January 2010 Posts

The Ice Is Nice

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Good travel agencies in the Twin Ports?

I am wondering if there are any good travel agencies in the area (or which ones are better and why)? Planning to go to Europe this summer and need a little “professional help”…thanks!

Saturday at Teatro Zuccone

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A few different start times have been listed, here’s the plan:
8pm – Maple Keys
9pm- Coyote

Teatro Zuccone – 222 E. Superior Street – (218) 336-1414

Thanks. Hope to see you!
-jerree

Manufactured Reality at Washington Gallery

Washington Gallery presents “Manufactured Reality,” a photo/video exhibit by Jacob Swanson.

Washington Studios Artist Co-op
315 N. Lake Ave. – Duluth
Showing Jan. 8-30 [fri 12-4] [sat 3-6]

SMDC Rejects Contract Offer, Authorizes Strike

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/156923/publisher_ID/36/

FYI, SMDC netted $28.7 million in profits (despite being a “nonprofit” hospital) in 2007 and purchased over $5 million worth of property last year. CEO Peter Person makes $1.1 million per year. The average medical transcriptionist makes just on the threshold of a living wage – $35,000 per year. Solidarity! (Stay tuned for info on how you can help out…)

Recovering from Christmas (seen in Duluth)

A couple of items that struck me today. People apparently just dump their old trees in the Mount Royal Shopping center parking lot. And this sign didn’t seem to be doing much to stop them.

I also have been seeing a lot of construction equipment out clearing sidewalks. Near as I can tell about 2/3 of the city is covered in 2 inches of ice. Beneath the snow, that is.

News Tribune dumps Karwath, McLoughlin

Two more high-ranking executives in local media are out of work. Duluth News Tribune Executive Editor Rob Karwath and Circulation Manager Tim McLoughlin were laid off today. This follows the firing on Monday of Julie Moravchik, who was news director at Fox 21 News.

Duluth News Tribune Publisher Ken Browell released this statement:

Effective today the company has restructured management within the Editorial and Circulation Departments, resulting in the elimination of two management positions at the News Tribune. Executive Editor Rob Karwath and Circulation Manager Tim McLoughlin have been laid off. Both of these individuals have made significant contributions to the News Tribune during their careers. These were difficult business decisions. I will miss Rob and Tim both personally and professionally.

Two Buck Chuck and the Real Price of Cheap

So, I tried several times to comment in the “restaurants” discussion thread in response to people talking about Trader Joe’s, cheap wine and such, and my comment didn’t go through for some reason.  Guess it was the “anti-threadjack” filter PDD has now! (Wouldn’t that be nice!)

My thoughts were these:

A 17-year old woman died from heat exhaustion about a year ago while working in a vineyard that supplies grapes for 2-buck-chuck. Trader Joe’s dodged the responsibility by saying it was a “contractors” problem. That seems slippery ethics to me.

Here’s Food First’s Action Alert on this.

And another blog article.

The United Farm Workers is suing the state of California (partially prompted by this case), to get the state to protect workers from hazardous field conditions.

The reality seems to be that if you get to buy it cheap, someone (workers) or something (the environment) is getting exploited.

So, my question, do we and/or should we think about these kinds of things when we’re looking for a buzz to accompany our dinner?

Move your money

What do you think about this idea?

Penguin at the Bar

Art by Adam Swanson at the Red Mug Gallery. Reception Friday, Jan 8th 6-8pm with music by Matt Ray. Penguins, bikes and various anachronisms of existence.

Welcome to St. Cloud, yo

Minnesota State of Mind
This Jay-Z parody was created by three 17-year-olds from St. Cloud: Matt Aalbers, Jordan Neu and Jack Ashcroft. They’re making a cameo at First Avenue’s Best New Bands of 2009 night on Jan. 15.

Julie Moravchik

I’m surprised there isn’t a conversation going on here about the firing of Fox 21 News Director Julie Moravchik. Is this just inside baseball media stuff? It seems there are a lot of people who have strong opinions about this. How much does TV journalism or journalists matter?

Someone explain this

Zits comic – Nov. 6, 2009

Love isn’t posting your wife’s/girlfirend’s naked butt and sex organs on YouTube after she’s had a mishap? I think I’ve been doing it wrong all these years.

Buster Keaton’s The General w/ live score by Marc Gartband

It’s time for the 2nd installment of our SILENT FILM/LOUD SCORE series. Jan 22 & 23 at 7:30. Tickets are 10 bux. Zinema 2 222 E Superior St. 3 Hour validated parking behind the Sheraton on 1st.

Young @ Art

Celebrate the arts at UMD’s School of Fine Arts “Young @ ART” benefit celebration Jan. 29, 2010 at the Historic Greysolon Plaza Ballroom. 5:30 p.m.

Featuring silent auctions and a live auction, in addition to several performances and demonstrations by the units of the UMD School of Fine Arts: Art & Design, Music, Theatre, Fine Arts Academy, Tweed Museum of Art, Glensheen Historic Estate.

Auction proceeds will benefit SFA general scholarship fund and specific programs.

Tickets are $50 and are available at www.d.umn.edu/sfa or by calling 726-8561.