Art Festival

For those in the chicago area, I will be having a photography display at the Around the Coyote Art Festival. If you are interested in attending, visit www.aroundthecoyote.com for details. I will be in the Lubinski building.

A preview of the works that will be on display... photos.

All Quiet on the Northern Front?

Where is everybody? Hibernation season isn't for at least another couple of months...

You can't imagine.

Heading into the Devastation.

Jimmy Swaggart's Church.

Katrina Bound.

last.fm

We know you have it, now get your add on.

last.fm Twin Ports group

Since he's not here, let's talk about him.

Susan Sarandon's S.O. + That Law and Order guy = Baci.

Anyone else ever noticed that?

Need some help!

A friend of mine desperately needs some help. She's looking for an apartment within walking distance to downtown, and to move in September 1st. There are a couple of factors that have been making this very difficult. It's her first apartment (no rental references), she just started her new job at Fond du Luth (no paystub yet), for "security reasons" Fond du Luth absolutely refuses to acknowledge that she works there to anyone who calls to verify her employment, and she has a cat. Also, does not want a roommate situation. She can spend up to $650 after any utilities. We've called pretty much everyone in the paper and also called Apartment Advisors with no luck. Nobody likes cats. She's very good at bills - I thought maybe there's a chance someone on PDD could be helpful.

Happy and Smart!!

Want to go to China??? Come on along!! Follw us...if the PRC allows us to edit the blog...as we fly NWAir(and their expertly maintained planes) to pick up our loveley new bambino

happysmart.blogspot.com

How to Serve the Ministry of Reshelving:

1. Go to a bookstore and locate its copies of George Orwell's 1984. It is probably incorrectly classified as "Fiction" or "Literature."
   
   
2. Discreetly move all copies of 1984 to a more suitable section, such as "Current Events", "Politics", "History", "True Crime", or "New Non-Fiction."
   

Ministry of Reshelving website
Ministry of Reshelving Flickr group

(Via Future Tense on MPR - Listen)

s-l-o-w-d-o-w-n

I want to share the email response I got from Doteasy.com today.

Hello Scott,

Please note that your usage for the month has exceeded the capabilities of a shared hosting environment. If you have taken the necessary steps to reduce your traffic usage, you will see an improvement in your site performance in the next month or so. If at the end of this month your performance has still not improved, please contact us again and we will see what we can do for you. If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.


Regards,

Bradley
Doteasy Customer Service
"Join the hosting revolution!"

So it looks like it might be a while until things get back to normal. Hang tight kids.

Finally!

Originally mentioned at Gizmodo as a prototype in 2003, IO2 Technology has just completed the production unit and provided the details behind the revolutionary HelioDisplay which produces interactive 3D dsiplays in thin air (via lasers) from common sources.

The HelioDisplay technology page lists some of its remarkable features:
# Inputs from most regular sources: PC,TV, DVD, HDTV, Video game consoles
# Projects a 22″ to 42″ (depending on model) diagonal image that floats above the device
# It is interactive, like a virtual touch screen: a hand or finger can act as a mouse
# Although the HelioDisplay uses lasers, the images are not holographic

Possible uses for this product include advertising, entertainment facilities, design prototyping, teleconferencing etc. Obviously the applications for such a product are endless. Most importantly it may convince my wife to finally allow the purchase of the Brook Burke Swimsuit calendar for testing purposes! This of course relies heavily on pricing (TBD) and other more, um, personal matters.

Apparently the product is ready for release;

You may have noticed.

PDD has been loading very slowly or not at all lately. This is because of the widely popular dancing kid from West Duluth. We removed the file from our server yesterday so hopefully things will start to return to normal.

Thank you for your patience.

Cleaning Up

I don't understand why dog owners are expected to clean up their animal's droppings, but horse owners can just leave huge messes. Have you been on that trail by Hawk Ridge lately? There's a new landmine every ten feet.

What have we got to lose?

www.walken2008.com

Shameless introduction.

hi, my name is Ian, I've been lurking around here for quite a while and feel like it is time for a shameless introduction. sooo.... If you happen to like trip-hop/downtempo music, we (2 djs, percussionist, and random guests) play down at the Red Star every Saturday evening from 11pm till midnight (before the dance music starts). If you stop by, say hello. (I'm the one with the long hair)

wish me luck...

Tamara and I are travelling to Bayfield to do some lawn care on her ma's place. Her Ma's gonna be there at some point this weekend as well. While it's a great way to escape the City during the Boozefest (if it were only booze and not fifty thousand rich white guys riding harleys listening to the "blues," I'd stay but it isn't so I'm not...), I'm sort of nervous about the whole meet the mom thing...sort of. I'm not freaked out about it by any means.

