The Twin Cities... FROM SPACE

As the space station passed over Minnesota earlier this week, a United States astronaut tweeted a photo of the lights of the Twin Cities and portions of greater Minnesota which is particularly interesting. Hey, we've all seen satellite photos but the most striking thing about this photo is how easily you can depict the various cities which flank the metro area. Also quite visible are the various highways and a handful of natural features in the good old state of Minnesota.

Good morning USA! Twin Cities, Minneapolis - St Paul, Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/fHAXLuA6mg

— Shane Kimbrough (@astro_kimbrough) January 19, 2017

Inspired by Bob Collins at the Newscut blog, I took the liberty to further notate the cities, highways and features shown in this nighttime photo of Minnesota. Enjoy!

Buffer strips on Minnesota waterways = overkill

There, maybe I got your attention. In no way am I saying that buffer strips aren't needed. They are needed. The one size fits all approach that Governor Mark Dayton has shoved down the throats of Minnesotans, though, is simply wrong. Dictating that open rural drainage ditches are subject to a 50 foot wide buffer strip (on both banks) is simply wasteful.

What the public and even Mark Dayton fails to understand is that when drainage ditches are initially dug and cleaned periodically, the soil removed is placed fairly close to the banks to create what is essentially a berm alongside the ditch. This berm acts as a barrier, preventing surface water from entering the ditch directly. Instead, the surface water must make its way through the soil to tile a few feet below the surface or through grass seeded waterways which also filter sediment, chemicals and any excess nutrients from the water before it enters the waterway.

In the case of the family farm where I grew up, there is a combination of grass waterways, tile, catch basins and berms to prevent runoff and water pollution. Oh, and buffer strips measuring some twenty feet wide.

Farmers, contrary to popular belief, do care about water quality and pollution. After all, they depend on that clean water just as much as their non-farming friends and neighbors.

Just this year, though, my family farm has been strictly told that in no way can they improve the water flow in their drainage ditch which stretches nearly a mile through the farm. Instead, it seems like various governmental agencies whom apparently control the rights of a privately-owned drainage ditch would rather have this ditch slowly fill with sediment which enters the drainage ditch through open road ditches and un-bermed naturally flowing areas of this particular drainage system. In the long run, such a scenario will lead to overland flooding which will push even more sediment, organic matter, chemicals and fertilizers into the very waterways the government has stated that they want to protect.

In an era where government increasingly doubts that the stewards of the land can actually do the right thing, the government themselves are the ones who will do longterm harm.

If Governor Mark Dayton and the various legislators who support the implementation of 50 foot buffer strips would look at the true source of erosion and pollution in our waterways, they would see that closer attention needs to be paid to the state's larger natural waterways.

Efforts to protect shorelines and banks of many areas along the Minnesota River should be one of the top priorities. Anyone who has witnessed the aftermath of a flood will tell you that a stable shoreline will at least begin to decrease the mass erosion events I have seen first hand along the Minnesota River. When a river bank collapses, that soil ends up in the river. Those are the scenarios where, at least during normal rainfall events, a berm and buffer strip combination would be beneficial. Without a berm, though, any amount of rainfall will take soil, chemicals, fertilizers and pollutants to streams and rivers rather quickly.

While agricultural practices have come a long way in the past twenty years, there is still room for improvement. I know that the voice of one person who has seen the value of a berm/sensible buffer strip combination will never change the minds of a politician who rarely ventures outside of the 494/694 loop. Maybe, though, common sense will prevail before a 200 acre farm loses an additional 17 acres due to the forced implementation of 50 foot wide buffer strips.

The 2014 Minnesota River flood

And so it has begun again. I could see it coming nearly two weeks ago. It simply hadn't stopped raining this spring since the snow melted. Then on Saturday, June 14th much of Minnesota experienced torrential rainfall for most of the day. I believe that final total was approximately 4 inches at my house. This, coupled with even heavier rainfall upstream on the Minnesota River drastically increased water levels on the already high river.

The forecast did little to make the outlook more favorable. The first half of the upcoming week was predicated to be humid and stormy with heavy rainfall again predicted. And the predictions were right. It rained Monday and Wednesday. The worst, though, was Wednesday night. The river valley community I live in received six or more inches or rain overnight (the actual totals ranged from 6 to as high as eleven inches of rain).

