Two congressmen — Democratic Rep. Tim Walz and Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen — joined leaders of labor unions and the state Chamber of Commerce in seeking the repeal of Minnesota’s nuclear moratorium.

Their public backing could put pressure on legislators from their areas considered swing votes in the debate. In April, a bid to lift the ban fell eight votes short in the House after convincingly winning approval in the Senate

Walz, who represents much of southern Minnesota, said he doesn’t discount concerns over long-term waste storage. But he said there are environmental consequences to keeping the nuclear ban in place, too.

“Without a baseload of other alternatives here in Minnesota, quite honestly we’ve encouraged people and forced them into the coal business,” he said. “We want to give them other options.”

I have no questions that ending this law and building nuclear is the right thing to do. I believe that newer nuclear technology is safer and more efficient than the plants of the past. (See Also: Wind vs. Nuclear Power: Which Is Safer?
) And it’s my understanding that we are now able to get more power due to recycling nuclear waste.

Still, that’s just like, my opinion man.

What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

So instead I”ll point you to this little nugget over joy over at Roadguy: What’s up with 35E? Don’t ask your GPS

Learn to Drive the Speed Limit as Posted
I-35 E, it gave nagivite feed Trap, 40 m.p.h.. been he pale wills weat pating natience office, that was turn no trave, it of somethis quietus makes, 40 m.p.h. good perhaps insolence of discove, I-35 E had those bodkin? Who worst and point. It comments. oppressor’s could fard that unworst as it was West 7th Stop Light himself might himself might, and sweath, the nagiving afteritive, it giving nating cowards of action is a weary life, that than fly to bear thing commenterit of regardelay.
posted by qajariaq

It starts out wonderfully with a meaningful title, but by the end I couldn’t help wonder if it was a joke.

Now comment away you nating cowards.

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It’s a constant message on Election Day: get out and vote. It’s generally accepted that the more voters, the better. The higher turnout, the better. But what about people who admit they don’t know anything about the issues or the candidates in a given race? Is an uninformed vote better than not voting at all?

A number of people chimed in with thoughtful response and many took the safe road saying they abstain if they are uninformed.

Now it’s honest time, at some point in our voting life we’ve all voted for someone that we didn’t know much about.

Hey, we’re all friends here, I’m not judging.

@howwastheshow ponied up some truth that inspired this post:

@justacoolcat @DeRushaJ’s GQ tonight was awesome. Seriously thought about it today. Was only informed on 50% of ballot, but voted on 75%.

When I was 18 I was known for picking based on a funny name or using the infinite-naughty-possibility-generator the write-in box. ( I know write-in isn’t exactly an uninformed vote, but for all practical purposes it’s a wasteful vote)

So here’s my question:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

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It’s a magical realm,but even with all this glory and happiness it can be a sad land. You see, there just aren’t enough real issues to be legislated. So the important government representatives have to occasionally shake off their hookers, wipe the pixie dust from their clothes, and have a congressional hearing.

The pioneerpress reports House subcommittee chairman: We’re here to help NFL, Vikings’ Kevin and Pat Williams resolve differences

‘It is in all of our best interests for these parties to reach an agreement on this enormously important matter.”

Isn’t that nice? Those important lawmakers want to help those big fat rich men get along with their big fat rich bosses.

Thank God, there isn’t a war going on, or an economy that is in shambles, or a kitten caught in a tree.

It’d be terrible if our esteemed Representatives were to get distracted from the important business of the NFL.

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Here’s what they have to say,

This party is developing a new package of ideas that may help America at a critical point in our history. Born on the 4th of July in 2009, we declare our own independence from the bipartisan political regime.

In particular:

(1) We aspire to establish a new paradigm in the politics of identity.
(2) We would rein in powers assumed by local governments without the consent of the governed.
(3) We lament the decline of honest journalism as big media companies shape the news along certain lines.

Specifically:

(1) We like white people (and people of other races, too).
(2) We don’t like local governments meddling in their residents’ personal affairs.
(3) And you better shape up, too, Star Tribune!

VIA Chuckumentary

It seems to me their first specific point is really really weird and probably offensive to everyone under the age of 50. Also, they claim to create a new “paradigm”? Ugh.

What do you think?

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Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

In their efforts to make more downtown commuters stop, shop and roll out their dollar bills, city leaders have created a major speed bump for Minneapolis’ best known and most bustling nightlife landmark.

The new and inarguably confusing street layout — with bike lanes nearest the curb, and parking spaces nearer the middle of the street — wipes out First Ave’s load-in area. Bands will have to park their buses and trailers a block away and around the corner on 8th Street. So will all the beer trucks and other suppliers. In the new configuration, they would be blocking a bike lane, metered spaces and probably some of that one new lane of traffic going north.

A block might not sound like that far of a jaunt. But can you imagine lugging 10 cases of Summit beer, a $10,000 soundboard, a $15,000 case of guitars or the entire Wu-Tang Clan herbal supply that far through the snow and ice in February?

