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May 03, 2007

Things that make me happy

Have a good one!

Posted by snackeru at May 3, 2007 08:54 PM

Comments

Noooo!

Posted by: Jon at May 4, 2007 08:34 AM

I should explain myself more. I'm not going to stop posting to the Greet Machine. But since there isn't anything to worry about anymore (right now at least) I'm sure my readership will decline, I'll write about other topics, etc. The Greet Machine won't be quite the happening place it has been for the last few months because most likely only the hardcore Machiners will stick around. That is OK. It is the natural flow of things.

That is what I mean by "fade into oblivion." Sorry to confuse you!

Posted by: Shane at May 4, 2007 08:51 AM

Noooo...say it ain't so!

Posted by: Erik at May 4, 2007 09:49 AM

Sounds good to me. There are some us "hardcore Machiners" who like it when you go off topic!

Curt in Grand Forks

Posted by: Curt Hanson at May 4, 2007 09:57 AM

"Wisconsin Mac and Cheese at Noodles. Have I mentioned this before? Now that is a tasty dish."

You can make Mac & Cheese for a fourth the price and twice as good at home.

But then again anybody that spends hundreds of dollars watching baseball probably doesn' think about that..............

Posted by: jeff at May 4, 2007 10:09 AM

Ballpark Boys batting .000 on good public policy
By Nick Coleman, Star Tribune
Last update: May 03, 2007 – 9:20 PM

snip...

We can be sure of this:

With 40,000 seats, the new park will have 28 percent fewer seats than the Metrodome. And tickets will cost far more than we suppose, especially now that the Legislature -- that champion of the little people -- is poised to legalize scalping.

"Hey, Buddy. You and the kids wanna sit behind first base? That'll be $400. Or I tell you what, just give me the kids."

But the County Ball Boys are working hard for Carl Pohlad.

On Tuesday, the county wrote a check for almost $14 million -- it's always nice to have a little cash on hand -- to pay for land where the new Twins baseball park is expected to open in three years.

It was a gift, from you to professional baseball (Thank you!), just part of half a billion (when you include interest) taxpayers have been assigned to shoulder on behalf of the Pohlad family business plan.

The very day we extended that helping hand, it was learned that Twins owner Carl Pohlad and sons paid $6 million to buy J.B. Hudson Jewelers, the upscale bling-bling shop where Minnesotans go to gaze at engagement rings before they get real about their budget.

http://www.startribune.com/357/story/1162274.html

Posted by: burt at May 4, 2007 10:13 AM

Did Nick write another column? Huh. I haven't noticed.

Posted by: Shane at May 4, 2007 10:15 AM

I already sent the reply below to Nick Coleman. Keep in mind, I have no problem supporting all the things that I mention, but, it is nice to include a new Twins ballpark as one of them. Shane, I do plan to continue frequenting your site, and as more detailed plans become available, and as construction begins, this will be my site for the most accurate information. Now, if we can just beat the Devil Rays...


Mr. Coleman,

I appreciate your take on the ballpark. But, there will always be something you can pick out that is more important. This week it was North Minneapolis, last week it was highways and road construction, the week before it was education funding. By your logic, I could say, “When will it be MY turn?” When will Derek Robertson get something for the taxes he pays to support people buying homes that they can’t afford in the first place? When will Derek Robertson get something for the taxes he pays to support light rail that he never has occasion to ride? When will Derek Robertson get something for the taxes he pays to support tax breaks for HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES THAT DON’T RECEIVE EVEN ONE-TENTH OF THE SCRUTINY THAT THIS BALLPARK DID. Mr. Coleman, you need to start looking from a different vantage point once in a while.

Derek J. Robertson

7-day Subscriber

then i included home and email address...

Posted by: Derek at May 4, 2007 10:27 AM

Easy answer Derek; You never will, and neither should the Twins.

Posted by: Bob loblaw at May 4, 2007 10:55 AM

it's funny, Nick sang the praises of the XCel in his town... which was done more-or-less the same way as the Twins.

Shane - I hope the blog DOES evolve... i've found there is a lot this group has in common, and while stadium chatter will slow vis-a-vis the politics of construction, i hope as sketches come out, dirt starts turning, that we have more to talk about.

