Wolf Center says new Liam Neeson film full of 'scat'

Posted at 10:45 AM on February 2, 2012 by Dan Kraker (11 Comments)
Filed under: Around MN, Arrowhead, Environment, Outdoors

Liam Neeson prepares to fight off wild wolves in a scene from "The Grey." (Photo courtesy Open Road Films via AP)

"The Grey" is the new thriller starring Liam Neeson, who leads a stranded group of oil-rig roughnecks to safety in the remote Alaskan wilderness while being stalked by a vicious pack of rogue wolves.

The film is doing quite well in theaters, taking in nearly $20 million through this past weekend.

But the International Wolf Center in Ely isn't thrilled with the action flick. In the Center's blog Wild Bytes, Jo Tubbs, the International Wolf Center's board chair, calls the movie "dark, depressing, and as accurate a portrayal of wolf behavior as King Kong was about gorillas."

The Center is nominating The Grey for its first ever Scat Award, in the Scare Tactics and Silly Information categories. The educational center's main complaint, according to Tubbs, is that wolves in the movie are portrayed as killers, "when the incidence of wolves killing humans in North America is so rare as to garner huge headlines."

She says only two cases have been documented--a 2005 killing by wolves in Saskatchewan, and a 2010 death near Chignik Lake, Alaska.

There are now about 3,000 wolves in Minnesota. The state's Department of Natural Resources took over management of the wolves last Friday after wolves in the Great Lakes region were removed from Endangered Species list.

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Voter ID, electronic pull tabs, Duluth Pack goes to Washington

Posted at 7:30 AM on February 2, 2012 by Michael Olson
Filed under: Around MN

Constitutional Amendment requiring Voter ID has a long road to the ballot
MPR News: "A proposed constitutional amendment to require Minnesotans to show photo identification in order to vote is facing a rough road at the State Capitol. Amendment opponents packed a Senate hearing on the measure Wednesday and dozens took turns to criticize the bill, providing most of the five hours of testimony."

"Very simple, very easy, you walk in, take out your wallet, you produce your photo ID, you say I am who I am, and then you vote," said Rep. Kurt Zellers, R - House Speaker.

"If we're going to do constitutional amendments, let's do constitutional amendments that help people and not attack people," said Rep. Tom Rukavina DFL - Virginia.Northland News Center

The pros and cons of electronic pull tabs

KARE11: "Supporters for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium say electronic pull tabs could fund the state's share of the project and generate $72 million a year, but at what cost?"

Minnesota bill to end teacher seniority sparks debate
Fargo Forum: "A bill introduced in the Legislature to end the use of seniority in determining teachers' job security is getting mixed reviews from administrators and teachers in Moorhead and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton schools."

Target Center deal bound to a 'mistake'
Star Tribune: "Minneapolis took over the arena 17 years ago, and now it's become a sticking point for a Vikings stadium."

Mayo researchers find possible link between anesthesia and ADHD
MPR News: "Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found an increased incidence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among children exposed to anesthesia more than once before age two."

Romney stumps in Minnesota
Mitt Romney riding high in Minnesota visit

MPR News: "Still riding high from his decisive win in Florida's Republican primary, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney didn't seem bothered a bit when a supporter of same-sex marriage threw glitter on him at the beginning of his Minnesota rally."

'Poor' quote by Romney joins a list critics love
New York Times: "Mr. Romney's aides cannot always bring that well-known level of discipline to one crucial aspect of the campaign: their candidate's seemingly endless ability to utter remarks that, to the delight of his critics, sail onto political blogs, YouTube and Twitter."

Duluth Pack shines in D.C. spotlight
WDIO: "The President of Duluth Pack spent the morning on Capitol Hill talking about his effort to produce 'Made in America' products. The opportunity gave him the chance to show off some of Duluth's most successful wares."

Bakk: Senate must explain Brodkorb legal situation
Hot Dish: "Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk has asked Senate Republicans to explain who gave Secretary of the Senate Cal Ludeman the authority to hire a lawyer to defend the Senate against any legal action from Brodkorb."

Federal election filings show Faribault contributors
Faribault Daily News: "Federal Election Commission campaign filings were due on Wednesday and a look at the data reveals lopsided fundraising so far in the First District congressional race."

DFLer Sund stumps for support at Southdale Library
Minnetonka Patch: "'Fairness' was the theme of the evening as prospective 3rd District Congressional candidate Sharon Sund spoke to a small crowd at Edina's Southdale Library."

Minnesota's Fiscal Disparity tax redistribution explained
MPR News: "The program, known as Fiscal Disparities, shifts tens of millions of dollars of property tax base between communities in the metro. Some cities, counties and school districts gain tax base, while others lose it."

Anishinaabe photographer Travis Novitsky
WTIP: "In this interview with photographer Travis Novitsky, he discusses his love of photography, his influences, his favorite subjects, the process he uses to achieve his amazing results and the role photography plays in his life on the Grand Portage reservation in far northern Minnesota."