Call to Action

Faithful readers of this blog: this is a call to action:

Our Mayor, Herb Bergson, has taken a groundbreaking step of issuing a Proclamation welcoming our GLBT community and proclaiming Sept 3-5 GLBT Pride Days here in Duluth. This is the first time this has ever happened in our community. I urge all of you readers, even if you don't live around here, to contact Herb and let him know that you support his decision to end hate and intolerance by city government in the Duluth area. Here is his contact information:
email: hbergson@ci.duluth.mn.us
phone: 218-730-5230
An internet form you can fill out that sends email directly to him:
http://www.ci.duluth.mn.us/city/government/mayor/contact_mayor.html

He is recieving a lot of hate mail and phone calls from people who disagree with his decision. Let's show our support for him and let him know he is not alone.

Thank you!

Meat Purveyors at Pizza Luce!

The first time the Meat Purveyors came to town we stayed up very late spray painting the walls in my basement. The next time they came the police showed up at their hotel room. I think their partyin' ways may have mellowed some but their music still kicks my ass.

Tonight the Meat Purveyors are back with supporting acts Father Hennepin and Trampled by Turtles. It all starts about 10 and it is worth being tired on Wednesday for.

Any Denfelder's?

I can't explain why, but I love this photo. If anyone is wondering, I was a Wrenshallite.

Pride Festivities

Howdy folks,

This weekend marks the 17th anniversary of Duluth-Superior GLBTQAI Pride in Duluth-Superior. We hope you will join us in our festivities! A complete listing of our festivities is located on our website at http://www.dspride.com

At our festival on Saturday this year, we will be featuring Trailer Park Queen and fattypants, among other performers, so it's worth coming out to Park Point just for those ladies!

We are still looking for poets to read at our poetry reading at the Norshor Friday night. If you are interested in reading, please contact me at dspride@hotmail.com. You can be straight or gay to read, as long as you're GLBT-friendly.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Happy Pride!!

I love the future!!

Bikes Against Bush!

I'm left speechless about the awsome utiliztion of technology here!!! A web enabled bike spray chalking the streets of NYC with anti-bush text messages...huzzah!!

Actual conversation from 20 minutes ago...

Husband: Why don't you just clean your ear with a Q-Tip?
Me: You're not supposed to use Q-Tips in your ear - it says so right on the box.
Husband: That's just like the "Contents may be hot" warning on coffee cups.
Me: There is a big difference between a notice of extreme temperatures, and a warning not to place a product in your orifice. As a general rule, I try to follow all orifice warnings.

Solar Lawnmower, Futon Mattress, Dressers, Dresses.......

Hey, i'm "officially" moving out this weekend & need to get rid of my belongings. I gots lots of oddities. Come check it @ 305 E. 8th St. Friday from 8-3. Sat. from 8-2.

Does anyone have any good web hosts that you could recommend? My previous web host (that I used to really like) has begun discovering new levels of ass-suckiness, so I'm doing a blanket poll to try to get input. Please send me an email (mkengstrom(at)gmail(dot)com) or post a comment. Thanks! :)

What I look for in a webhost:
Cost: not willing to pay more than $15/mo, and won't charge/over-charge if one of my pages becomes slashdotted
Storage: need at least 50mb, but much more is preferred
Database, ASP, FrontPage Extensions: don't need it right now
Bandwidth: don't need a whole lot, just "average"
Uptime: I don't mind a few outages, but not more than .5hr/mo
Ads: absolutely none

Gmail anyone?

I still have 6 invites left for Gmail (Googles new free-mail service.) Drop me an email if you would like an invitation.

Money 4 Nuthin..Chix 4 Free!!

Just thought I'd let you guys know, setting up ads on your blog isnt as easy as it used to be. PIST.COM is currently un-able to get ads set up from ValueClick the nations most insideous spammer and pop-up broadcaster. We decided to take it all the way and are starting a blog about our efforts to sacrifice ourselves to the gods of internet advertising..and their un-willingness to accept our burnt offerings.

