On July 5, the Trisha Brown Dance Company at the Walker Art Center performed the seminal “Man Walking Down the Side of a Building,” which hasn’t been seen in the United States since its New York debut nearly 40 years ago. Photos on Flickr here.
This weekend marks the 12th Annual Dragon Festival,
The Asian-Pacific Minnesotan festival features cultural performances, artists, music and yes, Dragon Boat Races!
These sleek, ornately designed boats are each 40-ft long and under 4-ft. in width. Each comes with a drum to provide the rhythm for the paddlers. The character of each boat is shown through its intricately designed head and tail representing the most venerated mythical beast in Chinese folklore–the dragon. The dragon is a believed to be a benevolent creature with powers to bring rain (that guarantees good harvest) and the power to ward off illness…Each team consists of 20 team members: 18 paddlers, one flag catcher, and one drummer.
I would love to be the drummer. I would bust out some sweet John Bonham licks and power my team to victory. There should be one rower who gets a cymbal or maybe a kazoo, too.
Dragon Festival is located at Phalen Lake Park in St. Paul, MN this July 12 & 13 from 9 am-5 pm. More info here.
While the Minnesota Zoo is always a favorite, there’s a special place in my heart for the Como Zoo.
According to Wikipedia (which someone has yet to update to reflect the new Tropical Encounters Exhibit):
The first zoo in Saint Paul was on Harriet Island when in 1897, the city of St. Paul received a gift of three deer. Additional animals followed, when more room was needed to house the animals they were moved to facilities at Como Park.
Set within the lush 384 Como Park in North Saint Paul, Como Zoo has all the animals you would expect at a zoo (including many the Minnesota Zoo doesn’t) — namely lions, tigers, (polar) bears, seals and penguins.
And…Sparky!
Since I was too little to sit up in a stroller, I’ve been coming to Como to see Sparky the Sea Lion. Sparky turned 52 years-old this year, and he’s looking as spry as ever.
His new show is called “Sparky’s Coastal Journey” and features all sorts of propaganda about recycling, polar bears and global warming. Apart from the messaging, Sparky turns on the stereo, jumps through hoops, barks and waves on command — all to the delighted satisfaction of the children under 10 in the crowd (including myself).
This summer Como also has a temporary walk-through butterfly exhibit in the shape of a giant caterpillar. At any time there are 300 butterflies fluttering throughout the 2,500 sq. ft. greenhouse.
It’s the best butterfly garden I’ve ever seen and is highly recommended for a trip in itself.
Parking is free, and the donation to attend the zoo is a suggested $2 adult/$1 children donation.
This weekend we trekked up to Albertville for a birthday party at Space Aliens Grill and Bar.
I’d driven by this place a few times during (forced) trips to the outlet mall, but never had the opportunity — or desire — to stop. I’d never heard of this regional chain, but apparently they are in Bismarck, Fargo and Minot, ND and Albertville, Waite Park and Blaine, MN.
With the tag line “Fill Up Your Inner Space,” Space aliens is kind of like a Chuck E. Cheese minus the animatronic mice and singing gorilla drummer.
A domed ceiling with stars and asteroids fills the main eating space, alien art, planets and sculptures line the walls and electric-touchy zapper things are in many of the booths. The Bar from Mars is an adults-only area with all your favorites on tap and plenty of big screen TVs for sports. The Galaxy Games Arcade features your standard token-amusements, including 
Skee-Ball, Whack-a-Mole, and other ticket-giving games. Even the restroom boasts classic sci-fi alien abduction movie posters.
Food: I tried the fire-roasted garlic chicken intergalactic pizza, which was absolutely stellar. Others in my group had burgers, barbeque, chicken and salad. Everyone said great things about their food, which was actually reasonably priced.
At a certain point, a voice from above says, “Attention Space Aliens Grill and Bar visitors, an alien has been spotted in the vicinity. Please keep your eyes peeled for visitors from afar” or something like that, and an employee (I’m guessing the least-respected employee) comes out in an alien costume to crash childrens’ birthday parties in progress and shake their hands.