I awoke Thursday morning knowing that I had heard some thunder overnight and that it had likely rained again. I was totally unprepared for what I saw as I looked out the second floor bedroom of my house at the creek which runs alongside my property. I was expecting a foot or so of water in it because it has kept raining for what seemed like months. Instead I saw about five feet of water in it. I was shocked. I turned on the news to see reports of flash floods and astonishing rainfall amounts. This wasn't looking good.

I was in for a shock as I made my way across the Minnesota River on my usual bridge of Minnesota Highway 19. It would be the last time crossing there for possibly three weeks. About a mile after the river, as the road curves and begins its way up out of the valley through the tree-lined bluffs, I encountered flashing lights from MnDOT trucks and the first of three mudslides. At least one lane was open as traffic took turns navigating the trees, sand, grass and mud.

As I turned north of U.S. Highway 169 I figured that I had seen the worst. I sped along at 75 miles per hour until I again saw flashing lights and, this time, water. The southbound lanes were completely submerged under at least a foot of water and the northbound lanes were partially under water. Traffic squeezed slowly through the water on the roadway and sped up again. A mile or so later I encountered more water with the southbound lanes again submerged. In this stretch I had seen four vehicles stopped in the water. I suppose it was dark and raining heavily and they thought they were encountering inches, not feet, of water.

The scene repeated itself most of the way to work that day. Water lapping at the shoulders of highways. Fields covered in water. City streets impassable with water covering them.

The drive home, though, was worse. Water had closed both directions of U.S. Highway 169. I meandered through somewhat sketchy county roads and knew that I would have to take a rather lengthy detour once I crossed the Minnesota River to return home to my peaceful Minnesota River valley home. I encountered washed out roads where roads had existed a mere twenty-four hours earlier. I came across more "road closed" signs than I thought could ever exist. Again, more roads submerged under flood waters and people manning tractors, pumps, road graders, loaders, backhoes and excavators already beginning the clean-up process.

It also marked the official beginning of this particular flood as the first television news truck, this time from KMSP FOX 9, did a live report from the levee as the reporter swatted away mosquitoes.

The fun, though, was just beginning. Friday brought scores of dump trucks as excavation of the hundreds of tons of gravel from the bluffs above this small Minnesota River town which had been deposited in creeks, streams, drainage ditches and parks which do double duty as ponding areas during floods. All day the volunteer firefighters worked to hold back water during the excavation and clean-up process as the moved barricades and sprayed mud and gravel from the city's paved streets. It was a different story, though, as the Minnesota National Guard rolled in to town shortly after 7 PM along with the remaining Minneapolis-area television stations (KSTP, WCCO and KARE). The coverage included the inevitable rising waters, the National Guard being brought in for levee patrol (it is a federal levee after all) and the mudslides which had destroyed two houses just outside of the city limits.

I took breaks from my own construction project during the day on both Friday and Saturday to watch city crews, construction companies and the volunteer firefighters continue to clean up the mess left from the torrential rains. All that remains now is the still rising water which is predicted to crest Wednesday and then slowly recede leaving the city I call home rather isolated from the world for about two more weeks.

It could be three years before this all happens again or it could be a decade. The fact is, though, that it will definitely happen again. This year's crest is predicted to rival that of the fall 2010 flood which broke what many considered to be the benchmark for all floods on the Minnesota River -- the 1965 spring flood which nearly wiped out many communities along the Minnesota River. The levels of the floods are increasing and so is their frequency. Like my neighbor who has lived in his house for 47 years said, this is the new normal.

Minnesota Suburbs vs. Exurbs

After doing absolutely zero research on the topic, I have come up with both a list and some firm rules regarding the distinction between suburb and exurb in Minnesota and specifically the Minneapolis / St. Paul / Twin Cities area.

Is there open land / farm land between two cities? If so, the more distant of the two from the core city (in this case Minneapolis or St. Paul) is an exurb. Connections are what make suburbs. Endless stretches of houses, strip malls and unwalkable streets with no farm land separating said cities make suburbs.

Burnsville and Lakeville are suburbs. Elko New Market is an exurb. Shakopee and Prior Lake are suburbs, as is their neighbor Savage. Jordan and Belle Plaine are exurbs. Drive down 169 and you’ll see why Jordan and Belle Plaine are exurbs.

Chaska is a suburb. Its neighbor, Carver, is a suburb as well because it is connected to Chaska. Waconia, though, is an exurb.

To the north you have Forest Lake. Forest Lake is an exurb. And then there’s North Branch which might as well be part of Duluth or at least Hinckley. I’m kidding North Branch, I love your little two-bit outlet mall.

