DISCLAIMER: Be careful. If you have sensitive eyes, you may not want to read this post. I drop some F bombs in here. But seriously, it’s warranted.

Basically, I don’t think I can read MinnPost any more.

You see, last weekend I was doing some late-night reading about the election on MinnPost, and the side-bar banner ad caught my eye. “Gee, the woman in this ad vaguely resembles my mother.”

Do you know why?

Because it WAS my mother.

It was really weird. I had known she was featured in print ads for the U’s Management of Technology program years ago, thought it was pretty neat, and moved on. Then I saw this ad on Saturday and it freaked me the fuck out.

But that’s not all. I read MinnPost (as well as many other news sources) for my jerb every day, and three times this week I’ve seen her there, staring back at me, telling me to clean my room from the fucking internet.

So, I’m sorry MinnPost. Your intrepid, exciting format of grassroots, community-based professional freelance journalism was genius (and a sustainable nonprofit business model!). But it has all been undone by putting my mom’s face all over your articles.

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Ever wondered who owns all the TV, newspapers, radio and major news Web sites you enjoy each day?

In December 2007, the FCC “gutted the rules that protect local communities from media monopolies,” and I just got this e-mail from the Free Press Action Fund urging Minnesotans to take action:

As early as tonight, the Senate will have its last chance to roll back media consolidation, and Sen. Norm Coleman and Sen. Amy Klobuchar could cast the deciding vote. All of our work to stop runaway media conglomerates could come down to your senators!

Their vote would overturn a disastrous FCC giveaway of local news outlets to Big Media. If the giveaway stands, it would open the floodgates to the type of consolidation that has allowed tycoons like Rupert Murdoch to stifle diverse voices and skew America’s political agenda…Call Sen. Coleman and Sen. Klobuchar Now.

Tell them to vote for the bipartisan “resolution of disapproval” (S.J. Res. 28), which rejects the FCC ruling. If the resolution passes, our fight will move on to the House. If it doesn’t, then Big Media gets to move into your neighborhood, gobbling up more local outlets.

I found some talking points here:

These new rules are bad for local news. Research by Free Press — a non-partisan, non-profit organization — has shown that allowing one company to own a major newspaper and TV broadcast station in a community leads to less local news overall. Additionally, we know that more consolidation leads to cuts in newsroom staff and erodes quality journalism. Read more.

These new rules are bad for people of color. Right now people of color own only 3% of broadcast media in America. The way these new rules are written, it will put these minority media owners in the cross-hairs of consolidation. They will become targets for buyouts, further diminishing the diversity of voices on the airwaves. Read more.

These new rules are bad for business. As one company amasses more media properties in a given community, it effectively gets monopoly status. By setting up advertising deals across media outlets, it becomes impossible for other small media firms to compete.

The FCC’s process has been corrupt. The FCC Chairman has consistently bucked standard procedure, ignored members of Congress and the public, and snuck through new media ownership waivers that undermine his new rule. The House is currently investigating the FCC on the grounds of bad process.

And if these kinds of topics interest you like they do me, be sure to check out the National Conference on Media Reform coming to Minneapolis this June. More info about the campaign here.

Thoughts?

UPDATE: Senate passed the bill around 8 tonight. Bush has said he will veto if House passes, as well. I guess we’ll see.

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• Sunday, May 17, is Syttende Mai, Norway’s Independence Day.
• Kids from one school bus stop are biking to school together for Bike Walk to Work Week.
• Minneapolis City Councilmember Ralph Remington on the black experience in America.
• Charles Hallman of the Spokesman-Recorder, who (along with Stephen Litel from DT/SW Journal) provides the best Lynx coverage in town) previews the Lynx going into the team’s 10th season and the WNBA’s 12th season. Home opener is Sunday at 5:00 against the Detroit Shock and will be broadcast on FSN North. FanFest will be happening out on 6th Street from 2-4pm.
• Vandals damage governors’ portraits in the Capitol. Harold LeVander, Elmer Anderson, and Jesse Ventura. Colonel Mustard, in the rotunda, with a marker.
• Mary LaHammer previews her Almanac interview with Jesse Ventura. Dude’s all over the place pimping his new book.
• Sornie: “When I attend the Minnesota State Fair, I love to wander through the ‘varied industry building’ or as I refer to it as ‘people peddling crap that doesn’t deserve shelf-space at the As Seen on TV store at the Mall of America building’.” It doesn’t even matter what the rest of the post is about.
• St Paul Issues Forum is doing happy hour tonight. O’Gara’s. 5-7pm. SPIF is also looking for candidates for their executive committee. Deets at happy hour.
• My favorite Rake blog is Just Passing Through. Guest blogging by all sorts of interesting folks.

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While I was working on yesterday’s roundup, I came across Metro Transit’s Bike2Benefits program.

Since I live four miles from where I work, I decided that it would probably not be nearly as bad as I imagined to commute to work on my bike. I did that for the first time today and it didn’t suck! So I was all proud of myself, but then I noticed that there are prizes involved in Bike2Benefits, so I went ahead and signed up for that.

Choose any eight-week period before Dec. 31 to start commuting by bicycle. Track your trips and mileage at this website. When you complete the program, you will automatically be entered in our year-end prize drawing. You’ll also receive a Twin Cities Bike Map (while supplies last). Once your eight weeks are over, continue tracking your commutes and you’ll be eligible for even more incentives!

Bike2Benefits is open to anyone 18 or older who lives and works in these counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington. There is no fee to participate.

Here’s how it works:

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The Citizens League and 89.3 The Current are hosting an informational mini-bash at The Varsity tomorrow night, starting at 6pm. Policy and a Pint will focus on the mortgage market, or the concept formerly known as the mortgage market:

Everyone knows the mortgage market is in crisis - and that it’s dragging down the rest of the economy. But what caused it? How can we get out of it? And how can homeowners - and potential buyers - in Minnesota protect themselves?

Richard Todd from the Federal Reserve will help explain how we got here, and personal finance writer Kara McGuire from the Star Tribune will be on hand for practical advice for owners, buyers, sellers and renters alike.

I’m a little jealous of all of you that have the night off and are able to go. Not because I’m in the market to buy or sell a house any time soon, but it’s a major part of our economy right now…which is projected to only get worse. And not that the Varsity’s sparkley, voluptuous acoustics will be showcased by an informational session, but at least you get to enjoy the comfy venue.

It is $10 ($5 for students/alumni still utilizing student IDs), but you do get appetizers from the Loring Pasta Bar, which is also where the after-party will take place.

While the combination of beer, canapes, and mortgages sounds like a bad office barbeque, I’m guessing this one is going to be a decent Thursday night out.

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From the Strib’s Patent Pending blog, Philip Wright, managing partner of Eden Prairie-based BrokerBank Securities Inc., says:

The State of Minnesota is sorely missing risk-takers these days. Innovation is there, but the financiers want surethings and vc’s are usually owned by very conservative investors with limited time horizons.

@GraemeThickins summing up the MinneBar panel “State of the State: Technology in Minnesota” (full audio):

[W]e’re too risk-averse here…knock down those tendencies, let’s go!

We’re hella smart and talent-rich, but we need to grow an entrepreneurial pair.

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Bike/Walk Related:

• R.T. Rybak wins the Great Commuter Challenge on his bike, beating out the Ramsey County Commissioner who walked/took public transit and Roadguy who drove a car. I did not bike to work today for Bike Walk to Work Day, but I give my potential bike commute a dry run on Monday evening and may do it yet this week, since Bike Walk to Work Day is just one part of Bike Walk to Work Week.
• Minneapolis and St Paul mayors unveil community bike program. The program is called “Freewheelin” and is sponsored by insurance company Humana. “Solar-powered kiosks will be stationed throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul during the [Republican National] convention, which will be Sept. 1-4. People will be able to take bikes from these kiosks, travel anywhere and drop them off when they’re done. The only requirements will be online registration and a credit card number — not to be charged, but to hold people accountable when bikes are damaged or go missing.” 70 bikes will be left behind to continue the program after the convention and the program may expand for the following spring. IMO, going into the winter is not the best time to fire up the program, but at least it’s there.
• Cycling in the city. vita.mn on bike culture in the TC. (via east-lake)
• Bike2Benefits is a Metro Transit program somewhat similar to the commuter challenge (but focusing on biking, obviously). (via twin_cities)

The Rest:

• You know that big bronze (kind of scary) rabbit sculpture on Minnehaha Parkway at Portland? This Saturday at 10am there will be kids out there planting clay bunnies around it. Not sure why, though… (via @nxt)
• The Rake has a new Call for Artists section. Current listings are for actors for a Fringe show and exhibitions to display at various Hennepin County Library locations in Minneapolis. (via @RakeMag)
• In case you just moved here and aren’t sure what the white lights on the traffic signals are. I find it extra confusing that the white lights also blink along Hiawatha when the train is coming. Is LRT an emergency?
• Bon Iver on Pitchfork.tv (via east-lake)
• Taylor Carik = Bon Iver (I so told Taylor that months ago.) And, yeah, they do both look like every guy that hangs out at the 331 Club.
• Least Dangerous Game, everyone’s favorite Twitter hide and seek game, starts again on May 24 after its winter hiatus.
• Living on the Minnehaha Homestead has a multimedia presentation on the May Day Parade.
• Localized job boards that are not Monster/CareerBuilder/etc.
• Strib blog: “Patent Pending will provide you the latest information and commentary on the people, companies, and trends driving innovation in Minnesota. From visionary entrepreneurs to game changing technologies, this blog will offer a window into the future of Minnesota’s economy.”
• Graffiti = Killing Puppies
• Firsthand account of the immediate aftermath of an armed robbery in the parking lot of the E Lake Street Cub Foods.
• Local crazies. Fun to discuss unless they’re actually crazy.
• Best Buy sucks the big schlong.

