tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18456166660757953142012-02-14T18:24:54.425-08:00(Mostly) Municipal public policy news and analysis from a citizen's point of view.StephanFnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-27706704508139381502010-11-01T09:04:00.000-07:002010-11-01T09:05:42.252-07:00

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-13365774551429880912010-08-18T18:14:00.000-07:002010-08-18T18:22:24.994-07:00

The Butanes provide an amazing soul revue at the Minnesota Historical Society's Nine Nights of Music.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-4368360549395700422010-08-11T14:31:00.001-07:002010-08-11T14:34:07.231-07:00

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-44422733226195444202010-07-27T15:04:00.001-07:002010-07-27T15:09:56.930-07:00

Social Security is not "Government Spending" by Jacob Davies There's a schizophrenia over Social Security among those who would like to see it done away with. On the one hand, the payroll taxes that fund Social Security - and have been subsidizing the rest of the budget for 25 years - don't count as "taxes" when it comes to asserting that "half of the people pay no tax", even

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-42276431263871135512010-07-14T05:43:00.000-07:002010-07-14T05:50:38.524-07:00

Klezmer group Millie and the Mentshn warm up for Number 2 of the Minnesota History Center's 2010 Nine Nights of Music series.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-75084217148941666572010-07-06T20:43:00.001-07:002010-07-06T20:48:52.892-07:00

If you go to a concert or other public event just to talk with your friends, go to a bar. If you stay at the event, attend to the event. Those around you (and you know who you are) would appreciate it. We really didn't show up just to be forced to listen to you talk./testy

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-34828554433258201782010-06-25T12:08:00.000-07:002010-06-25T12:15:07.620-07:00

[h/t Eric Black]

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-57462897547789898532010-06-21T12:05:00.000-07:002010-06-21T12:07:37.412-07:00

From Senator Franken's website:National League of Cities: Local Jobs for America Act Introduced in the SenateSens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) introduced the Local Jobs for America Act (S. 3500), last week, a companion to legislation that was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 4812) earlier this year.Both the House and Senate bills

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-1825769405737458972010-06-21T06:39:00.001-07:002010-06-21T06:42:54.242-07:00

h/t NASA

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-49397455244584067472010-06-15T18:30:00.000-07:002010-06-15T18:44:18.589-07:00

On June 15 DFL Senate District 55 held an endorsing convention for the Maplewood City Council seat to be filled by special election on August 10, 2010. The seat was vacated by the election of Mayor Rossbach. The special election coincides with the statewide primary.Of the three candidates who have filed for the office, Marv Koppen and Elizabeth Sletten sought the endorsement. Rebecca Cave did

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-28824093093333880072010-06-10T06:50:00.001-07:002010-06-10T06:51:15.287-07:00

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-51149149441188331142010-05-12T09:08:00.000-07:002010-05-12T09:14:52.241-07:00

The Sunday Star Tribune for May 9, 2010 featured the fascinating front page article "State's bad teachers rarely get fired". Since it was designated premium content, it is just now available online.Be sure to read the whole piece.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-11590310679849237272010-05-05T14:22:00.000-07:002010-05-06T06:18:58.188-07:00

Honor the fallen.While we daydream, they have beenserving in harm's way.[arrangements]

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-72588826428228684272010-05-05T09:37:00.000-07:002010-05-05T09:41:02.791-07:00

From Minnpost:[The Minnesota Supreme Court ruling] affirms the previous ruling by Ramsey Chief Judge Kathleen Gearin. The summary sentence says: "The executive branch exceeded its authority under Minn. Stat. § 16A.152, subd. 4 (2008), by using that statute to balance the budget through reducing allotments before the budget-making process was completed."

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-38624071501138668312010-04-30T12:25:00.000-07:002010-04-30T12:31:16.150-07:00

Received from MinnPost in my RSS feedreader:

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-26612131982514271682010-04-17T18:24:00.000-07:002010-04-18T05:29:22.106-07:00

Diana Longrie challenged actual Democrat Representative Betty McCollum for the DFL CD 4 endorsement at today's convention in Roseville.The 274 voting delegates splitRepresentative McCollum272Ms. Longrie2The Ramsey County DFL Convention, meeting in the afternoon, endorsedConservation District 1 Supervisor - Janelle AndersonConservation District 4 Supervisor - Carrie WasleyCounty Sheriff - Matt

