I’m kind of an old fuddy-duddy when it comes to the internet and the worrisome bond to hand-held devices. Yes, there are volumes of information present at the touch of a fingertip but in a way I see another form of legalized addiction barreling towards humanity at high speed.
Recently Jim Manahan submitted an informative column about an upcoming Minnesota Supreme Court decision on whether or not to allow ex-felons to vote. Now, usually I see many sides to an issue. Not this time. Unequivocally I hope the Supreme Court reverses lower decisions and determines that ex-felons should be allowed to vote. My opinion has everything to do with my beliefs about voting as a citizen’s right and responsibility that should be prioritized, almost without exception.
Mayor Chris Swanson is clearly cut out to be a businessman. I see no reason to doubt his love for the city of Two Harbors and for the spirit of entrepreneurship. He should certainly be allowed to pursue his vision for Two Harbors through both his businesses and nonprofit engagement.
Time. What an interesting concept in our pandemic days. My sense of time has been completely off since changing to Daylight Savings Time. Anyone that knows me well knows my sense of time can be spot on if needing to know the timing to a piece of music but there is another time that impacts my life, Crip time or Gimp time.
April is National Poetry Month! Poetry is one of the most ancient and universal art forms, stretching back thousands of years among cultures in every corner of the world. Have you ever wanted to try your hand at poetry, as a unique way to express the things that delight, mystify, or matter to you? From April 1 through April 20, pick up a Take & Write Poetry workbook kit at the Silver Bay Public Library.
I just read the statistic about how the richest country in the world ranks in terms of poverty amongst the major industrialized countries in the world. We’re right up there with nations like Mexico and Latvia with no hint of places like Germany and France nearby.
Last week I confessed to traveling on a family vacation to Puerto Rico. “Confessed” is a word I use intentionally, aware of our heavy carbon footprint and the luxury of pleasure travel. Travel is carbon-intensive, no matter how you cut it, and more and more of us have woken up to this fact and curbed our travel appetites. But we will never completely turn off the tap for the thirst, and the importance, of travel. We all must weigh priorities and values for ourselves.
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I have read the article published in the Duluth News Tribune where a group is looking to recall the Mayor of Two Harbors because two years ago, he endorsed someone for President. When does a person who is elected to public office lose their 1st Amendment rights? Maybe this group is confusing the mayor with personally endorsing someone by stating or implying he said the city is endorsing someone for office.
Hang on, it’s almost campaign season again. And that means lots of those shiny mailers from Pete Stauber--replete with picture of him wearing a hard hat and safety glasses. Pete certainly seems to enjoy talking about how much he “loves” and “fights for” the working folks in his district. It seems that Pete spends almost as much time talking about his support for labor, as he does actively undermining its interests in Washington D.C. In fact, Pete has failed to support the most important piece of Labor legislation that has come before Congress in 40 years--the PRO (Protecting the Right to Organize) Act. This legislation would amend the National Labor Relations Act, for the purpose of expanding protections related to employees’ rights to organize and collectively bargain in the workplace. What of labor-loving Pete? He voted against it twice.