Almanac Producer's Blog

Almanac Highlights May 29, 2009

A Visual Essay Monologue
It's burning season David Gillette tells us. 

Going Hi Def
Two more Twin Cities newscasts are going HD soon, WCCO is making the switch on Saturday.  Media analyst extraordinaire John Rash talks about the economics of high definition television.

Rybak Returns from China
The Minneapolis mayor has just returned from his city's first trade mission to the Far East.  We'll chat business and look at a very funny photo of the mayor with basketball star Yao Ming. 

Talking Financial Literacy
It's our summertime series of reports in which we look at the ways that people spend and save money.  Financial expert Nathan Dungan explains our approach to the series and hands out the first of his homework assignments. 

Download the Money Temperament worksheet here.
This file is an Acrobat PDF -you will need the free Acrobat Reader to view and print it.

3 Minute Egg
On Saturday June 6 at 9 pm on the digital Minnesota Channel tune in Matt Peiken's half hour Minnesota arts magazine. We bring you a clip from the show.  To see more of Matt's arts reporting check out his website:  www.3minuteegg.org

Subterranean Twin Cities
That's the name of a new book from the U of M Press by Greg Brick.  Find out what's going on under your feet here in the metro.  Author Brick joins Cathy and Eric in the studio.

Refugee Crisis in Pakistan
UNICEF now says that fighting in that country has displaced more than three million people.  The Minneapolis-based American Refugee Committee is one the groups trying to help.  ARC head Daniel Wordsworth is our guest.

Housing Crisis Panel
One in eight Americans is at least one month behind on their home mortgage payments.  And foreclosures in the Twin Cities continue to drive down home prices here.  We explore this issue with Augsburg College economist Jeanne Boeh, U of M Law School prof Prentiss Cox and Brad Fisher from the Minneapolis Area Realtors Association.

The Wrapup
Two great Minnesota history questions for your viewing pleasure.  Think you know the answer?  Call our voicemail at 651-229-1430.  Show ending music this week is by Dan Wilson who performed on Almanac one year ago this week. 

Help in Hard Times on Almanac

Nathan Dungan, a nationally recognized author and personal financial expert will begin a series of six reports for Almanac this Friday (5/29). The topic? The one that Americans dread talking about most: how we make and how we spend our money. During the course of the series, Nathan will speak with people about their current situations, the mistakes and successes they experienced, and their plans for the future. We will cover topics such as financial literacy, hyper-consumerism, retirement, frugality and philanthropy. And each week's segment will end with a practical homework assignment. This series of conversations and reports is funded in part by Marquette Financial Companies and Marquette Asset Management.

Almanac Highlights May 22, 2009

This Week's Monologue
Jim Ragsdale has reached a milestone and he's not afraid of talking about it. 

The Session That Was
Mary Lahammer wraps up the wild end to the 2009 legislative session. 

Governor Tim Pawlenty Live
Last week legislative leaders came to the Almanac studios to give us their take on the looming end of session.  This week it's Governor Pawlenty's turn.  We talk about vetoes and unallotments and impacts.

The governor's Web site.

Memorial Day Grilling
Chef JD Fratzke is with the St. Paul restaurant "The Strip Club: Meat & Fish" and he's here to offer some grilling tips in time for the holiday weekend with the help of Todd Churchhill of the Thousand Hills Cattle Company. Learn more about The Strip Club at http://www.domeats.com/ and then check out Thousand Hills Cattle's website at http://www.thousandhillscattleco.com

Paul's Weather
Paul Douglas from WeatherNation stops by for his monthly Almanac weather chat and talks up the week's wild weather.

Minnesota's Greatest Generation
That's the name of a new exhibit opening May 23 at the Minnesota History Center.  We give you a tour of the exhibit courtesy of MHS curator Brian Horrigan.

More Holiday Grilling
Mary Lahammer is back with Chef JD Fratzke for some more grilling tips.  And don't forget to check out the recipes on left side of the home page of our website.

This Week's Political Panel
Unallotment will be a big topic with Democrats Wy Spano and Javier Morillo-Alicea and Republicans Sarah Janecek and Gregg Peppin. 

Memorial Day 2009 Grilling Recipes

Chef JD Fratzke from The Strip Club Meat and Fish restaurant in St. Paul has sent along this recipe for grilling steaks. 

Grilling 100% Grass Fed Steaks

The key to preparing grass fed beef is to avoid overcooking.  This will cause the steak to be dry and chewy.  The following is Executive Chef JD Fratzke’s recommendation for grilling Thousand Hills Cattle Company 100% Grass Fed Steaks:

1. Add herb rub to both sides of steak, if desired (salt should be applied after, not before, cooking to minimize moisture loss).
2. Let steak warm to room temperature for 30 min.
3. Grill on high heat or over white coals for 1-2 min. per side.
4. Turn heat down or move to a cooler area of the grill and cook for another 2-3 min. on each side or until medium rare (135˚ F internal temp).  DO NOT grill directly over flames.
5. Remove from heat, place on plate, cover loosely with foil and wait 3-5 min. before serving.

For more information about The Strip Club check out their website:
www.domeats.com

For more information about Thousand Hills Cattle Company steaks:
www.thousandhillscattleco.com

And though we didn’t prepare this recipe on our program, here’s another beef recipe from The Strip Club restaurant website:

100% Grass-Fed Beef Chili

Ingredients:

3 lbs 100% Grass fed Ground Beef
1 can Kidney Beans
1 can Pinto Beans
1 can Black Beans
2 oz Chili Powder
1 oz Taco Seasoning
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Whole Sour Cream

Preparation:

Brown ground beef, but don't drain (the fat is very nutritious and adds great flavor)
Drain beans and add to browned meat and fat
Add water for desired thickness. Salt to taste.
Add everything to large crockpot, and cook on Low for 12 to 24 hours.

