|
2023 Columns
|
Ready for spring, 2/3/23
Trading human contact for efficiency, 1/27/23
Learning for life, 1/20/23
Always include the good with the bad, 1/13/23
A man with a plan, 1/6/23
|
2022 Columns
|
The responsiblity of service, 12/30/22
Never give up, 12/23/22
Ghosts of Christmas past, 12/16/22
Anything is possible at Christmas, 12/09/22
Falls aren't as much fun as they used to be, 12/02/22
A season of giving, 11/25/22
Those who do the most often talk the least, 11/18/22
Veterans deserve better, 11/11/22
What kind of a world do you want to live in,? 11/04/22
Compassion can be the first step in addressing homelessness, 10/28/22
Don't call them animals, 10/21/22
Minnesotans deserve integrity from elected officals, 10/14/22
Snail mail's biggest fans, 10/07/22
Wrap rage is real, 9/30/22
Fullfilling a promise: she lived a life of service, 9/16/22
Arrested for helping a neighbor?, 9/09/22
It's electric, 9/02/22
Do it now, 8/26/22
Mobile meals, old style, 8/19/22
What if the cancer that has tainted politics were to infect sports, 8/12/22
The ADA: improving lives for three decades, 8/05/22
The importance of lists, 7/29/22
Skippy and the entertainment center, 7/22/22
No one is above the law, 7/15/22
The wrong kind of firewords, 7/8/22
A Facebook pariah, 7/1/22
I’d rather stay at ground level, 6/24/22
Seeing what the birds see, 6/17/22
Students leading by example, 6/10/22
Down with pop-ups, 6/03/22
Health care at its best, 5/27/22
The big three summit, 5/20/22
It's scandalous, 5/13/22
Sleep is not what it used to be, 5/06/22
Accept no substitutes, 4/29/22
Skippy take charge, 4/22/22
What do you see?, 4/15/22
Frustrated by forms, 4/08/22
Juno, 4/01/22
Slow down!, 3/25/22
The ethics of Wordle, 3/18/22
We must stand united against tyranny, 3/11/22
A new chapter, 3/04/22
|
2021 Columns
|
Suicide is not the answer, 9/24/21
Responsibility goes both ways, 9/17/21
The lessons of 9/11, 9/10/21
Working together makes sense, 9/3/21
On the road again, 08/27/21
Rewarding the wrong people, 08/20/21
There is hope in the young, 08/13/21
Making good decisions, 08/06/21
It’s time to end sexualization of female athletes, 07/30/21
Under the weather, 07/23/21
Rooming house revival?, 07/16/21
Little did we know ... , 07/09/21
Criticize and commend, 07/02/21
VIPs put others at risk, 06/25/21
Morning people (and those who aren’t), 06/18/21
Disorder at 36,000 feet, 06/11/21
Fun outside the school, 06/04/21
Ful-Phil-ling a dream, 05/28/21
R.I.P., customer service
Modern job anxiety, 05/14/21
Life is passing me by, 05/07/21
Ready for an escape, 04/30/21
Remote meetings can be valuable, 04/23/21
Liberty and justice for some, 04/16/21
Steps in the right direction, 04/09/21
A new view of success, 04/02/21
Letters are special, 03/26/21
Public meeting parttcipation, 03/19/21
Karma can be painful, 03/12/21
Birds are brilliant, 03/05/21
School board learns lesson, 02/26/21
Loving first sight, 02/19/21
Survival of the dumbest, 02/12/21
Never stop learning, 02/05/21
High security, 01/29/21
Which ‘our’?, 01/22/21
False expectations, 01/15/21
Inferior instructions, 01/08/21
Good riddance, 2020, 01/01/21
|
2020 Columns
|
Yes, it would be Christmas, 12/25/20
Hope in the face of hate, 12/18/20
Pandemic creates changes, 12/11/20
The value of good service, 12/04/20
Gumbo gold, 11/27/20
God’s special helpers, 11/20/20
Canine test drives, 11/13/20
Cheers to the poll workers, 11/06/20
Just vote, 10/30/20
Stories we’ll never hear, 10/23/20
Members get one vote, 10/16/20
Physics we can use, 10/09/20
Tricky communication, 10/02/20
Making things ‘a little better’, 09/25/20
Adapting to change, 09/18/20
What’s the next pandemic trend?, 09/11/20
Predators in power, 09/04/20
The value of a job, 08/28/20
Where’s my hat?, 08/21/20
The song is not quite the same, 08/14/20
Blame the gyroscope, 08/07/20
Skippy shows initiative, 07/31/20
A change I’d like to see, 07/24/20
Government fails again, 07/17/20
Something is missing, 07/10/20
