Churches that started this mess
Here is a list of churches that filed the lawsuit against the personal protection act. If I were a member of any of these churches, i'd happily attend some other church more deserving of tithe that won't get spend on lawsuits against law abiding citizens.
Adath Jeshurun Congregation, Minnetonka
-Beth El Synagogue, St. Louis Park
-Beth Jacob Congregation, Mendota Heights
-Eckankar, Chanhassen
-First Unitarian Universalist Church, Rochester
-Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St. Paul
-Grace University Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
-Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer, Minneapolis
-Minnehaha United Church of Christ, Minneapolis
-Peace United Church of Christ, Duluth
-Robbinsdale United Church of Christ, Robbinsdale
-Shir Tikvah, Minneapolis
-Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province
-Spirit of the Lakes Ecumenical Community Church, Minneapolis
-St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Minneapolis
-St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, St. Paul
-St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Duluth
-St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church, St. Paul
-St. Stephen's Catholic Community, Minneapolis
-Temple Israel, Minneapolis
-The First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, Minneapolis
-The First United Church of Christ, Northfield
-The Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
-Trinity Episcopal Church of Excelsior, Excelsior
-University Lutheran Church of Hope, Minneapolis
-Zion United Church of Christ, Le Sueur
Beer234
This wasn't going to be a political blog because I think they are boring but I have to include these quotes from the liar Dean Johnson and the rat Wes Skogland. Keep in mind Minnesota has had a law permitting law abiding citizens to carry a firearm for a year without issue and they act as if it was never passed at all.
Dean Johnson commenting about his lie.
"I did the shake the speaker's hand and said 'this is how we'll handle this issue' and the caucus felt otherwise. And so the speaker said, 'you know, Dean, our caucuses go in different directions from time to time' and he should full well know that," -Dean Johnson
As you can see from the quote below. Despite there being no material problem with the results of the law Democrats in Minnesota would prefer to lie and act as if their wild west scenerio had actually played out. In reality there was only an issue with the wording of the law that prompted some churches to seek legal relief on a technicality.
Sen. Wes Skoglund, DFL-Minneapolis, says the bill would increase gun violence. Skoglund would prefer to see the Senate defeat the bill, but knows he doesn't have the votes. He says amending it in committee is the next best option.
"The legislative process -- if it's followed -- works. It works well for people when it's abused like when this bill was originally passed. It doesn't work well for people if we don't follow the normal traditional process, we're going to get a junky law," according to Skoglund.
But other lawmakers say only one change should be made from the law that passed two years ago. They would like to give local businesses the option of either posting a "no guns sign" or personally notifying a permit holder that guns are not permitted in their establishment.
Minnesota Democrat Rats and Liars
So we've got 19 random robberies in the Uptown area with one person shot in the eye and the Metrocrats and weasel Dean Johnson still think those who are law abiding and pursue training shouldn't be able to carry a gun for protection? What is it about Democrats that makes them partial to committee obstruction, lying and legislation through courts and afraid of a general up or down vote. I'm sick of important issues not even coming to a simple vote. Democrats always preach democracy and the "popular" vote yet whenever an issue has support by their own members they simply create a situation where the issue can't even be voted down in a legitimate manner. Then they call a desprate attempt to end this nonsense by Republicans "The Nuclear Option". When will people wake up and see this. I called it in 2000 when another Democrat rat Roger Moe kept the conceal carry act from a legit up or down vote and bottled it up in committee. In response I created the Roger Moe Hall Of Shame, what's next the Dean Johnson Hall Of Shame? I'm not sure which is worst, at least Roger Moe didn't make a deal and then run like a rat when the urban crime infested cities representatives applied pressure. Angry Republicans? That's your response, well at least Dean Johnson can see truth somewhere. I hope this comes to roost in 2006 as the Democrats keep throwing the 2004 election in Republicans faces. Here's how it went down and was also even confirmed by Dean Weasel Johnson himself on MPR
This needs to be seen by every Minnesota gun owner.
From time to time CCRN leadership has had to become tight lipped about our efforts at the Capitol. This past week was we have had to keep our cards close to the vest because we gave our word not to leak the plan to re-enact the Minnesota Citizens Personal Protection Act of 2003.
