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<channel><title>Grand Rapids Community Internet</title><link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/rss/getfeedroll_rss.php</link><atom:link href="http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/rss/getfeedroll_rss.php" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><description></description><language>en-us</language><lastBuildDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:41:26 -0700</lastBuildDate>
<item><title><![CDATA[Itasca Community Television blogs: Student Work Featured0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.watchictv.com/content/posts/student-work-featured</link>
<description><![CDATA[We are pleased to feature some student work on www.watchictv.org this week.  The staff of ICTV has been working with ISD 318 to provide a video class.  We are proud of the topics the sixth through eighth graders chose for their PSAs.  They tackled smoking, texting in cars, the social pressure of cliques and drunk driving while learning about various shots and angles of the camera.  We are also featuring some of the school-year work of the Middle School art class.  They worked on stop animation this spring.  It always gives us a new perspective to work with the up and coming videographers.  Click on our &amp;quot;Community Hotlinks&amp;quot; videos to see the work. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.watchictv.com/content/posts/student-work-featured</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:20:01 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Blandin on Broadband: Gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer focuses on broadband in Bemidji0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://blandinonbroadband.org/2010/07/29/gubernatorial-candidate-tom-emmer-focuses-on-broadband-in-bemidji/</link>
<description><![CDATA[The Bemidji Pioneer reports that Candidate Tom Emmer went to visit Paul Bunyan Telephone Cooperative to learn more about broadband in rural Minnesota. According to the article&brvbar;
He learned about rural telcos and the need for broadband Internet to reach every home in rural Minnesota. He also learned about Paul Bunyan Telephones leading-edge push to bring broadband to remote areas, including Ash River at Lake Kabetogama.
After learning more about Paul Bunyans recent upgrade (last year they extended fiber optic to homeowners premises &#8220; including to areas such as Big Fork, Little Fork and International Falls), Emmer commented&brvbar;
Japan is touted as having the greatest telecommunications network in the world? They dont, we do, Emmer said, referring to comments by Randy Young of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance that Japan is totally wired in the cities, but has yet to bring broadband to rural Japan.
Its amazing when you look at this (service) map and see what this company has done, Emmer added. When I saw how they just expanded to 100 customers in Ash River, one of the most remote locations in northeastern Minnesota, it gets amazing. And these guys are always taking a chance.
This is one place where government is important, he said, to make sure that the little guys can compete; make sure that the little guys can provide the competition for service that is necessary. Bemidji may not be where it is today if it hadnt been as far as communications if Paul Bunyan had not been here.
(My goal is to highlight every time I see broadband mentioned in a Minnesota context &#8220; so whenever I see a candidate, any candidate, mention broadband Ill highlight it. If your favorite candidate mentions it and I miss it, please send the mention my way.)
     ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blandinonbroadband.org/2010/07/29/gubernatorial-candidate-tom-emmer-focuses-on-broadband-in-bemidji/</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:10:54 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids, Minnesota Fan Page's Facebook Wall: Tonight, Friday and Saturday are the final three Showboat shows of the season. Don't miss out on this year's show, &quot;Up the Creek&quot; - each year is always a different theme and show. Shows at 8:30pm on the river.0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4818956&amp;id=237946753892&amp;comments</link>
<description><![CDATA[Tonight, Friday and Saturday are the final three Showboat shows of the season. Don't miss out on this year's show, &amp;quot;Up the Creek&amp;quot; - each year is always a different theme and show. Shows at 8:30pm on the river.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4818956&amp;id=237946753892&amp;comments</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:37:33 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Slow This Ride Down: Memory Lane0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlowThisRideDown/~3/dTkKUPcs7B8/memory-lane.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Guess what I found in our storage stuff?
My childhood scrapbook!
Wanna see me grow up? :-P
A bit grainy but proof that I was a baby. In some sort of yellow contraption that appears to be slowly swallowing me whole. 
1 year old, and no hair of course. Females in my family don't get hair until they are like 25. My brothers sill tease me about how bald I was as a child. At least I was cute!
2 years old. Still Cute. Still no hair. Well maybe a little. 
3 years old. Houston we have hair! And some type of plaid, poofy sleeves. Look how hard I'm trying to look cute, &amp;quot;Please, stare into my adorable eyes and forgot you ever saw this horrible shirt!&amp;quot;
4 years old. I think that's a Snoopy cake. I always had cakes with coconut on them. Snowmen, Snoopy, White cats. I think my mom had one of those cake books put out by the coconut company.
5 years old. I remember those barrettes. They were awesome. I had tons of them, all with matching animals. I'd wear them right now. 
6 years old. I think this was at Dogpatch, an old amusement park where my older brother worked.
7 years old. Here I start to have more problems with colors and style. Knit over plaid. Why? I don't know...
8 years old. I think it's time for a haircut. And a talk about turtles necks...why did I like turtle necks so much! I had one in every color too. With matching knit sweaters for each one. 
9 years old, I think this was my last &amp;quot;cute&amp;quot; year for awhile. Next come the &amp;quot;awkward&amp;quot; stage. 
10 years old. Yup. Here is comes. It started with these glasses. Man. Why I needed glasses that covered my whole face, I have no idea. 
11 years old. Aheam. Where to begin?? First off.....the bangs! OMG.Why??
I do remember it took me forever and a bottle of hair spray to fix it every morning. And that my brothers told me it look like I had turds on my forehead. (You guys were right, by the way!)
At least I've replaced my plastic glasses with wire ones, huge wire ones. And of course there is my ever present turtleneck and knit. Stylin'! 
12 years old. It doesn't get much better here. Because I decided that I HAD to have a perm! But my mom said no. So I cried. And begged. And threw a fit. And said my life was over. She did what all mothers do who have tween girls. She threw up her hands and said &amp;quot;Fine, but don't come crying to me when you don't like it.&amp;quot; Which was totally uncalled for because I loved it....for about 2 hours and then I HATED it. And cried because it was so awful and was going to take forever to grow out. And Iwas so mad at my mom because she MADE me do it and why didn't she just tell me no? lol (Poor mom. And now I have a 12 year old to pay me back...)
Still rocking those turtlenecks but I've replaced the knit with a crocheted vest! 
13 years old. I finally shed my cocoon and chopped off my permed hair and got contacts! Still having problems with poofy collars though...but I've got my cute back! 
14 years. Braces, which means I didn't smile for 18 months. But I still&Acirc;&nbsp; loved those knit sweaters. 
15 years. I hit a growth spurt and looked like a walking bean pole, a bean pole with braces, for awhile. 
Sweet 16. Braces off. Hair under control. (Decided to just get rid of those bangs all together. lol) Lost the turtlenecks! 
Sadly, all these years later and I still have the same hair style...except it's not as thick and lustrous as it was back then. I've pulled it all out from my kids. hah
Graduation photo. I still have that necklace. I should have worn my crocheted vest for this photo...haha
And one to make my best friend of over 20 years laugh...
