FOX News did it again. They aired the admittedly compelling story of a couple in richer-than-thou Minnetonka, who experienced a carjacking out of their own garage just before the noon hour.

The man said this is where he puts the blame, as far as how in the world, or at least Minnesota, this could happen: The Hennepin County D.A. does not prosecute carjackers, he claimed on national television.
So if you’re a crook, you know where to live … Of course, the man basically got his analysis wrong, even if he could say he was pressed by the TV interviewer. Much more on how to avoid the same, careful on what you repeat, fate is down below. Concrete tips for getting it right.
Thus, as in my clarification on his behalf: In the Minneapolis area, during a three-day sting on carjackers, 46 were arrested, but only five charged, and they all made bail. Why? It can take the courts months for the innocent-until-proven-guilty factor to move forward. I cite a friend who with our overworked courts — the real problem here — is waiting for most of a year to fix, in what should take a judge less then a minute, when the government screwed up and put a typo in his name on his ID card. Oh, they are holding onto his $200 court filing fee until then. I digress, but those who were let out were almost certainly those who do it in a nonviolent way — as if people give up their cars without a fight ensuing — or ones where there was just not that much stolen property money at stake.
That sting and its resulting charges, or lack of them, was reported on TV stations after only a three-week period had passed, it should be noted.
Of this playing out on your fingers, mainly drug crimes were targeted. Go figure. Just take up most of the court time and have it used to pinch those who smoked a joint or two. Oh wait a minute, that now is legal. Will the court backlog now ebb?
Should it really be a surprise that rich Minnetonka was targeted, not the inner city? Near the noon hour, when the working execs return for a long, as they can take it, lunch more than hour? People don’t steal beaters, rather killer Corvettes, as people with means can possess.
There is a fix, a solution, at least to the accuracy of the (bad) information that is repeated and repeated. And what is actually the case, regarding the Minnetonka case, became evident to me on easy google search of just a minute or two. That much time you have, for a quick fact check.
I will now reference two of my sources who are deep throats. Do we all have more than one?
This from Unnamed And In Confidence Source Close To The Situation 1, who works in both corporate and as a bartender, so both sides of the aisle, so to speak: Everyone, no matter how busy chasing the American Dream, has five minutes to spend. It probably took you longer to spew your misinformation?
And that Q source 2? (Much older but still keeping it together, and wiser than I). On my thesises she said, well duh, doesn’t everyone out there just automatically know such things? Guess it again, depends on which side of the aisle.
So as to what she said, to fix the carjacking lag in processing: We would have to hire more prosecutors, and/or have those there take a pay cut.
As it was, two straight years of five percent pay hikes were proposed for such workers, but was there a backlash, as it would be taxpayer money?
I’m sure the city’s resident average pay is much higher than that for prosecutors.
Their own municipal workers, in Minnetonka, make a lot less than many.
So is the message, that is it OK for you and yours to make six figures, but they should settle for five? And maybe a lower five, not higher five.
With that money of salaries being saved, the best (fiscally?) feasible outcome might be for people who can afford it to buy great home security. Sorry, I really am, that the realities of the court system make you further get out your wallet.
A cavaet …
I think that these days there is so much information out there, that it just isn’t possible to first fact-check everything you say to someone. So what to do?
If a leading figure is making claims that seem senseless, the listener probably leaped to what they wanted to here, reading more into it and making the actual truth conform.

The Osbourne factor.
First, another way music can showcase the problem. Do you really think Ozzy just plain bit off the head of a bat? Does that thought seem reasonable? Turns out there is much more to the story then that. And what is it? Its complicated actually. Or can’t be covered in a simple sound byte. And that is the problem. And problems result in our country because over here in the U.S. in such situations, lets call it what it is, we are just butt ass stupid.
Then I heard the song Stargazer by Rainbow, about a powerful wizard who enslaves the masses to build him a high tower so he can fly, but he falls instead of rising. (A Tower of Babel reference?) It didn’t end well. But brought the point home. (As coincidentally did the Ozzy Osbourne with Black Sabbath song, The Wizard.) Be careful in what (potentially preposterous statement or claim) you believe, or vouch for as truth.
A causal factor: Most think they can skim content well, but most do it very badly, with poor comprehension of the majority of the sentences and even more problems in their recall, and it shoots them and all of us in the foot. The information they put out there is tainted.
So if a leader is making claims that seem senseless …
We’ve all been there and done that. Its human nature, so don’t kick yourself too much. Just learn from it, for the next time. That insight becomes kick ass.
So this becomes the new golden rule: Does it pass the smell test?
What parts do?
With the conclusions made that drugs contributed to the above crimes, it was unclear, from what I read, if this was possession, use or intent to distribute, or all of the above. So the message inadvertently being sent to carjackers? Get sobered up and uncoked for a few days before going on your spree.
On these five, a few people got out on cash-free bail, it was reported. That could be a valid criticism of the system, and it should be noted it often just dumps very low-level drug offenders into the probation cycle and lets the P.O.’s clean up the remainder. It could be that mitigated by the idea that these people were first timers, non-violent offenders, the case was not clearcut, or even that they just needed money to survive on. Maybe crimes against property such as your Porsche, moreso than people, even though they too have owners staunchly effected.
I know, I will be painted as soft on crime, when I am actually just a realist, by those people where painting everyone with the same brush is their only intellectual recourse. Nuance? Schmuance.
The Minnetonka case appears to be different than some others in that violence was used. And there was one of the four suspects in custody quickly; I’ll watch with interest to see if the legal beagles cut him any slack.

