HometownSource Blogs

Protesters are fighting for their dignity at the national nominating convention later this year…the Democratic convention, that is:

The ACLU has said it wants to avoid the conditions that existed during the 2004 convention in Boston, where protesters were caged…

The DNC called the cages “free speech zones;” protesters an “internment camp.” And they must have worked because the DNC is planning them for Denver too.

I guess when you know that the protesters are going to vote for your party no matter what, you can pretty much treat them any way you want. Still, I’d expect a little more hospitality; after all, it’s the base we’re talking about here.

Steve Berg wrote a very informative and thorough piece for MinnPost.com today about the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a 1976 District of Columbia ban on handguns.

After reading the piece, it seems to me that the court’s decision is a fair one and in keeping with the Constitution. However, it seems that its true significance will be lost on the loudest of pro- and anti-gun lobbyists and their supporters.

The gun ownership issue is much less about ownership than it is about responsibility.

Still, proponents will continue to call for unrestricted access to guns while opponents will try to take away virtually all rights to gun ownership.

The common ground on this issue is rarely trod upon. Read more »

See the latest episode of “Real World: Baghdad,” in which siren reporter Lara has to decide between two beaus. Will she choose the McCain-heckling cable reporter? Or the married civilian contractor?

And will there be a fight between the two suitors?

Find out, right after these messages.

The Senate Democratic majority sends a thinly veiled threat to Disney, reminding it who controls it’s license, over the broadcast of “The Path to 9/11.”

Keith Ellison thinks government should control speech he finds disagreeable.

Global warming fanatic and George Soros lapdog James Hansen wants to put oil company executives on trial for publicly disagreeing with global warming science.

Nancy Pelosi is killing a bill protecting the free speech rights of broadcasters.

David Suzuki, another global warming fanatic, wants political leaders who “ignore” the science thrown in jail.

Nope. Nothing to be concerned about here. Nothing at all.

This week the best women’s golfers in the world are playing for the U.S. Women’s Open in Edina at Interlachen Country Club. The first day of practice included some much deserved blue sky and for me, a chance to get out and walk the amazing course.

Of course the grounds are in immaculate shape and from walking around only a few holes, you get a totally different perspective from what you can see on T.V. (HD or not). The best example was the first green I saw, No. 9 where the drop off from the front of the green to the fringe and fairway is very dramatic. So dramatic that I couldn’t see Julie Inkster, former Open champ, who was chipping from about 10-15 yards off the front of the green. She couldn’t see where the ball was going either, but managed to spin the ball back down to two feet behind the pin.

This was after she nearly chipped the ball through the green and out the other side. The ball came to rest inches from the fringe, but the sever back-to-front slope helped it funnel back towards the cup.

Read more »

Keith Ellison, snubbed! by the Obama campaign:

[Ellison] volunteered to speak on Mr. Obama’s behalf at a mosque in Cedar Rapids, one of the nation’s oldest Muslim enclaves. But before the rally could take place, aides to Mr. Obama asked Mr. Ellison to cancel the trip because it might stir controversy. Another aide appeared at Mr. Ellison’s Washington office to explain.

“I will never forget the quote,”

Via Tim Blair, some weekend reading for Buster of all Things Newt, who writes that the New Zealand Centre for Political Research is not to be trusted because it has received funding from Exxon Mobile:

Very few scientists have taken money from Big Oil, simply because they don’t give that much out. True, they have given $20 million to fund climate change research over the past two decades. However, over that same period of time proponents of the theory of global warming have received $50 billion in funding. For those of you not mathematically inclined, $20 million is 0.004 of $50 billion.

Were Big Oil research funding a greenhouse gas, it would likely be classified “insignificant.”

UPDATE: Thanks to Newtbuster for checking in. I have just a few remarks and will leave it at that.

Read more »

Those of you who have paid attention know I like calling south of the river and Dakota County, in particular, “the third city.” There’s Minneapolis. There’s St. Paul. And there’s the third city separated from the Twin Cities by a river that is wide — culturally, if not physically. People who live down here like staying down here to do their working, shopping and playing.

Burnsville Center has thrived while other regional malls have struggled because it’s the only mall south of the river. Communities, such as Lakeville, Burnsville and Rosemount are building arts centers so folks don’t have to drive north of the river for plays and concerts. Last week, two of our writers, Jeff Achen and Jason Olson, wrote about another development that has the potential for solidifying Dakota County’s claim as the metro’s third city with Burnsville as its core. Some developers are proposing a new baseball stadium in Burnsville for an expansion minor-league team that would resurrect the name “Millers.” The old Minneapolis Millers, started in 1884, played at the old Nicollet Park in Minneapolis and then Met Stadium in Bloomington, where they played their last game in 1955.

