MetaFilter posts tagged with Minnesota

"I am an American as you can see from my shirt."

Pope Guilty — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:59:44 -0800

Ya'll remember Johnathan "The Impaler" Sharkey, Minnesota gubernatorial candidate for the Vampires, Witches, and Pagans Party? Of course you do. But have you seen Impaler, the documentary about him? hulu

Minnesota Politics, dont'cha know?

ShadePlant — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:05:53 -0800

An NYT primer on MN politics A quick, breezy explanation for those wondering, "WTF?" about a state that has elected anyone from Bachmann to Ventura to Franken. You betcha.

Senator Franken

Muddler — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:43:00 -0800

The verdict is in. Absent U.S. Supreme Court appeals, meet Senator Franken. (Decision)

It's Good To Be The King

Muddler — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:51:17 -0800

Unallotment. Minnesota, known for its colorful politics now adds today's announcement by Governor Pawlenty that he is using his executive power to unilaterally cut $2.7 billion dollars from the state budget. The list of impacted state projects includes heavy cuts to education, health and human services, and funds municipalities rely upon for their own local budgets. Lawsuits claiming Pawlenty is overreaching his executive power are likely. You are probably not from Minnesota, so why should you care? Well, in addition to bringing the 2008 Republican National Convention to the Twin Cities and co-chairing John McCain's presidential campaign, Governor Pawlenty recently announced he is not running for a third term - and it is widely speculated that he may become the 2012 presidential candidate for the "new" GOP.

Poet and essayist Bill Holm died Wednesday February 26, 2009

nanojath — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:36:24 -0800

Minnesota poet and essayist Bill Holm died on Wednesday. Bill Holm passed away less than a year after receiving some of the recognition he deserved when he was named the 2008 McKnight Distinguished Artist of the Year. He was 65. Bill Holm lived out much of his life in the same tiny Minnesota town where he grew up, a sort of personal failure (from most perspectives on success) for an ambitious writer that partly inspired his long essay on what success and failure meant in (and to) America, The Music of Failure. The divide between what was considered important and what was truly significant in life was a central theme in his poems and essays. He was undoubtedly the only person to publish a volume of poems about boxelder bugs, but his experience wasn't limited to the minutia of Minnesota. He was a world traveler who taught (and wrote about) China and had in the last several years been dividing his time between homes in Minnesota and Iceland. I was lucky to know Bill as an person and not just through his writing. He left far too soon and he deserves to be better known.

Democracy in Action

bonobothegreat — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:43:38 -0800

Minnesota recount live!

1987 Minnesota

cashman — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:12:18 -0800

The events in the movie Fargo didn't really happen in Minnesota in 1987 like the opening text says. But besides the Twins winning the World Series, what did? Well for one, Robbinsdale Cooper's senior class took some rather awful 80's hair pictures, almost deliberately bad. Also, The Winter Warrior was dedicated, commemorating the largest mass execution (images in pdf) in U.S. history. Some of the year was basically just normal and calming. But radio station WLOL was rising fast in the ratings thanks to the controversial "Incredible Prize Catalog Sweepstakes" (images in pdf) they held that involved a Benz and a Porche that nobody won. Yep, 1987 Minnesota - possibly the best thing since sliced bread. No really - cold spreadable butter.

You be the [election] judge

Saucy Intruder — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:53:44 -0800

You be the [election] judge. View and vote on six hundred challenged Minnesota ballots. Each is accompanied by a link to a PDF of the full ballot with the name of the challenging candidate and the reason for the challenge. (registration required) via fivethirtyeight.com

I, for one, welcome our new lizard people overlords.

nathan_teske — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:02:38 -0800

Minnesota's recount of the Senate race between incumbent Norm Coleman (R) and challenger Al Franken (D) began yesterday. Some results are already being reported. One unintended consequence of the recount is the exposure of a shocking write-in challenger: Lizard People.

Doesn't everyone exaggerate the size of Lake Ontario?

goodnewsfortheinsane — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:40:26 -0800

Humorist and candidate for the US Senate for Minnesota Al Franken draws a map of the United States from memory.

That's funny, he never has a second cup at home!

