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We found a throwback Target 🎯

Pic posted March 18, 2024

Fort Myers has a Super Target near our hotel that is…not really following the latest Target design standards


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Did not see this announcement coming

Pic posted March 18, 2024

Mystic Lake to open first U.S. LaunchPad Golf facility in 2025


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Look at that handsome guy

Pic posted March 14, 2024

Nice post by Chad in TG&H on video marketing 🎰


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Link: Make better documents, by Anil Dash

Linked March 9, 2024


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This story made me smile ❤️

Pic posted February 22, 2024

Two of dad’s favorite organizations joining forces ⚾️


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Poor Charlie’s Almanack

Posted January 13, 2024

Nicely done free website of the book Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, compiled by Peter D. Kaufman.

“Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group…then to hell with them.”

There are many things I’ve read in here that are great, yet overall I get the impression that Mr. Munger was kind of a jerk. Conflicted over his legacy…


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Downfall: The Case Against Boeing ✅

Pic posted January 13, 2024

Timely, given the Alaska Airlines incident. Don’t understand why there weren’t lawsuits after the first two crashes, though (h/t Feeley)


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Favorite technologies of all time

Posted January 10, 2024

It’s not a secret I’ve been a skeptic of many technologies, especially everything in the crypto/NFT/Web3 realm. Also not a fan of AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL·E (for a variety of reasons). And just in case you think I support everything Apple does, I won’t be in line to purchase a Vision Pro next month (pictured above). I thought all the previous virtual reality “goggle” products were silly. And while I’m sure visionOS will have some swell applications and the hardware will be well built, it’s not worth $3500 to me (never say never, though).

So what technologies have been my favorites?

  • Electricity and batteries – as we experienced during our last power outage, electricity is a modern miracle. And while it seems like batteries could always be better, it’s amazing how often you can use things without a power cord or outlet in sight.
  • Heating and cooling systems – let’s face it, living in Minnesota is probably just as bad for the planet as living in the desert, since you need heat in the winter and cooling in the summer to not have the weather literally kill you here. Thankful for these reliable systems daily.
  • Food production and distribution – I wish we didn’t need food shelves in our society, but Minnesota’s agriculture sector is still awe-inspiring. Modern grocery stores are a marvel – even with the recent surge in prices, the ability to get fresh, abundant food in the middle of winter is extraordinary.
  • Planes, trains and automobiles – also not great for the planet, but these forms of human transportation (and the engineering behind them) would all be considered magic by earlier generations.
  • Television – as my post earlier this month showcased, I have watched entirely too much TV in my lifetime. The progression of the tech behind TV, though, is really something. Think back to the popular over-the-air black and white broadcasts of the 1950s and compare that to what hangs on my wall now. Wizardry.
  • Networking, fiber optics, wireless and the Internet – there’s a reason there are still case studies about Cisco in business schools. This interconnectedness wouldn’t be possible without the thin strands of glass that that now run all the way to my house. That these paths help connect the device I’m currently typing on to the rest of the world (quickly and wirelessly) is frankly, unbelievable. It’s a shame so much junk has accumulated on the Internet, but don’t let that spoil all the good stuff.
  • Microprocessors – I really don’t understand how these things keep getting smaller, faster and cooler, but good on those engineers for keeping the wheels of progress turning. I mean, a lot of people now think there is no innovation in mobile phones because the new models look just like the old models. But honestly, the latest iPhone in my pocket is usually the most impressive technology in our house at any given point in time. Hello, indeed.

Here’s hoping that the technologies of the future can help solve the issues facing our lovely little planet in smart, efficient ways…


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I’ve never grown old before. I’m doing it for the first time, and I’m not sure that I’ll do it right…

— Charlie Munger

Quote posted January 6, 2024


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Use 2024 Mac’s coupon ✅

Pic posted January 5, 2024

Ordered online from the Minneapolis location, then picked it up on the way home (24% off for 2024!)