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-39113202338798750572010-04-15T11:13:00.000-07:002010-04-15T11:31:52.741-07:00

The Preamble to the Ethics Code of the Society of Professional Journalists:PreambleMembers of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues (emphasis added). Conscientious

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-92083046449726077522010-04-03T12:17:00.000-07:002010-04-03T12:18:48.579-07:00

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-83588280886227761642010-04-01T07:07:00.000-07:002010-04-01T07:11:39.736-07:00

Lollie News.And this today

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-4988805668851960042010-03-29T18:40:00.000-07:002010-03-29T18:43:57.603-07:00

John Holbo at Crooked Timber:Suppose you have a two-party system. One of these parties enjoys/enforces total party discipline, the other, not: members of the latter party side with their own, or cross the aisle, on individual issues/votes, as conscience or self-interest dictate. Let’s call the completely disciplined party the Partisan Party. The completely undisciplined, the Bipartisan Party (

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-65651667193156743082010-03-27T13:07:00.000-07:002010-03-27T19:50:16.122-07:00

Here is another view on the question "what does a real Democrat look like?", this time from Georgia.Update:Minnesota 6th Congressional District DFLers have endorsed another actual Democrat, State Senator Tarryl Clark.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-4223104229573828322010-03-23T12:55:00.000-07:002010-03-23T13:02:06.371-07:00

Vice President Biden explains the 'but for' test:[From a CBS Special Report. The entire speech is here. The extract is from about 2:30.]

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-21922398801702013522010-03-21T20:27:00.000-07:002010-03-21T20:35:41.230-07:00

219 / 212: HR 3590 - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - passes.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-84567736564113186082010-03-21T09:41:00.000-07:002010-03-21T09:48:26.280-07:00

President Obama spoke to the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus on Saturday, March 20,2010 to encourage a 'Yes' vote on health insurance reform. During his remarks he defined what it means to be a Democrat:[From a C-Span youTube. The entire speech is here. The extract is from about 5:30 in the 3rd segment.]

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-77802329507839539572010-03-19T11:49:00.000-07:002010-03-19T11:53:16.265-07:00

Matt Yglesius makes a bullet point style argument about land use regulations, density, and sprawl— Throughout America there are many regulations that restrict the density of the built environment.— Were it not for these restrictions, people would build more densely.— Were the built environment more densely built, the metro areas would be less sprawling.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-9033879578602545992010-03-18T09:02:00.000-07:002010-03-18T09:43:46.081-07:00

From the Maplewood City Council packet for March 22, 2010, Agenda Item M-1:CITY ATTORNEY REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MARCH 22, 2010The City of Maplewood recently became aware that Diana Longrie, in her private practice as an attorney and during her tenure as mayor of the City, represented Patricia Gearin and Wipers Recycling LLC at the same time that Ms. Gearin, Wipers Recycling LLC and Gearin LLC

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-36200279689133247192010-03-13T15:48:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:11:19.886-08:00

Most of the attention of the 160 or so delegates to today's DFL Senate District 55 convention was focused on gubernatorial candidates. The state convention delegate selection process begins by forming a variety of sub-caucuses. Each sub-caucus gathers as much support as it can for some combination of candidates and issues. Most are centered on a gubernatorial candidate and some additional concern

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-24366762351642487142010-03-12T07:22:00.000-08:002010-03-12T07:29:32.156-08:00

While I have no great love for IBM, this commercial is interesting from an urban policy point of view.I am not sure if it is still true today, but in the 90's the Twin Cities campuses of the University of Minnesota made it expensive to bring a car on campus (difficult, inconvenient, costly parking) and provided free, fast, and frequent mass transit via their dedicated bus service. Shockingly,

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-8673892085189983382010-03-09T07:24:00.001-08:002010-03-09T13:00:04.439-08:00

This chart documents Stage 2 of the Molsen Hydrologic Cycle.UpdateAstute reader TM points out that this chart only captures that portion of the cycle deliberately enhanced by civil engineering, missing deposits at exterior collection points randomly disbursed in settled areas.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-27629356826141743142010-03-08T17:12:00.000-08:002010-03-08T17:18:45.303-08:00

The Maplewood Police Department has issued this scam alert via Nixle:LATEST IDENTITY THEFT SCAM TRENDS: U.S. Census ScamBeginning March of this year the U.S. Census Bureau's will send out a short questionnaire to every household in the U.S. and Puerto Rico in an effort to collect important demographic data. As a citizen, you are required by law to respond to the 10 short questions. From April to

