Jack Norton

@jackhistorynorton

Faculty in History, Normandale Community College. Digital Humanities, Water and World History, SOTL. Pro-student, against-fascism. Black, trans, gay, and women's rights are human rights. Posts are my own.

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Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· 6d

Today at ~3:45 I took a picture of an Amazing Thailand driver parked across the bike lane & across the cross walk. The driver emerged, asked what I was doing. I told him I was reporting his parking her grew aggressive, threatening me with assault, taking my picture and telling me “he’d be back.”

Silver car illegally parked across crosswalk and bike lane.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· 13d

One-car wide driveway is agree is key, I agree. This first house has a prominent deck, but the driveway sucks the life out of the place. Contrast this home with a much earlier build w tuckunder garage, more prominent steps, and only one driveway lane.

Image of three-story brown house with two-car tuck-under garage.

Image of home with tuckunder garage and one driveway.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· 21d

One of the odd hidden costs of Ai slop I'm seeing is it's use by small businesses in weird ways. For example, we got the tacos below from a food hall in Iceland that used Ai to create the sign on their food truck. The food truck in the ad looks nothing like the real truck.The tacos? No.

Image of tacos with small flour tortillas.

Ai produced advertisement of Iceland's Best Tacos with large tacos.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· 21d

In Iceland, the inner lane has right of way to turn out of the round a about. In Mankato, the inner lane can continue straight or shift right after a half turn, but only the outer lane can do a direct right turn. In Iceland, there's no weird slip lane, and the inner lane has priority.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· 24d

Former Sun Street bakery appears to be remodeling to be Evrgreen Cafe.” For S Minneapolis folks. Will be looking for more details and where the “e” went.

Image of building permit for evergreen cafe

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· 29d

Data Empire spotted in the wild (Magers & Quinn bookstore in Minneapolis) and given good home (mine.) @roopikarisam.bsky.social Book shelved in “world history” section. Still one on shelf for any Twin Cities nerds.

Image of Data Empire book on bookstore shelves.

Image of Data Empire book lying on white stone.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· 29d

A child died in MN, again, trying to cross a street designed to kill. As a historian, I engage some grim sources, but nothing gets to me like the culpability we share for killing children in the service of convenience and profit. www.startribune.com/police-searc...

Image of 8 lane wide country highway with right and left turn lanes.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Jul 6

@lauragmitchell.com Shop by appointment only, but here’s the home of WorkCycles.

Image of green bike mounted as if on a wall inside a window.

Image of Work Cycles headquarters in Amsterdam with orange sign.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Jun 12

I didn't appreciate how big the Highland Ford site in St. Paul was until I biked through it today. The river feature & surrounding park are whimsical and fun. There's a fancy grocer, & a "comfortable shoes" shop right there: how is this not the most popular grandparent-landia of the Twin Cities?

Google Map image of Highland Development site in St. Paul, minnesota. The Mississippi river frames the right side of the image, and large blocks of undeveloped land appear in the middle of the image.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· May 28

There’s a great alley cat race to be had in the Minneapolis St. Paul area with nothing but animal art as the check-in points. Two from today.

Image of a carved wooden panda, standing in front of a White House

Metal sculpture of a loon and deer with brightly colored elements

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· May 28

Rode to Lake Phalen today. Murdered a bahn mi from I ❤️ Pho on the shore, not pretty but so tasty.

Image of Lake with blue sky and bike handle bars in the foreground

Image of chicken hoagie sandwich (bahn mi)

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· May 13

Nothing burger.

Screenshot of NEH communication:

"In accordance with the court’s order in the consolidated cases ACLS, et al., v. English, et al., Case No. 25 Civ. 3657 (S.D.N.Y.), and Authors Guild, et al., v. NEH, et al., Case No. 25 Civ. 3923 (S.D.N.Y.), dated May 7, 2026, we are notifying you of the court’s Opinion and Order: https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/rg5XbKZOceiA/v0.

NEH will update you with further information as it becomes available."

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· May 9

One week of family groceries.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Apr 10

Confusedly designed lady liberty.

