Round The Way Girl Joins Bob Davis-Podcast 630

Neighbors and friends for years. In today’s world that means family. Round The Way Girl joins the Bob Davis Podcasts to talk about life challenges. I get a street slang lesson. We talk about the new HBO Bernie Madoff movie and more. In Round The Way Girl Joins Bob Davis-Podcast 630.

Bde Maka Say What?

Let’s put the madness in Washington on hold, drink some coffee and talk. Round The Way Girl and I wonder at the new bizarre name for the main urban lake in Minneapolis. Both of us conclude people will never say, “Meet me at Bde Maka Ska”, they’ll just say, “Meet you at Calhoun”, no matter what the official name may be.

Prince Stole My Motorcycle

Whether it is Round The Way Girl’s recent adventure, when we get together a single podcast barely scratches the surface. We talk about my Prince dream, our television viewing habits and the kids playing soccer in the park next door. She tells stories about me I have long forgotten. That’s the whole point of having a neighbor and friend who knows you. In Round The Way Girl Joins Bob Davis-Podcast 630.

It’s called Having A Conversation

Before social media, twenty four hour cable news, people shouting at each other and constant provocations there was a thing called the art of conversation. Talking about nothing and yet everything. This is how people used to share the challenges of their life. To learn from others. To have fun in the evening, or anytime. Maybe even tell each other secret fears or triumphs.

Red Flag!

When I was a kid, my mom’s best friend did not have a phone. When she wanted to come over for coffee, or have my mom over, she would run a red flag up their flag pole. That’s how two friends knew it was coffee time.  At least these days we have text messaging. “Getting back from Yoga about 8:30. Come on over we’ll do a podcast!”. That’s what started Round The Way Girl Joins Bob Davis-Podcast 630.

Round The Way Girl Never Disappoints

We’re having an incredible May in the upper midwest. 2 weeks ago it was snowing. Now it’s in the 80’s and the trees full. Birds are singing. Suddenly the latest machinations on cable news and talk radio have started to fade. Of course they’ll be back. For the time being, though, it’s nice to just sit down, drink some coffee and have some fun.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul.

Round The Way Girl Joins Bob Davis-Podcast 630

 

 

Podcast 503

Slipping Into Summer. Hard to believe, after a long upper midwestern winter, that we are Slipping Into Summer. As the Memorial Day Weekend approaches, some thoughts about the origins of ‘Decoration Day’, Arlington National Cemetery, the Civil War, and our modern day commemoration of those who have given their lives in service to the United States. This is not a national holiday of celebration. It might be suggested it is in fact supposed to be a sober, if not somber day to reflect on the sacrifice of those who did not return home. Some people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day. If you’re on the radio, or in public media that is a mistake you will make once. On Veterans Day we honor all those who have served. On Memorial Day we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. With all that, it is still the beginning of summer — even though summer doesn’t start until June 21st — and for kids still in school it means a week or so of school left, depending on how many snow days may have accrued during the brutal winter. It brings back memories for this podcaster. Memories of summers that stretched out like a sea of opportunity and ended all too quickly on Labor Day. In the Upper Midwest, this time is ‘GO’ time, especially for kids, because our summers are so short and sweet. The end of May can be cold, rainy and unfriendly and quite uncomfortable if you are opening the lake cabin and putting in the dock. The end of May can also be warm, sunny and friendly, and Memorial Day kicks it off with its ad hoc parades, and BBQ’s … the first three day weekend of the summer. So people might be forgiven for not remembering some of us will be privately thinking about those they lost, who will not be able to enjoy the great spring weather, the parades and BBQ’s. Here’s to them. Sponsored by X Government Cars and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul. (Editor’s Note: In describing the mast of the USS Minneapolis, which is at Lake Calhoun, I confused the Cruiser, USS Minneapolis with two US Navy Submarines currently in service. The USS Minnesota is a Virginia Class Submarine, and the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul is a Los Angeles Class submarine.)

Podcast 501 – Mark Korin

Podcast 501 – Mark Korin. Hear the story of a small town Minnesota Mayor’s battle with the mighty Met Council’s planning czars in Podcast 501 – Mark Korin. Oak Grove mayor Korin has had it with the overbearing manner and attitude of the Twin Cities’ premier regional planning agency; The Metropolitan Council, and he may have actually figured out how to beat them. Major cities all over the country have regional planning councils with varying degrees of authority, with issues related to central planning without the consent of residents in small towns, medium sized and large sized cities. The planning authority in Minneapolis and Saint Paul is something called the Metropolitan Council, a panel of regional ‘representatives’ appointed by the Governor, controlling urban planning, sewer and water, metropolitan airports and transportation including the Metro bus and train services. The Met council has a huge budget, its own police force, and holds sway over small town city councils such as Oak Grove and Lake Elmo and big city councils like Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Who wields this power? A panel of ‘representatives’ appointed, and not elected. This in a state that elects its Supreme Court Justices, and it could be argued, the Justices actually have less power than the Met Council. Over the years we’ve heard many people on all sides of the political spectrum complain about development issues in their towns and cities. Usually residents incorrectly blame these problems on elected officials on planning councils and city councils, all the way up to County Commissioners. In Oak Grove the issue is housing density and long term development plans. In Minneapolis the issue is the planned Southwest Light Rail, which will cut through one of the most pristine urban parks in the country — the Chain of Lakes Area — and one of the most wealthy (and politically liberal) neighborhoods in the city. Here we have citizens on completely different ends of the political spectrum dealing with overbearing – and unelected – government power. What these residents don’t know is, city councils and county councils cannot legally say no to the Met Council. The Minnesota Legislature just passed a bill ‘reforming’ the Met Council, which consists of some cosmetic changes to the terms of council members. Oak Grove and Minneapolis are represented by a collection of powerful politicians in the State House and Senate; Speaker of the House and representative to the residents of Oak Grove, Kurt Daudt, powerful State Senator from SD61 (The Senator representing those rich neighborhoods in Minneapolis up in arms about the light rail cutting through their backyards) Scott Dibble, and Oak Grove’s Senate District 31 Senator, Michelle Benson. How is it these politicians missed how to address the Met Council’s overbearing and unrepresentative power, and a small town Mayor may have figured it out? Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul.