FOX9ND's Blog

War in Iraq, economic disparity, world hunger.... all things to be upset over.  But do you want to get 4000 anarchists REALLY mad?  Then cancel their free "Rage Against The Machine" concert.

Believe it or not, that's what's going on tonight in St. Paul.  4000 angry kids are marching through the city during the RNC.  They WERE on their way to a rogue appearance by the hip-hop, heavy-metal, anti-establishment rock group "Rage Against the Machine".  The cops found out about the clandestine appearance, and put an end to it.  Now the anarchists are REALLY mad.

So far no arrests, but police have the pepper spray and tear gas ready.  Anarchists in St. Paul.  All the rage.  Details at 9.

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Walking the halls of the Xcel center, a main topic of conversation among the RNC delegates today was Sarah Palin.  Not her formal nomination as John McCain's running mate, but instead her handler's announcement that the Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.

I guess I expected people to be shocked, or possibly even outraged.  It seems an admission like this could well derail a campaign.  But instead I heard support.  Almost universal support.

The overall feeling is this is a private family matter.  And most people I talked with commended the young girl for coming forward with her pregnancy.  But an even stronger theme was that even though the girl made a mistake, she was now going to do "the right thing".  The Palin's say she will have the baby and get married to the father.  This came as a relief and even a source of pride for the delegates.

It remains to be seen whether or not this will have a long-term negative impact on the McCain-Palin ticket.  But the early returns show it may not be as much of a liability as some expected.

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I ran into FOX News Anchors Brit Hume and Jim Engle at dinner tonight.  We're all working hard at the RNC, trying to cover the convention and Hurricane Gustov at the same time.  Now you might think we were eating at an Italian place or a fancy steak house.  Not so much. 

Brit and Jim are just like the rest of us journalists.  We are eating inside a tent, on card tables, with folding chairs and paper plates and cups.  Oh yeah and the floor, it's gravel.  No really.  Glamorous eh? 

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not complaining.  I've eaten in worse places, and that's at my own house.  I'm very grateful that we don't have to fight the crowds for a piece of overpriced pizza at the concession stand.  The point is this.  Brit and Jim were working on their show.  A news special on the RNC and the impact of Hurricane Gustav.  They weren't concerned about the ambience of the tent, they were worried about what they were going to serve the viewers.  That's the inside scoop.

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Hurricane Gustav is truly "blowing away" plans for the RNC.  As of this writing the President, Vice President and other featured speakers will no longer be making it to Minnesota.  Monday is basically cancelled, with just some procedural items being discussed in the afternoon and all speeches scratched.  It remains to be seen what will happen for the rest of the week.  At this point we're not even sure if John McCain will be coming to the convention to accept the party nomination!

And  let me just say, that's exactly how it should be.  A potential national emergency should take prededence over a Party party.  It's sound decision-making to scale back on the hoopla so the country's leaders are free to lead.  Lives are at stake in a region that's already seen more than its share of destruction and heartache

FOX 9 is scrambling to rework our plans as well.  We have a SkyBOX studio here at the Xcel, but now we are balancing the RNC story with the hurricane effects.  I think it's safe to say we'll adjust our focus so we cover both huge stories in a major way.

That's why they call it "news"

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FOX 9 is ready for the Republican National Convention.  Years of planning are now coming to fruition.  It's exciting, and a little bit intimidating at the same time.

All of our newscasts will be anchored live from the FOX 9 SkyBox at XCEL Energy Center starting Sunday, August 31st at 5pm, going through Friday morning September 5th.  The box looks like a mobile news studio, with a set, lights, 2 huge cameras and even a plasma screen.  We'll also have a wireless camera down on the convention floor beaming back interviews for our newscasts, and our webpage at MyFOX9.com  FOX News is down at the X in a big way as well.  They've constructed a huge tent which holds the "FOX Experience".  The plan is to do most of the shows that air on FOX News Channel live from the tent.  It will hold almost 500 journalists, and has at least three sets for news shows.

The FOX 9 team and FOX News have done a tremendous job preparing for this huge event.  No matter what your political leanings, it will be fascinating to tune in and see how the convention is coming off, and how St. Paul is being viewed by the world.

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I read an article in USA Today over the weekend that amazed me.  Chevron is going to invest 4.7 billion dollars to extract oil from the deepest depths of the Gulf of Mexico  A massive platform can squeeze oil out of sand more than 4000 feet below the surface of the water.

I'm amazed at the technology, but I'm more amazed that it's come to this.  American companies find it a decent business model to put out 4.7 billion dollars in a year to feed our oil addiction?  I wonder how much we'll be paying for that gas?  How did we ( me, us, our nation) allow our thirst for fossile fuels to grow to this proportion?  Imagine what would happen if a company spent that same money to further alternative energy.

We can go to the Moon, explore the farthest reaches of the universe, eradicate once deadly diseases and navigate the internet at lightning speed.  So why are we still powering our vehicles with dead dinosaurs?  It was all so easy, so convenient and so cheap.  Now we're behind the curve on new sources of energy... way behind.

I don't know if I'll see the end of oil addiction in my lifetime, but I certainly hope the next generation spends its time, energy, and 4.7 billion on something that's clean and renewable to power its vehicles.

I had the opportunity to meet new Vikings defensive lineman Jared Allen this week.  Jared was playing in the Vikings Children's Fund golf invitational at Rush Creek.  Let me just say, Viking fans, you're gonna love this guy. 