So when to repeat …
Don’t quote what someone says as gospel unless you know them well enough to trust that they got it right — or at least all, or the most vital, facets of it. Go beyond if they present themselves well, since they could just be smooth talkers, although even that is not just automatically a crime. I for one, respect a very well-reasoned argument even if I do not agree with all of it. Do I find it logically formed in their mind? A therefore B therefore C, without making a leap of (lack of) faith and having there be a hole in their argument. It’s amazing how much (mis)information does not pass that simple test.
If you are not that far along with your source, and are repeating second-hand information, simply present it as so. No one these days can fault you for not verifying everything you hear. Its like using the overstated word “allegedly.” It leaves some room for doubt, or at least nuance. Make distinctions in the individual details when composing your elaborate justifications.
I will give you an example of my synopsis. It is a moderate Christian music reactor and social commentator named Vin. If he quotes anything from the Bible to Shakespeare to C.S. Lewis, I believe him. I may not go quite that far with his political commentary, although I would place myself largely in his same (pseudo-intellectual) camp. Again, distinctions.
These are things where my friend from Minnetonka failed on most accounts, with his blatant mischaracterization of the stance of the D.A. Again, and I have to say it, so Republican and/or conservative.
Or they can go to Kowalski’s less. But there has been a greater community benefit to the high-end chain’s production of better food, with great use of more ingredients and their preparation, such as in the deli. With that higher profit margin, in a relative way, allowed by its well-healed customers from ritzy areas, the grocer can afford to donate massively to food pantries.

Take me to the much revered river, to take in 80-plus juried artists and such — with 40-plus artists added in an event across the lake and state line — then also go hear and see more as in music, by Lamont and many multiples. With all these different fests going on, and maybe to complete your barrel of fun, you’d do so by heading south to the county line and house some food within your art, packing it with a full, decked out and dressed up “pork barrel” of bacon, too. And you won’t go in hock, whether wanting jars of jelly or jukebox jams or jewelry, or doll clothes or decorations or dining dips, as admittence to all this weekend’s events are free, meaning that with your adherence you can hit more than one celebration in this region, and they are legion.

But for starters, go whole hog at the Spirit of the St. Croix Arts Fest, spanning two late mornings and afternoons, Saturday and Sunday, at Lakefront Park in Hudson.
Besides the artists numbering in the 80s, a baker’s dozen are the number of musical styles featured, by a total of six acts on the bill, including two straight shows to kick it off, the fittingly named Thirsty River and then Sawyer’s Dream with country vibes and more, that include Americana in their mix. There also is even an aerial silks performer, riverside. But despite our Midwesternhood, no polka band. For that you will need …
A Roberts Church, Cross Lutheran, and its sober Oktoberfest celebration, where there is root beer, not beer, and a beerly-there polka band, thus polka padres all, going all Saturday afternoon.
The other big fest of the weekend, Bacon Bash, brings a brash bounty of all such things, eating your food and playing with it too, by the way, to River Falls, boasting a booyah of activities going on all weekend, and well into Sunday, but starting Friday afternoon. There is lots of music also to be played, not as full a number of bands as in the Spirit of St. Croix, but still a bevy of killer names that include the longtime landmark Midwestern group, The Lamont Cranston Band, in a cool Friday evening coup to get the masters of the Minneapolis scene to this rather small town. I remember seeing the band leader pictured on a flyer back when I was a child and living way on the other end of the Badger State, looking cool in his ‘stach and rounded hat. Oh wait, that’s half the band.
Elsewhere, by the lake, only half but still as good. A full 40-plus artists and crafters gather at The Cedar Boutique across the pond in Lakeland, Friday through Sunday, with descending closing times from 7 to 5 to 4 p.m. A friend From The East End, going for a happy medium and having plans to hit it on Saturday, called the locality Afton (ouch) termed it her very favorite fall fest of this type.
But to kick off the weekend, also in River Falls, is a “key” installment of a chorale coffee series at a UW-RF auditorium, focusing on an international women’s day (or week or month and if not it indeed should be) and supplying a piano (not polka) duo as part of their seven-year coup in bringing in international artists. Music acts have included the Boston Brass and one brought in from Barcelona. But get your (free) tickets fast as the two acts open up at noon.

