Over the last few years, North Minneapolis has undergone some tremendous hardships, such as the devastation from the tornado that tore through North neighborhoods last summer and increasing youth violence. However, there is an upcoming event that offers some hope. The Miss Seventh Avenue Pageant will take place on March 31 at 7:00 p.m. at Wayman AME Church. The pageant supports young women in the area and gives them opportunities to achieve success.

Wayman AME Church embraces these young women with a sense of family and community. The church provides coaching and guidance for the contestants as they prepare for pageant night and reaches out to the neighborhood to expand community involvement. The pageant participants will be encouraged to focus on their strengths and their future as the leaders of tomorrow.

Local judges of the event include fashion designer Rosa Bogar, former model Roxanne Crossland and film producer Lee Jordan of “A Look Over Jordan Productions.”

All contestants will receive gift baskets from local businesses and are given complimentary gowns and beauty services from Minneapolis salons for pageant night. The crowned Miss Seventh Avenue will receive a scholarship.

The Miss Seventh Avenue Pageant is a great example of how a local church can support and encourage Minneapolis’s young women as well as the Northside.

-Carol Payne

Recently I had a new addition built onto to my house. Instead of regular construction, we ended up going with an all glass solarium. The building of the solarium took about one and a half months to complete. I was really amazed as to how much work went into erecting a glass solarium. Construction wrapped up a few weeks ago, and we have been enjoying our solarium. I actually need my sunglasses during peak sun hours!

Like many who live in northern climates, my husband suffers a bit from Seasonal Affective Disorder during the long winter months when sun is scarce. As we head into the rest of the winter, we are hoping that spending time in the solarium during the peak sun hours will help lift our moods and make the winter feel shorter. I am currently trying to fill the room with tropical plants and bright colors to create a Florida-like ambiance. It has been difficult, to say the least, to find a real palm tree to purchase here in Minnesota… but I am persistent and will hopefully find just the right one.

While we are especially excited to enjoy our new room this winter, the type of solarium we had built can be enjoyed year round. It will be our  tropical escape in the winter, and in the summer I can imagine opening all the windows for a nice breeze, viewing the stars through the glass ceiling at night or reading during a rain shower all while staying dry. We can now bring the outdoors inside and stay warm, dry and bug free all year round. We are very excited to experience all the seasons in our new solarium.

-Jane Tomassetti

I did two things on January 1, 2012: ran a half-marathon and dedicated part of my day to sharpening my computer programming skills. Enter Codecademy, a start-up geared at interactively and easily teaching with its CodeYear program, a weekly lesson plan that steeps the user in code, starting with the basics and moving up from there. The thought of getting back into a year-long computer science course was slightly more intimidating than the 13.1 miles. Fast forward to January 9^th and my first CodeYear lesson. I dug right in and got through the lesson relatively quickly. 

Figure 1: Codecademy’s Hyper-intuitive Interface. Hey, I got a robot badge that I am going to tweet about!

After completing my first lesson, I found that Codecademy is incredibly accessible (you can walk through the first lesson before you even create a user account) and is very user-friendly with features like simple lesson explanations and an editor that provides real-time proof that you are coding properly.

Users also receive points and badges for exercises completed and reaching certain goals (think Foursquare but the incentive is a stronger understanding of computer code and how computers work). This is the big selling point of Codecademy and CodeYear: they utilize the aspects of countless social networks out there, apply it to an audience that wants to understand more about the tools that are at their disposal, and provides an easy way to start using them.

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I had a really positive experience with Codecademy and CodeYear, and I plan on following through the entire program (I now have a Foursquare-like addiction to getting achievements and badges ).  I would recommend it to anyone trying to gain more insight into programming and would like a little help in their effort to easily communicate across fields.

Figure 2: The start of a big year

What other resources do you use to strengthen and reinforce your technical skill set?

