Busy 24 Hours

I've had a busy couple of days. Last night I attended a kick-off meeting for the Northeast Citizens Patrol and this morning a breakfast fundraiser for Sandy Burt. I'm mired in work this morning, but will be posting on both later today. Please check back. Thanks!

Have Breakfast With the Governor

This Friday, I will be attending a breakfast fundraiser for State Senate candidate, Sandy Burt. The breakfast features guest speaker, Tim Pawlenty. You may have heard Sandy this weekend on Taxpayer's League Live or the Northern Alliance Radio Network. On both shows, the hosts rightly observed how much it says for Sandy as a quality candidate that the Governor is willing to devote his time for a Minneapolis candidate.

If you want an up-close and personal with the Governor, here are the details. I hope to see you there...

Date: April 28, 7-9AM
Where: Elsie's Resturant and Bowling Center
721 NE Marshall St. Minneapolis 55413

RSVP: Steve Sumner at 612-782-2008 or sumner2@mn.rr.com
$50 per person, $100 per couple.

Qualifies for the MN Rebate Program (You get your $50 back).

An Update From the Guardian Angels

Yesterday, I received this update from Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, regarding his visit to Minneapolis this past weekend...

I have just returned from a great trip over this weekend to your city of Minneapolis. The Acting Police Chief Tim Dolan couldn't be nicer or more receptive. He gave us a green light to organize. We were well received both in North and South, uptown and downtown. But it was in northeast that we received our best reception. Throughout the neighborhood on both sides on Central Avenue people were resolved to make a difference and to get involved.

One person and one group stood head and shoulders above the rest. John Schulte and his Northeast Citizen Patrol has agreed to host the restart of a Guardian Angel chapter within the Twin Cities. I am asking all interested parties, whether you hope to support, to join, or learn more about the Guardian Angel effort, to come this Thursday night, April 27th to the Columbia Grounds coffee shop at 3301 Central Avenue, N.E. from 7pm to 8pm. At that time the Denver Guardian Angels, led by Gray (Oriton) Fowler will talk about starting the Guardian Angel effort in N.E. Minneapolis. Applications and reference materials will be made available to all.

John Schulte will speak about the efforts of the N.E. Citizen Patrol and their hope through additional training to eventually become part of a graduated, local Guardian Angel group. John will act as the spokesperson and the director of the local Guardian Angel effort and he will be directly assisted and supervised by Gray (Oriton) Fowler from Denver.

Please forward to John your phone numbers and email information. Contact him at info@nepatrol.org.

On behalf of the Guardian Angels, I'm hoping that you'll be able to attend our start-up and informational meeting. You can always feel free to stay in touch with me also.

C.S.Founder & President,
Guardian Angels

I will be there and will provide an update on Friday!

3 Sucked Into NY Cesspool

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. — A 71-year-old man who went outside in the rain to pick up the Sunday newspaper plunged into a cesspool in his front yard, and his son and neighbor were sucked in when they tried to rescue him.

Firefighters said they helped pull out the victims — covered in raw sewage but not badly hurt. Andrew Palladino said the soggy ground, which had been soaked by two days of rain, gave way outside his Long Island home.

I walked across the lawn, and all of a sudden I disappeared," he told cable television station News 12 Long Island.

He yelled for his wife, Louise, to help him, and she threw a rope and called their son, Dan, who lives with them.

"Oh, my God," the wife said. "A little more, he's sinking. He's a goner!"

The son said the scene "was like a horror picture."

It's not the first time a cesspool — a pit that collects waste from toilets and sinks — has swallowed someone in the area. In 2001, a Huntington man practicing archery in the backyard with his two children died when his cesspool caved in and consumed him. And in 1998, a Huntington Station man was rescued after he fell 65 feet into one.

Yuck!

When I first saw the words New York, newspaper and cesspool, I thought this was going to be a story about the NY Times. Unfortunately, although NY Times subscriptions are declining heavily, plenty of New Yorkers still get sucked into that cesspool on a daily basis.

Guardian Angels In Minneapolis Tomorrow

Funny, I was just saying to someone a couple of days ago that it would be a good idea to contact Mr. Sliwa and the Guardian Angels to explore a Minnesota chapter. There must have been a few others thinking the same thing...

