Shout out to the "black shirt guy*" at the Blaine Target, who helped me to get my Consumer Cellular phone working again after two visits, a new SIM card, and no charge to me. * Staff in the black shirts are actually trained technicians. The kid who helped me was great, and really knew his stuff.

Different words, same meaning

Popular opinion (and Google AI) will tell you that Henry Fonda played a bad guy in a Western only one time, in Once Upon a Time in the West. But he also broke bad in Firecreek, a lesser-known film also made in 1968. Bad Henry! Bad!

This is so Minnesotan it hurts

The rodent has spoken, and was quickly taken away before he could finish his profanity-peppered statement about ICE.

Folks, this is how you write a headline that gets clicks

A lot of you folks have already read the Strib's feature on the Whipple Building, and the many injustices happening there. The story also reveals just how breathtakingly incompetent the feds are in these dark times.

She really is. These are the personal stories the rest of the nation/world needs to hear. Some damn fine writing, too.

I'm not saying this is a good idea, but MAN, would that piss him off if it happened. bringmethenews.com/minnesota-ne...

I put my faith in the predictive powers of large rodents EVERY day, not just today.

You can bet some racist redneck is writting a letter to the editor right now, bitterly complaining about the "divisive" flag they didn't know exisited until they saw this story. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

Still working on that outline for a plan, Senator? 🙄

Waking up to the horrifying news that the Kennedy Center will be closed for 2 years for "renovations." What sort of gilded nightmare will it look like when That Guy turns interior designer? I suspect he will insert his name and image into everthing. We may need to tear it down & rebuild.

I'll report later this week how Tuesday's precinct caucus went. Until then, speculation is useless.

Last summer I attended a rally at the VA to protest efforts to cut the staff there. I parked just outside the Whipple, took the light rail to the VA station, and listened as Walz and other speakers talked. Alex Pretti may have been working in the ICU that day, I don't know. But it seems sereal now.

I hate to go down conspiracy rabbitholes, but yesterday my phone mysteriously stopped working. 🤔

Since retiring, I have less presence on social media. This was an intentional action, this account is all I do now. Every now and then, one of my replies or posts goes a bit viral. Such was the case yesterday, when I commented on an @mprnews.org story. That comment was reposted 269 times.

Oh, my heart

The crop art at the 2026 Minnesota State Fair is going to be WAF, and I am SO looking forward to seeing it.

Surprised to see Wing Joint in the list of eateries that provide good food for $10 or less. The Joint is about 3 blocks away from the Stately Manor in Blaine.

We were going to watch Monuments Men last night, but anything with Nazis is just too triggering. So instead we did a Paddington double feature -- 2 and Peru.

My fellow customers in line had interesting choices in footwear: flip-flops and bedroom slippers.

Minnesota thanks Rep. Joaquin Castro @joaquincastrotx.bsky.social for bring back our friends and neighbors. If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know. 💙

They are coming home! www.ksat.com/news/local/2...

Remain calm and repeat after me: "Special elections are not good predictors of future election results" Now that we got that out of the way, go ahead and celebrate the Texas upset. 😉

Hell, life has taught that lession to millions, without tuition or a rubber nose.

Someday, when this is all over, I hope Columbia Heights gives little Liam and his family a parade. He is our future and our hope.

When I saw this I thought, man, when he's lost the ice anglers...

"We ride in unity" the organizers said, and they were right.

Not happy to hear about the flood of fake images and misinformation today, but I guess that what happens when they are clearly lossing the battle of public opinion. Which still matters, BTW.

As weird as it sounds now, when I wanted to go to the MOA, or the airport, or the VA, I used to park at the (then) seldom used Ft. Snelling light rail park and ride lot, because it was always open. Things have...changed. 🫤

The @mprnews.org story from St. Peter, MN is the talker of the day, and man, are people talking.

If you need a little brighness in your day, the volunteers who support our local library system are having their annual book sale fundraiser today, and people have been standing in line before doors open for almost an hour. It's the Northtown Library in Blaine, BTW.

Thanks for nothing, yer honor

I feel a little guilty getting all the likes, reposts, and new followers just because I share some of the great journalism @mprnews.org and others are doing here in Minnesota. While THOUSANDS were out marching, observing, reporting, and organizing, I spent much of this month recovering at home.

Even even the police chiefs had had enough...

"But why didn't someone warn us this could happen?" "The media isn't doing its job!" "It's just That Guy being That Guy. Don't take it literally" 🙄🙄🙄

I used to volunteer at these ceremonies, which I found very moving and inspirational. Today, they hit a little differently, like everything I thought I knew about America.

Mocked and patronized by the Right, Minnesota moms got busy and amazed the world. They are still going strong. Mothers of massive resistance: PTA members organize Minneapolis relief efforts www.minnpost.com/metro/2026/0...

While true that mayors have very limited abilities to stop ICE, it is also true that they are responsible for the well being and safety of city residents. "Not my job" isn't the leaderhip message people want to hear right now. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

Will anger about the Occupation spark greater turnout at the next election? Our first hint will come on Tuesday, Feb. 3, when precenct caucus are held statewide. Smarter folk than I will be looking at the attendance numbers carefully.

For the second week in a row, our community weekly newspaper is packed with news and commentary about the Occupation. People are showing up at city council meetings with questions and concerns. Blaine, Spring Lake Park. Fridley. Something is happening in the 'burbs. Stay tuned.

On the plus side, the gospel singers on Almanac were great, and just what we need right now.

Chicago, we love you

Man, that substitue for David Brooks on PBS NewsHour was full-out MAGA wackadoodle today. The jerk lectured US about the cause of the Occupation. GET THE HOOK!!!

Not now, dickrocket

A reminder, if needed, that the We Rate Dogs guy has been standing with us from the start.

Mrs. Lungs is watching Guadalcanal Diary, one of the sub-genre of early WW2 films. Like others made at the time, it is pretty damn grim. ☠️

Catherine O'Hara and John Candy are together in the Good Place. Gilda Radner just told a joke, and John Belushi is rolling on the floor. They are about to order the best pizza they ever tasted, get wonderfully drunk together, and fall asleep laughing.

"The school must also change its name to White University..."