-Robby Cecil

While the beginning of a new year signals a time for many Americans to hit the gym in an effort to get in shape (fitness ranks #2 on the top 10 resolutions list this year) January also brings anticipated television premieres and returns for the slightly more sedentary. With the 2012 season underway, I’d like to share one of on TV’s best and brightest comedies you may be missing—which I wholeheartedly recommend you fit into your lineup…

The Middle is a smart, funny sitcom that premiered in September of 2009 starring Patricia Heaton (of Everybody Loves Raymond fame) who leads the great ensemble. She plays Frances “Frankie” Heck, a working-class woman married to Mike Heck. They reside in the small, fictional, Midwestern town of Orson, Indiana with their three children: Axl, Sue and Brick. After airing for just two episodes, the show was picked up for a full first season of 22 episodes. Now in its third season, the 2012 season begins tonight at 8 p.m. eastern/7 p.m. central time.

3 Reasons Why I Love This Show

1. The Middle rejects the “typical” family portrayal.
   I grew tired of the way families were portrayed on TV—full of sarcasm, eye-rolling and biting remarks. “TV has depicted teens for decades as angst-ridden and rebellious, and parents as out-of-touch and unhip,” says this Wall Street Journal article. Then network executives realized that shows that tapped into the defiant-youth subculture were losing viewers. At the ABC Family network, market research around this shift influenced programming: in a study of more than 2,000 kids ages 12-17, nearly 75% said they get along with their parents and like spending time with their families. The Middle is a celebration of the quirky, loving ties that bind.
2. You’ll see yourself.
   Let’s face it, for most of us our teen years weren’t the glamorous, glitzy Beverly Hills 90210-version of the journey to adulthood. The kids of The Middle offer more realistic portrayals, and by seeing myself in the characters, the show is both humorous and believable.
3. You can actually watch it with your family.
   Humor without profanity, suggestive dialogue or raunchiness. What a novel concept! “Who needs those when there’s an abundance of eccentric humor and bright writing?” asks TV critic Nancy DeWolf Smith. The Middle manages to be funny and clean—a nearly extinct combination.

What the critics say
The show has received very positive feedback, with critics praising the show’s realistic look at the middle class combined with good writing and acting. In his USA Today article, Robert Bianco explains, “This series seems to more assuredly offer a first-class version of what so many viewers say they want: a humorous, heartfelt, realistic look at middle-class, middle-America family life.”

During its first season, ratings were not initially impressive. So at the beginning of the 2010/2011 season, ABC moved to show to 8 p.m. central and ratings increased substantially. I think the show gets overshadowed by fellow Wednesday night ABC comedy, Modern Family. While I understand the hype (and thoroughly enjoy Modern Family) I believe The Middle is just as funny—and often more touching. So when the January temps drop and you’re channel surfing at home (or maybe at the gym) tune into ABC a little earlier!

Do you watch the show? I’d like to hear your opinion!

-Jenny Silgen

My mom and brother live in Chicago, so I am often looking for cheap and efficient ways to get there. I abhor driving long distances, so many frequent flier miles have been accumulated between Minneapolis and Chicago.

But, after becoming disenchanted with the whole “airport experience” (read: crowded planes, late departures, cranky fellow passengers) I decided to explore a different mode of transportation: the mighty train.

Every day, Amtrak’s Empire Builder leaves the Midway Station in St. Paul at 7:50 am and chugs east to Chicago’s Union Station with an arrival time of 3:55 pm. (The route originates in Seattle.) In the same time it takes to drive to the Windy City, Amtrak will get you there with limited stress and effort.

I had taken Amtrak once before and was looking forward to my trip last Thursday. I arrived at the station in the nick of time, only to be greeted by a handwritten sign, taped to the door that read, “TRAIN LATE. ETA 9:20.” Ugh, I thought. But, the jovial clerks promptly announced nearby food options, that included a quaint cafe. I made my way to Bonnie’s Cafe on foot, and the delay soon became the highlight of the trip. A few other delayed travelers occupied the counter, and I watched as they became acquainted over friendly banter. As relaxation took over, I told myself “Vacation starts NOW!” and marked it with a satisfying breakfast.

