The Wake

Shortly after Christmas, my sister gave birth to her second baby girl. She and her husband are happy parents and very proud of their two girls, but they don’t plan to have any more children. That is, they will never be able to experience having a boy. If they had been given the chance, I imagine they would have gone for it. But wait, duh, it’s the 21st century. We can already do that. Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis, or PGD, allows prospective parents to screen their embryos for genetic diseases, choose the gender of the child and soon choose more characteristics, …

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If you want to see what high school kids know about history, start judging debate rounds. If you want to see what college kids think about race relations, sit in on Journalism 1001. I was discussing the Danish cartoon fiasco in the aforementioned class when one of my classmates decided to point out that there is such a thing as a “Moderate Muslim,” a genteel creature who apparently never gets offended and welcomes all facets of American culture with open arms. Another student applauded Grey’s Anatomy for featuring a black man in a position of power. Some brave souls …

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Nine is a tumultuous age, lying (or flailing or screaming) between childhood and adolescence. It’s a time when we leave “the sweet, dreamlike world of early childhood,” and become conscious of our bodies and their surroundings, according to the Waldorf education founder Rudolf Steiner. For performance art mavericks Gary Winters and Gregg Whelan, nine years is how long they’ve been traveling the globe, recording their encounters, and dressing as blindfolded cowboys to line dance for 12 hours straight. (More on that later.) The duo, who go by “Lone Twin,” were commissioned to perform at art-houses in Belgium, Australia and Canada, …

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The 3rd album from this Portland based quartet is a step in several new directions, and several steps in the direction of pop sensible brilliance. Wincing the Night Away will leave you prone to a great deal of smiling and swaying from side to side. With the 2001 release of Oh, Inverted World, the Shins enjoyed some notoriety and critical appreciation. Two years down the road, the Shins released an intriguing blend of ’60 pop rock and folky country entitled Chutes Too Narrow. In 2004, with the movie Garden State they really hit it big, attracting new audiences …

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This compilation from the University of Minnesota’s very own radio station, Radio K, is all across the board. It’s a fine indication of just how lucky we are here in the blessed cities of twin, as it features many hometown favorites. We’ve got it all and we’ve got it in quality proportions. Every genre is represented here, even those you’d least suspect. There are a couple of really cool electronica-type songs on the album. The first being by Digitata, called “Digitata 4 Ever.” Though I prefer one of their other songs, “Bangin’ Jessica Alba,” a bit more, it’s tough to …

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My eyes swell and ferment—
This poetry of desensitization
postured on this glass and plastic
synthetic mask I asked it to stop but it kept blasting and
what is it to break the flow—Give me some good old fashioned barn burning
best be sure that you mask this with petrol
and ask it to burn through to the exteriors
bind with the lines masquerading as cobwebs curtaining the street sides.I’ll give it a hello and call it a halo glow
with a drip, drip skid of toxic ecstasy.
I want …

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Who: Lynne Eldridge
What: Author discusses ‘Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time.’
When: Thursday, January 25th, 2 pm.
Where: U of M Bookstore (Coffman), FREEWho: Geraldine Heng
What: The Invention of Race in the European Middle Ages
When: Thursday, January 25th, 4 pm.
Where: Who: Northography Reading
What: Seven writers read from recent works.
When: Friday, January 26th, 7:30 pm.
Where: Magers & Quinn Booksellers (3038 Hennepin Ave S), FREEWho: Carol Connolly; Bart Sutter
What: The St. Paul and Duluth poet laureates read from their work.
When: Saturday, January 27th, 7 pm.
Where: Magers & Quinn Booksellers (3038 Hennepin …

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I wanted some good old-fashioned schizophrenia the other day—
some conflicting mind interest to get the ‘ole ticker clicking.At first I was hesitant, not wanting to pursue conflicting questions arisen
but instead pursue some truth and forget this blind vision.Turns out the mind doesn’t work that way, being mistaken for something
else, rather than that pigeon nibbling on its feathers outside the windowby the kitchen eating Lord knows what between its feathers—
exploring its beak—it’s a shame this fella can’t speak.I’ve got this box of radiation that likes to hang out
sending ripples into my eardrum trying to make meaning.My …

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The entrance to “Dinkytown Histories: Multiple Stories, Multiple Meanings,” makes it immediately clear that what I am looking at was student-created. A large poster at the front of the room says the exhibit was created by University of Minnesota students in a public history course, but I don’t need to read the sign know that. Scattered about the room are numerous tri-fold posterboards with construction paper slapped on.As I walk around, I can’t help but wonder why the shiny plaques, huge murals and marble pillars displaying works of art that are typical of exhibits and museums are missing.Although what I …

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It’s the most controversial plant in existence and a subject with no clear right or wrong. Some believe the topic is completely taboo. Others find it absurd that there is any controversy at all. Your church youth leaders might like you to think of it as poison for both the body and soul, and your school administrators fashion it as the fast track to ruining your life. Ricky Williams thought it was worth walking away from fortunes in the NFL. And one of the’08 presidential front-runners, Barack Obama, is an admitted former user. One set of parents will send you …

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The Wienery
I’ve come to quite appreciate the irony of actually having to use a greasy spoon at this West Bank staple. Really, Al’s Breakfast has nothing on the hole-in-the-wall that is the Wienery, both in terms of grime and quality. While the specialty is obviously the Chicago-style hot dogs, breakfast food is where the Wienery shines—and it’s dirt-cheap, too.Mitch
Stop by Palmer’s and order a “Kool-Aid drink” from Mitch (the bartender with a cancer tattoo on his neck). Get lucky and he may upgrade you to a pint glass free of charge. And while you may fancy yourself quite …

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The blood in his mouth stuck to his teeth
like hot caramel, bubbling
with each heavy, humid breath.
Drying flesh turned to wax
over his fingertips in the
blaring moon’s siren.”Maybe I am the Jackal”
Squatting, he scooped up
a hand full of sand and
let the grains trickle
between his digits.
Smells like wet leaves
and blue sky, he thought.
Looking over the dunes,
the muses smiled.
The body of his lust
remained twitching in the sand
stinking with liquid morals.

Coach Glen Mason’s firing was a necessary move for the program after the embarrassing Insight Bowl loss against Texas Tech, but it put recruitment in jeopardy. The situation eerily resembles much of Mason’s tenure; as much success as there was, there were also failures.National signing day is February 7 and the problem of recruiting young talent is pronounced. Minnesota has never appeared as a prestigious destination for top recruits due to the weather and the prospect of playing in the worst stadium in college football. Minnesota made a quick decision to hire Tim Brewster to salvage the recruitment class.Little is …

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Cooperstown is calling you and everyone else interested in seeing some of the greatest symbols of baseball history.The Minnesota History Center is hosting the “Baseball As America” exhibition displaying artifacts from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The exhibit is on a nation-wide tour and currently in St. Paul until March 4.This is a great opportunity for any baseball enthusiast to experience Cooperstown without having to travel there. It features over 500 items of baseball history including the bats of Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire from the home run race of 1998, along with Jackie Robinson’s jersey, expensive …

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