12.02.2007
South Metro Miscellany
A bittersweet day in local restaurant news.
patronized Copper Bleu often, and are sad to see it go. The place always seemed packed, but with an alleged budget of over five million dollars, maybe it just wasn't enough. Location may have been a problem, as you were basically sitting in a Cub Foods parking lot. The wall of pine trees just didn't grow tall enough in time. It's hard to give in to the ambience when you're watching people stuff groceries into their Dodge Caravans.
11.12.2007
Vikings Update: McNabb in Purple?
After yesterday's defeat in Green Bay and a possible injury to Adrian Peterson, this fan needed a ray of hope.
11.06.2007
Amazing Picture
When I get a chance to, I try to spot the International Space Station as it traverses the night sky. It's really cool- just a fast moving dot that zips from horizon to horizon within seconds.
11.01.2007
True 3G in Minneapolis?
I woke up this morning to a pleasant surprise. It appears AT&T/Cingular has finally rolled out their UMTS data network in Minneapolis!
10.24.2007
This Week in Politics - Minneapolis Edition
The Good Guy himself was in town yesterday stumping for Hillary. Although I was unable to make it (press pass request failed), I sensed his presence from my office a couple buildings over. He was at the Graves 101, our ultra-fancy new hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
Pres. Clinton was able to lay the smackdown on one heckler, who wisely advised us that 9/11 was an inside job. Personally, I am impressed at the heckler's ability to escape the lethargic confines of his mother's basement and show up for the fundraiser. After all, being there is half the battle.
More info here
In other news, our Governor, Tim Pawlenty, is currently in India with a US trade contingent. Similar to The Mind's trade trip to China and Cuba, Mr. Pawlenty is selling the state of Minnesota to potential trade partners across the subcontinent.
Pawlenty has already made inroads, signing a sister-state deal with the Indian state of Haryana.
What is interesting to me is the reception of Pawlenty's trade missions compared to Ventura's. Jesse's trips were constantly derided as pointless and a waste of taxpayer money.
On the other hand, Pawlenty is "getting down to business" and "timely" in his visit to India.
This just goes to show how detested Ventura was in the press, and how the media is able to spin any story in the manner they see fit.
In RNC 2008 news, the GOP are now aghast at the thought of hundreds of homeless people hogging the cameras during the convention. As it turns out, the renowned Dorothy Day Center is just across the way from the Xcel Center in St. Paul. Although the GOP has sent a welcome wagon to the homeless shelter, and even had volunteers man the soup-line, the truth is that they want the shelter closed for the duration of the convention. GOP officials deny this claim, so we shall see what fate awaits the Dorothy Day come convention time.
10.19.2007
Calamity List
So many calamities, so little time!
y. 
No worries here folks, there is no credit crunch, the worst is over!10.15.2007
Happy Blog Action Day?
Woohoo, Blog Action Day! I am so excited! About what, I am not sure yet, but it is definitely exciting!
Ladies, I commend your activism, and I too deplore the frenetic disbursement of free radicals around the globe. Just think your strategy through. The gratuitous plastic handle of the shopping cart doesn't help the cause. Or is that an example of how to sensibly utilize plastic?
10.11.2007
New RNC 2008 Logo
The GOP today unveiled the new RNC logo for the 2008 convention in Minneapolis:
Oooh, aaaah.
Notice the Democrat Red used for "2008"? Dastardly!
10.05.2007
This Week in Politics
Poor Fred Thompson. The media spotlight's been on him for months, breathlessly awaiting his Grand Announcement. Now, here we are post-announcement and he's getting about as much press as Brownback. The non-excitement seems palpable in Iowa, where Mr. Thompson has to coax applause from the crowd. Where did it go wrong? The GOP base has basically anointed him the next Reagan without hearing a word. Now that they are hearing Thompson, he's coming across more Bonzo than Reagan. He won't commit, cannot articulate his positions, and is not a big fan of the meet and greet. Mr. Thompson needs to get focused and start taking chances. He needs to be out there speaking his mind, grabbing headlines. It may be risky to actually talk about issues, but that's kind of what we expect from candidates for President of the United States.
But, as my Republican friends like to remind me, it's still early.
