Wednesday, June 18, 2025
The best pizza
To me, the "best pizza" is often the one I am eating. Life is too short to eat bad pizza, so I usually go to places where I know I will like it.
Is clam pizza from Modern Apizza in New Haven the best? Yes it is. If I am in New Haven eating it.
Is Jet's pizza on the porch of my Mom's house the best? Absolutely, if I am on that porch.
Is a hot pizza from Hello Pizza in Edina, eaten in the back yard on a warm evening the best? Yes, until it is gone.
Is Dominoes pizza in front of the TV in a hotel room the best. No, it's not-- which is why I don't do that!
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
More Mayhem in Minnesota
When I lived in Waco, it seemed like crazy and tragic things kept happening there. Then I moved to Minnesota, and...
The murder of Melissa Hortman and her husband and the attempted murder of two others by an anti-abortion zealot is tragic on many levels, the most obvious being the loss of life-- which is a bizarre goal for a "pro-life" shooter.
Like many people in Minnesota, I had various connections to the victims, though many people I know felt the loss much more directly. I also sense a loss of optimism among my fellow Minnesotans, a shift in the culture that may or may not heal....
Monday, June 16, 2025
Relaxation!
Maybe is says something about our society that I got far more of a response on the topic of "Snoopy" than I did on "Relaxation." But, still there were some gems, like this sad reflection from IPLawGuy:
Students get a break
working professionals, no
Us, eat what you kill.
working professionals, no
Us, eat what you kill.
More upbeat was this anonymous entry:
Concerts in the park
Blanket, picnic basket, friends
Glorious music.
Blanket, picnic basket, friends
Glorious music.
And this from Christine:
Red orbs, vine ripe, sliced...
Fresh picked corn, kernals burst, sweet...
Grandmas best china.
Fresh picked corn, kernals burst, sweet...
Grandmas best china.
And another anonymous entry:
Balcony beckons.
Greets the meadow verdant,Trees
Wave their leaves,welcome.
Greets the meadow verdant,Trees
Wave their leaves,welcome.
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Sunday Reflection: Mr. Frakes
Like many people, I grew up in a family that was intertwined with another family-- the Frakeses and Oslers share a cabin, a complex set of friendships and memories going back over half a century (which is when this photo was taken outside the "Holidome" at the Holiday Inn in Ironwood Michigan).
Jack Frakes-- who was always known to me as "Mr. Frakes"-- passed away in April, two years after his best friend, my dad. One irony is that both were named John, but went by Jack and Spike, respectively, in their intertwined professional careers. He was different than my dad in some important ways, and that was good-- it doesn't add much value if your second dad is the same as the first one, after all. I am headed to Detroit for his memorial today.
You can read his obituary here. It does a great job of describing so much about him, but (inevitably) it doesn't quite contain what I will miss the most, which is his reliable presence.
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Everybody gets detention...
Of all the Marvel films, I like the Spiderman ones the best-- because they are so relatable....
Friday, June 13, 2025
Haiku Friday: Relaxing
It's summer (pretty much), and time for relaxation for many people-- travel, the beach, hanging out in the backyard. So let's haiku about that this week! Here, I will go first:
I'm reading a book
IPLawGuy is shocked
But hey, it's summer.
Now it is your turn! Just use the 5/7/5 syllable pattern, and have some fun!
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Political Mayhem Thursday: The Parade
The huge military parade scheduled for Saturday to commemorate the US Army/Trump's birthday promises a lot of drama, if nothing else. And that's kind of the point.
Even more than in his first term, provocation is what this president seeks. It's the key to good television-- especially reality TV-- and that is the milieu he comes from. If there are protests, that may well be the reaction he is seeking. It gives himself something to react to.
Provocation isn't a great principle for governing.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The case for public media
Federal funding is threatened (again) for public radio and television. Sigh.
If that happens, it won't get rid of public media-- it will just mean that the strongest stations, in affluent markets, will survive while stations in rural areas shrink or die. It also means that federal influence will be gone. Put it together, and basically public media will become more liberal-- the opposite of what those trying to de-fund it want. But, logic is not much in play here, just retribution.
The fact that public media doesn't rely on advertisers has been very important in American life. For example, children's programming was long captive to advertisers like cereal companies, who supported shows that were as devoid of real content as a box of Sugar Smacks. Then the Children's Television Workshop came along on PBS. That changed everything, and many of us grew up watching television that had some real value.