The $27 million open-air stadium would be on an old dump at the northwest corner of I-35W and Burnsville Parkway.

Read more »

Mark this day people. Someday you’ll be able to sit your grandkids on your lap and say you were around for the worst idea ever:

Democrats called for the government to own refineries so it could better control the flow of the oil supply.

The government that controls the energy controls liberty itself [Ed. - See Hugo Chavez]. Personally I find it stunning that any political party in America would even suggest such a stupid idea. In this crisis, the Dems see not a chance to relieve pressure on the people, but only an opportunity to consolidate power in the hands of government.

Scary.

With the 2008 NHL entry draft starting Friday (June 20), Minnesota high school hockey fans will recognize many of the faces drafted including Roseau’s Aaron Ness and Minnetonka’s Jake Gardiner. Three south metro skaters are also drawing attention from scouts including Eastview’s Corey Finehage, Rosemount’s Luke McManus and Burnsville’s Tyler Barnes. According to NHL.com’s Central Scouting rankings, Gardiner is slotted at No. 23 with Ness at No. 27. Finehage at No. 36, Barnes at No. 114 and McManus at No. 161. All of the players have signed on with WCHA teams, but will look towards one season in the USHL before going to their respective NCAA Division-I clubs. The first two rounds of the draft are set to start at 7 p.m. Friday and carry on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. with rounds 2-7.

This blog post is dedicated to my beautiful wife, Jenny. I love you baby.

This past Saturday, Clarence Vail died. In a way, this stranger was a hero to me.

Mayme and Clarence Vail were the longest married couple still living in the United States, and were photographed Thursday , July 19, 2007 at their retirement center in White Bear Lake, Mn. The couple was married for 83 years. Photo by Scott Takushi, Pioneer Press.

Granted, I didn’t know him prior to reading the St. Paul Pioneer Press article this morning, but he became a hero to me none-the-less. You see, he and his wife Mayme were married 83 years at the time of his death at the age of 101. I can’t imagine a better way to go. If I live that long, I’m supremely confident that I’ll be able to boast of a lengthy marriage. Perhaps not 83 years, but I will have the best partner, the closest soul mate and the most loving wife when I do pass.

How can I be so confident in this age of divorce, scandal and adversity? Simple. I follow Clarence’s advice. Read more »

Oink Oink Al continues to consume energy at a frightening pace:

In the year since Al Gore took steps to make his home more energy-efficient, the former Vice President’s home energy use surged more than 10%, according to the Tennessee Center for Policy Research.

Gore now requires energy enough for 232 families.

Speaking of energy, one of my theories is that environmentalism is a luxury borne of prosperity. Thus, as prosperity declines, so too will people’s interest in environmentalism. A story today seems to bolster that theory.

UPDATE: The Goracle attempts to squash a peaceful political protest.

As someone who enjoys an occasional escape from reality at the cost of $8, I’ve never left a movie theater wishing I had a do-ever until this past Friday night.

I was anticipating the release of M. Night Shymalan’s new movie for months, and the previews (with bodies hanging from trees and even more bodies flying off rooftops) made it look freaky.

However, the movie was about grass/trees/plants/flowers committing mass murder in response to global warming! Let me say that again, the movie was about grass/trees/plants/flowers committing mass murder in response to global warming!

I kid you not! Read more »

Think of whatever cute Blaze reference for recently graduated-Burnsville runner Rob Finnerty who set the new state mile mark at 4:07.18 in the Midwest Distance Gala in Lisle, Illinois on June 14. He broke Gary Bjorkland’s 1969 time. Finnerty won the meet with Rosemount grad Jordan Carlson on his heels in second place.

Finnerty, a Wisconsin-Madison cross country recruit and reigning state champ, will compete at the Nike Outdoor Nationals this weekend in North Carolina. This is the high school championships with the best runners in the country facing off. Last year he finished 11th in the 1 mile in 4:10.49 and 13th in the 3,200 (2 mile) in 8:59.15.
Cannon Valley League

The Cannon Valley amateur baseball League is off and running with another season.

Burnsville Bobcats head coach Kevin McDermitt said the youth movement on his team is a big reason the second-place team is in the midst of a five-game winning streak after starting 0-3.

CVL Standings: Eagan 5-2; Burnsville 5-3; Apple Valley 4-3; Savage 3-2; Rosemount 3-4; Lakeville 1-7.

This week my wife and I are selling our TV and entertainment center.
You may be asking the same question Joey from Friends posed to Ross when he told him he didn’t have a TV.

“So what’s all your furniture pointed at?”