Posted by: CJ at May 4, 2007 11:51 AM

Nick is a hypocrite. I love how all the anti-stadium people are genuflecting at the altar of Nick when he has been in favor of subsidizing millionaires before. This is a letter I wrote to Nick a year ago:

Mr. Coleman--

I don't always agree with what you write, but I appreciate your passion. One thing I definitely don't agree with is your stance on the Twins stadium issue. In fact, I find your stance a little inconsistent. I've read a lot of your past columns from the Pioneer Press, and I have found that you were in favor of the plan that built the Xcel Energy Center. As you know, that arena was built for $130 million, with $65 million from a no interest state loan to the Wild and $65 million from the taxpayers of St. Paul. Why was it OK to subsidize millionaires in this case, but not the Twins? Don't "kids' needs" also come before Bob Naegele? Is it just because you like hockey?

On March 23, 1998 you wrote a column that seemed to justify your stance in favor of the X by saying "[Sen. Roger] Moe forgets the reason the taxpayers balked over a new baseball stadium. We already provided one for the Twins: the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Similarly, we provided a basketball arena for the Timberwolves and state-of-the-art athletic facilities for the University of Minnesota. The only modern facility lacking in the Twin Cities is a hockey arena."

This was untrue. The Target Center could have easily been used as a hockey arena too. But using your same argument, we definitely do not have a ballpark already for the Twins. The Twins play in a football stadium.

Sorry to ramble on, but to wrap this up I ask you again, why was it OK for us to subsidize millionaires for a hockey arena, but not for a ballpark?

Sincerely,

Shane

Posted by: Shane at May 4, 2007 12:11 PM

Nick Coleman can complain all he wants about priorities and whatever, but here is the dumbest thing he said. He said in that column that "I'm still not convinced the new park has a better design than the old." And he goes on to say that "we can't know whether most patrons will have a better vantage than they do in the Dome." He really has no clue what he's talking about. Be against spending money on ballparks if you want, but don't be so biased that you can't acknowledge how much nicer the new ballpark will be for the fans.

Posted by: jeremy at May 4, 2007 12:28 PM

Jeff writes: " "Wisconsin Mac and Cheese at Noodles. Have I mentioned this before? Now that is a tasty dish."

You can make Mac & Cheese for a fourth the price and twice as good at home.

But then again anybody that spends hundreds of dollars watching baseball probably doesn' think about that...."

Jeff; not even a fourth the price and don't forget to make it with real butter! Noodles uses margarine! blahhhh!

Posted by: mary at May 4, 2007 12:33 PM

I can't believe how pathetic you both are. So, I shouldn't like Noodles Mac and Cheese because it costs too much? I guess you both never go out to eat, or never like a dish made at a restaurant more than the same dish you can make at home? Speaking of hypocrites ...

Whatever floats your boat. Hey did you hear we're building a new Twins stadium? Pretty exciting, heh?

Posted by: Shane at May 4, 2007 12:41 PM

The fact of the matter is; had this issue either been funded statewide, thereby affecting everybody equally; or, through a localized tax limited on the establishments and patrons that will directly use the facility, i.e. the convention center hotel and liquor tax, and a ticket tax, this facility would be well received and admired. Unfortunately it will always be associated with seemingly underhanded way it was pushed on the majority of Hennepin County residents which definitely takes "the polish off the apple."

Posted by: Bob Loblaw at May 4, 2007 12:46 PM

From BPA website, meeting minutes;

- Commissioner Wade asked if the opening of the ballpark in the spring of 2010 is still on schedule. Mr. Hunter responded that BNSF is on a critical path. Relocating the tracks was not in the original project scope. One drawback in the new design is bringing the columns down. It is very critical to move the tracks this year by November 1 as tracks cannot be installed in winter months. If this does not happen, the spring 2010 date will be at risk. Chair Cramer stated a fevered effort was being made to resolve all of this by the end of the month.

With the over/under being opening day 2010, I'll put big money on the over.

Posted by: PN at May 4, 2007 01:19 PM

Coleman makes some good points -- the new park is not going to benefit the average fan over the Metrodome, and will more than likely force many average fans out of regular attendance -- but he definitely drops the ball with his Wild/Xcel hypocrisy. Even if he pointed out the slightly different funding mechanisms and disparity of total cost, although it wouldn't really address the fundamental problems he has with public stadium financing, I could respect that more than his silence and ignorance on the issue.

I kinda wish I could get the Strib with the work of the "columnists" neatly cut out of the paper. Between stuff like this from Coleman, Kersten, and Dennis Anderson, it's become abundantly clear to me that these columnists serve little or no constructive purpose.

