Coach Cheryl Reeve delivers a downer

Coach Cheryl Reeve

We are in the summer of the women's basketball renaissance. Is "renaissance" the right word? Let's see: "A renewal of life, vigor, interest, etc." Well we could talk about burgeoning growth. I know the definition of "burgeoning." 

Sports can evolve like any organism. And money gets quite into the picture. It is mid-July and the WNBA has finally reached its mid-season break. Whew! It is having some growing pains, what was quite to be expected. 

Our own WNBA coach here in Minnesota lost her cool. I could forgive her for that to an extent. Emotions can overwhelm all of us in sports. 

I wrote about high school and college sports for many years in the community press. How I know the truth about that. 

The organism of high school sports is changing. We're saying hello to high school soccer this fall in Morris. Quite the new chapter. I would be quite focused on it, were I still a member of the commercial press. I would write about it with a little hyperbole which would be my wont. I behaved this way at the advent of UMM soccer. The program is so well-established now, we might lose sight of when it was groundbreaking. 

One of my traits is that I have a good memory and I find it important to remember past events and strides. Even with a sense of drama. Yes I was wont to project as much in my community press days. Why treat anything like it's merely routine? Life is too short. 

Sports is the toy department of the press. For society as a whole it is escapism. For the athletes it is business, if not literally so, then in a very real sense anyway. Because the kids know the games aren't played in the media or the imagination of fans. Fans experience it vicariously, deluding themselves into thinking they can really relate to the players. A sad delusion. 

Football fans have for decades overlooked the health dangers presented for the young people out there. Even when reminded of such, they try to avoid thinking about it, or to pretend that the concerns are overblown. You see, football means too much to them as entertainment. It is their escape from the stress and tensions and even boredom - let's lump it together as "ennui" - in their lives. 

Abandoning all that calls for change. Change disrupts us. 

So, can Morris get in the swing with boys soccer? Can the sport take hold with decent roster numbers? It is July and the time is nigh. 

But wait a minute, something is quite different about this July. Hey sports fans, we can demote baseball a little. We are making room for women's basketball. And isn't this just a sea change? Have y'all internalized it yet? Maybe not. In the short term you'll look up the next Indiana Fever game, right? When in the past have you ever been in the habit of doing such? I'll suggest "never." 

I personally saw the birth of high school girls basketball at my prep alma mater, MHS here in Motown. I'm thinking that 1971-72 was the first year. Can't be far off. I remember Leatrice Tomoson as a pioneer. And I'm sad to realize how much better and well-known "Leets" would be if she were coming up today in the better-developed world of girls basketball. 

Girls and women's basketball has been around a long time now. There has been so much time for further inroads to be made, yet it appears our current spring/summer of 2024 is the breakthrough time. 

The stage was set with the NCAA Tournament. Iowa made the championship game in back-to-back seasons, and fair or not, became the banner carrier for all that is going on. Unfair maybe in the sense that placing second means there was a higher-achieving team. Some people invoke race. Sad if true. And c'mon it's probably true. The preponderance of white fans can relate better to the white bread team of Iowa I guess. 

Aliyah Boston

The effect has been to lift up all of women's hoops. This means that Caitlin Clark's teammate with the Indiana Fever, Aliyah Boston, African-American, is becoming a household name just like Caitlin. 

Hallelujah! Let's all get on board. 

But what about our Minnesota Lynx? A lump of coal for coach Cheryl Reeve, please. She has done such a good job getting her Lynx to be one of the better WNBA teams. Her creds are quite underscored by being the Team USA coach. So I wish she could project an underlying feeling of joy at all times. 

Prior to this season I would not have been interested in reading any quotes from the Lynx coach. Reeve should be jumping up and clicking her heels together over the state of affairs in women's hoops. She should be pinching herself! You're not dreaming, coach Reeve.

 

Really? In July?

Well, the Indiana Fever came to Target Center on Sunday. A total marquee sports event, and basketball in July! Front and center? It was, 100 percent. The Paris Olympics begin later this month. 

Coach Reeve, speaking in advance about the Sunday game and the likelihood of a pro-Indiana crowd at Target Center, said of that likelihood "I don't give two shits." She was pressed further on the matter. Showing flashing wit once again - not - Reeve said "I don't give one shit." 

Ish. 

The fans were going to admire Clark not just for her rarefied air talents, but because she played college ball at our neighbor to the south, Iowa. And BTW Iowa is getting loaded with talent for next season. So much so, I think it'll be impossible for the new coach (Jensen) to distribute playing time to the players' satisfaction. I can't help but note that Iowa is going from a heterosexual head coach to a gay coach. Significant? I'll not proclaim that here, but maybe in my own mind. . . 

Who coaches for the University of Minnesota? I cannot name even one Gopher player. Just think if we had the U of Iowa program here in Minnesota. No such luck. 

The U of M overall is having lots of headaches these days. What do you suppose the new U president has been told behind closed doors about the "coordinate campuses?" I don't think Rochester is a problem because that community is headed for boom times. 

Morris? Crookston? 

Our own campus has students that do not pay tuition, the Indians. The campus might be a hard enough sell even without that limitation. Money is the mother's milk. For sports and for college. Morris looks remote indeed. And keep in mind the coyotes howling at night out here!