THE ALLIANCE OF GUARDIAN ANGELS, INC. For Immediate Release

Founder & President Of The Guardian Angels Visits Minneapolis To Explore Possibility Of Starting Local Chapter To Help Combat Rising Violent Crime

NEW YORK - Curtis Sliwa, Founder and President of the Guardian Angels volunteer unarmed citizen safety patrol will be accompanied by an interracial team of Guardian Angels from Denver who will visit Minneapolis this Friday April 21st.

They hope to meet with police and explain how a local Minneapolis chapter of Guardian Angels might help officials combat the growing violent crime problem. While in town for the weekend, Guardian Angels will visit and patrol uptown and downtown, Northeast and South Minneapolis. While in these neighborhoods they will meet and greet residents and businesspeople who have expressed an interest in having these patrols.

And who was it that got the ball rolling? The mayor? No. The Chief of Police? No. The City Council? No. Once again, we see that relying on government is not the answer. In fact, it's sometimes a way to get killed. Good citizens stepped up and took action on their own...

Recently, listeners to radio station KQRS in the morning began to email and call the Guardian Angel international headquarters in New York City. They did so on their own as they were seeking potential remedies to the growing problem. Some were aware that the Guardian Angels had a presence in Minneapolis back in the late 80s based out of the American Indian Center on East Franklin in South Minneapolis. There were many fond memories expressed for the service that had been provided. This certainly created the momentum to have the Guardian Angels visit this weekend.

KQRS posted this update this morning:

Dear KQ, Wanted to keep you updated on our trip to Minneapolis starting this Friday, April 21st. I'll be flying out of New York right after I finish the show at 10 o'clock EST. The flight leaves at 11:30 and gets in at 1:30 local time. Right now, it looks like we have a meeting with Acting Police Chief Tim Dolan at 3 pm, but that's not confirmed yet. We'll be hitting uptown and downtown Friday night and Saturday night. During the day Saturday, we'll be in Northeast [ed. yeah!] and on Sunday, South Minneapolis. As you can see in the initial press release we've sent out, your station KQRS is given the credit for sparking the interest in some of your listeners. I'll continue to keep you in the loop.

Curtis Sliwa
Founder & President,
Guardian Angels

Something to Consider

Number of Minnesotans killed in Iraq since the start of the war = 31
Number of Minnesotans killed in Iraq in the last 12 months = 6
Number of Minnesotans killed in Iraq in 2006 = 1

Total murders in Minneapolis in 2006 = 17

Another Busy Week

Good Friday was a holiday for our company. The only work I was expecting was a brief conference call with a client who was not off for the day. However, that call led to about 3-4 hours of work that had to be completed by end of day. Ok, there goes a beautiful Friday down the drain. Raking, not done. Prepping garden space, not done.

Saturday evening was dedicated to finishing my taxes. My Easter was spent viewing church on TV, then painting my bedroom ceiling and walls. I did squeeze developing an excellent new recipe and a nice night out and with friends into the weekend. In all, it was a fulfilling and productive weekend. However, for the last couple of weeks I have been working on a very interesting and involved work project due next week. My focus on these other projects this weekend means that I will be spending a few late nights this week to finish up this high priority project. On top of that, I have some important activist duties to attend to as well.

As a result, blogging will be next to non-existent again this week. Thank you for your patience.

What Do You Have To Do To Be Unique?

From the Los Angeles Times comes this bizarre story...

Rival bands clash over little-person KISS tribute
A Las Vegas incident highlights the MiniKiss- Tiny Kiss tussle over who owns the concept.

Joey Fatale, the 4-foot, 4-inch New Yorker who heads the all-dwarf KISS tribute band MiniKiss, is denying published reports that he tried to sneak past security last month at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas to confront a rival band leader, 4-foot "Little" Tim Loomis of Tiny Kiss, for allegedly ripping off his idea for such a group.

Loomis, a former drummer for MiniKiss, was performing with Tiny Kiss, which includes three little people and a 350-pound woman, on St. Patrick's Day at Beacher's Madhouse, a Las Vegas variety show, when the incident occurred.

Show host Jeff Beacher told The Times on Monday that Fatale "tried to sneak in saying he was Tiny Kiss" and had to be escorted from the premises. According to the New York Post, Fatale's lawyers sent a legal cease-and-desist letter to the show trying to shut down the act.

Loomis told the Post: "[Fatale] came out here [to Las Vegas] and tried to cause trouble, so I had him 86'd from the Hard Rock. The impression I got was that he was looking for a fight. He'd been threatening me over the phone."

