My coworker Barb Tieben does an amazing job of assembling, compiling, editing and laying out events for our print publications. She scours the events side of this website and searches elsewhere for event information. I thought I'd share five fun events she dug up recently.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community holds an annual Wacipi [wah-chee-pee] open to visitors this weekend. I've never attended but would love to witness and participate in this cultural event. It includes dance demonstrations and contests, giveaways, moccasin games, flag raising and fireworks. Grand entrances are at 7 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. Sunday. If you go, send me your photos and post your observations here.

I just walked to the drugstore to get some candy and a magazine. I wanted something active, outdoorsy, and inspirational. But I noticed that the entire left side of the magazine rack contained "women's" magazines, which focus on beauty and appearances. Even the home decorating mags are about appearances. Then, the entire right side of the rack is devoted to "manly" stuff like bicycling, golfing, hunting, motorsports, camping, technology, and thanks to Details and Maxim, the boys get to obsess over their looks too. Most of the women I know care somewhat about their appearance, but they care more about their careers, family, creativity and leisure time. Silly magazines. Stereotypes are for rabbits.

If you plan on watching even ten minutes of NBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics in the next two weeks you'll be subjected to an onslaught of propaganda relating to the fall television season. Remember to clean out your Tivos because I'm sure you'll find something worthy to record even if the newest trend is to bring back a show that should most likely stay away.

Petting Red Star chickens, brushing Jasper the calf, feeding sheep and watching pigs run made for a memorable morning last Saturday. My daughter and I participated in Saturday Mornings on the Farm at Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista. It cost just $4 for me and was free for her since she's under 3.

The staff and volunteers were excellent, welcoming us to the farm and showing us how we could interact with the animals.

We brought our daughter to see "Wall-E" last night. We debated going to see "Space Chimps" but the three adults in attendance opted for "Wall-E." My toddler/preschooler (proddler?) was less excited about the robots than she was by the animals in "Kung Fu Panda," which was her first big screen movie.

Still, she was entertained by the popcorn, soda and sour candy we let her eat, as well as the reaction she garnered by repeating the words, "I have to go poop." We learned this phrase was actually code for "I'm bored. Let's play in the arcade."

I liked the movie and thought it was really pretty and touching. Humans destroy the earth and become overweight, thoughtless drones sitting in floating La-Z Boys. But a few special robots remind the humans of the potential they, and their earthly home, possess. I'd give it 3 or 4 stars.

Southwest Newspapers has a really cool opportunity for a college student: Help create a vibrant, interactive Web site devoted to covering high school sports and adult and youth recreational sports in a fast and engaging manner. The intern will assist in obtaining scores, stats, quotes, photos, videos and user-submitted content and posting it to the site. The intern will also participate in telling sports and recreation stories via writing, photography, and audio and video recording.

Southwest Newspapers is a group of weekly community newspapers, Web sites and other news and information products in the southwest suburbs of Minneapolis.

Requirements:
• Valid driver’s license and current auto insurance.
• Intern must earn academic credit for the internship. Registration and payment is the intern’s responsibility.
• Experience with shooting photos, videos and creating multimedia projects.
• Work 15 – 20 hours per week.

Pay: $500 stipend.
To apply: Submit résumé, cover letter and work samples (including print and multimedia) to mgilman@swpub.com.

If you haven't caught them yet TiVo these shows: "Damages" on FX, "Mad Men," "The Tudors," and "Dexter" on Showtime and "Breaking Bad" on AMC. They all received well-deserved Emmy nominations this week. Especially good is the 60s era "Mad Men" and the can't-look-away-from-the-train-wreck "Breaking Bad." High school chemistry teacher Walter White is a tense guy with a pregnant wife and a son with cerebral palsy. When Walt's diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, he cracks up and stars to cook meth to support his family.