. The guy made a point of coming up to my buddy after the show and telling us that if we're such big fans we should get closer to the stage or quit complaining about people talking (!) and anyway, he'd already seen her like 5 times. Wow. Anyway, we were made to feel like the young punks by this lame-ass in his contrived jeans, untucked shirt, bargain basement sport coat and affected long hair.
What does this have to do with anything? I don't know. I need a nap.
Don't forget the all-encompassing Twixster.
Age is revered in traditional cultures, which is why al-Sadr's prominence in Iraq is exceptional. In our culture of ephemeral phenomena, aging is anathema, which is why teen porn and "grups" are so prevalent.
Besdies, anyone who uses the arcane term "grups" in place of the accessible term "yupsters" is destined to be a hipster long into his golden years.
The author distinguishes between grups and yupsters -- effectively, yupsters are more career-driven. And a grup appears to be a slightly older twixster.
Not that any of this probably means anything.
No one courts the grup or yupster vote these days. It's all about the suburbanistas. Does that mean we've become obsolete?
I'm 32, have two kids, and am going to see Editors because they sound like a band from way back. I never thought Interpol sounded like Joy Division, though.
Taylor, remind me what, exactly, we boomers as an aggregate have done to you? Because I'm old and I can't remember for the life of me.
And how, precisely, should we fuck off? Are we to be rounded up and put in concentration camps because you find our age offensive? Perhaps you would find it more gratifying to shoot us for sport?
Does the Internet belong to you? Does MNSpeak? Am I tresspassing because I was born in 1959? Am I offensive because you wouldn't find me hot or, apparently, valid? Are you going to be answering any of these questions? Or am I going to get flamed for the unpardonable crime of being 46? And a half.
Great link, Rex.
I think about that sort of thing all the time -- especially after moving to MN, where it seems that people marry up and settle down in the 'burbs at, like, 22. Extended adolescence (or whatever we're calling it) is much harder to rationalize in the upper midwest. People here keep badgering me about proposing to my girlfriend, which definitely didn't happen back east.
It's odd, because I still go to shows and hang out at the dive bars, but I can't understand the yupster/grup conspicuous consumption. I don't have cable or tivo or $200 jeans or limited-edition sneakers because I don't want to work for the rest of my life. If I'm going to be a hip sextagenarian, , I'd prefer to do so while travelling rather than while billing hours.
I'm 32, have two kids, and am going to see Editors because they sound like a band from way back. I never thought Interpol sounded like Joy Division, though.
Speaking of which, I'd love to hear from more parents. That element really intrigues me. Are you seeking out the indie kid-friendly fare and trying to pass on your tastes? Blasting the Dan Zanes?
That said, can anyone recommend a place in Minneapolis where I can have my vintage indie-rock posters framed? I don't have anything too fancy, but a few are delicate and may need to be mounted before being framed.
You can get them framed at Icebox.
eshaffer, screw the young. I'm 6 years older than you and registered my first domain name in 1994, when most of these MNspeakers were in Little League, or whatever hipsters did when they were 12.
OK, that's my one comment for the day. My eyes and typing fingers are going fast.
OK, another comment. I've had lots of framing done at Icebox, too. Howard's great. Extraordinary photographer, too.
Nobody has anything to say about North High School graduate Josh Hartnett appearing on Letterman last night? You know, he's co-starring in the screen adaptation of James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia.
Oh, and I was 25 in 1994. And a senior in high school.
No one wants to touch Hartnett anymore, but someone out there must be working on a profile of UofM grad / Fargo native Tyler from the current Real World. (I'm sure this comment just sent three local entertainment journalists to their rolodex, because I don't think anyone has realized there's a local dude on MTV! Who will get the interview first? Ready, set, go!)
From Tyler's profile:
5. What do you find attractive? What turns you on? A:Beefy men with a sarcastic sense of humor.
It looks like they got the most typical Fargo native they could.
I'm fascinated with the gossip and the buzz over television news personalities in these two cities. Their comings an going are followed closely with breathless excitement.
Is it because of Three Words? - Mary Tyler Moore
Too late, Rex.
Hah! I move and I miss all the good stuff.
Anyway, I'm stuck on sociology today, so I want to back up to eshaffer's contention with taylor. Here's what fascinates me: of the five living generations (youngest to oldest: Gen Z, Gen Y, Gen X, Boomers, WWII), which two have the greatest contempt for each other? Easily, it's the GenX-Boomer thing. Seriously, I don't go a week without saying how much I hate Boomer ideology, and Boomers are so disapointed in their kids. But Boomers sorta idolize their daddies, even begrudgingly accepting the "Greatest Generation' epithet. And the supposedly unique characteristic about Gen Y is how much they all get along with their mommies like they were best friends. But Gen X and the Boomers seem to really despise each other.
This seems to make absolutely no sense historically.
I hate everybody within a 5 year age difference to me. Just jivin'.
Tonight's Robert Pollard show will be a nice place to see hipsters of all ages. The fact that RP is older than most of his fans makes me feel like a kid again.
