August 2008

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VP Pawlenty Watch (Final edition): It's NOT Pawlenty!

Filed under: VP Pawlenty Watch

Wow. So much for conventional wisdom.

DENVER - John McCain tapped little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate on Friday in a startling selection on the eve of the Republican National Convention.

Instant reaction: This is a naked grab for disenfranchised Hillary voters. One drawback: Choosing a governor with two years in office certainly detracts from McCain's "Obama's not experienced enough" argument.

The Meter has been lowered to green, and retired ... at least for four years.

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at August 29, 2008 10:04 AM | Comments (13)

 

The Tim Pawlenty Primer

Filed under: VP Pawlenty Watch

The nation may have just discovered Tim Pawlenty, but City Pages has been writing about him since he first rose to power. Here's a compendium of articles that provide a critical look at John McCain's vice presidential frontrunner.

Governor No
Tim Pawlenty racked up more vetoes this year than any governor in Minnesota's history. Is this the man we want to be vice president?

Pawlenty flip-flops on Cuba just in time to cozy up to McCain
Is Gov. Tim Pawlenty's change of heart politically motivated?

VP Pawlenty Watch
Our ongoing horserace coverage of T-Paw's quest to be McCain's running mate

The Smiling Face of Pain
The "new" Tim Pawlenty looks a lot like the old one

A Portrait of the Governor as a Young Weenie
Husker Du's Grant Hart recalls his old classmate, Tim Pawlenty

Death by a Thousand Cuts
How does Minnesota's fresh-minted 2003 budget make this a meaner place? Let us count the ways

The Friends of Tim Pawlenty
The governor's right: Many "public servants" do what he and the friends of Tim have done. That's what reeks about it.

The Road to Perdition
The governor wants to spend billions on roads without raising your taxes. Think there might be a catch?

Gov: Like Those Renters' Rebates? Too Bad
Do You Rent Your Living Space? In His Never-Ending Quest to Find Revenue Without Raising Taxes, Governor Pawlenty Wants to Screw You

Secrets and lies
Always known as a conscientious discloser of his personal ties, legislator Pawlenty never saw fit to mention NewTel--or to recuse himself from telecom votes.

Comforting the Comfortable
Tim Pawlenty's false populism

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at August 28, 2008 9:14 PM | Comments (3)

 

Meet Hologram Man

Filed under: Mall of America

RNC politicos aren’t the only two-dimensional avatars gearing up to spew canned sales pitches at Twin Cities residents and visitors.

Mall of America’s recently opened Best Buy has tapped Stillwater-based company Modernistic, Inc. to create a built-to-scale holographic blueshirt, whose polished spiel is intended to coax mall visitors into Best Buy confines. Dude appears to be a helluva worker.

“Technology is supposed to make your life easier, not stress you out,” the prim faux-gent informs passersby.

Don’t worry, sir. We’re not stressed out by your technology. Just a little creeped out.

Find more videos like this on AdGabber

[Lifted from AdGabber]

Posted by Matt Snyders at August 28, 2008 3:43 PM | Comments (0)

 

Anticipation builds for Obama

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

With Barack Obama's speech just hours away, credentials for Invesco Field are the hottest ticket in town. Remember when people were questioning the wisdom of moving the speech to a huge outdoor stadium? Turns out Obama could have packed the Big House at the University of Michigan with no problems. The weather appears to be holding, too.

People without tickets are holding as well -- holding signs like this one:

A pedicab driver keeps wheeling by me with a sign offering free rides in exchange for a ticket. Good luck.

These are what the tickets look like:

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 28, 2008 12:54 PM | Comments (0)

 

Minneapolis: A Great Place to Get Rich

Filed under: Economy

Keep hearing the words recession looming ? Tired of seeings homes for sale sit empty for months on your block? Try not to worry, thanks to local business, we here in Minneapolis don't have it that bad.

Forbes magazine recently named Minneapolis the second best place to earn a living.

If you're looking for a reason why the Twin Cities hasn't joined the cities of nearby Michigan and Ohio as economic casualties, look at some of its top companies: Target, Travelers Insurance, Pepsi Americas, St. Jude Medical, U.S. Bancorp and Cargill. This is no bygone manufacturing center.

Houston came in first with Boston, and D.C. trailing in third and fourth.

[T]here are plenty of local economies with strong job growth, wages above cost of living and fruitful local businesses. Based on figures from Moody's Economy.com, the Council for Community and Economic Research, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Forbes' own business ratings, we looked at where economic conditions have held up and where business opportunities exist.

For more information about how Forbes compiled its data, click here.

Posted by Beth Walton at August 28, 2008 8:58 AM | Comments (0)

 

Mitt Romney gets into DNC ... on someone's press pass

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

Floor passes are precious commodities, and in short supply. Not everyone who wants one can get one, even prominent politicos or media members, especially for anticipated events like Hillary Clinton's speech last night.

MPR's Bob Collins has a great catch: the GOP's Mitt Romney gained floor access on a press credential.

Unfortunately, the photo doesn't show whose press credential it is. But Las Vegas casinos are giving 8:5 odds that it was someone from Fox News.

This use of someone else's credential happens, but it isn't supposed to. The person transferring their pass (and the organization) can get in trouble -- even losing access as a result.

If Romney really wanted in that badly, they should have made him wear a parody press pass modeled after Jesse Ventura's old "official jackal" numbers:

Say what you will about Jesse. At least his effort wasn't a painfully unfunny fake press pass like the one the McCain camp issued. Aren't French jokes over yet? Seriously?

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 27, 2008 11:09 AM | Comments (0)

 

Conventions: Good for piercings, not so much for tattoos

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

Hey, Twin Cities: It's a good time to put a hole in yourself.

