There have been a couple things going on around school down at the ol’ State Capitol.

First, they’re in the process of trying to raise the legal high school drop out age from 16 to 18. Now, I don’t have any statistics in front of me about how effective the law is in deterring dropouts, but it seems to me that any of the following would work better:

1) Funding after school programs
2) Smaller class sizes
3) Smaller school sizes
4) Better funded/expanded curriculum choices
5) Performances measures not based on standardized tests
6) Hotter, looser teachers

So yes. Let’s ignore the difficult root causes and make the symptom illegal. Up next: it’s illegal to get talk about condoms. That’ll get those teens to stop doin’ it.

Yep. The legislature is hearing about why talking about sex in school is how kids get clued into the fact that boy part fits into girl part quite nicely (I’m turned on just by that phrasing alone!). So, no talking about condoms or STDs or how, if God didn’t want women to masturbate, why do they have an orgasm button? Again, if we outlaw the symptom, the problem will fix itself.

The award for Best Quote Ever on abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education goes to Rick Olseen:

The back-and-forth exasperated one proponent, who told Prichard to get his “head out of the sand” and realize people aren’t getting married until they’re in their 30s these days.

“I wish you would come at this with a little bit of reality,” said Sen. Rick Olseen, DFL-Harris. “If you don’t want people to have sex until they’re 35 or 40, just say so.”

Also, I’m sure by “sand” he meant “ass”

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• twin_cities: ISO grassy metro parks for a guinea pig festival! “The grass has to be chemical free as dozens of hungry guinea pigs will be snacking on and simultaneously fertilizing it.” OMG SO KYOOT!
• MPR: College of St. Catherine to become a university. “The new name hasn’t been determined, but will include ‘St. Catherine’s’ and ‘university.’”
• Minneapolis Issues Forum: Do Idaho’s bike safety statutes make more sense?
• MinnPost: How we’re doing so far. Joel Kramer reports in on the first six months of MinnPost. “MinnPost.com has more than 100,000 absolute monthly unique visitors, as measured by Google Analytics. This makes us the most-visited local-news website in Minnesota that is not driving traffic to itself from a legacy medium, like TV, radio or print.”
• Minnesota Monitor: Congress studies wrong city for RNC disaster preparedness. “The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee found that Minneapolis’ Hennepin County Medical Center did not have sufficient capacity to handle a terrorist attack. The committee completely overlooked St. Paul’s Regions Hospital, which would be the first responder in the unlikely event of a terrorist attack on the RNC.”
• Southwest Journal: Neighborhood organizations are adjusting their fundraising strategies in preparation for the loss of NRP funding. They mention Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association; Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc.; and East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association.
• City of Minneapolis: Sustainability Initiatives
• City of St Paul: Sustainable Saint Paul
• The Deets: Ed looks at recent reports on the link between local food environments (i.e., stores/restaurants in your neighborhood) and obesity and diabetes. Ed’s theory: “The distance you drive to buy groceries effects how you shop.”

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I was under the vague impression that most people weren’t planning on using their stimulus check to actually stimulate the economy. I thought more folks would pay down debt or save it. Boy, was I wrong.

According to howispentmystimulus.com, people from Minnesota have all kinds of plans.

Brian from Merrifield, MN is using his to make his home more energy efficient. Robert from Minneapolis spent $216 on sweatpants. Elizabeth from Minneapolis is replacing her harvest gold washer and dryer. Nikki and Dustin from St Paul paid some wedding expenses. Maura from Minneapolis is paying on her student loan. Other Minnesotans are going on vacation.

(I don’t know why it tickles me so that it’s been shortened to “my stimulus” from “my stimulus check.”)

You can share your story with a photo or with a video (visual aid required). I’d be really curious to see some aggregate data six months or a year from now.

I’m boring. I’m paying down debt with mine. Inquiring minds (i.e., Sornie and I) want to know: What’re you doing with your stimulus?

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When we moved into the new casa last fall we realized there’d be things that needed fixing right away. For example; all of the kitchen appliances were circa 1980 and either didn’t work or only half worked.

In comes our favorite appliance store ApplianceSmart.
In the past we had used ApplicanceSmart a few times and been pleased with the quality and price.

Well, this time things started out badly and as is often the case when things start out poorly they only became worse. 

 The sales associate was hounding, which I can understand to a point since they are paid from commission, but he was new and not very knowledgeable on the products.

 Thent he lost our order, then he placed the wrong order, and finally he “upgraded” our fridge to a more expensive model for free.

Sounds good right? If only.

Read more

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WCCO’s Chris Shaffer:

He did say “sacks”… right?

