MNSpeak: Talk

Grain Belt Sign for Sale

by champs :: posted on Oct. 02, 2009 - 1:56pm

That inappropriately-located-by-a-high-school Grain Belt sign is on the market. Already refurbished for $125K 20 years ago, the sellers are hoping to find someone willing to light the sign again. This deal has Schubert Theater written all over it -- does anyone have a couple hundred grand lying around to refurb it?

2 comments

National Socialist Movement protest and counter protest

by Max Sparber :: posted on Oct. 02, 2009 - 1:28pm

Via the Minnesota Independent: The National Socialist Movement, a homophobic and anti-semitic white supremacist group, is threatening to protest a workshop at the Minneapolis YWCA about white privilege and white supremacy. It will be the first public NSM event here since a 2007 book-burning, and several groups of Twin Citians say they plan to make that visit an unwelcome one.

4 comments

news

Laughter Yoga?

by Max Sparber :: posted on Oct. 02, 2009 - 1:09pm

Apparently, it's sweeping the Twin Cities. What is it? The practice is similar to other yoga classes in the sense that it is about focusing on the moment, finding inner peace and improving one's health. Yet there are no downward facing dogs or other poses. Rather, a session focuses on laughing and breathing exercises.

21 comments

exercise

New name for the Metrodome

by Max Sparber :: posted on Oct. 02, 2009 - 10:50am

The Vikings have partnered with the Mall of America, and, as a result, the Metrodome is now called the Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Also, the Vikings want out.

9 comments

sports

Top 25 Safest Schools?

by Kristin Henning :: posted on Oct. 02, 2009 - 10:46am

The Daily Beast, this week, followed up their earlier list of the 25 colleges and universities with the worst security records by publishing the 25 safest. Based on some fed statistics and their own metrics, The Daily Beast list includes Winona State (about 8,500 students) and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (10,000 students) among the safest campuses in the country. Could it have something to do with Ol' Man River?

12 comments

Friday Open Thread 10.02.09

by Max Sparber :: posted on Oct. 02, 2009 - 6:01am

For your perusal, some awesome soap box race cars. Soap box racing has come a long way since I was a boy.

101 comments

Wisconsin Invasion

by g rote :: posted on Oct. 01, 2009 - 3:04pm

Between the Gopher vs. Badger game @ TCF on Saturday and the Packers @ Vikings MNF game @ the Dome on Monday, we are about to have a record level of Wisconsites and their attendand behavior in Minneapolis this weekend. Put on your cheesehead and pass the brandy ... it's on.

12 comments

sports

Today in Bachmann news

by Max Sparber :: posted on Oct. 01, 2009 - 2:42pm

I don't even know what to say about this, so I'll just offer the quote, in entirety: And as a matter of fact, the bill goes on to say what's going to go on -- comprehensive primary health services, physicals, treatment of minor acute medical conditions, referrals to follow-up for specialty care -- is that abortion? Does that mean that someone's 13 year-old daughter could walk into a sex clinic, have a pregnancy test done, be taken away to the local Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, have their abortion, be back and go home on the school bus that night? Mom and dad are never the wiser.

14 comments

Memorial Pet Cemetery

by Max Sparber :: posted on Oct. 01, 2009 - 10:54am

MPR offers a fascinating slideshow of Memorial Pet Cemetery in Roseville: The Memorial Pet Cemetery in Roseville, Minnesota, was established in the early 1920s. Today it's the final resting grounds for thousands of animals -- from cats and dogs to guinea pigs and a hedgehog.

8 comments

New Film: Nobody

by Max Sparber :: posted on Oct. 01, 2009 - 12:07am

Locally lensed comedy Nobody opens soon, produced by local-boy-made-good Josh Hartnett, and l'etoil has an interview with the director: Co-writer Ryan Miller and I choose to set the story in the Twin Cities because the vibe of the film felt right here. The tone of Nobody is sweet and charming and this town has that feeling in spades. Coincidentally, Sam Rosen, my leading man is from here. Josh Hartnett, as everyone knows, is also from here. So as we started scouting locations, everything kept pointing us to the Twin Cities. Even after scouting a few other cities, there was no other place we could shoot the film but here.

2 comments

film

The Fjelde House burns

by Max Sparber :: posted on Sep. 30, 2009 - 2:39pm

The historic Pauline Fjelde House, which our own Ranty had published much research on, burned to the ground last night.

4 comments

Midwestern Emmys

by Max Sparber :: posted on Sep. 30, 2009 - 1:21pm

So the Midwestern Emmys were last week, of which our regular commentors have claimed a handful in the past, although none have been awarded to this site's moderator in what must be assumed to be an oversight. Rob Callahan offers an extensive overview of the event, which included a win for former WCCOer Janette Trompeter, who called the win "Bittersweet."

5 comments

Emmys

Chasing (Municipal) Windmills

by justpbob :: posted on Sep. 30, 2009 - 10:43am

Hate the sight of wind turbines? If you live in one of 12 Minnesota cities, including Anoka and North Saint Paul, you are out of luck, because municipal wind turbines are going up, reports the PiPress. As the article notes, there is already a wind turbine in Maple Grove that is half as tall as the Statue of Liberty, according to this article in Architecture Week. So, what do you think about urban wind turbines, MNspeakers? Are they powerful symbols of green energy, or eyesores that mar the view?

43 comments

How to Clean Up Strib Comments

by Max Sparber :: posted on Sep. 30, 2009 - 9:41am

It's widely agreed on that the comments section of the Star Tribune leaves a lot to be desired; it is, in the words of David Brauer, a cesspool. Brauer now reports that the Strib is taking action to drain that cesspool by hiring freelancers to read every single comment posted to the Strib and delete the bad ones: Sauer termed souped-up moderation a "trial," noting budgetary uncertainties as the paper emerges from bankruptcy. However, he said his superiors had pushed the move while the paper was still in Chapter 11, adding that it was an expense worth fighting for.

22 comments

Picked to Click 2009

by Max Sparber :: posted on Sep. 29, 2009 - 9:56pm

City Pages publishes their annual list of up-and-coming bands to watch out for in the next year, the source of a supposed curse. Will Rock of Love survive the year?

27 comments

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