Were we soooo cool! :-P
:-P
]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlowThisRideDown/~3/dTkKUPcs7B8/memory-lane.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:27:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids Google News: Cloquet Legion closes memorable summer - Pine Journal0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.pinejournal.com/event/article/id/20966/group/Sports/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Cloquet Legion closes memorable summerPine JournalAfter playing 36 innings of baseball in less than three days last week, Cloquet American Legion baseball head coach Jeff Ojanen was worn out. ...and more&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&raquo;]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pinejournal.com/event/article/id/20966/group/Sports/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:12:10 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids Google News: Wayne S. Andrist &#8221; Grand Rapids, Minn. - Post-Bulletin0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=5&amp;a=463048</link>
<description><![CDATA[Wayne S. Andrist &#8221; Grand Rapids, Minn.Post-BulletinGRAND RAPIDS, Minn. &#8221; Wayne Scott Andrist, 44, of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, died Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at Grand Itasca Hospital, Grand Rapids, ...]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=5&amp;a=463048</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:23:51 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Realgoodblog:  a place for those who read, write and appreciate the written word: People who are passionate about the stories and the topics....0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://realgoodwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/people-who-are-passionate-about-stories.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[At the beginning of Realgoodwords I do my introductions and I say &amp;quot;Each week we get the chance to talk with authors and writers about the stories and the topics that they are passionate about&amp;quot;.It's almost always the truth.  But this week it is REALLY true.  And it's a very different kind of show.Justine Sharrock is one of my guests - her book &amp;quot;Tortured - When Good Soldiers Do Bad Things&amp;quot; has been called:An extraordinary book that explores the ugliest underbelly of war.  Sharrock takes the discussion of torture and prisoner abuse at Abu  Ghraib and Guantanamo into new territory, delving into the lives of the  soldiers on the ground assigned these brutal tasks. Throughout the book,  Sharrock maintains a balance between empathy and tough reporting as she  examines the anguish and denial of men who participated in what can  only be described as acts of evil but who do not believe themselves to  be evil.               Thomas B. Edsall, Political Editor, Huffington  PostI also talk to bestselling historical novelist Brenda Rickman Vantrease about her latest &amp;quot;The Heretic's Wife&amp;quot;.&amp;quot;Cardinals  and bishops, servants and merchants, ship captains and noble-born  ladies and lords: it's a marvel of authorial engineering that Vantrease  can keep so many characters separate while she is at the same time  weaving together their stories into such a comprehensive and complex  whole. There's an elegance to Vantrease's writing, a sense of great  respect for the history she explores, coupled with a determined,  truth-seeking creativity. In The Heretic's Wife, she renders  for her readers a world as fully realized and alive as it is for the  characters--both real and imagined--of whom she writes.&amp;quot; --from a review  by Lacey Galbraith in Chapter16.org, reprinted in The Nashville Scene.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:08:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[KAXE Photo Stream: Ready for the KBXE Paul Bunyan Flash Mob0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxe/4837535153/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Northern Community Radio posted a photo:
	


Photo from Sarah MacRostie.
It was a beautiful day in downtown Bemidji. The sun was shining and people were enjoying Art in Park when a Paul Bunyan walked by. What? A Paul Bunyan? There's another! And three more! They're everywhere, what's going on here?
It was Northern Minnesota's first ever flash mob, courtesy of 90.5 KBXE. On Sunday, July 18th 2010, a group of over 50 people gathered at Diamond Point Park in Bemidji for pizza and planning. Then the group set off for the Lake Bemidji Waterfront, dressed in red and black flannel shirts, blue jeans (rolled up of course), a painted mustache and a dark knit cap. The group slowly trickled through Art in the Park, turning a lot of heads and getting even more smiles. The Mobbers then drifted to the Paul and Babe statue, where they froze one at a time. What started as a couple of frozen Paul Bunyan's grew into dozens and people stopped to watch and take pictures while passing cars honked their horns.
Watch the video: www.youtube.com/nowwatchingkbxe
Read More here: kbxe.blogspot.com/2010/07/kbxe-paul-bunayn-flash-mob.html]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxe/4837535153/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:02:41 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[KAXE Photo Stream: The KBXE Paul Bunyan Flashmob0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxe/4837492607/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Northern Community Radio posted a photo:
	


Photo from Sarah MacRostie.
It was a beautiful day in downtown Bemidji. The sun was shining and people were enjoying Art in Park when a Paul Bunyan walked by. What? A Paul Bunyan? There's another! And three more! They're everywhere, what's going on here?
It was Northern Minnesota's first ever flash mob, courtesy of 90.5 KBXE. On Sunday, July 18th 2010, a group of over 50 people gathered at Diamond Point Park in Bemidji for pizza and planning. Then the group set off for the Lake Bemidji Waterfront, dressed in red and black flannel shirts, blue jeans (rolled up of course), a painted mustache and a dark knit cap. The group slowly trickled through Art in the Park, turning a lot of heads and getting even more smiles. The Mobbers then drifted to the Paul and Babe statue, where they froze one at a time. What started as a couple of frozen Paul Bunyan's grew into dozens and people stopped to watch and take pictures while passing cars honked their horns.
Watch the video: www.youtube.com/nowwatchingkbxe
Read More here: kbxe.blogspot.com/2010/07/kbxe-paul-bunayn-flash-mob.html]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxe/4837492607/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:46:54 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[KAXE Photo Stream: Group Picture After the KBXE Flash Mob0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxe/4837491263/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Northern Community Radio posted a photo:
	


Photo from Sarah MacRostie.
It was a beautiful day in downtown Bemidji. The sun was shining and people were enjoying Art in Park when a Paul Bunyan walked by. What? A Paul Bunyan? There's another! And three more! They're everywhere, what's going on here?
It was Northern Minnesota's first ever flash mob, courtesy of 90.5 KBXE. On Sunday, July 18th 2010, a group of over 50 people gathered at Diamond Point Park in Bemidji for pizza and planning. Then the group set off for the Lake Bemidji Waterfront, dressed in red and black flannel shirts, blue jeans (rolled up of course), a painted mustache and a dark knit cap. The group slowly trickled through Art in the Park, turning a lot of heads and getting even more smiles. The Mobbers then drifted to the Paul and Babe statue, where they froze one at a time. What started as a couple of frozen Paul Bunyan's grew into dozens and people stopped to watch and take pictures while passing cars honked their horns.
Watch the video: www.youtube.com/nowwatchingkbxe
Read More here: kbxe.blogspot.com/2010/07/kbxe-paul-bunayn-flash-mob.html]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxe/4837491263/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:46:19 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[KAXE Photo Stream: Sarah and Escher in the KBXE Paul Bunyan Flash Mob at Art in the Park in Bemidji0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxe/4837489657/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Northern Community Radio posted a photo:
	


Photo from Sarah MacRostie.
It was a beautiful day in downtown Bemidji. The sun was shining and people were enjoying Art in Park when a Paul Bunyan walked by. What? A Paul Bunyan? There's another! And three more! They're everywhere, what's going on here?
It was Northern Minnesota's first ever flash mob, courtesy of 90.5 KBXE. On Sunday, July 18th 2010, a group of over 50 people gathered at Diamond Point Park in Bemidji for pizza and planning. Then the group set off for the Lake Bemidji Waterfront, dressed in red and black flannel shirts, blue jeans (rolled up of course), a painted mustache and a dark knit cap. The group slowly trickled through Art in the Park, turning a lot of heads and getting even more smiles. The Mobbers then drifted to the Paul and Babe statue, where they froze one at a time. What started as a couple of frozen Paul Bunyan's grew into dozens and people stopped to watch and take pictures while passing cars honked their horns.
Watch the video: www.youtube.com/nowwatchingkbxe
Read More here: kbxe.blogspot.com/2010/07/kbxe-paul-bunayn-flash-mob.html]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxe/4837489657/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:45:42 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[KAXE Photo Stream: Crossing the Street for the Flashmob0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxe/4838100482/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Northern Community Radio posted a photo:
	


Photo from Sarah MacRostie.
It was a beautiful day in downtown Bemidji. The sun was shining and people were enjoying Art in Park when a Paul Bunyan walked by. What? A Paul Bunyan? There's another! And three more! They're everywhere, what's going on here?
It was Northern Minnesota's first ever flash mob, courtesy of 90.5 KBXE. On Sunday, July 18th 2010, a group of over 50 people gathered at Diamond Point Park in Bemidji for pizza and planning. Then the group set off for the Lake Bemidji Waterfront, dressed in red and black flannel shirts, blue jeans (rolled up of course), a painted mustache and a dark knit cap. The group slowly trickled through Art in the Park, turning a lot of heads and getting even more smiles. The Mobbers then drifted to the Paul and Babe statue, where they froze one at a time. What started as a couple of frozen Paul Bunyan's grew into dozens and people stopped to watch and take pictures while passing cars honked their horns.