Muddler — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:06:29 -0800

Green screen or not? The latest advertisement for incumbent Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota is raising questions about whether his wife (actress and model Laurie Coleman), shown drinking coffee with him presumably in their home, was anywhere near her husband during the shoot. The controversy might amount to nothing more than the many terrible photoshop disasters we've all seen before if it weren't for all the rumors about the state of the marriage between Senator Coleman and his wife, where she resides, and the growing internet accusations and general political hackery over the new advertisement. This most recent debacle raises a multitude of questions and I hope the MeFi debate can remain civil and not get off track into the purely political. First, is this green screen? Is that ethical? Was this a political blunder? Who will notice if anyone? Who will care? Will the ultimate debate be just another nose dive into the personal and private of a candidate? What will be the response from Al Franken, the opposition, who has had his own troubles lately?

Critical Mass Arrests

taursir — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:34:51 -0800

Police overreact, and attack bikers with no provocation at Minneapolis Critical Mass. Responses from witnesses tell one picture of what happened, but local news says "nobody was hurt" despite squad cars knocking bicyclists from their bikes. What gives?

Speak softly and carry hotdish on a stick

Astro Zombie — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:30:57 -0800

On September 2, 1901, then vice-president Theodore Roosevelt first articulated his theory of diplomacy: "Speak softly and carry a big stick" at the Minnesota State Fair. In some sort of hideous misinterpretation of Roosevelt's quote, Minnesotans have ever since provided a dizzying array (YouTube link) of foods on the ends of sticks to be eaten as one strolls the state fair. Hotdish. Teriyaki ostrich. Pork chop. Scotch eggs. Alligator. Drugs. This year's complete and rather breathtaking list.

Collapsed bridge leaves mess, quarantines locals

taursir — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:03:57 -0800

Deliberately turning her camera from the wreckage, That Red Girl gives us a look at what's going on in her now quarantined life mere blocks from the recent Minneapolitan bridge collapse.

"Several neighbors and I stood in our driveway late into the night debriefing the day. We now live in lockdown. Police must escort us around. We must meet any guests at the corner, they cannot approach the building alone. Residents are told to ask people they do not recognize to show their keys and prove themselves. We joke about seeing everyone’s “FOBs” to those we know well. The dogs are all leashed, tying themselves together as they try to play like normal. It’s frustrating to everyone that we can’t run around as normal. The word “quarantine” is tossed around. People are nervous. One of the residents hasn’t been seen since Wednesday morning. She may be on vacation… no one knows. We see one of the neighbors being interviewed on the corner and a few young girls trying to flirt with the police to gain entrance to our complex. The dogs continued to wrestle and we continued to talk."

I would have liked to have known you/But I hate the Twins

dw — Thu, 24 May 2007 11:09:10 -0800

Requiem for a Bat Girl. Three years ago, writer Anne Ursu started a blog devoted to the Minnesota Twins. Pretty much immediately she was lauded as one of the best baseball bloggers. And then came the Lego reenactments. (Favorites: 1, 2, 3) And the Boyfriends. Yesterday, she ended the blog to spend more time with her young son. She will be missed.

World's Largest Hockey Rink

starman — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 07:29:00 -0800

A set of ideal conditions earlier this week -- cold weather, little wind and snow -- created a large skating rink. On Lake Superior. Beautifully clear (YouTube - minor swearing if you're at work). Ever skate for a mile? Cracks on the ice. With sound (YouTube). And of course, hockey (YouTube). Or maybe just some skating and kite flying (YouTube). Duluth News Tribune's story. (With annoying registration but nice photo gallery)

Now for some actual Bruce Schneier facts

grobstein — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:52:31 -0800

You know Bruce Schneier the polymath security genius. Now meet Bruce Schneier the kind-hearted reviewer of local Minnesota restaurants. (He doesn't like to give bad reviews -- sounds like "security through obscurity" to me!)
[previously, also]

Hokey Smokes!

