We sat in a circle and were each given a drum. There were tentative glances all around, mild taps searching out to see how the drums worked. No, this wasn’t some crazy hippy drum circle (I’m not that kind of liberal), but a music therapy session with coworkers. Music therapy sounds like it should be some sort of fake pseudo-science,
Election filings kick off official campaign season
Now it gets real. Although many candidates running for election this fall have been campaigning for months, Tuesday, May 22, marks the official beginning of the election season. On that day, candidates can begin filing with the secretary of state or local officials for positions up for election this fall. The early filing period, which ends June 5, is for
Never miss a chance to celebrate Statehood Day
So how did you celebrate Minnesota Statehood Day? Did you bake a Minnesota-shaped cake or do something more appropriate such as cooking wild rice soup? May 11 marked the 160th anniversary of Minnesota’s entry into the union as the 32nd state. Our family celebrated by participating in two uniquely Minnesotan experiences. Last week, our younger daughter returned home for a short vacation.
Grads: your vote may make the difference
Last week, I was able to have an experience I’ve been waiting to have for a good portion of my life; that is, to vote. Walking up to my local precinct to cast a ballot in the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district referendum, it occurred to me what a simple, yet powerful act this really is. I was in and out
Look past shenanigans for enduring Washington inspiration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Watching from Area Code 320, the nation’s capital appears to be the land of shenanigans and ridiculousness. Consider these recent events: • For the first time, a House of Representatives chaplain was fired, apparently because he offered a prayer that was not sufficiently supportive of the Republicans’ tax plan. The chaplain is a Jesuit, a religious order
Bell’s ferocious love of life wins
Bob Bell, unable to move, was on his back helpless in the hospital. Dreading the neurosurgeon’s dire verdict, he finally found the courage to ask, “Will I ever walk again?” “Son, you’re a quadriplegic,” said the neurosurgeon. And Bell thought to himself, “I’d asked him if he knew whether I’d walk again. I had no idea if quadriplegics walked. Actually,
Is it just me or is it getting a bit crowded in here
A decade ago, as I was running a small preorder for my latest book on my website, a friend emailed asking me if I had heard about this Kickstarter thing and if that would work for preorders. It was in beta and looking for people to use it. A year later, Kickstarter was out of beta and the word was
Time to get serious about Northstar commuter rail
Ever since the first Northstar commuter rail train rolled out of downtown Minneapolis in 2009, central Minnesota mass transit advocates have argued the route should extend to St. Cloud instead of stopping at Big Lake. Proponents counter the costs and ridership estimates don’t justify extending the service. Commuters between St. Cloud and Minneapolis still contend with the increasing traffic on