And that will still happen-- just not in the areas who need it the most, many of them represented by red-state legislators.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Why Los Angeles?
Across the country, immigration enforcement has radically changed in the past 140 days. Quotas have been established. Federal agents who normally do other things have been re-assigned to immigration duty. The warrant requirement has been something of renewed interest.
It was nearly inevitable that resistance would arise and meet a flashpoint, and it seems we are there now.
So, why Los Angeles?
In part, of course, it is because there are a lot of immigrants there. My own hunch is that relatively few actual undocumented people participating in the protests-- they understandably fear arrest. But I do think that immigrants who are citizens are often upset by what is going, and certainly all kinds of people who rely on immigrants.
And also, I think that the administration has chosen California to provoke a reaction. They want the fight, and want it to be there.
Monday, June 09, 2025
On Snoopy!
So many great poems about Snoopy! I loved this one from anonymous:
Wartime Flying Ace
Wooed French girl over root beer
"Curse you, Red Baron!"
Wooed French girl over root beer
"Curse you, Red Baron!"
And CraigA:
Snoopy the hockey
Player was the best; bird bath
Rink, Woodstock, and all!
Player was the best; bird bath
Rink, Woodstock, and all!
So good to see Sleepy Walleye!:
C'mon Mark Osler
Let's see a photo of the
Paper Mache head.
Let's see a photo of the
Paper Mache head.
[I wish I had a photo of that halloween costume my dad made!]
IPLawGuy had a good one:
Flying Ace Snoopy
exciting, brave, thrilling, but
Joe Cool was the man.
exciting, brave, thrilling, but
Joe Cool was the man.
And Christine:
Toted everywhere
A constant companion
Well worn and loved
Lovingly repaired
He now sits on a bookshelf
Reminder of youth
(my brother's Snoopy)
A constant companion
Well worn and loved
Lovingly repaired
He now sits on a bookshelf
Reminder of youth
(my brother's Snoopy)
Des knows:
Eating popcorn at
Thanksgiving— Snoopy is a
culinary champ!
Thanksgiving— Snoopy is a
culinary champ!
And another great anonymous one:
Snoopy loved to kiss
But Lucy didn’t like it
(“Get the iodine!”).
But Lucy didn’t like it
(“Get the iodine!”).
And this:
He had breakfast with
Us every farm morning ,Mom
Read Snoopy’s antics.
Us every farm morning ,Mom
Read Snoopy’s antics.
And also this one:
Snoopy had the joy!
Christmas dancing on piano
Prize-winning light show.
Christmas dancing on piano
Prize-winning light show.
Sunday, June 08, 2025
Sunday Reflection: On Sacrifice
One of the hardest lessons for us Christians is one that Jesus taught over and over: that to follow this faith you have to seek sacrifice, not advantage and power. To the rich young ruler, he said to sell all he had. To the apostles, he said that he who serves the others is the greatest. His parables often centered on those virtues of humility and sacrifice that he embodies in his actions.
And yet, Christians in the US seem generally to feel entitled-- to power, to respect, to be affluent. At the banquet, they go to the front instead to the back table as Jesus taught. They pray in public to gain favor like the Pharisees Jesus condemned, rather than in a closet like he suggested.
This wrong-headed group, sadly, too often includes me. I have to continually remind myself to hold up on feeling entitled or wanting to be honored, because my instinct is to want all of it.
But... no one said Christianity would be easy.
Saturday, June 07, 2025
Once upon a time...
Friday, June 06, 2025
Haiku Friday: Snoopy
I've been thinking a lot about Snoopy lately. He's a beagle. His best friend is a bird. He is smarter than his owner. There was a lot going on with that dog! So let's haiku about him this week. Here, I will go first:
That dog has talents
Like doghouse dancing at night
Flying ace by day.
Now it is your turn! Just use the 5/7/5 syllable pattern and have some fun.
Thursday, June 05, 2025
Political Mayhem Thursday: The Problem of Pro Bono
One of the more unexpected elements of the 2nd Trump administration has been its attacks on many prominent law firms, demanding through executive orders that they be restricted from government contracts, lose security clearances for their lawyers and even banning their people from government buildings like courthouses. Several capitulated and came to agreements that (among other things) required that they provide up to $100 million each of free service to causes Trump supports.