Vintage writing tools, 07/03/20
The language of a pandemic, 06/26/20
Candidates needed, 06/19/20
Even swimming is complicated, 06/12/20
A time for change, 06/05/20
Losing one’s roots, 05/29/20
The price is too high, 05/22/20
What you do to them, you do to me, 05/15/20
Mothers teach us priceless lessons, 05/08/20
Too much of a good thing?, 05/01/20
Making sacrifices to protect others, 04/24/20
We're not in control, 04/17/20
Putting others at risk, 04/10/20
Attitudes are contagious, 04/03/20
Back to basics, 03/27/20
United we stand, 03/20/20
This isn’t civilized, 03/13/20
Embracing AI narration, 03/06/20
Happy retirement, Maria, 02/28/20
Adventures in hiring, 02/21/20
Swept up in hoaxes, 02/14/20
A way to improve political speeches, 02/07/20
The far mountains, 01/31/20
Answering the call, 01/24/20
Still thinking for myself, 01/17/20
Playgrounds for adults, 01/10/20
Beware of quicksand, 01/03/20
|
2019 Columns
|
Missing blocks of time, 12/27/19
A car is not the place to shop, 12/20/19
The benefits of feeling bad, 12/13/19
Gifts anyone can afford, 12/06/19
Cowardly saboteurs, 11/29/19
We are thankful, 11/22/19
Censorship is not the answer, 11/15/19
No need to think for yourself, 11/08/19
Use social media responsibly, 11/01/19
Not-quite-instant cameras 10/25/19
Footprints in the snow, 10/18/19
The HR game show, 10/10/19
Taking care of future accomplices, 10/04/19
Examining corruption, 09/27/19
Self-discipline in the digital age, 09/20/19
Using photos to reduce household clutter, 09/13/19
Those left behind, 09/06/19
An historic treasure trove, 08/30/19
Perusing a parade of peculiar products, 08/23/19
A new crop of teachers, 08/16/19
Bike safety begins at home
Mystery photos, 08/02/19
Calendar inconsistency, 07/26/19
A state of diversity, 07/19/19
Still above water, 07/12/19
Laws can’t do everything, 07/05/19
Return of the milkman?, 06/28/19
Driving like cats, 06/21/19
The icebox adventure, 06/14/19
Taking it outdoors, 06/07/19
Another threat, 05/31/19
People behind the names, 05/24/19
A new twist on bars, 05/17/19
The palm trees are greener, 05/10/19
Catching up to my old man, 05/03/19
A visit to the mall, 04/26/19
A lady in distress, 04/19/19
Poetic justice?, 04/12/19
Creating space, 04/05/19
Mingo and the Mountain, 03/29/19
Feeling sleep deprived, 03/22/19
Swimming in satiation, 03/15/19
It’s not malice, 03/08/19
Rock-a-bye baby?, 03/01/19
Feeling fortunate, 02/22/19
Leave the kids alone, 02/15/19
If you drop something, set it free, 02/08/19
Cold enough for ya?, 02/01/19
Tropical ambition, 01/25/19
A small sign of hope, 01/18/19
Government can work, 01/11/19
A touch of class, 01/04/19
2018 Colu
Riding the roller coaster, 12/28/18
No big red bows for me, 12/21/18
What do you get for $16,000?, 12/14/18
When the office becomes a gridiron, 12/07/18
We are all just numbers, 11/30/18
A tribute to the living, 11/23/18
Childhood dangers then and now, 11/16/18
Common ground, 11/09/18
My Nest makes life better, 11/02/18
Adult juice boxes, 10/26/18
Non-standard sizes, 10/19/18
Natural theater, 10/12/18
Rethinking the workweek, 10/05/18
Stress of the season, 09/28/18
Newman’s irresponsible tweet illustrates need for change, 09/21/18
Cheez Balls are back!, 09/14/18
The hiring game has changed, 09/07/18
Play is a serious matter, 08/31/18
A sensible solution, 08/24/18
Mingo and the bird, 08/17/18
No summer picnic, 08/10/18
How valuable are petitions?, 08/03/18
More adventures in shopping, 07/27/18
Going solo, 07/20/18
Nightmare land, 07/13/18
Dying to tell the truth, 07/06/18
‘It’s our fault,' 06/29/18
Just like printing money, 06/22/18
Agenda abuse, 06/15/18
Employees shouldn’t hire their own boss, 06/08/18
Summer break blues, 06/01/18
Service with honor, 05/25/18
When going forward is not enough, 05/18/18
Two kinds of meetings, 05/11/18
A night on the lam, 05/04/18
Finding the magic, 04/27/18
The importance of preparation, 04/20/18
Accountability, not excuses, 04/13/18
One chip away from genius, 04/06/18