Feeling fortified, I made my way back to the station. The train arrived at 9:20, as promised. The boarding process is by destination, so no clamoring for a spot in line. They added a car for the Chicago-bound, so I boarded last. The train was not crowded. Everyone in my car got an early holiday gift of access to two seats, which I and the majority of other solo travelers turned into makeshift nests for horizontal lounging.

Employee training must be top notch, as all Amtrak personnel are surprisingly cheerful. Once in your seat, constant updates via the intercom inform and comfort. The attendant in charge of our car only requested one thing from his ensemble of travelers. In regards to bathroom cleanliness, he good-naturedly explained, “There is just one of me and 40 of you, so keep the bathroom clean for each other.” I found the honesty refreshing. This was our “home” for the next 8 hours, and we should treat it with respect.

One would think that 8 hours on a train would evoke cabin fever. But, it is exactly the opposite. Whereas planes can feel claustrophobic, the train is rich with room and roaming potential. Legroom is far more ample than what is found in coach. The aisles are wider, and passengers are welcome to walk from car to car. Some trains have over ten cars to explore, including a dining car and on the Empire Builder, a sightseer Lounge/Café car. This was my favorite spot: the seats faced the windows and snacks were available for purchase just a few steps below. On a plane, the majority of the view is that of clouds. On my adventure to Chicago, I couldn’t take my eyes off the ever-changing scenery that played like a movie starring a panorama of the midwest.

I am not alone in my affinity for the rail travel. During fiscal year 2010, the Empire Builder carried a total of 533,493 passengers, a 3.5% increase from FY 2009′s total of 515,444 passengers. This made the Empire Builder the most popular long-distance train in the Amtrak system. Even though I like the extra room, I encourage people to give Amtrak a try. It is a unique way to travel that is fueled by fun rather than frustration.

All aboard!

-Joy Wagner

Last Friday, we told you about one holiday shopping app. Well, here is another app recommendation to help you complete your last minute shopping. I have found the Google Shopper app incredibly useful this holiday season. It allows you to find the perfect gift for that special someone on your list.  Even if you don’t know what to get, Google Shopper can offer suggestions based on gender, age, category or season. Below are a couple of screen shots to give you a sense of how the app is laid out and the sleek interface.

Google Shopper is loaded with features. One of my favorites is the barcode scanner. Frustrated you can’t find a price anywhere on the item you’re looking at? No problem. Simply use the scanner feature and scan the item’s barcode or even take a picture of the item itself. Within seconds it will pull up the name of the item along with availability from local stores and internet sites. When the results come up you can filter them in a number of ways such as free shipping or price.

Google Shopper will even keep a history of your searches so you can easily recall items that have yet to be purchased.  You can also star items to make your own list.  Using this great app, I was able to identify a number of gifts, determine who had the best deals and then plan my trip to fill my sleigh.

-Randy West

As I got up to leave the table from breakfast at Bylery’s yesterday (thank you Debora!), the handsome bottle of catsup on the table caught my eye. It had certain vibrancy about it. It was a fresh, full bottle without the usual dried red blobs clinging around the cap. But it was the label that got me to take a second look. It read, “Our Turn To Serve, Support our Veterans.” I’ve always liked Heinz Ketchup and so must others as it is called the world’s favorite. But now I think I like Heinz even more.

A Google search revealed that Heinz is teaming up with the USO and Wounded Warrior Project™ to say “Thank You” to those who have served in our military. On the Our Turn To Serve page you can send a digital thank to the troops or like them on Facebook as 885,772 (plus one!) have done.

As long as I was on the page, I thought I’d send the digital card to a veteran. I was little surprised, however, when my first message was rejected for “profanity or inappropriate content.” And here is the offending copy for your own review:

“Thank you for your personal sacrifice to serve America and our citizens. You are making a difference in the world!”