Argue all you want but these are the rules of what separates suburbs and exurbs along with some damn sold examples.

Top 7 Reasons Traffic Slows Down in Minnesota

1. A light mist
2. A dusting of snow
3. Law enforcement has someone pulled over ten miles ahead
4. Clouds
5. An entrance ramp is within a mile
6. Someone tapped their brakes
7. A lane ends a few miles away

Extreme cold weather? Here are things you can freeze...

Right now, Minnesota is blanketed is cold which the state hasn't seen since 1996. Relatively speaking, that's not too long for me (I was in high school at the time and earned a couple days off thanks to Governor Arne Carlson). Extreme cold (-20 to -30 F) does have some positives to it much like extreme heat does. Just think of all the cool stuff you can freeze.

News reporters have done it all. They throw a hot cup of water up into the air and the cameraman catches the image of the water turning to vapor or snowflakes as it quickly falls to the ground. But the fun doesn't stop there. Below are a few things you can freeze just to see what happens.

1.) Bananas
20 minutes out in the cold air tomorrow should* solidly freeze a banana so you can use it as a hammer to pound in a few nails until it either thaws or shatters. I'll get back to you tomorrow on what happens.

2.) Egg
Again, about 20 minutes outside should* be long enough to freeze a regular old Grade A Large egg solid. Quickly take it inside and peel off the shell and watch the amazement (or horror) in the eyes of your children as they see what an egg looks like beneath its shell.

3.) Blueberries
It will* only take a mere five minutes to freeze a few blueberries as solid as bee-bees. Do what you will with them after they are frozen.

4.) Soda
Ten minutes will* freeze a can of soda and twenty minutes in these Siberian temperatures will straight up explode the can leaving behind a cylinder of frozen high fructose corn syrup surrounded by a pile of aluminum shrapnel (or not).

5.) Balloon
Blow up a regular old latex balloon, tie it off and secure it to something to prevent it from blowing away. Put it outside and watch it implode in a few minutes. Honestly, this one works.

6.) Bubbles
Grab your child's bubble wand, dip it in some warm bubble solution and duck outside quickly to blow a bubble or five. Try to catch one and watch it nearly instantly freeze into a tiny, clear orb and have fun letting it shatter.

Don't, though, plan on doing all six of these kick-ass experiments in one shot because you'll die outside in six minutes (actually frostbite occurs in around five minutes with Monday's predicted windchills). We live here for some reason so have some fun with these hellish temperatures.

*Never trust what you read on the internet but trying to freeze crap in this weather can make it at least tolerable.

The problem with the roads in Minnesota

Driving during the winter months in Minnesota can be bad. Really bad. Factor in below zero weather and it gets even worse. I went on a bit of a social media rant this morning after seeing five vehicles in the ditch in the course of a few miles about the highway conditions. I am well aware that highway crews have been working tirelessly since the first snow fell last Wednesday but nearly a week of doubling and tripling commutes for drivers in all corners of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is ridiculous.

I know all to well about the chemistry behind salt's effectiveness in melting ice. Once the temperature hits single digits, salt is virtually ineffective at melting anything but its cousin, Magnesium Chloride, works at far lower temperatures. The city of St. Paul plans to use it in supposedly large volumes to improve driving conditions in the city and with the reports of the state of Minnesota now having a surplus of nearly $1 billion the time seems right to experiment.

While I am painfully aware that government, just like any large organization, it not nimble enough to move fast enough to correct the wretched condition of many of the state's ice-packed roads and highways before temperatures skyrocket towards 20 degrees in a few days, having at least the option to use larger volumes of magnesium chloride in the future seems like a wise investment in the safety of the state's drivers.

I have no intention of being overly critical of the job being performed by MNDot's snowplow drivers because I am familiar with the challenges they face. My dad worked nearly 15 years plowing snow for the rural area where they reside and the long hours coupled with sometimes constant complaints about the conditions of the roads makes for a truly thankless job where the end result feels like you are pleasing nobody but with some advanced technology I like to think that the end result can lead to a bit less griping from Minnesotans.

Wrap up your Christmas list at these Minnesota businesses

It's time to do your part and support the local economy as you continue your full-on Christmas spending orgy. Check out the list of small businesses proudly manufacturing their goods right here in Minnesota.


William Rogue and Co. is based in Minneapolis and sells what could be considered a uniquely Minnesotan assortment of products. Included are the wood-carved Woodchuck iPhone cases, beard shampoo and men's and women's apparel.


