I'm glad people like this are out there

I was feeling unsettled this evening for no reason I can discern, so I sought some distraction in the internet. I ended up spending several hours wandering around this site:

Action Squad: Minneapolis

I think I may have posted it before, but it merits a reposting. I especially recommend these entries (mostly found on the missions, misc. page):

• Bridge to Dimension Zed (I can't believe I've been driving under this bridge for years and never once thought how weird it is that it comes from and goes to nowhere),
• Inside the Wabasha Street Bridge,
• Max Action's Crawlspace, and
• Cobb Caves.

Getting excited for winter...

Yes, I look silly.

Great find

My internet addiction led me from a recent post on Sarah's blog to this incredibly interesting site: Action Squad: Minneapolis Urban Adventurers. This group practices urban exploration, which wikipedia defines as "examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of human civilization" including abandoned buildings, utility and transit tunnels, and sewers and storm drains. Judging from their website, Action Squad focuses on brewery caves, steam tunnels, and condemned historic buildings. The website carefully describes each "mission" in text and pictures. It's really impressive. And they cite Indian Jones and Goonies as their sources of inspiration, so how could they go wrong?

Oh, and for those of you keeping track, the legislature has moved on from regulating animal chiropractic care to the most important business of regulating beer keg purchase and receipt by scrap metal dealers.

Vacation in MSP

Paul and I needed some quality time together but didn't want the hassle of leaving town. So taking a tip from friends Britta and Matt, we vacationed in good ol' MSP. Many forces conspired against us--rainy weather, rampant road closures, and even a funeral--but we still managed to enjoy a nice vacation.

Friday we had dinner at the duplex. I'm pretty sure it used to be the coffee shop Pandora's Box. They make an f'ing good pork loin and the mixed green salad was excellent. Even a state senator sighting couldn't ruin the ambiance.

photo courtesy of theduplex

Saturday we toured the James J. Hill House in St. Paul. Mr. Hill had $63 million when he died in 1916 so you can imagine how amazing his house is. Highlights: an absolutely beautiful organ, gorgeous carved wood on about every surface, some seriously fine Tiffany productions, and lots of early 19th century gadgetry.

photo courtesy of MN Historical Society

Sunday we saw the Picasso and American Art exhibit at the Walker. When you go, because you must--even the Walker doesn't get shows like this every day--I recommend the free iPod audio guide instead of the tour.

photo courtesy of Wet Paint

That certain je ne sais quoi

I thought this commentary about the Minnesotan response to the bridge disaster was really well done. Starting with a quote from The Abyss, how could you go wrong?

Seriously, though, I don't think we're as idyllic as all that, but there is something indescribable about this place and its inhabitants. People try--and frequently fail--to capture it properly. I think this commentary comes closer than most to getting it right.

Photo courtesy of Letterboxing Minnesota

State Fair fun

Tonight on Fresh Air, Terri Gross interviewed Frank Owen, the author of a new book on meth. I find meth fascinating (and not just because of the fabulous “Life….Or Meth” billboard on Snelling). I only caught part of the segment, so I did not get my most burning question answered: it seems like there was a huge meth craze in the mid-80s, a relatively long lull, and then another big craze starting in the late 90s-early 00s. Just what happened in between? Am I imagining the lull?

However, Mr. Owen did share an interesting tidbit that may be related to my question. Apparently the meth of yesteryear (which year exactly is unclear despite some half-hearted internet searches) was produced from phenyl-2-propanone (P2P). This complicated process required sophisticated lab equipment and a certain amount of expertise. Since moderately ineffective government intervention is the cornerstone of any good drug story, the federal government launched a successful ban of P2P, prompting the endlessly creative illicit drug manufacturers to change tactics—devising a much more potent form of meth made from everyday medicines in simple home laboratories.

