J.Crants
@jimcrants.bsky.social
Ecologist, soil scientist, runner, gardener, wannabe writer, crank.
That was one small factor that weighed in favor of us buying a home in Minneapolis over Saint Paul. The snow removal is consistently better here.
November 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM
That was one small factor that weighed in favor of us buying a home in Minneapolis over Saint Paul. The snow removal is consistently better here.
Seeing how many times she said biking peaked in 1980, I couldn't resist trying to verify it. But unless biking was exceptionally popular in Minneapolis in 1980 (despite low enthusiasm nationally) and took a nose dive over the next 10 years, it can't be true.
November 25, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Seeing how many times she said biking peaked in 1980, I couldn't resist trying to verify it. But unless biking was exceptionally popular in Minneapolis in 1980 (despite low enthusiasm nationally) and took a nose dive over the next 10 years, it can't be true.
I did find something from Bike Portland that cites census bureau data and presents bike commuting rates in five cities including Minneapolis from 1990 to 2016. The trend in Minneapolis is clearly upward, from 1.8% to 3.9%. National trends indicate that 1980 was no golden age of cycling.
November 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I did find something from Bike Portland that cites census bureau data and presents bike commuting rates in five cities including Minneapolis from 1990 to 2016. The trend in Minneapolis is clearly upward, from 1.8% to 3.9%. National trends indicate that 1980 was no golden age of cycling.
I haven't found anything about how popular biking was in Minneapolis in 1980, but it clearly has not been in steady decline ever since then. Nationally, bike commuting took a hit during COVID lockdown and has been bouncing back since. I don't see why that wouldn't be true here, as well.
November 25, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I haven't found anything about how popular biking was in Minneapolis in 1980, but it clearly has not been in steady decline ever since then. Nationally, bike commuting took a hit during COVID lockdown and has been bouncing back since. I don't see why that wouldn't be true here, as well.
The census says that the percentage of people biking to work in Minneapolis went from 1.9% to 4.1% between 2000 and 2010, then to 3.4% in 2018. The city, in contrast, found that 15% of people usually commuted by bike, while 36% wanted to, in 2018. 5% of short trips and 2% of all trips were by bike.
November 25, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The census says that the percentage of people biking to work in Minneapolis went from 1.9% to 4.1% between 2000 and 2010, then to 3.4% in 2018. The city, in contrast, found that 15% of people usually commuted by bike, while 36% wanted to, in 2018. 5% of short trips and 2% of all trips were by bike.
That's a good point. The last time I took a driving test, a "Bike Route" was a regular street with green signs that said "Bike Route." It wasn't truly multimodal. As both a driver and a cyclist, I'm not always confident about how to navigate multimodal streets.
November 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
That's a good point. The last time I took a driving test, a "Bike Route" was a regular street with green signs that said "Bike Route." It wasn't truly multimodal. As both a driver and a cyclist, I'm not always confident about how to navigate multimodal streets.
Calhoun is now (again) Bde Maka Ska.
In any case, the lake in the photo is Lake Harriet.
In any case, the lake in the photo is Lake Harriet.
November 24, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Calhoun is now (again) Bde Maka Ska.
In any case, the lake in the photo is Lake Harriet.
In any case, the lake in the photo is Lake Harriet.
My first guess is that they're some kind of seeds. Maybe something gathered some berries up and then sat there and ate the flesh, leaving the seeds behind. Hackberry maybe?
November 21, 2025 at 8:03 PM
My first guess is that they're some kind of seeds. Maybe something gathered some berries up and then sat there and ate the flesh, leaving the seeds behind. Hackberry maybe?
We need to be part of this. Walz supposedly instructed his people to look for opportunities to partner with other states on health just like this, so why aren't we taking this one?
November 21, 2025 at 7:54 PM
We need to be part of this. Walz supposedly instructed his people to look for opportunities to partner with other states on health just like this, so why aren't we taking this one?
No. The biggest cow is in New Salem, North Dakota.
In answer to your first question, "World's Largest ____" roadside attractions seem to be almost totally unique to the US and Canada.
In answer to your first question, "World's Largest ____" roadside attractions seem to be almost totally unique to the US and Canada.