Watch the video: www.youtube.com/nowwatchingkbxe
Read More here: kbxe.blogspot.com/2010/07/kbxe-paul-bunayn-flash-mob.html]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxe/4838100482/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:45:09 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids Google News: Death notices - Post-Bulletin0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=5&amp;a=462996</link>
<description><![CDATA[Death noticesPost-BulletinWayne Scott Andrist, 44, of Grand Rapids, Minn., died July 21 at Grand Itasca Hospital in Grand Rapids, following an auto accident. ...]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=5&amp;a=462996</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:57:39 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Blandin on Broadband: Telcos in Cross Lake meet with Local Legislators to discussion National Broadband Plan0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://blandinonbroadband.org/2010/07/28/telcos-in-cross-lake-meet-with-local-legislators-to-discussion-national-broadband-plan/</link>
<description><![CDATA[According to the Northland Press&brvbar;
Leaders from Crosslake met with Representative Larry Howes on July 16 to discuss concerns with the national broadband plan being proposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
It sounds as if the biggest concern is the potential for a rural/urban divide brought about by the National Broadband goal to have 100 Mbps to at least 100 million Americans by the year 2020 &#8220; but leaving a backdoor open to lower speeds with another goal of ubiquitous coverage of at least 4 Mbps.
Its a debate that came up recently in an earlier post about the FCCs broadband report, where their list of least served counties in Minnesota was so drastically different from Connect Minnesotas list, cited in the Minnesota Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force report. That leads into a distinct difference in the reports (the State recommendations and the National Broadband Plan) that also came up at the meeting in Crosslake.
The National Broadband Plan calls for faster broadband speeds for the majority, where the Minnesota speeds are lower (20Mbps up and 10 Mbps down by 2015) but focus on ubiquitous coverage.
Heres what was mentioned in the Northland Press about the topic&brvbar;
Randy Young, past President of Minnesota Telecom Alliance, told representatives at the meeting that it would be difficult for rural towns to attract businesses if they cannot assure high-quality, sustainable broadband access.
In 2010, Minnesota established broadband goals of 20 Megabyte download and 10 Megabyte upload to all Minnesotans by 2015.
Young praised the state legislature for recognizing the need for service for the entire state, not just the urban portions, The FCC plan will make rural Minnesotans, and all rural Americans, second class citizens in the broadband world, he said
     ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blandinonbroadband.org/2010/07/28/telcos-in-cross-lake-meet-with-local-legislators-to-discussion-national-broadband-plan/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:44:45 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids, Minnesota Fan Page's Facebook Wall: Blues Fest starts tomorrow in Grand Rapids; four days of incredible blues music and entertainment.  The original winner of our Blues Fest Sweepstakes couldn't claim his prize, so we drew a new name - Scott S. of North Branch is our new lucky winner!  Cong0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=114184725298323&amp;id=237946753892</link>
<description><![CDATA[Blues Fest starts tomorrow in Grand Rapids; four days of incredible blues music and entertainment.  The original winner of our Blues Fest Sweepstakes couldn't claim his prize, so we drew a new name - Scott S. of North Branch is our new lucky winner!  Congrats Scott!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=114184725298323&amp;id=237946753892</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:21:36 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Mississippi Melodie Showboat: It's Almost Over...Are you Really Going to Miss it???0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://grshowboat.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-almost-overare-you-really-going-to.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Sung to REM's &amp;quot;It's the End of&Acirc;&nbsp;the&Acirc;&nbsp;World as we Know It&amp;quot;That's great, it starts with the boat coming around the bend, watch out for the Kayaks and the loons-Pilot Tim is not afraid. The boat docks, the music starts, listen to your heart churn-There's No Business Like Show Business, Captain Talks, Nora Talks, The&Acirc;&nbsp;choir&Acirc;&nbsp;sing the Blues-Poem, Magic Act, Poke-us joke, Rio Tapping Trio which became 5 but the name never changed-People on Stilts, choir singing about the moon then trying to find it. A couple of Beautiful songs-Dead or Alive skit that Mrs. Showboat still doesn't get, a Wicked song, bad jokes by bad boys-good songs by bad boys, Ruth sings, Jake beats up John with clown gloves-Mississippi&Acirc;&nbsp;Froggers with&Acirc;&nbsp;their&Acirc;&nbsp;jumpin' flippin' song. It's a Grand Night for Singing-a chase scene with a mop, two songs about friends, Salute of Arms (please stand), andRoll on, boat leaves, feeling pretty psyched!!!It's the end of Showboat (this year) as we know itIt's the end of Showboat (this year) as we know itIt's the end of Showboat (this year) as we know it and Mrs. Showboat feels fine!Show starts at 8:30pm no pre-show this weekend, Tickets can be bought at the door$10 adults, $6 seniors and students, children under 3 free with cookies (chocolate&Acirc;&nbsp;chip)Thursday is 1/2 at&Acirc;&nbsp;the&Acirc;&nbsp;door only. Exact change would be nice, ticketpeople are having a hard time counting after 8, free labor go figure but that's okay,Come in, take a seat- general seating- bring bug&Acirc;&nbsp;spray&Acirc;&nbsp;and a blanket (and cookies to share)Watch the Captain screw up his lines,Watch the Bald Eagles fly above,Watch John burn his tongueThere are no alternatives, and if there was&Acirc;&nbsp;Mrs. Showboat would decline!It's the end of Showboat (this year) as we know itIt's the end of Showboat (this year) as we know itIt's the end of Showboat (this year) as we know it and Mrs. Showboat is about to cry!***Come see us before we are gone!! This Thursday, Friday and Saturday!! Rain or shine!! Mrs. Showboat has the perfect seat saved for you!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grshowboat.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-almost-overare-you-really-going-to.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:58:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids Google News: Cops: Burglars hit garage, go shopping - WOOD-TV0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/home-invasion-and-id-theft-case</link>
<description><![CDATA[WOOD-TVCops: Burglars hit garage, go shoppingWOOD-TVGRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Some young men were spotted on surveillance videos after allegedly using credit cards they stole earlier in the day. ...and more&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&raquo;]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/home-invasion-and-id-theft-case</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:18:22 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids Arts!: At the Reif0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://grandrapidsmnarts.org/2010/07/27/at-the-reif/</link>
<description><![CDATA[The featured indie film this week is The Country Teacher on Tuesday at 7:30 pm. Suggested donation is $5 per couple. Do the math for one.
Thursday comedy night at 7:30 pm&Acirc;&nbsp;will bring Mike Brody to town. Tickets are $10.
The 2010-11 season brochure and DVD have arrived. If you did not receive one, call 218-327-5780.
On August 22nd, at 7:30pm, the Reif will be presenting its First Annual Top Ten Talent Search.
&Acirc;&nbsp;All applicants must submit a recording of their act or attend a live audition at the Reif Center. Only the top ten performers will be selected to compete in the final event, which will also be broadcast LIVE on ICTV. Winners will receive a $500 cash prize, plus a chance to perform on the Reif stage during our 2010-2011 performance season (maybe even open for one of our performers). Applications are being accepted until August 4th. Performers must be 16 or older to participate. They must also live within a 100 mile radius of Grand Rapids. The live audition date will be August 5th from 4-6:30pm. Each final act will be given 10 minutes on stage. Please visit www.reifcenter.org &Acirc;&nbsp;for your audition form.
Tickets for this event, and more, will be available for sale on August 2nd &#8220; Adults $15, Senior (66+) $14, Students $8. For more ticket information visit the Reif Center website www.reifcenter.org or call (218)327-5780.
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<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandrapidsmnarts.org/2010/07/27/at-the-reif/</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:57:04 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids Arts!: You know about the Blues Festival0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://grandrapidsmnarts.org/2010/07/27/you-know-about-the-blues-festival/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Excitement is generating about GRs newly inheirited Blues Fest. This event has moved west from Ely&Acirc;&nbsp;to find a new home at the Itasca County Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds has great camping and a view of Crystal Lake. For one more year this Fest will still carry the name Boundary Waters Blues Fest but is up for a renaming next year.
All begins Thursday with a kickoff at the KAXE Rotary Tent on the banks of Ole Man River in Grand Rapids.&Acirc;&nbsp; From 6-7 hear Ross Perry and 8-9:30 Rob Blaine. Tickets are $20.
Friday&Acirc;&nbsp;at the Fairgrounds is $30 at the Gate with Perry Weber and the Devilles, Rob Blaine, Lil Slim and headliner Vince Agwada. Be there from 2:30-10.
Saturday for $40 beginning at noon see Virgil Cane, Big Walter Smith, Funky Mojo Daddy, Eddie Turner and Headliner Bernard Allison.