Unfortunately today I can know tell you why.
Last Wednesday (April 20th) at 2pm, CCRN leaders (Joe Olson, John Caile and I) met with Sen. Dean Johnson and Sen. Tom Bakk. Senator Johnson had asked for the meeting. We asked that Sen. Bakk be invited because Tom had demonstrated integrity and we felt his presence would add to the value of the meeting.
Because of your efforts, Sen. Johnson and the other rural Democrats understood the importance of re-enacting the 2003 MPPA in the form of HF 2428 (which at that point had no Senate companion bill). Sen. Johnson, Sen. Bakk, Joe, John, John Kavenaugh (of Sen. Johnson’s Staff) and I discussed several options for re-passage. That anything less would make this an election year issue. All agreed that sending the MPPA to any Senate committee was to kill the bill.
The agreed upon plan was to use the majority leader's authority under the new Senate rule. The House would adopt and send to the Senate the bill re-enacting the MPPA and Majority Leader Johnson would intercept the bill when it reached the Senate floor and move to lay it on the table (rather than sending it to any committee). That motion would pass by a majority vote (supporters of the MPPA now number at least 39) The bill could then be taken from the table by majority vote, debated - giving the opponents an opportunity to amend it, kill it, or do as much damage as they may be able to muster votes (we believe that to be very little) - and then given its next reading and again laid on the table. The next legislative day, it could again be taken from the table and passed by a majority vote. This would avoid the Metro-DFL dominated committees which would alter or defeat the re-enactment bill.
The Majority Leader Johnson and Sen. Bakk described this procedure three times during the conversation. The likely objections from Metro-DFL'ers were discussed and Senator Johnson assured those present that he had the power and will to deal with that internal opposition. Professor Olson took Senator Johnson through the procedure a fourth time and directly asked if he could and would take this course of action. Senator Johnson looked us in the eye and said "yes" and then shook our hands to seal the deal. Later, Sen. Johnson meet with House Speaker Steve Sviggum, reaffirmed the deal, and they shook hands on it as well.
Sen. Johnson has the power to carry out this agreement. The Rules of the Senate allow him, as Senate Majority Leader to hold a bill and direct it to the floor for debate. He needs no ones permission to do so. It is completely within the rules and within the powers granted his office to do so.
Plan laid, agreement made – it was time to execute.
Today Wednesday (April 27th) the House began to carry out its part of the agreed upon plan when HF 2428 was passed out of the House Civil Law committee. After the House committed itself by taking this first step; Speaker Sviggum, Sen. Pat Pariseau, and John Caile all received phone calls from Sen. Johnson. Sen. Johnson informed them that he was breaking his agreement. That the MPPA reenactment legislation would be sent to a Senate committee and that a DFL task force was being created to look at the MPPA issue.
Senator Dean Johnson is an ordained Lutheran Minister and as such must hold himself to a high standard of honesty and integrity. Senator Johnson is a Brigadier General in the Minnesota National Guard and has such has the military code of honor ("we do not lie, cheat or steal") to follow as an officer and a gentleman. Sen. Johnson is a longtime legislator and knows that your word is all you have. Yesterday Senator Johnson damaged himself as an ordained minister. He has disgraced his position as a military officer in the Minnesota National Guard; and he has made himself ineffective as a Legislative leader.
Leadership is about leading. At the end of the day your credibility is all you have. You cannot be respected by your opponents or even those who have elected you to leadership if you are unwilling to defend your integrity. As Governor Pawlenty and Speaker Sviggum try to close out the legislative session and look across the table at Sen. Johnson all they will see is an empty suit for that is all that is there. The sad part is, when the Senate DFL caucus undercuts its leader it undercuts its own effectiveness. No one can deal with a group that doesn’t respect its leader or is unwilling to stand with their leader. If the Majority Leader's word is no good, who do you call? Who is the leader of the Senate Majority?
Because Sen. Johnson’s promises are suspect (at best) re-passage must now begin in the Senate. He has promised a floor vote publicly in the Minneapolis Star. Let’s see if he can deliver. We cannot in good faith subject our friends (Democrats and Republicans) in the House to a floor fight without a plan for passage and it is clear that the Senate can only be judged by its actions. The MPPA must come out of the Senate first.
