The Others

Recently, while driving through northern Minnesota, my friend Bob and I noticed a number of giant beings. The Others.

It began innocently enough with a giant statute of Paul Bunyan. Above is a picture of Paul with his cohort, Babe the Blue Ox. When I was growing up, Paul and Babe even had their very own amusement park in Bemiji, Minnesota. The legend of Paul Bunyan makes for a good read.

Driving further, toward the mythical “out-of-cell-phone” territory, we saw giant moose, dinosaurs, chickens and various other large beings. Minnesota contains an awesome collection of giants. They’re all big, tough giants like the competing Voyageurs in Cloquet and Barnum , Big Ole in Alexandria and the Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

Other states are not so lucky to have such formidable giants. Take Mississippi for instance, all that poor state could render was a giant statute of “Mammy”.

New Jersey fares even worse with the “tire twins”, Tire Girl and Tire Man.

Oregon gets partially there with a Neanderthal looking Caveman. Paul and Babe would kick old cavey’s ass every day of the week from the looks of it.

Illinois weighs in on the obesity scale with Burger Man and Superdawg.

And Mentone, California doesn't even know what they have when they do find a giant in their midst. Big Man With Stick, caught by paparazzi and on holiday in California, is actually Paul Bunyan. (Babe is at a cattle ranch in Kansas sowing his oats.)