June 2007

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House Arrest: Minneapolis city council sets size limits on new homes

Is your modest-size home currently dwarfed by your neighbor's ostentatious quasi-mansion? Do you endure pangs of inadequacy every time you drive by that smug bastard's oversize monolith of a house, what with its soaring overhangs and looming facades mocking your every sense of conventional modesty? Well fear not! That sumbitch's oneupmanship is henceforth outlawed! [shaking fist]

In a unanimous vote on June 29, the Minneapolis city council approved an ordinance that "address[es] resident concerns over the size and bulk of new homes" and "encourages traditional building features." After the ordinance takes effect (most likely next week after Mayor Rybak okays it), new homes will be forbidden from exceeding half the square footage of their lots and will be prohibited from surpassing 35 feet in height or two-and-a-half stories, whichever is less.

"This was one of the biggest issues I heard about when I knocked on doors in 2005," said 13th Ward Council Member Betsy Hodges in introducing the ordinance. "I think this strikes a balance between the modern desire to build larger homes with the desire to keep what we love so much about our city and its neighborhoods."

In voicing what can only be interpreted as support for the code (considering he voted for it), 2nd Ward Council Member Cam Gordon noted that, "Around the University area, there's been a lot of tearing down small houses and building large homes, often for rental purposes."

The ordinance pertains only to new homes and remodels. No standing houses will be affected.

Posted by Matt Snyders at June 29, 2007 4:21 PM | Comments (6)

 

South St. Paul: New home to Chuck Norris Park?

Filed under: Minnesota Politics

No good deed goes unpranked it seems. The South St. Paul Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission is inviting residents to submit a name for the Port Crosby Area to be officially named as a park. What was once a demolition landfill will soon be a public park, quite possibly the Chuck Norris Park if pranksters filling out the naming form on the South St. Paul city website have their way. Rumor has it the e-suggestion box has been getting stuffed with the name of the aging martial arts artist, with the "significance of name" field peppered with those beloved Chuck Norris facts, such as "There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live." The inspiration for these monkeyshines comes from an online poll conducted last year by Hungarian officials to name a new bridge across the river Danube in Budapest. The Walker, Texas Ranger star held the lead in that poll over Hungary's first king and a beloved children's book character for much of the voting.

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 29, 2007 4:18 PM | Comments (5)

 

Spotted: iPhone line, AT&T store, Ridgedale Drive, Mtka, 10:00 a.m.

Filed under: Spotted

City Pages art director Nick Vlcek spotted a dozen people patiently waiting outside of the AT&T store near Ridgedale at 10:00 this morning. The trucks should be rolling in around 4:00 this afternoon, delivering the coveted iPhones that will go on sale at AT&T and Apple stores at 6:00 p.m., as well as at apple.com.

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 29, 2007 3:41 PM | Comments (1)

 

Doh! A Deer!

Filed under: Environment

The Department of Natural Resources has a question: What do you think of Minnesota's population of cloven-hooved rats?

Ecologists have indicted the species—better known to the public as the white-tailed deer—for all manner of crimes against humanity and the natural world. (See "Bambi Must Die," 11/04/04.) The species' rap sheet includes: spreading bovine TB, plundering crops, consuming gardens, stripping new growth in forests, devouring ground-nesting birds, and spoiling the grills on 20,000 Minnesota vehicles each year.

In response, Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources has started to take the first toddling steps toward getting the state's deer population under firmer control. This has mostly involved expanding the hunt for antlerless deer—that is, reproducing does.

So why does it look like the DNR is equivocating like Elmer Fudd? In recent months, the agency has gathered teams of citizens to talk about deer numbers, and now they've launched an online survey to ask all Minnesotans how they feel about the state's number-one ungulate. Why assemble a jury of civilians when science has already judged the deer guilty—and handed down a few hundred thousand death sentences?

"Historically, and this is true nationally, deer has been a hunting commodity," explains Lou Cornicelli, big game program coordinator at the DNR. "We have 500,000 deer hunters in this state. They spend about a quarter of a billion dollars pursuing white-tailed deer. Deer hunting, it's been said, is actually more valuable than the wheat crop in this state."
It's a new paradigm, then, to ask Bambi to behave for farmers, ecologists, exurban gardeners, and long-haul commuters.

While the white-tail has proved hard to wrangle, the DNR seems to be having better luck mustering a consensus out of the most ornery of upright apes. "We've gotten 600 or 700 responses this year," Cornicelli says. "We're using a social process to implement science-based population goals."

Posted by Michael Tortorello at June 29, 2007 9:32 AM | Comments (1)

 

6/29 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

THESE DAYS

Preliminary studies by the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg suggest that daytime napping in young children may be linked to poorer sleep and mental functioning than in their peers who only sleep at night.

Indonesia's vice president believes marijuana should remain an illegal drug, but those who sprinkle it in traditional dishes shouldn't be punished.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Sascha is a cyclist from Minneapolis who blogs about the Nature Valley Grand Prix, packing a bike for air travel, and elevation profiles of her races at First and Last and Always.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Beef jerky underwear

Will Ferrell and little Pearl are back in Good Cop, Baby Cop

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"Well, it's jail food. It's not supposed to be good."

— Paris Hilton, on Larry King Live, describing the cuisine in the slammer

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 29, 2007 6:36 AM | Comments (0)

 

Easy like Sunday morning

Filed under: Media

It's not every day—or every decade—that a local TV station adds a public affairs program. And a public affairs program devoted to the multicultural experience in the Twin Cities? You might as well look through a telescope for a show like that to arrive on the Kuiper belt.

Granted, Channel 45 isn't far from the outer reaches of the television universe. KSTC is the kooky sister to KSTP-TV (Channel 5)—a place for monster movies and Matthew Lesko infomercials to run wild—and it's there that Hubbard Broadcasting has installed Crossroads. Since its kick-off a month ago, the program has examined mission work in Haiti, domestic violence, stand-out dads, and "Mocha Moms" (a support group for stay-at-home women of color).