Addendum: Forcing our MAHS boys to choose between football and cross country has been a profound disservice to them. Cross country has never been a legitimate option for so many of the boys, boys who are too large to ever have any hope of excelling in cross country. The two sports are night and day. Size is tremendously important in football and a total hindrance in cross country. Even I was too big to ever do well in cross country. It is a sport for the small and wispy types. 

Now the boys have soccer available. Way too belated. I hope there is a major switchover from football to soccer.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Why should shooting affect election?

I feel concern for my self-esteem. The extent to which western Minnesota has turned "red" politically is shocking. I suppose my evidence is anecdotal. People with whom I circulate gravitate red and worse than that, want to hear absolutely nothing about dissents to that position. They'll treat you like a nuisance for them. They'll smile in a manner that suggests you're forlorn. 

One by one the breaks are falling into place for MAGA to seize power. Western Minnesota can be pleased at least at the outset. But since when has MAGA and its person at the top ever been known to return favors? Loyalty means nothing to the person at the top. The first big-time politician to step forward for Trump was Jeff Sessions. I remember the news clip of Sessions literally pulling on his MAGA cap in front of Trump. All smiles. 

Later Sessions made the professional decision to recuse himself on the Russia matter. He has been a total non-entity in Republican circles since. Trump himself poked fun at Sessions' appearance just like a seventh grade bully would. And hardly anyone on his side seems to care. 

Maybe Trump chose J.D. Vance precisely because Vance thought it appropriate at one time to compare Trump to Hitler. Yes, I think maybe Trump likes the comparison. The more pertinent question for me now, is whether people I know locally continue to be just fine with all that. To salute Trump. To smile at any mention of skepticism about him. A smile that says "we don't hear you, you just amuse us." 

And now we have the new positive break for Trump. His miraculous escape from death in the shooting incident. Blood on his face. Fist raised: perfect pose for a painting that could become famous, just like Washington crossing the Delaware. I seem to recall reading there was some artistic license with the Washington painting. Seems that the Father of our Country was actually seated in the boat and huddled under a jacket. Oh, wisely of course. Protect against illness. 

The myths of history abound, n'est-ce pas? Washington ended up a literal hero. What if the independence move had been defeated at least in the short term? Notice how our schools don't give much attention to the War of 1812? Ahem. It did not go so well for America. But we did stay independent. 

It is dispiriting this morning (Wednesday) to hear about consequences for people who say in an offhand way that maybe the sniper vs. Trump should have succeeded. We definitely could have expected some people to react in this way. Not sure if it would be reflective of their real feelings, maybe just one of those kneejerk impulses of the moment. 

Should a person lose his job? If the comment is made completely outside of work?

So there are some dissenters from MAGA out there, maybe even out here in Morris where we hear the coyotes at night. 

We believe in frontier individualism. Or so we might proclaim. The kind of unfettered spirit so glorified on the big screen now with Kevin Costner's new movie. Ahem, the movie is not doing particularly well. But as if we needed another reminder from Hollywood, the movie shows how the gallant gunslinging men who headed West carved out the new nation. Were not really hospitable to the Natives. 

And to be truthful, the biggest development for truly advancing the West was the Hoover Dam. Yes, a big government project. That's a detail that the MAGA extremists would not wish to acknowledge. 

Such folks are totally feeling their oats now. Yes, a failed assassination attempt may alter the course of U.S. affairs in a far-reaching way. Because, Trump if elected will truly try to seize as much power as he can. He has said so and he means it. 

He says he wants "influence" with the Federal Reserve. This is the one danger point that I try to point out more than any other. It goes in one ear and out the other. Perhaps I'm branded as eccentric. And so my self-esteem suffers. 

The billionaire class would like nothing more than an interest rate at zero. The consequences could be much different for the masses of common folks. Already we have seen this mantra set in, of "we need interest rate cuts." It is constant. And of course the major risk with low interest rates is inflation, could give way to hyper-inflation, and that's what set the stage for the bad stuff that happened for Germany in the mid-20th Century. 

I could almost scream that we should not allow that to happen here. There is no free lunch. Interest rates exist for a reason, they are not just "bad." 

We read today on Yahoo! News that DJT "literally dodged a bullet Saturday." The article continues: "But the attempt on his life has already had unintended consequences both profoundly tragic and deeply ironic." The article points out that the effect of the incident is to wipe out the "dump Joe Biden movement." People on the left are now afraid of "any big move that will throw more uncertainty and friction into the race." History impacted, yes. The currents are suddenly affected by something out of the blue. 

Here is a comment that I posted to Yahoo! News this morning:

 

How strange the times we are in when an assassination attempt, however disturbing it was, is now seen as the major new propulsion for the intended victim becoming president again. These are two different matters. And for some to make a divine inference from the incident, strange, but Trump had most of that element behind him already.

 

"Otto" liked my comment. Wasn't that the name of the inflatable "autopilot" in the first "Airplane" movie. "And don't call me Shirley."

I write more on the subject on my companion blog "Morris of Course." The link:

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2024/07/its-now-lock-for-djt-being-president.html 

 

Addendum: I do not think that Trump's ear was struck by a bullet. I think he got cut from a shard of glass from his teleprompter. A bullet grazing past his ear, contacting it, would have done more damage. I wondered immediately how Trump could get a streak of blood across his face. 