Fess up Rex, why do you hate Boomer Ideology?
i've had it with the minnesota department of motor vehicles. they won't give me my license because whomever made out my birth certificate decided to use WHITE OUT on a yellow/brown piece of paper when they spelled my father's name wrong. so regardless of the fact that i've got at least 12 other forms of ID that proves who i say i am, they won't give me my MN driver's license because of that goddamn white out smudge. Not only that, they had the nerve to say i may be defrauding them and that they would get in big trouble if they accepted it.
WH-WH-WH-WHAT? DMV, YOU SUCK!
man, i wish i could find the jackass who effed up my birth certificate in 1975. what i would do to him/her. had to order ANOTHER certificate and i'm out $57 friggin' bucks.
Getting a license here is a fucking pain, as if the DMV is run by baby boomers, who I fucking hate (as a whole).
I got a driving license in Spain. It was easy. I bribed the guy behind the counter.
interpol sounds like the joy division with the guy from they might be giants singing.
That's "whom," Kevin--baby boomers whom you fucking hate.
I thought I saw the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah show at the 400 Bar--01APR--was 18+. Can anybody here comfirm or deny this? Also, I know that one or two of you paid for scalped tiks. How much did you get yrs for? I got 2 for $50 on eBay, from some dude in Seattle.
Is anyone else torqued that out of staters scoop up event tiks to resell them to hard working Minnesota kids (or aging hipsters as the case might be)?
i don't hate baby boomers. i mean, without them, i wouldn't even be here.
Kate asked about parents. First off, I woulda been at the Neko Case in-store with my 8-year-old daughter in tow had we not moved to America's moral cesspool last fall. I took her to see the Old 97's at the Fetus when she was like 3, and Rhett Miller flirted with her throughout the show and personalized her autographed CD afterwards.
All of which adds up to two points discussed earlier -- yes, you can share your tastes with the kids in hopes of influencing them, and when you get old (37) like me, you might wind up listening to nothing but alt-country. Hah -- I was doing that when I was 27 too so I guess age doesn't mean everything.
There's a lot of good "kids" music that doesn't make me want to pour boiling hot lead in my ears -- you mentioned Dan Zanes, plus Bloodshot's "The Bottle Let Me Down" is a fantastic compilation. I'm hoping the follow up with a Part II. It's a nice step forward from when I was a kid and all we had were sing-song nursery rhymes and "Free to Be You and Me." My parents pretty much did the same thing I'm doing -- they played lots of Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and The Carpenters around the house, and I still enjoy listening to two of those.
I think that the CYHSY show is 21+. And yes, i'm also upset at the fact that show sold out in like 4 minutes and now tickets are on ebay for 4x their face value.
"I don't go a week without saying how much I hate Boomer ideology."
Is it possible to make a general statement about so large a group?
I'm 31. Am I in Generation-X? The whole generation label thing confuses me.
I too am/was pissed about the CYHSY show selling out in 4 mintues. I almost paid some f'ing a-hole in San Fran $45 bucks a pop, but my common sense stepped in and said fuck no. There should be a gate set for locals to get in and buy them first before out of towners can buy them all up in a fit of scalpers greed.
Re: Facebook. I hope some of my students read that Strib article. My students don't seem to realize that all professors can create a facebook account and read public conversations between students -- I've found out about students conspiring to cheat in my class, people talking about going out to drink after feeding me a line about being sick and skipping, and learned that 3 of my students are in an informal "[local campus name] Cannabis Users Club." Not that I really *care* about that (except for the cheating) but come on, use your heads. It may be "exclusive" but it's not private.
You folks don't have a whole lot to say that is particularly meaningful it appears...? Too bad, I was hopin' you'd be on fixin' all the fucked up stuff in the world...
Nah, no fixin. I'm too busy trying to get a Facebook account so I can hit on Anon Prof's students and harsh on The Rat's dad.
(Re: Boomer ideology. You realize I'm talking about a certain relationship to history, a certain perspective on class, a certain notion of politics, etc. I mean, I still love my mom! And, actually, most Boomers. I'm talking about... ya know, ideology.)
DeRusha, we are pretty much in the middle of Gen X. Now say something mean about your parents!
I won't say anything mean about DeRusha's parents, and I won't even begin to say anything about a guy named Rex who loves his mom, but I do have something to hate on and this might be the only group of people in Minneapolis who cares: are the warning buzzers on the light rail train's doors the most annoying/grating/unecessarily loud warnings of any train or subway ever built? Or what?
gen x are peeps born between 1965 and 1980. i'm sure that includes the majority of us here.
i don't trust anyone born after 1985.
For the record, I'm 30 and have both a facebook AND a myspace account.
I swear it's just to keep in touch with my 18-something classmates.
Thanks, I will now eat my grammar book.
My myspace is to make it much easier to hit on the interns who serve me coffee.
I'm taking my Generation X ass over to get some wine at that new wine bar at 11th & Harmon. I'll report back after I'm drunk.
Have you seen the new KARE 11 weekend meterologist Sven Sungaard? He is just three years out of school, but based off his delivery, you'd never guess it.