(via Tim and Fleshbot)

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The National Governors Association’s Greening State Capitols program has selected 20 participating capitol complexes. Considering Tim Pawlenty is the NGA Chair that’d be some shit if we weren’t on the list.

From Wal-Mart’s press release:

During the next year, engineering experts will visit the 20 capitol facilities to examine the lighting, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, as well as refrigeration equipment and building structures. Each governor will then receive recommendations on how to improve the energy efficiency of his or her capitol complex. The recommendations will be based on technologies that have proven successful in Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Clubs and supplier facilities around the world. According to its engineering analysis, Wal-Mart, through its Supplier Energy Efficiency Program, has already helped participating organizations save between 20 and 50 percent on their energy bills.

More on Wal-Mart’s role, from the Greening State Capitols program announcement (pdf):

Wal-Mart will only recommend technologies that give the state a return on investment within five years, unless a state specifically asks for a different time frame. At the state’s request, Wal-Mart will use its procurement skills to attract bids from interested companies and facilitate installation of the recommended technologies.

Each state will provide personnel to help conduct the audit, implement recommendations, and track results.

It makes some sense when you consider what Wal-Mart has done to make their stores more energy efficient. And it jibes with the fact that real change on a large scale only happens when it becomes a business incentive to do so.

I still wonder about conflicts of interest, though. Wal-Mart can’t just be doing this out of the goodness of the VP of Sustainability’s heart. PR? While it’s not guaranteed, they’re obviously going to get further business when the states implement their recommendations.

(via Maria Energia)

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I’m going to see Dolly Parton perform at Northrop Auditorium tonight, as part of her Backwoods Barbie tour, and decided to take my mom for an early Mother’s Day present. I’m thinking we ought to have southern cooking tonight, but for the life of me, I can’t think of a good place to go. We’re originally from Springfield, Missouri, gateway to the Ozarks, so I’m familiar with the dishes, but only ever from having it cooked at home. Where do we go in the Twin Cities to have good Southern cooking these days?

(I had originally used the word cuisine in my post, but I changed it to dishes, feeling that the word “cuisine” has no place in reference to Southern cooking. At least not until you get to New Orleans)

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I do not pretend to understand the gasoline economy when it comes to Minnesota and the world. I’m just listening and trying to sort it all out.

I’ve heard that by inflation’s standard, gasoline is relatively cheap. I’ve heard that oil companies make exorbitant profits. I’ve heard oil companies make big profits because they make big investments in research and risk and are just plain big companies. I’ve heard oil markets are controlled by Middle East interests and secret societies. I’ve heard arguments about war for oil. I’ve heard oil companies pay billions to our government in taxes every year and arguments for drilling off-coast and in ANWR a way to increase oil supply.

Lots of conflicting viewpoints and philosophies, really.

Now I’m hearing about states suspending gas taxes for the summer to help the economy, and I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter.

According to the NYT:

…state gas taxes, which run as high as 45.5 cents a gallon, often add far more to the price of gas than the 18.4-cent federal excise tax and are the primary cause of price disparities across state lines. So lawmakers and candidates at the state level have been getting into the act…The New York plan, sponsored by Republicans in the State Senate, would suspend three state gas taxes, amounting to about 32 cents per gallon, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The Florida plan would create a tax holiday around July 4, cutting 10 cents per gallon off the 33.2 cents in total state gas taxes.

Meanwhile Minnesota just recently raised our gas tax by 5.5 cents per gallon (phased in through October) amidst a swarm of debate, emotion and fear-mongering (mostly about paying for bridges without thought of trimming pork projects). The NYT piece shows a gas holiday for the summer would save the average Minnesota driver less than $50 for the entire summer. That won’t even get two adults into Valley Fair.

It seems like we as a society continue to think in the short term and talk out of both sides of our mouths when it comes to fiscal responsibility and taxes. Here’s a piece from the Hartford Courant that address this way of thinking:

Any 9-year-old understands that paying less for something is a nice thing, but most adults know it is not always the smart thing to do. Suspending the gas tax would cause consumption to go up, which in turn would cause oil prices to go up.

The Strib’s Nick Coleman is happy to pay his taxes — even says “It is an American thing,” about our responsibility to pay gas taxes.

So in a meandering way, I think I agree with everyone. I agree gas prices are too high for my personal budget. I agree it’s our responsibility to pay taxes. I agree we need to be thinking long term about prices and not be reactionary — heck, I don’t even remember to keep 5 cent/gallon coupons.

I suppose the disconnect for me (as only a five year MN resident, mind you) is why the gas taxes in Minnesota were raised when all these other states are looking for gas tax relief and if ~$50/summer is really enough reason to bother for any state.