Yes, the GOP is a mess. 9/11 remains the front runner, despite the veiled threat by James Dobson to vote for a third party if he wins the nomination. Mitt Romney is raising alot of cash, but he's Mormon (not that there's anything wrong with that). As I have written before, do not count McCain out. Even though Dobson and his ilk despise the man, McCain has the broad appeal of 9/11, without all the personal baggage. I firmly believe McCain will be a strong candidate well into 2008.
Meanwhile, there is relative peace in the Democrat camp. Hillary continues to improve in national numbers, crushing Obama by a mind-boggling 33 points in the latest polls. I must admit I do like Hillary, but I like Obama even more. He's the one candidate on the Dems side that attacks issues and discusses them, whether it helps or hinders his candidacy. The bottom line is that he is confident in what he speaks of and is quite erudite. So what if he talks hypotheticals, that is what voters want to know. What would you do if___?
Plato would approve of Obama, as he is the philosopher-king of this election.
Back to Hillary for a moment. Peggy Noonan wrote today about the Bush/Clinton fatigue factor. While there is some truth to the dangers of handing the Presidential reigns over to family dynasties, I am having a hard time digging up a Noonan column on Bush's campaign in 2000. I find it convenient that this piece comes out over Hillary's efforts. When Jeb runs in 2012, I will be looking for Noonan's opinion then.
10.03.2007
Top 4 New TV Shows of 2007
Another new season, more of the same. Hey, have you checked out Chuck on NBC? No, not Ed -that was the other smarmy show from a couple years ago. Oh, what about Journeyman with Scott Bakula?
Not all is Lost, however. There are some new shows this season that are actually quite entertaining, and chock full of originality!
4. Cavemen
I think I tun
ed in to this for the schadenfreude of seeing a television show fail at such a degree that ABC would have to shut down out of pure shame. Was I in for a surprise. The show is not that bad...even (gasp) funny. The Ikea scenes (Norskbild I think they call it) were priceless - I do hope Nick Swardson stays on. He bumps the funniness up a few notches automatically. The breakout star of this show will be Maurice, played by the same actor from the Geico commercials. Although he is not one of the three main characters, Maurice steals every scene he is in. Look for this show to grow some legs as the season goes on.
s annoying, it is the innacurate portrayal of nerds on television. If you have to mock us, at least get it right. The Big Bang Theory makes that attempt at realism, and for the most part succeeds. I do like the character played by Johnny Galecki, who plays a good geek. Geeks really are the new jocks, and this show is bringing that fact to the forefront. 
wcomers, Bionic Woman has the best chance of sticking around. The premise was set up nicely, and the tone is alot darker than the original.
special effects are better than Bionic Woman. Plus, this show is on the CW - how can that be? The premise is that a twentysomething guy was sold to the devil long ago by his parents, and now must work for Satan himself as a bounty hunter. What more do you need to know? Already sounds awesome, right? Interesting premises come and go, but this show delivers the goods. If Dead Like Me and Shaun of the Dead were to mate, the offspring would look alot like this show. 9.28.2007
WOW Signal Part Deux?
9.25.2007
Top 5 Internet Memes of 2007
There's a meme born every second. Some are funny, some are lame, and most are instantly forgettable . However, there are a few that elevate themselves above the rest, gaining the ability to stay in our collective conscience for more than a day or two. The below list represents the five most impactful and visible internet memes of 2007, for better or for worse.
Perhaps the most annoying of the recent memes is the continued destruction of original thought and desecration of the written word. Half of all posts on any message board or forum will contain one of these four phrases/acronyms. These one word responses are used in lieu of actual thought and/or creativity, as our ADD + caffeine-addled brains can't seem to process much more than that. At this pace, we'll be reduced to grunting and staring at pretty colors in no time.
nother video in a long line of freaks of the week. What made this one stand out was its ability to escape the internet and hit the mainstream. Coworkers that could barely find the Start button were singing it in their cubes. People were asking how to get the CD, or what radio station was playing the song. 
It is true that lolcats have been around for a while now, but 2007 has definitely been the breakout year. So much so that I can't stand them anymore. I don't even participate in Caturday anymore.9.21.2007
Calamity List
It's time for the weekly look at what is going to Bring Down America. They say that sex sells, but so does impending doom.
