Twin Cities Real Estate BlogRecently posted or modified blog posts by tag - Editorialhttps://www.minnesotaconnected.com/blog/Copyright MinnesotaConnected.com2022-10-28T07:16:31-07:00tag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14244“I’ll Take Murder for $100 Alex” -- The Mysterious Death of Dorothy Kilgallen<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Dorothy-Kilgallen-Wiki-panel.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1316199" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Dorothy-Kilgallen-Wiki-panel.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="453"></a>
One of my guilty pleasures is to click on the “BUZZR” game show network when I see a vintage show. Try turning away from a black and white edition of “What’s My Line?” when Johnny Carson or Debbie Reynolds are on the panel or Bette Davis, Frank Lloyd Wright or Charlton Heston are contestants? Talk about timeless!
And I can’t look away from the advertisements which look as primitive as a toddler’s first painting. Suave shampoo portrayed as an elite Parisian delight. Did they really have the same Suave brand 70 years ago? (Yes.) Or Kellogg’s Corn Flakes which would sit untouched and unopened for months in our childhood cupboard. The peculiar main sponsor was something called Stopette, featuring a chemist in scary lab attire and the slogan: “Poof! There Goes Perspiration.”
But after an episode or two, I am fascinated by the sophisticated socialite, adorned in a black evening gown and pearls- Dorothy Kilgallen. Introduced as the daily columnist of Voice of Broadway, she is witty and sharp as a tack. When I mindlessly Google her during the episode, it is like finding the Lost City of Z. Or one of those cliché movie thrillers where the detective is typing and researching in the middle of the night — and “Boom” the computer screen flashes out crime report after crime report in a dramatic scroll. No, Dorothy is not just a Page Six gossip columnist by any stretch of the imagination.<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/003.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1316197 aligncenter" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/003.jpg" alt="" width="325" height="435"></a>
A one- time crony of Frank Sinatra, when she broke the bombshell news in 1956 about his slew of affairs with Lana Turner, Anita Ekberg, Gloria Vanderbilt and Kim Novak, the gloves were off. Sinatra would often refer to her in his nightclub shows as “the chinless wonder” and upped the ante by mailing a tombstone to her home. Given that he had also been linked to the mobster Lucky Luciano, that package had to be very frightening?
Reaching an astounding 20 million readers through her job with the Hearst newspaper network, Kilgallen frolicked in elite social circles. The New York Times quoted a colleague describing her as a: “newspaperman in a $500 dress.” Not only was she invited to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, when the Queen made her first visit to America in 1957, Dorothy rode in the procession in her own limousine. When the Duke and Duchess of Windsor spied her at a nightclub, she was waved over to join them for caviar. Time Magazine reported with admiration that she possessed one of the biggest expense accounts in the business.
[caption id="attachment_1316207" align="alignnone" width="702"]<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/dorothy-kilgallen-getty.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-1316207" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/dorothy-kilgallen-getty.jpg" alt="" width="702" height="564"></a> NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 1939: Columnist, Dorothy Kilgallen, at the opeing of "Life with Father" . (Photo by George Karger/Pix Inc./The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)[/caption]
At the same time, Kilgallen was a dogged reporter and was called on to cover the biggest stories of her time: the Bruno Hauptmann trial, Soviet dictator Khrushchev’s U.S. visit; the Franklin Roosevelt and JFK campaigns. She covered the Sam Sheppard trial which was the Casey Anthony or OJ trial of the era. When the doctor, Sheppard was convicted of murdering his family, she was outspoken in her reports that the prosecution had not proven its case. Her media impact was so great that the New York Journal American simply ran the headline: “Dorothy Kilgallen Shocked” when the verdict was announced. She used her charm and connections to mingle with the Sheppard trial presiding judge. He confided to her that Sheppard was “guilty as hell” prior to the trial and when she broke that news ten years later -- the case was blown wide open. Sheppard was granted a new trial and ultimately found innocent.
[caption id="attachment_1316206" align="alignnone" width="570"]<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/dorothy-kilgallen.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1316206" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/dorothy-kilgallen.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="463"></a> Journalist Dorothy Kilgallen sits at her typewriter while covering the Sam Sheppard murder trial.[/caption]
When the cinders of revolution were sparking in Cuba, Mark Shaw’s book (The Reporter That Knew Too Much) stated that Kilgallen was the first reporter to write that the CIA and mafia were conspiring to assassinate Fidel Castro. That story immediately garnered new enemies including FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. He added her to his watch list and when the files were opened years later, his recognizable scrawl near her name said: “flighty and irresponsible.”
Kilgallen stoked the flames to a boiling point with her investigation of the JFK assassination. She was the only reporter allowed to interview Jack Ruby during his trial for murdering Lee Harvey Oswald. Her meeting with Ruby was held behind closed doors and she had not released the details to the public. Later she traveled to New Orleans and interviewed the Mafia don Carlos Marcello to pry into his knowledge of the assassination. And then in a stunning piece of journalism, she secured Ruby’s secret testimony to the Warren Commission and broke the story on the front page of the Journal American -- three months ahead of the Commission’s public release.
Regarding the Warren Report, she wrote in the Journal American:
“At any rate, the whole thing smells a bit fishy. It’s a mite too simple that a chap kills the President of the United States, escapes from that bother, kills a policeman, eventually is apprehended in a movie theater under circumstances that defy every law of police procedure, and subsequently is murdered under extraordinary circumstances.”
By November 1965, Welsh’s book reported that Kilgallen told her make-up man Charles Simpson that she would: “crack the (JFK) case”. Simpson would later grant a video interview and stated that Dorothy confided: “If the wrong people knew about what I know about the JFK assassination, it would cost me my life.”
On November 8, 1965, Dorothy reported to CBS Studios and recorded What’s My Line? and then retreated to her Manhattan townhouse on East 68th St. The show ran that evening in more than 20 million households — but Dorothy may have already been dead. <a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/004.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1316198 aligncenter" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/004.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="300"></a>The next morning, her maid found her cold, sitting upright in a third floor bedroom that she never used. She was still wearing her make-up, hair piece and false eyelashes from the show. Author Shaw claims she never wore those items to bed and that the scene was staged. By the following week the New York City medical examiner ruled the cause of death as an acute overdose of alcohol and barbiturates, but added the notation “circumstances undetermined.”
Since that tragic evening, Kilgallen’s lost JFK investigation and celebrity have fueled a tempest of conspiracy theories. For his part, author Mark Shaw has been trying to prove that Kilgallen was murdered for more than a decade. When he presented scores of new documents and interviews to New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance last year, there was an apparent breakthrough. The DA’s office reopened the Kilgallen case but hopes for a renewed investigation proved fleeting. After 8 months Vance’s team closed the file again due to a lack of evidence.
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Kilgallen’s Hollywood aura may have flickered and dimmed like the grainy images of What’s My Line? But her story lives on. She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in exciting news for her fans, the producers John and Drew Dowdle, creators of Waco, have purchased the film option on Shaw’s book. They are interested in developing a movie or mini-series based on Kilgallen’s life. That would be a fitting encore for an elite journalist and media star who shattered the glass ceiling with the stroke of her pen.
To start your own investigation, you can find What’s My Line? at 2:00 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday or 2:00 a.m. on the weekend (BUZZR Network).
2018-10-21T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:08:15-07:00Tony Randgaardtag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14306A Very Special Birthday: Torching America’s Best Transit System<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/streetcar-burning-1954-minneapolis-special-collections.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1313150 aligncenter" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/streetcar-burning-1954-minneapolis-special-collections.jpg" alt="" width="594" height="480" /></a>
All in all, June 19th, 1954, was a crazy day. Maybe surreal was a better word.
A regular at the Brass Rail bar on Hennepin sauntered outside and had to do a double take at the passing rail car. Could it be? That sure looked like Hubert Humphrey, our famous senator wearing a Twin Cities Rapid Transit (TCRT) motorman’s cap and driving the eight carriage Oak-Harriet street car toward St. Paul. And as the trailing cars swoosh past, they are filled with well-dressed civic leaders dining on chicken salad over white table cloth tables. The bar patron shook his head and darted back in the bar to get another drink and regain his bearings.
The banner on the side of the processional helps you steady the Flux Capacitor: “Goodbye Streetcar Hello Bus Day.” Yes, June 19th (1954) is the infamous anniversary of the last street car run in the Twin Cities and the funeral of one of the most efficient mass transit systems in the world.
The legendary Hubert H. Humphrey was joined at the controls of the honorary last train by Twin Cities Rapid Transit (TCRT) President Fred Ossanna. They were steering the Oak Harriet cars on Washington Avenue to their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lv3GrSAPDs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">waiting graveyard at the TCRT Snelling Avenue Shops</a>.
Humphrey told the Minneapolis Morning Tribune:
“My first (street car) ride was on the Oak Harriet line so it’s a fitting route for my last ride.”
For lovers of mass transit the trek of the “End of the Line” luncheon would quickly go from sentimental to horror show as the cars crept into the TCRT Snelling Shops, a massive transit yard at the intersection of University and Snelling. (The razed metal shop and carpenter shop buildings will soon become the playing pitch for the future Minnesota FC Loons soccer stadium.)
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Once in the Snelling yard, President Ossanna received a ceremonial $20,000 check from the company’s insurance company and then resolutely walked around street car number 1468 with a torch, setting it on fire in a roaring conflagration.
And one can only imagine the reaction of the TCRT Snelling Shops 500 employees who may have been in attendance? Unlike many cities in the U.S., the Twin Cities street car line did not take delivery of finished street cars. Instead, because of the unique demands of Minnesota winters and summers, TCRT employed hundreds of master craftsmen: from carpenters to electricians; from welders to mechanics. They built more than 1100 of the wooden cars from scratch in those Snelling Shops.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/mass-tansit-mag-1954-MSP-Converts-to-Buses.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1313152 aligncenter" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/mass-tansit-mag-1954-MSP-Converts-to-Buses.jpg" alt="" width="475" height="177" /></a>
It had to be a sad day to see their work burned while hundreds of new buses lined up to take their place.
The Morning Tribune described the farewell street car operation:
“As the last riders left the old trolleys to board new buses for the trip home they carried signs, fare boxes and leather straps torn from the cars. The conversion was over. It’s progress. It’s also the end of an era.”
And finally, in what may be the ultimate stroke of karma, it turned out that President Ossanna’s theatric acts of destruction of the TCRT rail system, may not have been made just in the name of progress or modernization. Over the next five years, clandestine links were uncovered with mob investors including Minneapolis underworld king pin Kid Cann.
On August 7, 1960 a jury found that Ossanna and four associates were guilty of fraud and transportation of stolen materials in their role in the disposal of the TCRT street cars, track and equipment. They made more than a million dollars in profit by scrapping the system. Ossanna spent four years at Sandstone Prison and of course as we wrote about last month (<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/news/local-happenings/kiss-off-minneapolis-following-the-mob-to-tropical-paradise_1312733/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kid Cann's Exciting Story</a>), the infamous Kid Cann was the only one of the defendants in that trial that was found not guilty. How is that for irony?
Photos courtesy of: Minnesota Historical Society
2017-06-16T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:08:42-07:00Tony Randgaardtag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14391The Donald is Coming to Town August 19 -- Trump References Minnesota's Somali Community During Maine Speech<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Trump-presidential-candidate.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-933342 aligncenter" alt="Trump-presidential candidate" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Trump-presidential-candidate.jpg" width="570" height="359" /></a>
According to the local CBS affiliate, the circus known as the Donald Trump presidential campaign comes to our home state in less than two weeks. On August 19, Trump will hold a "<a href="http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2016/08/04/report-donald-trump-to-make-campaign-stop-in-minnesota/" target="_blank">major fundraiser</a>" with tickets going for up to $100k a piece.
Trump was at a rally in Portland, Maine this past Friday -- the Republican nominee was introduced by the oft-controversial Republican Governor of Maine Paul Lepage and got right to work, touching on his usual checklist of all of the ways in which America needs to be made great again.
Here is the video of the speech:
At about the 25:00 minute mark in the video, Trump gives Minnesota a less-than-flattering shot out, specifically referencing our state's Somali community in a negative light.
Here's the transcript:
"...The Washington Times reported on a Somali refugee program in Minnesota that, "the effort to resettle large groups of Somali refugees is having the unintended consequence of creating an enclave of immigrants with high unemployment that is both stressing the state's"...I mean... the state is having tremendous problems... "its safety net... and creating a rich pool of recruiting targets for Islamist terror groups." It's happening...It's happening. You see it. And you read about it. You see it! And you can be smart and you can be cunning and tough, or you can be very, very dumb and not wanna see what's going on, folks..."
As he always does, Trump paints the issue of immigration in the blackest and whitest terms he can come up with, dividing those with differing views on the issue into either "smart and cunning" or "very dumb." Regardless of your views, it's easy to see why the divide between Trump's supporters and detractors is so wide — his rhetoric leaves no room for a (perhaps a more sensible) middle way.
So mark your calendars for August 19 and get ready to crack open your piggy banks and fork over $1,000 minimum if you want to be a part of Trump's historic first appearance in Minnesota during his improbable presidential run.
Photo courtesy of: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/80038275@N00/20724485306" target="_blank">Michael Vandon </a>
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2016-08-06T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:09:16-07:00Brent Leetag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14489Gopher Fans Ride the Rails of Time<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Como-Harriet-Minn-Transport-Museum.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-784419 aligncenter" alt="Como Harriet Minn Transport Museum" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Como-Harriet-Minn-Transport-Museum.jpg" width="540" height="405" /></a>
It was almost midnight September 2nd as thousands of Gopher football fans streamed to the Green Line rail platforms. Metro Transit lined up trains like cord wood. Not that the riders minded the short wait. An orange crescent moon presided over a glorious summer night and temps were still in the mid-seventies. Indeed, the sound of the train horns could easily lead the mind to wander and reminisce: Were we dreaming or did this scene happen before?
There certainly were a lot of clues to think it had.
1. Echoes of Twin City Rapid Transit (TCRT)
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/S-Cars-Lined-Up-Henn-Night-Mpls-Pub-Library.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-784420 aligncenter" alt="S Cars Lined Up Henn Night Mpls Pub Library" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/S-Cars-Lined-Up-Henn-Night-Mpls-Pub-Library.jpg" width="548" height="432" /></a>
As we board the trains at the West Bank stop we are literally tracing the same footsteps of Gopher fans in the Forties and Fifties. Gopher fans already had five national championships under their belt when they were leaving Memorial Stadium (was across from Williams Arena) to hop the Interurban street car Line #9. The Interurban was the granddaddy of high traffic routes connecting Minneapolis and St-Paul on University Avenue. After World War II, servicemen returned home, enrolled at the ‘U of M’ and flooded the streetcar system. Talk about bustling!
TCRT veteran Robert Cumbey recalled that this route “had one of the highest traffic densities in the Cities streetcar system. During the morning rush hour in the Forties, “there were over 70 cars on the line at once, or one for each city block.”1 It is mind-boggling to consider that the street car system generated ridership of 201 million people in 1946. In contrast, last year only 6.5 million Twin Citians rode the rails.
2. Thank Goodness for “Extras”
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Rush-Hour-Street-Cars-Hennep-Mpls-Public-Library.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-784421 aligncenter" alt="Rush Hour Street Cars Hennep Mpls Public Library" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Rush-Hour-Street-Cars-Hennep-Mpls-Public-Library.jpg" width="385" height="480" /></a>
In the Forties TCRT called supplementary trains “extras.” Cumbey said that the company would run 14 extras during each morning rush hour. Last week we were relieved to see that modern day Metro Transit is using a similar process for big events like the Gopher-TCU game. We spoke with media spokesperson Howie Padilla at Metro Transit and he estimated that a whopping 13,700 fans used the rails to and from that game. He added that three car trains with a capacity of 600 were scheduled at five minute intervals to handle the crush.
3. Speeding on the Owl
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/S-car-Burning-Pres-Ossana-Mpls-Pub-Library.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-784422 aligncenter" alt="S car Burning Pres Ossana Mpls Pub Library" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/S-car-Burning-Pres-Ossana-Mpls-Pub-Library.jpg" width="541" height="432" /></a>
After the TCU game, we rode the Green Line to the Downtown East station and stepped off at 1:05 a.m. Our hopes sank as we hear the conductor make an announcement that: “There is not a scheduled Blue Line train this late and you may not be picked up.” Ughh. Well this is certainly not like the halcyon days of the streetcars? Those days were wonderful for late night revelers. Nicollet Avenue, Lake Street, University, Hennepin and even a quiet street like Bryant Avenue (now a bike boulevard) had trains running until 4:00 a.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, Bryant Avenue had 4 to 5 cars running in the middle of the night. These were called ‘Owl’ runs. As I wait longing for my own Blue Line ‘Owl’ service, I have to chuckle. I read an interview with Bob Schumacher of the Minnesota Transportation Museum (The 1940s written by Aaron Isaacs, Bill Graham and Byron Olsen).
In the Forties he said:
“There was no such thing as missing the Owl.” The late night trains met each other for connections. He added: “Transfer conditions were always reliable. That was the way it operated.”
Another fun aspect of the 1940s Interurban University route was that when you caught a late night ‘Owl’ service, riders could experience the top streetcar speeds. Motormen loved opening up the juice on those runs, hitting 50-55 miles-per-hour. That would have been a thrill to whir by the theatres, bars and ballrooms of University Avenue in the middle of the night? Consider that those speeds were faster than most automobiles of the day. And while today’s Metro light rail can hit speeds in that range the standard operating speed is closer to 40 MPH.
Today, Metro Transit employs modern technology to move passengers efficiently during big events. Padilla said there are supervisors at their Rail Control Center who helped coordinate an unscheduled Blue Line train while I was waiting. I caught the connection at Downtown East with less than a ten minute wait.
“Through planning and timing, we know that we are getting better and better at getting people to their destinations more safely and efficiently with each event. With more than 40 events so far including Vikings games, Twins games, Saints games and concerts, it sometimes seems like events aren’t events. It’s just a continuation of business as usual,” Padilla said.
Try It Out Yourself
If you are in a sentimental streetcar mood, go no farther than the historic Lake Harriet trolley ride. When the Como-Harriet PCC streetcar rolls out of the trees at William Berry Road, it looks like a sleek yellow and green rocket ship. Its pristine condition and the two dollar fare, make it easy to experience the Interurban rides of the Forties and Fifties. There is not enough track to hit 55 miles-per-hour like they did back then but the route features great views of Lake Harriet, hidden vistas of Lakewood Cemetery and the southeastern shore of Lake Calhoun.
For more information:
Como-Harriet Streetcar Line Linden Hills Station: Queen Avenue at West 42ndStreet in Minneapolis.
Saturday and Sunday operations through September 27 • 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday October • 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
<a href="http://www.trolleyride.org/" target="_blank">http://www.trolleyride.org/</a>
Photos courtesy of: Minnesota Streetcar Museum -- Minneapolis Public Library -- TCRT
2015-09-19T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:09:56-07:00Tony Randgaardtag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14614Super Bowl Halftime Show 2016: It's Time to Get Countrified<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/superbowl-country-halftime.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-421939 aligncenter" alt="superbowl country halftime" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/superbowl-country-halftime.jpg" width="570" height="377" /></a>
It's time to bring country music back to the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The stage has most recently filled by some of pop music's biggest stars such Bruno Mars, Beyonce, and Katy Perry most recently. It's also been filled by legends like Madonna and Bruce Springsteen. But it's time to bring the twang back.
There are many ways to go about it. They can either get one main performer with the possibility of having a few guests stop by, or have package deal to better represent the genre.
Right now one of the best bets would be Luke Bryan. The man knows how to entertain, and has come a long way since days his days playing in standing room only clubs. This summer he'll be playing several stadiums, and has the kind of southern rock-influenced sound that will keep the energy of the night going with songs like “That's My Kind of Night” and “Country Girl (Shake it For Me).” He could bring his friends Florida-Georgia Line out for “This is How We Roll.”
“That's My Kinda Night”
Then there's Kenny Chesney who has a song about football called “Boys of Fall.” He visited the New Orleans Saints' training camp several times – especially after Katrina – and he's been playing stadium shows for several years now. He's got the kinds of songs needed to keep the energy going: “Summertime," “Beer in Mexico,” “She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy,” and even his new one, “Til It's Gone.” He could even bring a few friends of his along like Uncle Kracker and Tim McGraw.
“Summertime”
If you wanted to go a little more traditional, but still have that energy there, then there's Garth Brooks. He's on the road again, and fans can't get enough. They sang along to every song during his stay at the Target Center and he was just nominated for an ACM for Entertainer of the Year. Yes, the steel guitar – and instrument many don't care for outside of the genre – is a bit more prominent in his songs, but songs like “Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)” and “Fever” would be perfect for such a high energy event. And ending on a song like “We Shall Be Free” would perfectly cap the performance off.
