Daily Archives: January 14, 2009

Great Work, Weather +Climate

Housebound and Loving It.

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-15  rising 30.65 WSW0 wchill -15   Winter

Waning Wolf Moon

My work with the Sierra Club’s political and legislative committee’s have lead me to a group of folks who really understand the political process.  They are focused, goal oriented and work hard.  They write bill language, round up authors and co-authors, supporters from both parties.  The grass roots support gets rallied when needed for a push.  I’m lucky to be in this process.  I’ll learn a lot. (and I thought I knew a lot.)

I now Twitter, blog for the Star-Tribune weatherblogs (if they ever go live.) and write this blog.  Once in a while I get on facebook and myspace.  I’m not a true child of this age though because I have resisted thus far the allure of cell-phone e-mail and internet.  But.  I do have a cell phone.

I’ve not left the house since Monday.  I have been outside to blow the snow, take out the trash and get the mail.  But that’s it.  The really cold stuff should break over the weekend.  I do have two tours on Friday, so I’ll get out into it then.

Faith and Spirituality

Well, Now. Where the Rich Are Below Average?

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January 13, 2009, 1:10 pm
New Model for the Rich: Minnesotans

When it comes to spending and flaunting their millions, the American wealthy have had no shortage of role models in recent years, from Trump and Stephen Schwarzman to Larry Ellison and Ira Rennert.

But now that thrift is in and bling is out, who can they look to for guidance?

Minnesotans.

Setting aside some obvious differences (for most of the rich, Sub-Zero is a luxury appliance, not a six-month climate), it turns out Minnesotans can teach the rest of the nation’s wealthy a thing or two about thrift, guilt and luxury shame.

An article in the Star Tribune by Kristin Tillotson says that luxury goods are the new porn, “things that must be hidden behind plain brown wrappers lest one be viewed as marching down the road to Prada perdition.”

And apparently when it comes to concealing their impure purchases, no one tops Minnesotans. “Conspicuous consumerism has never been in fashion for Minnesota’s anti-ostentation old money,” the article says. “Their idea of being flashy is breaking out Grandma’s diamond necklace once a year, and then only for a Wayzata fundraiser.” (For non-Minnesotans, Wayzata is a country club). Continue reading Well, Now. Where the Rich Are Below Average? →