Hosting the show each week is Sheletta Brundidge, who describes herself on her blog as a part-time assignment editor at KSTP news, a "full-time mom," a regular guest on KTCA's Almanac, a columnist for the Spokesman-Recorder (whew...take a deep breath; we're almost done), and a semifinalist in Nick at Night's Funniest Mom in America competition.

On the subject of comedy, KSTC has devoted an unusual time slot to Crossroads, namely 5:30 a.m. on Sundays. "There actually are some people watching," Brundidge says. "We're booked through the month of August. I honestly didn't think we'd get guests who'd wake up that early. I'm surprised that anyone is up at 5:00 in the morning—is it methheads or people like me with small children? I have an 11 month old. I'm up at 5:00 am. I'm up at 3:00 a.m.!"

Brundidge adds that owing to positive feedback, Hubbard now plans to move the show up to the less ungodly hour of 7:30 a.m. It's a nice reward for Brundidge's work. It's also the only reward: The host and her producer currently create the program for free. Could Crossroads make it to 8:30 if Brundidge had her own publicist to push the show?

"Forget a publicist," Brundidge says. "I need a check!" I've told KSTP if you don't start paying me soon, you're going to find out that I've been stealing formula and Pampers."

Posted by Michael Tortorello at June 28, 2007 4:29 PM | Comments (0)

 

6/28 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

THESE DAYS

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported that they had successfully reversed mental retardation in mice.

British landlord Bob Beech is getting around a forthcoming cigarette ban by turning his bar in Southampton into an embassy for the uninhabited island of Redonda, which is 35 miles off Antigua.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Philip and Alvey conduct interviews and record podcasts about beer, with a local angle, at What Ale's Thee?

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Canadian family band The Bordens' 1980 cover of the Star Wars theme [via BoingBoing]

Some Novelty Items That Never Caught On [via McSweeney's]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"I've heard he's been called Bush's poodle. He's bigger than that."

— Pres. George W. Bush, on British Prime Minister Tony Blair's leaving office, replaced by former Treasury chief Gordon Brown

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 28, 2007 6:26 AM | Comments (0)

 

The b-girls have their say

Filed under: City Pages

In this week's cover story, Where the Ladies at?, writer Peter S. Scholtes profiles local female hip hop artists and the struggles they face in the broader community of MCs. An excerpt: "[Crazy] Amy doesn't remember the name of her attacker. 'I try to forget the bad things that I can't really do anything about,' she says. But the incident illustrates the hard edge of a broader stupidity: the producer who withholds services from a female rapper unless payment is made with sex, the male graffiti writer who spreads rumors about the girl who spent all night spray-painting with the boys, even a well-meaning parent who warns a daughter of the physical risks of breakdancing.'" Check out the cover story here and the gallery of B-Girl Be artists here, then come back to join the conversation.

Editor's note: Our cover story on B-Girl Be misattributed an off-color remark to choreographer Amy Sackett, a.k.a. Suga Mama of the Rhythm QueenZ. In fact, the banter came from another b-girl present at the same photo shoot. At no time did Sackett—a veteran dancer, teacher, and scene supporter—make any sexual joke or gesture. City Pages regrets the error. The online version reflects the corrected text.

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 27, 2007 9:01 AM | Comments (22)

 

6/27 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Check out Dessa, Protegee, Mad Fresh, Desdamona, and other participants in B-Girl Be in our gallery section.

Peter Schilling Jr. offers analysis on last night's Twins-Blue Jays duel at Balls.

We're adding new articles like DVD and game reviews every day. Use our Recent Article RSS feed to check for new content:

THESE DAYS

Despite receiving more than ten thousand comments from consumers and family farmers opposing various aspects of a late May 2007 proposal, the USDA has approved a rule that will allow 38 new non-organic ingredients to be allowed in products bearing the "USDA Organic" seal.

State Secretary William Galvin says the federal Justice Department is pressuring Boston election officials to translate political candidates' names into Chinese characters in precincts with prominent Chinese-speaking populations.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Find posts on cooking with soft drinks, becoming a Home Depot addict, and the joys of heating pads at the Prudent Hedonist.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

The Picasso car

A laser-etched Mr. Spock Matza [via BoingBoing]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"The combination of the triple stacker, the lack of good water, and the heat is a bad combination for them."

— Border Patrol agent Jesus Rodriguez, discussing the drugs and energy drinks some illegal immigrants are using to assist their trek across the U.S. border. A "triple stacker" is an ephedrine pill, an aspirin, and a can of Red Bull to wash it down.

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 27, 2007 12:30 AM | Comments (0)

 

6/26 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

It was a night of a thousand blunders as the Twins fell to the Blue Jays. Peter Schilling Jr. accompanies on movie house piano at Balls.

We remember the Swiss climber whose expedition team forged the path Sir Edmund Hillary used to reach the peak of Mt. Everest at Corpus Obscurum.

The City Pages Media Taster lets you actually hear the great music you read about in City Pages—just launch, click, and listen. Simply download the Media Taster and you'll automatically receive a digital mixtape of music on a semi-regular basis (including free MP3s), legal and free of charge. A new taster has been posted today.

THESE DAYS

Moritz Embroidery Works in Pennsylvania contracted with the U.S. military to make more than three million American flag patches, but federal prosecutors are claiming the patches were outsourced to a company in Thailand.

Canadian students could soon be graduating from "Taco Bell High" or "Wal-Mart Public School" if trustees go ahead with a plan to sell school naming rights to corporations to raise extra funds.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

The Armato Design & Press studio of Minneapolis blogs about print, industrial, and logo design and more at Green Zebra.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

A New Jersey Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix named Elwood has been crowned the World's Ugliest Dog—a pale substitute for the original

A 1982 commercial starring General Hospital's Anthony Geary hawking Members Only jackets [via This Just In]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"Do you know what you're planning on getting your beautiful wife? Whatever she wants, right?"

— Country singer Wynnona, asking President Bush if he had done his Christmas shopping yet, during a June 24 taping at Ford's Theatre of an ABC holiday special airing in December

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 26, 2007 6:09 AM | Comments (1)

 

6/25 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Check out dozens of photos from yesterday's Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade in our gallery section.

