Europe provides important lessons for the Postal Service
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Amid news of a faltering economy, the U.S. Postal Service continues to suffer heavy losses. Continue Reading
Camping with the speaker
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It’s time to pack the minivan, make sure there’s no holes in the tent and the cooler is full of beer (or juice). Schools across the state are ending, summer break is upon us and that means it’s camping season, right?
Keep that coughing cook home
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Connecticut has something that Minnesota doesn’t have. In fact, Connecticut has something unique among all the fifty states: paid sick leave for service workers.
Reality testing the conservative hard-line with constituents
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Minnesota’s 2011 state legislative session began and ended on a hard-line note. Conservative policy majorities in both chambers led with conservative orthodoxy; regularly reaffirmed that orthodoxy; and then, the day after session ended, flew around Minnesota holding press conferences trumpeting their brilliant orthodoxy. Continue Reading
If Bob Dylan can move forward, why can’t Minnesota?
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I seriously considered writing an analysis of the state legislature’s recent epic fail using only Bob Dylan song lyrics. Bob turns 70 today and he’s been writing songs for something like 50-55 of those 70 years, creating a lot of material for adaptation. The challenge isn’t finding sufficiently relevant lyrics but narrowing the pool.
The P is for pipe dream
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Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) is a name not well known outside of transportation circles, and for good reason: its deployment is extremely limited and its concept has substantial flaws.
Extreme cuts in spite of it all
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We were right, but I’m not happy about it. In an April Hindsight blog, John Van Hacke predicted that conservative conference committees would result in conservative policy.
Keep the soil where it belongs
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Growing up on the farm, I quickly learned that the dirt encrusting winter snow banks came from our fields. It didn’t particularly bother me only because I didn’t understand that topsoil was our livelihood. That changed as I aged. Consequently, when my parents began altering their tillage practices and more soil stayed in the field, I understood their decision. Continue Reading
Learn how to live green this weekend
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The 10th annual Living Green Expo is this weekend, and it is shaping up to be an excellent two-day celebration of all things green, presented by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership. Continue Reading
Anticipating hardships from job-killing budget cuts
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Just how vulnerable is your community to the severe budget cuts Minnesota’s Legislature is considering?