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-15945526112632338842010-03-01T13:34:00.001-08:002010-03-01T13:39:22.613-08:00

Effective government, in this case enforced building codes, saves lives.Earthquake scientists, building engineers and political scientists in Chile and the United States agreed that even though half a million homes were heavily damaged during more than 120 seconds of shaking, the fact that so many Chileans survived was a testament to the nation’s enactment and enforcement of stringent building

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-80988486448867355322010-02-26T11:54:00.000-08:002010-02-26T12:57:30.257-08:00

Treat all Americans the sameActual Democrat Congresswoman Louise Slaughter.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-63610587755599708922010-02-25T12:54:00.000-08:002010-02-25T12:59:07.169-08:00

Sen. Dick Durbin to Republicans: "You think it's a socialist plot and it's wrong? For goodness sakes, drop out of the federal employees health benefit program."

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-3295610327606329332010-02-23T07:37:00.001-08:002010-02-23T07:44:30.377-08:00

From wikipedia, Piñata: A piñata is a brightly-colored papier-mâché covering either a clay container or cardboard shape. It may have originated in China. Marco Polo discovered the Chinese fashioning figures of cows, oxen or buffaloes, covered with colored paper and adorned with harnesses and trappings. Special colors traditionally greeted the New Year. When the mandarins knocked the figure hard

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-64085839247113020942010-02-20T10:15:00.000-08:002010-02-20T10:24:58.513-08:00

An actual Democrat represents the Minnesota 4th Congressional District.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-65430779751652729872010-02-19T12:52:00.000-08:002010-02-19T13:09:04.131-08:00

A staple defense of the Longrie years was that the streets were still getting plowed. Those same defenders predicted collapse of of the social fabric should Longrie, Hjelle, Cave, and Copeland be removed.Now that the city has settled in to having them all gone, we can report that the streets are still getting plowed, as are the trails.You could try to hear all about it on cable. What you will

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-76845157564521720092010-02-12T06:42:00.001-08:002010-02-12T06:44:18.725-08:00

It's Friday and the sun is still shining. Let's enjoy one more from Ted.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-21842130051651943392010-02-11T06:22:00.000-08:002010-02-11T06:29:51.809-08:00

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-19041095328040362922010-02-03T08:39:00.000-08:002010-02-03T08:53:52.143-08:00

Here is resident Longrie from the voice clip highlighted in a recent post[ at 1:25] Why are they [(unidentified) Maplewood business owners who have talked to me about the sign ordinance] not here tonight? they told me very clearly why they are not here tonight. Because they are fearful that if they identify themselves, that identifying their shops, that Maplewood will indeed drive by their shops

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-49620136295205862452010-01-26T06:29:00.001-08:002010-01-29T09:19:37.940-08:00

See if you can spot one or more insinuated non-accusation accusations in this audio clip:[Resident Longrie addresses the council during the second reading of the proposed sign ordinance, January 25, 2010]Update:Some readers report trouble with the embedded Google audio player I used for this audio clip. While we figure that out, here is a youTube version.Update 2: As long as we are testing, here

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-84689973091715528812010-01-19T08:45:00.000-08:002010-01-19T08:59:18.580-08:00

Alert reader BZ suggests that the example from yesterday also illustrates the tactic of manufacturing a controversy. This tactic, when conducted well, has several potential outcomes. Among them are diverting attention away from governing to the agenda of the inciters, and smearing those in charge with blame for supposed scandals. Those using the tactic often could care less about the subject

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-23968534287161435422010-01-18T11:19:00.000-08:002010-01-18T11:31:25.200-08:00

Watching the early moves in the 2010 special election campaign will provide examples and illustrations of the Political Football playbook being used.Today's illustration is the threat display created by pumping up your size to look as big as possible.From WebEcoistInflating their bodies by gulping air and standing high on all fours helps toads who feel threatened create the illusion of larger

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-46268980472549946152010-01-16T11:43:00.000-08:002010-01-16T11:52:38.029-08:00

City forgot to hold 2009 electionNo one in the city realized they were supposed to hold an election last year...."We just forgot it, that's the only thing that happened we just forgot it," said Addie Cutts, City of DeSoto Councilwoman...."The mayor said he was going to let someone who handles elections do it for us every year so we won't forget it," said Cutts.[h/t LC]