A couple of things,
1) Bike lanes along the curb between the curb and car parking sounds pretty dangerous.
2) “Wu-Tang Clan herbal supply ” – Is this a weed reference? Does the Clan have so much weed it can’t be carried a block?
3) Is there anything Lisa Goodman can’t mess up?
4) This is an attempt to “be more European”, but how European can we really be? The set up of this country is really different than Europe.

Thoughts?

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What protest you may ask?

Here are the details, Neo-nazi group plans protest of YWCA anti-racism workshop.

A group of neo-Nazis plan to protest an anti-racist workshop Saturday at the Midtown YWCA in Minneapolis, sparking plans for counter-protests from community members.

Forty people have registered for the workshop, titled “More Than Skin Deep: Uprooting White Privilege and White Supremacy One Cell at a Time.”

In health care, we vow to “first do no harm.” If only politicians had to make a similar promise.

As a family physician, I’ve spent a lot of time debunking myths about health care that my patients see on the Internet, late night TV or in the back pages of magazines.

I never dreamed I would have to debunk myths about health care from our elected officials and supposed leaders

…Before such people presume to regulate and reform my profession, they should try holding themselves to its ethical standards

“supposed leaders” Here, Here!
Hear, all ye good people, hear what this brilliant and eloquent speaker has to say!

Please feel free to spread or debunk a myth in the comments.

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Below is the announcement and information on the two-film event at the Riverview Theater.

Celebrating Local Food, Creating Permanent Community Spaces Gardening Matters and the Midtown Farmers Market invite you to a two-part film event:

The Garden
Wednesday, September 9th – 7p.m.
Riverview Theater

&
Food Fight
Wednesday, September 16th – 7 p.m.
Riverview Theater

Do we value our community spaces?  How do community gardens and farmers markets impact our ability to nourish ourselves and the neighborhoods in which we live?  What can and should be done to protect these spaces for the benefit of the common good?
The Garden: In 1992, neighbors working together to grow food, feed families, build community, and repair blight established The Garden, a 14-acre community garden in South Central Los Angeles.  It became the largest community garden in the United States.  But behind closed doors at City Hall, the Garden was sold to a developer for less than fair-market value.  The Garden, an Oscar-nominated documentary by Scott Hamilton Kennedy, follows a group of urban farmers, mostly immigrants from Latin America, as they organize, fight back, and demand answers. View the trailer at www.blackvalleyfilms.com

Food Fight: When we walk into a supermarket, it’s easy to believe we are in the midst of the widest possible selection of wholesome foods available.  Don’t be fooled: Chris Taylor’s film Food Fight documents how over the course of the 20th century, our food system has been co-opted by corporations whose interests aren’t always in providing our families with fresh, healthy, and sustainably-produced food.  But there are alternatives: beginning with the 1960’s counter-cultural revolution, Taylor’s film features some of the folks who have been taking our nation’s food production back into their own hands through innovative urban agriculture projects, schoolyard gardens, locally provisioned restaurants, and community farmers markets. View the trailer at www.foodfightthedoc.com.

Featured Speakers: Following each film there will be a brief presentation/panel discussion to address the issues raised by the films. Chris Taylor, director of Food Fight will be at the screening on the 16th to discuss the documentary & answer questions from the audience. Additional speakers to be announced.

Tickets for both shows are $10 at the door, no advance sales.

Doors open at 6:30pm.

The Riverview is located at 3800 42nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, 55406.

Sponsored by the Midtown Farmers Market & Gardening Matters, with support from our Promotional Partners:  Birchwood Cafe, Common Roots Café, Environmental Justice Advocates of MN, Headwaters Foundation for Justice, Land Stewardship Project, MN Food and Justice Alliance, Peace Coffee, and Seward Co-op.

Please contact Jesse (jesse.gardeningmatters@gmail.com) with any questions and we hope to see you there!

The Garden Facebook Page

Celebrating Local Food/Protecting Community Spaces Film Facebook Event Page

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Issues like these are important to our community.  Locally, the Soo Line Community Garden in Minneapolis just received notice that they are considering the area for rezoning. Community meetings regarding the rezoning are being held August 31, September 1 and September 2.  All three will be in the Midtown Exchange building (920 E Lake St) from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.  A the same presentation will be given at 7:00 PM at each meeting.

Organizers have said that at present, the Soo Line Garden’s land has split zoning,  with half zoned residential (R2B) and half industrial (I1) which was was created 15 years ago at the request of the Whittier Alliance and the South Whittier Land Use Task Force to create an obstacle to possible development (one half would have to be rezoned before any project could go forward).  As part of the Midtown Greenway Rezoning Study it is now proposed that the lot where the Soo Line Community Garden lies  be zoned R1A, Single Family Residential.

Say Soo Line Community Garden leaders “We would like to see the City adopt an open space zoning category so that the zoning code can reflect the intended use of the land. Until such a category can be created we support the rezoning to R1A as the option which offers the best protection against any future development threat.”

While there is no immediate threat to the SLCG and it was not individually singled out for the rezoning, the organizers are requesting supporters to participate in the meetings so that the garden’s interests can be protected and any future threat minimized.

For further information on the rezoning meetings or the Soo Line Community Garden you can contact Russell Raczkowski (rracz@earthlink.net).

Soo Line Garden: Annual or Perennial