So how does this relate to the Great Minnesota Get-Together? Why, because it is home to the meth information booth of course. Sponsored by county attorneys, the meth booth provides loads of information about meth addiction and the illegal meth trade. There are even former addicts roaming around to answer your own burning questions. I dragged a few friends there last year, but they refused to go inside. Their loss, because it was truly fascinating. Especially when a former addict explained to me the variations of meth you can find in different parts of the state.

Long story short, I plan to read Mr. Owen’s book and report back on what I learn. But in the meantime, visit the meth booth at the State Fair. It’s right next to the sweet corn--you can’t miss it.

(photo courtesy of MN County Attorneys Association)

A good time was had by all

(photo courtesy of wikipedia)

I love this place.

Nerd moment: On the Road

I have recently discovered a great piece of Americana--or whatever the Minnesota equivalent is--Minnecana? It is a show called On the Road, which profiles strange and unique things around Minnesota. Last week it featured "amazing kids," including a kindergarten boy who welds, an elementary school girl who drag races, and (my personal favorite) vacuum boy.

But the best part about the show is the weekly contest. You know you live in Minnesota when you can compete in something like this:

"Where's Hitch?" Each week we slip a shot of Jason's sidekick, Hitch, the 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS On the Road toad, into one story. If you can tell us correctly in which story he appeared (aside from the usual mention of the contest), you can enter our weekly e-mail contest for one of five 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS On the Road souvenirs. The winners will be drawn at random from the pool of correct e-mail answers received from our online e-mail form.

Nerd moment: history walking tours

Tonight after happy hour at Pizza Luce, Anne and I took a walk around Seward. In so doing, we discovered the Milwaukee Avenue Historic District. As if there wasn't already enough to love about Seward, it also contains this absolutely gorgeous 3 block long pedestrian mall with immaculately restored row houses. This pic stolen from the Minnesota Historical Society doesn't really do it justice so you'll have to take a look for yourself. According to MHS this is the earliest example of a planned workers' colony in the city. A Gather.com post explains the neighborhood was built before 1900 by the Milwaukee Railroad, and was nearly torn down in the 1970s, but residents and architecture buffs restored the area so it could be added to the National Register of Historic Places.

As for the nerd moment portion of this post, while digging for information on Milwaukee Avenue I found a website for summer walking tours hosted by the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission. Looks like they run several a month starting in May. So, who's going a-walking with me this summer?

I mean, who has time for underhanded plots nowadays?

I am generally suspicious of conspiracy theories. I just find it hard to believe a true conspiracy can be pulled off—people in power must be too busy with their real jobs to manage the details of a complicated ruse, technology makes it nearly impossible to hide transactions (whether written, spoken, or financial), and the press (while not what they used to be) are still digging up whatever dirt they can.

So I’m having trouble with the brouhaha surrounding Rachel Paulose, the new U.S. attorney in Minnesota. If you follow the Strib/McClatchy logic, former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger saw the writing on the wall and resigned before a wave of firings, prompting AG Gonzales and the Justice Dept. Cronies (great name for a band no?) to appoint Ms. Paulose his replacement (although this was somewhat botched), and her management style, lack of qualification, and affiliations indicate that she is part of a larger plot to steal the 2008 election.

But I have to believe that as wrong-headed as their politics might be, the Bush puppets appointees at the U.S. Justice Department cannot be as stupid as recent events make them appear. More importantly, I cannot believe that Karl Rove is using these morons as pawns in a multi-front assault on the integrity of state management of federal elections so he can swing the vote in 2008.

What troubles me about the Paulose fiasco is this: if the Strib is getting even a fraction of the story right (and let's be honest, that could be generous to the Strib), it would seem that some kind of conspiracy is at work.

Fake spring

So, I've decided to take this fake spring thing we're having and run with it. Aside from work (where closed-toed shoes are the appropriate choice when wandering amongst old white men who are looking for a distraction from the business of tampering with our laws), I have been wearing only sandals. Unfortunately, I forgot to inform this evening's torrential rain and chilly wind about my plan.