Art in the Attic Studio produces a wide variety of what many would consider artistic goods. Working mainly with clay and fabric, owner Cassy creates amazing pottery, quilts, chairs and more. She even offers ceramics classes for groups of up to four people with plans to enlarge and accommodate parties of up to 10 people.


Frost River manufactures what its owner refers to as "reliable softgoods" from the company's base in Duluth, Minnesota. The canoe packs manufactured in Duluth are made form waxed canvas, leather from SB Foot Tannery in Red Wing, MN, solid brass hardware and rivest and are then sewn with care. You can find Frost River Trading Company at 1910 W. Superior St. in downtown Duluth as well as online or via phone at 1-800-FROST84.


Marked Minneapolis manufactures and sells everything from basic to high-end high quality leather goods. Hand cut and hand sewn in the USA, these lanyards, purses, wallets and key rings are the ultimate locally-made accessory.


CSA Images, located in downtown Minneapolis, MN, sells works of modern art, so to speak. Sourced from hundreds of talented illustrators, artists and photographers, these works of pop culture have a very classic and retro feel to them. The images are available as right-managed art as well as on a wide range of products guaranteed to bring a touch of the unique into a world of sameness.


Solid Manufacturing Co., operating through an Etsy shop, is based in Minneapolis and gorgeous wood and leather products. Their line included stools, tables of varying sizes, stands for your various electronic devices, beautifully modern candle holders and more.

Faribault Woolen Mill has been in existence for nearly 150 years and is a mainstay in its namesake city south of the Twin Cities. Blankets, throws, scarves and dozens more products are produced at the historic mill located on the banks of the storied Cannon River. Committed to quality and locally-sourced products, Faribault Woolen Mill's quality goods are sure to become family heirlooms.


Located in the north loop are of Minneapolis, Jeromeo Designs offers handmade, all-natural perfumes, home sprays, body oils and lotions are made in store from from pure essential-oils. Combined with a yoga studio and wellness center, this feel-good curiosity shoppe is a must-visit for your unique holiday shopping needs.


Squared Furniture produces unique and modern furniture at home in any Minnesota house. The tables, chairs, bookcases, cabinets and more and handcrafted from a designer's point of view which leads to furniture worthy of being a piece of art in your residence.

Don't let this list be the end of your source for uniquely Minnesota-made gifts. The shores of Lake Superior are lined with artist's studios for the art lover in your life. The same goes for other artistic hamlets like Red Wing, MN and small bluff country communities in southeastern Minnesota. Minnesota, too, is home to countless wineries worthy of your Christmas shopping dollars. Some of my favorites are Indian Island Winery east of Mankato near Janesville, MN; Flower Valley Vineyard south of Red Wing, MN and Cannon River Winery in Cannon Falls, MN -- all of which still have weekend hours throughout the month of December and have dozens of delicious and locally produced wines from grapes grown right here in Minnesota.

The winter that wouldn't end in Minnesota

2012 spoiled us. I remember dragging my patio set out of storage on the first weekend of March and enjoying a grilled meal outside on a Friday evening. Today is about seven full weeks later (plus an additional year) and the temperature has yet to crack 60 degrees. To make matters more frustrating, the forecast for tonight includes 6-10 inches of snow. On top of the 12 or so inches we had late last week. Not to mention the 6 or so inches we accumulated back on April 11th.

To city slickers, snow in April is an inconvenience. They want to, like I did last year, get their patio sets out of storage and fire up the grill. For others, like my parents on their southern Minnesota farm, the seemingly endless winter means lengthy delays to the start of the season. When it snows towards the end of April we can almost be assured that the snow will melt fast but that rapid melt means saturated soil. Not an entirely bad thing being we had a pretty horrible drought last year which left soil parched.

That saturated soil, though, takes a while to dry out and warm up. The continued cool temperatures -- predicted to skyrocket all the way close to a normal 60 degrees for the upcoming weekend -- do far less than sunshine and warm temperatures to dry the soil. Combine that with the lack of warmth and you are left with soggy, cold soil which is far from ready for seeds of any kind. While I am fretting about my burgeoning farmer's market-sized garden plot, my parents are stuck wonderng how many weeks it will be before they are ready to get tractors into their fields.