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-22591529030881351112010-01-13T12:46:00.000-08:002010-01-13T12:59:40.534-08:00

The four elected members of the Maplewood City Council have decided to appoint former Maplewood councilperson Julie Wasiluk to the open council position, serving until a new councilperson is elected in the 2010 special election. The appointment will presumably become official at the next council meeting.Here is a link to the newly available stream of the workshop meeting.Congratulations Ms.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-82282434475439313422010-01-11T06:06:00.000-08:002010-01-11T14:22:05.224-08:00

Tonight the Maplewood City Council will likely take an action that I think is wrong. It will be so wrong that I will view it as a betrayal of any sense of justice there may be in the world. Those members of the council for whom I and many others did volunteer campaign work (all of them) know how I feel about this action. Shouldn't they just do what we want? After all, because of us, they (we) won

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-6547662226778110922010-01-11T05:58:00.000-08:002010-01-11T06:05:05.807-08:00

Alert reader FB sends along a graphic illustration of the good start signaled by last Monday's special council meeting.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-70587017628902507932010-01-08T11:01:00.000-08:002010-01-18T11:32:19.077-08:00

Instead of the traditional meaning, political football can also be used as an exercise in reasoning by analogy about effective political organizations. Some adopt strategies that respond to current circumstances. Others just keep doing the same thing over and over.flexibledogmaticPlace your bets!

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-29094814944063424562010-01-06T09:39:00.000-08:002010-01-06T09:50:17.440-08:00

After Monday night's festivities, the new council members took their first official actions forecasting the tone for the coming era. Without much fuss, they- created a process to fill the council vacancy with an experienced person who could immediately set to work on city issues,- initiated a process to arrive at a common set of goals,- scheduled the required special election to fit in with the

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-73557765662170687662010-01-03T12:13:00.000-08:002010-01-03T12:26:19.133-08:00

From the city's website:AGENDA(Amended)SPECIAL MEETINGMAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL6:30 P.M. Monday, January 4, 2010City Hall, Council ChambersMeeting No. 01-10A. CALL TO ORDERB. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE1. Acknowledgement of Maplewood Residents Serving the Country.C. ROLL CALLCouncilmember Juenemann will preside over the meeting as Acting Mayor until Will Rossbach is sworn in as Mayor.D. APPROVAL OF AGENDAE

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-53145955517620940052009-12-30T18:10:00.000-08:002009-12-30T18:19:52.937-08:00

[visitors to our patio, Christmas Eve]Here be faeries

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-79145627684131747742009-12-23T14:15:00.000-08:002009-12-23T14:19:30.850-08:00

Broadcast news, needing to fill a time slot, always has the same amount to say whether it is a slow day or all hell is breaking loose. the weather is always about five minutes long, even when it's clear and sunny.Not so on the web. Sometimes there just isn't anything that needs saying.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-80922442235260120322009-12-14T11:04:00.000-08:002009-12-14T11:09:38.525-08:00

[This title, and more, available at Fantastic Fiction.]

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-71007552507027163402009-12-09T04:58:00.000-08:002009-12-09T05:28:31.570-08:00

Adding to yesterday's comment on Ms. Longrie's so called survey, here is the audio of the relevant portions of her alternative budget presentation introduction.Notice how campaigning is morphed into a science project, so that Ms. Longrie can (inappropriately) generalize the opinions of her core supporters into the views of all citizens.Stephan

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-81193557294523984632009-12-08T09:43:00.000-08:002009-12-08T17:37:43.436-08:00

At last night's special budget hearing (formerly known as Truth in Taxation) Ms. Longrie presented her "alternative budget". She prefaced her remarks with a description of the survey she has been touting. She then used the results to declare what it is that citizens see as priorities.What survey is that? During her failed campaign, Ms. Longrie mailed some questions to some residents, and asked

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-15788583546740853052009-12-04T05:04:00.000-08:002009-12-04T05:11:24.904-08:00

Grandstanding Encarta:seek attention or admiration: to show off in order to impress people, especially spectators Cambridge:acting or speaking in a way intended to attract the good opinion of other people who are watching Free Dictionary:To perform ostentatiously so as to impress an audience. Merriam Webster:to play or act so as to impress onlookers Reverso Collaborative:behaving in a way that

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-17815415297967397402009-11-25T08:00:00.000-08:002009-11-26T05:20:16.194-08:00