A quicker than usual bad joke, then expanded, found workers (even the striking Hollywood comedians?) are still hard to come by, though in this case someone having apt licensure apparently, finally, did do a “stand up” and step forward … With the new school year now here.

So what follows are many puns on the run …
For a few months, running consecutively since spring, a school bus was parked in a lot in the central part of a city and close to the high school, with a telltale sign posted on its side, advertising that they are looking for drivers. A savvy touch. But taking into account high gas prices, what follows just might make sense. Or put the brakes on it. Green energy, and I introduce that color, for purposes of color commentary.
This could be a bit of genius. How do you respond to the idea that you have a dearth of drivers, to take the other buses around? Why, you take one bus out of service, which means you don’t have to have some-one, as in a need for one less worker, to get behind its particular wheel! With on account of the readin’ of the arithmetic, one minus one equals … The writing on the wall to prime the pump? Let them rather drive cool Cameros, although having equally cool students, as in Wayne and Garth, fill up the back seat — so more being hauled — might help swing the economies of scale.

— We may not even be at midweek, but events proliferate. Leading the way is more food for thought building on the end graph of this post, concerning King Kong.  It may be, again, early in the week, but at The Friday Library also in New Richmond there is a local author spotlight with local chef and yes, author Peter Kwong, from his poignant time in Hong Kong, from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday. There are other such events featuring him at area restaurants coming up — are you Ready for Wok and Roll as it has been dubbed, Randy — showcasing his unique-for-this-area food. And also lower down in this main post, is more on the color pink, if not purple, and there is even more such color commentary coming in future posts.

And still to come, another cool walk and an also cool cover band. See Picks of the Week. —

 
Economics lesson. Of course you’ll need that commercial license, I believe its called a CLL, which is not to be confused with driving for the CIL, taking the disabled and seniors around, not the kiddos.
(Do they make Cameros?) On the heels of this comes the announcement that the national auto workers are going on strike. So GM, as in the General Managers, might want to reach out to that not-currently-working New Richmond-area assembly and hire some of those people for the assembly line. A 40 percent wage hike over years? How many? Like the number of those 365’s between today and the heyday of the Model T?

Perhaps olive in color?

Hollywood writers, so give them raspberries, are on strike too. Am I? Or Bollywood stuff via a white nine-letter sign, on a forested hill? Green acres. Alas, I’ll roll up my green writing sleeves and turn over more green leaves and dollar bills.
A case of being green with envy? Waste Management’s local trucks are dark green, fittingly, just not nearly as glowing bright as others in the industry. More fully, they pack Green and Gold, but what, they hail from New Jersey?
Also in our area, a company lays it on the line with their whole line of lime green refuse trucks. And the stuff they haul, is it also tinged with tainted green? Gathering moss and more?
More truckin’ the now-crossing-Wisconsin foreign Flix Bus line is German lime green, too, and its germaine that there’s also Grey-hound. One company bought the other, but both show flicks on board? The Green Mile?
Coming out of the gate, the bus service had wanted to do a pickup at the south-side dog racing park with the same name, not one of the two local park and rides? But when waiting at such sites, you can see the glow coming from as far as Oconomowoc and its at times green lake …
But what’s needed when its running late, which is often, is for it not to be mundane mauve and harder to see. But then really move it out. Better to see them with.
Also coloring our view in the rear mirror, and its fuzzy dice, we see plenty of pink party buses — school vans also taken out of service? — from the Twin Cities coming here, among those a few using an onboard flashing deejay service, playing Pink? Or School of Rock?
To travel on Green Day? (But it costs more green if that day falls on a weekend.)
My veteran weekday driver named Kong is King of the Road, or is so called. Likewise, one of his co-drivers, also Oriental, played old twangy country western music all through our recent trip to Menomonie. Its awful, but I’ve got to admit that the first thing I thought of, but didn’t sing out, was would he later tune in Anime cartoons?
Dat’s all folks! No more bad puns!!

I teased this next post in the previous post, about a church BBQ cooking contest called Holy Smoke — like the metal song Smoke Of Her Burning on the Jerusalem sieges? — and I brought into play Holy Communion, the Body and Bread and Blood, as it could be said like brats on a bun, or a juicy rare and red steak.