Jared was asked to speak from the podium after the tournament.  He started out by saying how much he appreciates the warm reception he's received in Minnesota from the fans, the Vikings organization and his fellow players.  He then launched right into the importance of the Vikings Children's Fund and how raising money for sick children was the real focus of the event.  Jared was gracious and his message was heartfelt.

After the speech Jared began walking toward our table.  The first thing I noticed was the sun disappeared.  The man actually blocked out the light from the entire picture window!  I extended my hand and introduced myself.  He stopped and chatted for a few seconds, even though it was clear he had other places to be and additional demands on his time.  Again, he couldn't have been more cordial. 

We'll see what he's like as the rigors of the season unfold.  But as far as first impressions, it's a major thumbs up for #69

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Last night, Northwest Airlines announced its intent to merge with Delta Airlines.  Mark down April 14th as the date for the beginning of the end of an era in the Twin Cities.  Love 'em or not-so-much love 'em, NWA is part of the community.  As a native of Minnesota, I join many of my friends who think of NWA like a needy relative.  That is, they can be a real pain, but in the end they are part of the family.

You know the pain part.  Constant labor hassles with Pilots, Flight Attendants, Baggage Handlers and Mechanics.  Embarrassing surveys where NWA ranked last, or near last, for on-time (or not so on-time) performance.  Bailouts, buyouts, threats to leave, and now a merger with Delta.

But for all the woes, we are still proud of our hometown airline.  It gives us an identity.  People have to fly here darn it, because we're a hub and that's the way it is.  They are forced to think about the Mall of America, and our 10,000 plus lakes. 

On the serious side, this merger is scary.  Tens of thousands of jobs hang in the balance, and I think it's not so far-fetched to say the Twin Cities reputation as a "Metropolitan" area could also be damaged.  As for those of us who fly, mergers are likely to mean less competition and ultimately higher ticket prices.

I look forward to FOX 9's coverage today.  We have so many angles of this story covered.  It will be more than interesting to see how this all plays out

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The Wild have regained home ice in their series against the Avalanche, and they did it the old-fashioned way.  They Eeeearned it. 

Finally, a game in this series where the better team actually won.  Game 3 was dominated by the Wild from start to finish.  If it weren't for the stellar play of Avs Goalie Jose Theodore, Minnesota would have won in a blowout.  The Wild skated faster, passed better, pushed the play and played better defense in every period. 

The Wild's physical play seemed to intimidate the Avalanche.  Peter Forsberg looked like he wanted no part of the procedings after getting knocked around a little early in the game. 

In overtime, utter domination.  The Wild's overtime winning goal was a fitting capper for the night.  Brian Rolston chased down what would have been an icing, beating the defender to the puck.  He then waited for not one, but two teamates to scream into the play.  When he found Piere-Marc Bouchard the pass was true and the shot was even better.

The Avs should be taking this one hard because they got their tails kicked in every way.  We'll see what they come back with tonight.  For the Wild, just keep doing what your doing.

Gosh, the NHL playoffs are starting and it will be without the Vancouver Canucks.  What a shame!.  One of the biggest collections of thugs miscreants and non-talents ever assembled won't be on display during the tournament for Lord Stanley's Cup. 

Simply put, GOOD.  I can't stand the Canucks, and hockey fans shouldn't have to stand for these idiots either.  Through the years they have had more agitators, punks and goons than any team in the league.  This year they had to settle for Alex Burrows (179 PIM), Matt Cooke and Jeff Cowan to do their dirty work.  But let's not forget Canuck oldie-but-goodies like the Todd Bertuzzi hit on Steve Moore.  This is a team that celebrates dirty play.  Not hard in-your-face play, but dirty sneak up and sucker punch you play.

See ya Canucks.  You won't be missed.  And by the way, those throw-back unis look more like throw-up unis.

I'm having more and more converstions with friends, neighbors and relatives recently about the economy.  More specifically, about surviving the current economic "slowdown", or even "recession".  The signs have been with us for some time, but when people start to really feel it on a personal and family level, the spending spigot can go from "on" to "off" in no time.  What I sense out there is fear.  Real fear.  Fear that debt could wipe out your home.  Fear about losing a job.  Fear that now is the time to pull back... or else.

I'm talking to people who are cancelling the gym membership, skipping the Starbucks, and hanging on to that old car for a few more years.  With every statement you get about your 401k you can see your retirement savings evaporate.

The bottom line for most families or individuals?  We probably spent more than we should have when things were "good", and now we're probably more afraid than we should be now that things are "bad". 

No really, will they or won't they?  The Minnesota Wild that is.  We're about to find out if they can step up as they head out on a crucial road trip.  Tilts again Vancouver (boo), Calgary and Colorado will provide a tough test, and a good read, on whether this team really will contend this year. 

At this point things don't look nearly as bright as the heady days during the first 20 games of the season.  Right now the Backstom is struggling to find that all-important focus, the defense is letting guys alone in front of the net, and the scoring seems to come in spurts, rather than in a consistent night-in night-out fashion.

So, will the real Minnesota Wild please step up.  No really, will you?

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Meghan Dolliff a Winner at Buck Hill

Going fast apparently runs in the family.  7-year-old Meghan Dolliff captured a first-place title at the Buck Hill Invitational on Saturday, January 5th.  The Deephaven youngster is the latest in a long-line of skiing Dolliffs.  Her father, Doug, mother Tracy and sister Madison all have the need for speed on the ski hill.  Meghan has been skiing almost as soon as she learned to walk.  We look for many more titles in the future!

Edina Parks announced they will open the outdoor rinks on Friday, Dec. 14th!!!  When are the rinks opening in your community?  And yes, count me among those who LOVE it when the weather gets cold!

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