Sunday for $20 beginning at 11:30: Aurora Baer, Tony Brown, Kevin Burt.
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<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandrapidsmnarts.org/2010/07/27/you-know-about-the-blues-festival/</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:49:41 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids Google News: Grand Rapids plans eco-industrial park - Daily Reporter (blog)0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/07/27/grand-rapids-plans-eco-industrial-park/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Grand Rapids plans eco-industrial parkDaily Reporter (blog)Minneapolis &#8221; Two years after the closing of a 400000-square-foot lumber factory in Grand Rapids, Minn., the city is gearing up to turn ...]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/07/27/grand-rapids-plans-eco-industrial-park/</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:15:54 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Itasca Community Television blogs: The Kayak Lady0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.watchictv.com/content/posts/kayak-lady</link>
<description><![CDATA[As part of this months series Just Outdoors host Tom Chapin talked with Mary Schidler, the Kayak Lady.  Mary talked all about her goal of paddling all of the 1,007 lakes in Itasca County and her adventures along the way.  She answered many of the frequent questions she gets like what is her favorite lake and which was the hardest to tackle.   Mary also talked about the self publication of her book The Kayak Lady: One Woman &#8220; One Kayak &#8220; 1007 Lakes.   Shes been at it since 1996 and on Saturday, August 7th she will reach her goal when she paddles her last lake.   Everyone is welcome to share in this moment.  Come to Rice Lake (west of Cohasset) from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.  Bring a kayak, canoe, paddleboat or rowboat to the Rice Lake public access.  For those who do not paddle, Mary has arranged complimentary rides on the Lets Go Fishing pontoon.   Tune in and learn about Marys patience and persistence during years of paddling.  Just Outdoors plays every Wednesday at 8:00 pm on your public access channel.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.watchictv.com/content/posts/kayak-lady</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:22:50 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids E-Democracy: Itasca County Sheriff Candidates0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/4HfecJZSxQr2stTBvZMkxn</link>
<description><![CDATA[Unfortunately, good people can be portrayed wrongfully and I believe that's
what happened with Darin Shevich.  There's an opportunity to hear and meet all
of the Itasca County Sheriff candidates at a forum at the Blandin Foundation
tonight from 6-8, sponsored by Advocates for Family Peace.  This will allow
people to gather their own facts on who would be the next best sheriff for
Itasca County.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/4HfecJZSxQr2stTBvZMkxn</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:59:49 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Blandin on Broadband: Even with e-health tools, adoption is key0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://blandinonbroadband.org/2010/07/27/even-with-e-health-tools-adoption-is-key/</link>
<description><![CDATA[I wish I had better news to report but, according to a new national study from the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) based on surveys from 2008 only one-third of all physicians in ambulatory settings (32.3%) routinely used e-prescribing.
There are a couple of immediate barriers. First, only two in five physicians in office-based ambulatory practice (41.9%) reported that technology was available in their practice to write e-prescriptions in 2008. Offices where they use only electronic records were more apt e-prescribe &#8220; indicating that perhaps where paper is available its use is still more prevalent.
Also theres a hierarchy of use. When you e-prescribe you can use the system to check for adverse drug interactions, you can check to see if a drug is covered by the patients insurance and you can send the prescription the pharmacy. Few doctors reported using all features.
The good news is that there are policies in place to encourage greater use &#8220; or meaningful use. The Centers for Medicare &amp;amp;amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) have recently created a site that highlights the meaningful use incentives. I havent been following a lot but in short doctors are compensated for using the online tools. It sounds as if they can earn a 2.0% incentive payment for demonstrating e-prescribing use.
The study in fact appears to be a base report upon which the CMS will measure success of their incentive programs. So if youre a healthcare professional or are hoping to work with a healthcare professional you might want to learn more.
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<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blandinonbroadband.org/2010/07/27/even-with-e-health-tools-adoption-is-key/</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:15:52 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Realgoodblog:  a place for those who read, write and appreciate the written word: Brian Freeman &amp;amp; the KAXE Bookclub0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://realgoodwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/brian-freeman-kaxe-bookclub.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[I'm excited for tomorrow night - the KAXE book club is getting together at 5:30 to discuss MN author Brian Freeman's latest mystery (set in Grand Rapids) &amp;quot;The Burying Place&amp;quot;.So what's the big deal?  There's a couple of big deals about this meeting.1.  Brian Freeman will be AT the book club meeting2.  We're meeting at a book club member's house - near where the action/mystery in &amp;quot;The Burying Place&amp;quot; takes place3.  It's summer in northern Minnesota!  Bookclub is meeting outside overlooking Pokegama Lake!!   What's not to be excited about?So how does the KAXE book club work?  Good question, and I get asked it a lot.  This is the first book club I've ever been in - and we are a no-guilt, everyone-is-invited, all-fun, come-when-you-can-even-if-you-haven't-read-the-book kind of book club.This means YOU are invited.  Even if you haven't read the book.  And like any good Minnesota get-together, it's a potluck, so we are asking that you bring something to share.  Here's a sneak peek at the food/beverages on board for the party:  buster bars, beer, sandwiches, thai fried rice, wine, brownies, potato salad and who knows what else!!!We'll eat, hear from the author, ask questions of the author and enjoy each others company.If you want to attend and need to find out the mystery location, call Heidi at KAXE 218-326-1234 or email heidi@kaxe.org.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://realgoodwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/brian-freeman-kaxe-bookclub.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:28:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Blandin on Broadband: Give &#8213;em your two cents on the CenturyLink Qwest deal0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://blandinonbroadband.org/2010/07/26/give-‘em-your-two-cents-on-the-centurylink-qwest-deal/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Back in April CenturyLink (aka CenturyTel) announced that their plans to acquire Qwest in a stock swap worth $10.6 billion. Now they have put together a CenturyLink/Qwest Merger web site for more info. (The starts will a big disclaimer that the plans presented are just that &#8220; plans, not set in stone.)
It seems as if the merger is at a point of waiting to get permission from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to approve the indirect transfer of control of Qwest and its operating subsidiaries to CenturyLink. In fact, now is the time to contact the Minnesota PUC if you have any comments youd like to submit; the PUCs first round of testimony is due August 19, rebuttal Sept. 13 and surrebuttal Sept. 27 (though surrebuttal isnt the time to raise new issues).
If you are a customer of CenturyLink or Qwest you may have already received a postcard informing you of your opportunity to provide comment (or you may hear from them soon). Here are some of the details for providing comment, as stated on the postcard&brvbar;
You may provide comments on the proposed merger to the Minnesota PUC:
By Mail: 121 Seventh Place East, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55101-2147
By Phone: 651-296-7124 or 1-800-657-3782 (toll free)
[Citizens with hearing or speech disabilities may call through Minnesota Relay by dialing 711 or 1-800-627-3529]
By Fax: 651-297-7073
By Web: www.puc.state.mn.us &#8221; Click on Comment on An Issue
[Please reference MPUC Docket No. P421, et al./PA-10-456 on all correspondence.]
Written comments are most effective when they include:
1. The issue in the merger request you are addressing.
2. Your specific recommendations.
3. The reasons for your recommendation.
If you are looking for reasons to support the merger, I think there isnt a better place to start than the site the companies developed themselves. For a glimpse at the other side you could start with DSL Reports &#8220; especially the comments.
     ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blandinonbroadband.org/2010/07/26/give-‘em-your-two-cents-on-the-centurylink-qwest-deal/</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:49:17 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids E-Democracy: Itasca County Sheriff Candidates0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/1e20R1qeR8GoTtlPCUoFiV</link>
<description><![CDATA[I am concerned about Darin Shevich is the guy who over-reacted to a person
operating on private property.  I just read the transcript of the testimony in
court and it was evidence of over-reaction and arrogance.  I will be very
dissappointed if this guy gets elected.  We need a cool head to be our next
sherriff.  the most important quality for a sherrif is leadership and safety
for all citizens.  throwing a citizen up against his truck is not what I'd like
to see.  Not to mention how much it cost the counthy to spend defending his bad
behavior plus the cost of the 6 figure cost of the settlement.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/1e20R1qeR8GoTtlPCUoFiV</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:22:21 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Slow This Ride Down: Fitness Milestone One: Completed0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlowThisRideDown/~3/ofaKsQ12L6M/fitness-milestone-one-completed.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Those of you who have been following me for awhile know that I've been on a self- acceptance path ever since we moved to N. Ireland, where I noticed that the women there were so much more comfortable with their bodies, no matter what their size was. The UK did wonders for my self-esteem and made me realize that, sadly, growing up in the US really does make a difference in how women view their self. I'm sure it's a combination of our puritan heritage, insane media coverage, and unhealthy modeling practices...to name just a few.&Acirc;&nbsp; 
Anyway, when we decided to a make time to work out, using P90X, and eat healthier, Paleo diet, we set fitness goals which we have been helping each other achieve. My first goal came about after a thread on one of my favorite mom forums. It was the beginning of summer and moms were posting about how they hated their bodies and buying swimsuits and how horrible they felt they looked in them so they started posting pics to get feedback, and all of the moms looked so good! And as more and more moms started posting and we could all see every type of size and shape and how normal and wonderful everyone looked... lots of moms started to feel so much better about themselves! And another thing that happened was that some of us noticed that, no matter what their size, that all the moms looked better in a bikini than a one piece. By trying to cover up their &amp;quot;flaws&amp;quot;, they were instead hiding their true beauty. 
So, my first fitness goal was to love my body enough to feel confident in a bikini top. No small feat for me because I have always had self esteem problems so have never, ever, worn one. Not even as a teen when I weighed 100 pounds dripping wet. 
We've been going to the lake a lot recently and I was frustrated with my one piece, the straps always slip off my shoulders, it's a pain to deal with while trying to pee in one of those tiny porta potties, and it creates some unflattering tan lanes. It also doesn't fit well, one suites never do because I have a long torso, so is really uncomfortable. So Jason said maybe it was time for me to finish goal one, since it would solve all my problems. lol
He's been so wonderful through all of this, it's been so nice to attain great fitness along side him! He encourages me so much! He's looking great too, by the way. He's lost 15 pounds and gained a lot of inches of muscle, he's also been growing his hair out for me because I was soooo sad when he cut it all off. It's long enough for a ponytail again, which I just adore and find so sexy!
Anyway, Jason went with me to a few local stores and helped me pick out a bikini. It was really fun and I loved having him there to give advice because he knows what looks best on me. And he did an awesome job, talked me into purple and I think I have to agree with him - purple does suit me! :-)
(Goal two is to lose the swimskirt and rock the bikini bottoms. :-) Gonna take a lot more butt exercises in the mean time. lol) 
It was nice to go to the beach today and feel happy and comfortable with myself, to just enjoy the lake and my children. One of which is a daughter. Who also inspires me. I have tried so hard to never say negative things about myself in front of her, I don't want her to learn self hate. And we always have talks about body image and how every girl is different and beautiful. This is also a good lesson for boys, they too need to learn to respect all types of female bodies. My four year old sat down next to me on the sand and saw my belly, he reach out and touched one of my stretch marks...&amp;quot;Is dat one mine?&amp;quot; he asked. I assured him that is was and he smiled and told the girl playing next to him &amp;quot;I made dat for my mommy when I was just teeny.&amp;quot; Aw, how precious, I love that my children have seen stretchmarks enough that they are normal and not something to be viewed as negative. And how bad would he feel if he ever heard me say &amp;quot;I hate my stretchmarks.&amp;quot; when he is so proud of having put them there! Something for all mothers to ponder.
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<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:17:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Realgoodblog:  a place for those who read, write and appreciate the written word: Remember when you were a kid?  When anything was possible?0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://realgoodwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/remember-when-you-were-kid-when.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[You can hear Minnesota author Tim Kehoe talk about his book &amp;quot;The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow&amp;quot; - a book for kids that reminds adults that's it's not only okay to be creative and follow something that might seem crazy, it's part of what makes our lives good, and unpredictable.Listen here as I talk to Tim Kehoe, a toy inventor that lucky for us, never grew up himself.  He tells us about some of his own inventions like colored bubbles or Zubbles - and about his character, Vincent Shadow, who also is an inventor.Have you invented anything?  Wanted to?  What's something that SHOULD be invented, to make your life better or more interesting?]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://realgoodwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/remember-when-you-were-kid-when.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:56:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids, Minnesota Fan Page's Facebook Wall: 0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=147982&amp;id=237946753892&amp;comments</link>
<description><![CDATA[Event Photos]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=147982&amp;id=237946753892&amp;comments</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:41:37 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[NOAA Weather Warnings: There are no active watches, warnings or advisories0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.weather.gov/alerts-beta/wwaatmget.php?x=MNZ026</link>
<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.weather.gov/alerts-beta/wwaatmget.php?x=MNZ026</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jul 2010 07:34:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Blandin on Broadband: Upcoming NATOA conference includes broadband economic development day0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://blandinonbroadband.org/2010/07/24/upcoming-natoa-conference-includes-broadband-economic-development-day/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Thanks to Jodie Miller for the heads up on NATOAs broadband economic development day September 28. The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) is planning its 30th annual conference in Washington DC; broadband economic development day is a pre-conference event planned for the before the conference.
It looks like a good line up (including Jim Baller, Blair Levin, Joaquin Alvarado and other) and seems to focus on practical topics such as Strategies for enhancing broadband and economic development in your community.
     ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blandinonbroadband.org/2010/07/24/upcoming-natoa-conference-includes-broadband-economic-development-day/</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:19:51 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Slow This Ride Down: Beaches: The only place children actually entertain themselves.0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlowThisRideDown/~3/s8dgI8CMpAc/beaches-only-place-children-actually.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[I think we've found something to make Fridays better. (Waking the kids up 2 hours early to drag them to therapies all morning is not their idea of fun.) 
So, there are tons of lakes here you know. (The state's nickname, The Land of 10000 Lakes, is no  exaggeration.) And since it finally warmed up a bit, in the 70s now...wee, we have been trying to find &amp;quot;our&amp;quot; lake. With so many to choose from we knew there was one out there that would be just perfect for us. We found one 9 minutes away but it was dirty water, the in-laws have one but it's 35 minutes away and down a windy road so Alex and I got car sick, you get the idea. There was always something wrong with each one... until today!
We got home from therapies at 11am and the kids were GRUMPY. (I might have been a little bit too....) So Jason threw us all in the car with a picnic lunch and said we were heading to a beach he had seen recently!
It's only 15 minutes away and...it's PERFECT! We loved it to death and stayed all afternoon! We'll definitely be going there a few times a week from now on.The best thing here is that since there are so many lakes, they are never overcrowded! Most of the time we are the only ones there!
The beach was amazing, so sandy!
And the water was crystal clear!
And the water was not deep for a long time, I loved this as the kids had tons of room to play and I didn't have to worry about them getting in over their heads. 
Jarod way out there, and the water is only up to his neck. lol
The sand was perfect for creating! (Jarod never left the water. lol) 
I was stretched out on a blanket, reading a novel, while everyone else played; a great book, (best I've read in a while) fresh air, the kids entertained, and the sun shining down on me - bliss. 
They had picnic tables!
And a playground!
And trails!
And a freaky bird dock... no seriously....a dock that the birds took over. I don't think it was built just for them...they just commandeered it, and now guard it. And hold secret meetings.
So, I saw all the birds just sitting on the dock, staring out at the lake. Contemplating world domination is my guess. Anyways, I decided to attempt to walk out on the dock to get a photo. It was so insane! As soon as I put one foot on the dock they all slowly turned around and stared at ME! I kept slowly walking down the ramp and they just stared me down.... I got really nervous. (If my sister had been with me she would have died. She is terrified of birds.) I got really close and then half of them started to dive bomb my head but didn't touch me and finally flew away. The others stayed until I got all the way to the end and they left too, except for one. Who stayed the whole time, glaring at me. And omg, the dock was so gross! Piles of bird poop and fish heads! Maybe the one bird stayed there to protect the half eaten fish I saw all over, I think I interrupted their meal. At least they didn't make me their meal. *shudders*
I did get an awesome photo though! The sky here is always so beautiful.(Click to enlarge.) 
