Interesting

Interesting
The Duluth News Tribune reported some interesting things this morning. It was just announced that the Republican convention is going to held in Minneapolis in 2008. Minneapolis beat out New York and Denver. Who would have thought that the GOP convention would be held in a largely Democratic state? (Although, I’ve heard that Minnesota being known for being Democratic, may be changing). We have become a “purple” state according to the Republicans view that Minnesota could be a “winnable” state. I can see the decision was political, choosing us over New York or Denver.

It is the first time a national convention has been held in the Twin Cities since 1892, when Benjamin Harrison was nominated for president. They say the convention will bring in 20,000 people and $150 million to the Twin Cities metro area. It also could impact the Northern part of our state, as people may explore the Boundary Waters and recreational opportunities in Northern and Southern Minnesota (yea, right, they are going to take their time to go beyond Minneapolis?).

Another interesting thing – since I wrote the other day about the Blatnik (High) Bridge, the spokesman for the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation reported in the Tribune this morning that the lights on the bridge will be relit tonight, it was apparently dark the last few nights due to a faulty electrical box. Did you know that the bridge has beautiful decorative lights that are lit from sundown to midnight daily? I didn’t realize that the bridge has only been lit with those lights since 1991. It has 220 decorative metal halide bulbs and lighting the 50-watt bulbs costs about $40 - $43 per day. Duluth hotelier and businessman Monnie Goldfine proposed the idea to Senator Sam Solon.

“Tokyo Rose” died at age 90.

SMDC has a “Robodoc” since 2004, it is the only robotic surgery system in the Northland. (read more about it in the News Tribune).

A 21 year old man was arrested early yesterday when his joyride caused $8,000 of damage to the 16th green of the Northland Country Club’s golf course. What would have possessed him to do such a thing on a golf course?

Jim, one of our local ACS's Ambassador's to the Celebration on the Hill event last week wrote a letter to the editor, that was published in today's Opinion page of the News Tribune. Take a look at his letter if you have a chance. (News Tribune link to the left on this page).

I’m writing later this morning because I will be going to the “Second Harvest Food Bank” this morning instead of going to work. I will be putting in 4 hours of my community service that my employer (American Cancer Society) wants me to do. We need to do 8 hours a year of service. If we don’t complete the 8 hours it rolls over on to the next year, thus giving you 16 hours to do the next year. It's preferred that we do the service during work hours and we can choose where we want to do the service. Since I actually have a little down time at work these last two weeks, more than I have had in two years, I thought I’d better try to get some of my community service in.