This is my first video with a webcam from my desk. Forgive the expressionless face, boring subject-matter, quirky mannerisms, poor lighting and bad mix.  I had to convert the file format once and lost some quality in the transfer.

I found the following three Northfield High School Homecoming pride buttons in my old collection.  Now I really want to know what the other years themes were.  Can you even imagine the controversy now-a-days having the 2008 Raider chopping off the head of the opponent?  They don't even allow the new raider mascot to have a sword on his hands anymore.  I really think we've come a long way.

Last week I found a pinback button on ebay from the 1941 Northfield Winter Carnival.  Being a collector of St Paul Winter Carnival buttons, I wanted to confirm whether or not my own town of Northfield MN had their own version in the past.  So, working at the Newspaper, I waited until the stroke of noon to punch my time card and adjourn to the old newspaper morgue, where a copy of every paper is stored.  Looking through January of 1941, I found the headline announcing the Winter Carnival.  (I didn't check 1942 to see if it continued, but I don't believe it did). I saw a photo on the front page of a familiar face.  It was of Joe DeMaggio, shaking hand with the WC King.  Wow, talk about a celebrity attraction.  I was impressed.  I read the blurb under the photo and was amazed at the corny non-sense attempting to connect courtship royalty to baseball, only to conclude with a line referencing some current event of the time. 

I've re-typed exactly how the story read.  I found it fascinating how different the language was in a time not so long ago.  How do we morph our English language like this?  When does it happen?  Slowly, or in sudden trends.  How does this blurb grab ya?

Royalty Meets  Jan 21st 1941

When William E. "Bill" Revier who has been selected to rule as King North I during Northfield's Winter Carnival, extended a firm and friendly royal handclasp Monday to a king of the baseball diamond.  His excellency Joe MeGaggio, home run swatter deluxe for the  New York "Yankees".  Erling Larsen swung into action with his camera and made the above "shot" of the royal meeting.  If he had a "talkie" it would no doubt reveal King North (I) as greeting Joe with the remarks, "Here's hoping I make a home run as King, but look what's happening to King's over in Europe, - they're all refugees!"

I have been teaching piano on and off since 1990.  I have recently been carrying a load of 6-12 students and have a few openings at the moment.  If you'd be interested in talking, please send me an email (contact Tim) and we can discuss my program.  I prefer 5th grade and up, but will consider motivated younger students.  I also teach adults. 

I have attached information on my program that I give out the first day.  

Thanks!

Tim Freeland

Click here to watch me play one of my favorite piano songs.

Have you ever wondered if there is an easier way to grow out your sideburns?  Really, unless you slowly let them grow out over a long period of time, there is no easy way to accomplish longer sideburns without having a transition period of odd-looking, dual-length burns.  Well, I am going to give up a secret, one that I have kept to myself for years, for obvious reasons. 

It's really quite simple, and I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves. 

I was able to stop by the Cinema last week and snap off some quick photos of their tear-out process.  Jerry Anderson was there with Vicki as they watched a hand full of projectionist remove the three cameras.  Vicki was the "face and voice" of my movie watching childhood.  She was besides herself.  I kept wanting to hug her.  I informed her that I was upset at her for a time when she wouldn't let me in to see Eddie Murphy's "Raw".  It was some comic-relief.  Vicki spoke about getting a "day job" for the first time in twenty-something years.  She just couldn't imagine having an evening free. 

I think you'll love this series of photos as you can see a rare "behind the scenes" view of the theaters and of the upstairs projector room.  Not to mention the theaters with the lights on.  Did you ever know that was the color scheme?

I've also included a sot I grabbed from the papers website that shows the very first film that I saw there.  Yes, I was standing in line on the first showing of Indiana Jones -The Temple of Doom.

Monday morning at 7am, Brad Ness, Defeat of Jesse James Days General Chair called into the KQRS morning show to promote the Defeat celebration.  Around 8:30 Hayes Scriven, of the Northfield Historical Society, was in studio to plug the Outlaw Run motorcycle tour.

Brad's Interview

Hayes' Interview

First, I'd like to establish a basic definition.  I grew up collecting "buttons".  They are usually round metal collectibles with a latching hook on the back.  There is a message of some sort on the front.  But, I have learned that "button" isn't the most commonly accept term for this...."pin-backs" is.  But I've hear a button also called a "pin" or "lapel pin".  When I first heard "pin-back" a few years ago when I was hunting for older Defeat of Jesse James Days buttons, I didn't know what it meant.  I've since established many different button collections, and know to ask for pin-backs when looking online and talking with old-timers.

Anyways......last year I found a bag of about forty small buttons at a garage sale and gave to my daughter.  She took to them like I did when I was young.  I used to collect any old button, whereas now, I only collect specific ones.  Rylie has a cork board with her collecting on display.  When I was in my early teens, I had about hundreds all over my room, mostly hung on my curtains.  I wish I have photos of that. 

