Home electronics have come a long way since the days of the cassette player connected to an analog stereo amplifier and a pair of speakers. Today’s home electronics are a fusion of computer technology, Wi-Fi, streaming media and multi-channel, multi-room digital applications of every sort imaginable. Surely you would need to purchase such items at a specialty audio/video establishment, right? Well, you can, if you want to pay top-shelf prices!
If any of the drains in your home seem to clog repeatedly, that’s not normal, and you need to investigate why it’s happening. Generally, when household drains seem like they’re always slow or totally clogged, it’s because household members repeatedly allow things to flow into the drains that don’t belong there. Damaged plumbing can be a culprit, too, but more often than not, the problem is caused by user neglect.
So far, we have only seen a thin layer of morning frost and maybe a few snowflakes here in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas – neither of which amounted to anything. But winter is a long way from over, and just because we are not buried in two feet of snow does not mean we are out of the woods.
Summer in Minnesota can be delightful, with beautiful scenery, many outdoor activities and generally great weather. But as night follows day, winter usually comes upon us quickly and with little ceremony. Soon enough we’ll be driving past festive Christmas decorations in snow-covered neighborhoods, shoveling our vehicles out of their parking spots, and slipping along icy roads during our daily commutes. Winter is a welcomed season for skiers, snowmobilers and other aficionados of such outdoor activities, but perhaps less enjoyable for those of us who need to dig ourselves out of our driveways before we can get to work.
With stores being devoid of most ammunition for nearly an entire year now, many people are wondering when, if ever, we would see the shelves stocked again. While still very difficult to find, there is a slow trickle starting to make its way to some retailers. Nearly always accompanied by strict limits on the amount purchased and often behind the counter, the fact that there is any at all is promising. Perhaps there is a light at the ‘end of the barrel’…
Collecting of coins or other forms of minted legal tender has been a popular hobby for probably as long as coins have been around. Of particular interest to most collectors are coins that have been circulated for only a brief time thus making them more scarce, coins with mint errors or other irregularities, exceptionally beautiful coins, or coins with certain historical significance.
People are spending more time at home these days due to the pandemic. There are just a lot fewer things to partake in with the cancellation of many social activities and events. So what do you do when you’re cooped up at home? There are actually many activities we can revisit, especially with a bit more time at our disposal. Cooking (and we don’t mean throwing a frozen dinner in the microwave), family game night, camping, hiking, crafting, reading (those old fashioned things made of paper, not your tablet), gardening (not quite yet, but hopefully soon), and last but not least – listening to music or watching movies. We can’t help you with some of these, but we certainly can with home entertainment equipment!
Minnesota is a place where winter might not really get going until January or February, but we might also get buried in early November. Our temperatures can be pretty mild, or we can plunge into sub-zero weather for weeks at a time. The Twin Cities and surrounding areas are no stranger to an abundance of snow and ice, so getting ready before the winter wonderland arrives is wise.
The negative economic impact resulting from events that have transpired within the last six months has been tremendous. An unprecedented closure of the economy has caused irreparable harm to small businesses across the country, forcing many to shutter their doors for good. Unemployment rose higher in three months of COVID-19 than it did in two years of the Great Recession. Yet despite the pandemic, Amazon doubled its net profit year over year to $5.2 billion, compared to $2.6 billion at this time in 2019. So what’s wrong with this picture?
With the trials and tribulations of COVID-19 and the recent social unrest that has gripped the country over the last few months, is there any way that business as usual can once again return? What will be our new normal? When will we be able to head out to a ball game with our friends and families? Will the smile and firm handshake at a business meeting once again seal the deal? Can we count on being able to celebrate our faith in houses of worship without having to follow social distancing circles and arrows on the floor? How will our children learn and experience our nation’s history when parts of that history have been torn down, providing they even return to classes in the fall?