| Back to the routine |
Al Pacino's Michael Corleone proclaimed in the "Godfather: Part III," "Just when I think I'm out, they keep pulling me back in."
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 |
 |
| Summer: When men do dinner |
It's summertime in the Upper Midwest, and suddenly all the men are interested in making dinner.
Sunday, August 22, 2010 |
|
| Doing my duty |
His charge: assault by strangulation.
Our charge: determine if he's guilty or not. And determine it only by the evidence produced in court under the guidelines of the judge.
Thursday, August 19, 2010 |
|
| Movin' on up |
After a recent furniture moving expedition, I came to the conclusion two men with journalism degrees really shouldn't be doing anything that involves geometry.
Monday, August 16, 2010 |
|
| A grisly experiment; an advance in science |
In June of 1822, French-Canadian voyageurs from the upper Midwest converged on the future state of Michigan's Mackinac Island for their annual summer rendezvous.
Friday, August 13, 2010 |
|
| DNR Q & A: What sort of problems does rolling weeds along the shoreline cause for fish and water quality? |
| Friday, August 13, 2010 |
|
| Looking for adventure in a 'Vette |
One of my teenage sons has a new love. This powerful muse is long, lean and oh so pretty. She's been turning his head all summer, and I worry that nothing good will come of it.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 |
|
| Shedding light on the firefly |
My cousin Grant was out and about on a warm summer evening when he noticed the twittering light from nearby fireflies.
Thursday, August 05, 2010 |
|
| The flag flap |
It began rather quietly, with a concert at Casey Lake Park a week and a half before July 4.
Someone at the concert had caught the seasonal spirit and brought a blanket woven to look like a U.S. flag. And someone had a trio of leashed Corgi dogs in attendance.
Monday, August 02, 2010 |
|
| DNR Q & A: Finding all-terrain vehicle or other off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails & riding opportunities |
| Thursday, July 29, 2010 |
|
| Do your retirement plans need retooling? |
Where does your retirement plan stand? Although this phase in everyone's life looms in the future, many people fail to set aside the money they will need to fund a healthy and happy retirement.
Thursday, July 29, 2010 |
|
| An open letter to Gary the contractor |
Dear Gary (as we refer to you in casual conversation):
In August of 2008, you bought a house. The house was in disrepair, and had been abused by years of rental use and careless ownership. Those owners and renters did not see the dignity of the turreted roof over their heads, the plaster walls they spoiled, the wood floors they littered with paraphernalia both illicit and dangerous.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 |
|
| Open season on phantom clowns |
It was both a news story and a cautionary tale for would-be drug users, sure to be thumb-tacked to every school counselor's bulletin board.
Sunday, July 25, 2010 |
|
| Anchor away! |
We're in the heart of boating season here in Minnesota, and along with that time of year come a number of dangers.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 |
|
| 'Rock and roll can never die' |
They say old rockers don't die, they just fade away. Apparently, no one has told that to my fellow baby boomers, who can't seem to get enough of the hard-rocking, hard-living music icons from their youth.
Monday, July 19, 2010 |
|
| Inquiring minds: I reserved a book online to be picked up at the Roseville Library. When can I get it? |
| Thursday, July 15, 2010 |
|
| Inquiring minds: What is the check out period for talking books? Can they be renewed? |
| Thursday, July 15, 2010 |
|
| Do not feed the geese |
There's a sign on the entrance door to my apartment building that reads, "Do not feed the geese." What it should really read is, "If you get near the geese, prepare for a battle that could go to the death, with the geese likely triumphant."
Thursday, July 15, 2010 |
|
| Check the spellcheck - and then check again |
As part of my job as a journalist, I routinely have to write sentences, paragraphs, and from time to time, whole stories, all composed of words and names with correct spellings.
Sunday, July 11, 2010 |
|
| All aboard! |
Sierra Club, the oldest grassroots environmental organization in the United States, got its start back in 1892 as an outings group. Founded by John Muir, the purpose of the club was to bring wealthy elite and decision makers from the San Francisco area into the Sierra Nevada wilderness so that they could appreciate the beauty of their natural surroundings and be motivated to protect the nation's natural resources.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 |
|
| When July 4th sky goes dark, community spirit dims |
For the first time in decades, the Maplewood skies will be dark on Independence Day.
Sunday, July 04, 2010 |
|
| DNR Q&A: what do boaters need to remember about early season boating? |
| Thursday, July 01, 2010 |
|
| DNR Q&A: What role does logging play in maintaining or improving forest health? |
| Thursday, July 01, 2010 |
|
| JOY Academy: Like a Phoenix from the Ashes |
When East Saint Paul Lutheran closed last year, it really was an end to an era for Lutheran Church Missouri Synod education on the East Side. Graduates of ESPL included a legislator, an astronaut, musicians, and a pro football player.
Thursday, July 01, 2010 |
|
| DNR Q & A: How does the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) determine when to intervene when bears have wandered into populated areas? |
| Wednesday, June 30, 2010 |
|
| Give me back my money |
A robotic voice came across my voicemail last week after I missed a call asking me to call the Wells Fargo Fraud Department.
At first I was a bit skeptical. Was this a phishing scam and someone just wanted me to fall into a trap?
Thursday, June 24, 2010 |
|
| Whatever happened to the birds? |
The sky was spacious, the weather was perfect, the farmsteads were familiar, the fields were sprouting lemony-green shoots. All perfectly normal for a late-spring trip to central Iowa.
Sunday, June 20, 2010 |
|
| The black hole strikes again
|
Summer is here, and my children have escaped the black hole.