1. The Loonie
The Canadians are gonna take over the world! Ok, maybe not, but that was my Pavlovian response to the latest drudgereport headlines.
So, what is the real deal behind this parity with the Canadian dollar? No more cheap prescriptions for the old folks hightailing it to Thunder Bay. No more cheap Molson. More Canadian tourists at Disneyland.
On a serious note, parity doesn't mean much of anything. When looking at the currencies individually, it may be a bit unnerving to see a weaker US dollar. When looking at those dollars in a macro sense, the US dollar is light years beyond the Canadian dollar in terms of purchasing power, personal income, and over economic influence worldwide.
In addition, the Canadian dollar is inflated in value due to the decline in the US dollar, not because of exponential growth in all things Canadian. When the US dollar bounces back, the loonie will return to normal levels rather than maintain parity.
2. Ahmadinejad vs. Ground Zero
I may be missing the point about all this hoopla surrounding Ahmadinejad's desire to visit Ground Zero. There are two major memes floating around the internet that are quite disturbing. First of all, Iranians are Persian. Are they Arabian like the internets seem to believe? No. Second of all, Iran has never been complicit in the events of 9/11. The current thinking seems to be Osama=Iraq=Iran. Not only is this a major fallacy in thinking, it is a deep misunderstanding of world cultures.
However, I do have misgivings about Iran in that they are supporting terrorism in their own right. How can we rightfully allow this man to visit the most sacred memorial on American soil - a site that is a direct result of terrorism?
The answer is that we allow him to visit because we are America. Despite our tensions with Iran, we are still America. Just the thought of us allowing a diplomat from a terrorist-supporting nation to visit Ground Zero is a testament to our openness and freedoms. Are we the land of the brave or the land of the meek? By not allowing Ahmadinejad to visit Ground Zero, we have given in to our fears.
3. OJ Simpson
The Great American Bogeyman is back, but not with the same flare as before. I guess robbery just doesn't capture the zeitgeist as a good old-fashioned murder.
Despite the overall indifference from everyday Americans, the media is trying their best at hyping this is OJ Trial 2008.
There are just too many "wtf?" moments about this entire episode. Why did Riccio call up OJ, suggesting they go get his stuff, then turn around and stab him in the back a la TMZ.com? Setup much? What the heck is going on with that other guy that stormed the breach with OJ, pretending to be a cop? Wasn't OJ just trying to get his stuff back? All these questions and more will most assuredly be answered in the coming weeks.
Until then, as Tupac once said, "...free like OJ, all day."
9.17.2007
We Can Read Friedman Again!
And I was this close to signing up for Times Select. No, seriously.
More info here
Ode to Sunday Night HBO
I've been a holdout, refusing to give in to conventional wisdom and concede that HBO is over. However, after last night, I've grabbed my hammer and nail. The coffin that is HBO Sunday Night is coming along quite nicely.
Tell Me You Love Me (Sun. 9pm EST.)
As with every new HBO show, I'm giving it a shot. Even though I saw the previews and caught the blatant Sopranos-inspired therapeutic theme, I figured there had to be som
The root cause behind this boredom is the fact that I loathe these characters. All of them. Every scene is a depressing look at domestic life at various stages. There is no happiness here. There are no lighthearted scenes filled with loving banter and knowing glances that help character development. Every scene is a downer filled with whiny people. Any good drama would intersperse these tension-filled moments strategically, enhancing their impact as they develop. What this show does is bludgeon you over the head with whiny, depressing situations...over and over again.
Again, I enjoy high drama when done right. There is some realism to these couples and the inner workings of real relationships. The key for the show is to juxtapose their issues with other aspects of their lives. The viewer has nothing to contrast these characters with. As it is, we're left with comparing how the couples handled one argument over the last.
Which brings me back to the sex scenes. Since we have no emotional interest in these characters and know nothing of them other than their problems, the steamy scenes feel out of place. And sure, there may be a bit more nudity, but come on, we all have the internet. Nothing new here.
