Or, at least, remember the adage, "liquor before
beer, you’re in the clear; beer before
liquor, never sicker."

Here's one I took (with great care and the help of an experienced guide) in Costa Rica a few years back.

It’s a species of a “poison dart frog”. Just touching it and, say, scratching an inch or rubbing your eye would kill you within a couple of hours.

Indigenous warriors would touch their darts to these frogs before using them against an enemy.

Well, there's a Gen X east coast reference that only a certain niche will truly appreciate (like me).

Agreed. That said, my overall point was that many people do (or might) but their habits don't support that. And many small local businesses die because of that.

Basically, a circular cause/effect problem.

I'm lucky because I live in a very walkable neighborhood in St. Paul. A bunch of locally owned shops. A food co-op that is a block and a half away. Best wine shop in the state. Great restaurants. A bakery. Most owned by people that live within a square mile radius.

Visit the downtowns of Minneapolis and Saint Paul and you'll find similar rates.

Too complex to blame a single factor. Pandemic did no favors. Neither do all of the habits that sprung from it (work at home, delivery apps, etc.) Downtowns need people to leave their house.

Yep. All likely.

I enjoyed this take on things my friend @pamschmid.bsky.social shared:

talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-qui...

An measured take. Thanks for sharing it my friend.

Teslas

You will likely get hammered for this statement but I'll be first to pile on and say...

This is the way.

More than a few of my longest and best friendships have been made with people who have different views/approaches and our mutual willingness to be open, understand, and find shared values.

Same. Amazing time. He is such a showman.

Oh, trust me, I've been and I know.

This attitude towards everyone and everyday from the baristas there is why I never darken the door of kinda hipster coffee shop.

One example, consider Anna Mae Weems of Waterloo, IA. A Black woman who rose from the cutting floor to leader of the United Packinghouse Workers of America Local 46 at Rath and head of the local NAACP branch in the 1950's:

patkinney.substack.com/p/legendary-...

All to say that an attack on unions is an attack on civil rights (which should come as no surprise to anyone from this bunch)

Not to mention that unions were also the first place many non-whites and women experienced actual equity and equality in this country. It is the reason the Civil Rights Movement of the 60's was intricately tied to Union strikes and many of the leaders also Union workers/leaders.

Same. Was incredibly kind while my oldest was going through some stuff. Will never forget it and will always be grateful.

That said, I'm voting on past results, current reality, and the direction I think our city should be going.

It's not personal. It's democracy.