November 20, 2025 at 10:48 PM
No. The biggest cow is in New Salem, North Dakota.
In answer to your first question, "World's Largest ____" roadside attractions seem to be almost totally unique to the US and Canada.
In answer to your first question, "World's Largest ____" roadside attractions seem to be almost totally unique to the US and Canada.
Chip is definitely smarter than at least one of the people running this country right now (pictured).
November 20, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Chip is definitely smarter than at least one of the people running this country right now (pictured).
So if his rules for civility in air travel apply to news shows, he's contributing to the deterioration of civility in the news.
November 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
So if his rules for civility in air travel apply to news shows, he's contributing to the deterioration of civility in the news.
I was just telling someone else, going off nothing but "really loud aircraft," that the loudest thing I know of that flies into MSP is the C-5M Super Galaxy military transport plane. Associated with the Air National Guard base there. FWIW
November 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I was just telling someone else, going off nothing but "really loud aircraft," that the loudest thing I know of that flies into MSP is the C-5M Super Galaxy military transport plane. Associated with the Air National Guard base there. FWIW
I didn't hear them, but the loudest aircraft I know of that ever land at MSP are C-5M Super Galaxy military cargo jets. They tend to fly in small groups.
(And now I'm really feeling like a middle-aged Midwestern guy.)
(And now I'm really feeling like a middle-aged Midwestern guy.)
November 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I didn't hear them, but the loudest aircraft I know of that ever land at MSP are C-5M Super Galaxy military cargo jets. They tend to fly in small groups.
(And now I'm really feeling like a middle-aged Midwestern guy.)
(And now I'm really feeling like a middle-aged Midwestern guy.)
Further searching shows that Google AI thinks the song is "The Gilded Cage" by The Last Internationale. Searching for that, the AI says there is no such song, and it doesn't show up in the search results. (In contrast, "Elevator" by Jackal and Jill does get a couple proper hits.)
November 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Further searching shows that Google AI thinks the song is "The Gilded Cage" by The Last Internationale. Searching for that, the AI says there is no such song, and it doesn't show up in the search results. (In contrast, "Elevator" by Jackal and Jill does get a couple proper hits.)
Congratulations on completing your PhD.
"ReallyNiceDerick" is a fascinating choice of handle for this man. He's really playing to the stereotypes about men who tell you they're nice.
"ReallyNiceDerick" is a fascinating choice of handle for this man. He's really playing to the stereotypes about men who tell you they're nice.
November 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Congratulations on completing your PhD.
"ReallyNiceDerick" is a fascinating choice of handle for this man. He's really playing to the stereotypes about men who tell you they're nice.
"ReallyNiceDerick" is a fascinating choice of handle for this man. He's really playing to the stereotypes about men who tell you they're nice.
Trump has stated that he wants Democratic lawmakers arrested and executed for urging troops not to follow illegal orders.
Just to put it as clearly as I can, since we're about to be gaslit about this.
Just to put it as clearly as I can, since we're about to be gaslit about this.
November 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Trump has stated that he wants Democratic lawmakers arrested and executed for urging troops not to follow illegal orders.
Just to put it as clearly as I can, since we're about to be gaslit about this.
Just to put it as clearly as I can, since we're about to be gaslit about this.
Yes! Science's PR problem is that some science is problematic for many people who have actual PR departments at their disposal. Any science that can be made to look stupid, evil, or controversial gets distorted accordingly. Scientists don't have the clout to set the record straight.
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Yes! Science's PR problem is that some science is problematic for many people who have actual PR departments at their disposal. Any science that can be made to look stupid, evil, or controversial gets distorted accordingly. Scientists don't have the clout to set the record straight.
I take way better care of myself than Donald Trump does, but I'm the one with a chronic condition, while he just had a routine MRI, as one does, and his results were outstanding. The best the doctor had ever seen. It's like being healthy isn't purely a matter of virtuous behavior.
November 19, 2025 at 9:15 PM
I take way better care of myself than Donald Trump does, but I'm the one with a chronic condition, while he just had a routine MRI, as one does, and his results were outstanding. The best the doctor had ever seen. It's like being healthy isn't purely a matter of virtuous behavior.