Posted by: spycake at May 4, 2007 02:05 PM

Also, Shane, I don't think you've shaken this ballpark topic quite yet! Nice try, though.

Posted by: spycake at May 4, 2007 02:06 PM

Shane,

You still haven't told us what "Greet Machine" means.....

Posted by: MOJO at May 4, 2007 02:29 PM

Unbelievable.

Shane puts up a post about some things that make him happy in hopes that others may put their lists. But no; jeff, burt, Bob and mary have to come in and bring their hate and negativity about the stadium into the picture and bring the whole post off topic.

How about showing a little bit of decency and humanity for a day? Would it kill you to just enjoy a day in this world without being such asses (for lack of a better word)? Your lives must really be unbearable if this coming here with your venom is the brightest part of your day. I truly pity you.

Now, back on topic, here's some things that make me smile:

- My wife's homemade pizza (which is for dinner tonight)
- My kids greeting me at the door with a running hug (almost every night)
- Chasing my kids (and Shane's) around our yard pretending I'm a zombie
- The Brewers finally being a real good ballclub
- My wife. Best friend I'll ever have.
- The Green Bay Packers
- Playing in my football and softball leagues
- Pie from the Norskie Nook
- Sitting on Shane's porch on a beautiful spring day.
- Laying in a hammock in the shade.

Posted by: Cheesehead Craig at May 4, 2007 02:30 PM

Hey PN,

In the clasic words of Boz Scaggs:

"Why can't you just get it through your head, it's over, it's over now."

Also if the BPA also released a street construction advisory. Here it is:

Site demolition of the Rapid Park site, relocation of utilities on the Rapid Park site, and mass grading of the ballpark site and parking lot area. The Rapid Parking lot between Fifth and Seventh Streets will close.

The Third Avenue North connection up to the Seventh Street Bridge and on to Glenwood Avenue closes permanently.

The Fifth Street Bridge will close temporarily from about Sixth Avenue North to Third Avenue North on Monday. Scheduled opening is Labor Day.

Permanent closure of Third Avenue North from Sixth to Seventh streets by removing the ramp to Seventh.

Temporary closure from May to July of Third Avenue North between Fifth and Sixth streets to install the ballpark's utilities.

Third Avenue lane closure from Washington Avenue to Fifth Street during new utilities installation, May to August.

Temporary closure from May to July of Third Avenue onramp to I-394 for pedestrian bridge construction.

Fifth Street Bridge closure from May to October to rebuild the bridge abutment.

Intermittent closure from now until May of next year of Seventh Street and Third Avenue lanes to allow the contractor to drive corrugated metal plates into the ground to hold back the Earth near the construction site.

The Cedar Lake bike trail will be closed this month and next near its Third Avenue terminus. The City of Minneapolis is designing a detour which will get marked and posted soon.

Posted by: Freealonzo at May 4, 2007 02:41 PM

Hey everyone - I read Nick Coleman's column last night on line around 9:30, and had to respond right away. Here is my e-mail to him:

Dear Mr. Coleman:

It seems very odd that one week you are writing sweet odes to hockey, the Wild and the Xcel Energy Center and the next week you are bashing the Twins, Hennepin County and their new stadium. The Wild play in a publicly-funded arena that was necessary to attract NHL hockey back to Minnesota. People made the argument, however, that "the Civic Center was good enough." There was no referendum needed to pass the bill for the Xcel Energy Center. You seem to enjoy the fact that NHL hockey is back in Minnesota, and it is played in downtown St. Paul. After all, "hockey unites us." Right?

Now, Hennepin County took perfectly legal steps through the legislative process to eliminate the need for a referendum for a Twins stadium. Of course, this was "rammed through (even though it took 10 years)," and the taxpayers were "deprived" of their right to approve or reject. Where were your objections when the taxpayers were deprived of their right to approve or reject the Xcel Energy Center?

You say you are "fending off accusations from 16-year olds" about being un-American, or wanting the Twins to leave. That is more than a little condescending. It is you, Mr. Coleman, that are coming across as bitter and whiney over the outcome of the Twins stadium. It seems as if you simply have a vendetta against Carl Pohlad.

Lastly, you argue that the seating may be no better in the new stadium than the Metrodome. (Remember - "the Civic Center was good enough for the NHL"). As long as the seats are tilted towards the infield, we're already better off in the new stadium.