If I had a job in this community, good chance I'd lose it just for sharing the kind of thoughts I have today, both on this blog site and my companion. Incidents are in the news of people getting in trouble here and there. They have shared an opinion completely outside of work but they appear to be in trouble anyway, although I think a good lawyer could help them. 

Remember the failed assassination attempt against Hitler. And Trump's VP selection has compared Trump to Hitler. Trump may not care as he may be aspiring to be Hitler redux.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

We had Luther's Eatery at the park

It is Sunday morning and I do believe it would be Day 2 of Prairie Pioneer Days in an earlier time in Morris. Definitely a sense of something important going on. A sense of exhaustion from yesterday maybe. 

I remember when First Lutheran decided not to have the usual coffee hour downstairs and sent people to the park instead. Rolls and coffee there. First Lutheran had its "Luther's Eatery" of course. Did you know that Martin Luther was one of the worst anti-Semites in world history? His language contributed to the holocaust. I try to overlook this as I continue being an ELCA Lutheran. 

Political conservatives look down on us ELCAers. This led to the creation of the church just outside of Morris on the north end. I can walk past the trees at the rear of my property and see the steeple. I guess the steeple was installed after the building was moved to Morris from south of Alberta. I heard of quite the hefty pricetag for the steeple. I might object but so what? 

Is the steeple sort of golden calf? Well, I probably shouldn't ask that. 

My family attended lutefisk suppers in the fall when the building was south of Alberta, quintessentially rural. And that became a problem with demographic shifts. 

I'm sure the conservative churches are moving mountains to encourage prayers for Donald Trump today.

So it's Sunday and I can imagine myself with Mom and Dad at East Side Park for rolls and coffee. Not sure why the community needed to end the tradition at the park. Traditions do give way to new ways of doing things. 

And on the subject of change, we might give scrutiny to St. Cloud State as a microcosm for higher education, at least the old brick and mortar model for higher ed. What a much different world we have today compared to when UMM was like a fawn trying to stand up for the first time in 1960. The fawn found its legs. Then it lost its spots. Then it bounded about with zest. 

The wildlife analogy is apt because of where we are situated out here in western Minnesota, n'est-ce pas? So I must ask: Is that a liability? Is my imaginary deer nearing the end of its lifespan? 

Just take a look to the east of here: The sky is falling at St. Cloud State. Who could have imagined it getting this bad? I fault the State of Minnesota for allowing the process to become so embarrassing. And what might this indicate for our own publily-funded college? Inquiring minds want to know. 

 

The old parade

Sunday of PPD, day of the big parade of course. The parade route lined with chairs leading up. Confined to our memory now. Remember the giant Coborn's "shopping cart" in parade? Remember Coborn's? Was the town better off with two full-service grocery stores? Again, inquiring minds. 

Museum should have an exhibit on the old PPD at park. Remember Jack Fuchs giving carriage rides?

Many other towns continue on with their summer celebration events. We have the old standby county fair on our calendar. We might look forward to the welcome UMM picnic also. That would be at East Side Park just like the old PPD. What does the stage get used for there now? It costs the city $ to maintain that building. 

I express more PPD nostalgia on my 'Morris of Course" blog site. The headline is "Do you need reminding of this void?" It's the midsummer void with no PPD. Oh and I might add, there is a void of activity at the park stage now that we no longer have the Morris Community Church. I remember the days of Sunday morning music wafting over from that place, so pleasant. I'd be at my Sun Tribune office. Those days are gone too. Sigh. I invite you to read:

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2024/07/do-you-need-reminding-of-this-void.html 

 

Heard at church coffee this morning:

Democrats came six inches away from winning yesterday.

 

Touching base

I broach the St. Cloud topic in an email I sent to Del Sarlette a few days ago:

 

Del - Well, the news about St. Cloud State has gotten so bad now, it is almost comical. Buildings are set to be torn down. Holy mackerel. Sherburne Hall? Big dorm that has stood out on skyline. Education building? Incredible. And the new president just talks about how more "open space" will be nice.

So I think it's ironic that UMM is lobbying to get funds for the elevator for the multi-ethnic place.

I sent an email to Liz Morrison yesterday. I wondered if the HFA could be designated for closure or even demolition here in Morris. The "albatross" building. Huge hallway, too-small recital hall. While our public school has the opulent "concert hall." Stranger than fiction, really.

 

Boon for Morrison Center?

Well, I'll share here the email I sent to Liz too! The Morrisons and my Williams family are both UMM benefactors. I will never look back re. this. The U has given my family everything, although I did sock away a little $ when I was with the Morris newspaper, incidentally owned by the Morrisons. I can say with confidence that Jim Morrison and I walked away from the newspaper with a fair amount of $ legitimately gained of course. Not everyone left there with $ legitimately gained but that's a whole other topic.

I mention Tony Hansen in my email to Liz because he's a MHS 1971 grad just like Liz. Yours truly is '73. My email was titled "Boon for Morrison Center?"

 

Hello Liz - I still have not heard if the new U president plans a visit out here soon.