One more obstacle, 03/30/18
Still a good message, 03/23/18
Nagged by devices, 03/16/18
We need good decisions, not just good intentions, 03/09/18
Digital detritus, 03/02/18
A new set of challenges, 02/23/18
Settle the heck down, 02/16/18
First-world taste test, 02/09/18
Bored by pointless warnings, 02/02/18
Two sides of paradise, 01/26/18
Bandwagons and superstitions, 01/19/18
More keys than locks, 01/12/18
They laugh while people die, 01/05/18
|
2017 Columns
|
Everyone can do something, 12/29/17
Christmas then and now, 12/22/17
Unusual Christmas traditions, 12/15/17
It’s the thought that counts, 12/08/17
Don’t tell me it’s good for me, 12/01/17
Manson killed our innocence, 11/24/17
MNLARS debacle illustrates the need for reform, 11/17/17
Beware of Bambi, 11/10/17
The road to trivial information, 11/03/17
Looking back at Duluth, 10/27/17
Skippy at the Renaissance fair, 10/20/17
Dreading the darkness, 10/13/17
The state of oblivion, 10/06/17
Shuffling the hours, 09/29/17
Convenient or creepy?, 09/22/17
Corporal maintenance, 09/15/17
Learning language from experts, 09/08/17
Looking back at going back to class, 09/01/17
The good thing about problems, 08/25/17
Volunteers add quality of life, 08/18/17
Skippy gets reunited, 08/11/17
No need to renew those unions, 08/04/17
A case for tarring and feathering?
Skippy’s fitness challenge, 07/21/17
It’s not our job to remind them, 07/14/17
Burnt offerings, 07/07/17
Entertainment with a bonus, 06/30/17
Mingo’s wild ride, 06/23/17
Teaching boys to be men, 06/16/17
A bad day at work, 06/09/17
Failure to fold, 06/02/17
Focus on heroes, not terrorists, 09/29/17
Mingo flirts with romance, 05/22/17
The old back trouble is back, 05/15/17
Determined to declutter, 05/08/17
Think before you click, 05/01/17
Comfort doesn’t justify closed meetings, 04/24/17
Helping people do the right thing, 04/17/17
Good teachers stay with us forever, 04/10/17
Commercials that cause me not to buy, 04/03/17
A good belt won’t let a guy down, 03/27/17
Dreading the search for a doc, 03/20/17
Public information depends on all of us, 03/13/17
Children’s author not a threat, 03/06/17
Sweet dreams or nightmares?, 02/27/17
The curse of computer calories, 02/20/17
Keeping mummu close to home, 02/13/17
Faking not living a life, 02/06/17
Adventure shopping, 01/30/17
Would you go back?, 01/23/17
Skippy gets the goat, 01/16/17
Cold, but thankful, 01/09/17
Playing games is time well spent, 01/02/17
|
2016 Columns
|
Setting the stage for a new year, 12/26/16
Candy cane-striped finish line, 12/19/16
Another grievance for the list, 12/12/16
Making spirits bright, 12/05/16
Is best always worth celebrating?, 11/28/16
The math of getting old, 11/21/16
From news to legend, 11/14/16
Root beer and respect, 11/07/16
Oct. 31 moves to second place, 10/31/16
Who will step up and lead?, 10/24/16
Don’t rush to give up freedom, 10/17/16
Milestones along the road of life, 10/10/16
The cost of artificial playgrounds, 10/03/16
No fighting, no biting!, 09/26/16
Exercising our creativity, 09/19/16
The lesson of the ants, 09/12/16
The great battle for territory, 09/05/16
Don’t forget the duties, 08/29/16
Keeping in touch with the creatures, 08/22/16
Conversations no one wants to have but should, 08/15/16
The bookstore is back, 08/08/16
Learning from the storms, 08/01/16
At home with the bears, 07/25/16
Why the need to destroy people?, 07/18/16
Service without the service, 04/11/16
It’s time to think for ourselves, 07/04/16
Similar job, different title, 06/27/16
Miigwech, Jim. Giga-waabamin menawaa, 06/20/16
Rapist is not the victim, 06/13/16
The last cat, 06/06/16
More parents than partners, 05/30/16
Duluth landmark fades into history, 05/23/16
More fun with words, 05/16/16
Back in action, 05/09/16
I could use a shopping advisor, 05/02/16
School threats reduce freedom, 04/25/16
Salad season, 04/18/16
Mingo and the Roadshow, 04/11/16
Contempt for taxpayers, 04/04/16
Breaking it all down, 03/28/16