I've been talking to tons of workers and business owners in Denver about whether the anticipated economic boost from the DNC has been as effective as people believed it would be. Short preview of that post: there's been more business, but not as much as as hoped.

In the body modification arena, however, there's a bit of a trend. Piercings: up! Tattoos: not so much! But there are ink opportunities, too.

Washington delegate Jessica Beckett gets a lip piercing from Bianca of Celebrity Tattoo.

Celebrity Tattoo in downtown Denver saw a spike (no pun intended) in piercings the weekend prior to the convention. The tattoo market, by contrast, has been flat. To bring more biz to the other side of things, the place is offering a special for patriotic tattoos -- a $75 flat rate.

Does the severed head of George W. Bush count as patriotic? "Absolutely," said the helpful staff.

Also, confidential to Stephen Colbert: if you come in to Celebrity, your tattoo is free. Might be time to get that Stephen Jr. design done.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 26, 2008 11:17 PM | Comments (0)

 

More on Denver's niceness

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

Minnesota Nice will have its day. But I just saw a display of Denver hospitality that'll be pretty hard to top.

A delegate emerged from the Pepsi Center with a packet of American Spirit tobacco -- but no rolling papers. Around here, it's tough to find Zig Zags at convenience stores. Without volunteers around, the delegate turned to Denver police.

You've earned that big wiggle, boys. More Denver street photos in the slideshow.

"Know where I can get rolling papers?" she asked. One cop said he thought he knew of a place. He consulted with a group of his compatriots, all clad in full riot gear. There were a number of suggestions for the most effective route.

Then, the walkie talkies got involved. A quick impromptu poll of the non-political variety ensued, and the full complement of police intellectual resources were brought to bear.

Before long, the delegate was happily polluting her lungs and the police had satisfied one more visitor that Denver goes that extra mile. High.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 26, 2008 11:00 PM | Comments (0)

 

Two Green Females Vying for Presidency

Filed under: Women's Issues

On the day Senator Hillary Clinton is to address the Democratic National Convention in Denver to give her support to Barack Obama, and on the day dedicated to celebrating the right of American women to vote, members of the state's Green Party delivered a petition that will give two women access to the presidential and vice presidential ballots in this state.

On Tuesday, August 26th, supporters of Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney brought over 2,700 petition signatures to Minnesota's Office of Secretary of State In St. Paul to get McKinney and her vice-presidential running mate, Rosa Clemente, on the ballot for the 2008 presidential election. (A minimum of 2,000 certified signatures are required by the state in order to gain ballot access in the November 4th elections.)

The McKinney-Clemente presidential ticket is currently on the ballot in 25 states and organizers say there's a good chance the campaign will make it on several more. "[T]he Cynthia McKinney-Rosa Clemente presidential ticket is breaking new ground, and breaking down barriers in American politics," the campaign reports.

Ms. McKinney and Ms. Clemente join such pioneers for equality as Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, who waged a long and persistent struggle for women's suffrage. 78 years after the nineteenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution finally secured the right to vote for women, the McKinney-Clemente campaign is seeking ballot access in Minnesota for the first all-women presidential ticket of a national political party.

While Senator Hillary Clinton is often credited as first woman to run for president of the United States, she actually is joining the ranks of many woman before her, said University of Minnesota historian and author Sara Evans in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio Tuesday morning. Starting with Victoria Woodhull in 1872, for 136 years women have been putting themselves on the American presidential ticket, as part of a movement to bring females into the executive branch.

Historically, they have done so using parties of little political significance. Woodhull, for example, ran as a member of the Equal Rights Party.

Change though, it seems, is in the air. Had she won the Democratic endorsement in the 2008 primaries, Clinton would have been the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major political party.

McKinney, a six-term former Congresswoman from Georgia, is the first woman the Green Party has nominated for the presidency.

McKinney left the Democratic Party on her birthday in 2007 because it no longer represented her values. She was nominated as the Green Party's presidential candidate in Chicago at the their Convention July 12.

Posted by Beth Walton at August 26, 2008 4:20 PM | Comments (2)

 

Strib & Pi-Press break the bank on convention coverage

Filed under: Media

The Wall Street Journal has a piece on how Denver and Minnesota papers are digging deep to find the resources to cover the political conventions.

According to the article, the Pioneer Press will devote more than 30 staffers to covering the RNC and $25,000 for equipment, telecom services, and food for those stationed inside the Xcel Center.

The Strib, meanwhile, will have 15 staffers roaming outside the convention center, with more on call to cover protests and/or riots.

And unlike the Denver papers, which have Obamamania fueling ad sales, the Minnesota papers aren't expecting to make much of that back in advertising.

For the Minnesota papers, expectations of an advertising bump are more muted because of the lower interest level in Sen. John McCain's candidacy, according to editors and executives at the papers. Greg Mazanec, the Pioneer Press's vice president of advertising, said September ad revenue will be up almost 10% from normal September levels, owing partly to ads from Washington advocacy groups sold through the paper's partnership with the political news Web site Politico.

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at August 26, 2008 2:56 PM | Comments (0)

 

DNC: Best Signs So Far

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

Signs are the easiest path to communication with an expanse of convention strangers. Most of the signs are standard pro-Obama signs. Others have more flash.

Seen any pithy witticisms around? Post 'em in the comments. Until then, here's the four best I've spotted.


Judge Smails: "Do you stand for goodness, or for badness?"
Danny Noonan: "Goodness! ... I ... I want to be good."
Judge Smails: "Good!"

Oprah could probably afford to buy the entire Pepsi Center population a car. What does it say about right-wing discourse that George Soros is the scary monster funding liberal groups, but Oprah largely gets a pass? Is it because everyone loves Oprah? Probably.

These guys were country boys from Missouri. I watched a perplexed talking head interview them. He was having a tough time getting words out, their sign confused him so much.