We can't help but be a little nervous now as we see the sky falling at St. Cloud State, another publicly-funded school. We'd all like to think UMM is blessed being part of the U. Maybe that's true, maybe it's overblown. The U has gotten a pretty serious black eye with the retracted research reports recently. "Retraction" is pretty serious. And research is supposed to be the U's trump card for selling itself.

Anyway, this morning I researched more about St. Cloud and was astounded at the plans for razing certain buildings. Sherburne Hall? That's a big residence hall, built like a high rise apt. building, the most distinctive feature on the skyline. Gone soon. And these plans are set in stone. The education building? Again I am astounded. Historically education majors have been important at SCSU and this building seemed very important. Other buildings are on list too, and the best that the new president can spin it, is that all the new "open space" will be nice. He actually said that.

Our wonderful UMM campus

So now I turn my thoughts to UMM. Our enrollment trend has reflected SCSU. I have heard of no plans to demolish buildings here. In fact there is a push to get an elevator for the multi-ethnic building. Has that been decided upon yet? That's a very small building. Whatever goes on there, could be moved somewhere else on campus.

I can't help but think of the HFA, that monstrous building with the freakish design, was maybe fashionable once like in the 1970s. Huge hallway but with a recital hall that is too small for major concerts. Meanwhile our public school has the concert hall. Amazing. I could easily envision a proposal to shut down the HFA. Where would those activities go? Well, the same place as in UMM's earliest days: Edson i.e. Morrison Center. In fact, the Morrison Center might become more prominent than ever due to this. I attended many music concerts there and even one or two theater productions. Where would music be housed? How about back at the multi-ethnic building which would be re-purposed. Some sort of multi-ethnic office would be established somewhere else on campus.

I would not rule out some sort of drastic announcement about UMM in the next few months. If the sky is totally falling at St. Cloud, we cannot rule it out here. If anything, the U might want to shift its resources to Rochester, and why not? The place is booming with population and development.

You maybe know Tony Hansen teaches meteorology at St. Cloud State. He's been spared.

Here's a link to article about St. Cloud State plans with buildings:

https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/education/2024/07/11/scsu-campus-st-cloud-mn-to-see-demolitions-greenspace-new-facilities/74365597007/

Continuing. . .

I touched base too with fellow UMM advocate Warrenn Anderson. And why not bring up the softball complex again? Here we go:

  

Hello Warrenn - Caribou Coffee is running pretty efficiently these days. They aren't short-handed as much.

I asked Sharon Martin if complaints had been heard about lack of fan seating at softball complex and she said "yes." I would be shocked if people weren't raising this issue. The Minnewaska fans came over here for the sub-section, and I wonder what they think of the place. Their athletic director gets paid $40,000 more a year than ours, or so I've heard. But our softball team beat them 15-0. Then again, their girls basketball team beat us by over 40 points. I feel sorry for Kaylee Harstad because she had the potential to do better. The whole team did. Lost in first round of tourney. Any time team loses in first round, adm. can consider shaking things up IMHO. It's nothing personal.

You asked a good question about how UMM's specific interests were served by the softball complex. I have told you this before, but the pre-existing UMM softball field was superior to what's there now. The fence was short enough that an average adult could watch clearly from over the top. Also the bleacher seating was generous. That field had the brick dugouts with "Cougars" painted on the back. I watched softball there. It's on my daily walking route so I would happen upon it. I also happened upon UMM softball at Big Cat Field when the spring weather was winter-like. I was surprised how good that experience was. I had Erin look into whether the Tigers would be eligible to play softball there and she said "yes" but personally I still have some doubts. She would not have wanted to tell me "no." I wonder if she even asked. Has Mary Holmberg pushed for this?

I'm still concerned that the newest of the fields at the complex has the batters facing the sun too much. That's where the old UMM field was, and that field was configured differently. I'm sure the previous field was planned with the sun angle in mind, whereas the new one had to have home plate close to the "press box."

The Wells Park fields were a superior place for watching softball compared to the complex.

So, "how are ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm" when the U of M has a branch in rapidly-growing Rochester? Oh I'm sure that campus has ambitious lobbyists! Star Trib had recent article on projected huge growth of Rochester in next two decades. The state has to recognize this and be sensitive to it. How much "clout" do we have out here where we can hear coyote packs at night? 

 

Addendum: 

Sharon Martin recently had her wonderful dog "Goldy" pass away. It is uniquely crushing to lose a pet of course. I'm saddened as I realize I will no longer greet "Goldy" out along the biking/walking trail. I'd shout out "Goldy!" as we came from opposite directions. Sharon unleashed Goldy and then the canine would scamper toward me. I'll never forget.

"All dogs go to heaven." We will miss you "Goldy." 

  

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Morris featured in Wall Street Journal!

Our community in the Wall Street Journal

Here's a shot to our local consciousness. For those of you who stick around Morris some in summer, i.e. who aren't "at the lake" all the time, you should know: our community has distinction at present. We are in the Wall Street Journal! Yes, the east coast elite media has noticed us out here. A real feather in our cap. 

I didn't see this coming. So let's feel good. We used to depend on Prairie Pioneer Days to enliven us in midsummer. This year we have the shot of attention from the east coast prestige media. Even if you're at the lake a lot, you might feel pride, eh? 