The tidiness ratio, 03/21/16
Who is going to fix it?, 03/14/16
The adult possibilities store, 03/07/16
When truth ceases to matter, 02/29/16
Mingo’s magic night, 02/22/16
Changing the benchmark, 02/15/16
One day, two extremes, 02/08/16
A month for everything, 02/01/16
Goodbye Grizzly Adams, 01/25/16
The sad case of the simian selfie, 01/18/16
Accept the help that is offered, 01/11/16
Accept our terms or go home, 01/04/16s2015 Column
Skippy’s resolution revolution, 12/28/15
Don’t put that in the paper, 12/21/15
Christmas wishes, 12/14/15
A woman’s touch, 12/07/15
Skippy goes shopping, 11/30/15
Portable posessions, 11/23/15
It’s not easy to give up convenience, 11/16/15
Unfussy food: simply delicious, 11/09/15
A decade of living the dream, 11/02/15
Impatient with small delays, 10/26/15
ID debate not worth the argument, 10/19/15
Medical advice choices, 10/12/15
One person’s rights don’t negate the rights of others, 10/05/15
We can all learn from the Leopards, 09/28/15
House hunting is like dating, 09/21/15
Planning for the end of the world, 09/14/15
Restored, not renamed, 09/07/15
A complete body overhaul?, 08/31/15
In praise of paper maps, 08/24/15
We need a better filter, 08/17/15
Down with drones, 08/10/15
Are drugs making us sick?, 08/03/15
Number 500, 07/27/15
An unreasonable demand, 07/20/15
Taking a time out, 07/13/15
Skippy takes a fall, 07/06/15
It’s beautiful when it works, 06/29/15
Cleaning for the cleaner, 06/22/15
Men couldn’t do it, 06/15/15
We shouldn’t need an excuse, 06/08/15
Love, or something like it, is in the air, 06/01/15
Thumbs down, 05/25/15
Mingo makes an impression, 05/11/15
Rassling memories live on, 05/04/15
Shake it off, 04/27/15
From local control to out of control, 04/20/15
Springtime reflex, 04/13/15
Job skills change with technology, 04/06/15
The benefits of aging, 03/30/15
Birds who can’t sing, 03/23/15
People are like houses, 03/16/15
Moove with the times: adopt a cow, 03/09/15
First Congress passes first ‘sin tax’, 03/02/15
Dreaming of the endless summer, 02/23/15
A suitcase full of memories, 02/16/15
The real humbug holiday, 02/09/15
You can’t take THAT on a plane, 02/02/15
Adventures with a madman, 01/26/15
Bizarre or just unfamiliar?, 01/19/15
Free speech faces new threats, 01/12/15
Time passages, 01/05/15
|
2014 Columns
|
Turn the page, 12/29/14
It doesn’t have to stop now, 12/22/14
Underwhelmed by underwear models, 12/15/14
Do we really want to know?, 12/08/14
Searching for clarity in muddy waters, 12/01/14
Watching ideas come to life, 11/24/14
Mingo meets the mayor, 11/17/14
Student runners set shining example, 11/10/14
New rules in the old dating game, 11/03/14
The game changers, 10/27/14
Give women the respect they deserve, 10/20/14
Boys in old men’s bodies, 10/13/14
Happiness is just a few steps away, 10/06/14
Is card security a myth?, 09/29/14
Beggars can’t be choosers, 09/22/14
A trail to somewhere, 09/15/14
Drinking in the dark, 09/08/14
Lurch and the determined damsel, 09/01/14
It’s state un-fair time again, 08/25/14
App would help save the soused, 08/18/14
People are getting dumber, 08/11/14
In support of the thin blue line, 08/04/14
Is it really that difficult?, 07/28/14
Time for a new look at the circus?, 07/21/14
A summer place, 07/14/14
Governmental extortion, 07/07/14
Horns of harassment, 06/30/14
Will they be around after the election?, 06/23/14
Homeless Minnesotans need hope, 06/16/14
Deano and the bear, 06/09/14
Autonomous automobiles, 06/02/14
The secret to a happy marriage, 05/26/14
The loneliest place on earth, 05/19/14
Ditch the worn-out words, 05/12/14
Acceptably unacceptable, 05/05/14
The skills of our forefathers, 04/28/14
Instant replay in the home, 04/21/14
No computers in coffee shops?, 04/14/14
A season for romance, 04/07/14
Facebook settlement is a victory for all of us, 03/31/14
Fever!, 03/24/14
The power of preposterous ideas, 03/17/14
Kids can make a person feel ancient, 03/10/14
The anti-bucket list, 03/03/14
