Secrets of the City » MNSpeak

N.F.L. Goes into Labor

Cristina Cordova — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:41:56 +0000

Unhappy with the September decision to allow Minnesota Vikings Kevin Williams and Pat Williams to continue playing, despite violating the league’s antidoping policy (they were using an over-the-counter weight-loss supplement called StarCaps, which contains diuretic bumetanide), N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodall is asking Congress to change federal labor laws so that state labor laws cannot interfere with league policies. Are the Vikings hiding behind Minnesota workplace laws? Is the N.F.L. oozing out of its britches by trying to interfere with labor laws? Or… should sports only be played in countries with centralized governments? (Or have we had just about enough of this ridiculous case?)

Thanks, Max, and Welcome Back, Cristina

Matt Bartel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:40:15 +0000

With the recent updates to Secrets of the City, including MNSpeak’s reclaimed front and center position, we’ve been planning on expanding both the breadth of topics covered and the number of voices contributing to MNSpeak’s posts and comments. So now seems to be the time to transition our editorial leadership from Max Sparber to Cristina Cordova. Max has been the man for more than two years now and has brought humor, journalistic chops, arts sensibilities, and all-’round coolness to the position. We expect no less from Cristina, and welcome her back from a sort of hiatus since her earlier stint editing The Rake and Secrets of the City. To MNSpeakers: Please continue to check out Max’s stuff at his blog, Sailor Martin and MinnPost’s Daily Glean. On this site, expect to see some resurrected MNSpeak features like 7 Quick Questions and the local blog aggregator, plus regular posts by new contributors who know their stuff in areas we’ve traditionally under-covered (sports, music, out-state news, etc). To everyone else: please submit a post, keep the comments coming, or just lurk around.

Election results

Max Sparber — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:12:48 +0000

Rybak and Coleman both return as mayors. Any results that surprised you? Disappointed you? Thrilled you?

Reconnecting Minneapolis’ Seven Corners and the West Bank

noodleman — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:24:33 +0000

[via Strib] Plans for locating light rail service and a station area in the Washington Avenue trench have focused attention on the long-deferred challenge of reconnecting Cedar-Riverside and the West Bank to Seven Corners and downtown Minneapolis. In its current state, Washington Avenue cuts a barren path through land located between two of Minnesota’s most productive places – downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota.

I never knew the Seven Corners area until the ’80s, long after urban renewal and 35W had changed the neighborhood’s landscape. (I count only four “corners” now.) The article points out that several acres of land have been “mothballed” since that time; devoid of any development. Central Corridor LRT construction could change all that.

What would your suggestions be for the resurrection of Seven Corners as a viable, hospitable district?

Hate Crime Legislation or Anti-Christian Agenda?

Max Sparber — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:40:43 +0000

The Matthew Shepard Act was recently signed into law. It expands the definitions of hate crimes and when the feds can prosecute them, but some locals aren’t happy. Specifically, Jan Markell of the Maple Grove–based Olive Tree Ministries:

“I think that Christians who dare to tell the truth — including this program — about the social, moral, spiritual and health consequences of illicit homosexual acts are accused of hate speech and intimated into silence with threats of fines or jail,”

By the way, the hate crime bill very clearly protects freedom of speech: the legislation has provisions that ensure that prosecution would be based only on violent acts based on bias.

The Latest Tasering News

Max Sparber — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:38:59 +0000

We’ve been over the use of tasers before, and there’s no clear concensus as to the appropriateness of their use, but this seems a bit beyond the pale: The Minneapolis Police Department is dealing with yet another lawsuit, this time for allegedly using a Taser on a man’s neck while he is seen with his hands on the car and not resisting the officer.

WCCO has a video.

Election Day

Max Sparber — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:42:03 +0000

You can find out where to vote easily enough, but who to vote for? And will IRV be confusing, or will it give third-party candidates a new chance?

Charles Schulz Axes a Character

Max Sparber — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:25:47 +0000

So apparently there was once a female Charlie Brown named Charlotte Braun, but she wasn’t very popular and Schulz wasn’t happy with her. That didn’t stop him, however, from responding to a letter criticizing her by telling an irate letter writer that “you and your friends will have the death of an innocent child on your conscience” and then drawing a picture of Braun with an axe in her head. (Via)

When Halloween Gets Stabby

Max Sparber — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:07:45 +0000

WCCO has the story: Three people suffered stab wounds and more had minor injuries after a fight broke out at a Halloween house party. It happened around 1 o’clock Sunday morning in the 4100 of Bunker Lake Boulevard in Ham Lake.

Here’s my favorite quote: “They were ready, they came here, they found some homemade knives, they all had knives.” Wait. They found some homemade knives?

Buffalo Wild Wings: Taking Names and Kicking Buffalo Butt

Max Sparber — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:48:47 +0000

Lazy Lightning points out a piece in MSP Business Journal about the ongoing success of the St. Louis Park-based Buffalo Wild Wings: Strong sales helped lift Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.’s profit by 50 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period a year ago, the restaurant chain reported Tuesday.

Lazy Lightning wonders about this: If you take a look at any of the other local restaurant surrounding Apple Valley’s BW3 and sample their wing offerings, you’re going to find meatier wings, better tasting sauces, and lower prices. Why is it that people are not flocking to Major’s or Rascal’s instead? They offer the same mix of ambiance and food (sports bar) but their food is quite a bit better.