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Oyster wings are back at Leeann Chin

Pic posted January 5, 2024

I’m still a sucker for billboard advertising, apparently


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🫡 Oh no, Amazon, you are messing up

Pic posted December 28, 2023

Prime at $99/year was worth it, but then you switched me to a more expensive monthly charge without telling me and now you want to add shitty ads to Prime Video? Cya, Benzos…


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The Airbus A220-100 is nice

Pic posted December 14, 2023

This was the first time flying on one of these (and to be honest, the first I had heard of them). Love the 2+3 seating in coach – just a nice, modern replacement for the DC-9/MD-80s…


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Delta > Sun Country ✈️

Pic posted December 12, 2023

Thanks, Delta, for a great experience today from MSP to BNA


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🫡 YouTubeTV/Fubo Update

Posted December 11, 2023

After giving Fubo the old college try the last few weeks, I decided to “pause” that account for six months. The quality of the interfaces, overall performance of the app and the lack of PBS, TNT and TBS aren’t enough to offset the lack of Bally on YouTubeTV, IMO.


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🫡 Minnesota Golf News ⛳️

Posted December 11, 2023

  • Hollis Cavner is taking Royal Golf Club private January 1 (and investing $4.5 million for a full-scale restaurant, golf simulators, pickleball courts and upgrades to the club’s locker rooms). Memberships will be $20,000 for early birds, then jump to $40,000 (with monthly dues of $700).
  • Award-winning golf executive Tom Beaudry is leaving Nemadji Golf Course in Superior, Wisconsin, and returning to northern Minnesota next season. Look for Tom in 2024 at historic Pokegama in Grand Rapids.

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🫡 Most popular MSP routes in 2023

Posted December 7, 2023

According to Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, these are the top five routes from MSP this year: DEN (1,114,941 seats), PHX (769,017), ATL (721,348), ORD (718,838) and LAS (686,362). Would’ve never guessed that order (or volume) in a million years… ✈️


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Maison Margaux ✅

Pic posted December 4, 2023

A lovely evening in a beautiful room with great company, wine and appetizers 💯


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Link: 83 of the 100 most-viewed telecasts

Linked December 3, 2023


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Minnesota Custom License Plates

Posted November 27, 2023

With Oliver* now scheduled for production in England, I’ve been thinking about what I want for a license plate. Minnesota offers a ton of special plate options, along with the original personalized option. You can’t combine the two, though, which is probably what I would do if I could (i.e. – a loon design with a custom name). The costs vary a lot too – a standard personalized plate is $100, while the various “contribution” plate styles range from $10 to $60 annually (plus fees).

Growing up, I always thought personalized plates were pretty cool (and expensive). The state says there are almost 82,000 of these currently in use and I’ve seen quite a few clever ones over the years. I wish there was an online site where you could check to see if your desired name is available, but right now it’s just a paper form with spots for your top three choices. Don’t really want to gamble $100 unless I know I will get the one I want, so that option is out.

My mom always had the loon plates, which I also had on my first Mini in 2005. I was thinking about another loon, but then heard about the Minnesota State Parks & Trails option (pictured above). It’s $60 annually, but also grants you access to all of the state parks without an additional permit. I see that one a lot on the road (almost 25,000 issued) and it seems like a win-win. Here are a few other plate stats I find interesting:

  • U of M Twin Cities ($25) – 2,839
  • U of M Duluth ($25) – 412
  • Critical Habitat: Loon ($30) – 60,462
  • Critical Habitat: Pollinator ($30) – 9,088
  • Minnesota Golf ($30) – 5,440
  • Veteran: World War II ($15.50) – 170 ❤️
  • Veteran: Pearl Harbor Survivor ($15.50) – 1 ❤️❤️

Oliver is scheduled to roll off the assembly line in Oxford on December 12, followed by a boat ride across the pond. Should be in Minnesota just in time for a big red bow on Christmas morning…

* proposed name for our 2024 Mini Cooper S Hardtop


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KAT atop First Ave

Pic posted November 17, 2023

Not a big fan of billboards, but the ones that First Avenue gets are usually pretty awesome


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Duluth Harborcam is the best

Pic posted November 10, 2023

That’s a big boy – thanks, Harborcam!
Philip R. Clarke, built in 1952 🚢


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LVTC Hockey Night in Minnesota

Pic posted October 25, 2023

Big thanks to Jim and his crew for hosting – Wild beat the Oilers, 7-4 (and a hat trick for Hartzy)


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Link: The future of downtown Minneapolis

Linked October 12, 2023


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Time to get down to business

Pic posted September 30, 2023

I can’t believe how much more productive I am with the right tools


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