Body parts age at different rates, 02/24/14
People and cameras, 02/17/14
Fishing for independence, 02/10/14
No such thing as a 10-minute job, 02/03/14
The way winter was, 01/27/14
The cakewalk to enlightenment, 01/20/14
Dim bulbs making the rules, 01/13/14
Retirement: a modern fairy tale, 01/06/14
|
2013 Columns
|
|
Accentuate the positive, 12/30/13
Books offer benefits, but only if we read them, 12/23/13
There is still hope for Christmas, 12/16/13
A special letter, 12/09/13
My compliments to the mayor, 12/02/13
Fix-it clinics are a win-win proposition, 11/25/13
One name doesn’t = famous, 11/18/13
Lost: sense, of the common sort, 11/11/13
The morning after the night before, 11/04/13
Bear envy: dreaming of nap magic, 10/28/13
The feasts of autumn, 10/21/13
Technology addiction?, 10/14/13
It’s time for an intervention, 10/07/13
A salute to emergency workers, 09/30/13
Feed people, not the trash can, 09/23/13
A stimulating spray, 09/16/13
Give them enough rope, 09/09/13
Independence works both ways, 09/02/13
Save the tribute; just treat workers right, 08/26/13
Good girls don’t, 08/19/13
The Association rides again, 08/12/13
The talkers and the do-ers, 08/05/13
Shame is extinct, but apathy thrives, 07/29/13
Back to the sauna, 07/22/13
Being a sidekick is a lousy job, 07/15/13
Some still like it hot, 07/08/13
Reuniting with our roots, 07/01/13
Summer reading season, 06/24/13
Another beautiful friendship, 06/17/13
Reduce waste and harvest benefits, 06/10/13
Adaptability will be key for grads, 06/03/13
Small screen escapism, 05/27/13
Shield laws protect more than journalists, 05/20/13
A testing drive, 05/13/13
Actions should have consequences, 05/06/13
A pedaler’s paradise, 04/29/13
Seniors have much to share, 04/22/13
Second thoughts about hermitage, 04/15/13
Big scale bar fights, 04/08/13
A summer of surprises, 04/01/13
Privacy is becoming hard to find, 03/25/13
GRAS or gross?, 03/18/13
Open government requires vigilance, 03/11/13
Fast food of a different breed, 03/04/13
Briers checks out of rat race for good, 02/25/13
Bad behavior or good sports?, 02/18/13
Auto options can drive one batty, 02/11/13
Pressing on into the future, 02/04/13
A legacy worth preserving, 01/28/13
Smoke on the breeze, 01/21/13
A new definition of sweatshop, 01/14/13
Farewell to a champion, 01/07/13
|
|
2012 Columns
|
|
Downton is a true masterpiece, 12/31/12
Sad lives and tragic consequences, 12/24/12
A host of holiday delights, 12/17/12
Invest in people, 12/10/12
An office with a view, 12/03/12
Simple solutions not allowed, 11/26/12
Black Friday blues, 11/19/12
It’s time to row together, 11/12/12
Another autumn invasion, 11/05/12
Captain Sparrow was right, 10/29/12
The big day is approaching, 10/22/12
All Minnesotans are equal, 10/15/12
Technology is fading into history, 10/08/12
The beginning of baking season, 10/01/12
Why should kids have all the fun?, 09/24/12
A world-class sales pitch, 09/17/12
A lesson in finance, 09/10/12
Stealing more than signs, 09/03/12
The Curmudgeon’s food tree, 08/27/12
Discouraging distracted dining, 08/20/12
The wisdom of the jars, 08/13/12
Going for the gold, 08/06/12
Obsessed with the negative, 07/30/12
Addicted to air conditioning, 07/23/12
Disappearing summer vacation, 07/16/12
Remembering Scotty, 07/09/12
Bring back the spirit of ‘76, 07/02/12
After the rain, 06/25/12
Defending, not condoning, cussing, 06/18/12
The food police are watching, 06/11/12
Time to go back to school?, 06/04/12
Interpreting employment ads, 05/28/12
Lives behind the numbers, 05/21/12
A burden or a blessing?, 05/14/12
Neighborhood watch, old style, 05/07/12
Navigating new relationships, 04/30/12
More contempt for taxpayers, 04/23/12
Due for some driving lessons, 04/16/12
A snapshot in time, 04/09/12
Casting too wide a net, 04/02/12
A magic undo button for life, 03/26/12
Take a chance on new things, 03/19/12
Sunshine alone is not enough, 03/12/12
Provocateurs can open our eyes, 03/05/12
