Remarks of President-Elect Barack Obama

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Election Night, November 4th, 2008, Chicago, IllinoisIf there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference. It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America. It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 11/4/08

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Looking California, feeling Minnesota: Homegrown style at Cal Surf by Bruce Cochran, Uptown Neighborhood News • You wouldn’t guess it by looking at him, but Scott Cheschnick gave up Stanford to run a snowboard/skateboard shop called Cal Surf. When he was younger he completed some career testing that told him he should become a forest ranger, marine biologist or professional athlete. But the board “spoke” to him.Burkinabé sculptor makes magic with metal by Helen Kinuthia, Mshale • West African artist Rabi Sanfo has found a home for his metal sculptures in Minneapolis. His art has been on display across the Twin Cities in colleges, museums, art exhibits, and very recently at the Minnesota State Fair. Born and raised in Burkina Faso with his eight siblings, Sanfo’s venture into art began with welding when he created wooden furniture at a factory where he worked.Assessing a Listening Session by Mary Thoemke, TC Daily Planet • Billed as a listening session, the Central Corridor meeting was actually a post-it-note brainstorming session geared to members of the business community and property owners around the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) line in Saint Paul. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 11/3/08

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NEWS YOU CAN USE | Voter challenges in Minnesota by Katie Mocol, TC Daily Planet • Following news about mass voter challenge schemes in other states, such as Michigan, you may be wondering how voter challenges work and who is at risk of being challenged. Minnesota has strict laws about voter challenges, which are described below. If you are worried about being challenged, you can bring a photo ID card showing your address, or any of the other information that is needed for same-day voter registration.U undergoes largest building boom in 20 years by Alex Robinson, Minnesota Daily • In hopes of chasing down a top-three research institution ranking, the University of Minnesota is undergoing its biggest building boom in more than 20 years.Dispatch from Kenya: The Obama Effect by Julia N. Opoti, Mshale • Senator Barack Obama is seen as transnational figure, one who transcends tribal and national politics, former Mshale Chief Editor, Edwin Okong’o found on a recent trip to his country of birth, and the home of Sen. Obama’s father, Barack Obama Sr.NEW IN BLOGSGROUND ZERO | The “Crimes of Obama,” the Sins of America byRich Broderick • October 31, 2008 • Tracing racism from the baseless, conspiratorial rantings of the far right to the long tradition of American Exceptionalism.CABBAGES AND KINGS | Young energy for elections by David Doody • 10/31/08 • The hope, optimism and resilience of 5th and 6th grade students in North Minneapolis inspires political participation. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 11/2/08

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INSIDE THE DAILY PLANETNo news on the presidential debate or the economic crisis: just music for the soul by Susan Budig, Mshale • With the stock market giving its riders whiplash as it bounced up and down and an unprecedented Presidential race in hot debate last October 15th, Cape Verdean singer, Lura, faced an audience looking for escape.Readers, Writers and BooksBook note: Presidential idolatry is Bad for Democracy by Rachel Dykoski, TC Daily Planet • Being alive, involved, and slightly clever in these double-ought times is brutal. So many issues swirl around my bourgeois mind. Tainted lunch food in our schools. OMG—the kids! Global climate crisis. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 11/1/08

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NEWS YOU CAN USE | You have the right to vote regardless of state or county fines or bills by Vote for Change, voteforchange.com • You have the right to vote. Period.If you have outstanding parking tickets or other traffic violations, outstanding utility bills, are behind on your mortgage, or other outstanding county fines, you still have the right to vote. You do not have to pay any of the above tickets, bills, or fines in order to vote.Ellison campaigns to the Somali community for fellow Democrat Al Franken by Mohamed Hassan, Mshale • At an event organized by the Somali American Community, a non-partisan organization in Minnesota, US Congressman Rep. Keith Ellison campaigned for fellow democrat, Al Franken, in his meeting to an electrified crowd of Somali-Americans.CHAT music award goes to young singer/songwriter Sarah Yang by Justin Schell, TC Daily Planet • The winner of this year’s InSession songwriting contest, which encourages up-and-coming Hmong musical artists, is Sarah Yang of Oakdale. The contest, organized by the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT), is now in its seventh year. In winning the contest, Yang received a $500 gift certificate to American Guitar and Band in Maple Grove, as well as 20 hours of recording time at Essential Studios in St. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 10/31/08

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NEWS YOU CAN USE | “Vote by phone right now” calls by Vote for Change, voteforchange.com • Voters in some states are getting strange, misleading phone calls about early voting. Some of these calls are computerized and claim to be from Michelle Obama, and deceptively trick voters into thinking they can “vote by phone.” Other calls are live and target Spanish speaking households –these households receive calls from someone claiming to be able to take the voter’s vote “right now” over the phone.Kretchmer’s Spooks by Lisa Peterson-de la Cueva, TC Daily Planet • Budding ghost expert. Paranormal Investigation Ghost Hunter Society member. Not-very-powerful-middle-aged-medium. I.T. specialist. Continue Reading

