As disaster costs mount, we all pay the price

This week, we witnessed the scope of devastation in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. The miles between northern Minnesota and the impacted area create only the illusion of distance. In truth, the effects of this far-away storm will soon hit home. Asheville and many surrounding cities and towns face historic flood and storm damage… Read More →

What dreams may come

The best thing we can do for our health is to get a good night’s sleep. Sleep costs nothing and feels good. At night, your brain provides a “dream lineup” of free streaming content tailored specifically to your most persistent fears and weirdest fantasies. You never get bored, gain weight or spend money while you… Read More →

Re-watching ‘The Paper’ in the smartphone era

I recently re-watched the 1994 film, “The Paper.” I hadn’t seen the movie in many years, but probably saw it half a dozen times in the late 1990s. Most viewings came from a VHS tape rented from the gas station near my childhood home before I left to major in print journalism at an affordable… Read More →

The future is all thumbs

Arthur C. Clarke once wrote, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Before I go any further, let me ask you a question. How many thumbs would I need to have for you to think I was magic?  One? No, that’s just a band saw accident. Two? (checks notes) Nope, that’s the regular amount…. Read More →

Baby birds fly when they must; so do our children

 We built our house the summer after our oldest son was born. Since then, generations of eastern phoebes raised their hatchlings in a nest constructed under our deck by one of their ancestors. You might know these fly-catching birds for their dark heads, fidgety tail pumps and their “fee-bee” call, which is how they got… Read More →

Clock ticking for Hibbing city hall restoration

 One plot point in the 1985 movie classic “Back to the Future” involves the town’s clock tower. With the clock broken, preservationists raise funds to restore the timepiece and keep the building from being torn down.  The situation in the Iron Range town of Hibbing bears some similarity. I mean, no, Hibbing’s city hall clock… Read More →

Yellowstone amazes with fire and brimstone, bison and bears

If you want to spice up your family vacation, why not go to a place that could kill you, and that might one day kill us all.  Last week, our family traveled to Yellowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming. This place is a trip. Literally, in that it was a two day car ride for… Read More →

Counting on sheep to reduce carbon hoof print

The dog days of August might seem a strange time to think about sweaters and stew, but I’ve been reading about sheep lately. Sheep seem like greatly underrated livestock. They give us wool and mutton (sweaters and stew). You can even turn a sheep’s hide into traditional southern Italian bagpipe called a zampogna. I’m not… Read More →

Monster trucks mash hapless wrecks

French philosopher and novelist Victor Hugo once said “Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.” This might help us understand why only America, possibly the most prosperous nation in world history, could make monster trucks.  Picture this. Someone knocks on your door and says, “excuse me ma’am” or “hello, sir,” before explaining they’re about to… Read More →

Green clovers, blue ribbons and bright futures

Listen, I like prizes. Ribbons, trophies and medals; doesn’t matter. Winning is fun. Try the alternative, you’ll see. They tell you prizes aren’t everything, but that doesn’t feel true. Prizes are awesome.  Whenever I toured the St. Louis County Fair as a kid, I’d look at all the entries and say to myself, “I could… Read More →