The longer they wait the more felons automatically have their right to possession firearms restored.
So call Sen. Johnson’s office (651) 296-3826 and let him know he needs to keep his word - it's all he has.
Black Hills South Dakota Travel
Figuring its almost travel season, I tuned my
Black Hills South Dakota site in hopes of more traffic through the summer. Added some additional photos to the front page. I'll go through and tune the rest later in the week.
Ritzy Mall in New York
The writer of my Mall Of America article visited The
Shops At Columbus Circle in New York. This looks like a swanky mall with shops like Hugo Boss and five gourmet restaurants.
Hooray the Parade is back!
I just found out that The Parade Of Homes is starting again April 30. This is great as I have a well positioned
Parade Of Homes page that does very well when the Parade is on.
Odds and Ends
I got pictures from someone in Chicago of
Oakbrook Mall looks pretty nice, hope the page does well. Then I got weird but i've done well providing answers to mundane requests so here goes.
Check My AOL Mail and
Southwest Airlines Reservation Phone Number and
plus
Equifax Phone Number
Waiting for the explosion
To say i've got content in the hopper would be a gross understatement. In the past week or two my generation of content has exploded due to assistance from my California and Chicago contacts. Where a project such as the
Minnesota Car Dealers would have taken months to gather enough dealerships to be worth while, my Malls in California and
California Car Dealers have been put online with substantial content in about a week. Similarly in Chicago my
Car Dealer Chicago site is off to a good start with more to come soon. Recent additions would be Stonestown Galleria ,
Stanford Shopping Center and
Serramonte Mall.
I even managed to add more Minnesota Car Dealers and some North Carolina Malls.
California Car Dealerships
I found a gem in my California contact. First he took great pictures of Shopping Malls in California, then California Car Dealerships, now we're collaborating on a
Sarbanes Oxley Section 302 article. Ok so he did most of the work but I paid the bill quickly. Hopefully all this will pay off as it seems to be a good arrangement.
Water parks everywhere....
It seems a trend is hitting the twin cities of building indoor water parks. In 2005 at least two new Indoor Water Parks will be built to compete with
Grand Rios Water Park Hotel in Brooklyn Park. One, the Water Park Of America will be created by the Wirth companies who renovated the Brooklyn Park Sheraton thus creating the Grand Rios. An interesting one to watch will be the
Holiday Inn Water Park in Otsego. This indoor water park will likley open late summer and will be an addition to a new riverfront project in Otsego. The interesting thing will be to see if this trend can support its self or if it is a flash in the pan.
Cheap Gas In Minnesota
There's this gas station making a stand in Anoka. It would seem Minnesota punishes stations who keep gas prices too low to protect against big corporate gas stations eating up the little guys. Flying in the face of this concept is a station simply called "This Is My Station" where the owner sells gas at a low low price and causes the other big corporate stations in the area to keep their prices low. I felt this station deserved some recognition beyond the local news stories so I devoted a page to
Cheap Gas In Minnesota This is a classic example of how a law intended for one purpose keeps citizens and the little guy down by not letting the market set the proper price for gasoline. In this case its the little guy keeping the big guys in check but at risk from the heavy hand of the state who may end up fining them for selling gas to cheaply.
Sending in the troops
So I received a great response from my offer to buy mall pictures from
California Malls. Out of this I created
Solano Mall and
Stoneridge Mall pages and expect more today. Unfortunately one of my guys was stopped at a mall by security for taking pictures. If you could see what the guys name was you'd laugh because i'd stop him too if he was taking pictures inside a mall I worked at. The guy is a great photographer however so I hope to hire him on many other projects in California.
New article on the fly....
To dovetail on my last post where I forgot to put my adsense ad unit on the page, I figured i'd write an article with a list of my mistakes over the past year. Hopefully it will help a new publisher increase their revenue faster. I called it
Google Adsense Mistakes.
Always rember the ads....
