Part of why I’m so hard on Madison is because it’s so tantalizingly close to being a place deserving of its reputation... If I’d be open to moving 700 miles away to Madison, I’d also be open to moving 900 miles away to Minneapolis, and I think, at this moment, I’d get a much better experience for it.
Proto-Future 5, Part 3: Inaugural Borealis, Day 3 – Dignitaries Car
This episode, the purpose of the whole series, sees me as part of the Press Pool for the Inaugural Amtrak Borealis between St. Paul and Chicago. Speeches, interviews, and applause are heard from St. Paul Union Depot, and many enjoyable conversations are had onboard the train itself en route to Chicago.
The League of American Bicyclists Zoom given by Derrick James and Moriah Morales is here: https://youtu.be/YE6oJ7quCnM?si=CQetZzVpGOMgCHFE
Proto-Future 5, Part 2: Inaugural Borealis, Day 2 – Minneapolis Speedrun and the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum
This episode follows as I walk through the Minneapolis Skyway, discuss the NorthStar Commuter Rail, ride all the Minneapolis Metro Light Rail, visit the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum and interview Ken Zieska and Matt Malwitz, have a disappointingly short visit to St. Paul, walk the entire Mall of America, visit St. Anthony Falls, and leave flowers at George Floyd Memorial Square.
Proto-Future 5, Part 1: Inaugural Borealis, Day 1 – Keystone, SEPTA, Airport Philosophy, and the Metric System for Sounds
This episode is the first in a four-part series detailing my trip to ride the inaugural Borealis between the Twin Cities and Chicago. In it, I motorcycle to Harrisburg, ride the Keystone to Philadelphia, struggle with SEPTA to the Airport, speedrun both the PHL and MSP airports, and give a preliminary exploration of Minneapolis, philosophizing extensively along the way.