A one paper state?

Mainstream media, especially newspapers, continue to struggle in the Internet Age. As I've said before, there remain many questions about what will happen to the mainstream media this decade and beyond. But one things seems clear: The Twin Cities will probably be a one paper town sooner than you'd think. Minnesota will have only one newspaper that reaches a statewide audience. What it will be called, who owns it and what political agenda it may push remain to be seen. What I do know is that we'll be told that the change is good for readers and that investigative and political reporting will remain fair and deep. This will be a lie.

Northern Cheapskate featured in Star Tribune

For those who don't know, my wife Christina is the Northern Cheapskate, blogging about family budgeting, money-saving tips and personal finance. She got a great write-up in Kara McGuire's Star Tribune "Ka Ching" column in the Money section today. Check it out. Here's the setup, which is followed by several specific tips that Christina suggested for families to save money:

Several of the best ideas came from Christina Brown, also known as the Northern Cheapskate (www.northerncheapskate.com).

She's traded her career as an academic adviser to be a full-time mom whose new job includes not only taking care of her 2-year-old and 10-month-old sons, but also stretching dollars. "As my toddler says, 'Daddy makes money, mommy saves it,' " she said.

Minnesota is Mullet Country

My friend and former Minnesotan Paul Ryan sent me this Star Tribune link about the 3-year-old winner of the Minnesota Mullet Contest. There's a picture at the link. It is indeed a fine mullet, but this is no day to celebrate. A mullet is a conscious choice for which a child cannot legitimately give consent.

Rangers polled on bitterness, result: bitterish

I suppose this was inevitable. Larry Oakes of the Star Tribune localized the two-week-old "bitter" comments of Sen. Barack Obama by interviewing Iron Rangers. You know, because Rangers get laid off a lot and like guns. Opinions about the comments (that Obama himself has expressed regret over wording poorly) vary widely based on who the opinion holders support in the first place. Who knew?

And the sun rises again on America ...

Range women's leadership initiative discussed in Star Tribune

Several weeks ago I wrote about a women's leadership conference on the Iron Range sponsored by the White House Project. Well, the conference was held and the Star Tribune ran a commentary today that discusses the outcome. The whole idea is to get more women involved in the local political scene. I'm supportive because I believe the Range needs more people involved in local politics, period.

Gen. Butt Naked to face justice

Check out this AP headline from the Star Tribune:

Gen. Butt Naked, Liberian ex-rebel leader, confesses to killing thousands

I thought maybe it was a deal where an after-hours copy editor slipped a goof into the paper, but this is actually real.

By JONATHAN PAYE-LAYLEH, Associated Press

AMMONROVIA, Liberia - One of Liberia's most notorious rebel commanders, known as Gen. Butt Naked, has returned to confess his role in terrorizing the nation, saying he is responsible for 20,000 deaths.

Joshua Milton Blahyi, who now lives in Ghana, returned this week to face his homeland's truth and reconciliation commission, this time wearing a suit and tie. His nom de guerre is derived from his platoon's practice of charging naked into battle, a technique meant to terrify the enemy.

Holy Highway

The Star Tribune has an interesting story today about some Christians' interpretation of scripture that I-35 is a "holy way" indicated in the Bible.

The relevant verse is Isaiah 35:8, which reads: "And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not pass over it, and fools shall not err therein."

Get it? Isaiah 35 ... I-35. Yeah, well, these folks ran the government from 2002-2006, so don't give me that look. Naturally, it helps that I-35 runs down the center of America (the most Awesome nation Ever) and passes a whoooole lot of churches.


Like most Minnesotans I've spent some time on I-35. I can't say as I felt any unusually spiritual connection during these drives. I've had better luck channeling the Divine on Highway 52 into Iowa or even Highway 63 here on the Range. I-35 is the state's most used highway. I've seen plenty of unclean people, vehicles and deer carcasses on the pavement. And fools erring? Every damn day. But keep chasing that rainbow, Holy Highwaymen.