Hard to decide what the best part of this is: the hand-lettering. The late additions of the D, the S and the comma after mockery from convention-goers. The fact that someone would show up at the DNC touting Fox News. All of these are spectacular. If I run into any of the Fox people staying in my hotel, I'm going to ask them for on-the-record comment.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 26, 2008 11:34 AM | Comments (0)

 

Minnesotans don't have to be delegates to come to Denver

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

“I've been all around the world – to 13 countries,” says Saundra Crump. “But this is the most important trip I've ever made.”

Born in 1948 in Pine Bluff, Ark., she remembers the struggle for school integration vividly. Six decades hence, traveling to Denver to watch the Democrats nominate Barack Obama seemed like the only possible choice. “I've just gotta be here,” says Crump, an African American Minnesotan who looks far younger than her age standing outside the Pepsi Center wearing a bright green “Re-elect Keith Ellison” t-shirt.

Crump isn't a delegate, member of a congressional staff or Democratic party official. She's a Minneapolis resident who simply wanted to be here to see history. She trekked thousands of miles in the hopes that her niece, an Arkansas delegate, could secure her guest credentials for the floor. She's here now, outside the black steel barriers, waiting for her family member to arrive – hopefully with that magic ticket.

Around her, the other convention characters swirl. Men are hawking buttons and pennants. A bald 30ish man reads aloud from a Bible, John 3:16 over and over and over. People hand-letter signs with varying degrees of wit.

Crump is staying with the Arkansas delegation hotel along with Hawaii and Delaware – a real Democratic power center – she's seen power brokers. But she's growing impatient, and she wants inside. She's been repeatedly checking her phone for text messages during the half hour we've talked, and she does so again just as a lovely, statuesque woman walks up in a red pantsuit.

“I've been looking all over for you,” the niece says. “I've been right here,” says Saundra Crump. And then she walks past security, badge in hand, into the Pepsi Center, a witness to history.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 26, 2008 10:00 AM | Comments (0)

 

What's in those national delegate goodie bags, anyway?

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

Always wanted to be a national delegate from Minnesota? It's easy. All you have to do is become politically involved, lobby the right people, win an election, and wait four years until the next presidential tilt.

Always wanted to know the benefits that national delegates enjoy? Here are the most intriguing contents of the goodie bag. Let's go beyond buttons, guidebooks and maps, shall we? Here's are six items you, the Minnesota delegate, would see from Denver:

1. AN EMERGENCY RADIO

In case the apocalypse comes, people will search for a delegate like yourself: you'll have this handy emergency radio for use during natural disasters! It almost makes you regret that those four tornadoes didn't ravage the town during night one.

2. MACARONI AND CHEESE

Now with hunks of donkey meat inside! The Republicans better watch themselves next week; Elephants are on the endangered species list. Not that it would stop them.

3. ANTIBACTERIAL SOLUTION ON A CARABINER

Wait, what? You say you want me to clip antibacterial solution to my belt and carry it around your city? Are you sure this sends the correct message about Denver? Because to me, this says, "Sure, go to Cherry Creek and Larimer Square. But you'd better wash up, or the Andromeda Strain will make you bleed out your eyes."

4. A PEDOMETER

Just how far away is my hotel room from the nearest light rail stop? Try this pedometer! This item actually does reflect Denver in a fairly accurate fashion. Affix it to a cowboy hat and it'd be perfect.

5. A WATER BOTTLE WITH GREEN MESSAGING

Got an annoying hippie that likes to lecture you about composting? Away from the West Coast, where everyone knows exactly what to recycle, and will tell you so in the most pedantic fashion possible? Get over your homesickness by reading the "green" tips on this water bottle. Hydrate yourself while remembering that person who loves to lecture you about how orange plastic recycles just fine.

6. A ... SOFT LUMP OF BLACK SQUISHY MATERIAL

Look inside your bag and be perplexed. What is that? A stress relieving lump you can mash with your hand? A replica of Colorado's smallest mountain? No, it's a fake hunk of coal with a link to Peabody's clean coal propaganda site embossed on the bottom. I thought this convention was green, man. Only Bob Cratchit would be happy with this -- until he tried to burn the damn thing.

Four years (or more) of work to become a delegate, and you come way with this and a complimentary tin of UPS mints. Hope the admiring looks you get on light rail make it worthwhile.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 26, 2008 4:45 AM | Comments (3)

 

Denver brewery presents ... Obama beer!

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

The Wynkoop Brewing Company ("Denver's First Brewpub") has taken the groundbreaking step that no business has ever considered implementing before, and taken advantage of the Democratic National Convention. Their new brew, "The Obamanator," utilizes dry hops in a German maibock lager style.

They'll advise you not to overlook the strength of this bad boy. It's golden color and smooth character aside, it packs a powerful wallop. An intense and surprising wallop first delivered a few months ago by the candidate himself.

One reviewer's opinion: enough of this hearty brew might help you forget how much of political conventions are political theater. Prost!

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 25, 2008 5:59 PM | Comments (2)

 

Keys open doors ... unless they're sustainable

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

The Democrats have gone to great lengths to make this convention ecologically sound. This is my room key. It is light like balsa wood. It is made from sustainable products. It is environmentally sound.

It is not, however, any more useful than a credit card or a stale stick of gum when it comes to opening hotel room doors.

I've entered my room using this keycard roughly eight times. Most tries before a successful door opening? Nine. Least tries? One. Which happened once. Then I bought a lottery ticket. If I don't win, I'm going to use the ticket to try to open the door to my hotel.

Want to really make the convention green? Just give me a tent next time, or a lean-to made of twigs. It's cheap, it doesn't use as much water or power as a hotel, and you can get inside.

