Space Car Driver will be playing a special early set
Saturday July 26th, 2008
at O’Gara’s Garage: 164 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul MN
One-hour set starting at 9pm sharp

Space Car Driver’s entire debut album is currently available for FREE listening at spacecardriver.com. The album is also available for download at eMusic, iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Lala, Napster, and more.

Album: Space Car Driver
Release Date: May 09, 2008
Genre: Alternative
Copyright 2008 Space Car Driver

Space Car Driver recently released their first album.

I attended their CD Release show [May 9, 2008]. Excellent show — solid grooves, interesting arrangements, wide range of dynamics, good chemistry between the musicians.

• Home page: spacecardriver.com
• Space Car Driver @ iTunes - (download iTunes)
• Space Car Driver @ MySpace
• Space Car Driver @ Minniwiki: “Dancy, improvisational jam-rock”
• MP3’s available by request

Special Bonus Download — I got permission from bassist Adam Lutz to sponsor an MP3 download here at karljones.com:

• Minus Ten by Space Car Driver

Enjoy!

Big tragedy in my home town:

“On August 1, 2007 during the weekday evening rush hour at 6:01:38 PM CDT the entire bridge collapsed from abutment to abutment, falling into the river and onto its banks. On August 3, officials confirmed five deaths and eight people missing, while hospitals reported 79 injured.” Link.

Bridge collapse blog roundup @ Boing Boing.

Stephan Orsak is a professional violinist, and has performed under Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur and Seiji Ozawa.

He is about to go to trial on six counts, including a Gross Misdemeanor of Obstructing Legal Process ‘with force or violence or threat thereof,’ after he was tased by a police officer who stopped him for riding a bike out of the airport.

What happened?
I was rudely accosted, assaulted with battery, and tased at Minneapolis St Paul USA international airport by Airport Police, simply for choosing to leave the airport by bicycle. I had broken no laws. I use a bicycle as a significant part of my daily mode of travel. I have legally cycled to and from airports internationally including 3 of the 4 major London airports, with no problems. I was using my bicycle completely in accord with MN Statutes and Metropolitan Airport Commission Ordinances.

When did this happen?
Sept 7 2006, approx 6:10pm

Where did this happen?
On the Outbound Roadway (also called Glumack Drive), just east of the post office and west of the highway.

Who would have witnessed it?
Many people. It was full daylight, and in view of the “A” concourse. Anyone leaving the airport would have passed the scene of the incident. The extensive 800+ CCTV video camera system at the airport, fully updated since 9-11, must have recorded everything, and with multiple viewpoints.

[greencycles]

Via Boing Boing.

Roland is a fine singer, songwriter, guitarist, dancer, and more.

He’s recently posted some of his music online, along with schedule of upcoming shows, etc.

Check it out:

Link to Roland’s MySpace page.

PS, I took Swing dance lessons from Roland, back in the day; and we’ve been known to jam at the occasional party. (Memo to Roland, when’s the next barbeque?)

The new Minneapolis Central Library is now open!

Statement from Katherine G. Hadley, Director, Minneapolis Public Library:

Every part of last Thursday’s Teen Leadership and Media Day, Friday’s benefit gala, and Saturday’s grand opening was moving. Just like the reopening of Pierre Bottineau, Sumner, and Franklin but on a bigger scale, it was so emotional welcoming the public back to the Central Library. Everyone worked so hard – and with such heart - to get ready and to help patrons on Saturday.

Many, many people were genuinely awestruck by the beauty and grandeur of the Library. But for me, the images of people using the Library are the ones replaying since we closed on Saturday. A mom and her son lying on the floor reading together in the Children’s Library. Teens filling every inch of the walls in the Teen Zone with comments. Patrons signing up for conversation circles in the New American Center and being greeted in their own language. Heads bent together as friends poured over maps or sheet music or pictures or material in Special Collections. People oohing and aahing over the gallery exhibition. Lines of patrons excited – and, mostly, patient – about checking out books and A/V material.

I was outside the Library when the doors opened and patrons started in. But the reports – and the photo in the paper - of the staff and volunteers clapping as the patrons poured into the Library are unbelievably moving. There were tears all around then and throughout the day.
[via email]