When I got back the kids pulled me into the water and I stayed for an hour and had so much fun! I took each kid out to &amp;quot;the deep deep&amp;quot;, and did laps, and threw them in the water, and played &amp;quot;find the best rock with your feet&amp;quot; game, and dove, and laughed, and got water up my nose, and almost took Jarod's dare to jump off the end of the dock...but the birds scared me too much.
A perfect afternoon, and it was free entertainment! 
Oh, this occurred to me today as I was snapping photos. I took over 200 photos today. Aren't digital cameras great? Remember when we had to use film? I sure do. When we had Rebecca I wanted to take tons of photos of her but of course the meant buying film AND paying to develop them. It was $5 for a 24 roll of film and $5 to process them, money I never had so I limited myself to at most...once a month. 24 photos a month! And they weren't always good one of course. lol Of course the downside to digital is I never get prints anymore so my photo albums stop in 2003, the year I got our first digital camera. I have them all on disks so I guess when my kids leave home they will get a box of photos on CDs instead of a box of photo albums. And perhaps a digital photo frame. :-)
]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Itasca Community Television blogs: Grand Rapids Farmers' Market0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.watchictv.com/content/posts/grand-rapids-farmers-market</link>
<description><![CDATA[On Wednesday, July 21, the studio at ICTV held a new Know Your Community. The featured group was the Grand Rapids Farmers' Market. The program was hosted by Kenn Fideldy and featured three guests: Kent Lorentzen, the Market Manager; Kristi Neary, the Assistant Market Manager; and Bill Boutang, a participating vendor. The program discussed some of the history of the market, what it features, and how someone can get involved as a shopper or seller. You can see this program on ICTV's public access channel beginning on Wednesday, July 28 at 6:15pm. It is also scheduled to play on Thursday, July 29 at 9:15pm and Sunday, August 1 at 2:45pm. For more information about the Grand Rapids Farmers' Market you can also visit www.grfarmersmarket.org. Be sure to see this episode of Know Your Community to find out all about the great resource that is the Grand Rapids Farmers' Market.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.watchictv.com/content/posts/grand-rapids-farmers-market</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:49:38 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Itasca Community Television blogs: Upper Mississippi Forest Celebration0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.watchictv.com/content/posts/upper-mississippi-forest-celebration</link>
<description><![CDATA[Tom Duffus, the Conservation Fund
On the fifteenth of July, the Conservation Fund, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, UPM/Blandin Paper Company, the Blandin Foundation, and the Minnesota Forest Legacy Partnership came together just outside Grand Rapids to celebrate the completion of Minnesota's largest land conservation deal: the 187,876-acre Upper Mississippi Forest Project. This is a project that has been over ten years in the making. The Upper Mississippi Forest Project conserves more than forests, wetland and shoreline owned by UPM - it ensures that the land will continue to provide jobs as a working forest and a recreation destination benefiting the local, regional and state economy. The protection of the Upper Mississippi Forest through this working forest conservation easement conserves over 60,000 acres of wetlands, 280 miles of stream, lake and river frontage and titches together over 4000 square miles of publicly and privately conserved forests. The easement provides public access for hunting, fishing, bird watching and other recreational activities, and will preserve existing hiking, snowmobile and other trails. Something to celebrate for all involved...
Schedule]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.watchictv.com/content/posts/upper-mississippi-forest-celebration</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:26:25 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Itasca Community Television blogs: Remodel 2010 complete on Monday0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.watchictv.com/content/posts/remodel-2010-complete-monday</link>
<description><![CDATA[Next week is a very busy week at ICTV.  We'll start with the last phase of our fixtures being installed.  All the producers are getting work stations with a little additional space and low privacy walls.  The assistant is getting a desk with a transaction table, so visitors can be greeted and have their paperwork handled efficiently. My desk (which currently curves in the center for the &amp;quot;working-in-a-wok effect) will be replaced and all should be right with the world. We will then be entrusted with 20 Middle Schoolers in Camp Discovery for a psa project.  We'll wrap up the week at the Blues Fest. So, if you see an ICTV member next week, please boost them along.  They each will be going above and beyond for public access cable television next week.  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.watchictv.com/content/posts/remodel-2010-complete-monday</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 07:14:23 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Itasca Project Read: Friday Finger Fun!!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://itascapr.blogspot.com/2010/07/friday-finger-fun.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Finger PaintsFinger paints are like a loud, life-affirming &amp;quot;Yes!&amp;quot; in a toddler's world of &amp;quot;Don't touch.&amp;quot; And they're so easy and inexpensive to make from scratch -- a good thing, since those little store-bought tubs seem to disappear in the blink of an eye.Materials1 cup of cold water1/4 cup of cornstarch1 tablespoon of light corn syrupWashable, nontoxic tempera paintBowlsFinger-paint paper or freezer paperMasking tapeInstructionsBefore you begin: Spread out a plastic tablecloth, keep wipes handy, and wear a smock or old clothes.   In a small saucepan, stir together the cold water and cornstarch. Whisk the mixture over low heat for about 5 minutes until it thickens and clears -- this will happen all at once. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup, then divide the mixture into bowls and stir a squirt of tempera paint into each one.   After the paint has cooled, scoop blobs of it onto finger-paint paper (taped to your table) or let your kids scoop it out themselves -- whichever they prefer -- and commence smearing. Leftover paint can be stored in sealed containers in the fridge for a day or two.Tips:Getting Started with Creative Projects for Little Hands1. Keep it safe. Make sure supplies are labeled nontoxic and are not choking hazards. Discourage kids from putting supplies in their mouths.2. Set it up. Designate an art area in your home with an easel or a low table where young artists can stand to work (this is usually easier for them).3. Don't rush. Make sure you allow plenty of time for setup, exploration, and cleanup.4. Don't stress over mess. Set things up so cleanup is easier for you, then try to relax and let your child have fun.5. Write it down. Before you forget, write the date on your child's creation and, if she's talking, what she said about it.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itascapr.blogspot.com/2010/07/friday-finger-fun.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids Events: A 21st Century Vision for Sustainable Communities1]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/story_detail.php?permalink=http://grandrapidsevents.blogspot.com/2010/07/21st-century-vision-for-sustainable.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[A regional GreenStep Cities program is being offered in Grand Rapids, MN on July 29th.&Acirc;&nbsp; &amp;quot;Going green&amp;quot; sounds good but what can cities and counties really do in tight budget times?&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp; A great first step is to send staff, elected officials and interested citizens to one of two GreenStep Cities seminars at the Grand Rapids Area Library (140 NE 2nd St) on Thursday, July 29th.&Acirc;&nbsp; The two hour seminar will be presented twice&#8221;once from 3:00-5:00 and again from 6:00-8:00.&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp; There will be a social hour with food served from 5:00-6:00.&Acirc;&nbsp; Please RSVP to (218) 326-0252 or pershirl@gmail.com and let us know if you can attend one of the seminars and if you will be staying for the meal.&Acirc;&nbsp;   &Acirc;&nbsp;  Minnesota local governments are facing serious economic challenges because of increased costs as well as decreased revenue.&Acirc;&nbsp; The GreenStep Cities program is a volunteer municipal sustainability program that was launched at the June meeting of the League of Minnesota Cities.&Acirc;&nbsp; It is a vision leading our communities into the 21st century and includes actions that could be taken by citizens, citizen groups, business groups, churches, schools and others interested in working towards civic improvement.