It was a lousy deal. Firms that fought the executive orders have been successful in court. Meanwhile, the capitulators are on the hook for a loosely-defined commitment to Trump-- and now Trump has said that the kind of pro bono work he expects includes defending coal companies, police accused of brutality, and the like. None of it is the kind of pro bono work that these firms use to lure good talent as associates.
While what the firms are expected to do is probably unpleasant, the deeper harm is what they can't do now. Historically, big-firm pro bono work has included serious initiatives to protect freedom and staunch government over-reach. Because their pro bono work now essentially has a Trump veto (as most or all of their pro bono work falls under their commitment to Trump), their ability to play that role is restricted-- and that is bad for all of us.
Fortunately, there are a lot of other lawyers who are stepping up. As the Trump administration drives out good people from government work, I suspect that some of them will be among those who fill the gap...
Wednesday, June 04, 2025
Finland and Minnesota
Aside from the obvious sovereignty distinction, Minnesota and Finland have a lot in common:
-- Both have a population of about 5.7 million people
-- Helsinki's population is about the same as Minneapolis/St. Paul
-- The climate is similar and both enjoy the northern lights
-- Lotsa Lutherans!
-- Both enjoy strong economies with a high standard of living
-- Both border hostile territories infested with badgers
If I were to go study a criminal justice system, it would be Finland's. At the same time we Americans chose to rachet up incarceration (the 1980's-90's) they chose the opposite-- and we both ended up with lower crime. I want to know more about how they got to less incarceration and less crime at the same time.
Tuesday, June 03, 2025
Bad day, good life
Yesterday I got up and the car wouldn't start. So I got my bike, and it had a flat tire. After attending a funeral, I got the call from the repair shop that my car was "dead."
There was a moment of feeling sorry for myself. But, fortunately, context heals everything. If the worst thing to happen to me is a car not starting, life is pretty good, after all. And life is pretty good!
Like most people, I sometimes let minor setbacks feel like a big deal when they really are not. What has come with age is the ability to quickly talk myself out of it-- to replace that pathetic self-pity with genuine gratitude.
Spring, sometimes, makes that easy.
Monday, June 02, 2025
Summer is coming!
And we at the Razor are ready! I kinda like the way Tim is thinking about this:
Summer bike to park
Or take the RV camper
Near edge of a lake.
Or take the RV camper
Near edge of a lake.
And perhaps I'll share a Leinie with Craig:
Time with family
and friends; celebrating with
cold Summer Shandy.
and friends; celebrating with
cold Summer Shandy.
Medievalist, me too!:
Lots of writing left,
Four articles in motion,
Lots of coffee, naps.
Four articles in motion,
Lots of coffee, naps.
Anonymous is living right:
Beach walks every day
Outdoor concerts in the park
Backyard barbecues!
Outdoor concerts in the park
Backyard barbecues!
And IPLawGuy has some plans:
Find a companion
Or at least start the process
Oh, and lose some weight.
Or at least start the process
Oh, and lose some weight.
Sunday, June 01, 2025
Sunday Reflection: The Heart of Others
On Friday, I was riding my bike home from work, almost there, when I came past a woman pushing a stroller, with a young boy walking behind, crying. It was one of those sporadic crying fits kids that age will have, where it comes and goes. The mom was just trudging along, trying to get home.
I knew exactly how they all felt. I've been that parent. I've been that kid. And for some reason, in that moment, I felt it-- that walk that went on too long, without enough food, without a nap. It's no one's fault, really, but there you are and all you can do is try to get home. It was more than a memory, it was a re-living, emotionally.
It was supposed to be fun, right? The walk? It's good to get outside, after all. But sometimes that instinct is wrong, and then you are blocks from home and there just isn't much you can do. And somehow there is nothing as lacerating as a child crying, and the helplessness in that situation is searing. But... you can't get mad at the kid. You can't do anything to fix the problem. So you just trudge on home and know that they will be better then. The kid will sit at the kitchen table and eat some grapes. Maybe he'll just fall asleep on the couch. It's ok. It will be ok.
I wish that I could have that more often, to be able to totally understand the emotions of another. I suppose, like most things, it is a function of effort, patience, and humility.
And perhaps, if I can do that, I'll be better at loving my neighbor.