Image of "Lady Liberty" a top a white roof with wings and a shield.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Apr 10

Friend on a faculty call pointed out that the shield on Trmp's new arc looks remarkably like an early Captain America shield. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain...

Image of early Captain America Shield with three stars and red and blue stripes.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Feb 8

Advert for context

Two rich whit people stroll through a mall in black and whit outfits.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Jan 31

Today I rode a bicycle With 2-3 thousand Minnesotans To rember Alex Pretti To show neighbors we care To show the nation we will defy tyrrany and violence To end The Occupation.

Picture of many bicyclists gathered in a snowy park.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Jan 26

Chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities issued a statement this afternoon.

Colleagues,

Each semester start is usually a new beginning; an exciting time when a new group of students grace our classrooms, labs, and online learning.

The last two weeks, however, here in the state of Minnesota, have been overwhelming. Many of our students and colleagues are stressed, afraid, tired, sad, and angry. Tensions are high, making it challenging to have collegial conversations with those who see this moment differently from ourselves.

This past Friday’s peaceful protests were followed quickly by another tragic, senseless death -- an emotional ripsaw for many. Compounding the pain, we have now learned that Alex Pretti was a graduate of Minneapolis College’s nursing program.

It’s important, now more than ever, to give each other, and our students, grace. We also must remain committed to treating one another with kindness and respect, and that we stay focused on all our students, their success, and supporting them as they navigate this fraught time.

I remain focused on our core mission to provide opportunity through education to every student, from every walk of life, and from every corner of our state. Together with every leader in the Minnesota State system, I will continue to advocate passionately for our students with our local, state, and federal representatives, and continue to provide a welcoming workplace that supports all employees, no matter their perspectives or lived experiences.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Jan 15

19 degrees. Heavy headwind. 9 miles on rutted roads. Last light. Worth it

Image of a sunset or a frozen lake through the trees

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Jan 4

Confirmed.

Sign on the door of One on One bike shop stating they are moving to 4001 Bryant Ave S starting January 10th.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Dec 17

I'll see you a bench, and raise you 3 foot sledge pile to get an express bus.

A metro-transit bus stop for an express bus piled with plowed snow that has overtaken the previously plowed sidewalk.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Dec 15

Approached the door with a squint. . . no . . . you’re crying.

Image of faculty door with multicolor posters and art.

Whiteboard on door with “Best professor ever” written in red ink.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Nov 28

Fillin’ Station coffee shop in Mankato. Almost didn’t come in because the name evoked auto -centric nonsense. The whole coffee shop is lovely.

Blue ceiling of coffee shop with arches.

Blue wall wooden wall and blue arches for a coffee shop interior

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Nov 25

A great way to start my day. There's no way to appreciate this beauty at 45 mpg. Happy first week of studded bike tire commuting to those who celebrate.

Image of bridge of brown wetland grasses with blue sky at dawn.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Nov 18

My college has been muddle-headed with Gen Ai. Mostly it's Ai washing (as long as you're informed of the risks) or bewildered faculty. Here's what I'm up against: our faculty developer posting four links to "How to Use Ai" talks above my talk, which was critical of Ai.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Nov 13

I’ll see your sunset and raise you a Lake Harriet sunrise.

Image of calm lake reflecting blue skies with white clouds.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Oct 29

A heavy set bald man in a silver SUV tried to run me off the road at 76th and Upton in Bloomington Minnesota today. Be careful out there.

Image of intersection of 76th St. and Upton in Bloomington, Minnesota

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Oct 19

Let’s celebrate the achievement of the Civilian Conservation Corps with a statue. Yeah, but make it sexy, like the nipples can cut glass. Also he needs something phallic in his hands, like an axe. That’s the stuff.

Sexy bronze statue of shirtless Civilian conservation core member holding an axe.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Sep 26

Faculty, is it just me or did Microsoft just put CoPilot at the top of Word online, right in the mid

Screenshot of MS Word with "Ask Copilot anything" in the middle top of the screen.

Jack Norton@jackhistorynorton· Sep 24

I’ve been impressed with the durability of these sign. Lots of space for words too. And they are more damaging when run over than flappy sticks.