We spent $25 in the arcade trying to get 400 tickets so the birthday boy could get a killer prize whose actual dollar value was probably $4.75. For the record, I’m damn good at Skee-Ball, and on most days, that’s an untapped, unmarketable skill.
It was definitely an “out of this world” experience up there in Albertville and highly recommended for the little alien in your life.
The 2008 Republican National Convention aims to recruit 10,000 volunteers who will be needed to help with:
According to the PiPress today, they are still 6,000 short of their goal of 10,000.
After filling out the volunteer application, I think I know why.
When I saw MNSpeak’s link to this story a few minutes ago, I turned to my wife and said, “Umm…did you ever re-sign up to register for the RNC, honey?” You see, we actually signed up to volunteer on September 17, 2007, but apparently that application didn’t pass muster.
This is from the e-mail I got from the RNC on May 1:
The 2008 Minneapolis Saint Paul Host Committee recently launched a new volunteer application at www.msp2008.com/volunteer and are requesting you fill out this application in addition to the one you previously completed.
In addition to the one you previously completed?!? DAMN IT!
“I forwarded you the link to submit the new application,” she tells me, “but you should know it took me like 20 minutes.”
Great. Super. I’m still rolling my eyes. I understand background checks and security clearance are important, but seriously — 20 minutes? No wonder they’re shy volunteers. Anyone in Generation X or Y probably won’t make it past the 3-4 minute mark.
But I pushed forward, knowing there was a red clipboard out there somewhere with a big “My Name is Greg” nametag temporarily stuck on it just for me.
Here are my observations in filling out the application:
Yes! It says it saved my progress so far, and now I’m into the “Referral section.” Time to get up, stretch, find my laptop’s power cord and maybe pick a new iTunes mix.
At this point I got to rate how much I would like to help with certain tasks:
At this point I stopped to ask my wife what she put down for all of these luxurious choices. She stopped what she was doing and tried to remember. You see, we don’t really need to do the same things, but for babysitter and only owning one car reasons, we don’t really want to be downtown and the airport at the same time. We debated event staffing vs. office vs. airports for awhile. She would’ve logged into her account to see what she put down, but SHE COULDN’T REMEMBER HER PASSWORD! (please note the explanation mark).
Then I had the privilege of going date-by-date from August 16 through September 5 to give them availability morning, afternoon, evening or not available. But first I had to get up and find my calendar, then sync back up with the wife. Turns out I’m going up to Lake of the Woods to fish over Labor Day Weekend, but there wasn’t a blank for me to tell them that’s why I couldn’t make it for the RNC kick-off. I hope McCain will understand. Fishing is definitely a conservative pastime, right?
Finally, I was at the last page and ready to hit FINISH. Oh look, there’s finally a link to the Privacy Policy to see how all of my information will be used. Of course, most people don’t ever read these, but I skimmed it just for giggles. Turns out, I really don’t like that they automatically sell your information to third parties:
(i) We may share your First Tier Information with the Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 Republican National Convention (”COA”), a committee of the Republican National Committee and with selected partners and/or third parties to provide you with information about events and opportunities that might be of interest to you and also would provide you with system information or information about similar events, political candidates or the like; however, the application will allow you to opt-out of having your First Tier Information shared with selected partners and/or third parties other than the COA…
That’s pretty crappy. Most web forms these days have a couple checkboxes for this kind of opt-in list-selling. Looks like I’m going to be on all sorts of mailing lists for the next year or so. Hooray.
Overall, the application took me about 40 minutes to fill out whilst blogging it, watching YouTube, Twittering and generally giving way to my ADHD whims. The average person will probably breeze through the application. And they should. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, after all.
Fill out your application here. And be sure to tell them you LOVE the elderly. I have a feeling not many people are “Experts.”
A reminder: The National Conference for Media Reform is holding its annual conference in Minneapolis starting today and running through the weekend.
Tons of big names are in town for this. I’ll be there, tweeting my favorite parts and any moving comments or poignant theories if you care to follow me. Hashtag is #ncmr
Walk-up registration is open to the public. If you can’t make it, there will be live webcasts, podcasts and even a feed on DISH Network. More info here.