Perhaps these scenes are meant to be cold and lifeless to reflect the overall health of their relationships. If so, mission accomplished. But it's leaving the viewer bored.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (Sun. 10pm EST.)
After two episodes into the new season, I'm already afflicated with the same concerns I had with last season: the notion that I've seen this before.
The situations may not be exactly the same, but it's hard to not to get that deja-vu feeling. That Larry, at it again! I hate to bring out the f-word here, but Curb Your Enthusiasm is feeling forced.
I remain a humble servant of all things Larry David, so I will continue to tune in. I am just hoping for more. I know the newness of the premise is long gone, but there has to be something better than getting laughs out of innuendos and misconceived ideas that lead to uproarious misunderstandings. If I wanted that, I'd fall back to the masterful duelings of Jack Tripper and Mr. Roper.
9.13.2007
Calamity List
The top three troublesome stories of the week:
1. Ebola
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston was written over twelve years ago, but it's as relevant as ever. People tend to dismiss troublesome issues like Ebola when everyone stops writing and talking about it, but unfortunately the flesh-eating disease is still around.
Link to latest AP article
The Congo region is seeing a major outbreak of the Ebola virus. From the article:
At least 167 people have died in the affected region over the last four months, and nearly 400 have fallen ill, according to Congolese health officials. But experts suspect many of the cases could be shigella, a diarrhea-like disease, or typhoid. At the early stages, both diseases have symptoms similar to Ebola.
2. West Nile
Another disease of the moment that won't step out of the limelight once the hype is over. This outbreak is a bit closer to home in Illinois.
Link to latest information from the Illinois Dept of Health
According to authorities, a victim of West Nile died in early September, bringing the total to three deaths in Illinois in 2007 due to the disease. A total of 28 people have been affected statewide this year.
3. Earthquakes
The Pacific Rim is hopping lately - especially in the Indonesian region. Four significant earthquakes in the past 24 hours - 8.4, 7.8, 7.1, 6.2.
There was even a three meter-high tsunami that came ashore, causing injuries and significant property damage.
Link to more Indonesian earthquake information
Stay safe out there!
9.10.2007
This Week in Politics
Behold! The power of autumn. The playtime of summer is a fading memory. A week or so ago, we were still hitting the beaches, trying to get those last golden rays. Yesterday, I put on a sweater.
The lakeshore resorts are already empty. Morning traffic is jammed once again, the roads bloated with returning high school and college kids in cars much nicer than mine. The leaves are just turning that hue of yellow-green (green-yellow?).
People are Back to Work, and it feels good. Things get serious in September. Families get serious – back to nine months of rigorous routines and schedules. Football gets serious. The weather gets serious. And best of all, politics gets serious.
In honor of this crisp, new era that is Fall, the Spencer Post presents a new weekly round-up of the latest topics on Election 2008.
John McCain
Wow, I seriously thought this guy was down for the count. Suddenly, McCain is being talked about again. His buzz is definitely upward this week. The driver behind this sudden change in conventional wisdom appears to be McCain himself. The man is everywhere. I turn on the TV, and McCain is there. I flip the channel, McCain is there. There is a mathematical theorem somewhere dealing with the probability of McCain appearing on your TV screen within a sixty minute interval. Colbert, Leno, Stewart, Letterman, Stephanopoulos, Barnard, Harvey, Maxa - the list is honestly endless. And do not forget the repeat viewings. I honestly think McCain has been on The Daily Show every other week for the past couple months.
In any case, it appears to be working. McCain has come across more confident, more sure of himself. His strategy of supporting the war, once thought of as daft, is actually a brilliant idea. The reason is simple: McCain knows what he is talking about. Military strategy is not new to him. If Iraq isn’t neatly wrapped up in November, will voters start looking for the next War President? Do not dismiss John McCain just yet.
Fred Thompson
Mr. Thompson’s announcement this week was about as anti-climactic as Britney Spears in her new bikini. Surprisingly, Mr. Thompson did not come across like some nuvo-Gerardo like some thought he would. He’s actually seemed a bit nervous in interviews, suddenly realizing he’s in this thing for real.