And since this post starts with German theology, I might bring in the classic of blood sausage. Maybe overt spirituality is not your thing, but that is what makes up much of metal. So here goes …
OK, the line that starts off this (charade?) is from the Black Sabbath song God Is Dead? (By the way the guys eventually conclude that they refuse to believe such a thing, although doubt does creep in. More on that in a later post).

— With that said, here is provided what’s been the missing link for really getting healthy. How to take full advantage via my link. And maybe make a few bucks too.  See the Joe’s Wholesome Holistics department. —

The Ozzy song line, at a prayerful moment: “I’ll take the wine, you keep the bread.” It is then restated in a second way, as repetition shows important meaning.

— Thought I couldn’t get more obscure? Into the past? Still benefitting historical societies and highlighting hockey associations, (and a band with no fiddle player?), but not sponsored by them. Check out Picks of the Week, which includes another kind of Saturday walk, and Notes From The Beat, or continue to read further on this home page. —

Ozzy Osbourne’s singing in that bread-wine line brought a view from a pastor who is a YouTube music reactor: It invokes thoughts of the stance of Martin Luther, marking the marked difference in approach between most Catholics and Protestants, between (most) importance of body vs. blood, or both. To expand on this, it was said that the rich, as in the archbishops could afford to have wine, while the masses in their masses (Wars Pigs reference) could only, on a good day if a Sunday, buy bread, which no doubt was often quite stale, to boot.
(I obviously have to apologize for this terrible joke, but one must wonder about Luther’s posted on the door in his own right, 95 Theses, if come No. 88 or 89, it got a little … stale. Were a couple of these end Theses a bit crappy in content, thus so to say, feces? Boo on me.)
There obviously is a connection to Ozzy’s well-documented struggles with alcohol, and also the idea that one form is a bit tastier then the other. Although a Communion “host” could only be bread.
This is not the first time that wine has come up in an Ozzy song, or that booze can be very dangerous is misused, an opinion I second, although I add that there exists a very possible therapeutic benefit to a chemical in it called Soma — but that is another story.
To wit, the cautionary song Suicide Solution that is about alcohol’s other decidedly non-Godly side, its destructive mode, calling it a deathly liquid not an answer: “Wine is fine but whiskey’s quicker, suicide is slow with liquor … Thought that you’d escape the reaper, you can’t escape the Master Keeper … Now you live inside a bottle, the reaper’s traveling at full throttle, its killing you but you don’t see, the reaper is you and the reaper is me.” (Noteworthy that via a Google search, their term for God as Master Keeper is not found anywhere else in literature).
Then I refer to a song by Billy Idol, interesting name, where he sings, “Hanging out by the state line, turning Holy Water into wine.” Note not whiskey. What pops out instantly at me is the idea that if you indeed need to hang out by the state line, it connotes that there is something indeed major afoot.
I also reference a song by Brother Cane, note the spelling that’s like sugar for nuance sake, “Got no shame, and I got no one to blame. All the same, I’ll drink that wine cuz its right there in front of me.”
This makes me think Catholic, about the concept that one should not go to Holy Communion, and partake in its wine, unless first absolved of their sins — unless they decide in conscience, and that is read to be with knowledge, that there is a strong need for strong redemption, via strong source. I also am told, to back up this thesis, that in the Bible, Abel is said to have deceived his brother, Cain. As the singer might be deceiving himself about the severity of his need?
As always, to make sure we’re on the right track here in bringing the religious in my interpretation, look at the band’s overall body of work — the music industry term is termed discography. Brother Cane’s lyrics speak a lot about such doubt and its layers of meaning, with songs like I Lie In The Bed I Make. And you have to take into account the Biblically based name the band chose.
(In what I will offer soon on this website, my DIY handbook on how to compose such lyrics about the Body and Blood and other such things yourself, in a hard rock style, I will share more on the Brother Cane song method — and also the parallels in metal symbolism to the Eucharistic Prayers voiced by the priest at Catholic Mass. Also, to lighten it up, a comparison of the Badger vs. Gopher state, and the colors of its two fave grapes).
But with this said, here is a snippet of what I will offer there, where I give a part of a verse and invite you to write on your own, taking it from there.
“But it was by His own command,
with both Species well at hand.”
As Christ via Catholicism said that, “it is at His Command that we celebrate this Eucharist.”
To go further …
“As divine, not diverse, so don’t disperse,
By his decree as thee, two Species three.”
(Note the Holy Trinity reference).
So spin more off of this, for yourself, as I give you such license.
Lastly, a more full verse:
“The greater good of food
Is the greater food of God.
The bread does not mold with time
Wholly wine waits at heaven’s gate
Which of the two is made the best.
A holier Ozzy put it to the test
But did not lay it full to rest.
The crust does not lime with time
Grape and apple’s fruit will suit.”
Look sooner rather than later for that handbook!