Jeff Thompson

Posted by: Jeff T. at May 4, 2007 02:52 PM

Below is the e-mail I sent to Nick Coleman:

Hey Nick,

In the clasic words of Boz Scaggs:

"Why can't you just get it through your head, it's over, it's over now."


Anyone interested in Elvis Costello at the Myth on Tuesday Night?

Posted by: Freealonzo at May 4, 2007 03:26 PM

OMG, Nicky is delusional. Here's his response to my e-mail noted above:

"Fat lady ain't sung yet."

Besides the not good english, St. Nick must have something up his sleeve. Maybe he thinks that through his powers of persuasion everyone will finally see the light, and we'll demand the Carl pony up for the ballpark.

Posted by: Freealonzo at May 4, 2007 03:39 PM

Nick is in a chatty mood this afternoon. Here's an e-mail conversation I've had with him:

Dean wrote:
In the clasic words of Boz Scaggs: "Why can't you just get it through your head, it's over, it's over now."

Nick Coleman wrote:
Fat lady ain't sung yet.

Dean Wrote:
Funny statement. Since the County owns the land now and is collecting 12 cents for ballpark construction every time I go to Target, it looks like the fat lady is already bowing in front of the crowd receiving her applause. Tell you what, If the Twins ballpark doesn't get built, I'll buy you a beer and brat at the (also publicly subsidized) Xcel Energy Center while we watch your beloved, billionaire-owned Wild.

Nick Wrote:
the decisions to build the xcel were made 10 years ago. the arena has been open almost for seven. even i consider those facts to be irreversible. if, 10 years from now, the twins are playing in the world series at pohlad park, i will be loving them as much as i do our hockey team. i am not against the stadium; i am against the way it is being paid for. and that, dear friend, can change.

Posted by: Freealonzo at May 4, 2007 04:03 PM

And everyone knows that if the ballpark were being built over in East Berlin he would be whislting dixie!

Posted by: kevin in az at May 4, 2007 05:48 PM

I would have to agree with the comment that the HC tax was not the ideal funding mechanism. Slot machines at Canterbury Park would have been far easier on everyone, and could have paid for the Vikings too. Too bad our very moral legislators all had 'moral objections' to expanding gambling (and bigger objections to losing thier campaign contributions.) These are the same geniuses who want to 'protect' us from gay marriage.

Even an enterprise zone would have been better. But those ideas amounted to banging your head against the wall with the MN Legislature. I long ago gave up on them. Mike Opat and HC stepped up with a plan that they would finally tolerate, and got it done. Polls have always shown a majority of people wanted a stadium and a majority also didn't want to pay for it. At some point one or the other had to give.

All of this is now moot for the Twins, thank god, but will have to be re-visited for the Vikings since we didn't have the good sense to fund both with the same mechanism.

Posted by: D Howe at May 4, 2007 06:33 PM

Nothing worse than baseball wackos.

You guys need to spend some time with your kids at some real entertainment; not someplace that teaches them to fawn over overpaid jerks throwing balls around that snear at the kids wanting autographs as they jump into their limousines with women in tow.

Posted by: lolo at May 4, 2007 08:43 PM

Freealonzo:

Boz Scaggs update: He tours each summer, has a small loyal cadre of fans, remains popular in Japan, and released a DVD in 2004.

Boz Scaggs was always an idiot.

Posted by: zz at May 4, 2007 09:08 PM

I just enjoyed yesterday because it was my anniversary.

It just doesn't get any better than that.

Posted by: drake33 at May 5, 2007 02:39 PM

Nice site!

Posted by: Lambeth at May 5, 2007 06:17 PM

Hey - has anybody ever checked out this web site about Metropolitan Stadium called "Patchwork Glory?" It's a great web site with lots of old photos and video clips. Good memories!

http://prescott.imbri.com/bpmagic/MspMet/

Posted by: Jeff T. at May 5, 2007 07:16 PM

It makes me happy to think about all the outdoor baseball nerds huddled together for warmth in their new stadium, paid for by everybody else, on a May day game, 5 weeks after opening day.

Couldn't happen to a finer group.

Posted by: dirk diggler at May 5, 2007 10:35 PM

APRIL 27--In a new steroids bombshell, a former New York Mets clubhouse employee has admitted distributing various performance-enhancing drugs to dozens of current and former Major League Baseball players.

