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Forged in frustration

None of this would have happened were it not for cable TV. Like many guys, I’m a skilled — one might even say professional — channel surfer. I’m not interested in what’s on so much as what else is on. Some years ago, during one of my surfing sessions, I stumbled across a show called “Forged in Fire.” The show immediately caught my attention, mainly because it involved fire. A quartet of blacksmiths take such things as a pound of steel ball bearings or random car parts and forge them into a type of blade that had been chosen by a trio of judges. I found the process ...

Thumps Up/Thumbs Down

Thumbs up A well attended public hearing on counties “shotgun-only” status On Wednesday, the Brown County Law Enforcement Center training room was full of firearm enthusiasts sharing their opinions on the “shotgun-only” status of Brown County at public hearing. The Minnesota Legislature repealed the “shotgun-only” zone for deer hunting in the state. The change allows hunters to use rifles statewide, but counties have the right to remain shotgun-only by passing an ordinance. Based on the high interest on this issue, Brown County Commission held the public hearing to hear ...

Personal bucket list changes with the passage of time

It’s rare when a movie sums up a concept so well that it becomes applied to the lives of almost everyone. One example from almost 20 years ago was The Bucket List, a good story about two old men who want to live out a set of dreams before they kick the bucket. I’d never thought in terms of a bucket list until I saw the movie at Marshall 6. After seeing it I realized that bucket lists really do play a role in how people live. My bucket list has changed over the years. There are three things that I’ve achieved and two that I now realize I’ll never achieve. I’ll never go ...

St. Patrick’s Day with plenty of blarney

Sons and daughters of Erin in New Ulm will celebrate their Irish heritage on Tuesday, March 17, with the 61st annual New Ulm St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade, the oldest continuous St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Minnesota, will start at 5 p.m. at Third South and Minnesota Street and proceed the wrong way up Minnesota to the Glockenspiel, led by Grand Marshal Todd Olson and Irish Queen Kathy Jo Lux. The parade will be held come rain, shine or blizzard. After the parade, the festivities will continue with the Gathering of the Clans at Herb’s Pub (aka The Kaiserhoff). Herb ...

When grocery lists meet rocket ships

Dear Annie: I recently introduced my 62-year-old husband to emojis, and now I fear I’ve made a huge mistake. Every text I receive -- whether it’s “Pick up milk” or “Your sister called” -- is followed by a winking face, a heart and, inexplicably, a rocket ship. He signs grocery lists with smiley faces. He even sent our plumber three flame emojis. I’ve gently suggested that not every situation requires digital fireworks, but he says the emojis “make every message more fun.” Must I accept a future filled with cartoon faces, or is there a tactful way to dial it down? -- ...

Partisan politics and rhetoric causing long-term damage

There’s something deeply broken in the way political arguments are being made right now. Honestly, for the last 16 years. Supporting limited government, stronger regulation, more spending, less spending are legitimate political debates. But what we see now are partisan talking points that are exaggerated, embellished, or completely fabricated, repeated as if they are established fact. And the damage goes far beyond politics. When someone throws out numbers that clearly don’t withstand even basic scrutiny, like claiming $400 million in fraud when the publicly charged case is ...