January 2010 Posts

Alas, Mr. Salinger is dead

The car moved west, directly, as it were, into the open furnace of the late-afternoon sky. It continued west for two blocks, till it reached Madison Avenue, and then it right-angled sharply north. I felt as though we were all being saved from being caught up by the sun’s terrible flue only by the anonymous driver’s enormous alertness and skill.

Renegade Theater Company Grand Re-Opening

A new year, a new name, a new look. Renegade Comedy Theatre is changing its name to Renegade Theater Company. Please join us to celebrate! We’re having a party and silent auction fundraiser to coincide with the opening of our first show of our 2010 season, The Sparrow, on Thursday, Feb. 4.

Apple iPad added to the long list of Apple iProducts like the iRack

How about the iDon’t care.
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Bridge to Heaven

I heard that Japanese tourists visit Enger Park to view the “Bridge to Heaven,” as Park Point resembles a famous pine-tree covered sand bar in Japan. Both are viewed upside down, by bending over and looking between your legs. Here

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James Fallows on Cirrus as Game Changers, 9 Years On

This was interesting to me. On the Plane Conversations blog, author Alan Howell reviews a 2001 book by Atlantic contributor James Fallows called “Free Flight: From Airline Hell to a New Age of Travel.” In the book, according to Howell, Fallows says that the Klapmeier brothers of Duluth’s own Cirrus Design created the first of three major innovations that would change the way people travel. How did the prediction stack up?

In the last nine years, how did James Fallows’ case studies fare?

To date, Cirrus has manufactured and sold more than 5000 aircraft and has been the number one, best selling aircraft in the past decade – not bad for a start-up company with a non-conventional design. Like other aviation companies, Cirrus has been severely impacted by the economy but will survive in some form. The aircraft has been too successful and the market will continue to demand new models with improved technology.

Read the whole article here: Free Flight: What has happened since James Fallows wrote the book

He can no longer be a Twin killer

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Twins sign Jim Thome to a 1 year deal, 1.5 million.  Great move.

Andrew Hudgins at St. Scholastica

The College of St. Scholastica’s Warner Reading Series presents:

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Andrew Hudgins
Friday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m. – Free
Somers Lounge, College of St. Scholastica

Author of six collections of poetry, including the National Book Award finalist The Never Ending: New Poems and the Pulitzer Prize nominated Saints and Strangers, Andrew Hudgins is an indispensable voice in contemporary American letters. His awards and honors include the Witter Bynner Award for Poetry, the Hanes Poetry Prize, fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the Ingram Merrill Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Hudgins holds an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop and teaches at Ohio State University.

Funding made possible by the Lee and Rose Warner Foundation.

Nerd Gang!


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U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says prisoners can no longer play Dungeons & Dragons in prison, because it “promotes gang-related activity.”

The only thing hazardous about D&D are possibly the 4-sided dice if you happen to step on them! I think activities like this are harmless, and could provide an alternative to prison gang culture (and it uses math!). Some of my coworkers think that if you’re in prison, you shouldn’t be allowed to game. I think everyone can agree that despite what Jack Chick tells you, D&D is not a gang. Thoughts?

Ryan Van Slooten CD Release

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I’m happy to announce that my new album “All But My Soul” is now available on my website ryanvanslooten.com It will also be available on itunes in the next week or so, and down at the Fetus sometime next week. To hear a few tracks from the album, please visit my myspace site.

The CD release show will be this Saturday at Luce with Cars and Trucks also on the bill. I will have a backing band with me for the first time so it should be a good night.

Finally, tune into 91.3KUWS on Thursday night, 10:00 p.m., for Walt Dizzo’s weekly radio show. I’ll be performing tracks from the album live, in-studio, as well as playing tracks from the new album.

Hope to see you all this weekend!

Turbo Rathvon Live at Norm’s

Saturday, Jan. 30 at Norm’s Beer and Brats, 10 p.m.

Turbo Rathvon (indie rock)
with Twin Cities bands Unexpected Guests (pop punk) and Not Like This (good ol’ rock ‘n roll)

Ladies Night Event

There will be a Ladies Night of Indulgence at Lake Superior Chiropractic this Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event is free to all ladies 21 and older. This is a time for pampering and checking out some local women vendors. Please RSVP by calling 715-398-6679. Don’t miss out on the fun!

Urban Explorers at Beaner’s

Tuesday, 7pm

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Beaner’s Tuesday Film Night will feature “Urban Explorers” this week. The documentary, by Melody Gilbert, gives us a glimpse into an international subculture of fearless thrill-seekers who lurk beneath city streets and venture into long-abandoned buildings, defiantly searching for unseen treasures of modern civilization.

Get out of the house and join us for a free movie in a relaxing environment!

Jason Vincent new Fox 21 news director

FOX21 news director

The Cold War

CBS News’ Bill Geist travels to Embarrass, Minnesota.

Free ticket to Cracked Egg Improv — Thursday, Jan. 28 only!

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Free ticket! This Thursday, Jan. 28 only!

Mention this Super Secret Email and get TWO tickets for the price of ONE!

Cracked Egg Improv, a tiny wing of Rubber Chicken Theater, is back to making it up as they go along this Thursday at 7pm at Dubh Linn Comedy Pub, 109 W. Superior St. in downtown Duluth.

Five dollars gets you TWO tickets to this week’s shows. Plus, hold onto that ticket stub for a half price drink after the show.

See both you, and your friend, there!