Hubert Horatio Humphrey

Born 100 years ago in South Dakota, Hubert Horatio Humphrey is one of Minnesota's most cherished adopted sons. He served the public as Mayor of Minneapolis, United States Senator from Minnesota, and Vice President of the United States.

"To those who say, my friends, to those who say, that we are rushing this issue of civil rights, I say to them we are 172 years (too) late! To those who say, this civil rights program is an infringement on states' rights, I say this: the time has arrived in America for the Democratic Party to get out of the shadow of states' rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights!"

photo courtesy of harbour-square.com

Thank you, Mr. Humphrey, for choosing our state in which to do your good work. To the rest of this great country...

You're welcome.

Love,

Minnesota.

Silence

Minnesota is home to the quietest place on Earth. Orfield Labs is a research facility in south Minneapolis that shares space with Sound 80 recording studios. Sound 80 isn't as heavily used for recording as it was in the past, when albums such as Bob Dylan's Blood on The Tracks were recorded. Today, the building is home to an anechoic chamber, used for research on various sound pressure level affected devices. Guinness Book of World Records cites the facility as "the quietest place on Earth," and home of the first ever digital recording studio. I've been in there, and let me tell you, negative sound pressure levels are weird. Ever hear your heart beat...from inside of you?

photo courtesy of Tate Carlson at metromag.com

So the next time you are faced with an awkward/eerie/peaceful quiet, remember that Minnesota has taught the world about perfect silence.

You're welcome.

Love,

Minnesota.

Frozen Pizza

Yes indeed, Minnesota is home to the invention that enables your laziness, the frozen pizza! Rose Totino is most often cited as the creator of this staple of the college student's diet. Though origin dates vary, it is believed that they were first available in the mid- to late-1950s.

photo courtesy of misstightwad.com

So the next time your drunk friend or lazy spouse opens your freezer door and reaches for that oh so convenient and unhealthy meal, make sure to say...

You're welcome.

Love,

Minnesota.

1991 World Series, Game 7

Ranked by espn.com as the greatest World Series of all time, the 1991 contest for national baseball supremacy had many memorable moments. For most Minnesotans, Game 7 of the series is the greatest sports event in state history. Jack Morris. 10 Innings. Zero Runs. Black. Jack.

photo courtesy of minnesota.publicradio.org

If you have access the MLB Network (which ranked this game 2nd in MLB history) you can watch this very game with commentary provided by Jack Morris and John Smoltz. Greatest World Series and Game 7* of all time?

You're welcome.

Love,

Minnesota.

*No apologies to Bill Mazeroski and the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates

Hotdish

While it's difficult to pinpoint the geographic origins of the culinary phenomenon known as "hotdish," it is clear that Minnesota has been the location most often identified with this creamy, crunchy, starchy, meaty agglomeration of food stuffs.

photo courtesy of allfreechickencasserolerecipes.com

Note that the above photo and corresponding recipe "actually contains a vegetable." What would church basement potluck gatherings do without us?

You're welcome.

Love,

Minnesota.