The representative democracy formed by our federal and state constitutions, and further defined by the body of law enacted under those constitutions, requires that public policy decisions be made by our elected representatives.In Maplewood, all council members and the Mayor are at large. That is, each elected official represents every citizen (the blue circle in our Venn diagram). The role of

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-51099131259183069862009-11-24T06:13:00.000-08:002009-11-24T06:20:41.528-08:00

Commitment: showing up to do the job you were elected to do[random scene from either the workshop or regular council meeting of 11/23/09]

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-11297439603590648862009-11-21T19:40:00.000-08:002009-11-21T19:50:27.849-08:00

The US Senate joins the House moving health insurance reform one step closer to reality. Mr. Yeats considers the voteTHE SECOND COMINGTurning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe ceremony of innocence is drowned;The best lack all

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-75335669346191420502009-11-19T07:13:00.000-08:002009-11-19T07:20:57.702-08:00

As a service to the public, we bring you the text of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America:Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. [

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-18385886878095620472009-11-14T13:41:00.000-08:002009-11-14T17:05:03.236-08:00

Based on the 2009 primary, I concluded that... the same number of voters like Ms. Longrie, no matter how many people vote; while the same proportion of voters like Mr. Rossbach [emphasis added]Now that we have general election results, we can see that I was wrong. 2005 % 2009 % Change % Longrie 2861 53 2348 39 -513 -18 Rossbach 2531 47 3081 51 550 22 Other 21 0 581 10 560 2667

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-55107272866077684422009-11-12T07:31:00.000-08:002009-11-14T14:27:08.775-08:00

November 12, 19271927 - Joseph Stalin became the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union. Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party leading to Stalin coming to power. Stalin later entered into the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact *, officially known as the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist RepublicsIn addition to stipulations of non-aggression,

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-11760365418844810312009-11-09T13:24:00.000-08:002009-11-09T14:25:31.587-08:00

Together with her personal traits, Ms. Longrie is defined by the company she keeps.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-22360727908751980742009-11-07T12:01:00.000-08:002009-11-07T12:08:08.914-08:00

The Kübler-Ross model provides one way to think about how people experience grief. She proposed five stages:DenialAngerBargainingDepressionAcceptanceWe haven't seen any examples of acceptance yet, but the rest are pretty easy to spot on cable.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-33262925518215172112009-11-04T06:26:00.000-08:002009-11-04T06:51:14.322-08:00

Ms. Longrie speaks to the Pioneer Press, on the occasion of her getting fewer votes than anyone else on the ballot*"Unfortunately, my demonstrated commitment to transparency and permanent protection of our neighbor preserves and being an advocate for the city is not a match for the deep pockets of those that support my opponent," she said. "Maplewood citizens now have to be worried about their

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-85930192386248265962009-11-03T05:00:00.000-08:002009-11-03T05:14:16.230-08:00

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-67995863621916535752009-11-02T06:28:00.000-08:002009-11-02T06:52:31.852-08:00

It's November 2nd, the last day before the election.It's the last day for desperate liars to hope that their desperate lies will have some effect.It's up to you to be sure the lies only work to steel your resolve to get rid of the liars.Turn up your lie detectors to full power. Call your friends and neighbors. Gas up your getting to the polls car. Get a good night's sleep.Get up tomorrow and go

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-26351439673912645742009-11-01T09:00:00.000-08:002009-11-01T09:00:00.798-08:00

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-58780612383957531782009-10-31T08:59:00.000-07:002009-10-31T09:14:23.894-07:00

Tired of this? OFF button

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-6261560490432691372009-10-30T10:30:00.001-07:002009-10-30T14:25:57.491-07:00

Some of us are old enough to remember when phone answering machines were a not entirely trusted newfangled way of doing things. People put long, involved messages on the outgoing tape that explained what was happening and how to leave a message, usually including '...after the beep'.Once they became more common, a friend of mine cut through all of that with a simple outgoing message:'you know

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-8854092445511763862009-10-28T08:50:00.000-07:002009-10-28T09:01:09.167-07:00

After the primary, I suggested there would be efforts to suppress voter participation in the general election:[comparing the last two mayoral primaries] the same number of voters like Ms. Longrie, no matter how many people vote; while the same proportion of voters like Mr. Rossbach. Look for the Longrie campaign to try to suppress turnout in the general election, while Mr. Rossbach (whom I

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-39581626511358085082009-10-25T19:25:00.000-07:002009-10-25T20:31:06.287-07:00