As of Saturday they were saying that a realistic guess is for the first field work to begin around May 15th. While that may not sound bad to those unfamiliar with life outside the 494/694 loop, a May 15th date is closer to when my parents are normally done planting their crops for the year putting them a full three weeks behind normal. While three weeks doesn't sound too bad to some, it means a growing season that is starting a full three weeks later giving crops three weeks less time to mature and with the continued cool and wet weather, it's a fair guess that this weather will continue much the same for at least a few weeks into what we normally consider to be summer which only puts crops even further behind.

That mess of factors means lower yields due to the shorter growing season. The shorter yields mean more demand in the markets for less product and that means a more competitive marketplace which drives prices higher. Those higher prices mean higher prices for all kinds of food you and I purchase at grocery stores.

Bikinis in a snow storm? Only in Minnesota.

Yesterday's date was April 11th. Even in Minnesota, that typically means warming weather, greening grass, Tulips growing rapidly and periodic rain showers. Not typical, though, is a rather massive snow storm which blankets most of the state with nearly a foot of snow. Not to get them down are these bikini-clad women in Duluth who made the best of the winter weather yesterday and donned their two-piece bikinis, grabbed a few beers and captured this truly Minnesotan photo.



View the original photo here.

Severe winter storm coming to Minnesota [video]

This kid's depiction of the weather forecast for Minnesota (as deciphered from Nova Scotia) is spot on. It sounds like something you'd hear/see on The Weather Channel, only more professional and in a tone which seems to match the warnings of peril and almost certain death that today's weather forecasts convey. I'm looking for more videos from this kid because his dire warnings of a sever winter storm are downright hysterical to watch.

300 Club - Le Sueur, MN

The hamburger -- this was entitled the 300 Style Burger -- cost me a mere $7.50 for a 1/3 lb. patty topped with 2 large slices of Canadian bacon, two strips of bacon, American cheese and Swiss cheese. I was immediately impressed by its size and all of its accessories.

I'll start, though, with the french fries. They were basic fries but encrusted with a bit of batter for a bit of added crunch when you took a bite (not to mention perfectly salted). The hamburger's bun was a typical pub style affair, lightly toasted on the kitchen's grill. My one complaint is that the heaping pile of cheese and two varieties of bacon served to overwhelm the flavor (if there was any) of the beef. That could have likely been avoided by using only one slice of Canadian bacon or applying a bit of seasoning to the pre-formed frozen ground beef patty when it was placed in the grill.

Le Sueur, Minnesota's 300 Club is a rather unassuming place. Its location -- part of the city's bowling alley in the basement of a strip mall below a few other stores and adjacent to the town's only motel -- left me wondering what I was getting myself in to the first time I ate there but the selection of food and the affordability of the tap beer (I ordered myself a 32 oz. Grain Belt Nordeast for about $3.25) has brought me back a few times.

The 300 Club restaurant is a bit small in size but so is Le Sueur so don't expect to ever have to wait for a table.

Overall, I give the 300 Style Burger 3.75 out of 5 stars due to its value which serves to compensate for the perceived lack of flavor I encountered. I'll be back to try another offering which isn't as shrouded in Canadian Bacon and cheese.

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Third party candidates - U.S. Senate - Minnesota

I always like looking at the websites for the little-known alternative party candidates for various elected offices. The most interesting to me is the candidates for U.S. Senator in Minnesota.

Michael Cavlan -- Minnesota Open Progressives party

His website runs on the Drupal platform -- a powerful CMS but also a bit too complex for average users. I personally love the platform but leave its use to others.

His statements:
Since PayPal has been directly complicit in aiding the government to attack both Juliane Assange and Bradley Manning- we the Cavlan For US Senate 2012 campaign refuse to use PayPal. We recommend that others standing up for these two heroes do likewise and do it publicly.

So instead- we ask you to mail a check to
Committee To Elect Michael Cavlan...

His stance on issues:
Michael Cavlan is fighting for universal health care (medicare for all, everyone covered), he is fighting to end corporate personhood, avoiding a war with Iran, bringing the troops home, campaign finance reform by taking the big money out of politics, opening the debates, and he is for ranked choice voting, and supports marriage for all.

His stance on the issues sound like a fairly boilerplate response but the marriage for all statement seems to place him in the corner of the DFL party.

Read more about Michael Cavlan

Tim Davis -- Grassroots Party

With a marijuana leaf motif running as the background of his website (an instant site setup powered by GoDaddy [do better]) I can already assume what issues are important to Tim Davis of the Grassroots Party but I will go on anyhow.