XQUZYPHYR — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:06:54 -0800

Minnesota is a state rich in study material for fans of political oddity. The state has faced famous (and infamous) political news in the last few years, from the legendary surprise independent gubernatorial victory of Jesse "The Body" Ventura to the tragic death of Senator Paul Wellstone and its ensuing fallout, controversy, and lunacy. It holds a unique variation in the usual two-party system with the DFL replacing the Democratic Party. St. Paul will host the 2008 Republican National Convention. And now, the ongoing oddity that is Minnesota politics will now enter a new chapter as Comedian Al Franken, who moved his Air America radio show to his home state of Minnesota a year ago, will be leaving radio in February to run for his late friend Paul Wellstone's old Senate seat against incumbent Republican incumbent Norm Coleman. Another unique fact would be should Franken win the DFL nomination, it would be a rare instance of both candidates from the major parties in a statewide race being Jewish- Franken and Coleman are two of the less than 50,000 Jews living in the state.

"Good wishes and better wishes...until you wish for the best!"

bardic — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 08:20:46 -0800

A concession e-mail to returning House Rep Satveer Chaudhary from loser Rae Hart Anderson. [via]

"Don't ask, don't care"?

taursir — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 23:25:32 -0800

Openly Gay Soulforce Activists in Minnesota, U.S., attempt to enlist in the Minnesota National Guard because they wish to serve, but are rejected or have their applications put on hold. Here are some local news reports (beware possible sound-enabled ads). Should the U.S. policy change?

Is Keith Ellison liberal enough?

jiawen — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 02:03:55 -0800

Is Keith Ellison liberal enough? Ellison is currently the representative from Minnesota district 58B. Now, he's the DFL's candidate to replace outgoing DFLer Martin Olav Sabo as representative for Minnesota's 5th district in the US House. Ellison got the nomination pretty easily. If he wins, he'd be the first Muslim in the House of Representatives.

Some people are worried about him, though. He's apparently had links to Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, but it's mostly only conservatives pointing that out. A better question might be, Is he liberal enough for Minnesota's 5th district? The Fifth District (located in Minneapolis and the western suburbs) has traditionally been a very strong Democratic stronghold. Ellison will probably have little trouble defeating his opponents (who were they again?), so the question for liberals in his district is: Is he liberal enough? One of the few opportunities for liberals to get someone who really goes the whole nine yards -- so does he?

are they matched to the access code and do you keep a record of what code is mailed to what person?

amberglow — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 14:36:31 -0800

So if you run the CD in your personal computer, by the end of it, the Minnesota GOP will not only know what you think on particular issues, but also who you are. --a cd being sent out to home by the Minnesota GOP is polling people who use the cd, sending their personal info, including name, address, and phone, among other info, back to party headquarters. No privacy policy or statement identifying what the cd does is visible anywhere: ...As far as I could tell, nothing tells you that the answers are about to be e-mailed or otherwise transmitted to the Minnesota GOP. So you finish, and then the phone rings. "Hello, Mr/Mrs. Voters, it's Joe and I notice you support gun control and the marriage amendment, would you like to donate some money to us?" That might startle the person who may have thought he/she was viewing the presentation in the privacy of the computer room. ...

That's what you get for sleeping with the undead.

Captaintripps — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 10:42:48 -0800

Sharkey's wife/friend may not be able to do her job anymore. You remember Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey, the undead, bloodsucking candidate for Minnesota governor, don't you? Julie Carpenter's association with her husband/friend and Wicca affiliation makes her unsuited to drive the school bus, according to the Princeton Schools Superintendent. [by]

"Politics is a cut throat business"

Effigy2000 — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 18:16:46 -0800

Voters in the US state of Minnesota may find a self-proclaimed vampire on the ballot for the office this year when Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey of the Vampyres, Witches and Pagans Party announces his plan to run for Governor, expected later today. Acknowledging that "politics is a cut-throat business", Sharkey has let voters know that whilst he is a Satanist, he dosen't hate Jesus, "just God, the Father."

Big Eye in the Sky

panoptican — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:46:20 -0800

Big Eye in the Sky. A collection of absolutely incredible 360 degree panoramas by St. Paul photographer Ed Fink of the Twin Cities, Mt. Rushmore, the Post-Katrina Gulf Coast and more. He claims to be the first photographer in the world to do full spherical (180 x 360) panoramas from a helicopter. The effect is truly spectacular. Those with vertigo beware.