Inside the Dailiy Planet, 10/30/08

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NEWS YOU CAN USE | Voter intimidation in Minnesota Secretary of State, Press release • Secretary of State Mark Ritchie’s announced October 29 that a St. Paul resident stated that he received a telephone call last night from an individual claiming to be calling on behalf of the Office of the Secretary of State and challenging his voter record.Views and ReviewsMusic note: Draw Fire bands rock Manhattan by Dustin Luke Nelson, TC Daily Planet • NEW YORK CITY—It’s Friday night at the CMJ music festival, and there are over 350 bands playing official showcases at 61 different venues. With the city at the live music saturation point, six bands from Minneapolis manage to pack the 4th floor walk-up gallery off 14th Street. This is an accomplishment in itself, for any band, but even better for a relatively new label like Draw Fire Records to come into town with an olio of bands exclusively from Minnesota in the midst of one of the world’s biggest live music showcases.Music note: For the love of Sunshine Behavior by Dwight Hobbes, TC Daily Planet • Sunshine Behavior are one hellified band even for the Twin Cities scene, which is well-known for hellified bands.Music note: TV on the Radio at First Ave—Art rock that actually rocks by Jon Behm, TC Daily Planet • There are two types of bands: those who are unabashedly ambitious, and those who pretend not to be. TV on the Radio fall into the former category: not only do they want to be the best band in the world but they want to do it on their terms, executing their vision without sacrificing an iota of integrity. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 10/29/08

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NEWS YOU CAN USE | Voting: From FAQs to urban legendsby Staff , TC Daily PlanetOctober 29 The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office has collected some frequently asked questions and answered them. You can find the questions and answers at the Secretary of State web site, with more updates coming before election day. We will be reprinting some of the questions and answers here — and we welcome your questions, and especially questions about any electing day and voting stories circulating by e-mail and on the internet. Send them to editor@tcdailyplanet, and we’ll find the answers or check the facts.Youth get out the voteby Kristen Anderson, TC Daily PlanetThe upcoming presidential election probably isn’t the first thing you would think about as being on a teenager’s mind, but that is exactly what one group of Twin Cities teens is buzzing about.She Rockby MTNShe Rock “The Festival of Sisters” is a brand new music festival devoted to showcasing the music of female performers who are currently working in the Twin Cities music scene. Having arisen from festival co-founder Debra G’s realization that she didn’t know very many local female musicians, the festival brought together performers from all over the Twin Cities to play at local venue Pi Bar during an weekend in September. Continue Reading

Inside the Daily Planet, 10/28/08

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NEWS YOU CAN USE | Voting myths and urban legendsby Mary Turck, TC Daily PlanetRumor of the day: Straight ticket voting Rumors circulating on the Internet say that voting a straight ticket may invalidate your vote for president, or that you have to vote separately for president and for a straight ticket. So what’s true?CARAG NRP Visioning Town Hall meetingby Pamela Taylor, Uptown Neighborhood NewsTuesday, October 14 at Bryant Square Park, citizens of the CARAG community kicked off its Phase II NRP planning process. With an estimated $470,000 to spend on neighborhood approved endeavors (the remaining $130,000 has yet to be identified by the City of Minneapolis), a notice was mailed out to all households requesting their presence at a Visioning Town Hall meeting. While hopes may have been high regarding turnout, the reality of such was considerably less (20 people), but a good discussion, nonetheless, ensued.St. Paul: Tom Hayden on the war at homeby Mary Turck, TC Daily PlanetIn an interview during his recent visit to Minnesota, former Chicago Eight defendant Tom Hayden talked about the current practice of designating national conventions and other meetings as “national special security events.” Continue Reading

CARAG NRP Visioning Town Hall Meeting

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Tuesday, October 14 at Bryant Square Park, citizens of the CARAG community kicked off its Phase II NRP planning process. With an estimated $470,000 to spend on neighborhood approved endeavors (the remaining $130,000 has yet to be identified by the City of Minneapolis), a notice was mailed out to all households requesting their presence at a Visioning Town Hall meeting. While hopes may have been high regarding turnout, the reality of such was considerably less (20 people), but a good discussion, nonetheless, ensued. The conversation began with our Executive Coordinator, Scott Engel, making introductions and giving a brief overview of the NRP process. Next, our current NRP steering Committee (Aaron Rubenstein, Howard Verson and Kay Graham) revisited the nine strategic areas upon which the Phase I plan was developed (i.e. Housing, Community-Building, Economic Development, Transportation, etc.), and a lot of ideas were generated such as putting a focus on energy efficiency in housing; youth block clubs and alley beautification projects to build community; giving loans to, as well compiling a directory of, home based businesses; master classes taught by our seniors and other intergenerational activities; increasing pedestrian safety with self-defense classes, and renewing bicycle road markings; developing art and music summer camps, and partnering with neighboring schools; and taking an active role in various “greening” activities that will contribute to communal sustainability. Continue Reading