The article is dated July 3. So, quite fresh. And here's the headline: "Conservative farm town went green without really trying." They have us in line with the image or stereotype of being "conservative" out here in the plains. We can hear coyotes at night, mainly from the east and north of Morris. Sounds just like in the old western movies. 

And yes we are "conservative." In the past this meant a philosophy that had respectability. Like in supporting Ronald Reagan. Today we have a congressperson in Michelle Fischbach who voted against certifying the 2020 election results. There are reports that Donald Trump is requiring his VP pick to sign a pledge about the 2020 election being stolen. What all fallout is going to come of this? 

Would Fischbach be good with such a pledge? Such an affirmation? Can't you see that Trump would never accept losing? And if his support grows strong enough, as has happened out here in coyote land, could our whole democratic system be destroyed? 

Do I personally have to worry about being intimidated or threatened by MAGA types when I show up to vote at our armory in Morris? Up until now the experience has been nothing like that: the people in charge are simply good civic-minded people. Will MAGA start to infiltrate locally? Will they look at me and presume I'll vote for some Democrats? What would be the repercussions? 

And now Fischbach may not even be good enough for the western Minnesota Republicans. We have this Steve Boyd hovering out here. Seems like our very own J.D. Vance. 

I'll be selfish and express the following concern: if Republicans succeed in totally dismantling the "administrative state" - if they wipe out vestiges of the New Deal - how are all the retirees going to get by? I mean, possibly stripped of our Social Security? Trump still talks about "repealing Obamacare." How will he and his minions attempt this? 

No matter what he attempts, he'll have an army of lawyers wearing suits and ties to try every trick in the book. Up 'til now it appears the Dems are more or loss emasculated. 

And is it getting worse? It may keep getting worse until there is a colossal collective shock felt in the populace, at which point. . . Well, I am not suggesting or recommending this but I'm just looking at world history. People ultimately need to take care of themselves. We go around town to purchase for our daily needs and are informed so routinely "the price went up." 

At what point do we start to turn with this to say "there has to be a fix." Higher interest rates? But holy cow, there is a very powerful class in America led by the billionaires who fight hammer and tongs against that. They can "clean up" for themselves with zero percent interest and more "quantitative easing." They always want quantitative easing. And they have the power and wealth to simply flee the country if they have to, if they feel the need to escape a visceral revolution from the political left. 

You think Jan. 6 was a visceral revolt? It was small potatoes compared to what could happen if a true left wing revolt found its legs nationwide. Yes it would be borne of desperation as all such revolts are. The communists tracked down Mussolini, executed him and had his body hung up on meat hooks for abuse. I am merely citing world history, warning about what could happen. 

Doug Burgum (forbes)

The Doug Burgums of the world would just get the heck out of here in advance. Mike Huckabee has talked about moving to Israel. I don't think he's done that yet. 

So to repeat: the Wall Street Journal characterizes us currently as "conservative." The subhead for the article reads "Tiny Morris Minn. adopted wind turbines, solar panels and composting to save money, not the planet - and now it has become a model for other rural towns." 

A friend gave me the email heads-up about the WSJ piece. He shared a photo of the print edition that allowed me to at least quote the headline. Then I typed the headline into search. I could only read the first paragraph "for free." Otherwise there's a paywall. I at least got the gist of the article. 

Will Steve Boyd win Stevens County? He of the "life begins at conception" line? Look, abortion is a disturbing topic, there is no doubt. But women need to be left alone on this. We were better off with wide "women's reproductive health rights." If Dems win we might be able to get Roe vs. Wade codified into law. Or, to get the Supreme Court expanded with new mainstream justices. 

I'm not betting on anything. There are a lot of older men who simply will not budge from supporting Trump. A psychologist might be able to explain. By the time we all learn, it will probably be too late. I am very skeptical. 

Listen to the older guys who gather in the middle section of DeToy's Restaurant in early morning. Fischbach may not be good enough for them. All things being equal, they might prefer a man.

 

Addendum: Has the Morris newspaper reported on the Wall Street Journal piece? Has the Morris paper reported on Scott Turnbull becoming new school athletic/activities director? Or, on Justin Daly being named girls basketball coach? I can't state for a fact that the paper hasn't done these things. I do not take notes week to week. 

I check out the Morris paper at our library. It is minimal size on this particular week. Of course midsummer is always ungodly "slow" in Motown. Prairie Pioneer Days was a way of adjusting for that, as Kevin Wohlers pointed out strongly. But he and I lost on that. Too many heavy-hitters in Morris who just need to "get away to the lake" as much as possible. 

The new Morris athletic director was previously the UMM soccer coach. I know the paper has run an article on his replacement as soccer coach. I don't think too many readers of the Morris paper care all that much about that. I think they care much more about who the athletic director is. 

Our previous AD left here for Minnewaska in order to get paid substantially more, according to reports out and around. So it's ironic that our MACA softball team defeated Minnewaska 15-0 in the tournament this past spring. Wouldn't you say? 

The paper's owners lecture on how we absolutely need the paper to stay informed. Well, I hope they are staying on top of things.

Illustrations from the WSJ piece

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

How to judge a "nuisance property?"