Getting an email from a friend overseas.......Perfect Duluth Morning

Dear Laura
It is very nice to hear from you i always waiting for ypur message just today i have a chance received your lovely note it makes me happy and smile especially get to know that you and your boyfriend have happiness
i stand here wishing you get well all the time and miss you so much as you see i always email to you this modify that i have a feeling to you and your family,
yes i like your picture so much moreover you and your boyfriend take a photo together hope you will share it to me as soon as possible.
truely, i always like it carrot cabage melon and tarot.
this time the whether in my country is so good the water full bank the river all the trees are blue and green it 's lovely.
My address: Maub Nalong
# 3 Wat Unnalom Phnom Penh city, Cambodia.



Wishing you and your boyfriend get well on your job.
waiting you
Best wishes
Nalong

Whaddya think?

Blogger (owned by Google) is offering a way to make money with Blogs. Adsense is available to add to any Blog and we could make money. It works just like those Google ads which are text ads and are customized to the content of the Blog. There are a bunch of rules about doing this but it could be a way to help pay for the 200 bucks a year it costs to maintain this PDD site.

Would this be selling out? I am not sure that they would even accept a group Blog, especially one with occasional profanity. Feel free to leave your comments on this matter.

My favorite utility.

Of all the utilities I pay for every month I gotta say Electricity is the greatest. It rarely goes up or down in price (like natural gas) and it is reasonably priced for all that you get, lights, refrigeration, clean clothes. I spose water comes in a super close second place, what with its life sustaining qualities but it still can't power my Powerbook.

Request for crazy shit fulfilled:

George Bush targeted Duluthians!

It's only a matter of time until Perfect Duluth Day posters are relocated to Guantanamo Bay.
Link

People Like That On Cruises Like These

You may have noticed that Julie the Cruise Director has been a bit lazy lately. Well, as always, this is a community, and you can help.

I've reorganized the Cruise Director page, as you can see. The left side consists of links, the right side consists of events posted via a blog, which you can join.

If you are one of those people who tends know what the hell's going on in this city, drop a line to julie@perfectduluthday.com and join the Cruise Director. (If you are already a member of PDD, joining is very easy.) Information about events is the top reason people visit this site, and it would be cool to be able to provide accurate, easy-to-find information on a consistent basis.

Also, even if you don't want to join, e-mail julie@perfectduluthday.com with your suggestions for websites to link to, and with any other suggestions for this part of PDD.

Merci beaucoup.

Two things..

First off the pdd store has vanished..

Secondly, anyone check out the "meet the bloggers" page? CastIron Rabbit has taken over like it was Park Point.

they ran us out on a rail

here's a peek at some chi-town antics

Speaking of spam subjects...

Here's a website that has pictures inspired by spam subject headings: Spamusement

You Have One Month To Get Ready

Mark your calendar:

Friday, Sept. 17 | 8 p.m. | Twin Ports Music and Arts Collective

* Paul Lundgren will render aloud selections of his literary works
* The Lake Superior Cacophonic Choir will perform its newest song
* Tony Bennett will sing melodic ballads while playing his acoustic guitar
* DJ Connor will fill in the gaps with fat trax fo’ yo’ ass crax
* The best audience member will win a trophy

Lost.... 1 Rabbit

Has anyone seen my son.... the Cast Iron Rabbit?

Ultra Violet

Please join us this Thursday, August 19, at 7 p.m. at the Spirit of the North Theatre in the Fitger's Brewery Complex for the Launch of Chris Monroe's Ultra Violet: Ten Years of "Violet Days."

Chris will present her hilarious slideshow, "My Life as a Cartoonist" at 7 p.m.

Afterward, Chris will sign copies of her book as well as her 18 x 24 inch limited edition, signed-and-numbered print of an original oil pastel painting--the only Chris Monroe fine art print available anywhere! (Scroll down for a peak.) Refreshments will be served.