Speaking of KTLK, does anyone listen to Dan Conry? He is an absolute crack-up, quite enjoyable to listen to. Too bad he can't get bumped up to replace the unflattering and dare I say irritating Brian Lambert and Sarah Janecek program. Ughhh.
In regards to "brushes" with Minnesota celebrities, I swear I saw WCCO-TV reporter (and apparently frequent poster here) Jason DeRusha driving the other day in Maple Grove, but opted not to be a star-struck fan and wave... I learned my lesson last week in NYC. I was there on business, but had went for drinks one evening with some friends at a club in East Village. At the other end of the bar, I spotted who I thought to be Justin from Motion City Soundtrack (and it was - according to their website, they played NYC that week). A Minneapolis native, I thought I'd introduce myself to this Minnesota musician, but was told to "fuck off." Lovely.
Regarding facebook, I haven't been able to get on it either - my alma mater is currently creating my alumni address. But, I am on myspace, which is kind of fun. Although, I'm not quite sure how legitimate a lot of the profiles are, but then again, it seems everyone is on there... even the HR VP at my office, who I had asked about those social-networking websites. He told me, "If it were to come down to a tie between two individauals, I would definitely look to see what they put on their sites. Shows me what they're like with their guard down." Interesting... I hope he didn't read my blog then. Just kidding.
Otherwise, what a fantasic day today, right? As I'm writing this, I realize that might sound sarcastic, but honestly - I thought today felt just great. Summer is near...
Lastly, if you enjoy reading books and writing them (or writing in general), I recommend picking up "The Writing Life" by Annie Dillard. I just finished this quick read and thought it to be really quite funny.
Goodnight Moon.
Based purely on his MySpace profile, all of Jason's friends appear to be hot Gen Y girls from rural Minnesota.
I suspect this comment is my way of expressing jealousy.
(Metafilter h-h-h-hated the NY Mag story, mostly for class reasons.)
i'm turning 30 next week and i'm completely bummed. you're all welcome to join me in a dirty martini blitz at the Nomad on Sunday. there will be Roshambo and semi-nudity.
Much as I like New York (and subscribe), it's basically a service piece advertising designer jeans.
I think marriage & kids does you in more than age (probably the kids due to the time suck factor).
If you have time to watch TV, see movies & bands, and the money to eat out or drink in cool places, you are in the minority for your over 30 age group.
So you're out and about, with the under 30 set. Each year more leave for the Midwest Family Dance, and another crop of 22 years olds graduates college, moves to Uptown, etc.
As far as pop culture goes, nobody is making vital games, films, TV etc. aimed at the 40+ set. Or maybe they are & I'm watching too much Adult Swim.
Go have a kid and move to Farmington. You'll be out of the hipster loop in about 3 months.
Brush with fames: Diana Peirce, Kare11 at Nordstrom Rack at MOA.
Bernie Grace (also Kare11) used to be my neighbor, a million years ago.
And Tim Scherno's kid plays hockey with my son. He was with Alix Kendall on the Fox9 morning show, before they hired a 2x4 to sit at the news desk with her.
Also, YEAY for spring rain!!
If you're dumb enough to pay $50 for 400 bar tix, why be torqued? I say it's fair game and yeah, I'm a person who'd scalp in a hearbeat. It's supply and demand and if you don't like it, don't buy the g.d. tix in the first place. We are all trying to do our thing and get by and if we move where there is fire.
And then there was the guy from somewhere else who decided it was high time for a road trip to MN, so he drove here and took pictures of...all the road signs. Absolutely gripping commentary with pictures of road signs.
That's... really weird... and somehow satisfying in its stark boring-ness... but mostly really weird.
When I was a college freshman, I thought everything I did and observed was interesting.
Wait... I guess I still do.
Roadsign guy: That is really weird. And kinda cool. And weird. I love the internets.
Beetlebum: You saw me driving? Wow. What was I driving? And you need a blog-- impressive use of links in your post. Plus, I'm more than "apparently" a frequent poster. I am a frequent poster.
Rex: Most of the hot women on my myspace are actually your friends! Other than a bunch of my coworkers. They are hot. Secret of TV News: It's the behind-the-scenes people who really are the lookers.
Question to frequent posters:
Do you, like me, spend too much time on MNSpeak? Sometimes, I find myself thinking about it even when I'm not at the computer. Am I weird?
Follow up:
I have never posted, just commented. I just can't think of anything that seems worthy. Maybe I need and assignment. What would be a good post? I mean--the "ultimate" post?
My guidelines for a great post are pretty simple: an observation about something local which no one else has thought to point out.
Some people think the best posts have the most comments, but that's not necesarily true.
If you go to the create post page (you need to be registered and logged in to see that), you'll see some more guidelines... but that's mostly about what makes a bad post.
I hate how easy the kids of today have it what with all the pre-packaged lifestyles available. Back in the day(tm), we had to go and hunt down the cool bands and then convince Northern Lights to order their records (remember those). We had to put on our own shows, find our own cool clothes and drink coffee at frickin' Embers. And I'm not talking about the lame Hennepin Embers, 'cause that scene was played. No lattes or coffee shops back then. Everything is just too easy today. It's like you go online, surf to some store, click a box to choose desireed lifestyle and download all the various accessories to fit. Damn you youngins'!
And yes, my wife and I are old people at the show. Wondering what the hell happened and yawning 'cause we have to get up early.
Hey Grampa,
You are still alive. Make the most of these new conveniences.
I feel old, too. I used to hang out at the Blaine Denny's every night. I look back fondly, but am excited about the future, too.
Sorry for calling you "Grampa."
Bradles - I am not a frequent poster, but a frequent visitor and spend WAY to much time on the site. I even reference it in coversations. I know my friends think I spend way too much time on the internet and they don't even know what MySpace is ... and I'm 33.
And I had a f'ed up dream about DeRusha last night. It was WEIRD!!!
That is weird, Ajb! Yet I'm strangely, honored?
I too spend way too much time thinking about MNSpeak. It's very narcissistic. If I comment, I wonder if people are responding. I had a hard time leaving last night, just as this open thread was posted. Bear in mind, I was leaving to DO MY JOB!
I need an intervention.
Maybe it 's the narcissistic part of it. For instance, I keep checking to see if people are answering my question.
My wife always checks the site, too, but never even comments. She just likes to see what's going on.
MNSpeak is a social thermometer, sort of.
I'm pretty well square in the middle of this grup thing (38, don't own a tie, coffeehouse and ipod junkie, blah blah) and while alt.country is about as hip as my music tastes ever got all it would take would be a wife and uterine trophy to be a poster child.
I don't think it's about trying to be hip, I think it's about rejecting the 50' ozzie and harriet bullshit that carried over into the 80's. You don't have to wear a suit and tie and all that crap with 2.5 kids in Edina, and you don't have to be a damned dirty hippie raising your kids in a schoolbus. This is just about folks who are choosing to live how they want depite what the relics think.
DeRusha - in the dream you were kind of an ass (which is NOT how I veiw you at all) but don't worry, I got back at you! ;-) And last night I didn't want to leave my job to go home because I wanted to keep seeing what people were writing for this thread. Intervention indeed!
Re: Minnesota celebrities - I watch CCO because I interned there in college for Bill Carlson (I want his job). Fargo was being filmed at the time and he shot a scene (that didn't make the cut) at Kare 11. I met Steve and Sharon (remember them!) and the Coen brothers. VERY cool! I also lived and worked in Hollywood for 2 and a half years and met/saw lots of celebrities. Some cool, some not so cool.
Me and my 'scapin' partner do shows for Steve and Sharon's production company and we've never even exchanged an email. I want to meet them just so I can get closer to Vicky Audette(sp?) and Gary Lumpkin.
The local celeb fixation is one thing I miss about MN. I brought it up with a friend here (in Seattle) a few days ago, and he didn't really catch on. I knew Fancy Ray! (whom I hear moved, is that right?)
Refresh...refresh...refresh...Anything? Anyone? Has anyone responded yet? Check MySpace again...refresh MNSpeak...
I've always liked that name. Lumpkin.
Molly - that is what I do too! I definitely need help! And Fridays are the WORST! Work? Oh! Is that what I'm supposed to be doing right now?
ha! molly p. that's funny and right on. It is only a matter of time before my work sees how much traffic goes from my computer to this site and they block it. I was just telling my friend how I love this site and hate it at the same time, but can't stop visiting it. And my wife 'checks up on me' through this site . . .
Hey everyone! Molly just added me! Refresh... any other friends??? No? OK.
And sorry for being an ass in the dream. Usually I'm nice to strangers, and an ass to my wife. She's so lucky to have me.
DeRusha: I don't remember what you were driving... nor can I believe I'm conversing with such a talented journalist. Honored.
Also, thank you for your kind words. I will consider the suggestion.
On and incase anyone was wondering what "narcissistic" meant, as used by DeRusha in an earlier post, feel free to click on the link.
I realized my addiction and narcissism both hit an all time low when - after multiple F5 refreshes - I started getting disappointed after making what I thought was a good comment only to have no one responded. If someone starts an MNspeak support group count me in. wow, I just realized I am a loser.
One year at the Mill City Music Festival, I shook Fancy Ray's hand and drunkenly complimented him about 3 times...now wonder he moved.
I now live in the Atlanta area, and every once in a while, I see a license plate (or as they say here, tab) from Lumpkin county...as an elitist Minnesotan, it affords me another chance to reinforce my stereotypes of the South.
I've been wanting to start a blog for some time now, and could never come up with a title...with Jason's perrmission, I'd love to use "Ass in the Dream," though I'm not sure what it means, or if it would cause linking problems. Curse words!
Is this on? Hello? One two three...
Brush with local celebrities, like the time I was working concessions at a University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Basketball game and BOTH Garrison Keilor AND Don Shelby ordered food from me! (Jealous?)
However, my BEST story isn't a Twin Cities story... When I went to my first ever Chicago Cubs game, my brother and I ran into Harry Carey in the plaza out front of Wrigley Field. That was TOO COOL!