Nuisance properties! I'm certain the term causes a headache with city administrators. And the matter can even rise above that level to where elected officials get drawn in. As has happened here in our Motown recently. 

I remember the issue coming up in the past. I remember reading of a little "tour" given by a city administrator out and around, sampling some sights. He gave the tour to the newspaper manager, as I recall. In the Forum Communications days. 

Well frankly it is not hard to notice properties where issues of tidiness and aesthetics are presented. Most of us keep these thoughts to ourselves. We no doubt reason that life is challenging for lots of people and we cannot all be expected to live in a super upscale place like we see out by the river. We make these observations while we ourselves realize we are not being perfect. 

A few years back I realized I had let the rear of my property get overgrown. While my father was alive I figured he'd take care of this stuff. I'm afraid he did start becoming a little negligent. A wooden snowfence that he was once proud to have installed got obliterated by storms. We who live on the northern edge of the city, semi-rural, can really be hit hard by winds. Because of that, I began to see my overgrown back yard as maybe an asset: a windbreak. That it was. 

But enough is enough. It was not passing the aesthetics test. The Northridge Drive residences are rather upscale so we have a sense of the appropriate basic standards. There are always issues. And with the cost of having any kind of contractor show up, one might be tempted to hesitate more than normal. 

I have a theory on why the "nuisance property" issue comes at us every 5-6 years (an estimate). My theory is that people begin to notice one very obvious nuisance property somewhere. So the appropriate officials are notified with complaints. And in our current case the city manager apparently did not respond, so guess what? The mayor's phone rings, which I suspect would make him growl some. 

I'm sure the elected people don't want to get into touchy or emotional issues any more than they have to. They like to get re-elected. But I have told people I will not vote for anyone who was on the council when the water softener law was passed. I have told the major that directly. He probably would just get out his little violin. I digress some. 

I suspect that people involved in municipal management all over our great country consider nuisance properties to be thorny, perhaps a no-win situation. Why? I think it's pretty obvious: If you consider it essential to intervene with a nuisance property, well then you have to be consistent, applying the same rules and standards to everyone, so you don't look like you're just picking on one person. You cannot carry out a personal grudge this way. The law probably has avenues for recourse. 

So then what? Well you have to draw up a pretty specific profile of just what a nuisance property is. I read in the paper that having a pile of wood pallets is a no-no. Well I don't know: if my neighbor had some of these and his property was otherwise tidy, not sure I'd feel bothered. But there has to be a set of pretty specific rules and standards. 

And I'd like to suggest at this point that maybe that's nigh impossible. To elaborate, let me cite the famous judge's quote about pornography: "I can't define it but I know it when I see it."

 

Addendum: Just speculating but I think the current really problematic property is along Pacific Avenue. If this isn't it, then I wouldn't want to see No. 1.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

U's challenges steeper than normal?

Rebecca Cunningham is new president of the University of Minnesota.

 

I learned many years ago that the University of Minnesota only speaks to "news reporters" on a grudging basis. And you can't really blame the U, based on its self-interest. The U senses that the "press" goes after stories like it's chum on the water for sharks. There's a bias toward articles that are exposes on the U. 

So, should a finger be pointed at the media or the press or whatever other term you want to use today? It's so diffuse now. Even I can have somewhat of a reach with my online writing. The web is a meritocracy. 

My late mother worked at UMM and she told me of a policy where if a "reporter" contacts you, you do not have to drop everything to talk to that person. Don't, instead refer that individual to the next-level employee up. And I learned this could become almost comical because everyone would just start "punting" to someone else. 

I don't blame the U for its survival behavior. I do not blame the media. The media is covering a publicly-supported institution in the U. The U is a vast, sprawling, important institution that gets and uses significant tax dollars. We periodically read of its "wish lists before the legislature." And in UMM's case, that includes getting an elevator for the multi-ethnic building. I am reminded of Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune trying to discourage the idea of "moving the Shubert Theater." 

"It's just four walls," he said. Well it had historic value like several of UMM's structures supposedly have. 

I will repeat here that nostalgia connected to the old West Central School of Agriculture is fading. At least that is my sense or perception. 

We won't have any more UMM Founders Days. I don't see how we could because UMM's founders have gone on to the next life, nearly all it's safe to say. The Founders Day events were moving. I was present for a couple. Maybe nostalgia really is what it used to be. But it gets trumped by the incessant marching of time. 

The old stalwarts of the WCSA - the leaders and teachers - have finished their mortal commitments, nearly all it's safe to say. I should not report in absolutes. And the day will come when there are no more WCSA reunions. I played in a dance orchestra for at least one of those. Time marches on and fewer people will be misty when being reminded of WCSA memories. 

Multi-ethnic building, UMM

The multi-ethnic building was the original home of UMM music. Edson Auditoriuim was the concert site and also the theater department hub. I read an observation a couple years ago, probably at the time of Edson's renovation, that kids could spend a couple years at UMM and not even notice that Edson Auditorium is there. Do I have to mention that the name alteration puzzles me: Well, Edson is now part of a larger entity - though I can't really define it or know its boundaries - named for a benefactor family. My own family is a benefactor. 