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The Twin Cities has been known for its theatre scene, rivaling larger cities for mere number of venues, and beating most of them for theatres per capita. The Minne-Apple, Broadway of the Midwest, the True Great White Way (get it? White Snow? right….), basically we have lots of theaters. And we get big shows. Touring shows from Broadway, that play at various theaters in our fair metropolises. Unfortunately, some of those big boisterous Broadway shows feel a little cramped once we wedge them into the theaters we have here. I saw Wicked when it came to town, and unless you have seats directly down the middle, you’re not seeing a good portion of the stage.

We do have a theater, however, that deserves these big shows, with its vast stage. I love the Ordway. I’ve seen so many great shows there, from Les Miserables to the Drowsy Chaperone, to its currently running spectacle, Cabaret. And I’ve never been disappointed with a show that I’ve seen there. No, not even Big (which only ran for 193 performances on Broadway). There’s so much more room for the staging, that at the very least, the spectacle of the show generally blows you away. The current show, Cabaret, has the excellent staging, in a brand new co-production of this classic musical. Cabaret is co-produced by the Ordway, San Jose’s American Musical Theatre, and Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater. Each city brought its own talent and expertise to the production, with actors coming from all three cities, and Seattle providing the director, Bill Berry. It premiered in San Jose in March, continued on to Seattle, and then landed here last week, with performances continuing on until the 18th, prior to it touring elsewhere.

The show itself was so much fun to watch. I’d never seen Cabaret before, not even the movie, and was stunned by this performance. The creative team did a lot of research into 1920s Berlin of the final days of the Weimar republic, when many liberation movements were in full flower, using the book Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy, by Univ. of Minnesota professor, Eric D. Weitz. The freedom exhibited in the story, counter-pointed by the tragic ending foreshadowing the growing horror of Nazi Germany moved me greatly. Particularly well performed were the parts of the MC, played by Nick Garrison, and Frau Schneider, played by Suzy Hunt. I’m also enjoying the Ordway’s habit of putting the orchestra on-stage in costume, as they did in Chicago (this may be traditional for these shows, I’m not sure). They certainly looked like they were having fun, dragging it up on stage, while playing their instruments. Smiles all around. And that would explain the monitors facing the stage with the conductor’s hands displayed. I wondered about this the whole show, and it hit me just now why it was there.

There are still performances and still great seats for the show, and if you’ve never been to the Ordway, go over to St. Paul and check it out. It truly is my favourite theater in the Twin Cities.

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If you happen to be around Northeast Minneapolis this weekend be prepared to see art, and lots of it. Every year NEMAA (the Northeast Arts Association) puts on Art-A-Whirl. Which is open artist studios, live music, clubs having events and more.

I will be spending most of my weekend days on 28th and Johnson Street where I will helping with the live music of Johnstock, which is the Johnson Street Merchants Associations Art-A-Whirl event. Artists booths, Live music and all the stores will be having extra stuff going on.

I haven’t found a definitive guide of all Art-A-Whirl events, but they have a listing on their website. There are also info booths in Northeast where you can pick up the Art-A-Whirl book which has everything listed and there is a map as well.

If anything just drive or bike around Northeast and you will see signs directing you to warehouses, galleries and other cool places. See you there!!

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I was at the Twins/Red Sox game last night. I’d also been watching the series on TV. And I’ve been to a few other games this season already.

The most conspicuous and confusing thing about all of it? All the Red Sox fans.

I went to school in Boston and came into my full interest in/appreciation of baseball while watching the 2004 ALCS/World Series (I’d liked it before, but this got me hooked), so the fact that I wore my Boston cap and my Twins jersey to the game last night was excusable. For me. (Plus I wanted to be a smartass, and I think I succeeded rather well.)

But, watching the series on TV, it sounded like the crowd was split 50/50 in who they were rooting for. I didn’t think too much of it, until I was at the game last night and fully half of the people I saw with team paraphernalia were sporting Sox gear.

And it’s wasn’t just this series that has been bringing out the Minnesota chapter of Red Sox Nation. Every game I go to, the team hat I see most often, after Twins caps and any other Minnesota sports team, is for Boston.

Is this something you’ve noticed? I can’t imagine that it’s simply because they won it all last year. Or even remnants from the 2004 happiness. But, I can’t think of any other explanation, so maybe it is.