When there is high heat, and come afternoon you need a siesta, you need to look at both sides of signs. As the messages are peppered with hot advice. You don’t need to be in 110 degree Texas and that’s not tops, like my niece who is more used to 40 below chill factors than its flaming chili.

— Just ran into old buddy and multiple-instrumentalist Garret at a Thursday evening gig at Ziggy’s, and he told (reminded) me that he and his newest band the Firewater Gospel Choir are, back again at the lakefront and they sometimes mix and match their members, and it turns out I know all the guys, for a show at the Hometown Music Fest. And a similar story with the man who with his wife runs a popular Mexican food truck. Saw him at a farmer’s market on the other end of town, and then, bing, setting up in Lakefront Park. That is where the hometown fest and its multiple bands, run by the Local Lions, runs all day and into the evening on Saturday, Sept. 9. This Hudson park is also where every Thursday evening (theme here?) through September, there is a series of weekly concerts run by the local Chamber of Commerce. Much the same story in River Falls. —

— Also something really hot, there hasn’t been a question asked for quite some (busy) time in the Where Did You See It department. So test your knowledge about the best time to smoke cigars, and otherwise chill out at a computer store, as if you need an excuse for smokin’ as such. The geeks were so geeking-out about their (non-video) game that they cued in a couple of typos when contributing to my question! —

Back to the heat of the matter, the front door and back door at Ziggy’s Hudson attacked the problem in two ways and not of course with nachos — and showed how you as a patron can help beat the heat. Up front, a paper sign said to keep the door open only as long as necessary — to quickly scan the crowd? Out back, such a sign says hey, consider coming back in for a cold one. And entrees, forego the hot sauce. Especially at the Mex food truck that is sometimes one parking lot up … but wait, he has not needed to come lately.

The following is indeed a sign of these times. An auto maintenance and repair company threw out there just two, airing appropo words, air conditioning. I’m assuming not only do they have that and crank it inside their building, as they probably have the goods as is equipment, but they also can tune-up yours and maybe also put some of that AC air in your tires — if there one more round of near 100 temps. The message is spelled out two different ways on two different sides of the marquee — so to see it from both eastbound and westbound on the freeway — with flickering font and point size, Old School newspaper terms, hence “air” movement and also that breeziness with the lettering.
Are you looking for a sign, before you act on the obvious? Sign, everywhere a sign. This has been phrased three different ways for three different businesses and their products, the most recent being downtown outside a hair salon. Front and back, bangs vs. long locks. Still can rock summer for a few days or weeks, so Labor Day extended has come, and that promo sign says come in, now, and get your new look.
A block before, a bigger than usual ATV-into-go-kart said this ride was made as recent as 2022. So better made and it goes faster? That’s important if you want the breeze to blow back your hair. Especially if you have a receding hairline.
There is Tuesday for sales of Wayfair fare, and again, front vs. back of a flyer was really different. One side showed an overhead canopy and all six forms were of products that you could have made use of yesterday, on the deck. But the grill cover and grilling tool set showed only results for the Vikings and their purple gear. The Green and Gold are left out in the cold. But with the cornhole game set, even Iowa is invoked.
Through it all, bar traffic has been up and down, like the temps. But when some of the heat had gone down with the sun the first time around, and even earlier in that evening, the streets and sidewalks were buzzing, although even with this newer opportunity, they got played out early. Must not be an app for that.

The seasonal shows must go on, and keep rolling forward, in some cases even past Labor Day, the unofficial close of summer. On that particular day, bands usually do not labor, being The Fourth Of This Month, So Don’t See Them Again Until The Fourth of July?

But in the name of I’m Just One, a popular local venue will continue with its solo acoustic shows, three days a week, including Sundays, all through September and maybe beyond. So drummers get their day or days of rest, and a break from spontaneously combusting. Unless maybe in the recording studio; but the resulting tracks, as not being live, are typically toned down.
The Smilin’ Moose shows start and end this month, (in the latter case, close does not count accept in horseshoes and hand grenades), with Blake Zak, (he also graces their back-corner of patio staging area on Sept. 23.) He’s likely a little bit country, like Blake Shelton, (I almost penned Sheldon, oh wait, I deed I deed, but then when swayed by an algorithme, corrected it), but not like all-out rocker Zakk Wylde, as this is an acoustic show.
Then on Saturday its Steve Awiszus and Sunday its Justin Barts, who also returns later in the month. Shows after Labor Day weekend include Acoustic Cocktail, (I don’t know who or what that is, but I’m curious), Lars Carlson, (not the drummer Lars, and definitely not the also-performing-solo talk show host Tucker, and of note is that I almost typed The Cars, my revving mind being back to full bands), AJ Spoff, Chris Lawrence and Josh Quinn.
All these shows are weather permitting, and back to Labor Day weekend, with temps pushing 100, does that proviso qualify? But must the show go on? This Friday night through Monday night always is tricky anyway as far attendance, with the cabin and state fair calling. On the weekend nights shows go on from 5-9 p.m. and on Sunday all afternoon. The times change up a bit, being 3-6 p.m. on Sundays, when King Football and its marque for TV doubleheader games are fully back.