His statements:
Tim Davis is a recently disabled and retired blue-collar worker who has been a social justice activist for over 30 years. He first ran for office, as a Grassroots Party candidate in 1988 and 2002 was the Green Party's candidate for U.S.Congress(D5), he has also worked with both Nader('04) and Ron Paul('08) campaigns. Tim is a homeowner in Minneapolis, and lives with his domestic partner and companion animals.
I look forward to speaking to the voters of MN.
Libertarian Party of MN. Endorsed.

His stance on the issues:
END THE WAR ON DRUGS/HALT THE PRISON-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
DEFEND AND UPHOLD THE BILL OF RIGHTS
REPEAL THE PATRIOT ACT AND NDAA.
ABOLISH CORPORATE PERSONHOOD/WELFARE
AUDIT (END) THE FEDERAL RESERVE
STOP THE WARS-FOREIGN AID

With his stance on the federal reserve and the war on drugs, it's clear to me why he was endorsed by the Libertarian Party of Minnesota.

Learn more about Tim Davis

Stephen Williams - Independence Party

Stephen Williams has a website that appears to be a straight-ahead HTML setup and based on the html file extensions, the website was created partially on a Mac and partially on a PC.

His statements:
Without a clear, concise statement, I'll instead condense his "About me" section. Williams is a farmer living near Austin, MN. With over 30 years spent farming, he has transitioned from traditional grains to sweet corn sold to Austin-area stores and markets. He seems to be dedicated to improving the land around him and restoring portions of it to natural plants, trees and grasses.

His stance on the issues:
We must be willing to vote to abolish payroll taxes and to provide Medicare for all Americans.
If elected, I will be ready and willing to vote for necessary cuts in military spending
It is imperative that we strive to be better stewards of our resources. Our debt-based, consumer-driven economy has squandered our economic, natural, and human resources. Our nation's economy must evolve into a stewardship economy, conserving and building the resources we will need in the future.
Justice demands that we provide healthcare for all U.S. citizens, from newborns to senior citizens.
We must eliminate the self-serving influence of industries that are corrupting our democracy. Last year alone, the healthcare industry and the financial industry combined spent approximately $1,000,000,000.00
Create Real Jobs and Increase Wages—Abolish Payroll Taxes

Learn more about Independence Party candidate Stephen Williams

Where do I vote in Minnesota?

Finding your polling location as well as who is running for the various elected positions in your respective precinct is so easy that I can't believe it is hidden so deeply within the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.

Click here to view the sample ballot accurate to your specific address and go here to find out where to vote in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Marriage amendment debate - Vote No

With the election season getting extra dirty and divisive now that we are a mere month away form election day, I felt the need after seeing one too many divisive political ads and obnoxious lawn signs to share with you my one long-winded stance on politics this year - let's see what my thoughts are on the "One Man, One Woman" Minnesota Marriage Amendment.

I am so grateful that our City Council voted, overwhelmingly, not to publicize our mayor's (and others) opposition to the marriage amendment! I happen to agree with the marriage amendment wholeheartedly and will vote a resounding "yes". My city does not speak for me, nor should they put the entire Shakopee community under only one political umbrella.

So by the logic of commenter "mary" it's not right for a city government to make a basically non-binding vote resulting in a statement that its council members agree or disagree with a proposed constitutional amendment but it is right for a slim majority of already biased voters whose own preconceived notions about what the "One Man, One Woman" type marriage amendment means to slam the door shut for future generations to (wisely) repeal a bigoted constitutional amendment that strips away the rights of a few out of fear, misunderstanding and a lack of willingness to accept that which you don't understand or approve of (never mind that Minnesota already has a law on the books banning same sex marriage, this constitutional amendment would simply show future generations that their ancestors were flat out hateful bigots incapable of understanding something they are unfamiliar with).

I have seen hundreds of opinions spread across just as many online venues in the comments of how the "Vote No" side of this proposed Minnesota marriage amendment would lead to people marrying children, incestual relationships and people marrying dogs. Those are some of the most uninformed people whose only purpose on this Earth in the area of political discourse is to fear monger. A dog cannot consent to any sort of sexual relationship with a human, it is still illegal to have sexual relationships with a minor and incest is legally and morally wrong as well so those arguments are entirely null and void and only serve as a distraction from the real issue - same sex marriage.

While I doubt I will see same sex marriage (especially using the term "marriage") fully legalized in Minnesota within the next twenty years because money talks and with the strong backing of the Catholic church as they ask their parishioners to fund huge ad buys supporting the Minnesota marriage amendment, the voice of acceptance (Vote No) has a much harder time being heard.

