From 12/19 Star Tribune

Minneapolis Wi-Fi network delayed again

By STEVE ALEXANDER, Star Tribune
December 19, 2008

"The Minneapolis Wi-Fi network, which for more than two years has
been delayed by technical issues, weather problems and signal-blocking
leaves, has run into another barrier: the Minneapolis Park and
Recreation Board." [continue at Star Tribune site]

---

Turns out the City and US Internet never discussed digging up Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) property to plany the poles necessary to support the wireless radios. Oops.

Now the MPRB is refusing to allow the antennas around lakes and the Mississippi pending further study. That leaves Minneapolis with only an 82% coverage by Wi-Fi.

The MPRB just found out, they say, that there was any plan to do Wi-Fi installations on MPRB property. (I guess they were busy during the year of community meetings, often on Park property, discussing Wi-Fi.)

During the community meetings, free Wi-Fi in the parks was one of the selling points of the network. It's even in the contract (p. 7)! (Contract and related docs are available here.)

I think this will be worked out in 2009. It's still irritating that the City has so much trouble communicating between entities and that our park commissioners seemed oblivious to the Wi-Fi network plans that were discussed starting back in 2006.

Minneapolis police have issued a warning to stay off the Greenway and related trails after dark. I've published the warning and my comments over at Google docs.

I'm sitting at the table with Mary drinking wine and eating oysters. I wanted to get one of my infrequent blog posts up as we — meaning the US — are sending Barack Obama to the White House. I am so proud of this country tonight. I am so joyous over this choice.

fivethirtyeight.com is calling 284 electoral votes "safe" for Barack Obama. CNN gives him 207. No matter. I'll call it here at the pfhyper mansion.

I think we just elected our first African-American to the oval office.

President-elect Obama: Congratulations! I trust that you will govern with honor and integrity. Vice President-elect Biden: I'm glad you've got his back and I trust that your experience will help the US gain back the respect it has lost over the last eight years.

I can hardly believe this. Feels like the long winter is over and we can all celebrate in the Spring sunshine.

Not to say there aren't going to be some tough times with a shaky economy but I trust in this leadership.

Wow.

I made an idle tweet this morning that it would be great if McCain endorsed Obama and that it would definitely be a "maverick" action. Following the shameful Minnesota GOP mailing that links Obama to former Weatherman William Ayers, I just thought it might be time to short circuit this election honorably and move forward.

I was pleasantly surprised to get a tweet reply from @slolee with a link to McCain's Obama endorsement.




Technorati Tags: politics, mccain, obama, election2008

Mary, Hallie, and I ran in the Minnesota State Fair 5K Milk Run today. What a beautiful day for running!

We started too far back in the pack so we had a very slow beginning. We were actually behind some walkers! There was no room to pass at the start either. Still, Mary and I completed in about 29 minutes and Hallie completed in 26. It's a really nice run through the neigborhoods around the State Fair and the U of M campus.

Doesn't look like the results are available yet.

After the run, home to shower then back for a day at the Fair. Watch the Flickr account for more Fair pictures.

Technorati Tags: mnsf, Minnesota, State_Fair, 5K, running

You can't spend much time around the U's Humphrey Institute without hearing the story of Humphrey's dad's drugstore in Doland, SD and the political discussions that took place there. That civic tradition serves as inspiration for the monthly (give or take) Tom's Drugstore discussions at the Schneider's at 3400 University Ave. SE in Minneapolis (across from KSTP). Tom Gupta is owner and host.

Tom's Drugstore is a a lively, informal political discussion. The conversation takes place around an old, fake pot belly stove, and people sit in the drug store aisles. If you're a big D local Democrat and haven't heard of Tom's, then you're head has been in the sand as folks like Wellstone, Mondale, and Franken have been in attendance.

Next Thursday, August 21, the topic is how to build on the tremendous civic energy that has been generated this year in the elections -- after the election -- for positive social change. Harry Boyte, author of The Citizen Solution: How You Can Make a Difference, will lead the open discussion.

This is a very important topic. We all do enjoy the Presidential Campaign Show and we do need a positive change in the top leadership of this country. This campaign has triggered political passions and brought many more people to the polls. But what happens on November 5th? No matter who is in the White House, I doubt if there will be lights on the bike Transit Way that links the Greenway to downtown. I doubt if there will be a stop sign on my corner of Franklin Avenue where traffic has increased like 500% since the 35W bridge disaster. And I have my doubts that the new president will intervene if the Minneapolis Park Board decides to block bike transit ways again to benefit corporate interests. But I do have hope that we can do some things together locally and keep the political energies flowing in positive community-building activities.

I'll be there and it will be my first Drugstore event. Hope to see you there too.

Bonus Links

In Minnesota, a Drug Store Becomes Town Hall : NPR

November Fifth Coalition | Citizens at the Center

Tom's Drugstore: Building on the Energy of Campaign Season

Technorati Tags: politics, community, elections, elections_2008, Minneapolis, Minnesota