Steve Monaco has posted this week's Monday Movie Quiz at Couch Pundit.

Japanese punkers Melt Banana had the Entry quaking last night. Read Christopher Matthew Jensen's review and view Daniel Corrigan's photos in our gallery section.

Peter Schilling Jr. recaps the Twins' victory over the Marlins, including some heavy hitting by Johan Santana, at Balls.

We're adding new articles like DVD and game reviews every day. Use our Recent Article RSS feed to check for new content:

THESE DAYS

The sugar found in fruit such as apples and oranges can be converted into a new type of low-carbon fuel for cars, according to scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. [via Undernews]

Four percent of U.S. adults have never had sex in their lives, and the figure climbs to 12 percent in the case of Mexican-Americans, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

An Alaska man has pleaded guilty to selling more than 100 fur seal penises to a local gift shop that intended to sell the items as an aphrodisiac.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Steve McPherson reviews concerts, discusses local music, and interviews musicians at Signal Eats Noise.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

2007 Key Art Awards for best movie poster artwork

The 25 Worst Movie Sequels of All Time

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"It was Iwo Jima to us when we took it. We'll recognize whatever the Japanese want to call it but we'll stick to Iwo Jima."

— Retired Marine Maj. Gen. Fred Haynes, commenting on Japan's renaming the island of Iwo Jima to its pre-World War II name, Iwo To, at the urging of its original inhabitants

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 25, 2007 6:44 AM | Comments (0)

 

Minneapolis enforces citywide curfew, Mayor Rybak to read bedtime stories on MTN

Filed under: Minneapolis

With summer in full swing, city officials are looking to cut down on curfew violations through the awkwardly titled "10 Home, Bed, Fed" awareness campaign. For instance, were you aware that it's illegal for a child under 12 to be out past 9 p.m. on a weekday? Or that anyone under 18 must be home before 11 p.m. by government decree?

"Our goal is to prevent curfew violations by partnering with parents to keep kids safe," Mayor Rybak said in a press release.

Good, we say. There are simply too many heinous things for 11-year-olds to do after 9 p.m. They might play hide-and-go-seek after dusk. Or run about catching fireflies at nightfall. Or embark on late-night exploratory bike rides.

City Hall is thankfully putting an end to this sundown tomfoolery. And for good reason. Statistics show that these activities pose greater health risks than traditional American pastimes, such as watching television, chatting online, or bitching about Paris Hilton.

But is the current curfew enough to ensure child safety? We at City Pages don't think so. That's because kids under 18 are still allowed to roam the city streets during daylight hours as if they were free citizens. This is unacceptable. If officials wish to remove all danger, they must keep city youth holed-up indoors all day, everyday. Well, maybe not all day. An exception should be made for the hours between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., which would give neighborhood kids ample time to mow our lawns.

Unfortunately, though, officials remain unwilling to extend the curfew beyond nighttime hours. This places an unfair burden on parents. No parent should be forced to set guidelines for their child. Not when we have a perfectly competent city government to do so for us.

Please sign our online petition requesting City Hall to establishment a legally binding City Bedtime here.

Posted by Matt Snyders at June 22, 2007 3:02 PM | Comments (6)

 

6/22 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Peter Schilling Jr. gives his thoughts about whether Torii Hunter should be traded at Balls.

It's John Travolta vs. Tom Cruise in the Great Actor Smackdown at Couch Pundit.

Shuffle your iTunes and give us your Friday Random Ten at American Idle.

Download free MP3s from local artists such as Cloud Cult, the Hopefuls, Digitata, M.anifest, Flock of Doug, and more at Music To Go.

THESE DAYS

Sen. Minority Whip Trent Lott left reporters scratching their heads when he used the electrified fence surrounding the goats at his home in Mississippi as an analogy while discussing a fence on the United State-Mexico border.

Horror movie director Wes Craven is suing his neighbor, Bio-Dome star Pauly Shore, alleging that water from the comedian's home seeped down a slope and damaged his property.

There are close to two million U.S. military veterans without health insurance or adequate access to health care, according to recent analysis of 2005 U.S. Census Bureau data.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Becca blogs about throwing up moldy sandwiches, recently acquiring a therapist, her sad songs iTunes playlist, and raising an autistic son at The New Beccablog: Because I Said So.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

A U.S. map labelled with the names of countries with comparable GDPs [ya happy, Wege?]

Knit Crocheted TV dinner and moonshine [via Drawn!]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"Corny is hardly the word. There's more corn here than in Kansas."

— an excerpt from the Daily Mail's review of the "Lord of the Rings" musical which premiered in London's West End Tuesday night

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 22, 2007 6:27 AM | Comments (3)

 

Torii Hunter: Pohlad's ignoring me and Twins fans are dumb

Filed under: Overheard

We're paraphrasing. But Torii Hunter, in New York this week for a series against the Mets, granted an interview to the Daily News. Here's what this season's best Twin, whose contract is up this season, had to say:

"I want to be with the Twins and that's been my main goal, but I'm human and the silence makes you wonder. I think I'm a decent player. I can't believe there hasn't even been a conversation about it. That's tough to swallow."

OK, fair enough. The man wants to get paid. But what about this?

"I love Yankee Stadium. The atmosphere and energy there is great. And the fans know the game. When they get on you it can be pretty personal, but it's always about your baseball game. When someone screams, 'You just can't hit that slider,' that's someone who knows what they're talking about. You don't hear that kind of informed (chatter) in Minnesota."

Ouch.

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at June 21, 2007 9:30 AM | Comments (7)

 

6/21 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Peter Schilling Jr. wonders which Twins team will show up in Florida after they beat the red-hot Mets again. Join the discussion at Balls.

Jessica Armbruster interviews Rev. Ted Haggard's masseur about his tell-all book at Culture To Go.

We're adding new articles like DVD and game reviews every day. Use our Recent Article RSS feed to check for new content:

THESE DAYS

The Homeland Security Department, the lead U.S. agency for fighting cyber threats, suffered more than 800 hacker break-ins, virus outbreaks and other computer security problems over two years, senior officials acknowledged to Congress.

