Anybody who hung around downtown Saint Paul during the 2008 Republican National Convention knows that it was a dud for most local businesses. It wasn’t surprising; analysis of other conventions showed somewhat similar results. What sounds like a big infusion of cash barely makes a ripple. But local officials put out a post-mortem assessment saying Read more →
The kidnapping of girls in Nigeria at the hands of the Boko Haram rebels is finally getting traction in news cycles, thanks primarily to Twitter and social media. This week the United States offered to help find them, almost three weeks after their abduction.
Why the slow world response? Read more →
One of these days it would be fun to come up with other ways of measuring hail. Traditionally, it’s described as pea-sized (just heard the TV anchor warn Belle Plaine the peas are heading your way, by the way) , nickel-sized, golf-ball-sized or baseball-sized hail. We have a thing for food, money and sports in Read more →
Nothing gets suburban legislators at the Minnesota Capitol cranked up more than having to slow down when driving on I-35E in Saint Paul. Read more →
There will be no same sex marriages in Nintendo’s social simulation game “Tomodachi Life.” Nintendo made that clear today when it confirmed that while players will be able to form romantic relationships in its virtual world, and maybe even get married, same-sex marriage will not be allowed. The game is to represent “a playful alternative Read more →
Roundy’s decision to dump its Rainbow grocery stores in Minnesota and head back to its roots caused a momentary heart skip for many people today. But it’s not like days of yesteryear when we had a meaningful relationship with the grocery store. Nobody knows our name, and with a few exceptions, what you can get Read more →
Today is a big day at Union Depot where Amtrak will make its first passenger stop there since the time when it was actually a dependable mode of transportation.
The only thing missing was a train, but there’s no way to adequately plan such a thing. Read more →
What’s wrong with us? Just about everything when it comes to adults and youth sports, Read more →
When’s the last time you used cursive writing? Read more →
Sen. Al Franken has tried mightily to get the nation — and the nation’s politicians — alarmed about the demise of net neutrality. For the most part, it’s fallen on deaf ears because the nation doesn’t really get technology and the politicians do get telecommunications money to influence public policy.
The public has been nothing but sleepy in response. Read more →
A report on climate change suggests that the Upper Midwest stands to benefit. For now. Read more →
More evidence that among the great injustices on the planet is that dogs don’t live longer. In Cooperstown, North Dakota — about 100 miles northwest of Fargo — a three-year-old boy was found safe early this morning after disappearing six hours earlier from his farm. Bloodhounds, people on foot, and an airplane were brought in Read more →
Most journalists are not Republicans but they’re not Democrats, either. Read more →
Here it is, your moment of Minnesota Zen. Read more →
You have to love a town that loves its library. Read more →
Bob Collins