Shakopee city councilor Jay Whiting seems to have the best statement on the Minnesota Marriage Amendment which was discussed at a recent Shakopee City Council meeting (read it here)

But the real debate here (to me, at least) is whether or not a state should ever get to decide who can or cannot do something which is already legal for a majority simply because they are a supposed minority. Are gay and lesbian Minnesotans any different in any areas of their lives outside of their sexual preference? Would it be acceptable to deny marriage rights to your African-American neighbor simply because they are African-American? Should your neighbors who secretly enjoy the fun they have in using their sex swing not be allowed to marry because of how they live their lives in their bedroom?

Maybe if you're one of those people who are uncomfortable with the behavior of a gay or lesbian couple you should examine how you or your straight friends behaved as teenagers. I bet you at least knew of that couple that was always making out in public. There are people who were offended or made uncomfortable by that behavior but it didn't end in a constitutional amendment barring public neckers from getting married. Why should gay and lesbian couples be treated any differently?

If it boils down to marriage being for couples who love each other, thing about that fact that just over half of all marriages end in divorce. Is there any sanctity left in marriage after looking at that statistic alone? Is it wrong that gay marriage, were it to ever be legalized instead of potentially banned twice as it would be if this amendment passes, could be seen as a huge economic stimulus? Marriages cost money. There's a cake to buy and decorate, flowers, a photographer, suits, tuxes, dresses, gifts, doves to release, a horse-drawn carriage, a reception with a dinner and a dance and either a band or a DJ. The money spent at a wedding alone makes the attempt to doubly ban same sex marriage in Minnesota seem un-capitalistic. Just remember that if you vote yes on the Minnesota marriage amendment that you are keeping people apart who truly love each other. You are keeping loving couples from property rights in the event of death. You are keeping loving couples in a supposedly accepting state (Minnesota) from being able to easily make important life and death medical decisions in times of crisis. And if you're thinking that marriage leads to paying fewer taxes, you need to go back and look at your income tax returns because there's no such thing as a tax break for being a married couple.

In the end, all that both the Minnesota Marriage Amendment proposal and the Voted I.D. proposal have done is to drive a deeper wedge between political parties in Minnesota. Two votes no just make sense this November.

Hotties of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

A belly dancer at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival shakes her hips and the rest of her hot body during a recent weekend of the autumn festival.







A belly dancer at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival shakes her hips and the rest of her hot body during a recent weekend of the autumn festival.






Belly dancer Erin at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival shakes her hips and the rest of her hot body during a recent weekend of the autumn festival.






Belly dancer Samantha at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival shakes her hips and the rest of her hot body during a recent weekend of the autumn festival.






Belly dancer Samantha at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival shakes her hips and the rest of her hot body during a recent weekend of the autumn festival.




Belly dancer Aliyah at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival shakes her hips and the rest of her hot body during a recent weekend of the autumn festival.




The sexy blond duo in full renaissance costume was seen at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival during a recent weekend.




These sexy sword balancing blondes were spotted during a recent weekend at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

Blackhawk helicopters circling Minneapolis

from flickr user MillCityTimes

No, it's not a full-on police state or a military take-over. The Blackhawk helicopters circling parts of downtown Minneapolis are simply taking part in training exercises throughout the week - each night from 7 PM-Midnight. Hey, it's a believable explanation... until the military is trudging down your street and mercilessly beating you until you cough up whatever secrets they can beat out of you. Yep, just routine training.

Mr. Pig Stuff - the best BBQ

I've been a semi-regular customer of Mr. Pig Stuff in Shakopee, MN for about a year. It's an amazing little hole-in-the-wall joint on the former U.S. Highway 169 across form Rahr Malting in a former walk-up Dairy Queen building. To say that this area of Shakopee is overlooked would be an understatement but it shouldn't be overlooked any longer as Mr. Pig Stuff consistently churns out some of the best BBQ not just in the Twin Cities but in all of Minnesota.

Having lived here nearly ten years now, I've had many quests to find restaurants that measured up to those I became accustomed to frequenting in my teens and twenties. With pizza and Mexican food crossed off the list, it was on to BBQ and having heard of Mr. Pig Stuff through my wife who works a couple towns down the road, I made a run to the hidden gem of the BBQ world on my lunch one day and was instantly hooked. While I took my lunch back to my office there are also a scattering of picnic tables and a BBQ bar on the building's east side to belly up to and pig out.

