Lileks and Minnesota tech reporting

Poor James Lileks lost his humor column at the Strib as part of the new owner's cost saving strategy. He's been re-assigned to cover the local tech scene.

Like other lefty bloggers, it's fun to engage in a little schadenfreude. Poor Lileks, has to work a real job. And he's obviously not pleased with it:

There's been some talk that I might leverage my mad web skillz into a tech beat, reporting on the Internet. But a local beat about the Internet? How many stories can do you about six guys in a loft coding a hot new start-up? And heaven forbid we have to illustrate them, because then you get the inevitable geek-by-the-screen shot. Look! He's customizing the drop-down location menu so it defaults to the United States instead of Afghanistan!

Ha ha.

But the sad thing is, the Twin Cities need someone working the local tech beat at the Star Tribune.

We just organized one of the largest tech events thrown in Minnesota in years: MinneBar. Around 350 people attended, making it one of the largest BarCamps anywhere, ever.

This is news, people!

And yet I could not get a single reporter from the Star Tribune to come to the event. They've never covered any of our events. We've been in the Pioneer Press four times and the Business Journal at least once. The Strib sucks for tech journalism.

— May 8, 2007

Finnegans Summerfest

My friend Chris Dykstra passes on word about the Finnegans Summerfest June 9, raising money to end homelessness in Hennepin County. Finnegans is a socially-responsible beer brewed right here in Minnesota.

Here's some details about the event, from Chris:

Jacquie Berglund is the owner of Finnegans Irish Ale. Jacquie started Finnegans in 2000 with the idea of donating all profits back to the community. The became profitable in 2003 and have raised over $60,000 for a slew of great causes.
This year, Jacquie is ratcheting up her efforts by creating Finnegan's Summerfest (http://www.finneganssummerfest.org), a music festival to be held on June 9, 2007 at the Cabooze in Minneapolis, MN. It will feature one of the best musical line ups to appear anywhere in Minnesota this year - 21 bands on three stages for 12 hours. All the profits will benefit Heading Home Hennepin (http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/homelessness/), an initiative to end homelessness in Minneapolis and Hennepin County by the year 2016. Tickets at the door will be $25.00.

Sounds like good fun for a good cause -- check it out.

— May 8, 2007

May Day 2007

Old man water

I took some pictures from In The Heart of the Beast Theatre's annual Minneapolis May Day Parade. The weather threatened rain, but it turned out to be a beautiful day.

— May 8, 2007