Being a transplanted Illinoian (is that what their citizens are called? what a shitty name) and a huge Cubs fan, meeting Harry Carey outside Wrigley would be analogous to meeting God at the pearly gates - my version of heaven.
My internet addiction has gotten so bad that I've figured out a way to move through all of my various favorite message boards, MySpace, facebook, Criagslist and two email accounts slowly enough so that when I am done I can start at the top again and find new messages. Help!
I finally got an RSS feeder, which I thought would save time, but I refresh it constantly. Now I'm intrigued by Facebook, and I still have a U account...
I just love seeing that I'm not the only one with this "problem". I thought I was the only "loser".
JoelP- I totally understand the disappointment when no one replies to what you though was a good comment. What is wrong with me? Ugh! Is there a name yet for this internet obsessed life I've come to know?
move through all of my various favorite message boards...slowly enough so that when I am done I can start at the top again and find new messages
There are many of us, it appears. Is there a study out there about productivity loss in the last ten years? Maybe the internet speed things up just fast enough to make up for all the new distractions it brings.
I can't settle on an RSS aggregator that has all the features that I am looking for. I have tried FeedReader, Sage, Pluck, Google Reader, and FireFox LiveLinks.
Can anyone recommend an aggregator they really like?
Is there a name yet for this internet obsessed life I've come to know?
Rich Hall needs to publish a new Sniglets volume addressing these modern issues.
Joel, I prefer Google Reader -- last week's upgrade was awesome. Are there features you want but don't have?
I'm using Bloglines, but if we could add to the personalized MNSpeak Aggregator, life would be perfect.
wait, do the celebrities have to be local?
because during the president's day week congressional break John Kerry came into Whitie's. I was just like "what's a senator for massachusetts doing in a bar a block from my apartment? And furthermore, why isn't it the perpetually drunk one?"
But since I moved here less than a year ago from MA, it was pretty cool. Also that whole presidential run business, I guess.
I also spend way too much time on the internet, but I'm afraid to use myspace and its ilk at work. I probably could, but I don't really want to risk it, because that sort of thing is suspect. At least with 'news' sites it's probably more acceptable.
Hmmm... personalized aggregator.... hmmmm....
If you could choose the direction of software on this site, would you rather have more personalization features (adding feeds, filtering comments, etc.) or more social networking features (make friends, start events, etc.)?
oops, is it "Whitey's?" I can never remember because I don't ever look at the sign ...
yes, can we please turn this into mnspace.com with friends and blogs?
Is that a serious request or... are you saying that would be annoying? (I'm starting to think about launching... er, a different site... and I'm wondering what people would like.)
PSA (if anyone was going):
due to illness, beth orton has been forced to cancel her upcoming
minneapolis show this saturday @ first avenue.
more details to come regarding possible rescheduling.
I hesitate to comment here because it won't help my internet and blog obsession. But, I couldn't resist posting this quote:
What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it.
Herbert Alexander Simon, economist, Nobel laureate (1916-2001)
Re: Orton -- doh! Is there any info online?
The Simon quote sounds like something out of Gladwell's Blink.
I don't tend to see celebrities when I go out in Mpls. I mean, I saw Mark Rosen at Tiburon last month, but it isn't like I gave him a high five or anything. Two of my friends convinced Neko Case to give them kisses after a show at the 400 Bar, but I found the encounter to be sort of creepy. Do you people (who are not Jason DeRusha) ever interact with these folks, or just point them out like I do?
When I lived on the east coast, I'd see celebrities all the time at bars or just wandering around, but I don't think I ever spoke to any of them. I once stood next to Jack Black at the bar at an SNL afterparty for about an hour, but never said anything. (Plus, we'd had to use Jedi Mind Tricks to get past security, so I was afraid of attracting attention to my inebriated out-of-place self.) The closest I ever came to interacting with any celebrity was probably Vincent Gallo -- and that was only because I kept running into him on the Bowery, in the middle of the night, while he was in some weird skirmishes with ladies. I don't think getting a startled "What the fuck? You again?" look from the director of "Brown Bunny" counts as a brush with fame.
I'm sure it'll be on the Ave site soon. Received it via publicist spam.
oh, I'll answer my own question. thanks for the heads up kate. and thank you, Mr. Gore, for inventing the internets
trigonalmayhem: i just moved here from boston, too. that's weird you saw kerry in a MN bah.
Beth Orton was on Tavis Smiley last week and she certainly did seem like she was fighting some kind of illness.
Last December, when the Lakers played the Wolves at the Target Center, I saw both Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson (a local celebrity by virtue of his NoDak roots) at a virtually empty Martini Blu. I was as giddy as a schoolgirl.
Several weeks later, I saw some of the New Orleans Hornets players there, so if you're interested in spying any NBA players, skip the cougar crusade at Bellanotte (grups with C-cups) and head for the relatively serene Martini Blu.
Phil Jackson and I graduated from the exact same university with the exact same triple major. I haven't made my move into coaching yet though.
For MLB players, when the Yankees are in town they go to Zelo and hang in the back of the bar. Joe Torre likes to eat dinner there.
