The Cheerleader Blog

By John Ramos

Well, the Great Lakes Aquarium is still down there, still chugging away, as it approaches its eighth anniversary. Chad Netherland, who managed the aquarium for Ripley Entertainment from 2003 to 2007, has left the building. Jack LaVoy, the new manager, has been in charge for a little over five months. Much of the board meeting of April 16, 2008 was devoted to criticizing Ripley Entertainment.

“I was absolutely not prepared for the amount of neglect that had been allowed to occur with a lot of the exhibits, in addition to the computer system, under the previous management,” said LaVoy.

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By John Ramos

Ah, the Heritage Sports Center! You’ve heard of it, haven’t you? It’s the hockey rink slash hockey museum slash indoor soccer field slash Boys and Girls Club slash retail marketplace slash microbrewery slash brick-oven pizzeria slash luxury hotel development being built at the old Clyde Iron Works site just off the freeway at 30th Avenue West and Michigan Street, next to the post office.

At least, I assume it’s being built. They’ve knocked down some old buildings and put up a new one and poured a parking lot. The webcam on their website shows that work on the ice rink is progressing. Occasionally a worker might be spotted in the vicinity. But the premises still resemble a raw construction site, rather than anything nearing completion. No matter how I peer around corners and poke into doorways, I can’t seem to locate the hotel or marketplace or any building that’s open to the public.

I don’t want to be difficult, but wasn’t this project supposed to have been done two years ago? Weren’t the kids supposed to have already been skating? Weren’t the hordes of affluent consumers supposed to have already descended? Weren’t many city council decisions made, and much legislation passed, based on these very assumptions?

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By John Ramos

No person who has been transported by a taxicab shall refuse to pay the fare for such transportation.

Duluth City Code, Section 47-34
 

By 11 p.m. on November 16, 2007, it was clear that I was having a good night. My trip sheet was littered with double-digit runs—$13 from St. Mary’s to West Duluth, $17 from the Americinn to Red Lobster, a sweet $23 round trip from the Grand Motel to the East Hill and back. I was well on my way to a $300 night.

At 1:06 a.m., continuing my streak, I picked up a couple at Fitger’s and brought them to an address on the east side of Superior, Wisconsin. That fare was $18. Then, because it was Superior, Wisconsin at the right time on a Friday night, I headed over to Tower Avenue, looking for a flagger from the bars who would help me push my book even higher.

When you pick up a fare near where you drop one off, that is known as a push. Nothing is finer.

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By John Ramos

I have driven a taxi in Duluth for five years. I am careful in my dealings with the public, but it is impossible to avoid trouble forever. The girl I picked up at the Androy Hotel in Superior, Wisconsin, at 3:48 a.m. on January 22, 2007, tumbled into the cab, swearing a blue streak.

“This is fucking ridiculous!” she screamed. “My boyfriend’s paying for this when we get there!” She was followed by an older and calmer woman, who said, “I don’t know why I let you talk me into your little escapades, Tasha.”

I seldom appreciate being told by a drunken fare that somebody else will pay me at the other end of the ride. In other circumstances, I would not have taken them anywhere without seeing money first. This was a special case.

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