Apparently I'm not the only one that's having these troubles. The Sheraton is now handing out a traditional plastic card as well, suggesting guests use the other one as a souvenir. A green souvenir.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 25, 2008 12:12 PM | Comments (0)

 

MPR's Bob Collins thinks Denver is full of assholes

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

Minnesota Public Radio's curmudgeon-in-chief, Bob Collins, has soured on the good people of Denver. Also, he's afraid of prairie dogs.

Here's the blast Collins gets off at the rival metropolis:

Minneapolis-St. Paul, you can outdo these folks. A****** , from what I can tell, appears to be Denver's way of saying, "Hi there, welcome to the Mile High City." Drivers wait about 3 seconds when a red light turns green to honk.

The first of these sentences is easy enough to parse (and the absolute opposite of my experience here). The second, however, I had to read several times to be sure I understood. Collins is saying three seconds is an inappropriate and impolite time to wait before honking?

Three seconds? Three seconds is a long damn time. It's 30,000 times longer than Michael Phelps' length of victory for one of his gold medals. It's long enough to wait before rushing the passer (one-apple, two-apple, three-apple) in pickup three-on-three football games. And unless you're Ray Charles or a dog, it's long enough to tell when the light has changed from red to green.

Dogs are color-blind, you see.

As for the rest: Denver has seemed very prepared, enthused, and mostly excited to welcome visitors. Lots of volunteers are around, and have been generally eager to please.

Sure, I've encountered the occasional grumble -- mostly from people who live downtown and are miffed about the daily disruption to their routine -- but the bulk of residents I've met have been friendly bordering on effusive. "We're sure proud of our city," one clerk told me, "and we hope you enjoy your time here." One repeat national delegate who was at Boston's convention four years ago tells me that Denver's been more welcoming by far, and it's not close.

But then, I think prairie dogs are cute and non-threatening. So what do I know?

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 25, 2008 12:01 PM | Comments (6)

 

Conventions jinx the weather in Denver, Minnesota

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

Turns out if you host a convention, the weather in your state gets like Poochie from the Simpsons -- totally extreme.

Last night, four tornadoes touched down on the outskirts of Denver. Conventioneers watched as the skies grew dark, lightning flashed, and worried dressed-to-the-nines delegates checked their watches while waiting for the warm, dry light rail.

Meanwhile, back in Minnesota, the northeast portion of the state faces frost -- frost! -- at the tail end of summer.

These events are not quite unheard of, but unusual enough that even Matt Drudge noticed. As of this morning, these were two of the top items on the Drudge Report homepage:

Or maybe it's me that's the jinx. We'll find out when I fly to Seattle after this for a wedding. If you've ever wanted to see locusts visit the town your ex lives in, I'm sure the political parties and I are both accepting ticket vouchers.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 25, 2008 10:18 AM | Comments (0)

 

The DNC in photo captions

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

The real business begins Monday, but photos offer a window into the weekend's events. Here are a few slice-of-the-convention snapshots from Saturday and Sunday.

"We riot police are not amused by your endorsement of that Middle Eastern hippie, 'Jesus,' if that is his real name."

Any political message that requires putting a replica toilet on your head is one you believe in 100 percent.

"Yes, our airport is 167 miles from anywhere to artificially support the cab industry -- got any other questions?"

"Know why Hillary's campaign faltered? Nobody bought enough Clinton buttons. True fact. Now cough up some dough, Mac."

Giant Blue Convention Center Bear is watching you masturbate.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 25, 2008 4:02 AM | Comments (0)

 

Out-of-control weed plagues Minnesota

Filed under: Environment

If Yakov Smirnoff were here instead of Branson, Missouri, he'd say it: "In Soviet Russia, wild parsnip eats you." This isn't Russia, Danny Noonan, but it's not a habitat that naturally controls the weed, either. Which means the invasive plant gets out of control, and its toxic secretions can scar your skin. It chews up human flesh like a less musical Audrey II. Just click on the links below to see photos.

Chemicals the plant produces, possibly as a defense mechanism, destroy cells and skin tissue. But don't take my word for it. Take the word of Kerry Saxton from Wright County, who has been working to eradicate the stuff for three years. He was quoted in the Strib saying this:

On a tour this summer to get a firsthand look at the plant, Saxton rubbed a pin-head-size drop of the sap on his arm to see what he was dealing with.

"I wanted to see how potent it was," said Saxon, one of several county workers who have been burned by wild parsnip. "I've still got the scar. It's like a second-degree burn."

The Strib's story didn't come with pictures, so we tracked down images of the plant -- and the huge, pus-filled blisters it can create. A milder case here.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 25, 2008 2:36 AM | Comments (0)

 

Celebrity sightings in Denver: more than expected in MSP

Filed under: Democratic National Convention

The buzz around my hotel -- aside from outrage over the $1 a minute charge to use the business center computers -- is about one of the guests. Rapper Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan is in Denver for the Rock the Bells concert, and he's staying here.

Meth's room is one floor below mine. The delegate from Shaolin Island is keeping a low profile, but at the American Presidential Experience downtown you can get your picture taken behind a replica Oval Office desk. I'm going to suggest it for his next album cover.

Celebrity sightings are happening with a regularity that is surprising, given that the action hasn't started yet. While I was in a Denver Nordstrom today asking about business traffic for a future post, the Dave Matthews Band came in to buy suits. Melissa Etheridge and Cyndi Lauper were reportedly shopping at the Cherry Creek mall earlier this morning, too. Etheridge and Lauper are both playing concerts this week.

With a slate of big names of all stripes here -- from Muhammad Ali to Obama Girl -- how are the Republicans going to match up? Kid Rock? John Rich? Can someone page Ted Nugent and tell him there's a bowhunting convention that same week in Minneapolis? Lauper was just in Minneapolis -- but for Glamorama, not the RNC. Can we count that?