Our government officially decided we can’t handle patting our heads and rubbing our stomachs yesterday. I got the news last night at about 8:30 p.m. last night via Twitter, a mobile social network I frequently use when driving.
According to the KARE 11 story about the bill passing:
If you’re caught composing or sending a text message while you’re behind the wheel of a moving car you can be pulled over and ticketed. Even reading incoming messages could lead to a citation.
Judging from the Pioneer Press article about the bill, it was passed using anecdotal evidence that 1) people can’t handle texting while driving AND 2) it’s a problem worth legislating against, despite the lack of solid research across a wide range of demographics and psychographics.
In fact, the article only lists stats about only teens. Of course teens are distracted drivers…they are also minors, so they are pretty much fair game for passing both disapproval and legislation against. That’s fine with me. But all the news articles and broadcast segments I’ve seen interview adults on the street or in their cars and ask them if they are good drivers when they text and drive. Pretty scientific stuff to base a broad, sweeping bill on, huh?
But what about the general population, some of whom may actually be able to handle reading and replying to e-mails, surfing the web, tweeting and sending text messages? Mommy Minnesota has decided to set some new rules for us, and I’m sorry, but I’m not going to obey them.
In February 2007 I wrote a post here at MB called “I can drive and talk on my cell without crashing” in response to an eerily similar, albeit more stringent, 2007 nanny state bill that would double the fines of any moving violation if the driver was on a cell phone at the time.
Here are some highlights from that post that perfectly reflect the sentiment I’m feeling today:
Remember in grade school when the teacher had to teach the class at the pace of the dumbest student? It slowed down the rest of your class and impaired those who were fast learners and could easily handle the challenges of the day. I know many of my liberal friends don’t see the issue with this. They believe it’s the government’s responsibility to keep us safe from ourselves. But I wish to stress the importance and inevitability of the slippery slope of government mandates on our private lives.Unfortunately, in the post-9/11 era, our society is relying more and more on the big brother government to “keep us safe.” California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia each have enacted a jurisdiction-wide ban on driving while talking on cell phones. Six states (Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) allow localities to ban cell phone use. Only eight smarter states than Minnesota (Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah) prohibit localities from banning cell phone use. (then I gave a breakdown of state laws and legislation)…
At what point are we legislating to the lowest IQ of our population? At what point does society either evolve or operate outside the boundaries of the idiots in our society? …
My biggest point is that sure, use of cell phones are distracting. But look at Vermont, which is considering a measure to ban eating, drinking, smoking, reading, writing, personal grooming, playing an instrument, interacting with pets or cargo and possibly even scratching an itch while driving.
Sometimes the freedom to be an idiot is preferred to the handcuffs of what our government thinks we handle.
While I don’t doubt there are people who cannot handle texting while driving, I do not believe it’s the government’s responsibility to GIVE or TAKE AWAY that right.
Minnesota has now become only the third state (after Washington and New Jersey) to pass this ban on texting and driving, and since it was only based on anecdotal accounts and the gut reaction of a dying generation intimidated by 1) technology and 2) a rising culture of electronically connected multitaskers, there’s no way to measure if it was effective. Driving legislation in Minnesota can only get more restrictive from here, and that just isn’t okay with me.
As early as this afternoon, I’m going to be back on the roads, skimming my e-mail, tweeting and reading idrudgereport.com while I drive. I’ll pay the ticket. It’s worth the price of freedom.
And what are your thoughts, my fellow Minnesota drivers?
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)
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.
You may have already heard about the media kerfuffle,Land of 10,000 Dead Car Batteries , regarding The Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche, but tonight’s Mn Wild playoff game is shaping up to be a penalty-fest heart breaker.
At the time of this post the Wild are down 5 - 1 with 14 minutes remaining.
As a hockey fan, that attends a bunch of Wild games during the year, something extra has been bothering me while our home team plays the Avs in Colorado; I fear their arena music is better.
Pantera’s Cowboys from Hell, Metallica’s Master of Puppets, and a crowd that continues singing once the game play has resumed? Really?
It’s unsettling.
Do you think the time has arrived for Minnesota to update it’s musical playlist for sporting events?