The pulled pork sandwiches should be considered a drug because they are addictive. Warm, juicy, flavorful and just smoky enough to remind you that it's legitimate BBQ heaped up on a toasted bun and served with a mound of which ever side you choose.

I might stop by to grab a couple sandwiches to take home for supper tonight because it's been months since having their amazing BBQ and months without Mr. Pig Stuff is longer than a lifetime. Check out the family-run operation on Scott County 69 just a few blocks west of the Highway 101 bridge. It's practically in downtown Shakopee and it's heads and tails above the likes of Famous Dave's and Dickey's BBQ Pit which are chains and do little more than occupy cookie-cutter spaces in strip malls and send their profits out of state.

Gopher hockey, Vikings stadium and Steve Martin coming to Duluth

Puck bounced Gophers' way this time

The puck took a crazy bounce off the back wall and popped right out front to North Dakota's Danny Kristo. It must have hit a stanchion or something because it really took a screwy carom that caught everyone by surprise.

And in that brief second the beginning of a great collective yelp could be detected. It was part anticipation, part despair. When Kristo flicked the puck past Gopher goalie Kent Patterson, it became a full-fledged roar.



Vikings stadium proposal isn't for the "people"

Within months of purchasing the Minnesota Vikings for $250 million in July 1998, Texas billionaire Red McCombs was angling for a new stadium to replace the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

Never mind that the 16-year-old indoor structure had been built at the behest of the Vikings, that the team had a lease in place that obligated them to remain at the Dome for another 13 seasons, and that rookie sensation Randy Moss was leading the Vikings to a near perfect 15-1 record that brought them within a missed field goal of their first Super Bowl appearance in 22 years.


'Pink slime' maker suspends some plant operations

The company that makes "pink slime" suspended operations today at three of four plants where the beef ingredient is made, saying officials would work to address recent public concern about the product.


Steve Martin's bluegrass band to perform at Bayfront

Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers will perform at Bayfront Festival Park in August as part a two-day festival, Secret Service Entertainment announced on Monday.

The longtime comedian’s bluegrass band headlines the show on Aug. 5 that includes Pert Near Sandstone and 4ontheFloor. Saturday headliner is TBA. The gates open at 1 p.m. and is an all ages show.


13-Year-Old in Custody After Death of Osage Woman

A 13-year-old male has been taken into custody by the Mitchell County Sheriff's Office after the death of a Osage Woman.

37-year-old Gretchen Crooks died Saturday as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

Porn stars, Gophers in NYC and more in Minnesota news today

Tartan student can take a porn star (or two) out, but not to prom

Mike Stone plans to make his first prom a memorable one - with a Los Angeles porn star as his date.

Stone, of Oakdale, created Internet buzz this week after two women with triple-X websites agreed to go with him to the May 12 Tartan High School prom.


NIT win over Middle Tennessee earns Gophers trip to New York

Times Square, here come the Gophers.

After another dismal ending to the regular season, bogged down by a stretch of six straight losses at one point, the University of Minnesota basketball team seemed to be going nowhere fast. But the players knew they had a run in them - and it came to fruition in the National Invitation Tournament.


Vikings' Chris Kluwe lauds NFL, rips Saints, curses 'idiocy' of blaming 'snitch'

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, not always the biggest supporter of NFL rulings, is backing Commissioner Roger Goodell on the punishments handed out for the New Orleans Saints' bounties.

Goodell announced Wednesday, March 21, that Saints coach Sean Payton was suspended for a season and former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was banned indefinitely for the team's practice of offering money to target opposing players. Among the targets was Vikings quarterback Brett Favre in the 2009 season's NFC championship game, during which Favre injured his ankle.


New office furniture for 10 Duluth city workers: $90,000

Duluth’s city administrators are looking for approval to spend more than $90,000 on new office furniture for about 10 city employees — a plan drawing fire from some members of the City Council.


"Pink slime" no longer sold at Eden Prairie-based Supervalu family of stores

​Like Jamie Oliver, the Anoka-Hennepin county school district, and any character in The Real Ghostbusters, we've been following the trail of slime, specifically "pink slime," or ammonia-exposed beef filler that federal authorities still attest meets food safety standards, which has been making its way through both local and national news. Thankfully, it seems like its path of destruction is gradually slowing down, and one Minnesota grocery chain has a large part in that effort.