Surprising celeb encounter that wasn't: I worked on Factotum and never once saw Matt Dillon. And the Dillon-sighting was the novelty item of that Summer (it would seem).
Speaking of Tom Waits, I wonder what the raindog's been up to since "Coffee and Cigarettes". I went to the Music Box theater last Monday to see Warm Beer, Cold Women (warmbeercoldwomen.com), and saw some great local musicians belt out a number of Waits' tunes in his typical fashion. It was really a great show, and at $14.50 a steal. I highly recommend it. It runs for the next 3 Mondays, I think. You can check out a short trailer I made on the production when it was showing at The Bryant lake Bowl @ waldofilms.com
My best encounter with a celeb was with Lord Stanley's Cup at Chino.
That baby puts any local celebrity to shame! I guess there was some former Gopher there too.
I hate weighing in late on a long thread like this, particularly when the conversation has already turned. But I just have to say a few things about the NY mag piece.
Confession: I only skimmed it, because I was so overwhelmingly annoyed by the subhead. But I hate it, HATE IT, when generational generalizations (ugh) are pegged almost completely to purchasing power and your identity is linked to what you consume. More than anything, it reminds me that, no matter how much I like NYC, I'm glad I don't live there.
At 33, I've recently come to feel a new sort of freedom -- I no longer care what young people think about me. I'm talking mainly about people in their early 20s and younger. To me, this new phenomenon of grups or whatever you want to call them seems fueled mainly by America's ever-burgeoning obsession with youth. As an unmarried single guy, I do spend more than my fair share on music, books, stuff with a youthful connotation -- but I only consume things that give me enjoyment, not in order to somehow associate myself with people younger (or older) than me.
Any I suppose it's my inherent Midwesterness, but anyone who spends $200 on jeans in order to look distinguish themselves as not like their parents is a fucking moron.
Every generation demonizes the one before it. Baby boomers may now revere the "Greatest Generation," but the entire baby boom identity -- "sensitive" parenting, women fully entering the workforce, self-involved as opposed to community-minded -- was a direct rejection of the values of their parents' generation. I expect that in 25 years the kids who are being born right now will have nothing but generalized contempt for Gen X and Gen Yers.
Also: Tyler on the Real World likes beefy, sarcastic guys? Can anyone get him my phone number?
"MILF". What does that term connote? I thought it was a pubescent guys' term until seeing it on Girl Friday's blog. Do males/females see it differently?
Maybe use of the term reflects the new feminist culture? Do youngsters & oldsters see that term differently?
How many thirtysomething women would like to be called MILFs??
I met one of my idols last night: Jon Wurster. He was drumming for Pollard, but I am more of a fan of his comedy.
If anyone else out there listens to the Best Show on WFMU, we need to talk. If you don't, do yourself a huge favor and listen!
If I were a mother, I would have no problem knowing that others find me boinkable.
Beth Orton was on Tavis Smiley last week and she certainly did seem like she was fighting some kind of illness.
I think she got sick at SXSW. Seriously -- I came home with a really nasty (and lingering) head cold. And I've since talked to other people who returned home from Austin with similar mystery illnesses.
I think it's the bird flu. There's a lot of birds in Austin.
Considering that the "m" in MILF stands for "mom," it's sort of a misnomer to call some hot chick a MILF just because she's over 30. I always thought it was a term reserved for horny dudes who would totally do their friend's hot, gym-orexic 50-year-old mom.
But here's what I do take issue with: The window of worthiness seems to be getting smaller and smaller. The obsession with youth culture, and the contradictory requirement of "experience" and "skill," leaves open the ages of 24 to 28 when people are considered truly valuable, or even "moldable." I'm not talking about just in the workplace, either. Someone who's 23 is too young to know any better, but someone who's 29 is an aging hipster who doesn't know enough. It doesn't quite make sense.
And also...Refresh...self-loathing...MySpace.
Okay - I can finally comment since I'm on my lunch break...
1) What I'd like to see on this site: numbered posts. That way if there's some huge thread like this, I can come back at a later time and pick up reading where I left off without having to search for five minutes to find my spot. It's also easier to reference other comments that way (rather than, say, "Rex's fourth post down").
2) Celebrities: a) I was at the BLB a few years back passing out postcards before a performance, and Josh Hartnett was there with a group of people. I wasn't going to skip his table since I hit everyone else's, and when I did, the waiter came over and called me a "star fucker." Jackass. b) I've met a few celebs due to my day job, but I don't want to get fired for being tacky...so I'll just say this: Bjork squeaks and Baryshnikov is short. Both were very nice people.
3) While I'm sure everyone would think it's hokey, it bums me out that we've never met in person (I mean, I know you people). Has anyone ever organized a meeting of social spaces like this? Was it totally weird and awkward?
4) Who is Not2Sure?
The closest I ever came to interacting with any celebrity was probably Vincent Gallo -- and that was only because I kept running into him on the Bowery, in the middle of the night, while he was in some weird skirmishes with ladies. I don't think getting a startled "What the fuck? You again?" look from the director of "Brown Bunny" counts as a brush with fame.