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I know it’s only Monday, but I’m already thinking about next weekend. If today’s weather is any indication of the upcoming week it should be a great weekend to be outside.

Which is why this Saturday I’ll be attending the Ramsey County  Master Gardener’s plant sale in the morning and then heading over to Lake Phalen WaterFest for the early afternoon. 

A few of the WaterFest activities: On-the-water education in Wilderness Inquiry Voyageur canoes (Canoe rides!), Kid’s fishing lessons and stream monitoring, Rain garden tours,Raptors and other live animals, the Toonies Puppet Show, Native plant give-away, Powder Puff and 3M clowns and stilt walkers, and solar boat races.

Where else in town can I see raptors while getting advice on rain garden creation?

For this type of variety I’m willing to brave the clowns and stiltwalkers.

Anyone else want to go?

(Photo courtesy of cameraphone10000 / Mothers Day Sunset)

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Y’know, I’m still a little pissed about the smoking ban in bars. I pretty much took the Eddie Izzard view on the matter: “Yes, no smoking in bars, and soon there’ll be no drinking and no talking.” I’ve heard all sorts of “but it’s nicer to breathe clean(ish) air than all that cigarette smoke.” Sure. Whatever. It’s still government overreach… and doesn’t even pretend not to be.

So, you’d imagine I’d flip my shit when I saw this:

In an effort to rid its playgrounds and beaches of cigarette butts and secondhand smoke, Ramsey County is considering making many of its recreation areas tobacco-free zones.

But… no. I am having a really hard time getting my blood worked up about keeping cigarettes away from places where children play. I know in the depths of my political soul that it should not be the government doing this–that people should have the good sense not to smoke at a playground. But the plain truth is most people don’t.

And this placates me even more:

Tobacco use would still be allowed on Ramsey County golf courses and at picnic shelters.

Golf really isn’t golf without a cigar. And who of us has left a picnic satisfied without eating a cigarette or two.

Maybe you can come up with a good point to help piss me off about this?

21

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden turns 20 this year.

You’re no doubt familiar with this photo; the famous “Spoonbridge and Cherry” fountain-sculpture that defines our city as one that doesn’t exactly take itself seriously.

The Claes Oldenburg sculpture was commissioned by the Walker Art Center in 1985 and was installed three years later on May 9, 1988. On August 29, 2007, it was eaten in a freak walk-by assault.

I was doing some quick research and found out it was fabricated by Lippincott, Inc., North Haven, Connecticut; Merrifield-Roberts, Inc., Bristol, Rhode Island; and Paul E. Luke, Inc., East Boothbay, Maine.

It seems ironic that the piece of art that most defines our city is actually the product of a Swedish artists and three East Coast states. Do you think they’ll be sending the Spoonbridge a birthday card?

Photo from oopsilon under Flickr CC license

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MinnPost is reporting on something very interesting that is happening within in the Minnesota chapter of the Republican Party. When the party convenes this fall in St. Paul, six of the delegates will be pledged to Ron Paul.

While this may not seem like anything newsworthy, it actually kind of is. (In fact, MinnPost did two stories on it. Two!) Fully half of the delegates from three of the four Twin Cities districts (the fourth, fifth, and sixth) will be going to St. Paul wearing Ron Paul tshirts. The state party isn’t happy about this. In fact, in an email sent to some supporters, the state GOP said:

“You should also be aware that, unlike your service as a State or local delegate, your influence on the process is considerably limited. The other primary states will, by convention time, have determined the Presidential nominee. The platform process is divided and the opportunity to participate in even a piece of it is limited. After the convention, the platform is generally ignored. For this reason, the role of National Delegate is generally seen as a ‘reward’ for long and faithful service to the Party, rather than as a ‘representative’ to a deliberative body or a ‘learning opportunity’ for newcomers.”

In other words, a pat on the head for being able to do so darn well. Now sit down and shut up while the grownups discuss business.

This really makes me want to poke my head into the X come September when the convention rolls into town. Because I think it may look something like this.

But, I don’t know. Are you a member of the Ron Paul Revolution here in the Twin Cities? Or are you a lock-step GOP member? Give us some insight on what the hell is going on here.

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This photo uploaded on April 25, 2008 by Aaron Landry is the kind of Saturday we’re having in the Twin Cities.

Today, I know that many of you were in conference rooms all #minnpost this and #minnpost that like a *bunch of nerds, but from what I can tell the rest of the world was out and about freaking out. 

Parking lots were full, lines were super long, and it seemed everyone had to get flowers for Mothers Day Then I spent the afternoon #tilling, #planting, #**, and #carryingFurniture for @abossyFriend.

Did anyone make it to the plant sale at the Arboretum?

(*Actually, I can’t wait to hear all about it)

(#** Twitter talk:minnebar)

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