Legalectric

Looks like Scott Neal is already trying to rein in (reign in?) the people of Edina.  He’s just started as City Manager there after going to Eden Prairie after Northfield.  His suggestion?  Have the public comments to the City Council AFTER the meeting and OFF CAMERA and that would also be OFF THE RECORD because I doubt they’ve got a court reporter there…  Scott, this is NOT a good idea, because in many ways, Edina is doing a good job of running the city, they’re a first ring suburb with little land available, and have done a good job with their Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance.  What’s made that happen is the vigorous and “robust” (sorry, borrowing that from Xcel) open public debate about issues and permits.  The attempt to quash that is a major gaffe.  No, Scott, NO!

The other day we were coming back from the Reuse Center or somewhere, oh, it was the Xcel Rate Case hearing at Sabathani, got there 15 minutes too late… and anyway, I saw this building I hadn’t noticed before, that happens when you’re an old fart… it’s near Mayflower , next to it.  That was my parent’s church, and I had to go until I got out of the house, back then it was at what is now the Museum of Russian Art, beautifully rehabbed, well recovered from that fire back in the early ’70s.  Anyway, there IS a new building, it wasn’t my imagination, today in MinnPost:

Minneapolis church gives up land for a greater good: ‘workforce housing’

I remember my mother talking about Jean and Dwight Wagenius’ buns…

… really, seems it’s an Easter tradition, every year they make and bring Hot Cross Buns to church.  Now that Dwight has a church of his own (there is life after being an Asst. A.G.) does the tradition expand?

So I’m sitting here working and staring out the window, looking up the bluff, and a deer saunters across, about 30 feet above the poop deck outside my office, and then coming down and down the bluff into my back 40 (40″ that is, behind the kitchen and laundry room, 4o” of flat land behind the house before the retaining wall up the bluff).  She liked the day lilies, and over there, there are more than enough to keep a few young deer going.

That’s out the back kitchen window, over the dog kennel, where the deer’s having a little brunch.

There’s deer hunting in Red Wing, this house is in the official “Hunting Zone.”  I could bow hunt off my deck, or open my office window, and the deer are probably glad I’m a veggie… a Sagittarian with a bow is a dangerous thing.

Here’s a flyover that says it all…

Fukushima: ‘much bigger than Chernobyl:’ expert

Although I’d argue that it’s certainly a lot worse than that:
Fukushima is now the radioactive Deepwater Horizon of the Pacific

Noooooo, we know it’s spring, but on Sunday, we’re going to Wisconsin to meet, and likely bring home, our new adopted doggy, a 12 y.o.  GSD named Summer.  She needs a retirement home, and that’s something we’re good at.  What struck me about her is she’s Kenya’s twin, that perky smile, bright eyes (even if they can’t see) and this dear dog has 4 legs that work.

She doesn’t eat cats, and in case you didn’t notice, she’s a big’un, 120 pounds, WOW, that’s bigger than Krie the Big Galoot!  She has some health issues, but nothing we can’t handle, and with her good attitude, she should fit right in with Kady and Little Sadie.

Who can resist a smile like that?