Following the signing, come on downstairs to the Fitger's Brewhouse for a special Starfire Lounge with Starfire, the Right Reverend Lumpy G., and others spinning music. Master Brewer Dave Hoops and his talented crew have honored Miss Monroe by brewing a stunning portrait of the artist as a beer: Ultra Violet Ale. Enjoy one (or more) in a limited edition, commemorative "Ultra Violet Ale" pint glass.

Hope to see you there!

Tony Dierckins Sally Anderson
X-communication The Bookstore at Fitgers

Of interest to PDDer's: 'Insider' info puts city blogs on the map

5 names I think would be cool to have.

1. Billy | This name rolls off the tongue easily and makes you seem forever youthful.

2. Boadie | This was the name of a swim-teammate of mine in Junior High. He once slugged me in the jaw for making fun of his Australian heritage. Also the nick-name of the roofer on my porch project.

3. Mars | My friend and band mate Bobby Olson wanted to name his son this but was overruled. It sounds very strong and masculine, MARS IS MY NAME, BACK OFF!

4. Raleigh | Its a bike, a neighborhood, a town, what more could you want?

5. Woody | Nuf said.

New Features

OK, so you all notice the new navbar at the top. I've been meaning to add some kind of search mechanism so that people can actually find what they are looking for in the archives. Now Blogger has provided one, which is kind of fitting, since they're owned by Google.

As always, if it looks screwy on your system, let me know. As far as how well it actually works, well, that's up to the geniuses at Google.

Also, you may or may not notice a little pencil-type graphic next to your posts. These are displayed when you are logged into Blogger, and when you click them, it brings you back to the page where you can edit your post. This is handy when you write something, look at it on the blog, and then realize you messed up.

Enjoy, baby.

The Pile Maker!!1!

Bulimia info?

Does anyone out there know of any sources of "So, you have Bulimia" type pamphlets or local easting disorder resources?
There is a woman on my floor who has bulimia and I was hoping to tape a pamphlet to the back of the door or something.
Any help?

It starts again...

Just found this on eBay: Thigh-high tan dockers from Duluth, MN /RARE NEVER SEEN/ HOT

Note to Paul: Please blame "Blogger-of-the-Week" for being a creepy stalker, not me. I only provided this as a service for him.
...can't get your own damn invite to PDD or your own webserver, A.H...

Back to the Front

Since this little story made it to the front page of the Duluth News Tribune today, I thought it was a shame that the original post (from Monday night, Aug. 9) about the eBay pantyhose scandal was already in the PDD archives.

That post may have set a PDD record for longest public commentary thread so far (52 comments, as of 3:30 Thursday). So, I thought I'd open things up for further chatter.

Is everybody happy with the outcome, or are some of you secretly sad that such a saucy little morsel of local weirdness has been snuffed out so quickly?

drinks are on you!

if i survive todays visit from my mom & dad. see you all at happy hour.....cheers.

Caption This

It's been a long time since I...

So summer is going way to fast. My Blogging has been kept to a minimum lately due to many factors (love, work, porch project, visitors and on and on and on.) It seems to me that we need another PDD gathering soon so that I can find out who the hell you all are. Does anyone have any good ideas? Methinks something family oriented would be nice.

|Ideas|

Slip-n-Slide party
Horshoes party
Frisbee on the beach
Enger tower BBQ
Wheelchair races down Lake Ave.


Sound off on your ideas and dates for a PDD get-to-gether.

Now I am going to get back to my porch painting.