A Swedish heavy metal fan has had his musical preferences officially classified as a disability. The results of a psychological analysis enable the metal lover to supplement his income with state benefits.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Local and world GLBT news, as well as info on upcoming Pride events at Queer Cities.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Photographer Tom's photos of what may be an unfinished World War II munitions factory near Rosemount, Minnesota—can anyone out there confirm this?

The prairie dog drama king

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"They really stumble over our culture."

— Internet security company president Dan Clements, discussing an overseas Internet thief who recently attempted to sell the MasterCard number and other personal data of one Herman Munster of 1313 Mockingbird Lane in an underground chat room

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 21, 2007 6:41 AM | Comments (1)

 

Hmong refugees join hundreds of students leaving Minneapolis schools

Filed under: City Pages

In this week's cover story, The Outsiders, writer Paul Demko reports on the exodus of Hmong students from the troubled Minneapolis School District. An excerpt: "The Hmong refugees aren't the only ones fleeing the Minneapolis public schools. In just the last six years, the district's enrollment has fallen from 48,689 to 36,428—a drop of 25 percent. Enrollment in Choice Is Yours has ballooned from 472 students in its initial year, 2001, to 1,878 during the last school year. Charter schools have claimed still more students. Enrollment at North High School has plummeted from 1,274 to 950 over the last five years. The experience of the recent Hmong arrivals provides a telling snapshot of the difficulties and dysfunction that plague the Minneapolis system." Read the cover story here, then come back to join the discussion.

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 20, 2007 9:41 AM | Comments (8)

 

6/20 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

THESE DAYS

The U.S. circumcision rate peaked at nearly 90 percent in the early 1960s but began dropping in the '70s. By 2004, about 57 percent of all male newborns delivered in hospitals were circumcised.

A man widely believed to be the model for the smiling chef on Cream of Wheat boxes finally has a grave marker bearing his name.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Crystal and Ryan are an Apple Valley couple who enjoy cooking and sharing their recipes with the world at Café Cyan.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

A map of the Star Wars galaxy

13 Movie Plots Rendered Ridiculous by Their Stars' Behavior

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"It's scary in this country, it's probably because of our bad educational system, but the percentage of people that believe in Creationalism is really scary for a country that's going to have to compete in the world where science and medicine require a better understanding."

— New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, during a recent speaking tour through California

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 20, 2007 12:29 AM | Comments (0)

 

6/19 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Andrea Myers checked out last night's sold-out Ryan Adams show at the Cedar. Read her review, and view Daniel Corrigan's photos, in our gallery section.

DVD reviews this week include the Die Hard Collection, Big Nothing, Pacino: An Actor's Vision, and more.

Peter Schilling Jr. discusses the Twins' loss last night to the Mets at Balls.

We remember the only Chinese nurse to care for the "Flying Tigers" during World War II at Corpus Obscurum.

Download free MP3s from local artists such as Brother Ali, Tim Rally Gold, Little Man, Ben Weaver, the Plastic Constellations, and more at Music To Go.

THESE DAYS

Excessive mating by wild hares at Milan's Linate airport has blocked takeoffs, landings, and radar systems.

The Kellogg Co. said that it would phase out advertising its products to children younger than 12 and stop using licensed characters unless the foods meet specific nutrition guidelines for calories, sugar, fat, and sodium.

A new Canadian survey, apparently the first of its kind in four decades, reports that 8 percent of dreams swirl around sexual situations.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Carol E. showcases a new photo every day honoring our capital city at St. Paul Daily Photo.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

The Worst Jobs in Science 2007

Nerd tattoos

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"This proves that the judges had sympathy for an old man who doesn't have a job."

— 83-year-old former Price is Right host Bob Barker, upon receiving his 19th Daytime Emmy Award

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 19, 2007 6:18 AM | Comments (0)

 

Local liberals attend surrender party at the library last week

Filed under: War on Terror

Nearly 100 pro-Constitution radicals were on hand at the Minneapolis Central Library on June 14 to witness a pair of Minneapolis attorneys spout their anti-torture propaganda. During the hour-long discussion "The Guantanamo Bay Challenge: Finding the Balance Between Our Nation's Security & Our Nation's Ideals," James Dorsey and Nicole Moen succeeded in undermining America's War on Terror by raising questions about Guantanamo interrogation tactics, thus emboldening the Enemy.

The duo—who practice at Fredrickson and Byron—described their on-going experiences representing Ahcene Zemiri, a 39-year-old Algerian man who has been detained in Guantanamo Bay since April 2002.

"Most [of the detainees] had been tortured or abused and were not well psychologically," said Moen, who acts as an Arabic translator in addition to her legal duties.

According to Dorsey, "enhanced interrogation techniques" devised by psychologists and behavioral scientists in Guantanamo include shackling the evildoers into uncomfortable squatting positions for hours on end in addition to dismantling their faith by having women approach them in inappropriate ways on their way to prayer and cutting off bathing water before splashing them with what they are told is menstrual blood.

Moen demonstrated a shameless bias in favor of due process when she implicitly suggested that habeaus corpus—the common law-era writ which guarantees prisoners the right to know the charges filed against them—is somehow an essential component of justice, individual liberty, legal rights, and other hippie buzzwords.

She went on to underhandedly disparage the Military Commission Act of 2006 for doing away with the aforesaid writ, going on to say that her client "has not been charged with anything." This, despite the fact that Zemiri has long admitted to practicing Islam.

Posted by Matt Snyders at June 18, 2007 2:44 PM | Comments (6)

 

6/18 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Steve Monaco has the newest Monday Movie Quiz posted at Couch Pundit.

Jack Sparks has posted the first installment of the 2007 edition of the Top 100 Country Songs of All Time at the Other Side of Country.

Read Geoff Cannon's review and Daniel Corrigan's photos of the recent Nelly Furtado show in our gallery section.

Gary Hodges reviews a new version of Shadowrun, which Microsoft has reimagined as a first-person shooter, at citypages.com/gaming.

THESE DAYS

Japan will get its first nursing home for dogs with round-the-clock monitoring by doctors and a team of puppies to help aging pooches feel younger.