 

 

 

Almanac turning 25

In six months Almanac --the longest-running primetime TV show in Minnesota history-- will celebrate its 25th birthday.  In anticipation of our celebration,  I thought it would be fun to trot out some goofy stats about the show.

Today's stat:  150,000.  That's a conservative estimate of the number of Minnesotans who over the years have called in to the Almanac comment line to leave history question answers, news tips, complaints, comments, even topical songs.  We have had dozens of regular callers including our favorite who we nicknamed “Art.”  Art called in each week faithfully for years with monotone guesses to our Index File question. Many weeks he got it right.  One time on the show I confidently wrote that we had never asked a history question about a certain topic.  Art called in to say I was wrong, we had asked about that subject some eight years earlier.  I looked it up and Art was right. We haven’t heard from Art for some time now, we figure he’s gone to that big Index File section in the sky. 

Almanac Highlights May 15, 2009

The Week's Monologue
Dominic Papatola has notions about what is going on under the State Capitol dome. 

The Capitol:  Where We Stand Tonight
Our Mary Lahammer brings us to be speed on where things are Friday night at lawmakers get ready for a long weekend. 

Legislative Leaders Live!
The four top lawmakers sit down on the Almanac couch as they stare down the final 36 hours of the legislative session.  House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller are joined by Senate Majority Leader David Senjem and House Minority Leader Marty Seifert. 

Did You Know?
Did you know that it takes a whole lot of Legos to make a model of the state capitol??

Capitol Security
Legislative Auditor James Nobles doesn't think capitol security in St. Paul is up to the task.  Auditor Nobles joins us to talk about his report's findings. 

Chuck Lazarus
Trumpeter Chuck Lazarus stops by the Almanac studio to perform.  Chuck will be playing "A Night in the Tropics" with the Minnesota Orchestra Saturday May 23 at Orchestra Hall. 

An All Star Panel of Former Lawmakers
This week's political panel are all former legislators.  Democrats Roger Moe and Ember Reichgott Junge are joined by Republicans Phil Krinkie and Dan Dorman.

A Wrapup
Two Minnesota sports history questions... your thoughts about early voting... and a show-ending tune by Chuck Lazarus et. al. 

Almanac Highlights May 8, 2009

A Mother's Day Monologue
Mom's big day is on Bick Smith's mind this week.

Baby Bottle BPA Ban
Plastic baby bottles products containing the additive bisphenol-A (BPA) will be banned from sale in Minnesota starting in 2011. Minnesota is the first state in the country to put such a ban in place. Kathleen Schuler with the Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy explains.

Did You Know?
Did you know that state lawmakers spent time this week debating dogs and cocoa beans?

Big Month at the Guthrie
Director Joe Dowling stops by to talk about the Tony Kushner festival taking over the Guthrie Theater stages this month.

Here's a tpt presentation on the new Guthrie building.

Here's another tpt presentation on the first 25 years of the Guthrie Theater.

We Shall Remain Excerpt
On Monday May 11 tpt and most other PBS stations will air the final episode in the American Experience series "We Shall Remain." The topic Monday is the 1973 takeover of Wounded Knee, South Dakota by members of the American Indian Movement. We have a clip for you.

Jeremy Messersmith Live!
Some say the Twin Citian's music is reminiscent of 60's pop. Jeremy stops by Studio B to play a tune off his new CD. Messersmith is appearing at the Cedar Cultural Center May 9 at 8 pm.

JeremyMessersmith.com

Jeremy's MySpace page

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Macalester prof John Cannon has discovered a new galaxy. And it's a weird one. Settle in for an astronomy lesson.

Busy Friday at the Capitol
Lawmakers in St. Paul debate a new tax plan that could change the end game of the session. Almanac political reporter Mary Lahammer fills you in on all the details.

This Week's Political Panel
This week's panel includes first-time guest Denise Cardinal and Mike Hatch on the DFL side and Republicans David Strom and State Senator Dick Day.

The Wrapup
Two Minnesota history questions (what DID cause the Twins and Brewers to cancel a game this month back in 1976?) and a show-ending tune by Jeremy Messersmith.

Almanac Highlights May 1, 2009

The Week's Monologue
Sheletta Brundidge has a notion to run for higher office.  Though we are worried a little bit about her campaign slogan. 

H1N1
On Friday Minnesota confirmed a second probable flu virus case in our state.  Hear how to separate fear from fact from State Health Commissioner Sanne Magnan. 

DWI Ruling
A Minnesota Supreme Court ruling this week may change the way police use Breathalyzers.  Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner squares off with famed DWI attorney Sam McCloud.

Did You Know?
That a summertime special session may spell trouble for leaders of the Minnesota House?

Changes Coming to Minneapolis Public Schools
Superintendent Bill Green stops by to explain his district's new restructuring plan. 

Bain Boehlke Honored
The longtime Twin Cities actor is honored with a distinguished artist award by the McKnight Foundation.  Boehlke joins us to talk about what he has been working on during his year off.  

Not Much Time Left
... for lawmakers to get the job done in St. Paul.  Our Mary Lahammer fills us in on what work remains after a tough, partisan week under the white dome. 

The Week's Political Panel
Spirited analysis from Republicans Andy Brehm and Gregg Peppin and Democrats Ember Reighgott Junge and Rep. Jeff Hayden. 

The Wrapup
Two political history questions from our state's past and a show-ending tune by the Canadian folk-rock band "The Big Sea."  The group appeared on tpt this week ten years ago.