February 2008
17 posts
“I’m sorry to hear that you are dropping out of the race. I for one would...”
– Brian, Faithful WCCO Viewer/Blog Reader
January 2008
27 posts
"Simple and a little bit slutty" Me in Rake...
I really should just keep my mouth shut when I’m out doing interviews. Christy DeSmith of Rake Magazine asked me to be in a feature she was doing on picking out dresses for Valentine’s Day. The premise: She and I go shopping, and I pick out a dress for my wife, Alyssa. Here’s the result. It’s a beautiful dress. From Stephanie’s in St. Paul (a really cool little...
Brilliant Web Poll @ wcco.com
You’ve got to do this today (January 30), but click over to our home page, scroll down, and look at today’s Web poll. It’s beneath “coupons.” There’s a barn-burner of a race up there… asking a question about the weather. It’s not the question that’s interesting, it’s the answers. I don’t want to tip the scales, but I suggest you...
I'm Also Dropping Out of The Presidential Race
I thought I’d announce it here first. Since I haven’t raised enough money, or attracted enough delegates, I’m withdrawing my bid for th Presidency of the United States. Everyone else seems to be dropping out, so I figured I’d get in on the fun! (Of course, you have to be 35-years-old to be President, and we all know I’m too young for that. DeBlog in 2012!) ...
Why Do We Caucus? Good Question
We’ve been getting tons of e-mails on this question. Why do we have caucuses in Minnesota? I’ll tell you this much: caucuses have much lower turnout than primaries. And some party leaders like it that way. So we’ll talk about that tonight with a former DFL party chair who has some interesting thoughts on why we caucus. (Hint hint: the power lies with the party, not with the...
My Trip To Urgent Care: Good Question
So I’m back on days this week, doing the Good Question segment for the news at ten. (tonight we’re doing: What is the state of the union? What’s the state of your union?) Here’s a tip: if you want to get on television, send us a good question via video mail. Record it on your webcam, save it, then e-mail it to us using this form. So few people do it, and we want to...
Happy Birthday To Me: From Shelby (kinda)
My birthday is on January 24th, Thursday. I’m not telling you this so you can send me gifts, although I’ll be at work and you can feel free to drop them by the station. I’m telling you, because on my MySpace page I’m getting lots of birthday wishes. They’re funny, and often sparkly. Which is another story. But this birthday wish was particularly exciting: Don...
Ben Tracy Stealing His Own Material
Tonight on the CBS Evening News, Ben Tracy ripped himself off. What I should say, he recycled his own material. I admire that. Ben did a story on Whole Foods bagging the plastic bag. It’s a bit of a trend now, in fact, I got an e-mail from St. Paul’s Mississippi Market saying they’re phasing out plastic bags by April 1. At any rate, here’s Ben’s Good Question on...
From Heath to Homgren to Grammys: A Day of AP...
The bulletins on the Associated Press news wire are always an interesting way to take the pulse of a day. I’ve pulled most of the alerts from the afternoon. Enjoy. 4:57 PM: “WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed a revised defense policy bill that authorizes a 3.5 percent pay raise for troops and sidesteps a veto showdown with President Bush.” 4:08 PM: “KIRKLAND,...
Last Word on Target Billboard Controversy
I promise this will be the last time I write about the Target billboard ad. But I’ve been getting e-mails that are critical of the ad, and that viewpoint certainly was underrepresented in my initial sampling of e-mails I shared here on the blog. Kitty e-mailed: ‘I do find the ad offensive, and agree with Lisa Ray that it’s hard enough to raise our kids without these sort of images....
Tons of E-mails on Target Billboard Controversy
My e-mailbox was overflowing this morning, with your comments on last night’s story about a Target billboard. 20 of you wrote to disagree with Lisa Ray and Parents for Ethical Marketing, one of you told me to “turn up the heat on TARGET.. they need to be responsible..That ad is ridiculous.” Not that I have a position on this, but it is troubling to me how many e-mailers used...
Target: Missing the Bullseye with Bloggers?
So a bizarre chronology led to tonight’s story on the billboard controversy circling Target Corporation. A guy named Bennett Williamson snapped this photo on December 6. He didn’t upload it until January 6. It showed a Target billboard with a woman’s legs spread, directly centered over the Target bullseye logo. Bennett e-mailed me tonight and said, “I really was not...