Of course, the gas tax increase is a done deal now, but I wish every time the local news does a story on the gas taxes (one local station seems to do a segment on each 10 o’clock newscast), they would subtract the new taxes just to make it fair to our fellow gassy states.

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Mother’s Day is the only day of the year that Broders’ Pasta Bar is open all day. Broders’ is hands down one of my favorite places in town. They’re doing brunch from 10am-2:30pm and the regular pasta bar is open all day, from 9am-10:30pm. There’s also a kids menu available all day.

Calling ahead to get on the list on Friday or Saturday night means you’ll only wait an hour instead of two (unless you’re waiting when they open or wait until right before they close), so I bet they’re going to be swamped all day on Sunday. But really, it’s soooo worth it. (See, Leif agrees with me.) So as highly as I’d recommend Broders’, good luck getting in there.

I’ll actually be at Turtle Bread (Chicago Ave location) early on Sunday morning. Without my mom or my mother-in-law.

What else looks good for Mother’s Day eats? What are y’all doing for and with your mothers on Sunday?

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Minneapolis will soon see the opening of, Agri, another “sustainable” restaurant at 4300 Bryant Ave. My boyfriend alerted me to the restaurant’s opening after trolling through craigslist and finding this job ad. Apparently, Fabrizio Ciccone is the man behind the grub, and also runs Restaurant Aura in Uptown. Aura’s menu seems pretty straight shot, but everything sounds dependable if you’re looking for good food, even if it’s not adventurous.

I haven’t been able to turn up much info via the internet, but I’m guessing the restaurant will be opening sometime after May 10th, as that’s when they’ll be interviewing for servers.

Anyone able to dish on Ciccone?

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Did you know that the Twin Cities has their very own Superman? If you go to any comic book event or convention, you’ve probably seen him there along with Batman, Wonder Woman, and possibly a little red-haired Robin running around. He was at the Source on Free Comic Book Day, just this past Saturday. Now, after all he’s done for us, you know, like saving the world…and….stuff…um, we can repay him by voting for him as the Official Superman of the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL. Watch his audition video and vote for Greg Carlson, the TC’s own Superman. He’s #19 at Search for Superman. While you’re there, watch the other videos, too. There’s some funny stuff. I’d link you to the official website of the Superman Celebration, but it looks like it expired a few days ago. Hopefully they’ll renew it and it won’t be sniped.

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One of my biggest regrets when I moved back to the Twin Cities from Boston was the fact that I hadn’t made more of an effort to make the cheap, four hour bus ride to New York City to see a taping of the Daily Show.

Now I (and you!) have a second chance: the Daily Show is coming to the Twin Cities for the RNC in September. However:

In St. Paul, The show will be at the McNally Smith College of Music’s History Theatre, with 600 seating capacity, near the Xcel Center.

That’s right. 600 seats. So, it’s not likely you’ll be able to get in sexual-favor-free. And, if you do happen to get tickets, this is not something I’m above.

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The StarTribune is reporting that the new 35W Bridge is on track to open in September. The expected date is currently September 15th, which would also result in the maximum financial incentive of $20 million.

Going back to the old bridge for a moment, I found this interesting video of it being built in 1967, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society.

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I decree it to be Spring!

Yo Spring, Happy Saturday.  ( <— seesmic video. )

Sure, I don’t have any actual power to decree a season, but that’s never stopped me in the past.

So, despite the recent weather’s attempt to bring us down, spring has triumphed. It’s time for the migrations to begin.

That’s right, I’m talking about the return of garage salers.  

We drove to the coffee shop this morning and there are garage sale signs popping up faster than tulips. I’ll bet you’ve seen them too. I’ll bet you may have even stopped.

Come on people, don’t be shy, it’s a guilty pleasure we all share. Let’s talk garage sale.

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New feature #1: Metblogs now features some snazzy Seesmic integration.

!!!

Seesmic is an online video sharing service. You can record video directly through Seesmic or link to videos you have posted elsewhere and share them with folks.

What that means for Metblogs is 1) authors can now post video and 2) any registered user can record a video comment in Seesmic (and you don’t need a Seesmic account to do it). Look for this button below the comment box.

!!!

Go ahead, somebody try it out.

New feature #2: Related posts. Not mindblowing, but there it is. You’ll see those at the bottom of every individual post page.

New feature #2.5: Some updates to the CSS rolled out this week, so your viewing experience should be much improved. Even my crappy Windows/IE6 combo I’m stuck with at work displays the page much better. HQ has a list of fixes, if you’re into that sort of thing.

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