The populations of 20 common American birds—from the fence-sitting meadowlark to the whippoorwill with its haunting call—are half what they were 40 years ago.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Liv has decided to seek out the beauty found in life over 365 days. Find something beautiful every single day at One Year of Beauty.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

The Marie Antionette Action Figure, now with "Ejector Head"

Placemats made out of bacon

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"It's probably a smart idea to wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work."

— Guidelines found on GlaxoSmithKline's website devoted to alli, the first FDA-sanctioned diet drug to be sold without a prescription. Possible side effects include loose stools and gas with an oily discharge. [via Norwegianity]

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 18, 2007 6:33 AM | Comments (1)

 

6/15 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

We're adding new articles like DVD and game reviews every day. Use our Recent Article RSS feed to check for new content:

THESE DAYS

A study in which teetotal Spanish nuns drank a regular half-liter of beer showed that beer may help reduce cholesterol levels.

The owners of a "condom bar" in India want to raise awareness about safe sex in a country where millions of people are HIV-positive but attitude towards sex is conservative.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

The LocalMN Blog is designed to show local businesses how they can use the internet to get customers through their door.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

True stories, told in one sentence

The Tattoo Back Generator

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

It's all I've ever done since I was a teenager. People thought I was a wonderful clown. I won awards. And now everybody's abandoned me."

— Suffolk, Virginia, resident Manuela Markham, aka Spunky the Clown, who was arrested May 6 and charged with attempting to smuggle marijuana to an inmate at the Greensville Correctional Center

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 15, 2007 6:39 AM | Comments (0)

 

6/14 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Download free MP3s from local artists such as FLock of Doug, Askeleton, Hockey Night, Brother Ali, Tim Rally Gold, and more at Music To Go.

THESE DAYS

Church of England officials will send a letter to Sony demanding an apology over the use of Manchester Cathedral as a backdrop for a violent computer game.

Officials in Inner Mongolia say they have established a living barrier of trees, grass and shrubs wide enough to hold back the Gobi desert and to curb the sandstorms blowing over northeast Asia and hitting the United States.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Bandini blogs about winning the Iraq war with clowns, apartment fire poetry, and the wonder that is Angela Lansbury at Falling Chair.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

The Who's "My Generation" performed by senior citizens

An anti-smoking PSA starring R2-D2 and C-3PO

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"We are aware that the decision to place Google at the bottom of the ranking is likely to be controversial. But, throughout our research we have found numerous deficiencies and hostilities in Google's approach to privacy that go well beyond those of other organizations."

— Privacy International, a British human rights advocacy group, in a report citing Google as having the most abysmal privacy policies and leading a "race to the bottom" by the world's most renowned Internet firms

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 14, 2007 6:42 AM | Comments (0)

 

Convenience stores become the latest casualties in the war on drugs

Filed under: Crime

The sidewalk in front of Wafana's, a convenience store on Lyndale Avenue and North 24th Street, was for years known as a place to score all manner of illegal drugs. But last November, in a crackdown on troublemaking corner stores, the city finally forced Wafana's to close.

So far, eight stores have gotten the ax, reports Grant Wilson, business license manager for the city. "These are places people don't feel safe walking by," he says. The new get-tough policy, he asserts, has been "a great success. Some stores changed their behavior to cooperate with police. In other cases we had to revoke licenses."

Joan, a longtime neighbor of Wafana's who asked that her last name not be used, applauds its demise. She says she used to call the cops five times a day complaining of drug dealing in front of the store. "I didn't have to give an address to 911," she recalls. "All I had to do was say 'Wafana's.' And I'm calling from a cell."

While she appreciates the now-quiet sidewalk in front of the empty storefront, the peace is not total: The drug dealers, she says, have found a new spot a couple blocks away.

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at June 13, 2007 11:03 AM | Comments (1)

 

Is Johan Santana one of the best pitchers ever?

Filed under: City Pages

In this week's cover story, The Art of Deception, G.R. Anderson Jr. profiles Twins pitcher Johan Santana, a two-time Cy Young Award winner bucking for a third. An excerpt: "Even Santana's rivals speak admiringly of his arm. C.C. Sabathia, the Cleveland Indians star pitcher—and one of Santana's competitors for the Cy Young award this year—isn't afraid to bow down. 'He's the top,' Sabathia says. Present company excluded? 'No, he's better,' Sabathia confesses, a rare moment of real humility from a professional athlete. That's heady praise for a player who five years ago was an unknown commodity. Raised in a remote town in the Andes Mountains, Santana was plucked from obscurity. But through what Twins general manager Terry Ryan calls 'coachability,' Santana transformed himself into one of baseball's best pitchers." Is he the best ever? Check out the story, then come back to join the conversation.

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 13, 2007 8:29 AM | Comments (3)

 

6/13 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Rob Nelson interviews horror scholar Adam Lowenstein about the broader themes in movies such as Hostel Part II at Culture To Go.

Peter Schilling Jr. commends Justin Verlander, who threw a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers last night. Get the low-down at Balls.

Download free MP3s from local artists such as Flock of Doug, Askeleton, Hockey Night, Brother Ali, Tim Rally Gold, and more at Music To Go.

THESE DAYS

Large doses of vitamin D may reduce the risk of cancer, according to a four-year study published on Friday involving nearly 1,200 women over the age of 55 in rural Nebraska.

Europe's seas are in serious decline from coastal development, overuse of fertilizers, chemical pollution and over-fishing, and over the next 20 to 30 years will deteriorate further unless action is taken.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

A group of Minnesotans studying energy policy blog about climate change, alternative sources of energy, and the environmental policies of big business at Energista.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

The ugly mailbox blog

Ron Jeremy's filmography if he had played the banjo instead of having anal sex

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"My dog is racist. Not me."

— a Belgian businessman, rejecting a Nigerian job applicant arriving at the Belgian's business and confronted by a barking dog

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 13, 2007 1:04 AM | Comments (0)

 

Budget blues

Filed under: St. Paul

The City of St. Paul is facing a projected $15.8 million budget shortfall for 2008. Solving the fiscal puzzle will not be easy. For instance it would require a 25 percent increase in property taxes to close the gap in the city's general fund. What's more roughly two thirds of that money is slated to pay for police and fire services--not an area that politicians are usually eager to cut.