Maybe this plays into the GOP's "Obama's a celebrity" narrative, but it certainly makes walking around town more interesting, never knowing who might be around the corner.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 24, 2008 4:01 PM | Comments (2)

 

City Pages previews the RNC from the DNC

Filed under: Politics

Tomorrow I take to the air headed for the Democratic National Convention. The hope is to document the happenings, offering a preview of what we're in for in a little over a week when the Elephants come to town.

I'll be posting about the politics, the scene, the culture and any events that offer a window into what Minneapolis and St. Paul might expect -- with photos, and where appropriate, audio and video. We'll have posts here on Blotter as well as the Elephants in the Room blog, with the occasional Minnesota-related photo slideshow, too.

Any questions? Any answers? Any suggestions for topics you'd like to see covered? Feel free to leave them in the comments or shoot me an e-mail.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 22, 2008 3:28 PM | Comments (0)

 

Nothing says commerce like a bullseye logo on 9/11

Filed under: Business

Things are tough all over, economically speaking. Even major retailers like Target are feeling the pinch. But that isn't stopping the company from expanding. Next month they'll open four new pop-up shops in Manhattan! On, um, September 11.

Now, I'm not an inflexible advocate of keeping memorial days completely free of other human activity. I was bitter when I had to walk 20 blocks in the snow last Thanksgiving just to find a bar that was open. But just think of these three things:

Bullseye logos. In New York. On September 11.

The more I think about this, the better October looks. How's October for you?

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 22, 2008 11:14 AM | Comments (0)

 

RNC Schedule: The Outside Scoop!

Filed under: VP Pawlenty Watch

The Republicans have released the speaking schedule for the RNC, as the PiPress reports today. It leaves one question unanswered: On the topic of running mates, is John McCain confused, or just toying with the hopefuls (and us)? Here's the outside scoop!

The first day is devoted to clearing the bowels, with speeches by W., Laura, Cheney, and the ever-constipated Joe Lieberman. Also scheduled to speak, but threatening to sit this one out if his state's budget isn't finalized by then, is Arnold.

From there on out, it's a mixture of hopefuls, soon-to-be also-rans, and Michael Steele, the token to end all tokens.

You may recall Steele, who speaks on Tuesday, as the unstoppable force of nature who fought courageously in his 2006 bid for U.S. Senate in Maryland, which he lost by 11 points, and who is black. Joining him will be perky abortion absolutist Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska and a veepstakes long-shot, as well as the recently exhumed and embalmed Rudy Giuliani. Also, the inimitable Mike Huckabee and the 1930's-cop-resembling, former homeland security honcho, and veep contender Tom Ridge.

Wednesday will feature the creationist Indian-American Piyush "Bobby" Jindal, a youthful and ethnicky veep contender, as well as ousted (but well-remunerated) former head of Hewlett-Packard Carly Fiornia, a McCain loyalist. Also speaking will be veep contender Mitt Romney, whose aides, sources say, are furiously working on a breakthrough new "naturality" chip to install into his operating system ahead of the speech. Also, our own Norm Coleman, Cindy McCain and the yet-to-be-named veep nominee.

As for Thursday, get ready for some guy named Tim Pawlenty, as well as Charlie Christ, the heterosexual governor of Florida. Joining them will be Christianist presidential also-ran Sam Brownback, and of course, John McCain.

Does anything here strike you as weird? No? Let us direct you to back to Wednesday, when the unnamed veep nominee is scheduled to be speaking. Uh, haven't all the key veep contenders already gotten their spots? Will one of them be speaking twice? Is John McCain effing with us? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!?!?!?!?!

There are opinions and opinions about what this all means, but here's the bottom line: Nobody knows. Except for those who do. And they aren't wasting their time with any of us.

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at August 21, 2008 11:51 AM | Comments (9)

 

Why do American Indians in Minnesota have higher cancer rates?

Filed under: Indian tribes

A new study from a University of Minnesota researcher shows dramatically higher rates of cancer among Indian people in Minnesota when compared to whites. Both MPR and the Strib have stories.

The study blames a variety of factors, including smoking, genetics, diabetes and environmental conditions. Interestingly, Indians in the Southwest are comparatively less susceptible to cancer than their Northern Plains counterparts. Why is this?

One answer: food.

The study acknowledges diet as a factor, but that understates the case. It's hard to imagine a more ominous looming cause than the disappearance of traditional foods like the bison and wild rice -- the forced disappearance, to be clear.

Also, for years tribal members were denied access to fish as a dietary staple: now, pollution risks toxic exposure for those who eat traditional meals. Compared to their cousins in the Southwest, Northern Plains tribes have faced wrenching dietary changes over the last few generations.

This isn't so different from what's happening to indigenous people in other parts of the world. In Okinawa, where I just spent a year, the people are statistically among the most long-lived in the world. But with the influx of American fast food displacing the traditional meals of fresh fish, local rice and organically-farmed pork or goat meat, that isn't going to be true of this generation.

Human bodies adapt to a particular diet over thousands of years. When there's a disruption, serious health consequences occur.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 21, 2008 9:40 AM | Comments (0)

 

City Pages: Your Trusted Source of Adult/Mature News

Filed under: City Pages

During a whirlwind tour of the Carolinas yesterday, nowhere I scurried had a reliable wireless access point. Separated from communications and work, I don't mind telling you I felt a little naked. And not like Paul Demko naked, either. Finally, sitting down inside the Charlotte airport, I got my fix.

Bless you, Charlotte airport! You and your free WiFi connection have salvaged my trip! Now, let's dial up the City Pages blogs and see what the magic elves have concocted in my absence.

Wait. What's that you're trying to tell me, Charlotte airport?

Needless to say, being mature and adult is an accusation we don't get too often. I'm going to savor this.