I couldn’t find either profanity or inappropriate content, but no editor is perfect so I used “copy and paste” from their sample copy and that seemed to pass inspection. And as a happy outcome, Heinz donated 57 cents the Wounded Warrior Project, so I won’t get too upset that my first round of copy was rejected.

Aside from the copy glitch, I’d say this program is an excellent example of well executed community outreach. It helps create a stronger connection with consumers, creates goodwill in the community and helps advance a worthy cause. So thank you veterans. Thank you Heinz. And everyone have a little extra catsup with your next order of hash browns.

-Pat Henning

Tis’ the season to give, but with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to lose sight of what this time of year is all about. This season of thanks is a great time to give back by volunteering or donating gifts, time or money to benefit people in need.

This week, SCG was able to get involved, help spread some holiday cheer and fulfill two of our values (creativity and putting others first) by making homemade holiday cards for People Incorporated. People Incorporated is a nonprofit organization in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul metro area whose mission is to promote and secure independence for people with mental illness.

Creating holiday cards was a great and fun way to give back this holiday season. It was a chance to sit back and enjoy this joyful and merry season. Ribbon, markers, embossing tools, templates, stickers, wrapping paper, glitter—we had arts and crafts tools galore! The glitter was a popular (and uncontainable) item and will probably be showing up throughout the office for weeks to come. Everyone’s inner creative powers were set free to soar. Working together over lunch, we produced 63 custom cards. I guess you can call us Santa’s little helpers.

Our card caper was extremely rewarding, as we were able to tap into our creativity to bring cheer to People Inc.’s clients and brighten the day of adults with mental illnesses this holiday season.

If you want to get involved, there’s still time. Cards are accepted until December 15. Learn more about this project by emailing volunteer@peopleincorporated.org.

Small gestures of kindness go a long way. Here are some additional ways to help others in need this holiday season:

• Donate new or gently used coats, scarves, gloves and hats to the Goodwill or Salvation Army
• Contribute to a local food shelf
• Become a blood donor
• Send a care package to a soldier
• Shovel snow for a neighbor

Or check out 1-800-volunteer.org or volunteermatch.org to find other ways to get involved in your local community.

Happy Giving!

-Jodi Osmond

If there’s an outdoor enthusiast in your life, you’d probably rather dive head first into a Black Friday mosh pit than try to come up with a gift idea for them this holiday season. Because if you’ve ever had the misfortune of shopping for an outdoor enthusiast you know there are two major roadblocks – we’re very particular about our gear and we already have every gadget and gizmo ever invented.

But fear not. In recent days I’ve been asked by multiple people what gifts I would recommend for the outdoorsman or woman in their life. Here are some of my top recommendations at a variety of price points for gifts that are sure to please (but you’ll probably want to hold onto the receipt just to be safe):

Splash Brite Bobbers
These are the coolest bobbers I’ve seen in a long time. And since they’re fairly new to the marketplace, your guy or gal probably doesn’t have any of them in their tackle box yet. Used for night fishing, they only light up when they come in contact with water. Other light-up bobbers rely on an external battery that typically doesn’t last long and often only works well the first time you use them. The Splash Brite lasts approximately 30 hours, and once it burns out the bobber is still useful for daytime fishing. It is simple to use and you’ll never forget to turn off the battery.

Rapala tackle
Rapalas come in so many shapes, sizes, colors and functions that it’s impossible to have too many. A great stocking stuffer, just throw a variety of them in your shopping cart and you’re good to go.

Smart Wool Socks
Here’s another gift you can never have too many of. I’ve never met a person that hasn’t raved about how comfortable and warm these socks are.

Maps
Whether it’s a lake map or a map of their favorite state park or hiking trail, these are a handy gift they can spend hours using to plan their next adventure. And unlike GPS gadgets, no cell service required.