For now.
Thursday, June 17, 2010 |
|
| Bearly containing excitement for new state park |
It was a sun-kissed summer day in northern Minnesota. I was relaxing on a warm, flat granite rock on the edge of our island campsite and the hypnotic sounds of the waves lapping at the Lake Vermilion shoreline drew me closer to a nap than was wise.
Monday, June 14, 2010 |
|
| Plein Air art festival in
Swede Hollow a success |
Historic Swede Hollow Park, a deep, wooded ravine on St. Paul's east side, was the site of a new art fest on May 22. A plein air art fest, to be precise. The old French term refers to painting in the open air.
Monday, June 07, 2010 |
|
| Spring brings parents relief |
Ah, late spring, that magical time of year when parents can finally exhale.
We push back from the patio table and emit a collective "Ahhhhhhhhhh" ... partly because we just gorged ourselves on barbecue and are ready for a nap, but mostly because we are no longer trapped indoors with our children.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010 |
|
| Thank you and never forget |
I can never begin to thank everyone for the outpouring of sympathy and condolences we have experienced since the senseless murder of Sgt. Joe Bergeron.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 |
|
| Keep a tight leash |
Accepting personal responsibility can be a daunting task for many...especially when it comes to their pets.
As I regularly jog through Maplewood and North St. Paul with my girlfriend Karyn, I rarely worry about being attacked by an unleashed dog.
Monday, May 24, 2010 |
|
| DNR Q&A: There has been a lot of media attention recently about winterkill in lakes in southwestern Minnesota. Aren't these lakes aerated? |
| Wednesday, May 19, 2010 |
|
| DNR Q & A: How can homeowners deal with nuisance squirrels? |
| Wednesday, May 19, 2010 |
|
| Your Legal Rights: Beware of Employment Scams |
In the troubled economy, thousands of Minnesotans are without work. The State faces some of the worst unemployment figures in decades. Other people report that their hours have been cut back, or they have received cuts in pay or benefits that have made it even harder to pay for the rising costs of health care, housing, and other living expenses.
Monday, May 17, 2010 |
|
| Beware the woods |
If you're a nature photography enthusiast like myself, I have a bit of advice for you: Beware the woods.
Monday, May 17, 2010 |
|
| DNR Q & A: How important is the spring runoff to Minnesota's groundwater supply? |
| Thursday, May 13, 2010 |
|
| Lesch protests loss of state's rights |
I am sending a letter to Minnesota's Senators urging them to support an amendment to the U.S. Senate financial regulation bill. The amendment in question would eliminate a loophole provision that strips away state-level consumer protections for insurance.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 |
|
| Proposed Board of Innovation could do more with less |
I am writing today to commend St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman for his willingness to "think out of the box" and his leadership in exploring new ways for government to do more with less. Mayor Coleman's challenge has centered primarily on the financially-strained city and city school budgets, but could certainly be expanded.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 |
|
| Learning real lessons from Fake Baby |
It's only an hour into her weekend, and the 15-year-old is ready to give back that darn baby.
It's not a flesh-and-blood baby; it's one of those computerized dolls that high schools use for the purpose of showing teenagers how exhausted and limited you are when you have a baby. An infant simulator,if you will. A Fake Baby.
Friday, May 07, 2010 |
|
| Am I smarter than a third-grader? |
It's 6:30 p.m., that after-dinner time slot when my daughter and I play our least-favorite game show, Are You Smarter Than A Third-Grader?
Thursday, May 06, 2010 |
|
| Focused on results |
State lawmakers used to wait until the last minute to accomplish anything. But over the last several years, things have changed. Ever since the DFL took over the majority in the House we've been getting our work done earlier and earlier.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 |
|
| Celebrate Earth Day |
April 22 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in the United States. The annual event was designed to be a day where we take a step back to look at how our actions affect the earth, and recognize the things we can change to make our planet a better place to live.
Thursday, April 22, 2010 |
|
| Fixing the damage from juvenile records |
New legislation that I have authored would help out Minnesotans whose past has unfairly come back to haunt them. It would allow someone to keep a human services job if they were convicted of a crime under the age of 18 and toughens the privacy of juvenile records. The measure passed the Legislature with 89 votes in its favor.
Thursday, April 22, 2010 |
|
| At prom time, a lament for a friend |
There are certain moments in a person's life that just stick with them. Time can blur the edges of memories, making them less defined, but the important moments stay with you and stand out in vivid detail.
Monday, April 19, 2010 |
|
| How to become a millionaire or lose your shirt |
When I was a kid, a TV show called "The Millionaire" was one of my favorites.
A man knocked on someone's door and handed over a check for $1 million from an anonymous donor. I used to think about what I'd do if the knock came on my door.
Friday, April 16, 2010 |
|
| Read the label |
I recently came to the conclusion that I really shouldn't be making any important decisions in the morning. The problem for me, and I'm assuming others out there, is that my mind generally functions at such a low capacity in the morning that I sometimes end up being a danger to myself and others around me.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 |
|
| Oh, Jesse, you Jackal! |
All I wanted was a copy of "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter."
So I walked into Borders and gleefully snatched up a copy of the latest novel by Seth Grahame-Smith (of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" fame). Heading for the nearest cash register, I heard a vaguely familiar, unsettling voice.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010 |
|
| Prom season and the 100 deadliest days for teens |
Ah, springtime in Minnesota! This time of year people reconnect with neighbors, play catch outside, or take a nice spring bike ride.
Thursday, April 01, 2010 |
|