City finance director Matt Smith lays out the grim news in a nifty new video (complete with really strained metaphor about a swimmer being attacked by LGA cuts!) posted on the city's web site.

Municipal finance geeks can also try their hand at solving the city's fiscal woes by utilizing the city's "Budget Cruncher." The gizmo is making an encore peformance after last year's budgetary difficulties. Personally I'm waiting for the Wii version.

Posted by Paul Demko at June 12, 2007 4:05 PM | Comments (0)

 

Former Strib publisher contemplates online journalism project

Filed under: Media

Newspapers are dying. That's been the inevitable conclusion in recent years as papers across the country watch profits plummet and readership decline. The Star Tribune's announcement that it's shedding 50 jobs from its newsroom, including some of the newspaper's most high profile bylines, is only the most recent grim harbinger.

But Joel Kramer senses opportunity in the bloodletting. Kramer formerly worked as both editor and publisher of the Star Tribune. Since stepping down from the latter post in 1998, he's taught at the University of Minnesota, dabbled in politics, and founded a think tank called Growth & Justice. He's now contemplating the creation of a start-up newspaper—albeit one that would likely be restricted to the Internet.

"Watching the rapid deterioration of the business model of the major metro paper prompted me to think about it and also prompted lots of people to call me," Kramer says. "The need is there because the metro model is declining fast. The opportunity is there from the point of view of available people. That's all I can say for now."

Posted by Paul Demko at June 12, 2007 12:23 PM | Comments (2)

 

6/12 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Steve Monaco gives up the lowdown on Cop Hater from 1958, starring Robert Loggia and Vincent Gardenia at Couch Pundit. The picture of a young Jerry Orbach is priceless.

The City Pages Media Taster lets you actually hear the great music you read about in City Pages—just launch, click, and listen. Simply download the Media Taster and you'll automatically receive a digital mixtape of music on a semi-regular basis (including free MP3s), legal and free of charge. A new taster has been posted today!

THESE DAYS

A Dutch smoking ban will come into force in July next year for all restaurants and cafes—including coffee shops where cannabis is the top attraction, the government decided on Friday.

Authorities in India are to investigate claims by terrified villagers that "bigfoot"-type hairy giants are roaming the jungles of the remote northeast, a local official said.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Max Sparber, Steve McPherson, Courtney Mault, Nancy Sartor, and Sailor Martin review liquor, offer drink recipes, and recall favorite drinking games at the Bottle Gang: The Twin Cities' Guide to Sophisticated Drinking.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

The Hot Chicks with Douchebags blog

Will Smith plays a scientist who's the last human survivor in New York City after a viral epidemic in I Am Legend.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"You're Van Gogh. You're Modigliani. That's who you are."

— Andy Garcia, honoring his Godfather: Part III and Ocean's Thirteen co-star Al Pacino, who recently received the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 12, 2007 6:37 AM | Comments (0)

 

No so Minn-esota nice

Filed under: Minneapolis

When he was a Minneapolis City Council member, Steve Minn was never afraid to take on the bureaucracy of the city or the perceived hypocrisy of his own colleagues. In the years since, as Minn has become a prominent developer around town, he's still fighting City Hall.

For more than six months, Minn's latest battle has been over a project called Pacific Flats, which at various times has called for condos, a hotel, or retail as high as 28 stories on what's referred to as the "Monte Carlo block"—after the downtown restaurant on Washington Avenue North. In December, the city's Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) raised several questions about the project's design and scope within the historic Warehouse District. Since then, Minn's been quietly fuming.

Or perhaps not so quietly. "After getting my chain yanked by the HPC yet again, I blew up and threw a fit," Minn says in an e-mail to Blotter, forwarding correspondence between him and Lee Sheehy, the city's director of Community Planning and Economic development. "Well, read it and laugh."

Sheehy takes issue with Minn's behavior at a preservation commission meeting last month. "We received direct and indirect reports... that you continued to speak loudly without being formally recognized by the chair, shouted an expletive and threat and kicked the door on your way out of the chambers," Sheehy wrote to Minn. "This behavior is inappropriate and unacceptable."

Minn's response: "To the charges that I: 1) Spoke loudly without formal recognition by the Acting HPC chair; 2) Shouted an expletive at staff member Jack Byers; 3) threatened court action against Mr. Byers; and 4) Hit the door of the council chambers with my hand on the way out, I plead guilty. But then again, the HPC is functioning like a Kangaroo Court anyway, so a few little antics should fit right in with the rest of HPC's 'performance.'"

Posted by G.R. Anderson Jr. at June 11, 2007 2:45 PM | Comments (0)

 

Visual Plagiarism

Filed under: Media

Vita.mn, like most faux-alternative weeklies produced by dailies, tries desperately to be hip. But creativity is not its strong suit: most issues feature re-packaged content from the Strib's Source section, seasoned with a few cringe-worthy stabs at edginess.

This week's edition is no exception. Look no further than the cover story: "Sex al fresco," a paean to making whoopee in the great outdoors. After reminding us that Minnesota is cold in the winter time, author Alexis McKinnis finally gets to the point: "So is it any surprise than an unscientific poll of Vita.mn readers revealed that we also like to have sex outside? Of course not."

While the prose feels about as creative as the missionary position, the cover is an even worse example of phoning it in. Although the painting of ladybugs humping at first seems clever, if you plug the headline—"Summer Love"—into Google, you'll find the artist's obvious inspiration: a photograph of ladybugs humping posted on flickr.com, under the name—wait for it—"Summer love!"

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at June 11, 2007 10:22 AM | Comments (25)

 

6/11 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Steve Monaco has the newest Monday Movie Quiz posted at Couch Pundit.

Peter Schilling Jr. appears flummoxed about the Twins' loss to the Washington Nationals over the weekend. Read the screed at Balls.

We're adding new articles like DVD and game reviews every day. Use our Recent Article RSS feed to check for new content:

THESE DAYS

The man who plays Adam in a video aired at the Bible-based creationist museum also has a website called Bedroom Acrobat that features explicit stories and photos.