&Acirc;&nbsp; The program encourages implementation of best management practices in five areas:&Acirc;&nbsp; 1) improved energy efficiency in buildings and facilities, 2) transportation and street improvements, 3) land use planning, 4) environmental management, and 5) economic and community development.&Acirc;&nbsp;   &Acirc;&nbsp;  MN GreenStep Cities has the support of the MN Pollution Control Agency, MN Office of Energy Security, Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS), and League of MN Cities.&Acirc;&nbsp; This seminar is hosted by the Grand Rapids Wes Libbey Chapter of the Izaak Walton League and has funding assistance from the Blandin Foundation, Grand Rapids Public Utilities Commission, and Minnesota Power&#8221;an Allete Company.&Acirc;&nbsp;   ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.orggrandrapidsevents.blogspot.com/2010/07/21st-century-vision-for-sustainable.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:44:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Mississippi Melodie Showboat: An Ode to the Rain!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://grshowboat.blogspot.com/2010/07/ode-to-rain.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Rain, RainGo AWAYCome again Monday (or Tuesday, yeah Tuesday is good for Mrs. Showboat)The Showboat cast wants to come out to playRain, Rain,Go AwayRain, RainGo AwayDon't bring your ugly head 'round here todayThe Captain has some bad jokes to sayRain, Rain,&Acirc;&nbsp;Go AwayRain, RainGo AwayThis just isn't a good weekend, okay?The Swarmie has a girl to slay (actually&Acirc;&nbsp;cut in half, but that doesn't rhyme)Rain, Rain,&Acirc;&nbsp;Go AwayRain, RainGo AwaySeriously we need a break, eh!The tap dancers are tired of slipping on their shoes that wayRain, Rain,&Acirc;&nbsp;Go AwayRain, Rain.... Oh for Heaven sakes you get the picture. The cast is tired of performing in the rain. The backstage people are tired of looking like wet puppies (and everyone is tired of them shaking every time they come into a room). And the Captain... well the Captain, is tired of his mascara running! Which really is guyliner, but since he doesn't usually wear make-up (thank goodness) he is a little confused and thought he was going blind when it ran into his eye last week (Mrs. Showboat has so been there!). So come help us fend off the rain tonight. Show starts at 8:30pm with Forest History Center doing pre-show at 8pm (yay!!). WE WILL BE THERE RAIN OR SHINE!! So you might as well join us, the cast can get awfully&Acirc;&nbsp;lonely. We will save the perfect seat for you (and we will try to keep it dry as well... but no&Acirc;&nbsp;promises)!!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grshowboat.blogspot.com/2010/07/ode-to-rain.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:09:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Mississippi Melodie Showboat: Three Shows Down, Six More to Go!!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://grshowboat.blogspot.com/2010/07/three-shows-down-six-more-to-go.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Were you there?? Did you miss it??? Don't tell me you stayed home because it was raining??? Rain does not stop the Mississippi Melodie Showboat (much to the cast's dismay). Yes it rained on Thursday, but on&Acirc;&nbsp;Saturday it&Acirc;&nbsp;cleared&Acirc;&nbsp;up at 8:30&Acirc;&nbsp;exactly. It was like Heaven was in the audience watching. &Acirc;&nbsp;Though Mrs. Showboat does have to say (quietly) she is kinda sick of all this rain only during shows. She is also kinda of sick of the audience staying away because of it aw well. So hear Mrs. Showboat loud and clear... The Show Will Go On!! We did not&Acirc;&nbsp;practice&Acirc;&nbsp;4 months to stay home with popcorn and cry in our blankies. We practiced 4 months to bring to you the greatest show this side of the Mississippi. So we would greatly appreciate it if you (yes YOU) would show up and see our greatness first hand. We even have popcorn if that is the only thing holding you back (and cookies, and&Acirc;&nbsp;root-beer&Acirc;&nbsp;floats, and fruit thanks to the Greenway/ Rapids Syncho Swimming team). Come on people, we are Northern Minnesotans. We laugh at 30 below zero, we&Acirc;&nbsp;scoff at hail, we double-dog dare tornadoes to trespass into our backyard, but a little rain... a little sprinkle is going to keep you away from Showboat?!? You are so much better then that!! Must I remind you of the 150 people that showed up last July 14 to see the show in parkas because it snowed??? Now that was an audience built on Northern Minnesota Pride; after all&Acirc;&nbsp;this isn't tropical Minnesota where it's 80 degrees all year round. Can you imagine the tender things that live there? That's not us! So show your Northern Minnesota Spirit and come out to Showboat rain or shine this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Shows start at 8:30pm. Thursday is 1/2 tickets for all tickets bought at the landing. And, yes, Mrs. Showboat is still saving the perfect seat for you... she has been for 3 shows already so do her a favor and come before her butt cheeks become so numb she forgets how to walk! Oh My!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grshowboat.blogspot.com/2010/07/three-shows-down-six-more-to-go.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:28:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Slow This Ride Down: Long Lost Treasures!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlowThisRideDown/~3/UB6YmcvcTo0/long-lost-treasures.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[As I mentioned, when we left for N. Ireland we gave everything away except for what we could fit in our 5x5 storage shed in AR, and there it sat for two years until 2 weeks ago when my parents came to visit us and brought our stuff with them. We have a shed on our property here, that was empty because we didn't own anything haha, so it was really convenient to just throw the items in there until I wanted to deal with them. 
So, now we are unpacking about 2 boxes a day and it's just like digging for treasure and always a surprise because we honestly could not remember what all we had saved! And poor Alex, who does not remember Arkansas was so confused, he loved all his &amp;quot;new&amp;quot; toys (his old toys) but said &amp;quot;Where are these from? Did grandma give me these?&amp;quot;&Acirc;&nbsp; I tired to explain what a storage shed was but he just said &amp;quot;Shed...at grandma's?&amp;quot; So, I finally just said yes, they are from grandma's to ease his confusion a bit. lol
I found my really nice pot set that I got as a wedding present, all our photo albums, (that stop in 2003 because that's when I got a digital camera. lol)&Acirc;&nbsp; lots of blankets, tons of Jason's computer junk, tons of Rebecca's craft supplies, and tons of books even though we did give away 25 boxes of books when we left! Jason asked &amp;quot;Didn't you save anything...useful?&amp;quot; Not much, because useful can be replaced....special junk can't! :-) Though I did find a box with screwdrivers and an extension cord! 
I found a few items that I thought would look cute on my new dresser, which I did end up filling with our photo albums and photos, they fit perfectly inside! So the top of the dresser is now a female alter of sorts, all things to do with the steps of womanhood.&Acirc;&nbsp; 
On the top is my wedding bouquet , the framed item in front of the mirror is a beautiful matrimony cross-stitch print my SIL made me, in front of that is a childhood book of mine called &amp;quot;How to be a mother's helper&amp;quot; that was written in the 60s and is awesome, in the front is a photo of my 3 children the day they were born, and my wedding photos, and my moon jar. I also have a pregnancy collage somewhere and when I find it, it will be added and of course my pregnancy cast needs to be hung on the wall nearby too. Oh, there are also rose petals from the roses Jason gave me while we were courting. :-)
Rebecca was excited to find some of her old stuffed animals, which she arranged on her bench because it was the only free spot in her room. lol (She's a packrat.)
We found Jason's old Nintendo, which the kids are just loving because we've never had a gaming system. Or TV channels. Or a cell phone that is not a pre-paid net10 one that the only thing you can do on it is talk. We're old fashioned I guess. lol Jarod has a TV and a dvd player down in the basement, Rebecca has a DSI, and we have a computer...but that's as technical as we get. Anyways, we did have a little TV that Aunt Alice had given us so we hooked that up to the Nintendo and put it in the playroom and it's been nice because it's helping Jarod with his hand-eye coordination! And the other kids enjoy it too. (And Jarod talks me into playing the games with him once in a while....though I'm horrible at it. lol)
We found our goose, dog, and bear that have outfits that you change each month. Fun!We found Jarod's box of books! And Alex is old enough for them now so he was thrilled! I just put them in a huge plastic bin for right now, until I can build them a bookshelf. At bedtime Alex pushed it right up to his bed and read for a really long time.Jarod was also really happy to have his books back and even more special.... he can read them all on his own now! 
I found a rag doll!
And my dehydrator! Which Jason used right away to make some beef jerky and then I made some banana chips! Yum!
