89.3 The Current

MPR: 89.3 The Current

I've been listening to this, the newest station to hit the Twin Cities and I'm quite pleased. Its local, alternative, ecclectic...its just what a lot of people have been waiting for in this town. I'm sure its going to bring in a lot of younger listeners and supporters for public radio. Its not just for Bach anymore - check it out!

RT Rybak for Mayor

Is anyone planning on attending Rybak's announcement for his 2005 bid for Minneapolis mayor on Sunday, Jan 30th? I think I'd like to attend, but I'm not about to go alone.

I've been pretty bad at paying attention to local politics, typically prefering to read about countries around the globe. Since I now pay property taxes and whatnot in the city I figure its a bit more important to get involved.

Here is the 411:

Subject: R.T. officially Announces Run For Reelection

Mayor Rybak Announces Run For Reelection
Sunday, January 30, 2005 at 1:00 PM

When: Sunday, January 30th at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Franklin Art Works, 1021 East Franklin Avenue, Mpls., MN

I'll be talking about my record of accomplishments, vision for the
next term, and why I'm asking for your vote and support. Hope you can
join me.

Please R.S.V.P. at www.RTRybak.com

I finally did it!

I've been living in Minneapolis for going on three years now, and St. Paul the four years before that, and never have I taken the public bus system. It just happens today we had our first real snow storm, the lastest in the season since 1945 or something like that. I left work an hour early today, since the snow had been coming down heavy since the morning, and headed out onto one of the many highways here in the city. Some 2 1/2 hours later I arrived home on a trip that normally would have only lasted 30 minutes on a good day. Ugh.

Alas, my father's 50th birthday was this week and I needed to get him a gift in time for his visit. (He's visiting to check out the new house - I'm not that mean.) As you might imagine I wasn't about to hop back in my car, especially knowing what roads I would need to take. And since we now have this new light-rail light that connects downtown to the Mall of America, and since I live so close to downtown, we headed off to our local bus stop downtown. Connected to the train, off to the mall and repeated the steps in reverse to get home. Unfortunately doing the whole length of the light rail takes a hell of a long time, and the buses start running with growing infrequency. Overall though it wasn't too bad of a trip - a good alternative to driving in this winter storm of ours. Ahh, yes. Fun times.

Target : Apple Mac mini - 40GB

Target : Apple Mac mini - 40GB

Well isn't this interesting, you can buy the Mac mini online at Target.com. Fitting I suppose, and perhaps an indicator what the mini might become....

Canada's military to allow gay weddings on bases

Canada's military to allow gay weddings on bases

I don't think this really needs any commentary from me, speaks pretty much for itself.

The Mac mini: Comparing Apples and Oranges

MacCentral

MacCentral usually isn't good for much of anything these days but on occasion they still suprise me. Today we can read a rather poignant and I should, solid, comparison just how 'cheap' Dell computers really are and what a great deal the Mac mini is for most anyone. Well worth the read if you're misguided about the prudence of an Apple purchase. I recently made a switcher out of someone close and its been quite a succesful adventure - so much so I hardly see him without his trusty new iBook.

It happens every year: Stadium debate at Capitol

Star Tribune

I think building any kind of a stadium in Minnesota at tax payers expense would be criminal, especially in a state with a projected $750 million defecit, increases propery taxes, less and less money for transportation, education and health care, not to mention that already proposed gigantic bonding bill to help pay for transportation. It would be totally irresponsible in a state that in essence allowed 300 people to die last year because the state didn't want to help those who couldn't help themselves stave off disease and return to the workforce. (Heard that on 950 AirAmerica this morning - something about a cap of MinnCare at $5,000 annually)

Stadiums are virtually useless economically - take Detroit for example. They built this new stadium, they're getting the SuperBowl or some other big event and the city still sucks. I'll tell you why (I read a study on this topic) - cities that see the most return on investment when trying to boost local economies are the ones that do the most to attract the Creative Class. Cities can do that by adding bike trails, parks, promoting small businesses and neighborhoods, and encouraging diversity (specifically gays - we gots money and style). Its been a while since I read that study, title something like "Gays and Rock'n Roll", but I beleive it sited Philadelphia as a city that took such steps and has seen a surge in its good times. This of Houston, TX for example, city with the highest percentage of obese people. Who the hell wants to live in Houston, let alone move there?! Hmm!?

Revenue garnered from stadiums goes to so few people, namely the owners and players, and I think most of us can agree they need it the least.

Amazing Story

I'm never using a nail-gun ever. 

Its just hard to imagine one could be shot with a nail-gun and simply not know it, thinking he was suffering from a sudden tooth-ache.

I remember working in wood shop back in highschool, I was always freaking out that a machine was going to kick back or throw something and impale me. If I ever build anything, I'll have to do it the Amish way.