So, I've combine two obsessions into one.  I collect "the shape of Minnesota" as odd as that is, and buttons.  Well, view my gallery below to see what I've recently come up with.  I've also included a complete list of my main button collections below that.

My other main button collections include:

• Minneapolis Aquatennial
• St Paul Winter Carnival
• Northfield Defeat of Jesse James Days
• Minnesota Shaped Buttons
• Waterville Bullhead Days

Before and after pictures of a dozen 30 year old Ash trees being removed from 5th street July 25th 2008.

I work on 5th street in downtown Northfield and was privy to the vast and rapid change that took place on Thursday and Friday of this past week.  I am attaching a photo gallery of 5th street construction along with just one video of the tree felling.  There are more under my youtube collection. 

On Thursday they removed the cement from the road exposing the soil below.  I have no idea how long it had been since that dirt has seen sunlight.  An enormous piece of machinery pulled it right up and dumped it into waiting trucks.  I don't know where that cement went. 

On Friday they cut down trees.

I collect all sorts of pins, buttons, pinbacks, etc, mostly from Minnesota celebrations including Defeat of Jesse James Days, Bullhead Days, the St Paul Winter Carnival and the Minneapolis Aquatennial.  The Aquatennial started in 1940 and has had solid annual celebrations accept the 1945 and 1946 during the war.  As I write this, there are 66 pin years available and I have 60 of them. 

These are very interesting to view.  I especially love the re-occurring skipper wheel theme.  

I haven't had time to post a lot this month so far because I've been so busy shooting everything.  I've had one after another great set of photo opportunities.  Have a look for yourself.  I encourage you to post your comments on any photo for everyone to see. 

By Brothers Fish Fry in St Louis Park

Taking My Girls to the Rice County Fair

Laps for Logan

Books and Stars

It was so nice to come home Saturday night, take off a perfectly clean shirt and hang it up to be worn again.  I was out at a bar all night watching a hard rock band and there wasn't a bit of cigarette smoke in the air.  I love the smoking ban.  But, that wasn't the best thing about the evening.  My wife's brother is in a band called "Flatrate" that frequents the night clubs in the Twin Cities.  They are a 6 person band that mostly covers 93Xish (heavy modern rock) stuff, with a hand full or originals mixed in. I was very impressed with the vocals.  Russ and Jimmy team up and trade off throughout the evening.  I was especially impressed with their vocal exchanges in P.O.D.'s "South Town". (P.O.D. by the way stands for "payable on death", as in your sins, not "prince of darkness" as I once thought.  The contradiction of the two acronyms is quite the paradox though). You can listen to South town at the end of this video.  Sorry about my camera's poor sound quality.  In it's defense, it was around 130 dB. Can you also click on their photo on the right to view their site (after you look at my video and photos).

The mosquitoes stayed away, low humidity, 75 degrees, friends, family, great food, drink, some background music, meeting new neighbors, plenty of laughter, a beautiful sunset, some fireworks in the street and a front row seat to the local display.  It couldn't have been a better day.  We started the celebration in the cities at my brother Andy's house.  His oldest son has a birthday on the 4th of July (his 2nd son's birthday is on New Years Eve).  I would love have a birthday on the "fourth".  It's my favorite holiday.  The weather is always favorable and everyone is in such a good mood.  It's the "New Years" of summer.  Not to mention my love for fireworks.  I love the smell of sulfur after the blasts.  Really!  It's weird but after the fireworks last night around eleven, there was this smog-like haze of sulfur hanging around.  It's a unique olfactory experience.  Call my crazy, I know. 

I love all those John Phillip Sousa marches they play around I.D. It's so patriotic yet corny.  It's just appropriate for this day.  So, when you put all this together you have one of the most sensoral events possible.  Every sense has it's little treat all day long.  This is what makes it so memorable to me. 

In the photo below are (L to R) Esta Cox-Freeland (grandma), the my dad Al, then Chad & Juley Jenkinson with their 3 kids Sebastian, Isabella and Boden.  Then my wife Lori, me, my mom Sonja, then Bill & Pat Jenkinson (Chad's parents).  Pat & Bill live in the cities.  I grew up in Iowa with the Jenkinsons before we all moved to Minnesota in the early 80's.  We moved up here August 15th 1981.  That will be 27 years in Minnesota this summer.  I'm 35. 

This is a video of 2 "Patriots" being lit at the same time.  Caution: Loud!

AL FREELAND

I don’t claim to be an expert on this subject, but I would like to throw out a thought and see what others think. The subject is, “How green are hybrid and/or electric cars in reality?”