Places can become part of us, 02/27/12
Is small change facing extinction?, 02/20/12
Absolutes are rarely absolute, 02/13/12
Keep Uncle Sam out of my shopping cart, 02/06/12
Reversing the wrong kind of gain, 01/30/12
Obsessed with change, 01/23/12
Big hammer saves the day, 01/16/12
Dead zones could offer sanctuary, 01/09/12
A doc of one’s own, 01/02/12
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2011 Columns
|
|
What will you put in your letter?, 12/26/11
Christmas is in short supply, 12/19/11
Some things aren’t meant to be, 12/12/11
Creating a not-to-do list, 12/05/11
Time to boot the ‘in’ crowd out, 11/28/11
Many reasons to be thankful, 11/21/11
Gifts that keep on giving, 11/14/11
Not-so-common knowledge, 11/07/11
Lessons learned and damage done, 10/31/11
Beware of the POD people, 10/24/11
Steve Jobs lived for the possible, 10/17/11
Language of the Wild Kingdom, 10/10/11
A piece of the action, 10/03/11
Thanks, but no thanks, 09/26/11
Take a time-out to regroup, 09/19/11
The scourge of September, 09/12/11
Reaping nature’s bounty, 09/05/11
Keystone Kongress follies, 08/29/11
Extreme obsession on the rise, 08/22/11
Not a drop to drink, 08/15/11
A different world, 08/08/11
Towns for sale, 08/01/11
Other people’s moccasins, 07/25/11
Men will be boys, 07/18/11
We need compromise, not blame, 07/11/11
Road hogs are a menace, 07/04/11
Playing chicken with the state, 06/20/11
Dishonesty is not a virtue, 06/13/11
Turnabout: switching roles, 06/06/11
Advice at our fingertips, 05/30/11
Slimmer kids, fatter government, 05/23/11
Liquid investment at work, 05/16/11
Steeped in tradition, 05/09/11
The retrogression of communication, 05/02/11
Trouble in store; or bad manners in a big box, 04/25/11
Some things never change, 04/18/11
The things we used to know, 04/11/11
We can’t put the genie back in the bottle, 04/04/11
Right people, wrong jobs, 03/28/11
Rolling with the changes, 03/21/11
Shining a light on public data, 03/14/11
Cage matches for congress, 03/07/11
We may be luckier than we think, 02/28/11
A calamity in cubeville, 02/21/11
State cuts off barber, 02/14/11
Reverse economic development, 02/07/11
Sitting together isn’t enough, 01/31/11
The weakest link, 01/24/11
A tip of the cap to Mr. Poe, 01/17/11
A sign of the times, 01/10/11
Cold, wet, and crazy, 01/03/11
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2010 Columns
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The Etch A Sketch of life, 12/27/10
A season of believing, 12/20/10
A solidarity Christmas, 12/13/10
Filling in the blanks, 12/06/10
Using the proper address, 11/29/10
Thermostats up, seats down, 11/22/10
A change is in the air, 11/15/10
We can all learn from Nov. 11, 11/08/10
It will all be over soon, 11/01/10
Wrestling with retirement, 10/25/10
Unraveling the secret code, 10/18/10
Leg of lunkhead, lightly toasted, 10/11/10
Drifting into retirement, 10/04/10
The way we weren’t, 09/27/10
Driving the friendly skies, 09/20/10
Where does the dough go?, 09/13/10
Joe Friday had the right idea, 09/06/10
The wide world of advertising, 08/30/10
Captains put drivers to shame, 08/23/10
Old friends and new beginnings, 08/16/10
Foreclosure scams hurt us all, 08/09/10
Why we report public salaries, 08/02/10
Share hugs, not hate, 07/26/10
Life at a more relaxed pace, 0719/10
The Minnesota mosquito mambo, 07/12/10
Government should do no harm, 07/05/10
Dread in the dentist’s chair, 06/28/10
Living life to the fullest, 06/21/10
Perceptions can be deceiving, 06/14/10
A new life for old books, 06/07/10
A demonstration I’d like to see, 05/31/10
The perils of product testing, 05/24/10
Who is responsible?, 05/17/10
This is not cheap energy, 05/10/10
Saving more than time, 05/03/10
Earthquakes, Iranian style, 04/26/10
Nuclear threat is evolving, 04/19/10
Deception doesn’t pay, 04/12/10
Rich, complex, and delicious, 04/05/10
A psychedelic holiday, 03/29/10
Loud wind and thick fog, 03/22/10
Singin’ in the kitchen, 03/15/10
Too much or not enough?