UPDATE: The auction has been taken down (probably by eBay). But it looks like he's been at this before...
Ok, just one last post of the day...
I just found this on eBay - anyone else completely freaked out??? Those don't look like consenting models.
Pantyhose babes from Duluth, MN /RARE NEVER SEEN/ HOT

I need to talk, but I have no one to talk to. So instead of sitting pent up and pretending to work when my mind won’t let me, I’ll talk to strangers. Lucky you.
A brief summary of the plot so far: my dad’s dad (Norman - I don’t consider him my grandfather) walked out on him and grandma when he was 4. Said he was going to California to earn money and would write when he got there to send for them. He never wrote – end of story. The epilogue may be full of a second-guessing grandmother who doesn’t stand up for herself, a dad with anger-management issues and his daughter who gets all of this stupid emotional shit passed on to her, but at least the story is done.
But the book was not content to be finished and forgotten.
A few years ago my sister tracked down Norman and his “new” family. It turns out that he had moved to Arizona, started a family, and had only died just a few months before my sister found them. They don’t know about us and no one tells my dad or grandma about the discovery. The typewriter slows and the story is done once again.
Then my mother decides to contact the new family. She says she just wants to know to get their “medical history” but we all know she’s just stirring shit up. She talks to Norman’s granddaughter, and we all get to hear about how great he was and he was such a nice guy and every summer the family would go on vacation to Minnesota(!) and so on.
Well, how very nice for you. That bastard leaves my family in dysfunctional disarray, and you get tell me about all of your fond memories of him. Great, just fucking great.
My family is all excited to meet their new “relatives” and all I can think about is how the fuck do you guys get to grow up happy with “grandpa”, while I get to deal with the fucked-up family that he caused? Thanks for the consolation prize… Not only do I get to hear all about them, but I get to see them too since I’m the only one who can figure out how make the pictures small enough to email (Norman’s the grouchy bastard on the right). I hate having to look at photos of people that oddly resemble my dad.
But there’s another chapter: I guess Norman was an asshole to his new family too. Huh. That oddly makes me feel better, but now I feel horrible that I feel happy that someone else had a fucked-up family too.
I hate all of this shit. I was more comfortable when my family tree had a branch missing and no one cared. Yea, my dad had a dad, but he’s probably dead, would you like some tea? It was over and done with. The book was written, closed, and put up on the shelf. But now it’s sitting open on the table like a wound and everyone but me is excited to read it.
Sorry for the rant, but thanks for letting me vent – I just needed to get this shit out… or at least a little sedated.

Machine vs. Human vs. Ghost

This thing perplexed me, but some of the more "music-geek" types would probably love it.

Random Sightings...

I get around the streets of Duluth quite a bit, either by walking or my trusty mule (bike). I think it's safe to say I've encountered a good number of the residents of this town whilst pounding the sidewalks and pedaling the streets, and there is one old fella I seem to run into...randomly... everywhere. He's a kindly gent, about 80 if he's a day, with tan skin and whitewhitewhite hair. I've spoken to him briefly on a few occasions, either to tell him the time (odd, because I gave up wearing a watch in 1996) or to just acknowledge his presence in this reality. I've run into him mostly around the blocks between 7th and 9th Aves and 1st to 4th streets, and as far away as downtown. Mostly he walks, but sometimes I've seen him with a broom in his hand sweeping sidewalks and steps to people's houses. Today, I saw him across the street from my house sweeping the sidewalk in front of the duplex across the street. Anyone else see this old fella? If you walk at all in this town, you've probably run into him (or me, without knowing it).

just an observation...thanks for listening...

If anyone knows anything about Technics SL23 turntables and their quirky speed servos, chime in. I am trying to save mine from needless banishment to the basement.

The Original Mark Edwards

Debut Album of a musician from the cities I enjoy.

Perfect West Duluth Night

To all you chickens and skinflints who were either too scared or too cheap to come to the Spirit Valley Days Street Dance last night, I give you this video of Hairball's performance. You missed out on a West Duluth experience of a lifetime.

Hairball [WMV, 3.83Mb]

Also, check out barrettchase.com for exciting still pictures of Paul standing next to people, and more.

Note to self.