It would also be hard not to look at Carrie Underwood for something like this. She's already the voice of Sunday Night Football, and she reworked a version of it specifically for last night. Songs like “Cowboy Casanova” and “Before She Cheats” would do awesome at halftime, and – if you've watched any of her awards show performances – you'd know she's not afraid to go all out on production. She one of the strongest voices country has, and there's no doubt she has fans outside the genre as well.
<img class=" wp-image-376984 aligncenter" alt="underwood" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/313349675_b58aad1cfc_z.jpg" width="570" height="426" />
There's a another way you could go about it, too: a package deal. It's not too much unlike how country tours are set up, but the ones who are part of the package would definitely have to be headliners. While many are able to headline their own tours, the Super Bowl Halftime Show stage is different.
One example would be Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton. Blake's presence as one of the original coaches on NBC's The Voice alone would attract attention, and Lambert has more than a few songs like “Kerosene” that could keep the energy the moment alive. Blake also has a few upbeat songs like “Boys Round Here” that would fit well. Miranda could also bring Carrie Underwood for a rendition of their hit duet, “Somethin' Bad,” and, who knows, maybe Blake could bring Adam Levine out for some surprise song.
You could also do something like Keith Urban and Tim McGraw. Now, both of those could clearly hold that stage on their own; they've each got more than their share of hits. Keith could breakout into one of his amazing guitar solos, and Tim could bring out Faith Hill.
“Cop Car”
There's also always a chance that the main artist will try and get one of their influences to collaborate on something: Shania Twain has been talking about going back on the road; Alabama is back together; Brooks & Dunn have reunited and are doing a residency in Vegas with Reba McEntire, and there are sure to be more options. Country artists have never been shy about being thankful for their influences, and this would be great way to show it; and an even better way to represent the genre.
Also, there's no saying they won't be able to get someone outside of country music to make an appearance, either. The nation's top talent have been making the trek to Music City for years so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for someone like Jon Bon Jovi, Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, or even Ludacris. There has been such a change in what's been accepted as country music in the past decade or more that it really wouldn't be out of place for anyone to make an appearance (CMT even has a show called Crossroads where they get a country singer and someone outside the genre to sing each others songs).
To top it off, country music is possibly the most family friendly genre right now. Families regularly go to Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, and Carrie Underwood shows together. And while some may question the way Underwood is dressing at times, you won't have to live in fear of an “unintentional” wardrobe malfunction. It's the safest bet there is for an even that brings many families together.
The last time a country artist headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show was 2003 with Shania Twain. And since then the genre has surged in popularity. Those country folks know how to have a good time; they also love football. Now, let them prove it.
Photos courtesy of: <a href="http://pixabay.com/p-349790/?no_redirect" target="_blank">Pixabay</a> -- <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedietstartsmonday/" target="_blank">MrHairyKnuckles</a>
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors.
2015-02-02T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:10:50-07:00Andy Ellistag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14643The Commercialized Christmas Season and Christian Faith<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/christmas-tree.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-393212 aligncenter" alt="christmas tree" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/christmas-tree.jpg" width="570" height="378" /></a>
With Christmas around the corner, it is painstakingly obvious how commercialized our values have become. Certainly our nation is a country of many nationalities and religious backgrounds with a seemingly never-ending controversy over the labeling of holidays like Christmas or Easter, as it forcibly imposes one religion upon another.
However, it seems for many the Christmas tradition has become an automatic and passing action of the year. It has become standard to see Santa characters and lights adorning homes and shopping malls before Halloween, and by Thanksgiving, strategies have been drawn for the Black Friday shopping battle. Each year seems to intensify the economic significance surrounding these designated times of faithful celebration of our devotion and values. More discussion seems to surround the amazing and marvelous deals that will be received for televisions and computers than the thankfulness of sharing in a meal (breaking bread so to speak) and family during the holiday season.
It is clearly ironic that the two most intendedly selfless holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, are becoming overshadowed by materialism and economic capitalism.
<a style="text-align: center;" href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Black-Friday-Shoppers.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-393213 aligncenter" alt="Black-Friday-Shoppers" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Black-Friday-Shoppers.jpg" width="558" height="279" /></a>
Even with best intentions in mind, this illustration has not only become common, it seems to be an unquestionable face of the Christian holiday. For many who fight for the term “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays,” it is a stake in their religious ‘right’ to say, “I am a Christian who celebrates Christmas!” However, maybe we should be asking which Christmas, the Christmas representing the birth of a savior, Jesus Christ, or the Christmas that represents American capitalism at its best?
As Chris Rock cleverly humored in his SNL monologue, only American capitalists can take the birth of the least materialistic and selfless individual and turn it into a materialized frenzy.
Christmas is literally used as a baseline to determine the economic stability of our country based on the shopping habits of its faith-abiding Christians. How could this possibly represent the faith behind the individual who truly believes in God and Jesus Christ? Clearly the higher power involved in this paradigm is not of the celebrated godly nature, but of the elevated material value created by man himself. Christian faith has essentially been entwined into capitalism and its faithful countrymen are struggling to see where one ends and the other begins. Regardless of one’s identified denomination of faith, this could be agreed upon across the religious spectrum.
It must be asked, would we have a greater peacefulness if the most traditionally celebrated religious holidays were not laden with commercialized materialism? Should corporate America shape how our faith is represented (in celebration and in general)?
In the Christian faith, Christ will always remain in Christmas, but for believes like myself, we must remember to engage in the fundamental values of his selfless sacrifices. Consider giving your time, attention, and love to those who are in the greatest need… family, friends, neighbor, or stranger.
Despite the best intentions behind material gift-giving, they simply cannot fulfill the human need for benevolence and love. Exchanging the material gifts for humble acts of kindness can not only benefit the individual human spirit, but change our overall general interactions, regardless of religious identification.
Photos via: <a title="Go to James Emery's photostream" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/emeryjl/" target="_blank" data-track="attributionNameClick" data-rapid_p="56">James Emery</a> -- <a href="http://cdn1.thewoodwhisperer.com/wp-content/uploads/Black-Friday-Shoppers.jpg" target="_blank">The Wood Whisperer</a>
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-12-22T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:11:02-07:00Deanna Olsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14671What Are We Going to Do About College Costs?<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/student-debt.gif"><img class="size-full wp-image-225704 aligncenter" alt="student-debt" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/student-debt.gif" width="432" height="432" /></a>Many of us know the story. College was supposed to be an opportunity for folks to better their situations. Instead, rising levels of student loan debt and a shortage of good jobs make a four year education more of a financial burden than the fulfillment of "The American Dream." Many parents cannot save up the astronomical sums colleges charge in tuition, and the FAFSA “expected family contributions” often add insult to injury.
Enter, high interest government student loans. Enter, $60,000+ worth of debt for an underemployed new graduate to pay. It’s a tough problem, and everyone, from politicians to the colleges themselves, is trying to make changes for the better.
MnSCU’s ongoing overhaul, “Charting the Future” is attempting to address some of the issues with college. The initiative was announced last year, and aims to help make higher education more accessible through a number of new measures; creating an emphasis on job training, allowing students to test out of subjects if they can prove competency, increasing online learning options, and encouraging MnSCU schools to form partnerships to facilitate credit transfers. By eliminating some common roadblocks, MnSCU hopes to be able to increase graduation rates and better prepare workers for future job openings.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ctf-facebook-image.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-368131 aligncenter" alt="ctf-facebook-image" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ctf-facebook-image.jpg" width="570" height="330" /></a>
While these measures might seem like a common good — increased graduation rates, less red tape — some faculty members and students have taken issue with the plans outlined in “Charting the Future.” Faculty have slammed the measure, referring to it as “<a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/south/232683491.html" target="_blank">'Soviet-style’</a> centralized control of the seven state universities and 24 community and technical colleges.” College, they argue, should be a well-rounded education and not a career training program.
An article by <a href="http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/11/17/mnscu-overhaul" target="_blank">MPR News</a> describes the concerns as follows:
“Many faculty and students fear MnSCU would become a system of stripped-down diploma factories that crank out workers for Minnesota industry.”
At the center of the debate is the age-old discussion of the value (or lack thereof) of a liberal arts education. At its best, a liberal arts degree is touted as providing a well-rounded education that can be transferred to several different fields of employment. At its worst, a liberal arts degree is seen as overly generalized, impractical, and obsolete. The validity of these pros and cons to any individual student depend heavily on what she/he views the purpose of an education to be. Is a bachelor’s degree a ticket to a good job, or is it meant to provide lifelong critical thinking tools? Could it do both?
For students looking to get hired, current statistics tell a sad tale for liberal arts degrees -- and a few other kinds of four year degrees, in fact. In general, degrees that are not in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or math) are not paying off.
“Half of College Grads <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/05/28/half-of-college-grads-are-working-jobs-that-dont-require-a-degree/" target="_blank">Are Working Jobs </a>That Don’t Require a Degree,” a Forbes article, breaks down some of the numbers.
Here are a few of the most notable statistics; 48% of college graduates are in jobs that require less than a four year degree. Some 54% of students who graduate with a social science degree find jobs that require a four year degree, and only 43% of students who graduate with a visual/performing arts degree find jobs that require a four year degree. And the percentage of STEM graduates who find jobs that require a four year degree? A whopping 75%. Long story short; STEM degrees pay off. Most other degrees are hit or miss.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/sallie-mae-loans.png"><img class=" wp-image-368132 aligncenter" alt="sallie-mae-loans" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/sallie-mae-loans.png" width="510" height="368" /></a>
College graduates who do not study a STEM field have approximately a 50% chance of being gainfully employed post-graduation. It’s a discouraging piece of data, to say the least. Add that information to the fact that the annual cost of tuition at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is $26,585, (check the cost of any school using <a href="http://money.cnn.com/tools/collegecost/collegecost.html" target="_blank">CNN Money’s College Cost Calculator</a>) and the low job placement rates become even more unacceptable.
The real issue here is that no matter how much intangible value a liberal arts (or social sciences, or visual and performing arts) degree might have, college costs are simply unaffordable. Consider a student who finances all four years of college at The University of Minnesota - -upon graduation, that student will be $106,340 in debt. The unreasonable size of that price tag is a staggering counterpoint to all the virtues a liberal arts degree might offer.
<a href="http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/a-liberal-arts-education-is-still-relevant-stuart-rabinowitz-1.4583602" target="_blank">Arguments upon arguments</a> can be made in favor of a liberal arts education. A liberal arts degree focuses on building critical thinking skills, and does not zero in on one particular field of employment. A versatile skill set is more valuable than training for one particular job, especially considering that the job market fluctuates. What was in demand at the beginning of a student’s four year matriculation may not still be in demand once the student graduates. Instead of leaving a grad high and dry when a certain field dries up, a liberal arts education is said to be transferrable.
However, all of these virtues don’t mean anything if college is unaffordable. A college education in America is rapidly becoming a luxury only those with the ability to manage a $100,000 debt will realistically be able to consider. So, why are some MnSCU faculty and students concerned that the “Charting the Future” overhaul will create a series of “stripped-down diploma factories that crank out workers for Minnesota industry?” If there’s one thing our colleges cannot be accused of, it’s cranking out workers for Minnesota industry. Rest assured, that’s not happening.
Images via: Google -- MnSCU -- Doctor Housing Bubble2014-11-19T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:11:14-07:00Alicia Waterstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14827College is Too Expensive… Here Are Some Simple Ways to Combat Rising Costs <a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/college-tuition-.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-274432 aligncenter" alt="college tuition" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/college-tuition-.jpg" width="570" height="370" /></a>
When it comes to higher education, it seems like all we hear about is the rising cost of tuition -- in today’s economy paying for college can be extremely difficult and expensive. Most students are forced to take out thousands of dollars in loans to help offset the cost of college while others skip secondary school all together.
Although some students take on part-time and full-time jobs while in school, there are others who aren’t able to work. Not having a steady income in school can be hard, hence the term “starving students.” As a college student, I know the struggle of being broke all too well -- but my struggle in college has also taught me creative ways to make money. Just because you don’t have a traditional job doesn’t mean you have to be broke. It's a good idea to figure out what you're good at and what people will pay for your talents. Making a little extra money on the side can also help you pay for tuition.
Here are some things college students can do to make extra money:
1. Do hair!
Hair is probably the number one side hustle for college students. Most students don’t have money to go to the hair salon, so finding someone on campus that can do hair for a reasonable price is the next best thing. If you can braid or know how to work a curling wand you’ve got yourself a business. All you have to do is build up your clientele and pass out some flyers and you’ll be on your way!
2. Be a nanny!
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Toddler-throwing-a-tantru-007.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-274435 aligncenter" alt="Toddler throwing a tantrum" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Toddler-throwing-a-tantru-007.jpg" width="460" height="276" /></a>
Who said you're too old to babysit? Babysitting or nannying (if you like to get technical) is a great way to earn some extra cash. Get in touch with all your friends and family who have kids and let them know you’re in the business of babysitting. Make sure you put together a kit with books and toys to entertain the kids so you are prepared whenever a job comes up.
3. Be a tutor!
Tutoring is a very lucrative business for college students because students always need help with their studies. There are many different subjects to tutor in from French to math -- so find out what your good at, and get to work. The best way to find clients is to simply talk to your classmates and ask them what subjects they need help with. You can also hand out flyers and cards to get exposure.
4. Be an entrepreneur!
<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Apple_pie.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-274436 aligncenter" alt="Apple_pie" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Apple_pie.jpg" width="570" height="387" /></a>
Are you a graphic designer, an excellent baker or good with your hands? You could turn these things into successful businesses. Starting your own business in college is probably more difficult than tutoring or doing hair, but luckily you have access to professors and other students who can use their talents and connections to help you build your brand.
There are many different ways to earn extra cash while in college. The days of only working a 9-5 to get a paycheck are over. Put your gifts and talents to use while your getting your education. Who knows? You might end up being the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs in the process.
Photos via: Google
2014-07-24T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:12:18-07:00Mia Brookstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14834Being 'Just Friends' Isn't Always a Bad Thing<img class="size-full wp-image-274360 aligncenter" alt="friend zone" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/friend-zone.jpg" width="512" height="288" />
There are worse feelings than finding out that special someone doesn't share the same romantic feelings for you, but it's still not a great feeling. And having it happen to you multiple times can hurt your confidence as well, but it's not the end of the world. This revelation could lead you to either sever ties with this person or begin a very meaningful friendship.
The meaningful friendship route is referred to as the "friend zone," a term that has generated a ton of negativity in American culture. The truth is that this sort of friendship can actually turn into something very positive.
It can be positive, because you've reached a certain level of friendship where there's a good chance you'll be able to tell each other practically anything, and somewhere in that pile of everything is the invaluable knowledge of how both genders operate.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Screen-Shot-2014-07-23-at-1.54.20-AM.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-274361 aligncenter" alt="friend zone" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Screen-Shot-2014-07-23-at-1.54.20-AM.png" width="429" height="291" /></a>
For men, finding out how women think is like hitting the jackpot. It won't be given to us on a silver platter, but we'll definitely find out crucial details by asking questions and listening when she talks about the guys she's dating. Most often, if you're willing to listen, then she will talk. After enough time, and it could take a little time depending on how close you two are to begin with, she'll tell you everything, from what certain subtle flirtatious signals may mean to what her monthly cycle can do to a woman.
For women, there's a good chance that relying on good male friends for insight is obvious, but it still deserves mentioning. Men are complex beings as well, but it may just take a certain amount of digging to find the details. So if you're a dating a man and are having trouble talking to him, you can always ask your male friends advice on how to get him to open up (the answer may or may not include alcohol).
Throughout all this make sure you are genuine.
For some it may be hard to take this route, and if you can't that's fine. Just remember that even though they don't like you in the way you like them, that doesn't mean they don't care about you. People connect with each other on different levels and you can't force a certain kind of connection if it isn't there.
Will it take time? Yes. But once you find that person, you'll know why no one else ever clicked with you before.
Photos via: Google
2014-07-21T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:12:21-07:00Andy Ellistag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14839Amazon Launches eBook Program, AKA Your Nearest Public Library<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/kindleunlimited.jpg"><img class="wp-image-274270 aligncenter" alt="kindleunlimited" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/kindleunlimited.jpg" width="570" height="426" /></a>
As someone who spends most of her free time reading, I was initially excited to see that Amazon was launching a Netflix for eBooks: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks/b/ref=ARRAY(0x963ba03c)?_encoding=UTF8&ie=UTF8&node=9578129011&pfShowFeatures=&ref_=amb_link_423205082_3&ref_=amb_link_423205082_3" target="_blank">Kindle Unlimited</a>. Sure, I have a library card, but a suburban county library can hardly compare with the 600,000 eBooks Amazon will have available. Plus, you'd never have to wait on hold for popular books. And all for just $9.99 a month.
It all sounds like a great idea, and a great deal, right? But after a bit of research, I've found it's not quite as great as it sounds.
Now, I don't know if I'm behind the times for a college-aged reader, but I was not aware that a library card gives you access to a lot more than just the books and magazines in the library. Libraries in Minnesota (and across the country) offer access to hundreds of thousands of eBooks and audiobooks. All you need is a library card (FREE!) and one of the corresponding apps (FREE again!).
The two apps used most for Minnesota libraries are <a href="http://omc.overdrive.com/" target="_blank">Overdrive</a> and <a href="http://www.3m.com/us/library/eBook/" target="_blank">3M Cloud Library</a>. Both of these apps, like Kindle Unlimited, work for Kindle, Nook, Android, Windows and all Apple devices. The Overdrive app has more than 900,000 titles available, though availability may vary between libraries. Not too bad for a little suburban county library.
Amazon's program, I admit, does still have its perks. Unlike the majority of the library eBook programs, Kindle Unlimited does not have due dates. Still, that's not enough for me to switch my free library card for a $9.99 (plus tax) subscription. I might, however, try the free month trial, and cancel it before they can charge me.
Photo via: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/97481684@N08/9365641519/" target="_blank">Tina Franklin</a>
2014-07-18T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:12:23-07:00Rebecca Mariscaltag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14853FCC Extends Time for Internet Users to Comment on 'Net Neutrality' Until Friday<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Net-neutrality.png"><img class=" wp-image-273269 aligncenter" alt="Net neutrality" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Net-neutrality.png" width="570" height="288" /></a>
Net neutrality is one of the biggest issues facing America today -- the loss of net neutrality could lead to the widespread destruction of the Internet as we know it. But many Internet users are not going down without a fight.
Thanks to an overwhelming amount of traffic on its website, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has extended the first deadline for comments on the newly-proposed Internet traffic rules to Friday, July 18, at midnight.
The traffic in question includes almost 680,000 comments left by everyone from lawmakers to ordinary citizens, <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/u-fcc-extends-first-deadline-net-neutrality-184219995--finance.html;_ylt=AwrBT7TUisVTh8EAiRBXNyoA" target="_blank">according</a> to Yahoo News.
If the new rules <a href="http://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality-what-you-need-know-now" target="_blank">go into effect</a>, according to SaveTheInternet.com, then it would “allow service providers to charge extra fees to content companies like Google and Netflix for preferential treatment.” It goes on to say that big companies like AT&T and Verizon would be able to create a new kind of Internet which has fast lanes for those who can pay more, and slower lanes for those who can't.
People have been taking to more than just the FCC's website to complain as well. John Oliver, the host of Last Week Tonight With John Oliver on HBO had a <a href="http://bit.ly/1pUgMMK" target="_blank">whole segment</a> on his show (hit the link to watch the video, Oliver's segment is truly hilarious) which he concluded by telling his viewers to go onto the FCC's website and flood it with comments which would later end up crashing the site.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/john-oliver-net-neutrality.png"><img class="wp-image-274184 aligncenter" alt="john oliver - net neutrality" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/john-oliver-net-neutrality.png" width="570" height="330" /></a>
13 Senators have also <a href="http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2014/07/15/FCC-extends-net-neutrality-comments-deadline-to-Friday-midnight/4651405448922/" target="_blank">written an open letter</a> pleading FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to not implement the new rules, according to UPI.com. They asked to him treat the Internet like a “public utility.”
“If the FCC allows big corporations to negotiate fast lane deals, the Internet will be sold to the highest bidder,” said Senator Bernie Sanders, D-Vt, who supports the letter that was written Monday night.
Even big Internet companies like Netflix and Google have expressed their displeasure over the proposed new rules as part of a group called the <a href="http://internetassociation.org/" target="_blank">Internet Association</a>. The group submitted their official comments on the site.
“The Internet is threatened by broadband Internet access providers who would turn the open, best-efforts Internet into a pay-for-priority platform more closely resembling cable television than today's Internet,” the group said in a statement.
