Entries by dickbernard

Afghanistan, a Primer

There are 15 comments thus far at the originating post, here.  Your comments are welcome.  Check back once in awhile.  I will have two or three new posts in the next several days, trying for a little variety/diversion from this story which will last far beyond this week. * Below is my National Geographic Atlas […]

Afghanistan/9-11-01

Today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune front page, above the fold, says it all: Afghanistan is no stranger to this blog.  Three times so far in 2021 I’ve made mention, most recently in “The Zip to Zap” post on August 14 (see especially comments from John, Joyce and Sue, and my responses at that post). The other […]

The Zip to Zap

My take on today’s news below (see August 14)…but first a diversion…a piece of nostalgia. On the recent trip to ND (recounted here), I bought a book on small town post offices which included a history of the post office in North Dakota by Kevin Carvell, who was long-time staff for U.S. Senator from N […]

North Dakota

A week or so ago I took a short trip to North Dakota, my home state.  I’m no stranger to North Dakota, having spent most of my first 25 years there, and until Covid-19 interrupted, taking nearly annual journeys there for visits. I’m a North Dakotan, native to the tiny towns that make up the […]

Winning

Thursday afternoon Suni Lee and colleague olympian and Minnesotan, Grace McCallum, arrived home in the Twin Cities with their Olympic medals in tow.  Their arrival was the front page photo in today’s Minneapolis paper.  They and all of their colleagues in any Summer Olympics activities deserve their accolades.  They are incredibly talented in their chosen […]

Elders

“Elders” are now contemporaries of myself, so I’m a bit biased. Recently, three for whom I have a great amount of respect sent some offerings I recommend.  Marion Brady invested his life in public education.  I first met him in an on-line chat group of the National Education Association in the mid-1990s.  Here is his […]

Angels Unawares

Briefly If you happen to be around Minneapolis MN on Sunday afternoon, August 1, 3 p.m., join the group at the opening of the Angels Unawares sculpture being displayed during August at the Basilica of St. Mary, downtown Minneapolis.  All of the details can be accessed here. This is an event honoring and respecting immigrants […]

The Wall

July 15 I participated in an on-line conversation of a film we had been asked to watch. The film, The Wall, (2018) is about a homeless encampment in Minneapolis.  It is 87 minutes, free on YouTube, and has been watched over 700,000 times.  The film grabbed me, and held on.  It’s an uncomfortable film, but […]

A 52nd anniversary

July 20 was the 52nd anniversary of the first Man on the Moon.  It was Sunday, July 20, 1969.  I remember the event well.  I wrote about it at this space two years ago.  You can read that here if you wish.  It was a big deal. Our society likes to remember anniversaries.  A 52nd […]

Personal best.

Today the 32nd Olympiad began in Tokyo. As usual, I did my rounds at the sports center minutes away.  I’ve written about it before.  Usually there are very few of us doing the circuit; sometimes I’m alone.  Sometimes I pass someone else; other times, someone passes me.  I do 11 rounds at a brisk walk; […]