Category Archives: Minnesota

Notable stories from the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Minnesotans making a run for president

Posted on March 28, 2011 | Comments Off on Minnesotans making a run for president

 

MN Canidates for President

MN Canidates for President

 

Two-term Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty is running for president in 2012. It also appears likely that Michele Bachmann will be forming her exploratory committee this summer. Both politicians have their share of supporters and critics, so it will be interesting to watch this play out. Unfortunately, I think the vitriol is going to be brutal during the next presidential campaign. I am not looking forward to that.

Who do you think has a better chance at getting the Republican nomination for president in 2012?

And if you’re interested, here’s a list of people that have registered as a 2012 presidential candidate so far. The list includes Jimmy McMillan of ‘The Rent is Too Damn High’ campaign, a vampire, and Fake Ole Savior.

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Posted in Minnesota, Politics & Religion, Polls

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Record northern pike story lives on

Posted on March 24, 2011 | 5 comments

There is no shortage of fish tales circulating the internet. Some last for years thanks for people like my Dad who, innocently enough, take things at face value. Other fishing resorts and guide services claim these stories as their own to bring in business. If it’s on the internet, it must be true right?

The truth is most sportsmen WANT to believe this stuff. If you hunt for fish, you have had dreams of the trophy buck or the record pike. I had a dream once that I caught a 5 lb black crappie in 3 feet of water.

The story of the record northern pike caught in Turtle Lake outside of Saskatchewan landed in my inbox again this morning. The fish pictured has been “caught” in Canada, the U.S.A., and the Baltic. The story varies a bit each time, but usually involves a guy who is landing a smaller pike only to have this monster hit it. The story ends with the fisherman landing both of them in the same net.

Record Northern Pike

Record Northern Pike

Record Northern Pike

Record Northern Pike

Record Northern Pike

Record northern pike eats smaller pike

The story even got picked up by the Angling Times in 2007.

angling times

Angling Times featured record northern pike in 2007

The most accurate story I can tell you is that the pike was actually caught in Holland by Ewout Blom. The Pike Anglers Club of Great Britian secured Ewout’s story for issue 117 of Pikelines.

As far as I know, the mystery stops here. Or does it?

Check out these Top Rated Northern Pike Lures

More related to this story

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Posted in Minnesota, Random Stuff

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Jim Gaffigan coming to Minneapolis Oct 2011

Posted on March 24, 2011 | 1 comment

I was so excited to get the presale message for Jim Gaffigan tickets at the State Theater in Minnapolis this fall. For those of you who don’t know, he’ll be here 10/7 and 10/8. Buy tickets here.

Until then, enjoy this classic bit about camping from his King Baby tour.

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Posted in Books Music Movies & Entertainment, Celebrity News & Gossip, Funny Pictures & Videos, Minnesota

The death penalty in Minnesota

Posted on March 23, 2011 | Comments Off on The death penalty in Minnesota
Minnesota Gallows

A Minnesota gallows scene, circa 1900 - Source: MN House of Representatives

Ann Bilansky (born Mary Ann Evards Wright) became the first and only woman hanged by the state of Minnesota on this date in 1860. She was found guilty of poisoning her husband with arsenic. One hundred people watched in close proximity while over fifteen hundred caught a glimpse through knot holes and rooftops.

Minnesota also has the dubious honor of being the state of the largest mass hanging in United States history. As a result of the Dakota Conflict, thirty-eight Native Americans were hung in Mankato, Minnesota.

Dakota Conflict

Dakota Conflict mass hanging

 
In 1906 William Williams was the last person to be executed in the State of Minnesota. He was convicted of the shooting death of a St Paul teenager. At 12:31 a.m. on February 13, Williams was dropped from the make-shift gallows constructed by the sheriff. His feet hit the floor. The sheriff had not taken into account the fact that the rope would stretch eight inches and William’s neck about four and a half inches. It took three deputies hauling the rope upward to keep Williams feet off the floor while he slowly choked to death. Williams died a slow and agonizing death that took fourteen and half minutes.
(source)

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Posted in Minnesota, Politics & Religion, Random Stuff

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Don’t drink & drive on St. Patricks Day

Posted on March 16, 2011 | 2 comments
Drunk Driving Prevention Ad

MN reminding it's residents to not drive drunk on St. Patricks Day

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety has a great new message they are promoting to keep people from driving drunk on St. Patrick’s Day.

The ad does a nice job reminding residents that DWI patrols will be in full effect. 

Drive safely everyone!

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Posted in Marketing & Advertising, Minnesota

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Lent explained through the music of Sting

Posted on March 9, 2011 | Comments Off on Lent explained through the music of Sting

Sting

Is there a little black spot on your head today? Then you probably know what Lent is. If you aren’t Catholic and don’t really understand Lent, here is a music video that uses the music of Sting’s “King of Pain“ to help explain.