Not one, but two little people Kiss tribute bands? If I were Gene Simmons, I'd be calling a network exec to book a battle of the little Kiss bands right now.

Crazy Work Week, Light Blogging Ahead

Not much time to blog this week, at least until Friday. Today, I'm just putting up one of my Friday style news of the lighter side:

So You Think Your Utility Bills Are High?

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia --A Malaysian man said he nearly fainted when he recieved a $218 trillion phone bill and was ordered to pay up within 10 days or face prosecution, a newspaper reported Monday.

Yahaya Wahab said he disconnected his late father's phone line in January after he died and settled the 84 ringgit ($23) bill, the New Straits Times reported.

It wasn't clear whether the bill was a mistake, or if Yahaya's father's phone line was used illegally after after his death.

"If the company wants to seek legal action as mentioned in the letter, I'm ready to face it," the paper quoted Yahaya as saying. "In fact, I can't wait to face it," he said.

A Trivia Night Personal Best

For the first time, last night I did both Trivia rounds at Keegan's. Guy from Freedom Dogs and I teamed up to win the first round! Guy and I teamed up for round two and managed a tie for 2nd. It was a four-way tie, so Keegans didn't give drink coupons, but we got our 2nd entry into the Boston trip drawing. In the money twice in one night!!!

I also learned a new word "Meanderethal", which evidently is a new slang term for people who walk slowly, chatting on their cell phone, paying no attention to their surroundings and getting in other people's way.

Admittedly, our success was in part due to a presumably weather related low turnout.

Guy and I had the pleasure of being joined by Sandy Burt and her husband, Charlie. As I've gotten to know them, I have to say that they are two of the nicest, most genuine people I have ever met. Sandy was out meeting people and letting them know about her fundraiser breakfast with Governor Pawlenty on Friday, April 28.

I encourage you all to take advantage of this great and very special opportunity to chat with Sandy and the Governor. You can check out the details on Sandy Burt's website (here).

And for those who get wound up about such things, I receive no money from any campaign or party organization.

A Must Read From the War Zone (Mpls, not Iraq)

The letter I referenced in yesterday's post "Keep Movin' Along, Nothin' to See Here" is now posted on KQRS. It is a very moving and chilling letter from a police officer who was on duty in downtown Minneapolis last Friday. The writer asked to be kept anonymous, but everything indicates this is legitimate. Read the whole thing here. Below are some excerpts (the bold emphasis is mine, but the all caps are the letter writer's):

By the time you read this, I am not sure what facts will be out there. I have to write in. Last night was unbelievable, but not really. It was crazy, but it was predicted.

All the cops in downtown have been saying for months that an innocent suburbanite will be the victim of a shooting this summer. It's barely 50 degrees and we had our first (yes I mean our first) innocent murder at bar time.

The senerio:
1. Opening night of a ''gangster'' movie.
2. Approximately 1000 youth thug gang members from all over Mpls, all with different gang ties.
3. NOT enough cops. (I mean we only had about 40 in full uniform on Hennepin Av, 1st Av, and in Eblock.)
4. Thousands of people enjoying a beautiful night, walking from bar to bar, leaving restaurants, and going to shows.

10:15 pm - 1st person with a gun call. Gang fights outside Eblock. 911 caller reports one is waving a gun in the crowd. Officers arrive in seconds with large show of force. Gang bangers flee, several detained, no gun recovered.

10:30-11:30pm - Several more minor scraps between gang bangers, you can feel it in the air. I look at my partner and say, ''I can feel it tonight, someone’s gonna get shot.'' partner replies, ''yep, I hope its not me.'' We continue to scan the crowd.

11:40pm - Dispatch reports a 911 caller says someone inside of the Eblock movie (guess which film,,,yes the gangster film) is waving a gun inside the theater. Four Off duty cops working Eblock are on scene. Several more on the way.

The crowd flees the theater, and guess what’s next. Yes the animals begin to brawl outside a restraint inside Eblock.

Dozens of officers are on scene, but cannot handle the scene. The fights are inside Eblock, down the escalators, and onto the street. Officers call for City wide response Officers from around the city.

We are trying to gain control, but come on....40 cops vs 1000 young gang bangers. (Oh ya, did I mention that several have guns....)

....

Back up five minutes ...I look at my partner as the fight calls come in. I say, ''here comes the shots....'' my partner says ,''no way...too many cops'' We are moving toward the disturbance of the gangsters. 5 seconds after we exchange our comments,.....Boom...boom...boom....boom...