So many ideals and desires have been wrought upon this man, I will be interested in what he has to say in the next few weeks. Thompson has already been given a few chances to address the issues, but so far we’re getting “I agree, that is an issue,” to “we are looking in to that.” There might be more there, we’ll see.
Not much happening here. Everyone is far more interested in the hurly-burly of the GOP at the moment.
9.07.2007
Crisis Averted
The Minnesota Vikings narrowly avoided a television blackout for Sunday's opening game. Our local Fox affiliate was gracious enough to buy the remaining tickets. I wonder what's in it for them?
Despite the last minute ticket sales, don't look for big crowds at the Dome this weekend. Aside from the 35W bridge situation, we have about a thousand road construction projects that will form the ultimate convergence of pain for anyone driving to the game. Let us review the damage:
1. 35W (left) from downtown to Highway 62 (locally known as the Crosstown), will be closed over the weekend - both northbound and southbound.
2. Streets around the Metrodome will be closed for most of the day Sunday.
3. Highway 62 (Crosstown) will be closed from Cedar Ave (Highway 77) to Lyndale Avenue - westbound only. Eastbound will remain open.
These projects present the perfect storm for anyone travelling down to the Metrodome for the game. I say good luck to all who will brave the mean streets and represent the rest of us on opening day. Have a dome dog for me.
Click here for more
9.05.2007
Vikings Preview 2007
NFL season is upon us once again, and this just may be the year that the Vikings win it all. The team has all the ingredients: experienced, confident coaching, top notch defense, and a powerful QB/RB combination.
Ok, enough with Bizarro Vikings. Let's talk Reality Vikings.
Coaching
I miss Dennis Green. Honestly. I am not the only one - many Vikings faithful harbor a hidden fondness for the Green era. Say what you will about the zany quotes and unfortunate relationship with the local press, but the man won. Every year. And with what? For the most part, a bunch of no talent B-teamers. A 97-62 record in nearly ten seasons is a respectable record. And the 1998 NFC Championship? It's a little known fact that Billick made the call to take the knee - not Dennis Green. And I don't recall Green kicking field goals - local hero Gary Anderson flubbed that one. Sure, Green wrote wacky books and sued the team for ownership, but the Vikings made headlines. They were discussed. They mattered. In the end, the majority of Vikings fans will only respect a coach that reminds them of Bud Grant: stoic, ornery, and whitebread.
Which takes us to Brad Childress, the Ned Flanders of coaching. In all honesty, anyone is an improvement over Mike Tice, the Maude to Brad's Nedward. Childress is also a churlish, secretive coach that fits nicely into the staid culture we have up here in Minnesota. I secretly hope that the nebbishness of Childress is all part of the master plan - that he has a handle on the situation. It is still too early to tell, but this is definitely the make-it or break-it year for him. No more three year plans. If the Vikings underperform this season, he will be gone.
Defense
As witnessed last year, the Vikings run defense is good. Scary good. Unfortunately, teams tend to figure this stuff out, and opponents last season reverted to rinky-dink passes. Amazingly, the Vikings found themselves powerless against these schoolyard pass schemes. It was like watching a real-life version of the unstoppable Montana to Roger Craig slant pass in Tecmo Bowl. We just couldn't defend the seemingly obvious.
It does not look any better this season. There is slight hope in the return of Erasmus James and Chad Greenway. Also, the team is young. All in all, if the coaching staff has figured out how to stop 4-5 yard passes, the Vikings defense could be a sleeper success this season.
Offense
Tarvaris Jackson - the new Vick or the new Peete? Honestly, I am getting good vibes from this guy - preseason performance wasn't bad. Nothing spectacular, but the team definitely had confidence while he was on the field. The problem is our receiver corps. If there isn't anyone to pass to, will TJack be able to scramble effectively? Early word on his mobility is a cross between Babe Laufenberg and Randall (the man) Cunningham.
There is also alot of buzz around Adrian Peterson, as if he is the second coming of Dickerson. I am not convinced about this guy - once injured, terminally injured. Ok, maybe it was his hand, but it is a talisman for things to come. Chester Taylor will be the undisputed starter by midseason.
9-7
Election 2008
Keep in touch with spencerpost for continuous coverage of Election 2008!
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