Merriam Webster:Racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.Someone claiming to be Dave Hafner commenting on the Minnesota Independent:...The Hispanic community impresses me as being a group of dedicated, hardworking, and respectful people. And they are predominantly

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-78099636721883350052009-10-22T20:03:00.000-07:002009-10-22T21:08:31.808-07:00

Recent high energy physics work has led some to speculate that the Higgs boson particle may be able to travel back in time to prevent its own creationA pair of otherwise distinguished physicists have suggested that the hypothesized Higgs boson, which physicists hope to produce with the collider, might be so abhorrent to nature that its creation would ripple backward through time and stop the

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-28016080639413193882009-10-01T05:13:00.000-07:002009-10-04T11:00:37.617-07:00

Opportunist (Opportunism) * a political style of aiming to increase one's political influence at almost any price, or a political style which involves seizing every and any opportunity to extend one's political influence, whenever such opportunities arise.* the practice of abandoning in reality some important political principles that were previously held, in the process of trying to increase

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-39304125385530004522009-09-29T19:54:00.000-07:002009-09-29T20:12:18.311-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_gumby/ / CC BY 2.0Be sure to read Mr. Hjelle's parting article in the Maplewood Monthly (large pdf) city newsletter.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-12801767360092155342009-09-29T06:45:00.000-07:002009-09-29T17:07:10.556-07:00

With the proper orchestration, visitor presentations can seem like the overture in an opéra comique.At the September 28, 2009 council meeting, a father-daughter resident team decided to do a little staff bashing concerning the costs of hiring consultants like Kimley Horn and SEH (complete with pie charts!).Amazingly, a couple of hours later Ms. Longrie is busy doing a little staff bashing

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-67241487276335134242009-09-25T06:44:00.000-07:002009-09-25T06:51:37.157-07:00

Elected officials take this oath upon assuming office:I, [name] , do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Minnesota and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of [office] in the City of Maplewood, in the County of Ramsey and the State of Minnesota, to the best of my judgment and ability. So help me God.Part of what this means is that

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-7926468842931449402009-09-18T05:40:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:43:34.515-07:00

From Government is GoodGovernment is not the problem; it is actually the only solution to most of the pressing problems we face as a nation – including infrastructure decay, rising unemployment, global warming, and a worsening health care crisis. As this online resource shows, if we want an America that is prosperous, healthy, secure, well-educated, just, compassionate, and unpolluted, we need a

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-21701009181062761402009-09-17T07:31:00.000-07:002009-09-17T07:34:54.673-07:00

From Pioneer Press letters:Government: It's a good wordIn my country, "government" is not a bad word, but a good word — where government is "of the people, by the people and for the people," even if they are unemployed and/or poor.Our government's military protects our land, sea, air and shoreline. Our government manages or supervises our highways, bridges, public school K-12 education, state

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-36772031334940755442009-09-16T09:36:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:44:38.443-07:00

The 2009 mayoral primary featured three repeat candidates returning from the 2005 primary. A comparison of the two is revealing...20052009% ChangeCardinal643547-14.9Longrie72584316.3Rossbach771145789.0Other5514082460.0All2194425593.9Here is one interpretation: Four years of bloodletting led to doubling the turnout. Twice as many voters participating had a relatively small effect on support for Mr

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-61664208485595444212009-09-16T09:16:00.000-07:002009-09-16T09:22:53.063-07:00

A Maplewood primary is like a casting call for a combination reality show and soap opera - gives Biggest Loser a whole new meaning (h/t kr).

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-25479380426728084132009-09-14T19:06:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:44:38.444-07:00

Mr. Nephew has posted a complete copy (streaming video) of the Chamber of Commerce mayoral candidate forum from September 11, 2009 for those reader who might not have ready access to local cable.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-86308948133411288372009-09-03T04:58:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:44:38.444-07:00

This week's Lillie Suburban Press Maplewood Review- News adds candidate questionnaire responses:Seven vie for Maplewood mayor11 file for 2 Maplewood council seatsto their earlier filing statementsMeet the candidatesand a variety of letters to the editor from candidates and voters alike.My personal favorite assertion is that of teammates Rokke and Hafner claiming to have no agenda, when, for just

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-26634647547348080432009-09-02T15:00:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:44:38.445-07:00