Books about Lent

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Posted in Funny Pictures & Videos, Minnesota, Politics & Religion

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Crowding the box

Posted on March 9, 2011 | 2 comments

A lot of misinformation has been put out there regarding Minnesota’s newest traffic law on “crowding the box.” Here’s a brief explanation.

We have all been blocked from crossing an intersection on occasion or missed a green light due to idiots cramming into the intersection from the other direction and getting stuck because they just HAD to get across. It happens here in Minnesota a lot downtown or during a snowstorm.  

MN traffic law

Sitting like this and blocking the intersection in Minnesota will earn you a ticket.

A new Minnesota law says that you can’t proceed into an intersection unless you are clear to go all of the way through it without impeding traffic from another direction. If there is a backup on the other side of the intersection, you have to wait. The intersection gridlock law became effective on Jan. 1, 2011.

This law DOES NOT prevent you from entering an intersection on a left-hand turn to wait for oncoming traffic to pass. You may still do this as long as you can complete your turn before the light changes.

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Posted in Minnesota, Random Stuff

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Real-Life Self Defense with Krav Maga

Posted on March 2, 2011 | Comments Off on Real-Life Self Defense with Krav Maga

A while ago, I learned about Krav Maga from watching a program on  National Geographic. I have always been interested in martial arts but never seemed to find a style that suited me. Although earning a black belt in something would be an honor, I never wanted to learn martial arts for the sport of it. I wanted skills that would allow me to effectively handle an unexpected attack in everyday life.

 

Krav Maga

Krav Maga Self Defense

For those unaware of Krav Maga, a brief history of it can be found here. It is used by Israeli security forces and by military and law enforcement departments all over the world. In technical terms terms, it is a hand-to-hand combat system first developed in Czechoslovakia that involves striking techniques, wrestling and grappling, and other self-defense tactics designed to quickly neutralize an attacker or defuse a dangerous situation.

In simplified terms, it’s a skill that makes you a potentially lethal weapon. If anyone would try to rob you, rape you, or jump you, it would be the worst decision of his short life.

Krav Maga has no sporting federation, and there are no official uniforms or attire, point systems, or trophies to earn. If you want self-defense skills to use in real-life situations, then this might be the thing for you.

Krav Maga is slowly catching on here in the U.S. Visit Krav Maga Worldwide for more info. I am currently looking into training in Minnesota and have found two so far: one in Chaska, and one in Minneapolis. I know nothing about either, so if you have information to share, please comment.

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Bryant McKinnie’s bar tab and other things that cost $100k

Posted on February 22, 2011 | Comments Off on Bryant McKinnie’s bar tab and other things that cost $100k

B McKinnie

It was revealed the other day that Minnesota Vikings tackle Bryant McKinnie partied down with celebs at a posh Hollywood nightclub recently. The bar tab? $100k. I couldn’t imagine spending that kind of money even if I had it, but to each their own, right?

Lets take a look at other things with a $100k price tag.

  • A promoted trend on Twitter for 24 hours costs about $100k and brands like Coca-Cola and AT&T are buying
  • Panasonic 103-inch HD 3D plasma TV
  • $100k per second is about what an advertiser paid to run a commercial during the Super Bowl earlier this month.
  • The 7-Series BMW costs about $100k if you have some serious negotiating powers.
  • You can franchise a Drifter’s Hanburgers fast-food joint 

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Posted in Celebrity News & Gossip, Minnesota, Sports, Weird News Crazy Videos and Conspiracy

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Minnesota Blue law has people seeing red

Posted on February 21, 2011 | Comments Off on Minnesota Blue law has people seeing red

Minnesota has always been a bit old-fashioned when it comes to some things. In many ways, it’s what gives us our charm. A new debate on a very old issue has popped up again challenging an old blue law that says liquor stores, etc., cannot sell alcohol on Sundays. Minnesota is one of 14 states that doesn’t allow it, and the reasons are a bit ridiculous to me.

Chicago Lake Liquors

The owner of Chicago Lake Liquors is in favor of selling on Sundays.

First off, there is no rational basis for any law that tries to enforce religious standards of how people should or should not spend a particular day of the week. If you are against the idea of buying beer, wine, or liquor on Sundays, then don’t buy beer, wine, or alcohol on Sundays.

I tend to favor free market competition, so I don’t care if the sale of booze on Sunday will cut into bar and restaurant profits. I think it’s up to a bar owner or liquor store to up their game or diversify somehow to fight that new competition. Also, telling a grocery store it can’t carry alcohol is like telling Walgreen’s they can’t carry paperback books.

Some arguments are even coming from the liquor store owners themselves, who say that allowing the sale of alcohol on Sunday will increase operating costs for them. My response to that is pretty simple: Stay closed. You can set your own operating hours.

So, where am I going wrong here? Tell me how selling alcohol on Sundays is really going to hurt Minnesota …

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Posted in Minnesota, Politics & Religion, Weird News Crazy Videos and Conspiracy

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