I can't wait to see what else we dig up! :-)
]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlowThisRideDown/~3/UB6YmcvcTo0/long-lost-treasures.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:56:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Realgoodblog:  a place for those who read, write and appreciate the written word: Need a good summer read?0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://realgoodwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/need-good-summer-read.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[I'm featuring a summer read I really enjoyed this week on Realgoodwords, &amp;quot;The Truth About Delilah Blue&amp;quot; by Tish Cohen. It's the story of a woman who finds out that her parents have both been lying to her.  She believed she was abandoned by her mother but she finds out her father took her away from her life to a new one with a new name in California.  Neither parents are perfect but they both love her.What draws you to a summer read?  Or does that term not matter a bit?]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://realgoodwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/need-good-summer-read.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:23:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids E-Democracy: Vehicular noise0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/5QW7oNUyShVw9NZHl72g3P</link>
<description><![CDATA[We discussed this issue at the July 12 Council meeting, and the Police
Department explained that the challenge in enforcing existing ordinances
related to vehicle noise is primarily a matter of assembling sufficient
evidence to cite the violator.  The police will issue a citation when they
observe a vehicle violating the noise ordinance, and they will respond to
complaints from neighbors about habitual violators of the noise ordinance.  As
Dan Erkkila mentioned in his post a few weeks ago, to be as effective as
practical, the police department needs the cooperation of an engaged community.
I appreciate Gary raising this issue; other residents have chimed in about
this, and the police department remains aware that residents are concerned.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/5QW7oNUyShVw9NZHl72g3P</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:38:39 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Slow This Ride Down: Freecycle love!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlowThisRideDown/~3/_ytfdQWZKdA/freecycle-love.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[A woman on Freecycle said she had an antique dresser and I was lucky enough to be the one that got to bring it home!
Jason and I got lost took a nice drive in the country on the way but finally found her house and as soon as I saw the dresser I fell in love with it! It's beautiful!
AND....I was able to carry it allllll the way down her driveway without stopping to rest my arms once! Normally when I'm helping to carry an item I take a few steps, stop, take a few steps, stop....but not this time! Thanks P90X! (And it was HEAVY!) 
I've got it in our living room right now and plan on filling it with our photo albums that I've been slowly unpacking. 
She said it was over 100 years old, you can't tell but it has really old looking keyholes on each drawer - adorable! I'm not sure yet if I will refinish it or leave it as it is, it's could be beautiful both ways. What do you think? 
]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlowThisRideDown/~3/_ytfdQWZKdA/freecycle-love.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:58:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Itasca Project Read: Parent Tip0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://itascapr.blogspot.com/2010/07/parent-tip.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Kids and ChoiceAdulthood consists of one choice after another. Making good decisions is linked directly to the development of responsibility. Therefore, a child who is told what to do all the time never has the chance to test her/his ability to make informed choices... Here is one &amp;quot;choice building&amp;quot; idea... Instead of always having to assign chores to kids, make a list of everything that needs to be done, call a family meeting and decide who will be responsible for each task. Involving kids in the process, making them part of the team, creates a sense of personal value and gives them practical experience at problem solving.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://itascapr.blogspot.com/2010/07/parent-tip.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids YouTube Search Results: Birth Place of Judy Garland by Robert Swetz 2010 - All rights reserved0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKqng37DgMA&amp;feature=youtube_gdata</link>
<description><![CDATA[

Birth Place of Judy Garland by Robert Swetz 2010 - All rights reserved

Birth Place of Judy Garland - Grand Rapids Minnesota by Robert Swetz (Vegas Bob) - All rights reserved - May 2010
From:
swetz777
Views:
40

0
ratingsTime:
02:26
More in
People &amp;amp;amp; Blogs]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKqng37DgMA&amp;feature=youtube_gdata</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:18:40 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids Arts!: GRA! seeking board members0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://grandrapidsmnarts.org/2010/07/16/gra-seeking-board-members/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Grand Rapids Arts! (GRA!) is seeking prospective board and committee members who will work to build an even stronger area arts community.&Acirc;&nbsp; The mission of GRA! is to connect arts organizations to audiences throughout the Grand Rapids area.
In April of 2008, through a grant from the Blandin Foundation, eleven area arts nonprofits met about the possibility of creating an arts collaborative. GRA! developed a strategic plan with the help of Marketing Source USA of Edina. Following the plan, GRA! is working to build and educate audiences about the arts in the Grand Rapids area, jointly marketing each organizations events, and promoting the Grand Rapids area as the arts destination in Northern Minnesota.
Edge Center for the Arts, Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus, Grand Rapids Players, ICTV, Itasca Childrens Theater, Itasca Community Chorus/Itasca Choral Society, Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program, KAXE/Northern Community Radio, MacRostie Art Center, Mississippi Melodie Showboat, and the Myles Reif Performing Arts Center have been meeting monthly and are ready to expand.
&Acirc;&nbsp;For an application or more information, please contact kathy@itascaorchestra.org. or at 218-327-5781.
     ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandrapidsmnarts.org/2010/07/16/gra-seeking-board-members/</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:46:24 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids, Minnesota Fan Page's Facebook Wall: 0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=147982&amp;id=237946753892&amp;comments</link>
<description><![CDATA[Event Photos]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=147982&amp;id=237946753892&amp;comments</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:36:58 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Grand Rapids, Minnesota Fan Page's Facebook Wall: We have a winner! Arnie S. from Austin, Minnesota won our weekend getaway to Blues Fest!  There were 810 total entries. Congratulations Arnie!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4713753&amp;id=237946753892&amp;comments</link>
<description><![CDATA[We have a winner! Arnie S. from Austin, Minnesota won our weekend getaway to Blues Fest!  There were 810 total entries. Congratulations Arnie!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4713753&amp;id=237946753892&amp;comments</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:28:58 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[KOOTASCA Community Action, Inc.: President Obama says thank you to Weatherization staff in the nation0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://kootascacommunityaction.blogspot.com/2010/07/president-obama-says-thank-you-to.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Here is a thank you from President Obama for a job well done to the Weatherization Program staff on the stimulus program funded earlier this year. This is well deserved for KOOTASCA staff-they have worked hard throughout the ramp up and delivery of this program. The program has been able to serve many more households-over 400 by the end of the program- in Koochiching and Itasca counties and has brought much needed revenue to our two-county area. Five new living wage jobs were created. The weatherization funds, $6,500 per home, go directly to many contractors and vendors. It is a win-win for all!http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/07/07/weatherizing-82000-homes-summer]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kootascacommunityaction.blogspot.com/2010/07/president-obama-says-thank-you-to.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:41:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Mississippi Melodie Showboat: Dear Mother Nature.... Seriously???0]]></title>
<link>http://www.grandrapidscommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://grshowboat.blogspot.com/2010/07/dear-mother-nature-seriously.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Dear Mother Nature:Mrs. Showboat would like to&Acirc;&nbsp;duly&Acirc;&nbsp;log a complaint (on the record of course). It is the feeling of most in the cast and crew that you must hate Showboat, and truthfully we do not know why. At first we thought maybe you did not think the cast and audience shower everyday or even enough. Mrs. Showboat would like to state that the cast, as least, is always very clean, and the audience looks great. Then we thought well maybe you do not like outdoor theater. But come on... who doesn't like outdoor theater??? You would have to just be... well silly!! So the only other thing Mrs. Showboat can think of is because no one brought cookies last night! No One!!!! &Acirc;&nbsp; &Acirc;&nbsp; &Acirc;&nbsp; &Acirc;&nbsp;N-O O-N-E!!!So instead of declaring a full fledge fight with you (which of course would consist of a game of rock, paper, scissors or Battleship!), it has been decided to give you the all-powerful Mother Nature one more chance... ONE MORE CHANCE!!! Otherwise&Acirc;&nbsp;Mrs. Showboat can not be responsible for her actions!!Tonight we are doing it again... rain or shine. HEAR THAT RAIN OR SHINE!! So bring your umbrellas or rain jackets or both! And if you have any old&Acirc;&nbsp;towels you could donate... we would be very&Acirc;&nbsp;grateful!Show starts at 8:30pm and is running almost 2 hours. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students/seniors. And as always we have the perfect seat saved for you....it may be a little damp, but Mrs.&Acirc;&nbsp;Showboat&Acirc;&nbsp;can almost&Acirc;&nbsp;guarantee&Acirc;&nbsp;you will not melt!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grshowboat.blogspot.com/2010/07/dear-mother-nature-seriously.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:24:00 -0700</pubDate>
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