Odder still, it's just the blogs that are so affected. Hence, if you're looking for immature content -- you know who you are -- you're going to have to turn to the homepage, Sparky.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 21, 2008 8:42 AM | Comments (1)

 

Farmers in 1997 fraud case finally getting paid

Filed under: Business

Eleven years after filing suit and seven years after a jury ruled in their favor, more than 1,100 farmers--most of them from Minnesota--are waiting expectantly by their mailboxes for checks totaling nearly $32 million.

The money comes from chemical giant BASF. In the 1990's, BASF sold herbicide to farmers cultivating sugar beets, sunflowers and other specialty crops. While BASF marketed the herbicide under different names and at different prices, it was all actually the same stuff.

In 2001, a jury found BASF guilty of defrauding thousands of farmers. BASF's lawyers did all they could to drag the case out to the bitter end, with five trips to the Minnesota Supreme Court and two appearances before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The plaintiffs attorneys leading the charge, Douglas Nill and Hugh Plunkett, both of Minneapolis, finally got paid in late 2006, netting around $30 million in fees. In a sad measure of how long the case plodded on, Plunkett died the month before the check arrived.

After nearly two years spent figuring out which claims were valid and how much each plaintiff deserves--a time-consuming and bedeviling process in itself--Nill has sent out payment to the farmers.

Here's what he had to say in a triumphant press release:

“This is an enormously successful national class action that rectifies a fraudulent market segmentation scheme. From their own admission, such marketing practices were common within the industry. For 10 years we fought a ‘David and Goliath’ battle with the chemical industry. The disbursement of the money judgment is a warning bell to the chemical industry that they cannot market and price herbicides using fraud and intimidation.”

And here's what he told me when I got him on the phone:

"It's a career case. One of those cases that students go to law school and they all kind of dream about. I spent the best years of my career litigating against the largest chemical company in the world. They hired squadrons of lawyers, with amicus briefs filed by guys like Ken Starr. There was enormous risk and, frankly, enormous success financially."

Now, he's ready to move on to something new.

"At some point you get kind of tired of it," he says.

Executives from BASF didn't return calls seeking comment.

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at August 20, 2008 3:50 PM | Comments (0)

 

Ex-Stribber: It's the management, stupid

Filed under: Media

Chris Ison, a Pulitzer Prize-winning former Star Tribune reporter who has become a valuable local resource for teaching the next generation of Minnesota journalists offers an interesting view of life inside 425 Portland Ave.

Writing for Columbia Journalism Review, Ison suggests that the drum beat of depressing news about the media--and the steady line of coworkers taking buyouts or getting laid off--have seriously demoralized the Strib's newsroom. Although the 35W coverage provided a flicker of life, he suggests that on an average day local journos are too busy worrying about when the axe will fall to really throw themselves into investigative newsgathering. The answer, he says, is for managers to stop talking like business guys and start inspiring the troops with talk of good journalism.

The workers have shown they’ll change how they do the work; they just don’t want to change what the work is for. Is our central purpose still “to provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society,” the mission adopted seven years ago by the Committee of Concerned Journalists? Or have we lost that focus while reaching for younger readers, more unique visitors to the Web site, and shallow suburban coverage meant to draw more ads? Asked more simply, are we here to serve the community or ourselves?

I was reminded of this truth recently as Twin Cities media covered the one-year anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse. Amid that tragedy a year ago, my old newsroom came to life again. Staffers hustled to the scene from vacations and dinners and days off. They worked tirelessly for weeks on every angle, producing investigative stories, photo pages, and multimedia packages. And for those weeks, the language in the newsroom changed. It was about the story. The focus and energy were back, and the great journalism that emerged was no coincidence.

The challenge for newsrooms is to instill that sense of purpose—and yes, pride—every day, because most days, the best stories are much harder to come by. A motivated reporter sees a story in almost every document and interview. On a bad day, the same reporter can manage to never see a story. He can file the easy 12-incher, and no one needs to know that he avoided the riskier one.

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at August 20, 2008 12:14 PM | Comments (1)

 

10 Cutest Adoptable Dogs

Filed under: Animals

This week's feature and slideshow brought attention to what animal rescues organizations are doing and can do to stop unnecessary shelter killing of dogs and cats. What the story didn't mention is that you can do something too--spay and neuter your animals and adopt pets from shelters.

There are an estimated six to eight million animals that are abandoned every year and half of them are put down, says Daphna Nachminovitch, a vice president for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "The problem isn't so much that the animals are euthanized, the problem is that too many are born. People need to look in their homes and think about how they get their pets."

So, without further ado, we present you with the Top 10 Cutest Adoptable Dogs in the Twin Cities. Ranked from preciously sweet, to downright adorable, each one of these pets needs a home. (Click on the animal's name for adoption information.)

10. Katie, Shiba Inu, Animal Humane Society, Woodbury

Katie needs a special owner. She was surrendered due to health. She has a heart murmur.

9. Grace Kelly, American Staffordshire Terrier Mix, Underdog Rescue

Grace Kelly was saved only one day before her scheduled euthanasia, and is quite possibly the sweetest dog around.

8. Honey Two, Shepard Mix, Animal Ark

I am an adorable, mellow and easy going kind of gal. I was found at the dump in Red Lake with 8 of my puppies. I am thin right now, but before long I'll be a good weight.

7. Webster, Dachshund Labrador Retriever Mix, All Dog Rescue

Webster is looking for his forever home. He was found as a stray. Webster is a very good boy - he is sweet and affectionate and playful. He absolutely loves his daily trips to the off-leash dog park.

6. Midge, Labrador Retriever Mix, Animal Humane Society, Woodbury Shelter

Midge is a 6 month old lab mix. She is part of unwanted litter. Midge has lived with kids and dogs.