FCC spokeswoman Kim Hart cited the large amount of comments being submitted as part of the reason the deadline was being extended.
“We have seen an overwhelming surge in traffic on our website that is making it difficult for many people to file comments through our Electronic Comment Filing System,” Hart said, according to Yahoo News.
She also added that the Commission is aware of the issue, and “is committed to making sure that everyone trying to submit comments will have their views entered into the record.”
So while this issue a monumental one for all of us Internet users to overcome, it's a battle worth fighting for. Flood those websites, write your local politicians, call their offices; let your voice be heard. If net neutrality is destroyed, get ready to pay more to those mega rich service providers for "the fast lane," which we all know will soon evolve into the only option for decent service.
Photos via: Google -- Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors.
2014-07-15T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:12:28-07:00Andy Ellistag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14961Jury Duty: Putting Your Humanity on Hold<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Gavel.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-273215 aligncenter" alt="Gavel" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Gavel.jpg" width="464" height="348" /></a>
Very few people look forward to jury duty. I was not one of those few. I was not looking forward to getting up early or the the amount of waiting I heard was forthcoming. I also had this fear about the kind of case I was going to get. Most people say they'd want to get put on a murder case or something "interesting," but that's because they've probably watched way too many Law & Order marathons.
I was put on a criminal case, but luckily it wasn't a murder because you quickly find out what they mean by telling you to come up with a verdict based on what the evidence tells you. Deciding solely on the evidence presented during the trial isn't the easiest. It requires you to take certain parts of who you are as a person, the parts that make us human, and put them on ice for the duration of the trial. In a sense, you may look like a human inside and out, but you have to think like a robot.
The trial we were hearing was a DWI, and it was the defendant's second offense. The original juror panel was a group of 16 of us that was whittled down to seven after an hours-long questioning process called Voir Dire. Essentially, the judge and attorneys from both sides ask the jurors questions to decide if they're right for the case.
<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Trial_by_Jury_.jpg"><img class="wp-image-273216 aligncenter" alt="Trial_by_Jury_" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Trial_by_Jury_.jpg" width="406" height="348" /></a>
During the trial, I could see the difference in the two attorneys. The prosecutor, who was representing the state of Minnesota, was confident like he knew he had a solid case against the defendant, which he did. The defense attorney was less charismatic -- while he attempted to use the evidence to help his argument, he also laid down other arguments that forced me to fight the sympathetic part of myself away.
When it came to deliberation, it didn't take long for us to reach a verdict. The evidence we were given, which was video of the state trooper’s interaction with the defendant and a report showing that her BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) was .16, led us to conclude that she was guilty.
This case was one of those instances where we merely went down over each charge like a checklist and decided whether or not she was guilty of breaking the law. While it worked in this situation, I have feeling it's not always that easy.
From this experience, I'm convinced I got it easy in terms of jury duty. I'm not saying a DWI isn't serious, but I could've gotten something much worse. I could've gotten a murder case -- knowing I'd have to make a decision purely based on evidence is scary.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/lady-justice.jpg"><img class="wp-image-273217 aligncenter" alt="Golden Lady Justice, Bruges, Belgium" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/lady-justice.jpg" width="540" height="361" /></a>
What I realized is that in the court of law, morals have to be checked at the door. It doesn't matter how morally right you think the accused might have been in carrying out their actions. If they broke the law, and the evidence can prove it, they're going to be punished.
The same is also true if the evidence can't prove someone's guilt. Just ask the jurors who acquitted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Caylee_Anthony" target="_blank">Casey Anthony</a>. Even though a heavy majority of the country believed without a doubt that she was guilty, the jury had to make a decision of her guilt based on the evidence and not what they wanted to happen.
The judicial system isn't Hollywood. Not every case has a happy ending. Sometimes the guilty are set free and the innocent are put behind bars with worse fates awaiting them. The authorities won't drop a convict off at a middle-of-nowhere motel and tell them to get lost because they know said person is innocent. It doesn't work like that.
In the end, it's your duty as a juror to look at what the evidence proves, or what it doesn't prove. Then like a robot, you go down the checklist of charges. Guilty? Or, not guilty? That is the question.
This is real life. And if you ever struggle to realize what that means as a juror, just think about this: If the Casey Anthony trial was just the plot of a movie, then she'd either be behind bars or six feet under.
Images via: Wikipedia
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-06-01T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:13:12-07:00Andy Ellistag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14985The Future of Podcasting in Jeopardy?<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/podcasting-court-case-2014-logan.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-261769 aligncenter" alt="podcasting court case - 2014 logan" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/podcasting-court-case-2014-logan.jpg" width="509" height="381" /></a>
Millions of people worldwide download podcasts every day, from Church sermons to radio shows, from little known to well-known. Those media producers create an endless array of topics, broadcasting their love and expertise on their shows for millions of listeners to discover on the Internet. Yet, the outcome of an upcoming lawsuit could put this to a grinding halt.
It was <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/talkingtech/2014/05/04/podcast-trial-personalaudio-carolla/8057329/" target="_blank">reported</a> earlier this month that a trial was set for September in regards to podcasting. James Logan, the founder of Personal Audio is suing comedian Adam Carolla’s ACE Broadcasting, two other podcasters and three major news networks (FOX, NBC and CBS) for using the medium -- he claims they are infringing on his copyright and they owe him money. Logan also claims that he helped to create the podcast medium back in 1996 and reportedly has the patents to prove it.
Marshall, Texas, the town of about 24,000 located three hours East of Dallas, will host the trial. This town is known as the patent trial capital of the world. Patent litigants have been favored 60% of the time in cases tried there according to a study.
Logan’s considered a patent "troll" because he never manufactured a product related to podcasting. He tried to market an MP3 player in the late 1990’s, but it never took off. Currently, Personal Audio, based in Beaumont, Texas, has several patents and investments in other companies, but no products.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/adam-carolla-podcast-lawsuit.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-261770 aligncenter" alt="adam-carolla-podcast lawsuit" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/adam-carolla-podcast-lawsuit.jpg" width="475" height="317" /></a>
There are a couple things wrong with this lawsuit. The biggest issue is the fact Logan wants to sue some big time podcasters for money because he wants to take advantage of loop holes in the patent law. Carolla has one of the most popular podcasts on iTunes -- he is being sued by Logan for $3 million. Instead of claiming his right to build his own podcasting business to compete with those who "stole" his idea, he is simply looking to get money from successful podcasts.
Another thing that stands out is the fact that Logan claims the podcasters are violating copyright law. So, how is that violating the copyright law? Isn’t podcasting a means of publishing information, like the printing press was? I’m sure Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, is turning over in his grave right now.
[caption id="attachment_261772" align="aligncenter" width="406"]<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMG_5407.jpeg"><img class=" wp-image-261772 " alt="Curious North" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMG_5407-e1401167344329.jpg" width="406" height="541" /></a> Haley Anderson of Curious North.[/caption]
Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press certainly made it a lot easier to produce books back in the mid 1400’s. It made books cheaper so that it was no longer only the wealthy who owned them. Before the printing press, most books were handwritten which meant that it took time to reproduce them. The removable type allowed for several copies of a book to be manufactured a lot more efficiently which in turn produced higher volume at lower prices.
Podcasting has certainly made it easier for someone to create a broadcast. All you need is a computer, microphone and a program to record your voice. You no longer have to be on a radio or television station to be heard. With a podcast, you pay little to nothing to put it on the web.
Going back to the lawsuit, if Logan wins, it would put a crushing blow on entrepreneurship. Not only that, it would be a crushing blow on free speech. It would mean that every podcast on the Internet would be a violation of Logan’s copyright. Either people would have to pay a fee to podcast or, they’d simply quit podcasting.
This case will define the world of podcasting as we know it.
Photos via: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/verzo/4058856670/" target="_blank">Roberto Verzo</a> -- Wikipedia -- Matthew Deery
Editors Note: Our very own Editor, Matthew Deery was <a href="http://bit.ly/SZsniZ" target="_blank">recently featured</a> on a wonderful podcast called Curious North. It would be a crying shame if great online audio content like this was put in jeopardy.
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-05-26T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:13:23-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14993George Orwell - Author or Prophet?<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Big-Brother-1984-America-2014.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-258668 aligncenter" alt="Big-Brother - 1984 - America - 2014" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Big-Brother-1984-America-2014.jpg" width="570" height="425" /></a>
Winston Smith is plagued with a need. A need for freedom. Individuality, however, is illegal. Everyone must conform to the government or perish. All around him he is aware that "Big Brother is watching." Cameras are everywhere recording everything, making sure he shows no sign of desiring freedom or individuality. In a moment of defiance Smith decides to begin journaling his thoughts against the government, which is also illegal. Thought Police will arrest and execute anyone who thinks for themselves -- especially thoughts against the government. The Thought Police's job was simple: monitor everyone and deal with those who show signs of free will. Free thinkers are seen as a problem to the government and are to be blotted out. Winston must be careful not to let Big Brother know of his thoughts, or he will face a certain death.
Above is a brief summary of George Orwell's novel, 1984. The story is incredible, but what turns it from thrilling fantasy and terrifying reality is the story is not too far removed from truth -- at least for those who are looking.
In 2001, only six weeks after 9/11, in reaction to the attacks on the World Trade Centers, President Bush signed into law the US Patriot Act. It's an extremely complex law, but in summary, it gives the Federal Government the authority to wiretap any phone in the country and listen in on the call. In 2012, President Obama signed the NDAA, National Defense Authorization Act. This is an extension of Bush's Patriot Act but also includes emails and text messages. In addition, the NDAA monitors which websites you're viewing. Both these laws were touted as being an instrument in preventing terrorist attacks, but since 2001, not a single terrorist attack has been foiled and our rights as Americans are being stripped. Like Winston Smith, we are now are being watched by Big Brother.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Screen-Shot-2013-11-10-at-9.28.31-PM.png"><img class=" wp-image-102245 aligncenter" alt="President Obama - Affordable Care Act - Obamacare" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Screen-Shot-2013-11-10-at-9.28.31-PM.png" width="570" height="387" /></a>
In today's America, we are constantly surveilled. After the NDAA passed, President Obama was asked about America's spying program. Obama claimed no Americans were being watched -- but he was caught lying and the American people were outraged. Unfortunately, that white hot rage has dulled to a slow simmer. Obama's administration was again caught spying on the Associated Press, reading emails and wiretapping phone lines. Again though, the American people have simply shrugged it off and accepted it as a normal part of society.
I have to challenge this way of thinking, however, this idea of "It's just the way it is." Is it not a problem to you that every call you make, every text you send, and every website you view is being sent to a server outside Fort Meade, Maryland, to the National Security Agency's headquarters? Do you not care that every time you get into your car and drive to work, someone knows you're not home? What happened to the 4th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America?It clearly says:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated..."
You have the right to not be spied on, but we passively accept it as normal. If the Patriot Act and the NDAA were passed to spy on terrorists, why are we the one's being watched? We are not the enemy of the State, so why are we being watched like we are?
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Obama-Big-Brother.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-258669 aligncenter" alt="Obama-Big-Brother" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Obama-Big-Brother.jpg" width="425" height="318" /></a>
If the NSA's spying program doesn't scare you, Google "FEMA camps." FEMA stands for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In case of emergency, the federal government has the authority to control every resource in America. The roads, communications, food and water supplies, healthcare, everything. Imagine a world where you can't drive, get food or water, go to the hospital or even make a phone call to a loved one without the government's permission? The government will claim it is for our protection, but I would much rather have freedom to do as I wish. Again, a place that has complete security, but all its resources are managed is nothing more than a jail cell.
President Obama has also admitted these FEMA camps can be used to detain those deemed a threat to the State. You can be arrested and sent to a camp for as long as the government thinks you're a threat -- up to 10 years. I beg you to do your homework on this. I'll even get you started:
If the government thinks you'll commit a crime, even 10 years down the road, they claim to have the authority to detain you and hold you until they feel that desire to commit crime has subsided. This is a clear violation of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Amendments of the US Constitution -- but we Americans passively continue on with life. Sure, most of us will never fall under these pretenses -- but once the government ventures down this avenue, what is to say they cannot abuse this power? And then, who can stop them?
And finally, the right of freedom of speech has been eroded. Michelle Obama spoke to a group of high school seniors in Topeka, Kansas, on Friday, May 16. In her speech, what topic did she choose? Racism. Topeka, Kansas is the site of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education" target="_blank">landmark case</a>, Brown vs. the Board of Education. During her 20 minute <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCok_74npPM" target="_blank">speech</a>, the First Lady chose to remind us all that after 60 years since the civil rights movement -- America is still racist. Mrs. Obama made sure to mention her husband, the first black President, and made sure to praise Jason Collins and Michael Sam for being openly gay. Two things: one, I couldn't care less who those men sleep with -- two, I don't remember the President giving Tim Tebow a call from the White House calling him a hero for his stance on Christianity. I must've missed that headine.
Mrs. Obama continued her speech by claiming older generations make racially insensitive comments and thoughts like that should be challenged. Now, I've heard my grandparents say some pretty wild things, but never once have I asked them to apologize for their words. Because like it or not, having an opinion is not a crime, no matter how unpopular. The French philosopher Voltaire once said, "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/michelle-obama.png"><img class=" wp-image-258670 aligncenter" alt="michelle obama" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/michelle-obama.png" width="570" height="341" /></a>
If you were to say, "I hate white people," or "I hate men," or "I hate Christians" -- of which I am all three - that's okay in today's society. You're allowed to have and voice that opinion, despite it being hateful speech. But if one were to say the opposite, they are a bigot and scorned by the public. This double standard is so uneven, inconsistent, and unfair to all.
People are so politically correct in today's society, we can't say anything or even hold an opinion without someone getting offended. The First Amendment of the Constitution has been put in place to protect the people's voice. The First Amendment does not grant us liberty to talk about the weather. It allows and even encourages people to say controversial things without persecution. It's not very tolerant of someone to voice an opinion and whoever doesn't agree demand they be silenced. Without the ability to argue your opinion, we lose individuality. Not everyone is going to agree with every belief one holds. When everyone agrees about everything without question, we lose a very human aspect and become very robotic in opinion.
We can't be afraid of "thought police" or worry about our government because we choose to speak against it. 1984 is a fictional story written by George Orwell. Don't let it become a reality written by the oppressors. Six Amendments have been broken countless times by our government in under 15 years. We, like Winston, face an all seeing government where unsavory thoughts and not-yet-committed crimes can imprison a person. It may be a lot to take in at once. Some may read this and feel I am crazy. But for those who have seen what I've seen and feel as I feel, just know - you are not alone.
Photos via: Google -- <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tbridge/4419538751/" target="_blank">Tom Bridge</a>
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-05-21T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:13:26-07:00Tyler Kingtag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14999Why I Hate Driving in the Twin Cities<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/screaming_driver.jpg"><img class="wp-image-252583 aligncenter" alt="screaming_driver" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/screaming_driver.jpg" width="570" height="387" /></a>
I work for Minnesota Connected as an Intern, and I come to the actual office twice a week; to do that I have to drive from Bethel University in Arden Hills, all the way to Eagan. This commute has been my first in a large metropolitan area. It took some time to get used to driving in the Twin Cities, but I still don’t think it’s possible to ever enjoy driving in the cities.
While I now better understand how the roads here work, how to actually get places, and how people drive, I still fear for my life every time I get behind the wheel. I may be just a bit too paranoid about this, but I have some foundation to it. Here’s why I hate driving in the Twin Cities.
1. The Speed Limit is Always a Suggestion
I learned long ago that every Minnesotan speeds. Usually though it is just up to five miles over. That’s fine with me, especially when there are so many stretches of road with 50+ limits. Going just five miles over isn’t going to have near as much effect. But when you get onto any road named 35 or 94, regardless of sign posting, people try to drive 70 or more.
2. Stoplight Etiquette
The town I come from has only one stoplight, and I still count it as one of the most annoying stoplights I have to deal with. But for me, the problem is not so much the light, as the people waiting for it. It always makes me nervous when I’m waiting at a light and the person in the lane next to me is edging forward: just every now and again pulling up one more inch. Edging forward at a stoplight is entirely unnecessary; the light isn’t going to change any faster. But nudging up to the line like that gives other drivers the impression that you’re about to bolt, which never works well when there’s a constant stream of cross traffic directly ahead of you.
The other thing I find people don’t realize is that you shouldn’t block the intersection. Sometimes you just can’t judge if there’s enough space ahead of you, but having a whole line of cars across an intersection? That’s unacceptable. I know it’s annoying how many every intersection has a stoplight, and sometimes you just get caught between them, but that’s no reason to block another person that’s just waiting for their stoplight to change so that they can get to the next one, and are unfortunate enough to be traveling perpendicularly to you.
3. Road Design
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Interstate_Rendering.jpg"><img class="wp-image-252582 aligncenter" alt="Interstate_Rendering" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Interstate_Rendering.jpg" width="570" height="318" /></a>
There are some stretches of the Twin Cities where the roads are just nightmares. Minneapolis is all one-way streets, and there end up being these nests of connecting major roads that all tangle into each other. I always end up in one of those nests when trying to follow my GPS back to Bethel. You see, the better entrance is on an unnamed private road, which the GPS assumes is illegal for me to drive down. So it tries to send me all the way around campus so that I can connect to 51 South.
But there are many other great design flaws, many of which I haven’t personally encountered, but I’ve heard others complain of.
4. Signaling
This one is pretty simple: some people just don’t know how to use their signals. I have seen too many cars merge and weave about traffic without giving any indication of their intent to the other drivers. Almost unfortunately this ends up not being much of a problem, as the people that do this are paying attention to the space provided them.
No, the real worst thing about signal lights in the Twin Cities is when they get ignored. Most often there is one nice driver who will actually let you into the lane before you have to make your turn, but it always sucks to be driving on those days where not a single person is feeling like being reasonable.
So, there you have it big city people: why I am so glad to be going home for the summer, aside from being free of class.
Photos via: Fredrik Skold (Alamy) -- Google
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors.
2014-05-20T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:13:29-07:00Kevin Wingetag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15070Getting a Bachelor's Degree in Three Years[caption id="attachment_234147" align="aligncenter" width="564"]<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/My-friends-and-I-at-our-high-school-graduation.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-234147 " alt="Leah Putz - Graduate " src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/My-friends-and-I-at-our-high-school-graduation.jpg" width="564" height="404" /></a> Leah Putz (middle)[/caption]
When I tell people I’m graduating college in a few weeks, I get bombarded with questions- “How old are you?” – “Didn’t you just graduate high school?” – or sometimes even just, “How did you manage that?!”
My answers to the first two questions are simple- “I just turned 21” – and – “Yep, I left high school in 2011.” The answer to the last question is a bit more complicated.
My road to graduating college two semesters early began my sophomore year of high school, as that was the year I took my first A.P. class. A.P. is short for Advanced Placement, and it’s the nickname given to college level classes offered in many Minnesota high schools. At the end of these courses, students are given an A.P. test, and if they score high enough on the test then they are given college credit for the course. These courses are more difficult and dole out more homework, but if the test is passed, the student won’t have to take that class in college.
Throughout my high school career, I took six of these classes. While that sounds like I loaded up, I spread them out so I could manage my homework levels. I took one sophomore year, two as a junior, and three as a senior. I received mediocre test scores on the A.P. tests, but that was still enough to earn me college credit for all six of the courses I took.
As well as taking A.P. classes, I opted to take a few classes at the Inver Hills Community College under the Post-Secondary Enrollment Option, or PSEO. This option allows high school students to enroll in classes at a college of their choice for free, earning both high school and college credits for these classes. I spread these courses out as well, taking just two per year my junior and senior years so I could manage them with my A.P. classes. I also decided to only take classes that were offered online. This made it a lot easier to manage my time as I didn’t have to try to rush from around from school to school to make it to my classes. The online option gave me the opportunity to work on my course work when I had time during the week.
Looking back, I’m not sure how I managed this all, considering I was also working two part time jobs. I remember doing homework in my car between school and work, and then getting home at 10:30 and staying up until one in the morning finishing homework. And then getting up the next morning and doing it all over again. While it’s definitely not ideal, all of this hard work made it possible for me to enter college as a sophomore.
<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/University_of_Minnesota_entrance_sign_1.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-234148 aligncenter" alt="University_of_Minnesota_entrance_sign_1" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/University_of_Minnesota_entrance_sign_1.jpg" width="570" height="312" /></a>
The road to graduating early didn’t end there though -- each semester at the University of Minnesota I worked tediously with my advisor to find the perfect courses to fit all the requirements I needed. I had no gaps to fill with classes I felt like taking or wanted to take —everything was filled with courses specifically suited to fill major requirements or general education requirements. And this semester I loaded myself up with 21 credits to make sure I was able to graduate on time.