Kirk Radomski, 37, pleaded guilty today to distributing anabolic steroids and laundering the proceeds of the illicit business, which operated from his New York home. According to a plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, California, Radomski sold ballplayers anabolic steroids, Human Growth Hormone, and amphetamines from 1995 to December 2006, when his home was raided by federal agents.

Radomski stated that during his prior clubhouse employment he developed "contacts with Major League Baseball players throughout the country to whom I subsequently distributed anabolic steroids and athletic performance-enhancing drugs."

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0427073roids1.html


Oh yes, baseball is such a FINE sport to drag your Sons and Daughters to.............. to watch doped up players.

Posted by: larson at May 6, 2007 04:32 PM

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1166795.html

Posted by: Bob Loblaw at May 7, 2007 07:34 AM

Nothing worse than baseball wackos.

You guys need to spend some time with your kids at some real entertainment; not someplace that teaches them to fawn over overpaid jerks throwing balls around that snear at the kids wanting autographs as they jump into their limousines with women in tow.

I thought that was the Vikings. If you would bother to even briefly investigate the Twins instead of relying on your uninformed and biased opinions, you would know that the Twins players are some of the classiest in the league from top to bottom.

It makes me happy to think about all the outdoor baseball nerds huddled together for warmth in their new stadium, paid for by everybody else, on a May day game, 5 weeks after opening day.

Couldn't happen to a finer group.

It makes me happy to think about all the outdoor-baseball-hating nerds, huddled over their keyboards, pointlessly directing their angst and hate toward those of us on this site because they are COMPLETELY HELPLESS TO STOP THE STADIUM FROM HAPPENING. Hate us all you want. Three years from now we will be watching the Twins outdoors and experiencing a joy you are will never know because you are too busy being bitter. Sounds like a great way to go through life.

Oh yes, baseball is such a FINE sport to drag your Sons and Daughters to.............. to watch doped up players.

Oh please. As if something needs to wholly sanctified in order to be acceptable for viewing by children. In this world, nothing is "pure." And if you are afraid that your influence as a parent is inferior to the lifestyles adopted by a minority of the participants in a given event, then I feel sorry for you.

Posted by: The Tube at May 7, 2007 09:45 AM

Shane --

Did you see the writeup yesterday about the Hines proposal to redevelop the land between the new stadium and Washington Avenue? This is an interesting story in its own right, but it could also affect the timeline for the construction of the stadium itself. Maybe your work isn't done yet!

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1166795.html

Posted by: Dave T at May 7, 2007 01:01 PM

I like this "Things That Make Me Smile" meme. Here's mine:

- Cheesehead Craig's wife's homemade pizza... oh, wait a minute...
- The Brewers showing the world what a fine ballclub they've always been underneath
- B laughing uproariously at the same Simpsons bit I have quietly loved for years
- When the cat rolls on his back in the middle of the floor and is all splayed out spread-eagle
- Laying in Cheesehead Craig's hammock in the shade when he's not home
- Realizing while watching The Good Shepherd that I actually retained some knowledge from my espionage class
- The Blenders' first album
- Thinking of how I used to treat myself to a Mr. Frosty (Mr. Frostee?) strawberry milkshake on my way home to the Village from class on a hot summer evening in NYC and tipping the guy a bit every time, and how surprised he always was at it

Posted by: Vicki at May 7, 2007 04:04 PM

Quick comment on the "Things That Make Me Smile"

I don't have kids of my own, but I do play "monster" with my nieces, which sounds a lot like Craig's zombie.

Going to the Barn. Whether it's for a hoops game or whatever kind of event, the Barn is awesome. I'm glad I was convinced by the U alumni association to get hoops tickets again so I'll see what the boys can do with Tubby at the helm.

Spending the weekend working at the Living Green Expo at the State Fairgrounds Grandstand and learning yesterday that we had 25,000 people show up, a 67% increase over last year.

Posted by: Snyder at May 8, 2007 02:52 PM

I liked this site, it's neat. Good job! Would you please also visit my site?

Posted by: Helen at July 17, 2007 01:05 PM

Very nice point of view! Respect!

Posted by: wcomocw at August 1, 2007 04:16 PM

Very nice point of view! Respect!

Posted by: siomogr at August 2, 2007 01:15 AM

Very nice point of view! Respect!

Posted by: zftommyoj at August 2, 2007 07:35 PM

hello! nice site, I like it!

Posted by: nblokomotivedd at August 13, 2007 03:19 AM

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