5. Chops, Schnauzer, Pet Haven

Chops has the chops to face life at full speed. He’s adventurous, curious, inquisitive and friendly, friendly, friendly. He likes to cuddle, play with his rope toys and be the best boy he can possibly be.

4.Dottie, Collie, American Staffordshire Terrier Mix, Under Dog Rescue

Dottie is a sweet girl who really wants to please. She is a little shy but is coming out of her shell more every day.

3. Hank Two, Labrador Retriever Mix, Animal Ark

I'm Hank, a big, sweet guy looking for a new best friend.I was a "farm dog" who didn't get much attention, so I ran away to look for someone who would love and spend time with me.

2. Sibley, Bichon Frise, Poodle, All Dog Rescue

This sweet soul is Sibley. Poor girl was tossed out of a car and abandoned. It took Sibley some time to come out of her shell, but now that she's been in her foster home for a few weeks she's become an affectionate, attentive companion.

And the number one cutest adoptable dog in the Twin Cities is....

1. Snuggles, Lhasa Apso, Pet Haven

Snuggle. Snuggle. Snuggle. Wanna snuggle? Then you’ll love this little guy named, you guessed it, Snuggles. At just 5 months, you couldn’t find a more loving, affectionate and, yes, utterly cute, sweet, cuddly dog. In fact, 10-pound Snuggles is perfect in every way. Except he can’t see.

Click here for the Top Ten Cutest Adoptable Cats.

Posted by Beth Walton at August 19, 2008 4:01 PM | Comments (0)

 

10 Cutest Adoptable Cats

Filed under: Animals

This week's feature and slideshow brought attention to what animal rescues organizations are doing and can do to stop unnecessary shelter killing of dogs and cats. What the story didn't mention is that you can do something too--spay and neuter your animals and adopt pets from shelters.

There are an estimated six to eight million animals that are abandoned every year and half of them are put down, says Daphna Nachminovitch, a vice president for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "The problem isn't so much that the animals are euthanized, the problem is that too many are born. People need to look in their homes and think about how they get their pets."

So, without further ado, we present you with the Top 10 Cutest Adoptable Cats in the Twin Cities. Ranked from preciously sweet, to downright adorable, each one of these pets needs a home. (Click on the animal's name for adoption information.)

10. Shady, Domestic Short Hair, Animal Humane Society, Woodbury

Shady is a 3 year old grey Tabby and white cat. Shy at first but very sweet.

9. Princess, Domestic Short Hair, Animal Ark

My name is Princess and I am a pretty white and brown tabby cat. I do not do well with other animals, we just don't see eye to eye, so I must be the only pet in the home.

8. Nolan, Hemingway Polydactyl, Domestic Short Hair, Pet Haven

COUNT MY TOES!! Nolan is a cute fellow with all his extra toes - 23! He's a little shy at first but loves to rub around your ankles and lets you know when it's time for more food in his bowl by mewing to you.

7. Dusko, Domestic Short Hair, Underdog Rescue

Dusko is an adorable black and white kitten who had a rough start in life and needed to have his right rear leg amputated. He is super playful,cuddly when he is tired out and just an overall bundle of joy.

6. Miki, Domestic Medium Hair, Animal Humane Society, Woodbury

Miki is a adult medium haired grey and white cat. She was surrendered for health reasons. Fluffy and sweet.

5. Tiger, Tabby Grey, Under Dog Rescue

Poor Tiger came to Underdog Rescue after her current home had thrown her outside to have her litter of kittens in the rain, under the front porch. Tiger's kittens have found homes, but she is still waiting for a new place to call her own.

4. Momma, Calico, Animal Humane Society, Woodbury

Momma is 2 years old. She is spayed and has lived with cats, dogs and horses. Surrendered because her people had too many pets to care for.

3. Haley, Domestic Medium Hair, Animal Humane Society, Woodbury

Haley is a spayed grey and white medium haired cat. She is 10 months old. Stray.

2. Elliot, Domestic Medium Hair, Animal Ark

Hi! I'm Elliot, a handsome, friendly, medium-hair orange tabby cat. I am an active and vocal boy.

And the number one cutest adoptable cat in the Twin Cities is....

1. Buster, Domestic Short Hair, Pet Haven

Buster is the softest, most adorable little fellow you'd ever care to meet. His little purr engine is always revving. He likes to play, and to snuggle and do all the things that kittens do.

To see the cutest adoptable dogs, click here.

Posted by Beth Walton at August 19, 2008 3:37 PM | Comments (4)

 

Follow the numbers: AHS's 2007 intake and euthanasia statistics

Filed under: Animal Rights

In 2007, AHS took in 9,620 dogs and 20,150 cats. Here is a breakdown of what happened.

(Click on the actual chart for a clearer image of the graphs.)

Lately, many have questioned AHS's high euthanasia rate and their commitment to the animals. The chart below depicts AHS's rationale for each animal put down.

For more on Twin Cities animal welfare, see the feature story and slideshow that accompany this post. Also, check out the cutes adoptable dogs and cats in the Twin Cities.

Posted by Beth Walton at August 19, 2008 1:59 PM | Comments (4)

 

MN Zoo's Bottlenose Dolphin Has Bottlenose Bun In Oven

Filed under: Animals

It looks like Semo, the rather forward male dolphin at the Minnesota Zoo, finally closed the deal with a dolphin half his age after a few months of courtship. The zoo's younger female bottlenose dolphin Allie is pregnant. According to a zoo press release, the staff became suspicious when Allie and the male adult, Semo, started engaging in courtship behavior, and they confirmed her pregnancy recently. Allie, 21, is expected to give birth in spring of 2009, and which time she and Semo will form something of a Brady Bunch Dolphin family comprised of Semo's daughter by another mother, Allie, and the couple's child. Cute. In other, possibly related news, Allie's mother, April, 41, is being monitored after displaying abnormal behavior lately. The zoo is also canceling all dolphin shows due to the pregnancy, however, the dolphins will still be on display to visitors. Watch video from earlier this year of Allie, Semo, and April below, and check out this blotter CP writer Beth Walton wrote in March about Semo's lust for ladies.