I’m sure in a few years I’ll look back on these moments and wonder how I did it, considering now I’ve got two part time jobs and an internship.
I’d recommend the route I took to anyone. After three years of college, almost everyone I know is ready to be done with school, but most of them still have a full year left. While I think the hard work I put in was worth it and would recommend it to anyone, I definitely think that if you’re going to take the route I took, don’t do it the way I did. Don’t try to work multiple jobs whilst balancing so much school work. I nearly drove myself crazy and burnt myself out. If you can get away with it, don’t work at all. Getting a good education is much more important than maintaining a part time job that you’ll only be at for a few years anyways.
Even without working, getting a four year degree in three years is hard work. But graduating a year early saved me no less than $20,000, and I’d say a few years of hard work are worth that.
Photos via: Leah Putz -- Alexius Horatius
2014-04-29T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:13:58-07:00Leah Putztag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15072What Does a Man Like Victor Barnard Ask of Parents?[caption id="attachment_230421" align="aligncenter" width="570"]<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Victor-Barnard-and-his-Maidens.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-230421 " alt="Undated photo with Victor Barnard and his "Maidens"" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Victor-Barnard-and-his-Maidens.jpg" width="570" height="318" /></a> Undated photo with Victor Barnard and his "Maidens"[/caption]
The <a href="http://www.people.com/article/Victor-Barnard-arrested-59-counts-child-molestation" target="_blank">news</a> of Victor Barnard, the Finlayson "Pastor" (more like cult leader), has settled upon Minnesota for a solid week. He's accused of 59 counts of child molestation and the manhunt continues for him in Washington state (he fled there when the investigation of him began in earnest in 2012).
The questions Barnard has brought to the surface about the authorities, the investigative work, the mindset of the victims and the "ignorance"of the parents constitutes far more than what can be summarized in an article; but for parents, even though this is an extreme case, it's worth trying to put a finger on a few.
Intuition
"Minnesota Nice" is what we call it. It's often characterized as a painful avoidance of conflict by smoothing problems over and moving forward. Blissful ignorance is beneficial sometimes. In the case of Victor Barnard (and others) though, it seems the pleasant and blissful wishes of the followers may have stifled the intuition of many individuals.
If something feels wrong in a situation, parents should ask certain questions. Is there proper accountability in place? Is fear (or maybe embarrassment) the only reason for not addressing the issue?
Communication
In a distracted world full of charismatic forces, it's very easy to let barriers get in the way of relationships (even between parents and children). In an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpMlH474Uyg" target="_blank">interview</a> one of the victims, Lindsay Tornambe, recounted to Nancy Grace a conversation with her mother in 2012; she tried going through some of the "incidents", but her mother seemed to dismiss them as "mistakes."
More questions come to mind from this. How easy is it for your child to tell you something difficult? What are things that can be done to keep these lines of communication open?
Denying vs. Correcting
Another part of the interview that struck me was how Tornambe described her father's reaction. He still looked at her as his "little girl." He was in a state of denial, frozen into inaction by disbelief. As a parent and protector her father was the first (and in many ways the last) line of defense she had. One of Tornambe's former high school girlfriends (she remains unnamed) mentioned in a Star Tribune <a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/255833281.html" target="_blank">article</a> that she was nearly coerced by him into joining "The Way" (a cult he fell in with during college), but it was her family that kept her out (and had to do it by using force).
It's important for parents to confront both reality and the situations facing their loved ones. What constitutes a reason to step in? What are reasons not to?
[caption id="attachment_230420" align="aligncenter" width="570"]<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Lindsay-Tornambe.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-230420 " alt="Lindsay Tornambe" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Lindsay-Tornambe.jpg" width="570" height="376" /></a> Lindsay Tornambe[/caption]
Victor Barnard is not lurking around every corner, but its worth trying to understand what sort of failures happened. It's easy for Nancy Grace (in her interview with Tornambe) to describe this as a "wake up call" and to warn parents to "protect their children." The not so easy part in all of this dwells in the why and how.
Photos via: Google -- Fox 9
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-04-28T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:13:59-07:00Erik Bergstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:1508812 Possible Names for the New Stadium's Plaza[caption id="attachment_227476" align="aligncenter" width="570"]<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Conceptual-View-of-the-Plaza.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-227476 " alt="A version of the plaza, with light-rail, facing toward the stadium" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Conceptual-View-of-the-Plaza.jpg" width="570" height="408" /></a> A version of the plaza, with light-rail, facing toward the stadium[/caption]
The design for the new Viking's stadium calls for a large open plaza. It will include a transit station for the light-rail, a wonderfully glassy entrance to the venue itself and a not so glassy view of the (also newly constructed) Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center (which will be directly across from the doors). Yet a large question mark remains: what will this plaza be called?
The proposed "Downtown East Plaza" isn't very catchy and will not make it to the final product. Here are some alternative ideas for you Minneapolis.
#12 Denny's Green
If you've heard anything from a Minnesota fan, that made them tear up on the spot -- it was probably from the 1998 NFC Championship matchup with the Falcons. But maybe we can put those demons to rest with a big statue of their coach: Denny Green. Just have him taking a knee of course!
#11 The Strib's Strip
Minneapolis' favorite newspaper wasted no time in getting out of their suddenly highly valued buildings (they are adjacent to the plaza). We could applaud them for their balanced coverage on the issue (which just happened to pay off really well) with some naming rights.
#10 Rybak's Ruins
If Minneapolis were to suddenly pull a "Detroit" and had no money to finish the project, then I'm sure this would be a fitting name. Thankfully, that's not likely (and neither is using RT's name).
#9 Humphrey's Hub
The late, great Hubert Humphrey might not have an inflated hump to his name anymore, but perhaps this could be a lingering consolation prize?
#8 Wilf's Ward
Zygi isn't shy about <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/news/vikings-stadium-update-team-increases-private-contribution-mls-headed-to-mn_224391/" target="_blank">pushing money</a> into the stadium situation. Maybe he could persuade a swivel-eyed politician or three into letting him build condos on top of the Juvenile Detention Center. A vague yet uplifting title would suit them, maybe something like Reach for the Sky!
#7 Peterson's Promenade
Would this be named after #28? Of course not. But somebody important to Minnesota for other reasons (who just happens to have the same last name) will do. The fans would be none the wiser.
#6 The Mondale Mall
It doesn't matter which Mondale it's named after; it would be just as random either way.
#5 Pawlenty's Plaza
I fear Pawlenty is going to be the forgotten governor of our times. It's often forgotten that he held the office for a whoppin' 8 years! Oh and he ran for President too... I think. Let's just make sure there's lots of vanilla ice cream stands dotting this version of the square (get it?).
#4 Betsy's Bluff
Here the engineers could craft a long hill-like design onto the plaza by running the light-rail through a shallow tunnel. Just send them the right plans this time.
#3 The Ventura Walk
Jesse may not be responsible for the new stadium, but he knows all about the whole conspiracy and the masterminds behind the deal. He will seek them out and demand to know "Just what's going on here!?" If they don't give him answers, maybe he'll settle for this (he could also donate his tax rebate for a statue of himself in the middle).
#2 Dayton's Dream
The name might be a little different, but so is our governor. The sculptures in this version of the space would be best left uninterpreted.
#1 Bud's Boardwalk
The former Viking's coach is the most deserving of the plaza's name. Just don't expect any heated surfaces when it's negative thirty degrees.
Photo via: Vikings.com
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-04-24T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:14:06-07:00Erik Bergstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15094Life After College: Our Battle, Not Yours<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/student-debt.gif"><img class="size-full wp-image-225704 aligncenter" alt="student-debt" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/student-debt.gif" width="432" height="432" /></a>
Not so long ago, college was affordable without students mortgaging their future by taking out multiple loans -- finding a job in the field you went to school for didn't seem like a leap of faith. Colleges were not these mammoth institutions run like businesses. Now, attending college is more difficult and expensive than ever before -- life after isn't so easy either.
College graduates are having a harder time than ever landing that job that will gain them independence from their parents, put them on a path to that dream career, and help them steadily pay off their student loans. Many have moved back in with their parents and have gotten to the point of applying for pretty much any job that gets them a steady paycheck that will still not allow them to move out.
While the search for them goes on, even for that just-for-the-paycheck job, there's another group of older adults who seem to look at those recent grads who took over their parents' basement and point fingers at them for being lazy, and not being a "go-getter." They point fingers at the generation called “The Millennials” for the way they're living their life -- apparently it hasn't occurred to them that events like a recession put a damper on the current generation's ability to pursue their career aspirations as well as other things that came to previous generations so easily (like affording college).
Another thing they apparently don't understand is that no one is more frustrated at their current situation than the Millennials themselves.
Trust me, I'm one of them. There's this thing called pride, and it can take a beating from post college life. I graduated in May of 2013, and didn't even find that paycheck job until late October.
During that period of unemployment, I sent out countless applications. I even had interviews where I kept going further into the process, but then I would get the call that said they were going with someone else. I even went to an employment agency, and got a couple interviews, but nothing ever panned out.
Did I receive help? Yes, my parents did help me out financially during that six month period, but it's not one of those things you go out and celebrate about. Believe it or not the average graduate actually wants to be able to pay for things themselves, and it takes a lot of pride-swallowing from them to ask their parents for gas money.
<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Student-Debt-Cartoon-Big.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-225705 aligncenter" alt="Student-Debt-Cartoon-Big" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Student-Debt-Cartoon-Big.jpg" width="570" height="444" /></a>
Yes, I know there are those who spend all day in their parents', or grandparents', basement just lounging around, but they represent our generation about as well as the Westboro Baptist Church represents Christianity. You can go on about how it was back in your day, but that day you talk so fondly about passed a long time ago.
We're doing the best we can. You may not agree with how we're going about it, but you aren't growing up in these times. We are.
Images via: <a href="http://www.fewings.ca/" target="_blank">Fewings.ca</a> -- <a href="http://www.cagle.com/" target="_blank">Cagle Cartoons</a>
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-04-22T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:14:09-07:00Andy Ellistag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15109It Works For Obama, It Works For Me<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/obama.jpg"><img class="wp-image-223018 aligncenter" alt="Barak Obama-United States-Politics" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/obama.jpg" width="570" height="369" /></a>
The Affordable Health Care Act, or Obamacare as it has been called, has been in the news a great deal recently, well, for years actually — and fortunately for President Obama, the headlines lately have been mostly positive.
President Obama proudly announced April 17 that 8 million people have signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Health Care Act. That number exceeds by 1 million the target set by the Obama administration for people to buy insurance through government-run health care exchanges.
“This thing is working,” Obama <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/17/us-usa-healthcare-obama-idUSBREA3G24820140417" target="_blank">said</a>.
The Affordable Health Care Act is covering more people at less cost than most people would have predicted a few months ago, the president said, noting that 35 percent of them were under the age of 35. These numbers counter predictions that it would be mainly older or sick people who would sign up under the Affordable Health Care Act.
Personally, I am thankful for Obamacare. Back in November, it took me less time to sign up for health insurance via MNsure than it did to finish my morning cup of coffee. After all the <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/news/affordable-healthcare-act-already-hiccuping-badly-negatives-from-law-keep-piling-up_75477/" target="_blank">gloom and doom</a> I read about Obamacare, I was prepared to spend hours, days or even weeks battling the demons waiting for me when it came to finding a decent health-insurance plan. Instead, I signed up, provided a few basic facts, plugged in some numbers and bam! I had health insurance. Now I pay a monthly premium that doesn’t break the bank and feel modestly better about life while having quality insurance.
[caption id="attachment_223019" align="aligncenter" width="570"]<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/joe-climb.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-223019 " alt="joe climb" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/joe-climb.jpg" width="570" height="425" /></a> With hobbies like these, health insurance is a good thing for Joseph Friedrichs.[/caption]
Almost 62 percent of Minnesotans who had relied on the state’s safety net insurance pool have found better health care coverage on MNsure or the individual market, far exceeding goals, officials at the organization stated, <a href="http://www.startribune.com/business/253988471.html" target="_blank">according</a> to the Star Tribune.
About 95 percent of those who signed up for a private plan have paid their first month’s premium, MNsure officials <a href="http://www.startribune.com/business/253988471.html" target="_blank">say</a>.
Truth be told, the initial-enrollment period, which ended in March, did not come and go without its hiccups. There were computer glitches, website crashes, hours-long waits to speak to healthcare operators, and the list goes on. However, what was happening was groundbreaking and new. When humans were inventing aircraft, did the plane just launch off the ground and fly away? No, it took time. It is very difficult, particularly for members of the Republican Party, to understand this.
“I find it strange that the Republican position on this law is still stuck,” the President <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/will-the-gop-ever-move-obamacare" target="_blank">said</a>. “They still can’t bring themselves to admit that the Affordable Health Care Act is working.”
Indeed, Mr. President. That being the case, it doesn’t change the fact politics is, at best, a trivial game of who’s right and who’s a dunce. Often times finding the middle ground in politics is like asking the Minnesota Twins to win the World Series this season: it just isn’t going to happen. Human beings are too stubborn, or in some cases just too stupid to make peace, trust and equality the true foundations of a society.
Anyhow, if I get beat up by the <a href="http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/25268776/police-brutality-roseville-officers-accused-of-beating-immigrant" target="_blank">Roseville Police Department</a> today, or run over by an automobile under the controls of some crazed drunk driver, at least I’ll have health insurance to help me out.
And for that, I am thankful to President Obama.
Photos via: Google -- Joseph Friedrichs
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-04-17T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:14:15-07:00Joseph Friedrichstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15121Sign of the Times: An Opportunity to Truly Unite Non-Hearing and Hearing Individuals in the Workplace<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Sign-Language-Hearing-Impaired-2014.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-219720 aligncenter" alt="Sign-Language-Hearing-Impaired-2014" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Sign-Language-Hearing-Impaired-2014.jpg" width="562" height="374" /></a>
Do you know what it feels like to be chosen last for a school sports team? How would you feel if you were never chosen at all? This sense of exclusion maybe just what many people who are hearing-impaired experience in the typical work environment.
As an employee of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), I had the opportunity to attend several panel discussions on the topic of accessibility for individuals with partial or total hearing loss. With the help of their interpreters, hearing-impaired employees from various cultures recounted similar experiences. These employees reported they are generally isolated from their peers with only the occasional wave or simple sign gesture to start their day. With nothing else to divert their attention, they have tired, sore eyes from focusing on their computer screens for long periods of time. Lunch breaks are often solitary without a conversation partner to discuss trials and triumphs of the day. Marginalized by society – whether intentionally or not – these people are seeking, sometimes quite desperately, to be understood and to be welcomed into the mainstream.
After considering the concerns of this particular panel, a 30-something fellow with a long white cane stood up and declared that he felt very lucky in comparison to those who live with a hearing disability. His lack of sight, he contended, presents not nearly the challenges to him that the lack of hearing apparently presents to panel members. I don’t recall ever hearing such a value judgment made between the visually-impaired and the hearing-impaired, though it emphasized the point that physical disabilities are, in fact, experienced or viewed in different ways.
That day, a couple of us hearing folk tried to reach out to those on the panel who seemed to wish a connection with us as well. We asked the designated contacts whether we could be work buddies for those hearing-impaired individuals seeking the same. Even after several follow-up emails, we were still unable to get connected with our non-hearing colleagues and would-be friends.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/bridging-the-hearing-impaired-gap-in-the-workplace.png"><img class=" wp-image-219721 aligncenter" alt="bridging the hearing impaired gap in the workplace" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/bridging-the-hearing-impaired-gap-in-the-workplace.png" width="570" height="403" /></a>
I pondered how an entire segment of employees and the coworkers who wanted to know them could continue to be inaccessible to each other, not only because of our primary communication barrier, but also because of the secondary dependency on others to create and maintain communication opportunities for us. What other different abilities or manifestations might separate us from each other in the workplace? Introverts must have a tough time fitting into work groups that seem to require more outgoing personalities.
Certainly, employees of the “sandwich generation” who juggle needs and schedules of kids and elderly parents may miss chances for off-work time with colleagues or opportunities to travel with their project team. In considering employee profiles that may lie outside the perceived mainstream, I envisioned ways that broad inclusion of hearing-impaired individuals in the workplace might become a reality.
In my experience, employees with hearing loss clearly have a difficult time entering the mainstream. Sure, some are able to read lips to some extent, but lip-reading is neither a pervasive nor expected skill for these individuals. Instead of insisting that the non-hearing world integrate with the hearing world, why not meet each other halfway?
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Hearing-Impaired-Phone.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-219722 aligncenter" alt="Hearing-Impaired-Phone" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Hearing-Impaired-Phone.jpg" width="567" height="324" /></a>
If basic American Sign Language were a requirement for new employees, at least in non-private organizations, important outcomes could be realized. First, better communication among the approximately 18 million adults, ages 18-65, who experience hearing loss (2012 DHS statistic) and their hearing counterparts could result. Hearing-impaired employees could more fully participate in virtually any type of workplace activity – in supervisory roles, on project teams, in informal gatherings during or after work; the possibilities would surely be endless. Secondly, differently-abled individuals (that would include all of us) would be appreciated and experienced as equivalent colleagues in the workplace.
Not that long ago, women and men carried out predominantly separate roles in and out of the workplace. By expending the requisite time and effort learning to respect unique needs and dispel assumed differences, we have gradually learned to support each other’s strengths and enjoy a more eclectic work environment. Many workplaces require new employees to take classes on "Respecting Diversity in the Workplace" and "Right-To-Know Training" (for working with hazardous materials, even if we don’t). We should be able to add to the onboarding process this small, but significant component: training in the essentials of American Sign Language.
No longer must a substantial segment of the work population be relegated to the sidelines. No longer should the hearing impaired be the last or never chosen member of the team. With fundamental training of new and existing employees in sign language basics and a renewed focus on inclusivity in the workplace, we can ensure that each hearing-impaired employee is a welcome colleague, a team participant, and a potential friend.
Photos via: Google
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-04-14T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:14:19-07:00Jana Pantag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15149Three Types of People Who Had a Worse Week Than You<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/bad-week.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" alt="" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/bad-week.jpg" width="570" height="436" /></a>
Your work piled up, your social life suffered, you had a flat tire and worst of all — the barista messed up your drink order.
It'd be easy to wallow in the misfortune last week brought, but no. Minnesotans pick themselves up, shake off any remaining snow from Friday's storm, and get back into the grind.
Besides, as bad as your week was, I can guarantee you there are many more who had it worse than you. So suck it up buttercup, enjoy the beautiful April weather forecasted for this week (it is supposed to be 70º tomorrow), and consider the plight of those for whom last week was worse.
#1 — Those Who Missed the Obamacare Deadline
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/obamacare-deadline.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-211353 aligncenter" alt="obamacare deadline" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/obamacare-deadline.jpg" width="580" height="407" /></a>
First on our list of people who had a worse week than you are those who forgot to sign up for Obamacare. In 2010 when Obamacare became law, almost 50 millions Americans didn't have health insurance.
And, if since that day, you haven't gotten any health insurance through Obamacare, I have some bad news for you: The deadline to sign up for Obamacare was midnight on March 31 (If you had started the application process before that time, you have an extra two weeks before your application is due).
Don't worry, though! As often as this bill has been changed, I'm sure the President will provide yet another extension without Congressional approval in the near future.
#2 — The How I Met Your Mother Fandom
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/how-I-met-your-mother.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" alt="how I met your mother" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/how-I-met-your-mother.jpg" width="570" height="320" /></a>
Next on the list: the HIMYM fandom. Before delving too deeply into this fresh wound, I just want to preface by saying this was a TV show — it's not real life. Marshall and Lily and Robin and Barney and Ted do not really exist.
Now, let's continue. How I Met Your Mother first appeared in 2005 and on Monday, March 31st, the series finale aired. In an age of technology and instant video sharing, I don't feel I need to hide anything or announce SPOILER ALERT! before each new sentence. It's been a week — if you haven't seen it yet, you need to get a new TV, or friends, or job. Or something.
Anyway, while the episode did have some happy moments — Marshall and Lily having another baby, the blue french horn, Barney's chat with his daughter — this episode really should have been a celebration of the series. It wasn't. Lily went back to her usual "needing to control everything all the time" mentality, Barney and Robin got divorced and Tracy Moseby dies of an unknown sickness.
A lot of questions still remain with the finale and these questions, to the chagrin of the shows fans, may never be answered. I guess the only thing left to do would be watch them all over again on Netflix. What a punishment, right?
