Vikings are always a gamble!

The boys at Bills Café were puzzled by the Minnesota Legislature--again. "Why would conservative Republicans want to expand gambling?" Bill asked as he brought over the coffee. "That ain't conservative. I remember in the old days when people got arrested for running a poker game. Conservative means you don't do something new."

"Times 're changing, Bill," George Wilson answered. "Conservative isn't the issue any more. It's all about not raising taxes."

"But who are you getting to gamble?" Bill replied. "It's not the rich who'll be losing that money. It'll be the people who can least afford it."

George just smiled. "Now you understand."

Ironwood County enters new year

Ironwood County remains calm after the holidays. Most residents are discouraged with the weak winter--those same people are the ones who complained about last year's interminable winter.

Unlike citizens in Iowa or New Hampshire, no one in Ironwood County has been particularly excited about any of the Republicans. Or any Democrat for that matter. Most wish that politicians would quit worrying about holding their jobs and focus on strengthening the infrastructure of the country--and all that entails.

Local author John Schreiber's internet sales of his books continue strong--especially "Life on the Fly" and "Heartstone," and, at the same time, he has received good reviews lately for his overlooked "Passing Through Paradise." Asked if he was planning a sequel on either "Life" or "Heartstone," his cryptic reply was "Yes."

Thanksgiving in Ironwood

Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621, one year after the Puritans landed, one year after losing about 50% during the previous winter. Yet they gave thanks in the face of another winter. Would modern Americans, who have known plenty, give thanks in similar circumstances?

More news about "Occupy Minnesota"

The boys at Bill's Café are closely following the protests in Minneapolis. They hope some of those protesters would come down to Ironwood County and occupy the Hillcrest courthouse lawn. Bill  in particular is wondering how he could entice a busload or two. Everyone figures it would be great for local businesses. After all, the news says it's costing the Cities a lot of money, and that money's creating jobs. And those Occupy Minnesota people need to eat and need to buy supplies. That's even better for the local economy.

"Just think of the meals I could cook," Bill said. "I could even name them special. The protester's pie. Main Street meatballs. Wall Street walleye--naw, that'd be too good for them crooks. Maybe Wall Street wieners."

In other news, local author John Schreiber's books are now available in various ebook formats.

"What's an ebook?" Bill asked.

Ironwood's Take on "Occupy Wall Street"

The Boys at Bill's Café have been talking a lot about the Wall Street demonstrations and now the Occupy Minnesota demonstrations. Most of them wonder what's taken the unemployed so long to do this.

"It was only a matter of time," Bill commented (and Bill rarely comments). "Taxpayers bail out the banks and Wall Street, the Money Guys then post record earnings, don't add American jobs, pay their CEO's high bonuses--what do you expect? That the unemployed will sit back and vote for tax breaks for the rich?"

Jack Kiln, teacher at Hillcrest, making a rare appearance at the Café, joined in. "It's classic history," he said. "If you don't actively build up the middle class, the poor will rise up. France, Russia, Iran, pick your country, pick your century."

In other news, on the artistic side, "Heartstone Under the Shadow" as well as most of local author John Schreiber's books are now available internationally--not only through Amazon.uk, but now Amazon Germany and Amazon France. The local paper says he has a book signing in Rochester on October 15 from 1 to 3 at the Christian Book and Gift Shop. Few of the Boys will go. Most have never been in a book store in their lives, but, then again, most Americans haven't either.

Class Warfare in Ironwood County

The Boys at Bill's Diner are debating what the Republicans mean by all their talk about "class warfare." George thought they were talking about the juniors and seniors who are planning pranks against each other for next week's homecoming game at Maple Valley. Bill replied, "No, that ain't it at all, George. They're talkin' about the poor goin' after the rich and taxin' them at a higher rate."

"That ain't class warfare," George replied. "That's just class fairness. Don't the rich already benefit from our economic system far more than the poor and middle class?"

The rest of the Boys had to agree. They're not sure why the Republicans are so bent on self-destruction. They know that the big money players will continue to fund anyone in Congress that will keep their money flowing, but at some point Main Street America is going to wake up and see that the rich don't create jobs, businesses do.

"So why don't we give a tax break to companies based on how many Americans they employ on American soil?" George asked. "Penalize those who use phony headquarters overseas?"

Again, the Boys had to agree. They urged George to run for Congress. "Sorry," he said. "You know Mary hates it when a job forces me to walk through [manure]."

Dry weather in Ironwood County continues; school starts

The Boys at Bill's Diner at now officially complaining about the dry weather. The corn crop isn't filling out as it should with this fall drought and will result in lower yields. Of course, the crop is still great when compared to other parts of the U.S. that have experienced droughts all summer.

Now some of you might be wondering what "officially" complaining means. Complaining is a regular occurrence with the Boys--Congress, the weather, the Vikings, the weather, taxes, the weather, pot holes--you get the idea. To "officially" complain means that they are serious. The Boys are worried.

In education, the Ironwood schools seem to be doing fine. What that means is that they didn't have to make further cuts. Of course, parents are paying more fees for everything that used to be included in a "free education." Sports and other extra-curricular activities were once considered a vital part of a Minnesota education. No longer. Now it's an after school option that parents must pay for if they want their child to participate.

One must wonder how many children over the years were saved by being on the basketball team or helping on a stage crew. They never knew that they would like it, or even be good at it, until they tried. Some just felt part of something special if they could sit on the bench.  Now they have to pay to do that.

Minnesota's pot holes aren't just showing up on the highways.