Posted by Ben Palosaari at August 19, 2008 10:06 AM | Comments (0)

 

How about that national 21 drinking age?

Filed under: Drugs

College presidents know how to party. How else to explain the Amethyst Initiative, a push from university administrators to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18?

This is a serious policy issue, despite the advocacy group's odd name. Turns out "Amethyst" is derived from the Greek words meaning "not intoxicated." Here I thought the president of Duke had just imbibed too much one night, turned purple, and had a revelation.

MPR's Bob Collins wants you to weigh in. But with this issue, as with so many things, I turn to Mojo Nixon for guidance.

Two decades ago (check the Reagan reference!), the rock n' roller/comic/prophet dropped the following advice about the national drinking age. The whole video is epic, but the drinking age rant starts about 1:40:

Note to Mall of America public relations people: the fact that this song is called "Burn Down the Malls" is just a coincidence.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 19, 2008 8:40 AM | Comments (1)

 

Merck's Malignant Marketing Mars Minnesota! Malodorous!

Filed under: Health Care

In health care, studies are used to determine whether medicines are safe and which treatments are most effective. If you're a pharmaceutical giant like Merck, however, they can also be used as marketing -- you use the research as an excuse to get doctors in the habit of prescribing your drug.

Turns out that, for the drug Vioxx, trials were designed and run by Marck's marketing division, not by health care professionals. This type of p.r. initiative is called a "seeding trial," where you use the seeming scientific study to get your product to doctors and "seed" stories in the media.

Researchers from the Annals of Internal Medicine have obtained documents that purport to prove this.

Their paper says:

Although billed as a gastrointestinal safety study, ADVANTAGE was actually a sophisticated marketing tool designed to allow optimal "seeding" of positive experiences with Vioxx among customers—primary care physicians—before its approval. As a result, 5557 participants received Vioxx and 600 investigators prescribed it just before it became available on the market, which generated positive publicity and anecdotes from physicians and patients ...

As a blog entry from the journal Nature notes, doctors were duped -- including one Minnesota physician who swears he wouldn't have stood for it had he known.

Bloomberg talked to one doctor who took part in the study, although he did not recall it. Conrad Butwinick, an internal medicine physician in St. Paul, Minnesota, said: “If I had sensed that there was an ulterior motive, for physicians to have an amplified experience with the drug, I would have never done that. I can't tell you that it didn't go on, but I would never go for that.”

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 19, 2008 7:35 AM | Comments (2)

 

Please do not hit the bat with a tennis racket

Filed under: Animals

August is for lovers -- lovers of human-bat encounters, that is! It's the peak month for bat bites in Minnesota.

If you've seen Old Yeller, you know that rabies isn't a way anyone wants to go out. So if you get bit by a cute l'il echolocator, here's a list of what to do and what to avoid:

DO

3. Get tested for rabies

2. Get tested for rabies

1. Hit on attractive veterinarian, doctor, nurse, other rabies-tester

DON'T

3. Wait around until you start frothing at the mouth

2. Turn into a vampire

1. Hit the bat with a tennis racket

"Sometimes when people are capturing bats they injure the bat enough that the bat can't be tested. So yes, please do not hit the bat with a tennis racket," [Health department veterinarian Joni] Scheftel said.

Gold clubs are also presumably a no-no. I've got a call in about lacrosse sticks, though.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 19, 2008 7:25 AM | Comments (1)

 

One man's minimalist is another man's "efficient"

Filed under: Politics

Tim Pawlenty might or might not be the VP nominee, but he's relishing the role of factually challenged attack dog. He called Barack Obama's energy plan "minimalist" today.

Obama has his own flacks, so I don't feel the need to defend his energy plan. Judge for yourself whether it's comprehensive or not.

What's not debatable is that John McCain's energy plan -- drill new oil -- would produce less energy, over a longer period of time, than America would save if we kept our tires inflated at the proper levels. Which, by the way, is a very small conservation suggestion that Obama made, and for which Pawlenty mocked him.

"Minimalist" appears to be slang for "works better, with less effort, even a small part of it."

Posted by Jeff Shaw at August 18, 2008 4:51 PM | Comments (0)

 

Breakfast of Champions 8/18: The night comes in ...

Filed under: Breakfast of Champions

... on little minx feet.

It's a transitionary time here at the Pages. This space will look different over the next few weeks, as we become awash in convention coverage, change the look a bit, and bring in fresh voices. In fact, there's a good chance that this "Breakfast of Champions" series of posts will go away in favor of more prolific local news blogging.

But before that happens, and speaking of fresh voices, welcome in our new nightlife blogger. Some of you may recognize the Minx from around town; others may be aware of her Flickr page. Whether you are or you aren't, see what she has to say about Glamorama and other matters. We'll be seeing posts and photos a few times a week, mostly centered around weekends.

If you have a hankerin' to see what they were wearing at Glamorama, have a look at our slideshow as well.

Every August, Japanese the world over celebrate Obon, the festival of the dead. How this is practiced depends on the region. What James Tran found at Como Park included Japanese lanterns, taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, traditional dress and much more.

The latest in the I Can't Believe It's Not Paint Thinner series involves cheap champagne of the Andre varietal. I'm a little disappointed that it wasn't Cold Duck. In college, we used to do these things called "Duck Hunts," where we'd ... oh, nevermind. It's just too painful. And don't even ask about the Turkey Shoots.

Another slideshow coming in an hour or so, involving a climactic circus-style performance.

Posted by Jef