Such acoustic concerts, and this includes and starts with The Moose, based on what I’ve heard them sing and play of late, and I’ve been told, are very prominent as a characteristic with the vocals. These acts are seldom guitar-driven, although someone sometimes goes off, to the degree that you can when basically unplugged. I was going to say, goes off on the axe, but that implies a molten-metal-type Eruption. Rather taking the stage, more and more, are distinctive vocal styles. Although the veteran acts that have been around The St. Croix Valley forever, have more standard stylings, though many a singer has evolved. There is, as an example of the former flair, piercing notes picked and piqued, along with a richness that is also a trend, the lines of soloist Adam Pearce. Long hair applied.

A acoustic staple song will be told here to conclude. Getting only more popular with time is Cotton Eyed Joe, and that’s not me, although her skin (still) makes me cry. That’s possibly poingant, as most all acts at The Moose are men, and often youthful. Cotton Eyed Joe is also part of the line-up limelight for many a deejay, as it bridges a gap between styles — and attracts both young and old as part of broader audience appeal — by featuring a thumping bass. Hip hop influence with your country?  Makes you want to dance and just hop around, although the dance floor at the Moose, and this song comes up frequently, is in another big and adjacent room.

As this is a day celebrating labor, even when riding a cushy mower.
Here’s to nothing specifed. But I won’t push it past a couple of graphs. Nowhere in a flyer is there an actual mention of such a … lawn mower, using those words. To tell, we’re required to look at these massive, go-kart-looking things and see amongst their metal, or should I say rubber discharge chutes, as flared-out semi and-not-truck, conical extensions that blow your grass out. Rather we hear a whole host of gonzo terms such as Titan Max and Z Master. All called red tag. Since they cost about the same as good used car, these days. Some get well into five digits.
But they offer plenty, across four pages of machines: Bull noses, deck lift pedals and assists, pro (of course) air cleaner, mowing up to 11 mph to “avoid slow moving speeds,” and holds a dozen gallons of gas. And we won’t even get into all the tires and their titles.
A fall sale: Leaves lifted off your lawn — oh wait I need to use my gutter thinking — lists a zero cost for cleaning and realigning and sealing them. But you have to have your credit qualify, for uhm, even that rate of zero? See the astericks. Are your pennies not good? But wait, that little attachment refers back to the other side, with the discounted costs for other services specified. So there.
As we read another flyer: “Promo equates to 50 percent off your first four boxes,” and there is a maximum discount. “Eighteen free meals does not apply to orders fewer than 10 servings per week.” Lots of words, and complex.
And now more numbers. What are the top ten and beyond products listed on Amazon, as of yesterday? Online lists of these will cite, take your pick, best 10, or 20, or 40, or 50, or 75, or 80, or even 101. That last digit may have pushed them to a status of, as Carl Sagan said, billions and billions of sales. They and McDonalds. All the sales, if combined, might approach trillions. I have to run all this past a new, camping out on the bar steps, friend who is into numerology.
Do I have to move the decimal point? Or make sense out of the cents. At Hudson Bowling Center, the holiday weekend beer specials are at $3.09. Or wait, $3.00, as the handwritten sign had on its (nine?) what looked like a descender teamed with, and attached to, the zero.
On my mid-month of August B-Day, Buffalo Wild Wings had an annoucement for me: They no longer give a free bottle of the signature sauce, any of the what, 30-plus, on someone’s birthday. So if you had such a mid-summer night’s annual B-Day celebration, sans sauce, they are making it up, by offering it up, for your grilling pleasure on Monday. (Just kidding).
My bank’s Musak, if you can’t get through on the 800 number, was swamped with calls, as people were making the last-minute rush to get their holiday gas, now more important as prices are still higher than a newly experimenting Minnesotan. Going to California? Via Colorado? Wait now don’t have to.
Could be worse. You could be in Kansas. Now we know why Dorothy left. It’s a dry state for yes even alcohol on many Monday holidays, (three big ones, Christian mostly, on Sundays too), such as Labor Day. Depending on local ordinance, that could where you can’t wet your whistle two straight days.
So if more northernly, I’ll pick a pike, just hit the cabin, traveling the turnpike. Do they have those up north? Do it again. One last time. With summer still, sorta, with us.
But you may need to chill and get quite tranquil, for you might encounter that bear, not just Minnesota moose. Elk will do. How to face it …
I decided not to also hit my local pharmacy on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, just to pay my bill, mind you. I guessed they’d be so busy, they would appreciate it if you just waited until later, the midweek the next week, then come in. The head pharm even has asked this of me a couple of times.
Most such druggeries are being closed on Monday, then are busiest Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. But in the middle of this weekend, they were likely scrambling just like those going to the lake, literally filling their needs. As they fill their nets. The Mondays that are not legal holidays are typically the hardest working for the drug store employees, even if they do not stock live bait, so this coming Tuesday will be catchup.
This ahead-of-time announcement needs no catching up: Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt has announced its Halloween offering, complete with costume contest, on Oct. 28. Hail to them, not doing the bar usual and first think about doing something just a few days before.