#3 — The Minnesota Twins Faithful Followers
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/twins-slide.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" alt="twins slide" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/twins-slide.jpg" width="570" height="362" /></a>
And finally — the Twins and their fans round out this list Ok, so this one isn't too bad. Though they <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/arts-entertainment/sports/not-a-great-start-for-the-2014-minnesota-twins_206898/" target="_blank">started</a> 0-2, the Twins found a way to get back to an even 3-3 leading up to their home opener at Target Field (though they lost that 8-3).
This, I suppose, is more of a lament of likely things to come. With a spring training record of 9 wins, 16 losses, and 3 ties, Gardy has an uphill battle ahead of him and the Twins are about as good as we can expect them to be. After looking at the schedule and the team, I really don't have high hopes for them.
The Twins lack luster. With Morneau out, their top home run hitter is Brian Dozier, who hit 18 in 2013. The pitching staff is weak as well (though likely better than 2013). Anthony Swarzak and Ricky Nolasco are as good as Twins can hope for, with 2.91 and 3.70 ERA's and 3-2 and 13-11 records respectively in 2013.
Baseball's opening week is always an exciting time of year. But it's tough to hear "It's a rebuilding year" season after season. The Twins have a young and talented roster, but talent can only go so far. You need to give players time to develop, and many times, by the time they develop they’re sick of playing for a losing team — or ownership is unwilling to pony up the cash to keep them — so they leave. Thus the team needs to find new talent, and the vicious cycle continues.
**
There. Now last week doesn't seem so bad, does it?
You still got your coffee (eventually), the flat tire allowed you to walk to work that day and get some exercise, and while that mounting pile of work is daunting, you can always sigh with relief that you have a job.
And I mean, it's not like any of the above describe you — you did remember to get health insurance, right?
Photos via: CNN — askcleo.com — theRepublic — comneoavatara.com
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-04-07T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:14:32-07:00Tyler Kingtag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15195A Controversial Nazi Party at Gastof's and the Surrounding Backlash <a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/nazi-armband.jpg"><img class="wp-image-198835 aligncenter" alt="nazi armband" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/nazi-armband.jpg" width="570" height="298" /></a>
Once, several years back, I attended a Halloween party with some friends. As I arrived, I noticed the parties' host, a good friend of mine, had a swastika armband on as part of a quarter-assed costume he'd thrown together an hour before his guests showed up.
I remember my stomach sinking when I saw it.
I knew this guy well — he was kind and generous person. I knew there wasn't an ounce of anything resembling Nazi-support in him. His costume was at worst an indication of his naivety, immaturity and one thoughtless decision, not evidence of calculated bigotry or deep-seated darkness.
I'd known him 20 years — he was being stupid, not hateful.
To my best recollection, after a few minutes of party arrival pleasantries, I pulled him aside and said something like:
"Dude, you do not want to be wearing a swastika armband. I know you don't mean anything by it — it's just a incredibly dumb and offensive costume idea — but someone is going to get a picture of that with their cellphone, it's going on Facebook, and you'll won't live it down for a long time."
I don't remember if I said this to him or not, but I also remember thinking:
"You are a bright, kind, thoughtful person — take that horrible nonsense off so you don't give people who don't know you a reason to think otherwise. Use your head, man. Think."
I don't recall if he took it off right away based on my advice. I have some pictures from that party and I don't see his ill-conceived armband anywhere in sight, so as far as I know he made a good choice and removed his bad costume decision soon after I said my piece.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/new-cpdinnerlogo-560-thumb.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-198836 aligncenter" alt="new-cpdinnerlogo-560-thumb-560x428" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/new-cpdinnerlogo-560-thumb.jpg" width="560" height="428" /></a>
That story from my life came to mind immediately when I first read about the controversy that erupted last week surrounding Gasthof's, a restaurant in Northeast Minneapolis.
If you aren't familiar, here is the quick rundown:
• On March 17th, City Pages <a href="http://blogs.citypages.com/food/2014/03/gasthofs_nazi_photo_gasthof_zur_gemutlichkeit.php" target="_blank">published</a> a photo showing a group of party-goers at local restaurant Gasthof Zur Gemutlichkeit dressed in German army uniforms surrounded by Nazi flags.
• On March 18th, more photos showing swastikas and other Nazi-themed decor from the same party <a href="http://blogs.citypages.com/food/2014/03/additional_phot_1.php" target="_blank">reportedly</a> emerged on Reddit, and were published on City Pages.
• Also on March 18th, the Star Tribune <a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/250887751.html" target="_blank">reported</a> explanations from the January 20th party's "organizer" as well as Gasthof’s owner.
Quoting from Star Tribune on the party's reported organizer Scott Steben:
"By no means do we glorify the edicts of the Third Reich," said Scott Steben, who characterized himself as a history buff who has landed movie parts as a German soldier. "I understand the sensitivity of the subject matter and everything but it did occur and it is history."
He said the group screens out neo-nazis or anyone with a criminal record. He also defended the practice of wearing German uniforms, likening themselves to fans who dress up as Star Trek characters.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/newdinnerpic-560.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-198837 aligncenter" alt="newdinnerpic-560" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/newdinnerpic-560.jpg" width="557" height="577" /></a>
And on Gasthof's owner, Mario Pierzchalski:
Pierzchalski said he’s hosted the party for six years but won’t host it again. He defended the people who attended it, who included men dressed as Italian soldiers and one as an American soldier.
"Those people are very peaceful people," he said referring to the party goers. "They are not any politicians or any against politics or against the parties here. They are just actors."
...Pierzchalski said he doesn’t believe in Nazism but cherishes the freedom he found in the United States when he emigrated here in 1993. He said he’s been taken aback by the hostile reaction many people have had to the party, including threatening online comments and phone calls to the restaurant.
"So now we have a lot of bad messages on our phones; they want to burn down the building," he said. "We live in a free country... but from the comments I see, a lot of people they don’t see what freedom is. If I break the law, punish me. But we did this for so many years and everything was fine."
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/gasthofs-nazi-party.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-198838 aligncenter" alt="gasthofs - nazi party" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/gasthofs-nazi-party.jpg" width="560" height="503" /></a>
• On March 19th, the Star Tribune <a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/251127681.html" target="_blank">published</a> the following apology from Steben:
"On behalf of everyone who participated in a World War II reenactment dinner last January, I apologize. We understand that some of the items we displayed at the dinner have made people feel uncomfortable. That was not our intent," Steben said. "We are currently reviewing our practices so that in the future our members will be more mindful of the unintended effects of the materials we display."
• On March 20th, City Pages <a href="http://blogs.citypages.com/food/2014/03/scott_steben_nazi_dinner_organizer.php" target="_blank">posted</a> more public photos from Steben's Facebook page showing him with an "SS tattoo" and "wearing a jean vest adorned with an Iron Cross, eagle-and-swastika, and an epaulet with a silver button." There is also a picture of him "dressed as an SS officer with SS bolts in the background."
**
This whole story is sad and frustrating.
I'm a big free speech guy — huge advocate. And I tend to think "political correctness" is often misguided and has gotten (way) out of hand.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/free-speech.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-198839 aligncenter" alt="free speech" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/free-speech.jpg" width="570" height="506" /></a>
One of the many reasons I love this country is because its citizens are allowed to think, speak and express themselves in nearly any way they choose. As Americans, we have this powerful ability to enter the public forum and call things like we see them, even if others disagree — and even if we are dead wrong. This freedom provides all citizens the ability to be heard and also to hear the free voices of others — it's a big part of how we all learn and grow.
Sometimes, this right to freedom of expression is used to accomplish <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/news/young-girl-shaves-head-to-support-cancer-striken-friend-gets-banned-from-school_197688/" target="_blank">wonderful</a>, <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/arts-entertainment/movies/redefining-success-frozen-and-the-lego-movie-make-a-case-for-family-friendly-entertainment_182053/" target="_blank">creative</a> and <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/news/editorial/whats-right-about-sports-malik-stewart_187322/" target="_blank">inspiring</a> things. Other times it's used to mock, belittle or hurt others. And then other times, it's used for blatant hatred.
Was the January 20th party at Gasthof’s merely a WWII themed gathering of sincere historians of the globe's most consequential conflict, as Steben and Pierzchalski say?
Was it a group of otherwise good-hearted people who made some naive and thoughtless costume and decoration decisions one time at a ill-conceived costume party?
Or was this some sort of calculated, hate-filled, ideological/political statement of neo-Nazism at its worst?
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/neo-nazi-back.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-198840 aligncenter" alt="neo-nazi-back" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/neo-nazi-back.jpg" width="558" height="360" /></a>
I don't know. And I don't know if we can know. Of course, there is no way to peer inside peoples’ heads to gauge their intentions.
At first, I was inclined to give these guys the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it was just a relatively innocent, historically-based reenactment that looked really bad in pictures and was being misunderstood due to a lack of context? That sort of thing happens quite a bit on the Internet, after all.
I mean, as unnerving as it is to see giant swastikas displayed, that hateful symbol is an (unfortunate) part of real history. And, if these guys are re-enacting real history, then I guess swastikas are a part of that.
As I've read more — watching the story evolve and new information come to light — I'm personally having a harder time believing pure naivety, or appreciation of history, is what's happening here...
That said, I'll make no final judgements. It's not my place and, frankly, I'm sick of reading about this story. I try to avoid thinking and writing about swastikas, Nazis, etc. as much as possible — it's too depressing — and I’ve exceeded my personal quota for the year in pondering this particular controversy.
From where I stand, I'll give whatever remaining benefit of the doubt exists to all involved. Instead of judging the intentions of people I’ve never met and whose minds I cannot read, I’ll use my freedom of speech to say what I think about the consequences of the act of expressing one's self in such a way — with swastikas and the like — regardless of intention.
If they are merely naive and unaware to how bad this appears, and this whole Nazi-looking party is just one big misunderstanding, then my advice to those who attended that party would mirror the advice I gave my friend back one Halloween:
"Ladies and gentleman, you do not want to be wearing Nazi SS uniforms and attending parties with giant swastika flags draped on the walls. Perhaps you don't mean anything by it — it's just a really dumb and offensive party idea — but someone got pictures of that party with their cellphone, and now it's on City Pages and the Star Tribune, and it's caused a giant controversy and upset lots of good people."
To Gasthof's owner I'd say something of a similar sentiment:
"You own an apparently cool, popular, successful German restaurant — stop hosting parties using such horrible, nonsense themes and decor so you don't give people who don't know you a reason to think otherwise. Use your head, pal."
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/goebbels-nazi-hatred.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-198841 aligncenter" alt="goebbels - nazi hatred" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/goebbels-nazi-hatred.jpg" width="570" height="327" /></a>
And if it's worse than that, if what the pictures depict is a group of people using their free expression to knowingly celebrate one of the most evil and murderous regimes in the history of mankind, then, I’d like to use my free voice to tell those people as loudly and boldly as my editor will allow:
"You are ignorant and wrong. Stop it. We're trying to have a peaceful, cohesive society here — overt displays of hatred aren't helping anyone. If we are going to make this whole Earth thing work, we can't have large groups of people believing other large groups of people are inherently bad and worthless based on their culture or ethnicity — that is, and always has been, a harmful failure mode for humanity. Knock off all the radical, ideological nonsense and get a hobby that doesn't involve dressing up like war criminals. Try talking to someone about your anger. Try prayer. Try yoga. Try knitting. Try anything that will help you not hate people. Thank you."
As Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Elie Wiesel <a href="http://webfc.ahisd.net/~ecruz/S03037C70.1/Wiesel%20Speech.pdf" target="_blank">said</a> of our individual duty to speak up in the interest of all others:
“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
I'm with Weisel. Speak up when you see injustice and bigotry in any form. Speak up for all of our sake.
In America, it is our right to believe in, and express, nearly any idea that we choose. If some will use that free expression to espouse the edicts of ignorance, oppression and hatred, then those of us who oppose such evils ought not be silent in voicing — with clarity, conviction and due respect — just how wrong and terrible we believe those ideas to be.
Photos via: City Pages -- Google
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-03-26T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:14:51-07:00Brent Leetag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15206Young Girl Shaves Head to Support Cancer-Striken Friend and Gets Suspended From School<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/caprock-academy-bald-head-controversy.png"><img class=" wp-image-197707 aligncenter" alt="caprock academy - bald head controversy" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/caprock-academy-bald-head-controversy.png" width="522" height="294" /></a>
And suddenly, a new nominee emerges for 'Worst Use of a Policy by a School Board in 2014.'
Last month, we <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/news/no-lunch-for-you-moneyless-minnesota-students-denied-meals-at-school_163102/" target="_blank">reported</a> on a <a href="http://mylegalaid.org/news/article/minnesota-lunch-rooms-refuse-hot-lunch-to-children" target="_blank">study</a> of Minnesota schools that found 46 districts refuse to feed students who have insufficient funds in their lunch accounts, sometimes dumping the food from their trays in the trash and stamping their hand with the word "MONEY" to denote they didn't have enough of it to buy lunch today.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/emptytray.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-197695 aligncenter" alt="emptytray" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/emptytray.jpg" width="570" height="479" /></a>
That was crazy and lacked common sense. But, in consolation, I thought to myself, "Self, at least that is as bad as school policy can get. Everything else you read this year will be less stupid than this."
Wrong.
On Monday, the Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction, Colorado <a href="http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/girl-suspended-in-headshaving-act-of-support" target="_blank">reported</a> that a charter school student "was not allowed to go to school after shaving her head in solidarity with a friend battling childhood cancer ".
<a href="http://www.krextv.com/story/9-year-old-sticks-out-to-help-friend-fit-in-20140324" target="_blank">Reports</a> say 9-year-old Kamryn Renfro shaved her head completely bald on Friday.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/kamryn-renfro.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-197689 aligncenter" alt="kamryn renfro" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/kamryn-renfro.jpg" width="570" height="334" /></a>
"I did it so she didn't have to feel left out," said Renfro, referring to her 12-year-old friend Delaney Clements who, despite her young age, has battled cancer for years.
Clements greatly appreciated the gesture:
"People would sometimes call me a boy even though I was all dressed in pink," said Clements, who was diagnosed in with a rare cancer in 2010, adding, "I was really excited that I would have somebody to support me and I wouldn't be alone with people always laughing at me."
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Kamryn-Renfro-with-friend.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-197690 aligncenter" alt="Kamryn Renfro with friend" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Kamryn-Renfro-with-friend.jpg" width="570" height="428" /></a>
To her friend Kamryn she said:
"I just want to say thank you for being a really good friend and actually being brave enough to do it, and not only caring about your hair."
Author's Note: I'm tearing up a bit now — you might be, too. And I bet we're all eagerly waiting to hear the school board's explanation.
Caprock Headmaster Kristin Trezise reportedly declined to be interviewed by the Daily Sentinel when contacted on Monday.
Caprock Board of Directors Chairwoman Catherine M. Norton Breman released a statement later on Monday afternoon confirming shaved heads are not allowed by the school’s dress code <a href="http://caprockacademy.org/caprock-essentials/dress-code/girls-grade-school-dress-code/" target="_blank">policy</a>, “which was created to promote safety, uniformity, and a non-distracting environment for the school’s students.”
Chairwoman Breman did add that exceptions to the policy could be made “under exigent and extraordinary circumstances.”
Hm. Exigent and extraordinary, huh? Sounds fair.
Let's take a look at whether or not this circumstances in this story from Colorado meet the criteria for such an exception:
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Dictionary.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-197694 aligncenter" alt="Dictionary" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Dictionary.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></a>
According to <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/exigently" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a>, "exigent" is defined as "requiring immediate action or aid; urgent; pressing."
With all due respect, Ms. Chairwoman, I would argue that supporting a friend who has cancer — as well as cancer itself — is pretty damned exigent. I'd say it's about as exigent as exigent gets.
"Extraordinary" is <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/extraordinary?s=t" target="_blank">defined</a> as "beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established."
A second definition elaborates:
"Exceptional in character, amount, extent, degree, etc.; noteworthy; remarkable."
I would say both these young ladies are clearly extraordinary according to both definitions.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/girls-renfro-delaney.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-197691 aligncenter" alt="girls renfro delaney" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/girls-renfro-delaney.jpg" width="570" height="320" /></a>
One is dealing courageously with a disease that is far "beyond" what is "usual" or "ordinary;" the other displaying an "exceptional" and "noteworthy" amount of "character" in a display of solidarity — even shaving off her own hair to support a friend.
In fact, I'd say these two students — these two friends — are "amazing" and "inspiring," in addition to being exceptional.
Further, these two young ladies ought to be the subject of a story about good will, friendship and human decency — not a story about some silly school board completely missing the point.
To the school board in question: Knock it off and fix the rule — exigently. Your behavior in this case is exceptionally devoid of common sense — this is the wrong message to send your students. Don't discipline Kamryn Renfro — celebrate her as a model of selflessness and kindness. And let her come to school to be a friend to Delaney.
To Ms. Clements and Ms. Renfro: You go girls! I applaud you both. Thank you for another reminder of how cool and courageous people can be — we need those sorts of <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/news/editorial/whats-right-about-sports-malik-stewart_187322/" target="_blank">reminders</a>, as often as we can get them.
Editor's Note: As of Monday, Caprock Academy emailed the Renfro family and sent out a media statement. While they reiterated their detailed dress policy, they will will be holding a special session on Tuesday. They say exceptions can be made in extraordinary circumstances. They also invited Renfro back to school.
Photos via: Google and Caprock Academy
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors.
2014-03-24T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:14:55-07:00Brent Leetag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15229Linea Palmisano and Others Struggle to Explain Sudden Moratorium<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Linea-Palmisano-Minneapolis-City-Council-13th-Ward.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-191326 aligncenter" alt="Linea Palmisano Minneapolis City Council 13th Ward" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Linea-Palmisano-Minneapolis-City-Council-13th-Ward.jpg" width="570" height="425" /></a>
To grow or not to grow, that is the question — whether 'tis profitable in the purse to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous construction, or to withhold permits from a sea of business.
Something is rotten in southwest Minneapolis as a moratorium (created by Council Member Linea Palmisano and approved by the rest of the City Council) regarding the tearing down of houses goes into its second week. The ordinance dropped suddenly on March 7th causing agitation for homeowners caught midstream, builders looking forward to summer contracts and real estate agents stuck with properties that are now harder to sell.
Yet the mere effects of the moratorium are not alone in their troublesome nature; there are the causes too, which are few and unjustified for such a dramatic move. And there is also the matter of public confidence in the new and untested City Council, a group that seems to be stumbling, faltering and contradicting its own (and its mayor's) goals on a number of fronts.
Let's back up a few steps: during the <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/news/2013-election-day-guide-st-paul-minneapolis-mayoral-races-heat-up_75456/" target="_blank">mayoral race</a> of Minneapolis last year the field of candidates threw around target population numbers like starry-eyed elementary school students; many projected the highest number imaginable (that didn't seem to conflict too harshly with reality). Betsy Hodges, who won, was among these number gazers as she consistently <a href="http://www.journalmpls.com/news/2013-city-election/voters-guide-mayoral-candidates-plans-for-jobs-population-growth" target="_blank">noted</a> the 500,000 mark (which was also shared by her predecessor RT Rybak).
To be fair there have been cities in other states that have obtained such growth and Minneapolis certainly seems to have a "back to the city" trend working for it. Having more people (and thus a higher density) indeed does hold a certain appeal: more money in taxes, more frequented public transit and a livelier energy from all the affordable apartments and condos that young people treasure. In essence a mixture of starving artists and young professionals, though tough to conjure, is what Minneapolis is trying to get by building skywards in places like Uptown. It all comes down to cash (aka taxes), which is both a direct (as mentioned) and long-term reward for making the right kind of high value housing density. Minneapolis doesn't just want more cash either, it needs it; the city is broke -- but it's quite good at masking the fact, God forbid they ever get audited by the state -- and if it ever wants to be able to do some heavy spending again, it will need a larger tax base.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Betsy-Hodges-Minneapolis-Mayor.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-191327 aligncenter" alt="Betsy Hodges Minneapolis Mayor" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Betsy-Hodges-Minneapolis-Mayor.jpg" width="570" height="340" /></a>
Okay so let's fast forward through Hodges and the respective council members winning the election, the floundering with the Southwest Light Rail project, the brawling at the Cedar-Riverside caucus, the plowing and parking (or lack thereof). Let's go to the part where small rambler houses in southwest Minneapolis are being demolished in order to put up larger, modern homes. The part where a few people in the neighborhoods are annoyed by the construction, the houses that appear too big for their lots and the overall disruption to the community they know and love. Here the consistent and overwhelming counterargument should be that Minneapolis wants to be hospitable to investors; that we want larger houses because they mean more property tax which means more money for the city, right? We want cash so our bureaucracy can keep expanding to meet the needs of our expanding bureaucracy, right?
Well, apparently not so.