»» Submitted by mike s at 11:12 AM on March 31
Vincent Gallo's "Buffalo 66" is one of my all time favorite films. Anyone know if he's done anything since "Brown Bunny". I never saw it, but heard it was pretty graphic.
Chloe and Vincent came in at the finish line on NY Press' yearly loathsome list this week.
Nope, he hasn't done anything since Brown Bunny. IMDB has my OBSESSION since 2000 and I was a receptionist at Michael Ovitz's (jackass) Artist Managament Group and and guest told me to check it out!
Did anyone go to SXSW and see the premiere of "Prairie Home Companion"? What a challenge for Altman - being that 90% or more of the film was shot inside of the Fitzgerald. Maybe he's trying to bring back a piece of the magic of Nashville with the cast singing their own tunes?
Gallo's been busy trying to sell his essence.
I loved his record When, still listen to it all the time.
That NY Press list makes me angry. I guess they are going for the most-loathsome-people-you-may-not-have-loathed-yet group. Too much negativity.
"self-obsessed and unwatchable Buffalo 66"
self obsessed, yes
unwatchable, no
Brown Bunny is pretty unwatchable, but I'll give it another chance.
Anyone see him speak here when he was promoting it?
Bud considers himself a bit of a milf expert - the term encompasses the hotty 'mom' type usually over 30 or even 35ish. Upscale in fashion, maybe driving a Range Rover / Jetta / ForeRunner.
While burdened with kids, job, etc. can still be found to be quite enjoyably beddable under the right conditions, usually involving alcohol and being 'out of town'.
Not so hung up on the 'relationship' elelment as most 20-somethings are.
See also www.urbancoyote.com
A combination of MNspeak, Simon on American Idol, the NY Press list, the Whitney Biennel coverage, Pitchfork, and several other things has got me thinking about hatah cultcha. I sorta want to write about it, but I'm worried it will turn into an annoying trend piece....
Ooops, I meant www.urbancougar.com
What to do tonight? Check out some local filmmakers at The Suburban...
NEW FEARLESS FILMMAKER SCREENING AND PARTY AT NEW VENUE
"Fearless Filmmakers", the highly anticipated film event of the month has moved to the exciting and historic Suburban World Theater in Uptown (3022 Hennepin Ave South, Minneapolis MN 55408). The next screening is set for Friday, March 31st, 2006 and it is going to be one of the best events to date. By combining the buzz-worthy after-party and film screening into one location, this event will definitely be a party of the who's who among local film and music. The event kicks off with free food and pre-party at 6PM where you can hobnob with local directors and actors and the film screening of 7 films begins at 7PM. The after-party will feature music by Afterall and DJ Greez following a director Q & A.
This event will sell-out as its one of the a-list events in Minnesota so early arrival is recommended. The event will be a defining point for Project Spotlight as the venue change is sure to put this event on the map as it moves to a new home at the Suburban World Theater.
Ticket prices are $ 10 which includes admission to BOTH the Screening and the Official After-Party. You may reserve your tickets at reserve@project-spotlight.com or by calling 612-987-5191.
Contact: Bobby Marsden @ info@project-spotlight.com
Groom's Dinner idea: I once attended one in the back room at Kieran's.
...a huge Cubs fan, meeting Harry Carey outside Wrigley would be analogous to meeting God at the pearly gates - my version of heaven.
I am a transplanted Iowegian and a huge Cubs fan! I worked for several years for the Iowa Cubs (triple-A affiliate) We went to the game to see some of our Iowa Cubs play in the big show! (Mark Grace, Damon Berryhill, Greg Maddox -- among others) I met all of those guys in my triple-A days, but Harry Carey took the cake! It was a great day (even though the Cubs lost to Barry Bonds and the Pirates)!
For the other part of this thread... Our culture has nearly always been youth oriented. The music industry aims squarely at the 8-14 year olds. Britney Spears and N'Sync are this generation's Samantha Fox and New Edition. The more things change the more they stay the same. It is only now that we are old and have forgotten Samantha Fox and New Edition that we can say that the "kids these days" are so different. There certainly are some differences, but they are not nearly as stark as they would appear...
3) While I'm sure everyone would think it's hokey, it bums me out that we've never met in person (I mean, I know you people). Has anyone ever organized a meeting of social spaces like this? Was it totally weird and awkward?
4) Who is Not2Sure?
»» Submitted by »»» leigha at 1:39 PM on March 31
Noticed that you recently participated in a reading of James Byrne's "The Lost and Found". I met James at the Telluride film festival in 2000, where he was promoting his film "Great Lakes". My brother was one of the principal actors in that film. What a great place for a film festival, by the way. I hadn't heard much of anything from James since then. Good to here he is still writing.
I've thought about organizing get togethers for local filmmakers, actors, crew, and filmlovers at a coffee house I own in St. Paul, Aroma's Arthouse Cafe. I think it would be a good venue for something like that, because we have a large in-house screen and digital projector to screen and discuss local works or works-in-progress.