Some flashing lights aren’t just for decoration, 03/01/10
Never stop moving ahead, 02/22/10
Grant us a limit to grants, 02/15/10
Surviving Valentine’s Day, 02/08/10
The Internet hasn’t made us any smarter, 02/01/10
Joy comes in the morning, 01/25/10
We could use some new ‘top words’ this year, 01/18/10
New standards for candidates, 01/11/10
Cyber-sports injuries on the rise, 01/04/10
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Curmudgeon's Corner
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Ivan Raconteur
Herald Journal Editor |
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2009 Columns
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The indiscretions of Tiger, 12/28/09
Enjoying greeting card season, 12/21/09
The devil in the yellow truck, 12/14/09
People who make a difference, 12/07/09
Now is not the time, 11/30/09
A customer-repellent web site, 11/23/09
The Oscar Madison syndrome, 11/16/09
Watching crime is criminal, 11/09/09
A lady’s boudoir exposed, 11/02/09
Big TVs reveal big problem, 10/26/09
The truth about licenses, 10/19/09
Whac-A-Mole foreign policy, 10/12/09
The battle of the boxes, 10/05/09
Characters with character, 09/28/09
Ivan and the nest of evil, 09/21/09
Isolation won’t solve anything, 09/14/09
The income gap is growing, 09/07/09
Voluntary imprisonment?, 08/31/09
We are what we watch, 08/24/09
Shouting is not a solution, 08/17/09
One big dysfunctional family, 08/10/09
Racism still exists, 08/03/09
It’s time for a shake-up, 07/27/09
The call of the open road, 07/20/09
Packaging frustration, 07/13/09
Health food with a twist, 07/06/09
Research we can use, 06/29/09
The worst part of the job, 06/22/09
One thing leads to another, 06/15/09
Ladies are not gentlemen, 06/08/09
Grilling season is back, 06/01/09
Turning tradition to luxury, 05/25/09
Safety versus stupidity, 05/18/09
Vacations then and now, 05/11/09
A toast to momisms, 05/04/09
Taxes are real money, 04/27/09
Cooking for one, 04/20/09
The Iron Man signs off, 04/13/09
It is our sport and religion, 04/06/09
Two guys appliance shopping, 03/30/09
How home sales work, 3/23/09
Keeping public information public, 3/16/09
Dreaming of the greens, 3/9/09
For some, words have meaning, 3/2/09
We’re not out of the jungle yet, 2/23/09
Foxes minding the chicken coop, 2/16/09
Where’s the service?, 2/9/09
Be careful what you wish for, 2/2/09
Complacency can be risky, 1/26/09
Basic phones facing extinction, 1/19/09
New sheriff faces tough job, 1/12/09
Let’s speed up the recount, 1/5/09
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2008 Columns
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An action plan for the new year, 12/29/08
Local aid could fall victim to the Grinch, 12/22/08
A Christmas confession revealed, 12/15/08
Black Friday just got blacker, 12/08/08
Piracy has lost its romance, 12/01/08
A fitting fix for US automakers, 11/24/08
They walk among us, 11/17/08
A strange sensation of hope, 11/10/08
A clash of generations, 11/03/08
The words aren’t the problem, 10/27/08
I’m glad you asked me that . . . 10/20/08
The new gold rush, 10/13/08
Taxpayers could use a bailout, 10/06/08
The modified Tom Sawyer stratagem, 09/29/08
Savoring the autumn, 09/22/08
We all need a BS filter, 09/15/08
Trading art for sewer repairs, 09/08/08
It’s time to mind our own allotment, 09/01/08
Terror on the wing, 08/25/08
When the fantasy fades, 08/18/08
The bliss of someone else’s cooking, 08/11/08
Montrose residents take note: beware the malcontents, 08/04/08
Bathing with flesh-eating fish, 07/28/08
Fannie and Freddie vs. Joe Taxpayer, 07/21/08
The trouble with cell phones, 07/14/08
Fighting our fear of vacations, 07/07/08
Fireworks worth remembering, 06/30/08
Questionable kids’ cards, 06/23/08
Racism or just plain ignorance?, 06/16/08
Weed out the fossils, 06/09/08
A new career for the curmudgeon, 06/02/08
When private photos go public, 05/26/08
Still rolling along, 05/19/08
Help the ‘can’ts,’ not the ‘won’ts’, 05/12/08
Text message madness, 05/05/08
Corporate welfare is risky business, 04/28/08
Bad apples need behavior modification, 04/21/08
A brief look at unmentionables, 04/14/08
With this ring I me wed, 04/07/08
When life hands you rats, make ratatouille, 03/31/08
Rewriting Aesop’s fables, 03/24/08
Country mice in the big city, 03/17/08
A false sense of security, 03/10/08
Hungry hedgehogs and a moose mystery, 03/03/08
The sweet sound of silence, 02/25/08