Why? Because Linea Palmisano of the 13th Ward released a <a href="http://lindenhills.org/13th-ward-teardown-moratorium/" target="_blank">statement</a> basically saying we want to instill a "build like you live next door" mentality, and therefore nobody gets wrecking permits for single or two family homes until we figure out how to get that across.
Yes, children, you are on timeout until you learn how to behave yourselves and play nice. Palmisano gave no warnings, no effort for compromise, no public forums where a wrecking permit ban was discussed and no escalated efforts to try to enforce the existing laws that deal with such things as noise, building height and dumpster placement. Rather she issued a blanket moratorium that (mostly) disregards the effects on individual businesses, finances, lives, homes, etc. So not only is this counter (and more importantly discouraging) to the hopes and needs of Minneapolis, but it is an unprecedented, disruptive and seemingly imperious use of power by Palmisano and the council.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Southwest-Minneapolis-Moratorium.png"><img class=" wp-image-191328 aligncenter" alt="Southwest Minneapolis Moratorium" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Southwest-Minneapolis-Moratorium.png" width="570" height="420" /></a>
And then there was backlash.
A <a href="http://www.nomoratorium.com/" target="_blank">website</a> and a petition have already sprouted to fight Palmisano's ordinance. <a href="http://www.southwestjournal.com/voices/letter-to-the-editor/teardown-moratorium-hurts-citys-momentum" target="_blank">Letters</a> from locals and businesses with additional arguments against the moratorium are accumulating. And this is still with snow on the ground and in the air. When summer construction gets into full swing our builder neighbors are not going to be as patient.
The meetings that have transpired up to this point (mostly with construction business owners) haven't allowed for much debate, but a St. Patrick's Day meeting with the Linden Hills Neighborhood Committee and Zoning Committee produced a bit of a fuss. Palmisano reiterated her reasons for the moratorium (mostly what she said before, plus a new wrinkle about Linden Hills being the most environmentally friendly neighborhood and studying storm run off).
Then, after hearing complaints from businesses and homeowners, Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) official Doug Kress shed additional light on the situation; he claimed that his staff was stretched to the limit from all the new construction.
A nugget of truth at last.
So perhaps it wasn't just the pleas of nostalgic residents that incited the moratorium? Perhaps Palmisano is taking the heat from a more established city official's shortcomings? Well, perhaps Mr. Kress didn't think about the appeal process that has been left open in the ordinance. Now instead of being overwhelmed by administering and enforcing permits, CPED will be overwhelmed by appeals.
So I am left to conclude that our freshly elected and jittery city council member Palmisano is either reacting to (instead of correcting) a complex problem or is simply appeasing CPED (who can't seem to manage their own duties). Either way, she is going to be having a lot of explaining to do with blue-collared Minneapolitans. Best of luck to her.
Photos via: Southwest Journal and KSTP
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-03-18T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:15:04-07:00Erik Bergstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15234Redefining Success -- 'Frozen' and 'The Lego Movie' Make a Case For Family-Friendly Entertainment<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Frozen-characters.jpg"><img class="wp-image-182055 aligncenter" alt="Frozen-characters" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Frozen-characters.jpg" width="570" height="410" /></a>
It's interesting to see two unsuspecting (kind of) movies that have been the biggest hits in theaters over the past months. <a href="http://bit.ly/1ai6Ppj" target="_blank">Frozen</a> has launched a seemingly endless phenomenon, and The Lego Movie has been a smash hit since hitting theaters last month (96% on <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lego_movie/" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes</a>!). It truly intrigues me that these are the two movies that almost everyone has seen and both are still topics of conversation even though Frozen (and out on DVD today) is five months old now, and The Lego Movie released early February.
Like most animated films, these two movies were not on the list for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, or anything like that at the <a href="http://bit.ly/1c7tGEE" target="_blank">Oscars</a> a few weeks back (though Frozen won Best Original Song and Best Animated Feature) -- but most of all, they are not the standard popcorn movies either. Both titles are kids’ movies, but they are being championed by kids and adults alike (I personally loved both).
So what makes these kids’ spectacles suitable for all ages? It would have to be more than just great storytelling; any Best Picture or Best Screenplay nominee would have that. Frozen seems to signal a second Disney Renaissance, bringing their animated features into a Broadway musical scope. The Lego Movie impressed millions by creating a feature-length film out of what seems like someone’s stop-motion Lego project. But, I’d like to cite another reason as the cause: I’d say the ‘family movie’ nature of these pictures helps bring them to this high level -- in order for these films to truly be a smash hit, they must appeal to a very wide audience.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/lego_movie_coffee.jpg"><img class="wp-image-182056 aligncenter" alt="lego_movie_coffee" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/lego_movie_coffee.jpg" width="570" height="425" /></a>
These family pictures are accessible for all ages. If the filmmakers do it right, it should be as enjoyable for the kids as it is for the parents— namely, everyone who goes to see it, likes it. Kids (who have to bring at least one parent along) show up for the fun nature of a flick and parents then enjoy movies such as this because they don't insult their intelligence with poop and fart jokes. Not all family or kids movies pull this off, but Frozen and The Lego Movie did, and that’s part of what made these movies so big.
The other thing that makes a family movie much more successful is the lack of objectionable content. The more "adult" a movie, the more vulgarity, gore, lechery, and other such things enter into the duration. Some people just don’t take to that -- some are turned off by certain risqué elements. If you look at some of the films that were up at the Oscars, you see those things. In Gravity a guy has a hole punched through his face by the vacuum of space. <a href="http://bit.ly/Kwoehx" target="_blank">Dallas Buyers Club</a> was about AIDS victims and one of the main characters is a transvestite — which could easily be a moving and significant topic, but not one wider audiences would seek out. On the flip side, goofiness or childishness can drive people away too. However, I'd say a majority of people will give a recommended family movie a shot before it would drive them away.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/family_movie_night.jpg"><img class="wp-image-182054 aligncenter" alt="family_movie_night" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/family_movie_night.jpg" width="570" height="372" /></a>
I do understand there are some movies out there that use some of that objectionable content to make a point, to drive home a message. If a film is being made about the gruesomeness of war, then there is a clear need for the gruesome. But Frozen proves that a great message doesn’t need objectionable content to bring it to light.
In fact, Frozen probably has one of the best messages of any Disney movie, counteracting their idea of love at first sight, and even the nature of true love, which had been overdone in the last Disney Renaissance and was often criticized. The Lego Movie displays many quality themes as well, all while never losing its lovable charm.
So that’s my take on why Frozen and The Lego Movie are so relevant to so many in our movie-watching circles. I can drag my reluctant brother or my parents (or anyone, really) to these movies, and by the end of it we’ll all be singing “Everything is Awesome” or “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” It just serves to show that getting butts in seats is really easy when filmmakers craft an exceptional movie for wider audiences, i.e. a family, or those who don't seek out films with content they do not want to ingest. Frozen did that, and has the phenomenal backing to prove it. The Lego Movie also pulled that off with aplomb -- it just hasn’t taken over Tumblr yet. No, not yet…
Photos via: Google
2014-03-17T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:15:07-07:00Kevin Wingetag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15256“Amen and Alright Alright Alright” -- McConaughey's Inspiring Look on Life<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/matthew-mcconaughey-oscar-speech.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-187297 aligncenter" alt="matthew-mcconaughey-oscar speech" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/matthew-mcconaughey-oscar-speech.jpg" width="570" height="317" /></a>
We spend endless amounts of time searching, “pinning,” and longing for material aspirations. The immaculate home paired with the perfect organization system, the trendy hair-do along with most desirable wardrobe to match, how to color coordinate EVERYTHING (literally). A (seemingly) never-ending amount of information is available for any whim of possibility.
It is more than an understatement to say it is easy to become wrapped up in our world wide web. If we are honest, we would also say we spend far too much time there. If we spent as much time cultivating the best within ourselves as we do on these material aspirations, imagine how close we could be to the ideal person we all have the ability to strive to become.
This ideal of a better self could not be described more eloquently than by Matthew McConaughey in his acceptance speech for Best Actor in Dallas Buyer’s Club. “I need someone to look up to, something to look forward to, and someone to chase.” While many focused on their surprise (of course) to Mr. McConaughey’s declaration of his faith in God (while very admirable in and of itself), I find it to be wiser to draw our attention to his general outlook on his life of faith, family, and personal growth.
Matthew McConaughey’s opening, “I need someone to look up to, something to look forward to, and someone to chase.” Who did he need to chase? I immediately wondered as he continued to speak and explain “the someone” he looks up to. God. I continued to wonder as he revealed the something he looks forward to. Family. Who is left as “the someone” to chase? Himself (in ten years).
While each of his accounts in faith and family were remarkable, his attitude about himself as an evolving person who could be his hero (in ten years) was inspiring. Aspiring to be the best of ourselves is an ideal that is worth more value than any award could recognize or amount of money could buy. Chasing our ideal self as a moving target of achievement is even more incredible.
As Matthew McConaughey said, “Every day, every week, every month, and every year of my life, my hero is always 10 years away.” This type of mindset is what can keep us striving for the best. Not just the best of the material world, but the best person within ourselves. A world filled with people striving to be better simply is and would be a better world.
Photo and video via: YouTube
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors.
2014-03-12T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:15:16-07:00Deanna Olsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15252What's Right About Sports — Malik Stewart<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/richard-sherman.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-187324 aligncenter" alt="richard sherman" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/richard-sherman.jpg" width="570" height="356" /></a>
The sports arena can be a place where egos are big and mouths are bigger.
Athletes are cherished by millions as heroes for excellence playing children’s games, all too often behaving like (spoiled) <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/news/richard-sherman-receiving-the-public-scorn-he-deserves_148113/" target="_blank">children</a> in the process.
And then, there is Malik Stewart.
The 16-year-old Stewart —who finished the wrestling season with an impressive (34 - 4) record — lost his 120 lbs. title match to Mitchell McKee at the 2014 Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/malik-stewart-600.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-187325 aligncenter" alt="malik-stewart-600" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/malik-stewart-600.jpg" width="570" height="425" /></a>
But Malik didn't whine; he didn't complain.
He didn't point a finger of blame at the ref or his coaches.
He didn't slam down his headgear or sit in a corner and pout.
He didn't act like a child.
After being pinned 1:22 into the match, Stewart rose from the mat — defeated and fighting back tears — and graciously congratulated the opponent who'd bested him.
Stewart then walked over to his opponent's father, Steve McKee, shook his hand, and embraced him in a hug.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/malik-stewart.jpg"><img class="wp-image-187326 aligncenter" alt="malik stewart" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/malik-stewart.jpg" width="570" height="320" /></a>
Why did Malik do this?
Because Steve Mckee is dying of cancer. And his prognosis <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/bizarre&id=9463193" target="_blank">reportedly</a> gives him only a few months to live.
And because Malik Stewart is good kid and an honorable competitor who showed us all a glimpse of how right and unifying sports can be when the athletes behave like decent human beings instead of ungrateful children.
Stewart — whose own father died of a heart attack when he was only seven — says he did what he thought was right.
“He won,” Stewart said of his opponent. “He was pretty proud, and his dad was pretty proud. So I went over there and I shook his hand, embraced him a little bit, and told him to ‘stay strong’ and ‘everybody loves him’.”
He also added:
“I got a little teary because I lost the match, and I knew the hard times he was going through. The crowd went wild and I heard a couple people say after I did it - ‘that was pretty classy’ - but I just did it straight from the heart.”
<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/vince-lombardi.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-187323 aligncenter" alt="vince-lombardi" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/vince-lombardi.jpg" width="570" height="390" /></a>
This poignant moment at the state wrestling tournament reminded of a quote from one of sports’ most legendary names, Vince Lombardi:
“I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.”
I'm a big fan of Lombardi, and I love this quote. I've written it out and taped it to my bathroom mirror in the past. I've even recited it in my head while on the field in competition.
While I appreciate the sentiment — and with all due respect to Coach Lombardi — as I get older I’ve come to “firmly believe” the legendary coach was a bit mistaken when he uttered these famous words.
As men and women, our defining moments — the “greatest fulfillment” of our species — has little to do with "victory" or "lying on the field."
<img class=" wp-image-187328 aligncenter" alt="mckee steve" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/mckee-steve.jpg" width="410" height="616" />
Rather, we as humans enter our “finest hour” when we rise from the mat — ”exhausted”, broken, defeated — and choose to honor our adversary, as well those who are facing much bigger foes than exist inside the sports arena.
It’s not about winning, or telling the world how good you are. It’s about “working your heart out in a good cause” and whether in victory or defeat, respecting your opponent and “all he holds dear.”
Thanks for the lesson, Malik. Thank you for reminding us all there are (much) more important things than winning or losing.
Photos via: Google and Vanessa Schlueter
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-03-12T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:15:14-07:00Brent Leetag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15273Don’t Blame Obama for the Ukraine Situation -- Blame the European Union<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/European-Union-to-blame-for-Ukraine.png"><img class="wp-image-182089 aligncenter" alt="European Union to blame for Ukraine" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/European-Union-to-blame-for-Ukraine.png" width="570" height="292" /></a>
Russian aggression in Ukraine has provided yet another theater for political mudslinging in Washington D.C. As per usual, more energy has been spent <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/world/europe/debate-over-who-in-us-is-to-blame-for-ukraine.html?hpw&rref=world&_r=0" target="_blank">pinning</a> the blame across the aisle than offering up concrete solutions. Some Republicans fault Obama for being too soft while a handful of Democrats regard the problem as a general weariness in foreign policy caused by the recently concluded Iraq War. Both have (to a degree) a point, but the arguments show just how insular and <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Amerocentric" target="_blank">Amerocentric</a> our elected officials are; like so many of us, they believe the United States carries the world on our shoulders and by our mistakes the International Community suffers.
Let’s get this out first: Putin (and his Eurasion Union dream) is the primary and overwhelming factor in Ukraine’s troubles. We all know that. Yet he’s an entity that we’ve encountered before.
Was Obama asleep at the wheel? Maybe. It certainly seems like he didn’t take Russia too seriously from how he <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y9oVC-mGW8" target="_blank">scolded</a> Mitt Romney in the foreign affairs debate. I grant that he may have been trying to uphold a façade of lingering friendship with Putin or he may have legitimately not seen Russia as a major geo-political foe (and thus did not see this coming, while even folks like Sarah Palin did).
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Obama_Romney_Third_Debate.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-182090 aligncenter" alt="Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Florida debate" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Obama_Romney_Third_Debate.jpg" width="570" height="347" /></a>
We don’t know and to quote a famous lady: “What difference, at this point, does it make?” Even if Romney <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/23/third-presidential-debate-obama-wins" target="_blank">had won</a> the election, Russia’s momentum wouldn’t have changed; his foreign policies possessed far more similarities to the President’s than differences.
So do we go back a few steps and blame Bush? No. The world does orbit around the words and policies of our presidents. The impetus in all this is the centralizing and consolidating would-be superpower of the European Union.
The European Union has its origins as a community of free-trade (something like our North American Free Trade Agreement, aka NAFTA); the EU since has taken up a common currency project in most of its member states (the Euro), through treaties it has created a more unified political status and it is (debatably) in the process of creating its <a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/eu-army-1276172-Jan2014/" target="_blank">own joint army</a>. With a population of 500 million, it possesses the foundation for a “superpower,” or what its creators might call a voice on the international stage that sovereign states alone couldn’t obtain; but the EU still requires greater political unity. Through diplomacy, wealth and promises the EU continues to peacefully absorb new countries (primarily in Eastern Europe) into its fold.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/JoseManuelBarroso-European-Union.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-182117 aligncenter" alt="G20/EU-BARROSO" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/JoseManuelBarroso-European-Union.jpg" width="570" height="355" /></a>
“And now,” said Jose Manuel Barroso (current president of the European Commission) with a restrained smile, “we have what some authors call the first non-imperial empire.” His <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2Ralocq9uE" target="_blank">2007 statement</a> (in response to a question requesting he define the nature of the EU) made the usual rounds of indefinite stumbling until he got to that nugget of truth. Truth it was, and truth it remains.
Three key countries (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) have set 2015 as a target date to create the “Eurasian Union.” They also hope to gather other former members of the Soviet Union. It appears that these countries wish to bring the USSR back together. They do. But more than that they want the nature and status equivalent to the EU; this includes a Eurasian Commission, a powerful executive branch, which is <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15790452" target="_blank">similar to</a> the semi-democratic (at best) European Commission.
But the European Union isn’t like the Eurasion Union: it is a gentle, rational and civilized entity, right? It may be, but the fact remains that it has developed a powerful shadow leaving others wanting their share of the light. By its very nature it is stirring the creation of an equal and opposite force that is more aggressive and desperate because of its own late arrival to the game. The EU also holds little moral authority in denouncing the creation of the Eurasian Union; its very existence is all the provocation and justification the Eurasian Union needs in committing its people into dissolving local powers in favor of empire. Even if the EU is currently peaceful and impotent, even if it is a “non-imperial empire,” this does not mean the status quo will remain the same for the next five, ten or twenty years.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/european-union-vs-eurasian-union.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-182118 aligncenter" alt="european union vs eurasian union" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/european-union-vs-eurasian-union.jpg" width="570" height="287" /></a>
Europe is no longer a complex pattern of independent countries; it is a nebula with two emerging stars. The recent troubles constitute just another symptom of the deeper divide. The next decade will be a scramble for both unions to collect nation-states and consolidate power. The battlegrounds will be the countries courting both suitors, like we have seen in Georgia and Ukraine. Through the force of invasion and (likely coerced) secession (like Russia is doing with Crimea, Abkhazia and South Ossetia) or merely through pandering, propaganda and promises, these two entities are destined to swell and undermine the sovereignty (and democracy) of lands on their respective paths to glory.
If we don’t want a series of military face-offs in the border nations of these two unions, there are three possible options. The first and weakest targets the creation of designated sovereign buffer states that by treaty neither Union is allowed to add to their ranks; trade influence, domestic politics and ambition in all its forms would make this a very precarious solution.
The second solution would be a treaty to either break the EU into parts or intensely limit its powers over sovereign states in exchange for the same agreements to be met by the Eurasian Union; this might function as an interim agreement to facilitate peace by having the two step back from their super-state aspirations.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Tehran_Conference-1943-European-Union.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-182119 aligncenter" alt="Tehran_Conference 1943 - European Union" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Tehran_Conference-1943-European-Union.jpg" width="560" height="455" /></a>
The third and best option (and also the most unlikely) would be to make an agreement for both unions to gradually dissolve (or, in the Eurasian Union’s case, to never finish forming) and allow for their individual member states to take back complete political, economic and foreign policy control for themselves; though this might just be my wishful thinking popping up again (like my <a href="http://bit.ly/1ceEocC" target="_blank">Winter Olympics in Minnesota</a> idea).
Strong, sovereign democracies have always been and will always be the best hope for peace (especially if they are invested in helping each other resolve disputes). Large unions or empires of nations might have advantages when it comes to ease of travel, organized policy implementation and international presence, but they also invite united opposition. This has been the common thread of European conflict and catastrophe for the last century: entangling alliances for WWI, Axis versus Allies in WWII and NATO versus The Iron Curtain in the Cold War. Now, unless things change, the destiny before us promises a conflict between two great unions.
We have learned nothing. God help us.
Photos via: Google
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-03-07T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:15:23-07:00Erik Bergstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15290The 86th Academy Awards -- Did This Gala Restore My Hope in Award Shows?<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ellen-degeneres-oscars-2014-host.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-178634 aligncenter" alt="ellen-degeneres-oscars-2014- host" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ellen-degeneres-oscars-2014-host.jpg" width="570" height="350" /></a>
"Hopefully the Oscars in March will restore what little hope is left in award show entertainment."
This was the last line in my January <a href="http://bit.ly/1gvdP4u" target="_blank">article</a> about the Grammy's -- I was left a little less than impressed with the music awards show. I won't belabor the points, but if you want a refresher, click the link above. So, with a mixture of excitement and worry, I sat on the couch with my wife and a pizza on Sunday evening and turned on the Oscars -- what I witnessed was astounding.
Ellen Degeneres hosted the Oscars this year, after a seven year hiatus from hosting in 2007. I don't recall the 2007 Oscars but I can guarantee I won't forget this one for a long time. Whether you watched the Oscars or not, come along as we relive the events of the 86th Academy Awards.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/oscars_2014_jared-leto-.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-178635 aligncenter" alt="oscars_2014_jared leto" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/oscars_2014_jared-leto-.jpg" width="570" height="372" /></a>
First things first, whenever a host opens an awards show, the tone must be set quickly. Whether dramatic and somber or funny and light, the tone is vital for the show and must be established within the first ten minutes or so. Ellen opened with a few hilarious one liners with some at the expense of others. She poked fun at June Squibb, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, and others. You can watch the whole opening monologue <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ellen-opens-oscars-with-old-school-hilariously-biting-monologue/#ooid=p5YzR5azqI5sMrTYy5h18Zb8MoKKcWLO" target="_blank">here</a>.