I met up with local filmmaker extraordinaire, Jon Springer, a couple of weeks ago and he wanted to schedule a reading of his latest script there sometime in the spring.
I heard about Monster of Phantom Lake. What is the film doing now?
ciao.
Leigha: I'd be all for a meetup of some sort. Although I do worry that we'll all regret it when we're done. Of course, that could be the slogan for this site. Or at least most of the things I post.
This is most likely not related to anything here, but when can I look forward to some more 7QQs?
We have a few out there. As soon as we can get some folks to respond, we'll post them. Got any people you'd like to see answer up? Email suggestions to mnspeak@gmail.com.
What's up with the calender? Could we get events for the week going again?
How about MNSpeak bumber stickers? That way the next time I'm in Maple Grove I can drive around looking for DeRusha.
Is that a serious request or... are you saying that would be annoying? (I'm starting to think about launching... er, a different site... and I'm wondering what people would like.)
»» Submitted by »»» rex at 11:05 AM on March 31
actually it was a joke at first, but the more I think about it ...
maybe it would be cool to have something that's kind of a cross between a local aggregator and a profile site. Like myspace but more local and not so myspace-y, plus all the news/events. all of those other sites really lack the local flavour, but all the local flavour doesn't have the same kind of people-browsing experience. Hm...
I think it would be interesting to do social networking around events... so in the calendar, you could "subscribe" to things you're going to.... and then you could see other MNspeakers who are also going to them... and then you could stalk them!
But other times I think the area to build out is communities... make sub-domain MNspeak sites, like politics.mnspeak.com, where people can contribute more to a particular topic... and then maybe build in some more blogging functionality, so people can contribute more unique content, rather than just comments.
I dunno...
I really like the "subscribe to an event" idea. However, if profiles ever get added don't tag them so they turn up in the first few pages of a google search.
When I google myself right now I find my MNspeak user id page with all my comments - which I am really not a big fan of. However, I do stand behind my comments, so having them returned by google does not make me apprehensive enough to take action to remove myself.
I understand that any info people contribute on the internet is not concealable (even on secure sites) and can be found by someone that wants to try hard enough. My point is that it should be soooooo easy.
Waldo - having a place for filmmakers to get together and hang would be cool...I'm only aware of IFP doing stuff like that right now, but I'm also not in the film production side of things at all. I bet someone like Chuck Ols(e?o?)n would be a better person to touch base with on that.
And since you asked (thank you!), The Monster of Phantom Lake is doing swimmingly. There's a "back by popular demand" screening at The Heights Theater again on May 17th, and it's playing at Portland's Faux Film Festival on Sunday. I think there's been interest from other theaters in the U.S. and Canada, but don't know more than that right now.
DeRusha - see now, it's the "regret it when we're done" thing that I worry about! ;) I could just imagine walking into a room with fellow mnspeakers (which, by the way, I pronounce em-en-speak - a call-back to posts in the wee life of this thread) and look around and want nothing more than to leave because it's so awkward. We all make a great community online, but what happens when we actually have to face each other and can't edit our sentences before posting them?
Good lord, this comment is long. I'm stopping now.
Went to a bar tonight, and almost gagged on the smell of fresh air tainted with calogne, puke and urine. That pungent combo really seeped through the whole place. But that is neither here nor there. We, the smokers, lost, and the nanny state won. So be it.
But, right as I walked in the door, the bouncer hands me a CD. Apparently it was put together by the Pulse and a bunch of other craptastic organizations (and Cheapo), and it was called The Best of smoke-free Saturdays, Volume 2.
What kind of crap was this? Every band on the disc seems to smell of a two-week old corpse after a week in the desert slathered in mayo, If I listen to it oftern enough, will I become immune to the aforementioned calogne, puke and urine stank?
Just wondering....
I don't know how long it's been around, but I just noticed the spam tactic of including random text in emails as a way to be misidentified as real email. It must work, because I'm getting 'em in my regular inbox all the time now. For your enjoyment, here's the lastest bit of random text:
"You ought to get married, Dick. You want me to find a girl for you?"
"No, no, boss, honest," Mosul hurried to say. "Me argue with you? I
He took Arthur's handkerchief, clean and smelling of cologne, wrapped
if Chiang had gone back to his old worlds? Where would you have been
taken my glass into the corner where I was hoping to even old scores with
it. They say even a bullet can't get through. Of course, fire and mustard
Combine the random text of the spam set in the cologne, puke and urine joint and you might have the beginnings of the great post modern novel?
Wow, Wednesday afternoons at bob's java hut is hot-men-with-baby-central! who knew?
Waldo - having a place for filmmakers to get together and hang would be cool...I'm only aware of IFP doing stuff like that right now, but I'm also not in the film production side of things at all. I bet someone like Chuck Ols(e?o?)n would be a better person to touch base with on that.
»» Submitted by »»» leigha at 8:21 PM on March 31
Thats a splendid idea, Leigha. Chuck seems to be everywhere at once, so one more engagement shouldn't be a problem. Maybe it could be a blogger meet and greet, and Chuck could bring his camera and film it all for his MNStories.
Chuck, if you're out there, what do you think?