Cot
After going through about a dozen inflatable air mattresses in my life, I’ve come to the conclusion a cot is a better option. With a cot you’ll never have the frustration of forgetting the air pump or the disappointing sensation of waking up on the floor of your tent because your mattress sprung a leak.

Polarized Sunglasses
Most outdoorsmen are too cheap to spend more than $20 on a pair of sunglasses, so surprising them with a quality pair might be the best gift they’ll receive all year. Last year, I finally broke down and bought a decent pair and I haven’t been disappointed with my investment. I was surprised how they didn’t pinch my face and remained comfortable all day. The optics are also much clearer than what you’ll find at the gas station (where many guys shop for sunglasses). Just as useful in the winter as they are in the summer, this is a gift they’ll use year-round.

Trail Camera
This gift will satisfy the Daniel Boone or James Bond in all of us. Simply attach them to any structure (usually a tree) and these digital cameras silently snap a picture of anything that trips its sensor. Primarily used to see what types of animals are around, they can also be used for security – for example, to see if someone has been snooping around the cabin when you’re not there.

Snowshoes
Nobody likes being trapped inside during the winter months. A pair of snowshoes is a great excuse to get out of the house for a fun, healthy, family-friendly activity.

And remember, when all else fails, you can never go wrong with a gift card to their favorite sporting goods store.

Read more blogs from SCG’s 41 Stories.

-Jeron Udean

Full disclosure: I’m a total Mac fan boy. With that said, I recently upgraded my iPhone 4 to the new iPhone 4S that was just released. So far, I’ve found it to be a great decision primarily because of the performance of its main three selling points:

1. Siri, the “intelligent software assistant” and “knowledge navigator” which acts as a personal assistant.
2. A faster processor.
3. A better camera with new optics and higher resolution.

Of these three features, my personal favorite is by far Siri. While it definitely has its limitations and is currently labeled as a beta application, I’ve found it super helpful. Here are examples of what you can say to Siri and (if you speak without a mouthful of crackers) Siri should be able to respond.

• Reminders & Lists
  • “Remind me to find out who let the dogs out when I get home.”
  • “Remind me to file the Acme emails when I get to work.”
  • “Remind me to pick up some hot dog buns when I leave here.”
  • “Add organic milk to my shopping list.”
  • “Remind me to call my wife in 30 minutes.”
• Text Messaging & Email
  • “Tell my wife I’m leaving.” (You may want to be careful with this one.)
  • “Read new texts.”
  • “Reply to Mario.”
  • “Send an email to Dad about the game.”
  • “Check my email.”
• Weather
  • “What’s the weather like this weekend?”
  • “When is sunset today?”
  • “What’s the weather like in Saskatoon?”
• Calendar
  • “Set up a meeting with Larry about the new ad campaign next Tuesday at 9AM.”
  • “Move my doctor appointment tomorrow to 3PM.”
  • “Cancel my meeting with Axl Rose.”
• Clocks, Alarms and Timers, Oh My!
  • “Set a timer for 40 minutes.”
  • “Wake me up in an hour and a half.”
  • “What time is it in Mumbai?”

These are just a few examples of things you can do with Siri. I’ve found all to be very helpful and use some of them every day—specifically the reminders. Siri also integrates with the “answer-engine” Wolfram Alpha (pronounced ‘wolfrum alpha’) that can answer questions across a broad array of topics ranging from the stock market and calculations to culture and music.

And that’s not even the tip of the iceberg. Siri can also dictate within any application that uses the keyboard. Writing emails on your phone has never been easier—at least once you get the hang of it. Practice discretion though; you probably don’t want anyone to hear you talk to yourself saying something like, “Dear Mom comma. Thanks for sending the Telletubby footy pajamas. I can’t believe you found them in my size exclamation point. Love you period. Smiley face.”

Have you heard of Siri? Have you used it with your brand spankin’ new phone as well? If so, what do you find useful and/or annoying about it? Let us know in the comments below.

-Brian Larson