More Response to Parenting GQ
believe I’m up to about 40 e-mail responses to our story on parents taking the sides of their kids. I really appreciate all the input. I want to share a few more e-mails. Today is my last day of doing Good Question for January, and it’s been amazing to do stories that strike such a nerve! Diane points out: “School’s are not always right, and it’s a parent’s...
Huge Response to Good Question On Parenting
I got a ton of e-mail responses to the good question about why many parents seem likely to blindly support their kids rather than supporting schools. First: an anecdote. When I was in first grade I got a pink slip because I was caught throwing a piece of food in the cafeteria. I brought it home, and my mom told me if I got in trouble again, she would haul me to school and spank my bare butt in...
Good Question: Why Do Parents Defend Their Kids...
I think tonight’s good question is an interesting one, and perhaps you have thoughts on it (E-mail them to me, I may use them on TV.) Something happened with parents where they shifted from instinctively blaming their kids when they got in trouble, to instinctively defending their kids. Today, kids walked out of Eden Prairie High School to protest Facebook-related suspensions. Some kids...
Good Question Is Hard
So this is my third night doing Good Question, and I’m exhausted! It’s hard work. My hat is off to Ben Tracy for doing this for two full years, day in and day out. I get into work at 9:30 a.m., and have a meeting about which question we’re going to answer. (tonight we’re doing one that Alexa e-mailed me directly— how do traffic lights know when to change to red?) Then...
Help Me Answer Tonight's Good Question
Tonight I’m going to attempt to answer the question: What do parents do to keep their kids from drinking themselves to death? It’s a tough one, and hard to have real answers in light of the cluster of college students dying after drinking too much. I’d like your input. Should parents allow their kids to have a drink at home? At what age? With dinner, or at holidays? How did your...
Fishing on Mille Lacs + Good Question
It was quite a weekend on Lake Mille Lacs, and I’d like to apologize to the good people of Onamia if I acted like too much of an idiot. We had a great time out there as always. This is my fourth or fifth year taking part in the festivities. I’ve placed all my photos in a Flickr set for your enjoyment. I know Jeanette took some pictures, and I imagine she’ll share some on her...
GQ Reminder + I Shop With The Rake
Don’t forget, next week, I’m doing Good Question. So send in your questions via e-mail or video using this form. I’ve already received a package of 12 video good questions for next week, so I’m pumped about that! Just look into a webcam, and record your question for me! Yesterday I had a great time with Christy Desmith of the Rake Magazine. She writes about our...
Random Iowa Caucus Observations
I used to work in Iowa, I remember covering the caucuses in 2000. I’ll never forget being a 25-year-old kid reporter, having to tell John Ashcroft that we were not interested in talking with him. He walked to the door of our TV station alone. A funny sight to see a U.S. Senator, without an entourage. Tonight, my observations: Hillary Clinton addressed her supporters standing by a former...
Happy Birthday From Frank And Amelia
My birthday is coming on January 24, and I’ve already received the best present ever. Browsing around the Mpls/St. Paul Magazine Web site I stumbled upon this little gem. Customized birthday greetings from Frank and Amelia. You can send the video to anyone you want, sending them a Happy Birthday. It starts with Frank saying, “Tonight’s top story… is YOU!” Brilliant....
Christmas Recap (Why did I post a pic of me in my...
I’ve been a little lax in sharing photos lately, which may come as a relief to those of you don’t care about my life. But as long as Sven keeps posting pictures of his goat, I will keep posting pictures of my family. We celebrated Christmas in Chicago. Here we are Christmas morning: My Uncle Bob (a big-time lawyer) carved the turkey wearing a garbage bag as an apron: My parents...
I'm Doing Good Question (next week)
Many of you have been wondering who will take over the Good Question segment now that Ben Tracy has left to go to CBS News. That good question will be answered tonight at 10. I’m kidding. It’ll be answered right now. Kinda. Tonight through Friday, Jeanette Trompeter will answer Good Questions (tonight — Why are habits so hard to break?). All next week, I’ll be doing it....
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