Cold
January 30, 2019





I don't mean to be negative, but the Twin Cities are at minus 28 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of minus 50. The Twin Cities haven't been this cold since 1996.

We're colder than Alaska or Antarctica.

Just a reminder, at...

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Music Association: Foreigner - Cold As Ice
Food Association: Chili on baked potato










I Am A Shoveling Machine
January 28, 2019

Now this is more like it: snow... cold... people stepping up to close things that aren't worth life and limb to keep open...  

And the National Weather Service says they'd like to get paid and issued a winter weather warning of double digits below zero temperatures and colder wind chills (that's how it works) for Tuesday night through Thursday morning. Today is Monday. Climate change has made the coming temperature drop less frequent, but ready or not, here it comes.

This isn't for everyone. Not everyone has the resources to cope with weather like this. Not everyone has the ability to plan ahead and wear the right clothes. Recently a road rage guy in a stylish leather jacket expressed his fashion frustration in short words. “Nice” wasn't one of them.

Aerobically I shovel. I shovel with planning and care. I shovel my glutes off.

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Music Association: Coldplay - Low











“I Don't See Anything.”
Lunar Eclipse
January 20, 2019


“What am I supposed to be looking at?”

The moon.

“Yeah, I don't see it.”

Exactly. It's a full moon that has been covered by the Earth's shadow. It's a lunar eclipse.

“So you hauled me out here in the freezing cold to see what isn't there.”

Right. And the thermometer says... the temperature is zero. Normally it would be below --

“I'm going in to not watch something that isn't on.”

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Music Associations: Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon & The Zombies - She's Not There
plus Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart










Hot Minnesota
January 19, 2019


Last night, winter came to the Twin Cities with snow followed by cold.

Just kidding. There was a dusting of snow that came down snowizontal. And it was followed by a wind off of Alberta. But it's nothing compared to the way Januarys used to be.

So far this winter, I've shoveled snow once and water twice. This is not good for anybody.

A hot Minnesota will not kill off all the Minnesota-tough bugs: ticks, mosquitoes, corn rootworms, or soybean aphids. A hot Minnesota is a wet Minnesota and a thaw-freeze Minnesota.

In other climate news, U.S. carbon-dioxide emissions rose by 3.4% in 2018. Coal ash has been dumped by 67 coal plants in 22 states. The oceans are warming faster than previously thought, which will raise sea levels by 12 inches by the end of this century. Ocean waves have been increasing and will continue to increase.

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Music Association: Modern English - I Melt With You















The Reality Behind The Wall
January 9, 2019


President Trump thinks the United States needs a wall at its southern border. The United States has walls at its southern border, plus a river, a mountain range, a desert, and the border patrol.

Walls have not been effective defenses since the age of castles.

The Federal government shutdown is Trump's way to interfere with the FBI, the Courts, and the IR of S. It's a way of keeping Congress from focusing on climate change, health care, and the Russia investigation.

If he thinks it'll work, he's thick as a brick.

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Music Association: Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
"Hey, Trump, leave those kids alone."









The Year With 138 Months
December 31, 2018


Wow, this year took forever.

I mean, I remember late last year when I made the logo of Hopes and Dreams with a sunny 2018 rising over it. Ha. Those were good times.

But the reality of 2018 was every month the calendar page would turn and it was still 2018 -- the year that would never end!

It was the kind of year that broke the rules of how bad a year can be. Were any real steps taken to battle climate change? No. (It rained last week in Minnesota.) Did people stop throwing out fresh vegetables? No, they were told to throw out vegetables, especially romaine lettuce. I like romaine lettuce. It's one of the romaine lettuces that I eat. Did anyone win the elections last November? No, not even the Russians. Did any investment end the year higher than it began the year? No. (Except maybe wheat or natural gas futures.) Is California still on fire? I don't know!

After flipping the calendar 138 times for the Twin Cities Calendar, plus more than 200 mid-month updates, I decided to stop flipping the calendar.

The internet was a different place in 2007, when I started the Twin Cities Calendar, and yet it hasn't evolved. It is still tough to get clear, straightforward information without being bombarded by flying fenderbergs.

I lift a glass to the Twin Cities Calendar and wish you a happy 2019.

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Music Association: Bob Seger - Turn The Page










Merry Christmas
Feliz Navidad
December 25, 2018


Wishing you hope, peace, and love
now and in the coming year.

Do to others as you would have others do to you.

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Music Association: Joseph Mohr - Silent Night











Global Heating
Too Cold To Mow &
Too Hot To Shovel
December 19, 2018


Checking the calendar... and yup, it's December.



The Twin Cities have received laughably little snow. High temperatures have been in the thirties and the low forties, when normal highs for this time of year are in the teens (Fahrenheit).

I had to get a new shovel. My old one was neglected and lonely.

The wildlife has been acting weird, almost lackadaisical. Red squirrels sauntering around like they have all the time in the world.

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Music Association: Power Station - Some Like It Hot














Take A Bow
December 11, 2018


A bow is used to play a violin. What things are used to play more than one violin?

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


Fiddle-sticks!

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Music Association: Blythe Danner - He Plays The Violin (from '1776')


















Music Videos

Landmine Hopscotch


Superman


Impact Investing



Holiday Gifs of Cats and Kittens Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5  




Southdale Hennepin Library  Edina Library  


Wonder Woman


Food Fraud