''Shat '' I say, as we pull our guns out running towards the crowd. It's chaos! The cops are running towards the gunfire, and the crowd (innocents and gang bangers ) are coming at us in droves. Cars are peeling out, people running left, right, but mostly at us. Total chaos; worse than the movies or any nightmare. This is very, very real!

Boom....one more shot rings out., this one’s close. I yell to my partner, ''shat I can’t see the shooter'' People are screaming. They’re yelling at us. We’re ordering everyone that looks like a gang banger ''hands up'' as they run by us, so at least we don’t get shot as dozens make their way past us through parked cars.

....

The point of this true event is this, what is it going to take for the upper city management to realize that they need to take the leash off the cops for a bit. Quit this awful hatred towards the police. We're not thugs, we have feelings, we're people, people with families . Quit with the suspensions, quit with the b.s. allegations , and oh ya, THE NEWS MEDIA NEEDS TO LEAVE THE MINNEAPOLIS COPS ALONE. Get the leash off us, and let us take this city back!
My real name is not ''BOB'', and don’t give me up please. I would not doubt it if internal affairs would try to get this letter so they can get more cops in trouble.


P.S. Behind our homicide/robbery division, Guess what the second largest division in the Minneapolis P.D. is.....Internal Affairs.

Keep Movin' Along, Nothin' To See Here

The headline in today's Star Tribune:

Block E is safe, City Hall leaders insist

Oh, I feel so much better now. I'm sure the family Alan Reitter, who was gunned down on Friday night is reassured to hear how safe it is around Block E.

And the idiocy from the Minneapolis City Council Continues:

"This certainly seemed to be a random act of unkindness," Public Safety Committee Chairman Don Samuels said.

A random act of unkindness? Excuse me. Calling someone a rude name is a random act of unkindness. This was murder. I guess Councilman Samuels has a new strategy. Since the mayor and the council have no clue how or desire to actually make the city safer, let's make it sound more pleasant. "There were four random acts of unkindness last week, a man was the victim of three random acts of unkindness to the chest, etc."

KQRS read a frustrating but fantastic letter from an anonymous police officer who was on the scene in the Block E area on Friday night. Two things stood out. One, the officer could feel that it was going to be a bad night. Training, experience, instinct, all of the above? Whatever the reason, these people know what they are doing and I'm grateful for their service. Two, the frustration you could hear in the letter. A plea to the city council and Mayor Hug-a-Tree to loosen the restraints on the officers. Stop issuing suspension after suspensioin. A scolding of the media for making the slightest accusation of police brutality front page news (whether the claims are substantiated or not). And then this bombshell...

In terms of manpower, the 2nd largest department in the Minneapolis Police Department is internal affairs. That's right. Cops investigating cops. Much more dangerous than gang members. The strategy appears to be working quite well. We certainly are getting more and more of those dangerous cops off the street.

The letter was a good one. I hope KQRS posts it on their website.

So Is This My 15 Minutes?

When I was Young Master Nordeaster's age and going out on a Friday night, my father had a saying..."Don't do anything you wouldn't want printed on the front page of the paper." It was one of his better sayings, basically a twist on "integrity is what you do when people aren't looking."

For the most part, I heeded his words. On the rare times I didn't, I at least never did anything that made the papers. I had to wait until I was over 40 for that to happen....

I had all but forgotten the Strib's visit to Keegan's Irish Pub several weeks ago. Then, I arrive at work this mornning to the teasing of a co-worker and my boss's boss, our Senior VP of HR (which did make me a little nervous). They razzed me about being a minor celebrity. I of course don't read the local fish-wrap and was too busy to read the MOB yesterday, so I was completely clueless. They then explained that the Strib ran this story on the red and blue blogger gatherings.

In all, the Star Tribune did a nice job with the story. Other than a convenient quote snip (see more at Fraters), Jon Tevlin painted an accurate picture of the atmosphere of Keegan's on a Thursday night. I'm not sure if wearing my "Che T-shirt" was a good thing or a bad thing (might depend on whether the photo was flattering or not). I would just as soon go through life anonymously, but I could be in the paper for worse things. I don't think this what my father had in mind with his warning. Being that my name was inspired by Barry Goldwater, he might even be proud. Still, his words seem even wiser today. You should live like you are on camera or being followed by reporters, because at some point you just may be.