Publisher’s Column

How can the federal government possibly recoup the money it has tamped into the cracks of the economy and spread around like fertilizer to stimulate a reluctant recovery? Digging through a pocketful of change, I realized the answer was staring me right in the face: advertising.

“Lookin’ good.” “Only four more sides to go.” “Hey, isn’t it Miller time?” The surest way to initiate a conversation with a neighbor, or stranger for that matter, is to paint something – a house, garage, shed.

I don’t like to be pessimistic, especially when it comes to business, but what are companies to do when customers say, “We don’t need you anymore”?

Oh come on, give it a try.” The smiling young woman herded me over to the stainless steel machine and grabbed an item from my shopping cart. “Just pass it over the glass like this,” she said. “Or, if it doesn’t register on the display, turn it this way.”

The photo below isn’t me, but the column is still his. I’m just pinch-hitting. Publisher Jeff Irish this issue wasn’t able to devote enough quality time to writing another cogent Publisher’s Column because of his father passing away in February.

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. That’s it, nice and slow. Now repeat after me, “O—Mau—Nee—May—Paw—Dra—Oom.” Again, and keep breathing – in, out, in, out. There, now don’t you feel better?

This past June, I walked the streets of Nicollet aware of an extraordinary flurry of activity. Garages were cleaned and decorated, tents and tables popped up on lawns, and harried parents conveying carloads of provisions looked as if they were mounting a major relief effort.

This is my first “green” column. Before sitting down to write, I took a couple tranquilizers to slow my respiration which will lower my output of carbon dioxide and thereby reduce my carbon footprint. I mounted the treadle mechanism from an old sewing machine under my desk, cut a hole in the desktop and ran a discarded fan belt up to a recycled generator that is now powering my computer.