The Olympic Games have displaced more than two million people in the last 20 years.

Poland's 1,200 troops assigned to NATO forces in Afghanistan will not achieve full combat readiness for up to several weeks due to stolen vehicle keys, the defense ministry said.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Former Hüsker Dü singer/guitarist Bob Mould blogs about his latest work, hitting Coachella, and working the grill at Boblog.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

For the past 65 years, the BBC has been asking notable figures which eight records they would take with them to a desert island at Desert Island Discs.

Boxing cats

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"I do see a resemblance, particularly the left eyebrow."

— Rosemont village spokesman Gary Mack, on a sycamore tree outside a health club that supposedly resembles the recently-deceased mayor of the Chicago suburb

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 11, 2007 6:31 AM | Comments (0)

 

6/8 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Cold showers and being near celebrities being photographed: Join Diablo Cody at Pussy Ranch West in L.A.

The week's best releases from the pop culture universe are posted at Culture Jamming.

Check out the latest from a Minnesota contingent at the World Series of Poker at Balls.

Download free MP3s from local artists such as Ben Weaver, Cloud Cult, Telephone!, M.anifest, Digitata, and more at Music To Go.

THESE DAYS

The U.S. military is developing a robot with a teddy bear-style head to help carry injured soldiers away from the battlefield.

The 35 million under-nourished Americans cost the United States 90 billion dollars worth of lost annual economic output, according to a Harvard School of Public Health study.

The Terrence Higgins Trust said competitors at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, used 250,000 condoms during a 10-day period. What do you want... a medal?

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Chris and Deb post beautiful shots of the City of Lakes every day at, appropriately enough, Minneapolis Daily Photo.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

From Cabot Cove to Amity Island: The 7 Worst Fictional Towns in America

Meet Don Mossi, the world's "ugliest" baseball player [via BoingBoing]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"Today no one is a virgin when they get married... show me someone who's a virgin!"

— Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, promoting condom use in the aftermath of Pope Benedict's message opposing abortion and contraception delivered on a recent visit to Brazil, the world's largest Roman Catholic country

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 8, 2007 6:35 AM | Comments (0)

 

3 Questions for BioBlitz coordinator Jennifer Menkin

Filed under: 3 Questions

A yearly occurrence, the Bell Museum's Bioblitz is a 24-hour event where students, children, scientists, and nature fanatics race to document as many species as possible within a small area of town. Each year between 750 and 1,000 species are counted. City Pages took a moment to speak with Jennifer Menkin, Bioblitz coordinator for the 2007 science bonanza.

City Pages: What sort of crowd do you get at this event?

Jennifer Menkin: It varies wildly—it's all volunteers, so usually we get a mix of scientists, students, kids. Some of the naturalists that show up know as much about wildflowers or fungus as someone with a Ph.D. in biology would. Depending on the year we can get as many as 500 people.

CP: What are some of the things you hope to learn through gathering species at different sites each year?

JM: The main goal is to identify as many species as we can in 24 hours. We hope to find out if there are any rare species, but also just a basic idea of what is in the area. With the Warner Nature Center, because they are being developed so quickly around the area, they really want to be able to chart species change over time.

CP: In past years, have you made any surprising discoveries? Or found any species that just completely didn't belong in the region?

JM: Sure, at Minnesota Valley two years ago, they found a species of fungus that there was only one other record of it in the whole world—and that was in Europe. We didn't know that the species could be found in Minnesota at all. We have also started finding things like buckeye trees and tulip trees—things that shouldn't be able to survive our winters are now 10 to 15 years old. Things like this could be indicative of a possible global climate change. Even if someone planted them in their yards—they shouldn't have survived that long!

The blitz of biology begins Friday at 5:00 p.m. Nighttime activities start at 8:30 p.m. with owl and frog call surveys and a bug hunt. Daytime activities begin Saturday morning with a 6:00 a.m. bird hunt, running until 5:00 p.m. Free. For more info visit bellmuseum.org. 15375 Norell Ave. N., Marine-on-St. Croix; 651.433.2427.

Posted by Jessica Armbruster at June 7, 2007 1:46 PM | Comments (2)

 

6/7 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Peter Schilling Jr. tips his hat to the newer faces on the Twins roster that made the difference in yesterday's victory over the Angels. Check out the details at Balls.

Pizza Man talks about the recent shooting of a fellow delivery person, prompting a dissertation on the derision his compatriots suffer on the Streets of Pizza.

Check out the latest from a Minnesota contingent at the World Series of Poker at Balls.

THESE DAYS

Some Holy See buildings will start using solar energy, reflecting Pope Benedict XVI's concern about conserving the Earth's resources, according to a Vatican engineer.

Researchers have identified a gene that dramatically increases a person's risk for developing Alzheimer's if they are already predisposed to this type of dementia, according to a study released Wednesday.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Paul's a 28-year-old Minnesotan/Canadian who blogs on hockey, Jerry Falwell, Sven Sundgaard, and why he's boycotting the Twin Cities Pride Festival at Welcome to My Life.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Memorable moments in television history: David Letterman guest starring on Mork & Mindy

Have you met Latawnya the pot-smoking horse?

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"Who would go to a firm like that again to ask them to do that work? I mean, this is a pretty basic thing."

— London Mayor Ken Livingstone, on the unattractive logo recently unveiled for the London 2012 Olympic Games

"It's tragic... What they were looking at didn't constitute a crime... I would, absolutely."

— presumed GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson, when asked on Hannity & Colmes if he would pardon Scooter Libby

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 7, 2007 6:01 AM | Comments (1)

 

Guess whether the priest is "pro-heart" or "pro-head"

Filed under: Pop Culture

Two friends from the Twin Cities are among the four finalists competing in the 2007 Great American Think-Off, which will name "America's Greatest Thinker." Episcopal priest Paul D. Allick and arts administrator Joe Kaiser were among the 535 contestants who submitted essays from far away as London and Guam answering the question: "Which should you trust more—your head or your heart?"

