Software Stores
While being new to the Minneapolis area I decided to take it upon myself to find out exactly where all the software stores that I could find were. The list of all the stores that I found within the Twin Cities area was astoundingly huge for the genre and variety that I looked for. So I decided to narrow it down a little bit by just focusing on the Minneapolis area stores and I compiled the following information. I thought I might share this information with other students who may be new to the area as they may find it to be as useful to them as I found it to be to me. read more

Mutated Frogs
In August of 1995, a group of middle school students from the Minnesota New Country School in Le Sueur, Minnesota stumbled upon some malformed frogs. Some of these frogs were missing a leg or had two or three extra legs, while others were missing eyes. The group of students, along with their teacher, was on a hike through the Ney Woods as part of a Nature Studies Class. When they first noticed these frogs, they thought that they may have stepped on them and injured them. It did not take long for them to realize that they were not stepping on the frogs, but that more than just a few of them were deformed. read more

Fun Winter Activities
As the cold weather is rapidly approaching, many of us cringe at the thought of winter. For example, shoveling the sidewalk, scraping the frost of the windshield, and making sure we are all bundled up for the brisk, cold winter air. Even though there are a lot of downfalls, there are also a lot of good aspects to look forward to. The Minneapolis metro area has an abundance of winter activities to offer. read more

Rockabilly
The men wear pompadours, thick with grease. The women wear dresses; long dresses that complement their figures. On the stage, the band members wear flashy suits with loud ties. The music is loud, fast and melodic, with a swinging backbeat that practically drags you onto the dance floor. They sing about cars, women, and good times. A shiny '57 Chevy with flames on the hood is parked in front of the club. But it isn't 1957. This was just last weekend. read more

"Almost Famous": Almost Perfect
It's hard to believe how much it costs to go to the movies these days. When you get to the theater it costs $7 just for the ticket. With all of the garbage playing in the theaters these days, it's hard to justify such an expenditure, especially on a college student's meager budget. Certain criteria must be met, so one won't come away feeling robbed. Almost Famous, by Cameron Crowe, meets the essential criteria which will be set forth by the author. The author will illustrate how the film, Almost Famous, succeeds in using three specific elements needed to produce an entertaining film. These elements are plot, acting and character development, and last but not least the soundtrack. read more

It's Your Choice
On January 12, 2000, The Star Tribune reported on a newborn baby girl that was found in a dumpster in Minneapolis. As the article states, a young woman gave birth to her daughter in the family home. She then wrapped the baby in trash bags and abandoned her in the dumpster near her home. The family was unaware of her pregnancy, it was only when her brothers heard a baby crying that they realized she had been pregnant. It was her brothers that found the baby. As shocking as it may seem, this is not an uncommon event. read more

Is It Life or Death?
One of the most contradictory arguments today is about abortion. Abortion is a cruel and unmoral way to deal with the unwanted life of an innocent baby. Life is precious and meant to be cherished, not for us to pick and choose as if it were a game of cards. I can't believe how many women would give up the life of their child to better convenience themselves. Do they not see what damage abortion can do to them, both physically and emotionally? Have they forgotten that creating life is considered a miracle? read more

City Bus
Have you ever been forced to do something that you didn't want to do? I moved to Minneapolis roughly three weeks ago and with my luck, or bad luck, got in a car accident almost immediately-wait, make that two accidents in the first week. Being a full-time college student, $350 per month for liability insurance on an '85 Toyota forced me to ride the bus. I have come to find now, that buses are very reliable and affordable forms of transportation in the metro area. read more

Hemp: America's Future?
Can you picture a car made of marijuana? A visual image of Cheech and Chong is probably drifting through your mind as you ponder this ridiculous suggestion. Actually, the suggestion is more prudent than ridiculous. The ecologically minded German government requires cars in their country to be recyclable. Clever automakers began replacing traditional vinyl car seats with ones made of hemp a few years ago. It used to be that the U.S. was the world leader in industry and agriculture, but honestly, would car seats made of hemp be a viable solution at an American auto plant? Not when the average American's first mental image of "hemp" is Cheech and Chong. read more

Elderly Drivers, One Last Hope
Imagine this. Your best friend, I'll call that person Alex, is riding with you while you're driving through the streets of suburbia. As you are listening to "new music" on the radio, you have a Jeff Gordon experience avoiding a gradually moving vehicle. Granted they were going slow because you were traveling at breakneck speeds, 3-7m.p.h. over the posted 35m.p.h. limit. "Is that guy still back there?" You ask nudging Alex. "Yeah," he responds. He begins to reposition himself, "I'm going to dedicate that guy a piece of..." What, why did he stop? "Alex?" A pause, then a burst of laugher and bunch of mumbling comes out of Alex, "I...back there...nobody...fuzzy steering wheel!" He recovers and begins to preach, "But seriously how many elderly drivers are out there, aren't they just hurting themselves? Is there even any laws regulating them from being on the road, and what can I do to help commuters in danger?" read more