The Suckers’ Rights Coalition, 02/18/08
The thin red line, 02/11/08
Catch them doing something right, 02/04/08
Britney and the cream soda, 01/28/08
When will we be ready?, 01/21/08
A spudtacular celebration, 01/14/08
Understanding the punctually-challenged, 01/07/08
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2007 Columns
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The past offers a key to the future, 12/31/07
Googling oneself goes mainstream, 12/24/07
What goes up doesn’t come down, 12/17/07
Baboons in lab coats urge salt shake-up, 12/10/07
It’s a dog’s life for Lexy, 12/03/07
Don’t wait for second chances, 11/26/07
Things are funnier from a distance, 11/19/07
So many faces, so little time, 11/12/07
Liberty could become victim of war on terror, 11/05/07
PC freaks are scarier than Halloween, 10/29/07
Smart carts and stupid shoppers, 10/22/07
Charitable extortion, 10/15/07
Restroom romance and the gender gap, 10/8/07
Confessions of a financial idiot, 10/1/07
Presenteeism: it’s enough to make one sick, 9/24/07
Jails are not country clubs, 9/17/07
Funky fish and toxic toys, 9/10/07
Literacy is a beginning, not an end, 9/3/07
Scraping by on six figures, 8/27/07
Looking through rose (or purple) glasses, 8/20/07
Trading liberty for conformity, 8/13/07
The compliment trap, 8/6/07
Vermilion State Park deserves support, 7/30/07
The symphony of the north, 7/23/07
Much ado about mooing, 7/16/07
Tax reform, Lady Godiva style, 7/9/07
Life is like a llama show, 7/2/07
Animals on the rampage, 6/25/07
Passport pandemonium, 6/18/07
Elvis at city hall?, 6/11/07
Helpful advice for newlyweds, 6/4/07
Turning morons into millionaires, 5/28/07
Life is a gamble, 5/21/07
Opportunity (not entitlement), 5/14/07
Big cheese becomes big star
Dog bite blues: owners responsible, 4/30/07
The wide weird world of sports, 4/23/07
Deciphering the (dress) code, 4/16/07
Political amnesia, 4/9/07
Eco-chic fashion growing in popularity, 4/2/07
Russ and Carol: leading by example, 3/26/07
Girl Scout cookies under attack, 3/19/07
Beware of the blissfully unaware, 3/12/07
Don’t blame the weather, 3/5/07
What it is, is censorship, 2/26/07
A man’s chair is his castle, 2/19/07
The eagle and the deer head, 2/12/07
A good neighbor, 2/5/07
An accidental tourist, 1/29/07
The blind leading the clueless, 1/22/07
Fun, quick, and easy, 1/15/07
It’s not the cream rising to the top, 1/8/07
Men making scents, 1/1/07
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2006 Columns
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People are the key, 12/25/06
The joy of shopping, 12/18/06
For some, it is still Christmas, 12/11/06
Books are more than words, 12/4/06
Scarcity brings out the worst, 11/27/06
No tofu turkey, 11/20/06
Government: less is more, 11/13/06
Le cordon blah, 11/6/06
What is a ‘10’?, 10/30/06
The melting pot is full, 10/23/06
Technoinsanity, 10/16/06
The bugs are going to win, 10/9/06
In the land of the backless gowns, 10/2/06
Pope’s words not an excuse for murder, 9/25/06
Croc hunter was a lucky man, 9/18/06
The battle of the accessories, 9/11/06
Labor day musing, 9/4/06
Remind me..., 8/28/06
From appliance to idol, 8/21/06
Let natural selection take its course, 8/14/06
The best (and worst) new words, 8/7/06
When no news is good news, 7/31/06
Roll out the barrels, 7/24/06
Vandalism is not art, 7/10/06
Terrorist plot uncovered, 7/3/06
Rail travel just makes sense, 6/26/06
Keeping Minnesota’s forests, 6/19/06
What’s in a name?, 6/12/06
The cost of comfort, 6/5/06
A flood of electronics, 5/29/06
Experiments in education, 5/22/06
There oughta be a law, 5/15/06
Trade could solve problems, 5/8/06
A simple plan, 5/1/06
Dream or nightmare?, 4/24/06
The natural disorder, 4/17/06
Meeting our lives away, 4/10/06
Illegal and unequal, 4/3/06
The rites of spring, 3/27/06
Technology hangover, 3/20/06
A touch of black and green, 3/13/06
Real estate 101, 2/27/06
Death of an industry, 2/20/06
Black Tuesday, 2/13/06
Open enrollment - who pays?, 2/6/06
Not how Mama used to make it, 1/30/06
Good service is a two-way street, 1/23/06
Green couch, pink china, and white elephants, 1/16/06
Distracted driving not just a teen issue, 1/9/06
Death by conformity, 1/2/06
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2005 Columns
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The New Year’s curse, 12/26/05
Looking for the magic, 12/19/05
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