Even if your open BBQ baking event is called Holy Smoke, wholly invoke the heavens and not the depths below, to get a smokin’ and (also) spiritual band you may have to wait as in Dio’s The Last In Line, for booking, for more than the (free) samples, food not just DJ sampling. Or maybe just need a cool duo. As they’re much cheaper than a full band.

“We have discussed an acoustic musician this year and not a band.” A fixture had been the music of Joe Sir and his saintly sidekicks broadly known as, if I’ve got this right Sirkut, so To Sir With Love, so to speak. (A favorite song of a religious educator I’ve know well, since around the earlier time the tune/hymn came out). That earlier quote is from one of the outing’s layers of main organizers/volunteers, from St. Patrick’s in Hudson — one of those Catholic churches that love their festivals, especially in fall — a couple of miles east of the main downtown music scene. This way to lineup is, and has been for a couple or three of years, or since the pandemic, a scaled-back concert trend. So the local Holy Smoke — and not the heavy metal recording outfit — is in good company. (Come Labor Day, I plan to dive back into, and give a build-up to, such solos and duos, at a local “dive bar” or two.)
“Thanks for the nudge. We do not have a live musician booked at this time (very late August) … I had a couple back out, I will try for one more.” Again, don’t fret for getting your fret freak out, that its in the VERY late-going these months that most booking is done. And then to slate an opening act too …
Again post-pandemic trends. For a long time is was hard to get gigs booked, but not long after that the sheer volume of acts out there exploded in number, doing numbers that were both old and deeper cuts, although some dropped off the scene, but the overall talent weighed forward. So you get that last minute call from your agent, if you can afford one these days, but until then … just rehearse. That’s what was done by one locally lauded Loven lumenary, from the Twin Cities, who said that the Badger State and its openness with venues to open their air kept him going, and playing, a couple of years ago, and eastward past just Hudson and all the way north to Hayward. So geography becomes crucial, as St. Patrick’s is located right in the midstream.
Trends … These days … Eternally envolving … Another one I’ll dive through in a later post is how all those YouTube music reactors, you know the one(s), are getting much better and better, honing their craft, since they (at least some of them) have been around since 1918, or wait that’s a twin typo, really 2018. It took them awhile, since a lot of quality music has been on the scene — and nuanced to the point of being difficult to take it all in — for more than 50 years, especially in certain genres.
And one of them is spiritual metal, so in the ancient name of mixing religion, and events beyond just their services, and music, here we go with a full, full-throttle promo, listed in full, since another publication (every week or two) had it fall through, last minute (trends?)