So with the tone set, the show was on. Jared Leto won the first Oscar of the night, Best Supporting Actor, for his role in the movie, The Dallas Buyer's Club. Matthew McConaughey won Best Actor in the same movie.
<a href="http://bit.ly/15ZrbBd" target="_blank">Gravity</a> won seven Oscars, including many technical awards -- all told, Gravity took home: Best Director, Cinematography, Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects, and Score.
And 12 Years a Slave took home Best Picture with Lupita Nyong'o awarded her first Oscar for her role in the same film. And we must not forget the radiant Cate Blanchett winning a much deserved Oscar (her second) for her tumultuous performance in Blue Jasmine.
<img class=" wp-image-178636 aligncenter" alt="oscars 2014 selfie twitter" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/oscars-2014-selfie-twitter.jpg" width="570" height="292" />
Then Ellen came on again. She continued to pour the jokes on and ran the show the way is was meant to be -- like a party. Ellen shamelessly took "selfies" and ordered pizza for the audience. One selfie she took actually became Twitter's most retweeted picture -- ever. With over 2.8 million -- you read that right -- retweets and an additional 1.4 million more who "favorited" the tweet, Ellen's Oscar Twitter pic officially crashed Twitter. She even announced as much during the show. This one pic blew the previously most retweeted picture, Obama's "4 more years" tweet out of the water by over 2 million retweets.
The show continued full throttle the entire night. Idina Menzel wowed us with a performance of "Let it Go," from the movie <a href="http://bit.ly/1ai6Ppj" target="_blank">Frozen</a>. It also won the Oscar for Best Song, beating out frontrunner, "Happy" by Pharrell Williams.
In short, the Oscar's overflowed with many things the Grammy's lacked: fun, lightness, ease. It was a celebration and a party -- Ellen and the audience on hand entertained as much on Oscar night as they do on the silver screen.
"Hopefully the Oscars in March will restore what little hope is left in award show entertainment." And after watching the Oscar's on Sunday, I'd say Mission Accomplished.
Photos via: Google
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-03-03T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:15:30-07:00Tyler Kingtag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15310Could Minnesota Ever Host the Winter Olympics?<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Twin-Cities-Olympics-Potential.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-173824 aligncenter" alt="Twin Cities - Olympics Potential" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Twin-Cities-Olympics-Potential.jpg" width="570" height="303" /></a>
This is by far the most far-fetched article I have ever written, but I only ask for your consideration. Ready? Winter Olympics, Twin Cities! There, I said it, there is no turning back.
So I’m sure many are thinking something along the lines of: “Mountains! Mountains? We have no mountains. With no mountains there can be no downhill skiing; and without that there can be no Winter Olympics in Minnesota.”
This indeed is our limiting factor, our greatest flaw, the usual coup de grace to our dreams of shining on the international stage. It dismisses our minds to other hopes like the Summer Olympics, a much more extravagant goal, but mountains aren’t required, so it’s considered more within our reach.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/sochi-olympic-village-construction-2014.png"><img class="wp-image-173780 aligncenter" alt="sochi olympic village construction - 2014" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/sochi-olympic-village-construction-2014.png" width="570" height="298" /></a>
Sochi has proved that even a small, warm resort city with a heap of flaws can be sculpted into an acceptable location. Even with so many oddities, empty seats and ill-prepared facilities, the medals were awarded and the ceremonies performed. Yet we want to give up on Minnesota because she is a little flat? We’re not talking Iowa-flat or Illinois-flat. We’re just talking flat enough that we don’t have any altitude-caused tree-lines or peaks with snow that lingers until summer. Are we really going to look past ourselves because of this?
Let’s start with the good. We have much more in common with Vancouver than Sochi; Vancouver’s Olympics were a massive success and much that they built was <a href="http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2013/02/three-years-later-a-reflection-on-the-vancouver-2010-olympic-games/" target="_blank">sustainable</a>. As far as Sochi’s Olympics, much is in doubt. Here’s a question: had anyone really heard of Sochi before the Olympics decided to go there? It’s a city significantly smaller than Omaha and is sitting amidst a politically tense area. That’s the spot you want to host a competitive gathering that only happens in one place in the world every four years?
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Winter-Olympics-in-Minnesota-Vancouver-2010.png"><img class="wp-image-173801 aligncenter" alt="Winter Olympics in Minnesota? - Vancouver 2010" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Winter-Olympics-in-Minnesota-Vancouver-2010.png" width="570" height="310" /></a>
Contrast this to the Vancouver metro which is just slightly smaller than the Twin Cities and also like the Twin Cities is easily accessible for travelers by road, train and air. Vancouver (also like the Twin Cities) has plenty of hotels, restaurants, bars and most importantly venues; it can easily absorb large influxes of tourists. While in Sochi stadiums and roads needed to be freshly constructed, in Vancouver most of what was needed was in place or was already in the works for other purposes. This is the key part, because the Olympics, while massively lucrative in some respects, are only a couple weeks long.
So what kind of venues do we have? Well the new Vikings stadium will be the largest venue and barring the presence of a Superbowl will not have its primary use taking precedence in February. We have plenty of hockey/skating venues from the Xcel Energy Center down to the various university-level arenas around the state (for spillover games if needed). We could even send the T-Wolves on a long road trip and use the Target Center for something. I’m sure a creative proposal or two could pose ideas on how to work Target Field and TCF Bank Stadium into the mix (that might be uncomfortably cold though). We have an awesome Convention Center which can host many of the miscellaneous tasks that are needed and of course the Mall of America, for when people get bored of the ice and snow.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Winter-Olympics-in-Minnesota-Xcel-Energy-Center.png"><img class="wp-image-173803 aligncenter" alt="Winter Olympics in Minnesota? - Xcel Energy Center" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Winter-Olympics-in-Minnesota-Xcel-Energy-Center.png" width="570" height="265" /></a>
So what’s left to construct (not including mountain-oriented stuff)? A bobsled track: this is a good chunk of change, but it could be something we could delegate to St. Paul or Bloomington to place in a convenient location; more hotels: there has been <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/print-edition/2013/06/28/truefalse-this-building-needs-a.html?page=all" target="_blank">conversation</a> about the growing need for hotels in the Twin Cities anyway; and a bit more mass transit: the groundwork is at least in place.
The price is still pretty low at this point, so the mountain question is attacked with momentum (and cash). Spirit Mountain and <a href="http://bit.ly/1nwFSOY" target="_blank">Lutsen</a> are pretty much what we have to work with (unless we bail for Wisconsin or Michigan solutions), and they already meet many of the minimum standards for Olympic-level events such as the slalom. Too far? Not so, they are just a bit further than Whistler is from Vancouver and being so close to the lake provides relatively consistent amount of snow (not that poor snowfall has ever stopped the Olympics before).
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Winter-Olympics-in-Minnesota-Lutsen-Mountains-.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-173804 aligncenter" alt="Winter Olympics in Minnesota? - Lutsen Mountains" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Winter-Olympics-in-Minnesota-Lutsen-Mountains-.jpg" width="570" height="356" /></a>
Maybe we’ll have to build a tower on a hill to make the ski-jump work, maybe we’ll have to push dirt up our “mountains” to make them taller or maybe we’ll have to dig the bottoms of the slopes lower just to gain the extra bit of elevation. A disproportionate amount of the money used will go to making the ski and snowboard venues work, that’s just a foreseen fact. And if we succeeded in making the full arrangement of courses, they would be well used after the Olympics; winter athletes from central Canada and the Midwest would flock to them.
Winter sports are very popular in Minnesota. As we all know <a href="http://bit.ly/1cb3HGD" target="_blank">we send</a> plenty of our own to compete in the Olympics; in fact, we are usually one of the <a href="http://wp.streetwise.co/wp-content/uploads//2014/02/Screen-Shot-2014-02-11-at-5.52.59-PM.png" target="_blank">top states</a> in that regard (this year tied for second). Wouldn’t it be awesome to give such an event to our next generation of athletes? The Winter Olympics in the Twin Cities would be accessible for Americans from both coasts along with Canadians (who come here in droves already, especially when the Winnipeg Jets or Toronto Blue Jays are in town). It would offer a big spike in tourism and positive exposure. Consider it!
Photos via: jdkoenig and Google
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors.
2014-02-26T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:15:39-07:00Erik Bergstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15325Right-Wing and Left-Wing -- Terms Void of Denotation<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Right-Wing-and-Left-Wing-Terms-Void-of-Denotation.png"><img class=" wp-image-170900 aligncenter" alt="Right-Wing and Left-Wing -- Terms Void of Denotation" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Right-Wing-and-Left-Wing-Terms-Void-of-Denotation.png" width="570" height="323" /></a>
English, arguably, contains more words than any other language; it can craft fresh words as readily as it steals foreign words. Yet we often discard this quality for the sake of vague simplicity. In the realm of political ideas, which offers up a rich jargon for our use, we have chosen to stifle accuracy and undermine complexity in order to lump and label groups. Now, with so many shifts and turns in the narrative of national governance, our terms have grown as outdated and counterintuitive as our spelling (in which George Bernard Shaw rightly proved “ghoti” as a <a href="http://www.englishclub.com/esl-articles/199909.htm" target="_blank">perfectly acceptable</a> way to spell “fish”).
When we use terms like “Moderate,” “Conservative,” “Liberal” and “Libertarian” to describe politics in the American sense, we can generally grasp the core beliefs of the one we’re talking about. These words have undergone the normal patterns of widening, narrowing, amelioration, pejoration, etc. like other terms (only slightly faster because the words often are pulled along by policy shifts).
Yet, these terms will fail us at times. Take for example this question: “Who is more Conservative, Ron Paul or George W. Bush?” At least in my social group, individuals would ardently answer the question in different ways and for different reasons. The same could be true if I asked the question: “Who is more Moderate, George W. Bush or Barack Obama?” The way you use the terms simply reflects as much about your own position as it does theirs. Now if you mix in global politics with these terms, they become even more problematic (yes, even “Moderate” and “Libertarian”).
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Bush-vs.-Obama-Liberal-vs.-Conservative.png"><img class="wp-image-170901 aligncenter" alt="Bush vs. Obama - Liberal vs. Conservative" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Bush-vs.-Obama-Liberal-vs.-Conservative.png" width="570" height="327" /></a>
The second worst categorization in politics is “Left,” which is deployed in “Center-Left” and “Left-Wing.” The <a href="http://politicsreport.com/article/what-origin-political-left-and-right" target="_blank">origins</a> date back to the French Revolution’s Assembly where those who were the most anti-monarchist and anti-clerical (and surprisingly pro-capitalist) took seats on the left side of the hall. Over time it integrated Marxist, anarchist, socialist and democratic intellectuals under its banner. In the United States, at least certain attributes can be linked with it: socialism, pro-union, anti-war (though not always, and certainly not lately) and recently (according to most) <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/02/20/obama_and_the_death_of_federalism_117073.html" target="_blank">pro Federal Government</a>.
Yet, in the world of opinionated cable television, MSNBC (widely considered left-leaning) has elected to avoid the use of “Left” in favor of their “<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39851953/?msnbc-leanforward" target="_blank">Lean Forward</a>” campaign. In history, few will argue the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China were (and are) “Left-Wing“ -- evidence for this is cited in their planned economy, anti-clerical efforts and aggressive pursuit of spreading their ideals.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Lean-Forward-MSNBC-Liberals.png"><img class="wp-image-170903 aligncenter" alt="Lean Forward - MSNBC - Liberals" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Lean-Forward-MSNBC-Liberals.png" width="570" height="170" /></a>
This is contrasted by other modern “Left” movements such as the Scottish National Party (which at least by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_National_Party" target="_blank">general consensus</a> of Wikipedia and most other sources is considered “Center-Left” though this is a debatable subject) -- the SNP portrays <a href="http://www.snp.org/" target="_blank">their agenda</a> as being pro-environment, anti-nuclear (energy and weapons), pro-independence and even in some cases socialist.
Staying in the UK, it should also be noted that the use of “New Left” was discontinued by Tony Blair who branded himself “New Labour;” but Ed Miliband, the current party leader, has now begun the process of declaring the era of New Labour <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/8026708/Ed-Miliband-New-Labour-is-dead.html" target="_blank">over</a>. Although planned economics are the common thread between these examples, the net is too wide and gives little appreciation to the specific ideas that are being presented.
The worst term of the modern political spectrum is “Right,” found in “Far Right” and “Right-Wing.” To be honest, this is a downright stupid term. Far from its roots as being pro-monarchist in 19th century France, the American use of “Right-Wing” alone gets thrown around to describe libertarians, Nazis, the KKK, Sarah Palin and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (the latter two in the <a href="http://www.salon.com/2009/08/03/palin_ahmadinejad/" target="_blank">same article</a>) just to name a few.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Nazis-Conservatives-KKK.png"><img class=" wp-image-170904 aligncenter" alt="Nazis - Conservatives - KKK" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Nazis-Conservatives-KKK.png" width="570" height="386" /></a>
Heck, even Vladimir Putin occasionally gets the <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/putin-homophobic-nationalism-2013102985511896261.html" target="_blank">label</a> -- yes, that’s right, the man who said the collapse of the Soviet Union “was the greatest geo-political <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7632057/ns/world_news/t/putin-soviet-collapse-genuine-tragedy/#.Uv_x8PldWSo" target="_blank">catastrophe</a> of the century” (by that he meant past century) is now right of center. In the UK, the “Far Right” is used to describe the libertarian and pro-global trade United Kingdom Independence Party alongside the racist and protectionist British National Party. There is no common thread between all the examples that I listed above. There is nothing about the views of a fiercely independent Libertarian and an authoritarian-minded National Socialist that are congruent. It seems many that use the label “Right-Wing” or “Far Right” are just painting a definition of the “other:” one who has an ideology that is different, foreign and scary.
The only argument I’ve ever come across that makes a solid attempt to reconcile the spectrum of Right and Left as we know it, comes in the form of equality; but in reality, this argument barely steps out of the gate. “Left” is characterized by its attempt to make society more equal and “Right” is seen to, by force or by nature, allow for inherent inequality. This is a very shallow notion however. One could make an argument that society is made equal through anarchy or flat-taxes. Or, conversely, one could make a solid argument that any form of government is categorically an attempt to show inequality (those in government are unequal to those not).
In conclusion, there is no valuable or sensible reason to portray politics on a linear spectrum such as Right and Left. We have plenty of other words that we can use to describe ourselves and others, good and bad: use them.'
Photos via: Google and LIFE
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-02-23T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:15:45-07:00Erik Bergstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15339Rethinking Discipline as the Worlds of Social Media and High School Collide<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Twitter-Contreversy-Reid-Sagehorn-Rogers-Highschool.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-169813 aligncenter" alt="Twitter Contreversy - Reid Sagehorn - Rogers Highschool" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Twitter-Contreversy-Reid-Sagehorn-Rogers-Highschool.jpg" width="570" height="361" /></a>
As a fiction writer, much of my attention focuses upon the three human elements of desire, conflict and stake-raising. Good stories originate with desire that meets a competing force. Often this force doesn’t understand or care about the desire, even to its own detriment. Good communication is a storyteller’s enemy and the finalizing act of conflict resolution would be a knife to the heart of most great novels. It’s from this angle that I approach the subject of the <a href="http://bit.ly/1kYce8c" target="_blank">Rogers High School controversy</a>.
A 17 year old has a very different brain than most of us (I hope that much is obvious). Their frontal lobe, the “stop-n-think-about-this” part of the brain, is not developed. This isn’t an excuse, but rather a statement of fact. Young men have always and will always make dumb mistakes. The choice that we must make as a society is how to discipline them. With social media becoming more and more part of our daily lives, the nature of the statements we make and resolutions thereafter have become increasingly complex. Everybody is a newspaper and everyone is on record. Typed words on the internet become as indelible as the reputations they affect.
If young Reid Sagehorn made his statement in a void or even in the football locker room, nothing would have happened. If nobody was following him on Twitter or if nobody read the postings from the original gossip website, police and school officials would likely have their mind on the next basketball game in Rogers. The reason why all this matters, why all this pain and confusion happened centers upon the fact that people paid attention, they listened and overreacted. There is no turning back now. There is no road to normalcy. The courts will provide the solution and nobody will like it. The teacher can’t teach her lessons as usual and Reid can’t graduate. Moving forward though, we need to learn from what has happened.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Tweet-and-Online-Comments-May-Lead-to-Felony-Charges-for-Minnesota-Teen-Reid-Sagehorn.png"><img class=" wp-image-168057 aligncenter" alt="Tweet and Online Comments May Lead to Felony Charges for Minnesota Teen - Reid Sagehorn" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Tweet-and-Online-Comments-May-Lead-to-Felony-Charges-for-Minnesota-Teen-Reid-Sagehorn.png" width="570" height="398" /></a>
In the big picture, how do you defeat a statement on the Internet? Answer: quietly. The web is a loud, public and rather impersonal place. When it invades the confines of a school, why don’t we try using personal and private solutions? Did suspending Sagehorn decrease the amount of people who knew about his tweet? Isn’t the problem more centered around the power of his statement rather than the condition of him individually? Couldn’t the student and teacher have a clandestine meeting with the school counselor that would have put the issue to rest before a larger percentage of the student body knew about the situation?
From my armchair view, it appears as if the goal was to punish Reid rather than to diffuse his statement. He made a mistake and little was done to help him correct it. Rather he was suspended, left with no completion in his mind and felt (somewhat rightfully so) that he was a victim. This is where the stakes were raised. He would tell his community about the nature of his suspension and the whole story would be eviscerated for the pleasure of water-cooler experts throughout the state. How did this help the teacher? How did this help the student? How did this help the school? It didn’t.
In the future, lets douse the decree rather than torch the typist.
Photos via: Google
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors.
2014-02-20T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:15:52-07:00Erik Bergstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15379The Term ‘Liberal’ -- A Label Americans and Minnesotans Seek to Avoid<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/The-Liberal-Label-Americans—and-Minnesotans—Avoid-it-Gallop-Poll-2014.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-161758 aligncenter" alt="The Liberal Label - Americans—and Minnesotans—Avoid it - Gallop Poll - 2014" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/The-Liberal-Label-Americans—and-Minnesotans—Avoid-it-Gallop-Poll-2014.png" width="564" height="361" /></a>
If your phone rang right now and you were asked to label yourself, which one of these three terms -- liberal, conservative or moderate -- would you say best describes your political views?
That's the question Gallup sought to answer in a <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/167144/wyoming-residents-conservative-liberal.aspx" target="_blank">recent poll</a> of Americans as part of the group's "State of the State's" series which is intended to "reveal state-by-state differences on political, economic, and wellbeing measures."
Depending on your notions of the current political landscape in the U.S., and in Minnesota, you might be surprised by what the pollsters at Gallup have discovered. According to their results, 36.8% of the Americans polled self-identify as "conservative," 22.2% as “liberal,” with the remaining 36.6% preferring to call themselves “moderate."
The poll was based on a random sample of 178,527 American adults aged 18 and older, with surveys conducted by interview via telephone throughout all of 2013.
Here are the top 10 most liberal and most conservative states according to Gallup’s poll:
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Gallop-Poll-Liberal-vs.-Conservative.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-161779" alt="Gallop Poll - Liberal vs. Conservative" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Gallop-Poll-Liberal-vs.-Conservative.png" width="265" height="298" /></a><a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Gallop-Poll-Liberal-vs.-Conservative2.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-161783" alt="Gallop Poll - Liberal vs. Conservative2" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Gallop-Poll-Liberal-vs.-Conservative2.png" width="265" height="298" /></a>
Minnesota, though leaning slightly left compared to the national averages, is relatively politically balanced based on the poll data -- 36.6% of residents call themselves conservatives, 23.3% liberal, and the largest group, 37.6% of Minnesotans, identify themselves as moderates.
In fact, moderation might be the defining characteristic of Minnesota’s overall political ideology according to Gallup’s findings. Based on ranking, Minnesota has the 33rd largest percentage of self-identified conservatives among all states polled, is 20th highest share of liberals, while finishing at 13th overall in the share of people who describes themselves as moderate.
The Conservative Advantage
Perhaps the most interesting takeaway from the study is large disparity between the number of Americans who define themselves as liberal vs. conservative. We tend to think of American politics as bi-partisan, split, more or less, evenly between two major opposing ideologies and consider the terms “conservative” and “liberal” to be essentially synonymous placeholders for both major parties, respectively. If this is the case, we’d expect to see a fairly uniform divide between self-labeled liberals and their conservative counterparts.