I have a page about the
Villagio Inn & Spa that has always been very successful. I've always done well paying for traffic as the ads were very targeted and paid well. I was going over my adwords stats and evaluating what I should continue paying for and discovered that I was not doing well with this page. I didn't think much of it and cancelled that campaign. Today I decided to try and bring my
Napa River Inn page into my Gall Consulting site and see if that improved its rank in the SERPS. While doing so I noticed my Villagio Inn & Spa page had NO ads on it at all. Pretty hard to make money when you forget the ads.....
My Freelance experiment is underway...
I received my other two articles written by a freelancer on elance.com. Both related to
Sarbanes Oxley Compliance and
Section 404 Compliance. They were shorter than I expected but after reading them I didn't really have ideas of what more to ask for so i'll just let them run and see how they do. I may write my own where I think the other left gaps.
Killed by an apostrophe...
I've got a page about
Dunns River Falls in Jamaica which for a long time was number 1-3 in Google and got lots of traffic. The problem was that it was REALLY ugly I used a front page photo gallery which forced me to use my old domain name rather than the www.sandalspictures.com domain. Awhile back I redid the page with static html and created an easier page to look at. Since then traffic has dropped signicantly and when I did google searches I could not find the page. I ran a meta tag analyzer at www.widexl.com and found that it couldn't even see my key words "Dunn's River Falls" it was pulling all kinds of sets of three words but not those despite the fact that they are repeated quite a bit. Today I decided to change the key words and removed the ' from Dunn's and make them all Dunns River Falls. I did this because through the overture keyword analyzer I could see that more people search without the ' so I figured what the heck. Bam I reran the analyzer and my Dunns River Falls keywords showed all at once. Not knowing this basically killed my page in the SERPS. In the future screw punctuation when it is in my key words. I also made this change on my
Sandals Dunns River page figuring the same problem had occurred. Hopefully both come back up in the SERPS.
AOL Phone Number worked, why not Net Zero?
As I guessed, providing a page that simply provides the catch all AOL phone number was a hit. I noticed the ad's that are being provided by Google seem to be AOL's competitor Net Zero and all their affiliates. I did a search and sure enough, no easy way to find the Net Zero phone numbers except a catch all sales line which may or may not be helpful. One call to 818-555-1212 and I had my
Net Zero Phone Number. We'll see if this page does as well as the AOL page.
My first "hired" article
I received my first article from a writer I hired on elance.com. I didn't feel like writing about the
Mall Of America so I decided to try and have it written by someone else. I think she did a fantastic job. The article was quite informative now we'll see how it performs in the search engines. I'm hopeful it does well as these writers can really turn out some good stuff if you give them your idea and let them run with it. They don't come cheap so i'm still on the fence but hopeful. Stupidly I forgot to ask for pictures when the writer told me she was going to the mall to do research. Now I have to drag my ass to the Mall Of America and take pictures for the page so it looks better and does better in the SERPS.
Digging Into History
I decided to add to my Minnesota Technology Companies project and figured i'd cover Select Comfort in Plymouth. The
Select Comfort Sleep Number Bed has evolved quite a bit since I worked for Select Comfort in the mid 90's. Because of the history I had with the company I should be able to come up with an interesting article on the history of the company.
Hired Help
I'm going to experiment hiring writers to create web content. To begin i'm going to have an article written about The Mall Of America which will be added to my
Malls In Minnesota page. I just don't have any interest in visiting MOA to conduct the research so this will be a good chance to see if a writer can create an article that will compete effectivly with the other zillion web sites using those keywords in Google. Another project i'm going to try and use writers to work is my effort to expand my
Sarbanes Oxley web site. This is a good niche from a revenue standpoint but again very competitive and boring so if this works out i'll have a way to expand content and I can focus on stuff i'm more interested in. I used www.elance.com to hire a writer and i'm still waiting on bids on the Sarbanes Oxley project. It will be interesting to see how this works out.
Chicago Area Shopping Malls
So i'm out to research the
malls in the Chicago Area starting with
Woodfield Mall. Woodfield Mall is the next competitor to the Mall Of America but is short by about 200 stores. Still people fly into Chicago to drive 25 miles and shop at this huge mall. I'm out to profile this and other malls in the Chicago area in the next few weeks. I may experiment in hiring writers from www.elance.com as well.
