The I35-W collapse was the worst catastrophe that has ever befallen the Twin Cites. “Things like that just don’t happen here” is a familiar sentiment. Everyone from this area has traveled over that bridge hundreds or thousands of times, it’s right by downtown and the University of Minnesota. Our hearts go out to the victims.

What was very Minnesotan was the response, countless acts of heroism, bravery and calm in response to chaos. It is amazing that there was no contamination of flammable or toxic materials to confound the rescuers and survivors.

This is a week that we humble bloggers thanked the MSM, also known as Main Stream Media. I mainly relied on StarTribune.com and the local Network and Fox affiliate television stations. Local Internet chatboard mnspeak hosted minute by minute reactions. The Minnesota Daily provided coverage and many pictures, as has local blogger, Noah Kunin. He lived within yards of the bridge. and provided an eye witness account that was disseminated to over thirty media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal. I mention Noah because he is a family friend. Both the mainstream and populist media worked on this week’s story, the You – Tube of the security tape hit the Internet before the television stations aired it.

The week’s events overshadowed the event I attended at the beginning of the week. It was the World Future Society Conference, held this year in Minneapolis. I attended about eight events, and have already participated in a new group blog for Society members called BlogInternational.org.

The three best events I attended were those on Blogging, The Optimistic Jew, and

A Conversation with Joe (Coates). Stan Cohen and Adam Cohen presented “So, You Want To Be a Blogger,” in a Monday afternoon program. The father and son team are developing a community blog with over 25 channels for World Future Society members and others. If this project is nurtured, it has the potential to become a good new forum for Futures discussions.

Tzvi Bisk is an Israeli Futurist who is the author of just released “The Optimistic Jew.” He briefly spoke at one event then proceeded to the Futurist bookstore for a “Meet the Author.” I had my copy signed, and highly recommend his thoughtful analysis and innovative solutions to issues facing Israel and the Jewish people today. Tsvi Bisk is an American-Israeli futurist, social researcher and strategy planning consultant. He is the Director of the Center for Strategic Futurist Thinking and co-author of “Futurizing the Jews”, which I also highly recommend.

Joe Coates is a world-renowned thinker, writer and speaker on the future. He is one of the last of the Greatest Generation who survived the Depression and won World Wars. His wit, sarcasm, and brilliant depth provided an irreverent look at today’s issues, that was definitely not taped for the Conference compilation.

Photos by Noah Kunin