In every other relationship I've been in, meeting the mom means things are for the most part...serious...which they are, IMO...cohabitation sorta solidifies that.

ehh...I've got nothing to worry about really.

hope everyone has a great weekend nevertheless...

perseid meteors + camping

i just, just came down with the itch.

yes, the itch to come up and camp with the boyfriend and the dogs for a night to watch the perseids, which are supposed to be phenomenal tonight.

so...can anyone suggest a good, secluded, non-light-polluted, preferably low-cost place to camp?

[now i really, really want to leave work. i mean, leave work now.]

C. Monroe

I spent Tuesday morning with the infamous Chris Monroe. We talked, she inked. Won't you watch? This story can also be seen at MN Stories.

[click the pic]

Ok, if anyone was wondering about the craziness of the last few days - it was my fault.
It wasn't meant to be mean-spirited or anything. When I saw the video, I was reminded of the Star Wars Kid, Numa Numa, and other "internet hits". So I posted it to the same site where I saw the previously mentioned videos, figuring that some other people might enjoy "the Kid from West Duluth", and it might even bring some attention to Duluth's little blog.
Later when I checked back, I was disturbed and dismayed by what people had written. I felt like a kid in high school inviting my new buddies to the A/V room to meet my old friends, and then was shocked and horrified as my "new friends" started trashing the A/V equipment and stealing lunch money from my friends. Seriously. I had an ache in my stomach as I thought "What have I done?"
I just wanted everyone to know that we didn't have an online community full of assholes, just one.
Sorry.

Tommy Lee + Me

Is anyone else excited about Tommy Lee goes to college?

By golly, I am. I went to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, just like Tommy. My first year, I lived in the dorm pictured above. But that's not all. It seems that Tommy and I have been leading nearly parallel lives.

Consider this:

Tommy's last name is Lee
My middle name is Lee

Tommy played drums in a band.
I played drums in a band.

At UNL, photographers followed Tommy everywhere.
At UNL, I studied photography.

Tommy has lots of tattoos. And nipple rings.
I know people with tattoos. I have nipples.

Tommy married a woman whose name starts with "P"
I married a woman whose name starts with "P"

I have 2 kids.
Tommy has at least 2 kids

Chicks dig Tommy and ignore his faults.
Chicks ignore me.

I'm old.
Tommy's even older.

Support yer PBS!

Tamara and I made the Big Jump and pledged moolah to PBS last night. They made us an offer we just couldn't refuse...

We got a bobblehead, a Red Green coffee mug, Red Green patch, and the Red Green DVD! All I need now is a case of duct tape and I'm set!

Let's bow our heads for the Man's Prayer...

Dear Lord,
I'm a man,
But I can change
If I have to,
I guess.

keep your stick on the ice.

Street Parking

You know, I've lived here on and off for six years now, but never once asked this. What is the deal with parking either way on roads? I've never seen it like this anywhere else that I've been, and am just wondering if it is technically illegal, and just that nobody cares. I've never had issues doing it, but have at least one friend who claims to have gotten a ticket for it.

Either way, I like it. :D You just know that the liberal attitude for parking, combined with the one way streets really has to confuse a bunch of the tourists.

My Mom.

My Mom and Stepdad are coming to Duluth tomorrow for their annual visit and I'm looking for suggestions on activities. Of course we will go to the beach and eat out and maybe go to a movie. Where do you all take your folks when they visit? I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Thank you.

I Heart Hummers...a Civil Disobedient Excursion

heh..been a while but...just had to pass this along...

Pynt and i were walking along Superior Street a few evenings ago on our way back to my place for an evening with the Simpsons. We were approaching the intersection of 10th/Superior/London when the light changed, allowing a minivan, followed by one of those GODAWFUL H2's, and a few other vehicles to go. Given my disdain for the garish presence of those things, I decided it'd be clever to excercise my right arm and...one, two, three...flip it the bird.

I didn't think too much of it when the guy driving the thing pulled into the parking lot of that medical center that sits on the corner, because Pynt and I had gone off to watch the cars down on I-35 for a couple of minutes. When we made our way back to the sidewalk (a couple of minutes later) the Hummer was still sitting in the lot. When the guy saw us, he pulled back out onto Soup Street. Doesn't go past us, like he should. He stops the 'car,' which causes a few cars behind him to have to stop as well. The guy rolls down his window and says "What's the problem, DUDE?"

"This is my problem" was my reply, pointing at the vehicle.
"What's wrong with it?"
"You're driving it!"
"What's wrong with it?!?"
"You're drving it!"
The altercation didn't go farther than that, but ended up with him using the canned "It's American Made," and "Get a job" retorts as he was driving away...I'd like to think he went home and cried about the whole affair. Had the convo progressed any further, I was going to point out that what he was driving was an expensive unnessecary piece of crap.