In a few weeks Erik Hjelle will have no (formal) power over the affairs of Maplewood citizens.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-51034383138231528122009-07-20T19:43:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:44:38.445-07:00

Tip #5 is especially important:5. Never handle large snakes alone.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-89151980522162644852009-07-14T09:16:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:44:38.446-07:00

An Ax to Grind: A Practical Ax Manual, Forest Service, USDA

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-62184444525890724862009-06-12T12:16:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:44:38.446-07:00

A new form of storm water treatment, reported by Philly.comAmong its goals, the plan calls for the city to convert 3,200 acres of asphalt into fully pervious (that's the favored term) land by 2015. It may sound like a big number, but not when you consider that 67 percent of pre-World War II Philadelphia is covered with buildings and pavement. Rain simply rolls across all that surface to the

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-88014639490686510092009-05-27T12:51:00.000-07:002009-05-27T16:14:43.438-07:00

OverviewDetailBenefit( at the Metropolitan Museum of Art)

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-85792151478676605212009-05-19T04:42:00.000-07:002009-05-19T04:45:08.136-07:00

Another newspaper dies.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-91831873249152346322009-05-10T04:53:00.001-07:002009-05-10T05:21:00.605-07:00

[h/t Yglesias, commenting on Dave Alpert]

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-40712735525298628372009-05-02T06:53:00.000-07:002009-05-02T06:59:42.352-07:00

North St. Paul Mayor Mike Kuehn writes in the recently mailed City Newsletter/Community Center Recreation Activities Summer 2009 (not yet available online):Before we leave winter behind, I want to publicly thank our city staff for another great year of winter plowing, sanding....He goes on and on in that vein - thanking public employees for their hard work and dedication, honoring public safety

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-36334429122969515672009-04-28T13:48:00.000-07:002009-04-28T14:06:16.912-07:00

At the April 27, 2009 City Council meeting Maplewood resident, Maplewood Voices contributor, and city council candidate Jim Llanas introduced his initiative to reestablish the Maplewood Human Rights Commission.Two resources key to this discussion are the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, and the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions.In an age when the national media and local press

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-20922334710636386902009-04-17T06:34:00.000-07:002009-04-17T06:36:53.246-07:00

Honest people, expecting honesty from others, look for it.Corrupt people, expecting corruption in others, look for it.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-8616326099250001692009-04-13T04:26:00.000-07:002009-04-13T04:28:31.684-07:00

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-4709672611408533262009-04-08T17:54:00.000-07:002009-04-09T14:35:05.167-07:00

The New York Times details a disturbing story from Tennessee, where many smaller city and county governments are facing enormous increases in debt service payments resulting from the economic downturn. It seems they bought into bond derivatives which were packaged, sold, and serviced by the same investment bank that conducted the state-sanctioned training which promoted the products as an

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-67713334861408145272009-04-05T08:20:00.000-07:002009-04-05T08:23:41.375-07:00

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-54669341083435704102009-03-31T06:17:00.000-07:002009-03-31T06:25:47.020-07:00

As a public service, we embed the first video in the MonkeySee seriesDealing with Whining Children as a Parent Be sure to watch all seven segments in the series.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-81034618681708157392009-03-29T06:39:00.000-07:002009-03-29T06:44:02.824-07:00

Picture:[from Matt Yglesias]No need for thousand words.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-79449465493620011432009-03-24T05:46:00.000-07:002009-03-24T18:50:35.657-07:00

Self-governance... [A term that] can be used to describe a people or group being able to exercise all of the necessary functions of power without intervention from any authority which they cannot themselves alter. [emphasis added][from a Wikipedia entry, a democratic encyclopedia]Even the founders of the United States of America, by making provision to amend the Constitution, understood that

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-20798144592200276972009-03-19T05:38:00.000-07:002009-03-19T17:01:01.868-07:00

A fashionable topic on national blogs is a deep thought for the day. Here's one from me:No matter how fascinating rattlesnakes are, watching them all day means getting nothing else done.

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845616666075795314.post-80588709083025903862009-03-17T06:19:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:37:12.543-07:00

MinnPost's Joe Kimball writes While major metros struggle, many newspapers still thriving in smaller townsSurprisingly, a recent National Newspaper Association poll shows that in 2008, 86 percent of adults read a local community newspaper each week, compared with 83 percent in 2007 and 81 percent in 2005."Just about all of the research and news reports on the 'struggling' newspaper industry have

StephanFnoreply@blogger.com0