With a name like Holy Smoke to start a busy parish weekend, you can be sure the festival activities will be many and varied, starting with the heated food contests and samplings, (grilling for the adults and gooey desserts for the mainly pre-teen children), and a like-minded dinner, then branching out into a number of games, non-video. And libations too.
The fun goes on all Saturday, Sept. 9, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Speaking of food, the next day will feature a pancake breakfast to benefit youth events. And the day before is a noon shotgun start for the longtime annual golf tournament to aid the parish school, at the White Eagle Course near Somerset.
Back to Holy Smoke, grilling for the open cook contest may consist of smoked beef, chicken, pork or fish, and even vegetables, with the pictured meat forms to include drumsticks, racks of ribs, flattened patties, lines of stringed sausages, pulled and shredded chops and full bone-in steaks. Such past events at this and other local venues have revealed a wide array of chefs and styles, and sauces and seasonings hot or a bit more mild, spicy or sweet or honeyed or even quite sugary, (but not on the rim of the glass), or many such flavors at once, and surprisingly creative accompanying ingredients. Entries will be weighed on their appearance, taste, moisture, tenderness and overall impression.
Pre-registration (act soon, don’t wait for an encore), is $20, and prizes include $100 for first and $50 for second. Winners for the grilling and dessert contests will be announced right before Mass, at 4:30 p.m.
Electrical power is provided for use in the competition, so no one needs to bring their own generator, which is helpful since all entries must be cooked on-site and chefs are asked to prepare a minimum of 50 bite-size samples for judging and sampling. A grilling team can consist of one person; team members must be at least 14 years old, with each team’s captain at least 21. Early Saturday morning they will begin setting up their tables and utensils, sans generator of course.
“Each team will have a panel of judges visit your booth and give a chance to explain how your food item was prepared, seasoned and cooked,” contest rules state, adding that all codes must be followed. “You are responsible for observing all prudent temperature and sanitation requirements.”
Get the family involved, and for the kiddies, ages 5-13, enter the dessert contest and bake your full-size favorite cake, pie and cookie/bars/brownies. There’s a limit of one entry for child, which must be made from stratch and not need refrigeration, complete with a 3-by-5 index card listing ingredients. Judging will be done on five categories, including appearence, flavor such as aroma, texture, moisture and crumbliness, and creativity and originality.
“Although we know some children may require assistance in the kitchen, we ask that the children do the majority of the recipe,” contest rules state.
Registration is $5 and desserts must be turned in by 2 p.m. Saturday for a chance at ribbons and prizes of $20, $10 and $5.
Lemonade (non-spiked and if you want beer, check as there are multiple versions in press releases), and watermelon will be offered to patrons, as well as soda for purchase. No Wisconsin festival is complete without the beauty of brats, the organizers say they have planned, so buy yours from the Knights of Columbus.
“Yard games and nine-square-in-the-air will be set up as well as the gaga (mosh?) pit for fun competition for all,” the church bulletin reads.  And don’t forget ladder ball. “Bring your lawn chairs, your taste buds, and enjoy an afternoon of food, friends and fellowship.”
Participate and cheer on the bean bag play, for both youth and adults, organizers say. Choose your partner and trek from the lower parking lot to the card tables in the adjacent social hall, and compete in Euchre, as well.
Come to Saint Patrick’s, both before and after services and enjoy the day’s festivities, the organizers suggest. You can stroll from station to station, table to table, and watch the BBQ contestants heat it up with their grillers, preparing contest food. Judges will also walk about, judging the contestants’ fare, whether meats or desserts, at 3 p.m. You can taste the samples yourself right afterward.
Then come to 5 p.m. Mass, if that’s your thing, and following sit down to a pulled pork dinner. After eating, stay and don’t go, as a raffle drawing is set. Top prize is $1,000, and others in descending order $750, $500, $250 and $100.

Hit my stick shift and jump ahead of this existing old post. All(though) that remains. THIS Friday night it’s Trick Shift at Ziggy’s in Hudson, and that band could be, but is not, Trick Treat, Trick Turn, or Twist (and Shout).  And for another twist and turn, if you can make it to Milwaukee pronto, you might still be able to catch like its portly first baseman as the newest Bobblehead Brewer, Rowdy Tellez, as it’s his night. So mom, as we talked about on my break down there, southwest side, he is indeed back in the lineup, methinks. So less production needed from Christian Yelich? That’s another family-look-alike story, for another time.

So back to … This ain’t of your (aunt or Barbie daughter, to the Maiden-offered and called slaughter?) only Abba or Air Supply. Although all can be awesome in their own offerings.

Volume up, at the GasLite in Ellsworth on Saturday night, (that was Aug. 19 and hope you were there), as part of a larger amped-up event.
It’s Legacy Of The Loud, their legacy, a rock band straight outta the Twin Cities who brings together accomplished musicians (and they or may not include the ’80s, see the following promo) to create a one-of-a-kind medley format by covering history’s many top selling artists including, in no particular order: Journey, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Styx, Boston, Def Leppard, Kiss, Foreigner, Whitesnake, Scorpions, Lover Boy, Cinderella, Poison and many more.

(Need more cowbell? Screw that, even more than screw Ken, and see below, we need more Turmeric! QScience has got you covered, even more, much more, than WalMart. See the Joe’s Wholesome Holistics department).

Also this weekend, is Scotty Run for Vets, 2023 of course, with all wheels welcome, including those that are threes in nature. And free camping, not to be confused with free popcorn (although …) And again, these are all awesome.
Then ride back to The Badger? Changes, as oft quoted, in usual lineup. On consecutive Fridays, in New Richmond, with Nick Hensly and Roger Allen. Not to be confused with the Sublime redo, of similar name, that was held here earlier. And to invoke UFO Days, it’s not (correction?) necessarily Space.