Now, I have also been thinking about the karmic ramifications of my actions that night, and other than infringing on his right to own one, and being a general nusiance (and perhaps conscientious voice) to his seemingly carefree existence...I can think of none that would adversely affect my life, other than the outside chance of meeting him in a bar one evening and having to defend myself from his bruised ego.

thoughts? Am I so wrong???

Free Range on NPR

Hey! Here's the Free Range Film Fest on NATIONAL public radio -- perfect with my sat morning coffee

WTF?

What the f^@k are you people doing after the Free Range Film Festival on Friday night? I WISH I could make it that night, but I'm working, so I can only make it Saturday. Still, I get off at 11 Friday and would like to participate in some post-movie madness. Where's the scene?

send me your linkage.

I was just poking around the music links on the right sidebar there and realized they need some updating. So leave your links in the comments and I will be sure to include them. This also goes for the Culture, Blog and Vlog sections.

Thank you very much.

above photo by Joe Cunningham

More press about that farm movie thing.

City pages article about this weekend's film fest by PDD's very own Godsey

Nicely done, Mr. Godsey.

Odd Request

Are there any nicknames for Duluth/Superior that I don’t know of? I'm stuck on the following list:

Duluth/Superior:
-Twin Ports

Duluth:
-Zenith City
-North Shore

Superior:
-Souptown
-South Shore

PDD segway gang

In liew of *fire lounge, I say we all go and rent some of these hummers and terrorize the touristas. Next monday night(evening)? I dont know what the cost is...oh, better yet.. rent 'em then hit happy hour at luce' toss back a quick couple of whiskey dews and buzz the lakewalk...*fire and his video...yeah baby...get 'er done! Anyone on board??

Message to Amy.

Hey Amy.

The comments seem to be down so I will send you encouragement this way. Go buy the book "Easy Way to Quit" at Barnes and Noble. It really helped me quit.

Call me if you need any support.

london rawks.

Free Range Film Festival

Free Range Film Festival version 2.0 is only one week away. Mark your calenders.

If you browse the calender you might notice a couple of my films. No more 320x240 viewing, I'm on the big screen baby!

Seriously, this is an amazing event so, get out to the farm!

"Keep your riches, gimme a Budweiser!"

To my infinite delight, I discovered this morning that my girlfriend's record collection includes "Trackin' up the North." The album was put together by KQDS radio in 1982 in collaboration with Grandma's Saloon & Deli. It features a rare Replacements song, "Lookin' for Ya," as well as a track by Chameleon, a band that included none other than Yanni.

The bands on the album all participated in the "KQDS Miller High Life Rock to Riches Talent Search Contest," which is why the Replacements track ends with a defiant screaming of the title of this post.

The Last Starfire Lounge

Six years of good times has come to an end. If you don't know what this means, I can't explain it to you.

That's all folks!

After a wonderful run of 6 plus years I am pulling the plug on Starfire Lounge. In case you have no idea what that is let me explain. In 1998 after Random Radio was shut down by the Feds I approached Tim Nelson about doing a DJ night at the Brewhouse. He was hesitant at first but eventually gave me the green light. So every Thursday since then me and another DJ have plugged in our turntables and CD players and iPods and played whatever the hell we wanted.

And so now it is coming to a close.

This Thursday will be the last installment of a wonderful adventure. There will be nothing special, no cake, no speeches just some good music. If you have ever been a part of the Lounge and want to spin one-more-tune let me know and I will pencil you in.

Thanks for all the good times and I hope to see a few of you out there this Thursday.

Strippers Busted In Birthday Bash

JULY 11--A cautionary tale of pleasure's pitfalls comes from Jacksonville, Arkansas, where a trio of strippers is facing criminal charges for the onstage beating a male patron with a wood paddle and a leather whip. According to a Pulaski County Sheriff's Office report, truck driver Keith Lowery told investigators that he was handcuffed to a pole at the Sensations club and set upon by the dancers during a June 17 visit. Lowery, who was celebrating his 31st birthday with pals who paid $25 for his ceremonial birthday whuppin', said that he was injured when the 4:30 AM stunt went too far. He claimed that he "begged" management to stop the paddling/whipping, but that his plea was rejected. After a bruised Lowery contacted cops, three dancers and two Sensations managers were arrested and charged with a felony count of obscene performance in a public place (the strippers also were hit with a misdemeanor battery count).

juice here

Hey! Come Hear Some Ladies.

Mary Bue | Lindsay & Mary Mac | Jerree Small

Beaner's Central | 324 N. Central Ave.
Tuesday, July 12 | 8pm

Robotic Guitarist

"Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created a mechanical guitar playing robot, named the Crazy J. The guitar player is composed of two mechanical systems that interact to play a range of 29 musical notes. A plucking mechanism with six independently controlled picks is mounted over the body of the guitar and a fingering mechanism with an array of 23 fingertips is mounted over the first four frets of the fingerboard."