Just because there is a bottle of Jameson on the stage doesn't mean that I have to get all Robert Pollard on it. It sure was fun at the time but I will never forget Ted telling me "Dude, you're playing the wrong chords."

There Goes the Neighborhood

According to the MAC's event calendar, Sudden Death of Bone Appetit is playing a solo gig there on Friday night.

Sell any downtown or hillside property you may own (while you still can) and get out of town ... NOW!

Bridget Riversmith Art Opening

Hey y'all. Come down to Adeline's tomorrow, August 6 for "Vanishing Act," another spectacular art exhibit from Bridget. There will be seven new pieces of artwork, plus some older stuff, including the painting shown on the right of this page.

The reception is from 7-10pm, with music by Christian McShane and the Party Store Minnows. And oh, Adeline's is in the Building for Women, 32 E. First St.

follow procedures and we all come home alive...

Just a quick note to say that pist.com is back up...after some apache distress and a move to a new hosting service, we're up and ready to accept your agnst! Here's a ditty from PDD's own Predicate Nominative in the file gallery -- wonder what the offending purchase was?

one pist boss

Perfect Duluth Wednesday III

We've got a helluva nice day on our hands again. A Perfect Duluth Day, in fact. Meet up tonight at the beach, as usual, for hot Frisbee action, etc.

BYOB = Bring Your Own Blatz.

Some PDDers prefer going to 22nd St. S. and entering the beach there. I prefer going all the way to the end. Feel free to argue about this in the comments.

For now, let's say 5:30 p.m.ish by the Beach House. That's all the way down Minnesota Avenue, by the big soccer/softball field. Got it?

Round TWO!

Would you like a little Bluegrass on your Fat Hen's? Tonight, the wonderful Trampled by Turtles will be bringing their throngs of faithful fans to the Looch to play with us, Father Hennepin, who are fresh off a very succesful wedding gig at Glensheen Mansion.

Good times.

Trampled by Turtles | 10pm

Father Hennepin | 11pm

Bottles of Bud 2 bucks
Jack and Jim drinks 2.50

as always, Water is free.

Next week | Jerree Small and friends!!

I want to go; someone sponsor me

I wish I had an extra $1,500 so I could do this. Seriously. Part of me loves the cheesiness, but part of me seriously digs Styx. It's burned deep in my soul.

Anyway, props once again to Mimi Smartypants for bringing this to the attention of the blogging world.

August Already?!?

So, I'm back a little early from a weekend up on the Soup Trail...the wet on Friday just took the hike right out of me, so I made my way back home yesterday from the Castle Danger parking area. I camped about a mile or so outside Gooseberry along the trail a few yards from the river, where it's slow and bendy before the falls. Not exactly the most optimum weekend to camp. I was literally wading in my boots from all the wet grass (chest high in a lot of spots.). Heard a pack of wolves a couple of times during the night. Not very far from where I was set up. Spooky. If yer Really interested, http://www.thenorthernmosttexan.blogspot.com has some details. I'll be sifting through what I put up yesterday, which was taken directly out of my logbook, and adding pieces in here and there as I can recall.

Now I'm home, I got a shower, fresh coffee, fresh undies a good comfy sleep in my own bed, gear drying on the porch...updating my blog for no one to see...

The Missus and I are ever closer to closing on this Hillside Shack, probably signing the p-work this week with the (former) landlords @ the Looch later this week. Frightened and scared at the same time. Had the Inspection done Thursday, and the fella was an awfully huge help. He basically confirmed a lot of what I was thinking about the place, gave me some handy tips and advice on what to do, what could be done, and stuff like that. If ya ever need an inspection done...I HIGHLY reccommend calling Greg Lilley's Best Inspections out of Brimson.

Perfect August Music: Godspeed! You Black Emperor-Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antenna To Heaven

That's all I got. Godspeed to y'all headed to Red for N8's memorial. If you see my wife, tell her to stop by Bill's Imported Foods and pick me up some baklava and calamata olives.

thanks for reading.