Even as UMM declines - precipitously? - I must feel satisfaction because of what the U of M has meant to my own family. As part of setting up the fund, I was informed of "contingencies." Like for example, UMM just plain closing. Sounded a little extreme at the time, is much less extreme-sounding now. My father got his undergraduate and Master's degrees from the Twin Cities U. I'd be happy to give them a boost if it comes to that. 

My big question now about UMM music is: How can it have so many faculty when the ensembles are deteriorating? I ask you to judge the ensembles based on the current UMM students taking part, not the "guests" or "alums" that you will see performing. Example: Marty Sarlette who we all love of course. 

Take a look at the huge HFA building which I think could be fairly described as ugly. Maybe a monstrosity? Marty's brother calls it an "albatross" on campus. I'm sure it was avant garde architecture at its inception, when that sort of thing was faddish. 

I studied mass communications at a time when it was full of faddish and foolish ideas. 

What is the new U of M president going to think when she comes out here? I don't believe she has made a visit yet. Maybe she should know that we can hear coyotes at night.

Good luck, you'll need it?

I think Ms. Cunningham is getting some pretty stern marching orders from the legislature. Or let's say the board of regents is getting such orders. I have realized too late in life that the regents are overrated. Maybe there was a time when they could pull the wool over people's eyes. Doing this with happy talk and pretentious educational cliches. Sure worked in an earlier time. 

A time of reckoning may have set in, underscored in a truly embarrassing way by the academic research scandal at the U. Hoo boy! The U has stepped in it. Shock waves extending way out, like nationally. Research was supposed to be a real crux for the U selling itself, if all else were to fail. Maybe all else has started failing. You know what? Whereas in the past the academic people wanted to tamp down sports, I think sports today might be the No. 1 selling point for these institutions. So go for it, Gophers! 

But let's try to see the women' basketball team in the real NCAAs next year and not the NIT. Sports is the "front porch" of our colleges. Try not to be too bothered by the erosion in the background. 

 

Edification

I discussed the U's research scandal with a learned person Wednesday morning, via an exchange through Yahoo! News comments. I began it by commenting on an article about an exotic new eating disorder among kids, identified with a series of initials. Skeptical, I wondered if this is another case of academic researchers trying to come up with something new as a way of getting attention and more importantly $ for their research. So here's the comment I submitted. Please read on for the very interesting response I got.

 

Where is the list of "disorders" going to end? There are scientists who are always trying to get funding for their research. Look at the ethically compromised researchers at the University of Minnesota. Having now to retract significant work.

 

From "Starlight":

Ethically compromised or ethically bankrupt researchers can work for any institution anywhere, Brian. U Minn. is not unique. I've seen it happen repeatedly elsewhere too - I was raised near another large Midwestern university, and ethics scandals over research and research funding are nothing new to me. These scandals are SYMPTOMS of a larger problem as as much as they are problems in themselves. 

The reason the academic scientists are always trying so hard to get funding is because their ability to stay employed DEPENDS UPON what they BRING IN in terms of grants, NOT what they teach or how well their students succeed. If they want to keep their tenured positions, they must prioritize research and research grant funding over their teaching skills. That is an unwritten law in academia, Brian. Trust me, I know all about this because I was RAISED by academic scientists, and I have a sibling who is one now. 

Everyone who knows anything at all about how the college and university system works in this country also knows that promotions and tenure within that system are always based on what one PRODUCES in terms of grant money and research, and NOT on teaching skills.

The little things

Again, I am disappointed that UMM cannot come up with a band for graduation. Years ago I never could have dreamt of this. 

Last winter I was informed that only one side of bleachers was being pulled out for UMM basketball games. I never could have dreamt of that either. 

Now, it is entirely possible that UMM has such a sharp administration now, they can keep resources coming here, at least for UMM's survival. Do you ever hear the expression "cramming for finals" any more? I don't. Courses must be much easier to attract students, everywhere.

  

The big things

At what cost do we indulge academic researchers who can't be on the level? The cost can be grave. Here's a submission from someone on "Reddit": "U of M was also where Ancel Keyes came up with the saturated fats lead to heart disease hypothesis which led to sugar being in everything. . .more heart disease."

And I am a diabetic.

 

Addendum: UMM's founders from way back when were in a panic over the possibility of our campus being made into a "community college." I think they were called "junior colleges" back then. I have always wondered why that would be so terrible. How can any reputable post-high school institution be termed "terrible." 

Maybe this is why I developed a complex through the years, of being encouraged to think that UMM students and graduates were some sort of superior human beings to everyone else. Yes, that is what was insinuated, or even stated directly at times. I think Jack Imholte encouraged it. 

Our sports fans became very rude and raucous toward visiting athletes and fans. 

To UMM's credit, I think this has been eliminated. I just sense it based on the overall direction of the place. I think the football players of today fit right in with the overall student body. I remember quite different times. And I think my assessment of things was shared by many others, but we were loathe to criticize UMM for any reason based on its obvious importance to the town's and area's economy. 

The old UMM faculty who put on airs of superiority vs. the common folk have faded away. The instructors today are more real and relatable people. Actually, subject to the same insecurities and humility as the rest of us! So that much is good! But what would be so terrible about having a nice little community college on our campus. We are getting "little" anyway.

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Can you believe Liz Cheney in crosshairs?

