Articles

Nathan's column: What's your bid?

Minneapolis, it seems, is a popular place for people who want to mix money up in their dating lives.

A celebration of strong women

Annual Modern Company show focuses on women who inspired company members

• Gallery: Modern Company dance show at RHS
• Photo: Modern Company

Local legislators split on same-sex marriage vote

Garofalo and Clausen supported same-sex marriage; Wills and Thompson opposed

196 school board opens the door for an operating levy

Monday night vote clears the way to ask voters to approve a levy in November

RHS connection continues at capitol

New Senator Greg Clausen has two Irish alumni as interns

• Photo: Capitol

Fourth graders are ready to take on the world

Diamond Path Destination Imagination team qualified for global finals

• Photo: DI team

Post office food drive is Saturday

Residents can leave food donations by their mailbox Saturday

Nathan's column: My job is worse than your job

According to something called CareerCast.com, newspaper reporter is officially the worst job an American can have in 2013.

Distrist 196 looks within for teaching advice

District 196’s first Curriculum-Instruction-Assessment Institute gave teachers a chance to share what works for them

• Photo: CIA

RMS band students will get a tailor-made original

Middle school band will premiere a work by Australian composer Jodie Blackshaw

• Photo: Composer

Columns

Nathan's column: A little tournament trivia

One of the best things about the NCAA basketball tournament, which enters its second weekend Thursday, is the way it brings people together. For three weeks, millions of people across the country watch the same games, experience the same emotions, even think many of the same thoughts. It’s like Scientology, but with more dunking.

Column: The power of the press

I forget sometimes the power I have just because I have this job, and more specifically this space each week to share whatever thoughts happen to pop into my head. With just a few well-chosen words, I can unite readers around an idea, even if that idea is just, "Boy, that guy is an idiot!"

Column: Hot times at home and at work

Last Friday the air conditioning went out in the Town Pages offices. As the thermostat climbed to 80 degrees and above, things got a little bit uncomfortable. It was the most you’ll see modern journalists sweat in a situation that didn’t involve either a deadline or the words “about those circulation numbers.”

Do you want to pet my ant?

I’ve had my share of pets in my life, and I understand the appeal. I’ve had dogs I could run and play with, birds that chirped pleasantly and cats that ... well, the cats all kind of did their own thing. But they would occasionally acknowledge my presence with a not entirely unpleasant reaction.

Column: A Saturday filled with hills

From time to time I like to write about riding my bike. It’s possible you’ve noticed. Usually when I do this it’s to talk about the difficulty of some upcoming ride I have foolishly planned. This is a common tactic in sporting activities. It’s like the football coach who talks up an inferior opponent to keep his team from becoming complacent.

Column: World Cup fever more like a cold

The soccer World Cup kicked off last week, sending sports fans around the world into frenzies of patriotic pride and leaving millions of Americans wondering where the heck their baseball highlights are.

Column: Be ready for the worst

I realize retailers need to expand their offerings these days to attract larger crowds of shoppers. I've gotten used to walking through stores where diapers are on shelves next to digital cameras.

Column: What’s in a name? Apparently, plenty

Every year the United States Social Security Administration sends media outlets around the country a list of the past year’s most popular baby names. In other words, in case you don’t find it creepy enough that a single agency gives each of us, at birth, a number that will be used to identify us for the rest of our lives, keep in mind that same agency also keeps detailed records of how many other people born the same year as you share your name, how the popularity of your name has changed over the years and, I assume, why more parents don’t name their babies Englebert.

Column: The battle for the back yard

When I bought my house in November of 2007 I got a place to call my own, a break from landlord-controlled living and a living space big enough that I can have one room set aside just for my bikes. Well, my bikes and the several bags of recycling I have yet to take out. But that's not really the point.

Column: It’s time for a bicycle confession

I’m not sure if it’s the early spring, the fact it’s nearly 1 a.m. or the fact I keep hearing stories about Catholic priests in the news lately, but I’m in a bit of a confessional mood this week. Bless me, Rosemount, for I have been a bad biker.