Author Archive: Brian

Artificial Intelligence running for local campaigns

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I’m not quite sure how to post this, so I’m just going to post it.

There are candidates running for public positions in the general election in November, in Faribault and Rice County, that are having huge parts of their rhetoric or debate responses, if not their entire rhetoric and debate responses, written using artificial intelligence tools. The words are not their own. They are simply asking a computer to write it, based on certain criteria or key words that they select.

I am 100% positive of this, which is why I am making this post. However, I am excluding names at this time in hopes that they will publicly apologize for what amounts to AI plagiarism.

If someone’s written communication seems out of character for an individual, and just “doesn’t seem right” or doesn’t pass your seat-of-the-pants test. BE SURE to copy and paste it in a trusted AI detector tool such as https://gptzero.me or https://zerogpt.net .

You may be very surprised on what you find out!

Faribault Woolen Mill Dam failure and subsequent patching

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The City of Faribault, Minnesota – City Government Facebook wrote:

DAMAGE TO DAM: City of Faribault crews are currently working to stabilize flood-related erosion on the north side of the dam located next to the Faribault Mill, south of Slevin Park.

While the full extent of damages will not be entirely clear until water fully recedes, what can be seen has called for the need to stabilize the area and to prevent additional erosion.

The State has been notified, as is general practice in situations like this, and we’re encouraging everyone to avoid the area. Please do not proceed beyond barricades and/or police tape within Slevin Park.

There is no immediate public risk, and this erosion doesn’t appear to be as concerning as the Rapidan Dam situation, but with more rain in the forecast, the City – with help from partnering agencies – will continue monitoring the erosion.

Faribault, MN – Straight River Flooding Scene – The Next Day

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Faribault Scene as of 7 a.m. 6/22 – 2nd Avenue Road Closure near the Fairgrounds, Cannon River Reservoir at Father Slevin Park, Straight River/Cannon River Reservoir at the Faribault Woolen Mills, Straight River at Fleckenstein Park, Urban flooding near the American Legion, River flowing over Union Pacific Railroad, Straight River at Teepee Tonka Park, Lowland flooding in Frogtown, 14th Street Trail Flooding, River near new floodwall at Waste Treatment Plant.

“Trapped by a Tornado”, KSTP’s Dave Dahl, April 26, 1996

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We’ve learned a lot about tornadoes in severe weather in the past 28 years, and thus I’m posting this primarily as a “what never to do” video. There are several quotes and pieces of video in these clips that will give any modern storm chaser anxiety.

1:45 – Chasing on an Interstate highway, with no easy way to change directions 90 degrees if necessary. Seeking shelter from a tornado under a freeway overpass (never do this, please).

4:30 – More of the above.

6:00 – Even more of the above, with innocent video crew.

6:26 – Putting yourself in a situation where you need to lie flat in a ditch as a last ditch shelter.

6:48 – “Are we OK?” “Yes, we’re fine. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ve been doing this for 19 years watching this stuff. Never been this close.”

7:22 – “In a car, Get out, get away from the car, lay flat in the ditch, and that’s exactly what we did. And we stayed safe.”

US Route 65 and the Jefferson Highway

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I’ve written about US Route 65 and the Jefferson Highway before, but here’s some added pictures of the mileage signs near Mason City and Northwood.

Iowa has new signs up recognizing the significance of the Jefferson Highway’s route as being one of the first established north-south motorways in the nation.

The Jefferson Highway and US65 traveled into Faribault on Glynview Trail and Willow Street, before turning up Central Avenue, curving left at “The Curve”, continuing to near Northfield and eventually to St. Paul, and all the way up to Winnipeg.

Faribault was enough of a major city at that time to have signs in Iowa 72 miles away, which have been updated and are still there today!