Liz Cheney

Wasn't Liz Cheney all-in with the Iraq war thing, when the pro-war stance was conservative? When Toby Keith reinforced his conservative creds in country music by being pro-war? You might way "pro-invasion." Wasn't much of a defense from Iraq. But our intelligence officials said we must be gravely concerned about the Iraq leader's "weapons of mass destruction." 

I had to set my alarm to make sure I got to a newspaper obligation here in Morris. This was the send-off for our National Guard unit. Our what? Don't we have a dedicated professional military to fight wars? I remember the morning the buses headed out of town. I remember being deprived of decent photo opportunities until the end. I caught a bus going by as someone in the foreground held up a small American flag. Go get those Iraqis!

It did not end up being a pleasant venture. And it turned out there were no "weapons of mass destruction." George W. Bush, joined at the hip with the Cheneys, stretched to try to find justification. Eventually we got a report of some leftover conventional weapons from the Iran-Iraq war. So, one of the Republican big names of the time - Rick Santorum - thumped his chest and made the pronouncement "we've found them." No. These were conventional weapons. 

We had no business being over there. Iran and Iraq had a ceremonial exchanging of ashes at the end of their own war. Which shows: there was an underlying affinity between these countries. "About?" you might ask. Well, I'd have to point out that here in America, many of us hold back from condemning the old Confederacy of the Civil War. People who tend to be politically liberal would say the secession attempt was treasonous. 

Meanwhile, conservatives have held back and have been the leaders in saying that we should hold on to things like statues of Confederates and public institutions named for Confederate leaders. 

If the U.S. or the "Union" had to fight a bloody war with those folks, how on earth can we justify clinging to such stuff, like at least a part of us is proud of it? An example of one such person: Donald Trump. 

And at this point in my post today, certain of my acquaintances will immediately withdraw with a scoff and a dismissive smile. They'd say "there you go again talking about Trump." They'll trot out the boilerplate putdowns like "you have Trump derangement syndrome." Well, I do get kind of deranged about him, not in the context of any mental illness on my part, but because of anger and fear. And this has gone on so long. 

Liz Cheney is pertinent in the news right now because Trump, who could be described as our likely next president based on the polls, has called for Liz Cheney to be "prosecuted by a type of military court reserved for enemy combatants and war criminals." That's according to the New York Times. Her alleged offense would be "treason." Well, she certainly helped lead an effort to find out what all went on with January 6. 

How would this "military tribunal" mete out punishment? Such questions take on much greater weight given how the Supreme Court is emboldening Trump and MAGA. Imagine how the late Andy Papke would react to this. Civics teacher at our Morris Area High. Always believed in the basic goodness of America. I remember him having a picture of Gerald Ford on his bulletin board. Imagine comparing Ford with Trump. And Trump wants to see "televised" military tribunals. 

Trump has realized the sheer power of TV all along, even well before he "went down the escalator." He is right on that, on the sheer power of TV, even though our media world has become so much more diffuse. I don't have TV. I can watch all the popular cable TV news shows on a timely basis on YouTube. 

Trump a while back floated the idea of having General Mark Milley sentenced to death. I wonder if some of these people have had family meetings to prepare for the day when they're dead and gone. Find ways to help other family members simply survive in the aftermath. 

Michelle Fischbach

Our 7th District Congressperson Michelle Fischbach voted against certifying the election results in 2020. This was a more extreme position than that of Tom Emmer. She smiles so sweetly in photos of her. Would she welcome seeing Liz Cheney, Mark Milley, Mike Pence and many others "offed" by some means like the guillotine? On live TV? 

Fischbach would dismiss that idea if confronted. But what did she think was going to happen if election certification had in fact been "delayed" in 2021? I won't call Ms. Fischbach stupid. No point in going ad hominem. So I am certain that she is aware of a prime tactic of Trump's. That is delay. If the 2021 inauguration had been delayed, then I think we can assume Trump would continue as president indefinitely. Which would have been the whole road map. 

Don't act incredulous with me, Ms. Fischbach, you know all of that was a means to establish autocracy in America. Now you really wouldn't deny that, would you? Don't insult our intelligence - I won't insult yours. So I assume you know what's going on. And even if you have built up reservations - a safe assumption - would you speak out in any way, shape or form - even in a restrained and gentle voice - against anything that DJT wants? Why would you not? Well, fear. 

Think of what the Cheney family is going through now with the fresh report on DJT's intentions. And now we're greatly discouraged in voting for Biden for the reason that is all over the place. So it'll be Trump. So Cheney, Pence, Adam Kinzinger and so many others had better have meetings with estate lawyers. If that'll even help. Trump will have so much power, he might wipe out all these families. He would probably have the assistance of our greatly corrupted U.S. Supreme Court in establishing a "secret police."

Coming on strong again

In a country that is going back to respecting the old Confederate symbols, would this really be surprising? 

Trumpism in the end may have to be put down by a worldwide coalition of nations. Let's call them the "Allies." They might have no choice, if climate change greatly worsens and people of the world begin blaming Trump's intransigence on the issue. He has said climate change is a "hoax." The secret police will probably come after people like me.

 

Addendum: Remember how Toby Keith was so absolutely pro-war, he tried to ruin a fellow country music act, the "Dixie Chicks?" 

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com