Hosted in New York Mills, Minnesota, the contest winds up Saturday with a live debate, in which the audience chooses the winner (7:00 p.m., James W. Mann Performing Arts Center, New York Mills High School, 218.385.3339). Allick and Kaiser say they entered together on opposing sides, and debated the question over dinners at the Leaning Tower of Pizza on Lyndale.

"If Joe wins he'll be walking home," says Allick. "Because he's getting a ride there from me. If I win, I get to gloat all the way home, and he rides in back." UPDATE: Kaiser wins Think-Off, heart beats head.

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at June 6, 2007 10:17 AM | Comments (0)

 

6/6 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Geoff Cannon reviews last night's Gwen Stefani show, with great photos by Daniel Corrigan in our gallery section.

Peter Schilling Jr. and Chuck Terhark are trading stories on the joys of spending a lazy afternoon in the stands cheering for the home team. Check out their favorite stadium moments, and add some of your own at Balls.

Clint or Bronson? Join the inaugural Great Actors Smackdown at Couch Pundit.

Peter S. Scholtes has a Beatles video mixtape for your enjoyment at Complicated Fun. Help him by adding your favorite Fab Four tune.

We're adding new articles like DVD and game reviews every day. Use our Recent Article RSS feed to check for new content:

THESE DAYS

A suspected burglar in Miami was found dangling from a large ventilation fan after he apparently stepped on the on switch while his body was inside the machine and killed himself.

A confidential report to the White House, obtained by The Associated Press, warns that U.S. scientists will soon lose much of their ability to monitor global warming from space.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Movie trailers, concert reviews, political commentary, and analyzing Bethel's take on global warming at Pandas That Won't Screw to Save Their Species.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Dogs dressed like bees

How to make your very own Star Wars Max Rebo Cake [via Neatorama]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"A lot of things come into play and it was all geared toward making the festival a safe place to bring your family."

— Maj. Trent Harris, of the Johnson City, Tennessee police department, on citing two fire eaters at the annual Blue Plum Festival as a safety hazard. According to the AP, the "fire eaters were among 76 people arrested during this year's weekend festival, most on misdemeanors such as drinking or drug charges."

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 6, 2007 12:25 AM | Comments (0)

 

BREAKING: The Strib buyout list

The list of 44 employees who have had their buyout plans approved by the Star Tribune management was announced in an internal memo this afternoon--the paper's total goal is to hit 50--along with a note that's unsigned. UPDATE: The memo came from and was signed by editor Nancy Barnes.

Click through to read the letter and weep over the names that will no longer help bring you your morning newspaper.

Dear Staff:

Since Monday, we have accepted 40 people into the voluntary buyout program, for a total of 44 approved buyouts to date. We have also had one resignation in the last month, which brings us very close to the company's target of reducing combined news and editorial staffs by 50 jobs. We are still evaluating the remaining buyout applications to determine if others will be approved. We are also working hard on the newsroom reorganization and we hope to get the remaining assignments out before the end of the week.

It is an understatement to say that these have been extremely stressful weeks for everyone. We want to thank you again for your patience and dedication to journalism as we work through this difficult period. We are lucky to have such a terrific staff to lean on. Soon, we will be saying goodbye to a lot of talented people, many of whom have dedicated their careers to this paper. The list includes a few who have been here for almost 48 years. We simply cannot thank people enough for their work for the Star Tribune and for journalism.

The last day of work for most of those accepted into the buyout program will be Friday, June 15, and we are working on a plan to recognize their contributions. All suggestions for how to do so are welcome. Meanwhile, here is the list of people who have been accepted so far. It is important to note that this list is tentative: people have 15 days to rescind their buyout application and it is possible that a few people may decide to stay.

Nancy Entwistle
Doug Grow
Ron Nies
Stephen Berg
Catherine Stanley
Larry Hanson
Carol Hartman
Stormi Greener
Jay Weiner
Conrad deFiebre
Kay Miller
Dan Wascoe
Sharon Schmickle
Linda Mack
Michael Anthony
Susan E. Peterson
Eric Black
Paul Gustafson
Joseph Kimball
Charles Haga
Linda Scheimann
Jim Phillips
Pat Norton
Heather Munro
Jim Boyd
Maury Hobbs
Susie Hopper
John Addington
Patricia Pheifer
Randy Miranda
Beth Thibodeau
Julie Rosckes
Delma Francis
Greg Patterson
Barb Glander
Jeff Rush
Christine Norman
Nancy Olsen
Susan Barbieri
David Peters
Already in the buyout program
Rob Daves
Larry Werner
Denise Brownfield
Bob Jansen

Posted by G.R. Anderson Jr. at June 5, 2007 6:04 PM | Comments (2)

 

6/5 Morning Communiqué

Filed under: Morning Communique

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Betting pools are closed: Diablo Cody has officially named her new breasts.

We remember the woman who gave Cap'n Crunch its flavor at Corpus Obscurum.

DVD Reviews this week include The Sergio Leone Anthology, Trading Places: "Looking Good, Feeling Good" Edition, Fantastic Voyage, and more.

Download free MP3s from local artists such as Askeleton, the Hopefuls, Chris Koza, M.anifest, the Plastic Constellations, and more at Music To Go.

THESE DAYS

A researcher at the Biomedical Engineering lab at the Univerisity of Florida placed neurons from a rat into a cell culture contected to a flight simulator, and the neurons learned how to fly an airplane.

A former eighth-grade teacher surrendered to Shelby County, Texas, authorities after school officials discovered photographs of the woman, partially-nude and draped in a rebel flag, on a student's cell phone.

The era of tax-free e-mail, Internet shopping and broadband connections could end this fall, if recent proposals in the U.S. Congress prove successful. [via Undernews]

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

David Erickson scours YouTube, Google Video, etc., for the most interesting videos and posts them at Videolicio.us.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Sgt. Pepper at 40, from A to Z from PopMatters

ThreadBangers' Top 10 Geekiest Yarn Creations on the Web [via Neatorama]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"If you vote for Mitt Romney, you are voting for Satan!"

— Bill Keller, host of the Florida-based Live Prayer TV program

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