Finally, no more ego driven flake outs, no more arcane song structure to support extruded fret board finger mashing, no more incremental small loans from the band fund to pay for 9 volts and 6 packs, no more lame attempts to steal the bass player's girl/boy toy, and no more "conan the luteist" posing sessions. Full story here.

"P" is for Profanity

Friday, July 8th, 10:15-11:00pm, Norshor Theater, Duluth
at the Eyes and Hands Festival
$8/day, $12/weekend

Allen Richardson: Mr. Nice
Jim Richardson: Cookie Monster, Timmy, Sam, Rick, The King of England, The Professor
Jill Holmen: Timmy's Mom, Trudy, slide whistle
Steve Perry: The Lone Gunman
And if the Scotsman dared to show his ugly face he would be played by himself, Devin 'The Scotsman' McKinnon, and he better bring his posse if he knows what's good for him.

At last...

The time has come for Judge Judy's ascension to the U.S. Supreme Court.

(Sure, some naysayers'll tell you that Judge Joe Brown or Judge Larry Joe have good chances, too, but c'mon. Judy's clearly the front-runner.)

Changes-Ch-Changes!

House of Donuts-Closed!
Molly's-Closed!
Buena Vista-Closing!

any more?

In case you didn't see it.

Blah blah blah blah Blog. PDD made the DNT yesterday. You could read about it right here or you could make a sweet PDD post. You make the call.

sing it, dig it.

click on the pic, yo.

PDD B-day in full swing!

C'mon down to Stadium Lanes immediately...

Bowling!!!!
Free Wireless!!!!
Cupcakes!!!!
Some photographer dude from the DNT!!!!

More exclamation points than ever before!!!!

Rhubarb.

<


click on the pic.


Here's a taste of last weekends Rhubarb Festival to benefit the CHUM Center.

Join Us This Wednesday

I'm a firm-believer in mixing with vinyl, but this is so sweet, it almost makes me want to cry.

"Audiopad is a composition and performance instrument for electronic music which tracks the positions of objects on a tabletop surface and converts their motion into music. One can pull sounds from a giant set of samples, juxtapose archived recordings against warm synthetic melodies, cut between drum loops to create new beats, and apply digital processing all at the same time on the same table. Audiopad not only allows for spontaneous reinterpretation of musical compositions, but also creates a visual and tactile dialogue between itself, the performer, and the audience."

Audiopad site (be sure to check out the videos!)
Wired article

Karl Mueller - RIP

I remember eating chinese food with him back stage at the orpheum during a SA, Magnolias and Run Westy gig. Died of throat cancer...light up!

Casting Call

Sooner or later, someone will come along and make a new "Grizzly Adams" movie. Who should star in it? Should Willie Nelson reprise every Denver Pyle role?

pleasure.

What are your pleasures in life?

Me, I like a hot bath with something good to read like TapeOp or the New York Times (sunday edition) or even No Depression.

What about you?

Discuss.

Lunch?

Do you brown bag it?

Fast food it?

Favorite restaurants?

discuss.

Let's get it on

I've never played Ultimate before, but I'm not letting that stop me from taking part in the big pick-up game on Sunday at Chester Bowl. You should play, too. It's an open invitation.

If you don't know the rules, this should explain things good enough.

The plan is to play every summer Sunday at 10 a.m., rain or shine. This week is the first week. Everyone is going to be out of shape and uncoordinated, so don't be embarrassed.

Morning routines.

What are your morning routines?

Me.

Get up.

Make coffee.

Change the DVD's

Watch my favorite vlogs while drinking coffee

go to work.

Michael Jackson found innocent of all charges.
In other news, Michael Jackson and OJ Simpson will be teaming up to form a crime-fighting duo! They will search for their adversaries, "The Real Killer" and "The Real Molester".

Sleepwalking

So, what's the weirdest thing you've done while asleep? I wrote this story today about sleepwalking.

I also had a dream this morning that I was making faces at a dog. According to my girlfriend, I was making those faces in my sleep. She just laid there and watched the show.

Fun! And creepy too! Creepy fun!

1-up

This is the neato-keenest thing I've seen on the web this week!
How to Make Your Own Totally Sweet Mario Question Blocks and Put Them Up Around Town
Because It's Really Awesome!

Yo KittyKats!

Can you believe it? PDD will be 2 years old this month. That means it is time to pay up for Hosting Services and Domain Name registration. This all comes to about $140 bucks a year and gives us unlimited bandwidth.

I personally don't mind footing the bill because I love having this community space. However if any of you all are feeling a bit generous I have set up a Fund Drive where you can donate any amount of moola via PayPal. Just click on the logo below!



Thanks in advance for your support. If you are not comfortable using PayPal but would like to contribute, send me an email (starfire at gmail dot com) and stay tuned for some exciting changes to PDD coming up this month!