I’m a big fan of listening to lectures, keynote addresses, documentaries, etc. on my MP3 player. So, when it was brought to my attention that our own University of Minnesota is producing some excellent content of its own, I was pretty happy. Bankruptcy reform, food self-sufficiency, and stem cell cancer research are among the topics covered recently in the series. Check it out. And, if you’re new to podcasting, check out the Wikipedia “podcasting” overview.

Just about every where I went today was packed with people. The highways were packed, the stores were packed, the restaurants were packed. Is Christmas fever hitting everyone early? Has everybody decided to spend all their money on gas and goods before the bird flu hits?

The packed restaurant was near Knollwood Mall, the Grand City Buffet. I admit it, I went to a Chinese buffet today. They have peanut butter chicken, though, and I’m a sucker for that. I need to figure out how to make it, so I can have it without having to frequent the buffets. I’ve never seen it on the menu anyplace. It’s so good, though. First time I had it was in Phoenix, AZ, and now up here. Honestly, I’m starting to think that anything is better with peanut butter. It was quite busy there, too. Everyone fattening themselves up for winter hibernation again, or like before, trying to have a little excess to help stave off the bird flu.

I was walking in the Uptown area this week, along Hennepin Avenue and if I’m not mistaken, it looked like Pandora’s coffeeshop was closed. All the windows were covered with newspaper, and there was a plastic bag over the sign out front. Anyone know anything about it? I think I only went there once, as I’m more often at Vera’s or Spyhouse, but hey, I’m always a fan of independently owned coffeeshops. Anything to keep there from being one more Starbucks in a neighbourhood.

It seems like every other month MPR is hosting their fundraising telethon, but luckily this time I have archived podcasts to get me through the commute to work. I wonder if they actually lose listeners during this time? They lost me.

MN has a program whereby an individual can contribute $50 (couples $100) to “a Minnesota political party, a candidate for state office, or candidates for the Minnesota Legislature” can get an outright refund of that contribution. That’s right, you can, for FREE, support the political party of your choice in Minnesota. Read the rules and get the right forms on the MN Dept of Revenue page. I’m mentioning this because the end of the year is approaching and if you haven’t taken advantage, the opportunity will be lost.

Here’s a story from the AP that caught my eye:

The Minneapolis school system’s online physical education allows kids to choose a physical activity they enjoy, do it for 30 minutes three times a week on their own time while keeping an online journal. A parent or coach must confirm the student did the activities, and a fitness test at semester’s end will turn up any cheaters.

Now while I do have issues with the government dictating physical education to schools, this is an interesting loophole. You know how much you lie, cheat and procrastinate in school? Like a test at the end of the year is going to dissuade you from doing those push-ups today. Uh-huh

I am totally digging the bright colors the few trees left with leaves have. Can I just tell you how much I love the fall? I wish it was autumn all year long sometimes. Mostly so I could use the phrase autumnal. What a crazy word that is…

Anywho, we made peace with the folks at the Old Arizona last weekend. They were much nicer to us and the in return, we smiled a lot at them. They even made us a fresh batch of homemade cookies Saturday night. Yummy!! So, even though we aren’t mad at them, I would still like all of you to come check out the show. PRETTY PLEASE :( I will love you forever…

Today’s Wall Street Journal reviews the new Walker, and praises it up and down. It talks about the building itself, the architects, the collection, and there’s nary a negative word about it. The article also mentions the other institutions that are being expanded or given new digs around town, pretty much talking about how much Minneapolis is rockin’ and that we’re just gonna get better. I’d link to the article, but the Wall Street Journal is a pay site for pretty much everything. If you can get your hands on the article though, definitely worth a read.

I parked on the street last night, and this morning I found honest-to-goodness frost on my car’s windows. I’ve been in winter denial because there’s been the odd smattering of nice days the last few weeks.

But, I need to face facts. This weekend I’ll be winterizing my motorcycles (although I’m holding out winterizing my sportbike just in case there’s one last nice day) and cleaning up my gear for storage over the winter.

Perhaps I’ll need to take up go-kart racing, or something for the winter months. World of Warcraft can only go so far.

From the Strib:
It’s the only tinned meat with its own museum. And it’s got its own Christmas collectible from Department 56, the Minnesota-based maker of holiday villages and seasonal doodads. So is it really that much of a stretch to believe that Spam, so often the subject of ridicule in the United States, is considered an upscale delicacy in South Korea? Far from the prairies surrounding its southern Minnesota producer, Hormel Foods Corp., the spiced pork shoulder byproduct is considered a proper and lovely holiday gift. Around Korean holidays, like the recent Chusok holiday, the blue-and-yellow cans show up in better stores, often wrapped in boxed sets.

It goes on to say that Chusok is the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, and an estimated 8 million cans of Spam change hands annually there. That sure beats turkey, and I bet Korean newspapers don’t run lame stories about tryphtophan-laden Thanksgiving meals.

Do Minnesotans as a whole have any strange Thanksgiving habits (apart from Spam, of course)?