But the data reveals a different story.
In fact, Gallup coined a term "conservative advantage" to describe to large disparity between the percentage of self-identifying liberals and conservatives they found during their research. Conservative advantage is a simple calculation that derives a value by subtracting a population’s percentage of self-identifying liberals from that same population’s percentage of respondents calling themselves conservatives.
Using that calculation and the poll's results, there was a nationwide conservative advantage of 14.6 in 2013, down from 15.9 in 2012, providing some evidence of a marginally narrowing divide between the opposing political ideologies over the last few years, but also indicating a still-significant remaining gap in this nation between the number of self-labeled liberals and conservatives.
But What About the 2012 Election?
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/president_obama_wins_reelection_2012-Liberal-Connotation-Gallop-Poll-2014.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-161856 aligncenter" alt="President Obama Continues His Push Through Key Swing States In Final Days Before Election" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/president_obama_wins_reelection_2012-Liberal-Connotation-Gallop-Poll-2014.jpg" width="570" height="316" /></a>
At first glance, the poll data appears to be difficult to reconcile with what we saw in the 2012 Presidential election since Democratic incumbent Barack Obama, who has been long-considered to hold strong “liberal” views, won 51.1% of the popular vote en route to being re-elected to the Oval Office.
In Minnesota, Gallup’s results appear to be even more perplexing in light of the state’s voting tallies from the most recent Presidential election. In 2012, Obama captured Minnesota’s ten members of the electoral college by winning 52.7% of the popular vote.
How, then, can we make any sense of the “conservative advantage” of 14.3 that Gallup assigns to Minnesota when a Democrat won nearly 52% of the vote? And how can a country with only 22.2% of it’s population considering themselves to be liberal elect a President who, prior to taking office in 2008, was cited by a 2007 National Journal rating as “the most liberal Senator in the U.S. Senate” based on his voting record that year in Congress.
How can a liberal politician like Barack Obama be elected (twice) in a state — and in a country — where self-labeled liberal voters are so significantly outnumbered?
A recent <a href="http://polisci.wustl.edu/files/polisci/imce/claasen_tucker_smith_spsa.pdf" target="_blank">paper</a> published out of St. Louis’s Washington University echoes the sentiments in questions like these, recognizing the paradoxical nature of citizens’ ideological self-identification juxtaposed with their voting tendencies, noting:
“The puzzle is that, on the one hand, Americans who call themselves conservative outnumber those who call themselves liberals and, on the other hand, a majority of Americans take a liberal position on most issues involving federal public policy.”
And also adding:
“We observe that there may be an important difference between labels and policy positions. Asking Americans about the ideological label they choose for themselves and asking about the positions they take on public policy options may be mixing both the level of abstraction and the specific referent of the question.”
The paper’s authors call it an “ideological puzzle” and I think that sums it up pretty well. The process of coming to better understand the difference between what people actually believe in regard to public policy and how they label themselves ideologically is a puzzling one.
I wonder if -- like so many other confounding problems -- it all comes down to definitions?
The Meaning of “Liberal”
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/The-Liberal-Label-Americans—and-Minnesotans—Avoid-it-Gallop-Poll-2014-obama-oreilly.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-161938 aligncenter" alt="The Liberal Label - Americans—and Minnesotans—Avoid it - Gallop Poll - 2014 - obama-oreilly" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/The-Liberal-Label-Americans—and-Minnesotans—Avoid-it-Gallop-Poll-2014-obama-oreilly.jpg" width="570" height="312" /></a>
Last Monday, the second half of Bill O’Reilly’s interview of President Obama was aired on Fox News, the first half having been played a day earlier on Super Bowl Sunday.
Over the course of their rather spirited two-part discussion, O’Reilly pressed the Commander-in-Chief on a range of issues he thought needed addressing, including the <a href="http://bit.ly/1fx8Dcf" target="_blank">problems during Obamacare’s rollout</a>, the U.S. response to the Benghazi embassy attack in 2012, and the IRS tax-targeting scandal. Though their rather lively sparring session over many hot-button topics included quite a few memorable soundbites, perhaps the most poignant exchange of the interview was initiated when O’Reilly asked the President plainly, “Are you the most liberal President in U.S. History?”
“Probably not,” Obama affably responded with a grin, adding that President Nixon’s policies were, “in a lot of ways,” more liberal than his own.
Now, this seems like a pretty simple question and answer, but what is Independent (though strongly conservative) O’Reilly really asking when he inquires about whether the Democrat President is the most liberal to ever hold America’s highest office? And why, in response, did Obama parry O’Reilly’s query by suggesting that Richard Nixon — a Republican — was more liberal than he?
Why are both O’Reilly and Obama treating “liberal” as if it were a 4-letter word?*
I’d suggest this subtle verbal judo match over the L-word in the course of their interview was actually of a significantly strategic nature, and closely related to the findings in Gallup’s recent poll.
<img class=" wp-image-162009 aligncenter" alt="nixon - Gallop Poll - liberal vs. Conservative" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/nixon-Gallop-Poll-liberal-vs.-Conservative.jpg" width="570" height="381" />
As noted in the Washington University paper, polls and surveys of a similar nature to Gallup’s have consistently shown Americans eschew the liberal label -- Americans do so even when the ideological positions they hold, as well as their voting tendencies, might best be described by that very term.
For better or worse, the word “liberal” has come to acquire an unbecoming connotation over the last several decades in American politics. It has been used pejoratively (and quite effectively) by Republican candidates against their Democratic opponents dating back to 1960’s and 70’s.
While 2013’s Gallup poll shows some indication that the word’s negative associations may be slowly fading over time, both Obama and O’Reilly are aware that in 2014, the data still strongly confirm the liberal label is not a helpful one for candidates seeking elected office. With midterm elections on the horizon this November and 77.8% of Americans, and 76.7% of Minnesotans, preferring to be referred to as moderate or conservative rather than liberal, I’d argue it is wise for anyone with political ambitions to steer clear of too tightly embracing such unpopular monikers.
I’d also argue it was pretty clear from the interview that Bill O’Reilly was trying to pin Barack Obama as a (gasp) liberal and the President calmly guided the discussion away from ideological labels and back to the the core of operational public policy, stating:
“I tend not to think about things in terms of liberal and conservative because, at any given time, the question is ‘What does the country need right now?’”
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Gallop-Poll-Liberal-vs.-Conservative-2014-Gallop-Poll-Negative-Connotation.png"><img class=" wp-image-161978 aligncenter" alt="Gallop Poll - Liberal vs. Conservative - 2014 - Gallop Poll - Negative Connotation" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Gallop-Poll-Liberal-vs.-Conservative-2014-Gallop-Poll-Negative-Connotation.png" width="570" height="388" /></a>
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/03/transcript-full-interview-between-president-obama-and-bill-oreilly/" target="_blank">Here</a> is Fox News’ unedited version of Monday’s interview, along with the full transcript. And here is Sunday’s <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/03/transcript-full-interview-between-president-obama-and-bill-oreilly/" target="_blank">interview</a> and transcript.
Regardless of the exact causes or effects, at some point, it seems pretty clear liberal became a dirty word in American politics, both on the federal level in Washington, and here in Minnesota. Simultaneously and paradoxically, according to some <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/american-politics-are-moving-to-the-left/2014/01/16/30161350-7885-11e3-af7f-13bf0e9965f6_story.html" target="_blank">experts</a>, policy positions traditionally considered to be liberal are more popular now than at perhaps any time in our nation’s history.
We are experiencing the reality of what the Washington University paper authors, Christopher Claassen, Patrick Tucker and Steven S. Smith, call the “Operational-Symbolic Ideology Problem” in American politics.
We live in a country and in a state where our stance on the issues, what we believe about the world, what we prefer to label ourselves, and how we vote, can all be very different.
So, if your phone rang right now and you were asked to label yourself politically, what would you say?
Author’s Note: *Later in the exchange, Obama does make an attempt to defend liberalism as pragmatic in many cases, noting, “What used to be considered sensible, we now somehow label as liberal,” citing Social Security and Medicare as examples of his point. In my opinion, this particular line of appeal by the President is less of a defense to salvage the L-word, and more of a confirmation that, in Obama’s view, liberal has indeed become a pejorative term.
Photos via: Google
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors.
2014-02-10T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:16:08-07:00Brent Leetag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15392Schells, I Love You -- But We Need to Talk<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/schells-brewery-2014-beer-controversy-brewers-association.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-159262 aligncenter" alt="schells-brewery-2014-beer controversy-brewers association" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/schells-brewery-2014-beer-controversy-brewers-association.jpg" width="570" height="376" /></a>
Back in December the Minnesota beer world was shaken by the accusation that the August Schell Brewery of New Ulm was, according to the Brewers Association, not producing “craft beer” but rather “crafty beer.” Well, it wasn’t precisely <a href="http://beerpulse.com/2012/12/brewers-associations-papazian-and-pease-schlaflys-kopman-call-out-faux-crafts/" target="_blank">headline news</a>, but it was still a big deal (kind of). I mean, Schells is the second oldest family-owned brewery in America. I have rested in the shadow of the brewery listening to a polka band celebrate their 150th Anniversary (admittedly the memory is a bit blurry due to their product). They brought a horse-drawn wagon covered with flowers and beer barrels. These are my people! You can’t just call them… “crafty.” Right?
The problem here does not stem from the fact that one of the big beer companies owns Schells or that they themselves grew to the size of one of those companies. It comes from the fact that they consciously add corn to their beer. Not because it’s cheaper (which it isn‘t), not because it adds some effects to the beer (which it does), but because of pure, unadulterated tradition. Their family recipes demand corn, because in the time they were written that’s an item they had no choice but to use. Ironically, the category they were kicked out of by the Brewers Association was “Tradition.”
So what has Schells response been? Well first they <a href="http://beerpulse.com/2012/12/august-schell-brewing-to-ba-in-response-to-craft-vs-crafty-shame-on-you/" target="_blank">wrote angrily</a> at the Brewers Association. Then they shifted the nomenclature. The brew from New Ulm is no longer “Craft Beer,” but rather “<a href="http://growlermag.com/august-schell-announces-german-craft/" target="_blank">German Craft Beer</a>.”
Friends, it’s time for an intervention.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/German-Craft-Beer-Schells-Brewers-Association-Controversy.png"><img class="wp-image-159264 aligncenter" alt="German Craft Beer - Schell's - Brewer's Association Controversy" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/German-Craft-Beer-Schells-Brewers-Association-Controversy.png" width="570" height="390" /></a>
Schells, we love you and so much of what you do. We love what you have done with Grain Belt, the best cheap beer in the world. We love your brewery and its estate, a paradise in the woods. We love your parties and promotions, especially the one at the Renaissance Festival. We love the fact that you want to keep to the family traditions.
But we don’t love your use of corn in beer.
It tastes like a trashy addiction. It takes what often seemed like a good idea and recipe, and sells it short. Your forefathers envisioned a future for you that they could not provide themselves; they never really wanted to put corn in the beer, but they had to, because they had to make beer. Now you have reached a time where all the materials they wanted are at your fingertips. Do you honor them by clinging to their limited ways? No. You honor them by making the beer that they would have made had they been able.
I don’t care about the Brewers Association or the Craft Beer label. The only reason you should ever add corn to your beer is if it makes it taste better. August Schell, I know you can do better, but I’ll love you regardless.
Photos via: August Schell Brewing
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors. 2014-02-05T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:16:13-07:00Erik Bergstag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15408The Grammy's: Music Awards Show or Elaborate Agenda Production?<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Grammys-Performance-2014-Mackelmore-Gay-Marriage.png"><img class="wp-image-154602 aligncenter" alt="Grammys Performance - 2014 - Mackelmore - Gay Marriage" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Grammys-Performance-2014-Mackelmore-Gay-Marriage.png" width="570" height="359" /></a>
On Sunday, January 26, the 56th annual Grammy Awards were held in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The show was a spectacle, to say the least, with collaborations of musicians on opposite sides of the spectrum -- see: heavy metal group Metallica and concert pianist Lang Lang, as well as performances by musicians of yester-year and tomorrow-land converging on one stage in the name of music. The awards were delevd out as usual, Australian artist, Lorde took home two Grammy's in her first ever awards show, Daft Punk received Record of the Year and Pop Album of the Year fell to Bruno Mars. This awards show, however, aired with another purpose -- an agenda.
This Grammy performance showcased the marriages of both gay and straight couples to the same-sex love anthem, "Same Love" by Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis. Beyonce and Jay-Z gave us a performance that looked like a scene from Moulin Rouge or Showgirls. And Katy Perry's, Dark Horse" performance resonated with those involved with Satan worship. I've watched many Grammy Awards shows, and it seems like each year, it gets more and more trashy. Each year it's less about the music and more about talking about what's trending on the nation's lips at the moment. After having a day or two to digest what I saw, I decided the Grammy's lost me as a viewer.
Let's think about this for a second. The gay marriage thing is huge, especially with it recently becoming legal here in Minnesota. And while many states are quickly making gay marriages legal, it all seemed, off. Why do we as viewers have to watch two people, whether gay or straight, get married? You don't care to see my wedding tape. I'm just another guy who found a good girl and married her. But that's not "cool" or "trendy." It's "cool" to watch gays get married, because it goes against the idea of "conservatism." It's the idea of breaking out the mold and making your stamp in history -- but if homosexuals have fought so hard for marriage equality, why is it being elevated so high? Even as high as being nationally televised during an awards show?
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Beyonce-2014-Grammys-Showgirls-Performance-Sex-Jay-Z.png"><img class="wp-image-154601 aligncenter" alt="Beyonce-2014-Grammys-Showgirls-Performance-Sex-Jay-Z" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Beyonce-2014-Grammys-Showgirls-Performance-Sex-Jay-Z.png" width="570" height="390" /></a>
Second, I am not a millionaire rapper like Jay-Z and my wife does not have the voice of Beyonce, so this may be an apples to oranges comparison, but you can not pay me America's National deficit to get me to agree to let my wife twerk and dance on stage for a crowd, much less America. Again, they're performers. It's their job to put on a show. But ladies, do you honestly think Jay-Z gives his wife the respect she wants by agreeing to let her wear what she wore for the world to see? Where are the feminists now who say that men exploit women? I fear all I hear are crickets. And men, watch the music video and jot down what you think about Beyonce's performance as soon as they enter your brain. Then pretend some guy sitting on his couch is saying those things about your girlfriend or wife. Not so cool now, is it?
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Katy-Perry-Grammy-Performance-2014-Satanic-Witchcraft-Not-a-Christian.png"><img class="wp-image-154600 aligncenter" alt="Katy Perry - Grammy Performance - 2014 - Satanic - Witchcraft - Not a Christian" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Katy-Perry-Grammy-Performance-2014-Satanic-Witchcraft-Not-a-Christian.png" width="570" height="340" /></a>
And finally, Katy Perry's, "Dark Horse." To be fair, the song is literally mesmerizing. The beat is pulsing and the words are sultry, but when I saw the performance, I actually got chills, and not the good kind. Perry stepped out of an oversized crystal ball and 15 foot tall cloaked, horned creatures descended from behind her -- then watching her momentarily use a witch's broom as her own dance pole, I felt an eery sense unease. This was't a normal performance, and I wasn't alone. Twitter soon blew up with tweets about Perry's performance, implying it was part of Devil worship or an elaborate Illuminati scheme. While I don't necessarily grasp on to these notions, it does seem strange this song released after Perry told the world she "was not a Christian" despite being raised in a pastor's home. You can read the whole interview <a href="http://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity-lifestyle/celebrities/katy-perry-feature-katheryn-hudson" target="_blank">here</a>.
At the end of the day, will the Grammy's next year miss my presence? No. And more than likely, for every one person who stops watching, five more start. But when an music awards show strays so far from music, one has to question the motives of those pulling the strings. Hopefully the Oscars in March will restore what little hope is left in award show entertainment.
Photos via: Google
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors.
2014-01-29T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:16:20-07:00Tyler Kingtag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:154382013: “The Year of the Very Visible Vagina”<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Screen-Shot-2014-01-15-at-5.37.21-PM.png"><img class="wp-image-144662 aligncenter" alt="Rashida Jones - 2014 - Glamour Magazine Article - Very Visible Vagina " src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Screen-Shot-2014-01-15-at-5.37.21-PM.png" width="570" height="394" /></a>
I am about to get on my soapbox here, so if you can’t bear with me, now would be the time to exit. So a few weeks ago I read an article. In my life, this happens often as I typically read as many things as I can get my hands on in a day. I read books, I read magazines, I read the news, I read manuals, I read charts, I read graphs, I read emails. I read. A lot. But a few weeks ago, I read an article that really got my gears turning in a way that they haven’t since I was working towards my B.A. in English two years ago. I read something that to me, spoke so much truth that I was shocked that anyone could disagree with it. The <a href="http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/2013/12/rashida-jones-major-dont-the-pornification-of-everything" target="_blank">article</a> was in Glamour Magazine and was written by Rashida Jones, an actress and apparently a writer (who knew?). In it, she discusses the “pornification of everything,” and how views on women and sex have been distorted by the media.
This is a conversation that people need to be having today. We need to be discussing the role that pop culture and the media plays in our lives and how much the Internet has altered our views on reality. We need to engage each other in debates about these matters, and we need to create a dialogue about the difference between exploitation and empowerment. There has become an increasingly heightened interest in pop culture over the past decade, and much of this has come at the hands of the Internet. The concept of social media has blown up in the last five years, and all of a sudden celebrities are much more accessible to the general public. We are now able to see these people we love to hate and hate to love beyond the awards shows and the magazines. We can engage with them on Twitter and Instagram, and we can see hundreds upon hundreds of photos of them with a quick Google search.
For many people, this constant bombardment of celebrity news and gossip has perpetuated an issue of infringement -- not just infringement on the lives of the celebrities themselves, but also on the lives of the people at home who are sick of hearing it. It becomes a concern when teens are made to feel that these are the images and ideals they are expected to live up to. Body issues are nothing new, and the emphasis placed on being “skinny” is something we are all now accustomed to. Now, however, there is just as much stress placed on being “sexy.” The definition of “sexy” is different to everyone, but the media typically displays sexiness in only one way. Rashida describes this as “lots of skin, lots of licking of teeth, lots of bending over.” This is the image that is sent out to living rooms across the world, and this is what we are telling young, impressionable girls that they need to be.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Screen-Shot-2014-01-15-at-5.42.24-PM.png"><img class=" wp-image-144663 aligncenter" alt="blurred-lines-nicki-minaj-kim-kardashian-rihanna-miley-pornification" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Screen-Shot-2014-01-15-at-5.42.24-PM.png" width="570" height="259" /></a>
To me, this is degrading. There is a large difference between teaching young girls how to feel comfortable and empowered by their sexuality, and making them believe they need to strip down and flaunt all they have in order to receive male attention. When bare skin, pole dancing, teeth-licking, and bending over are the prevalent images of sexuality that we see throughout the multitude of media outlets, what does this say? What does this tell us about ourselves? Today’s youth will call these one-dimensional images to mind when asked to define the word “sexy.” Rashida later says that “this isn’t showing female sexuality; this is showing what it looks like when women sell sex.” I fully agree with this sentiment. Women and girls do not need to look at this type of public behavior and take notes. They do not need to bring these moves home to their significant others. Porn imagery does not necessarily equate with sexuality.
Unfortunately, this issue of exploitation and oversaturation is not likely to go away anytime soon. As most people know, sex sells. This is true whether it is in the form of advertisements, books like E. L. James’ 50 Shades of Grey, Halloween costumes, TV shows, etc. Celebrities all have an end goal, whether that is more money or more publicity. So while the constant presence of sex in the media is unlikely to change, our reactions and responses to it can. It is time to stop accepting this often lewd and tasteless version of sexuality as the norm. The images that Rashida described should represent one facet of what sexuality is, but they should not be the standard. Instead, there should be no standard at all. Women should be discovering their own version of sexuality, whatever that may be, and using it for their own empowerment instead of the enjoyment of others. They should stop relying on the guidance of celebrities who are often misled or morally corrupt themselves.
Women: Do what feels right to you, and create your own standard. Do not let anyone else define “sexy” for you.
This is obviously a very opinionated piece, and the opinions voiced are my own. The conversation about women, sex, and the media is not over as there is simply so much ground to be covered. This is a sensitive topic for many, and I encourage you to discuss and debate it amongst your family and friends!
Here is the link to Rashida's <a href="http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/2013/12/rashida-jones-major-dont-the-pornification-of-everything" target="_blank">essay</a>.
Photos via: Google and Glamour
The personal views expressed in this post are the writers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Minnesota Connected or its sponsors.
2014-01-14T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:16:31-07:00Eva Meierhoff