Until it was forced on me as part of my job, I was never a blogger. Barely knew what the word meant.

But the truth is, it's pretty fun. I like blogging for these reasons:

- I get my opinion out in the public.

- Online discussions can be extremely interesting, and a lot of the time a blog can start a good discussion. Just search for "Highway 282," "Benko," "Hennen," or "roundabout" to see some of the talks that are going on.

Another joke related to "Star Wars" (I made it up OK?!?!):

Q: What did the rapper say to the Jedi master?

A: "Yoda man." 

A joke related to "Star Wars" (my wife told me this):

Q: What did the poet say to Luke Skywalker?

A: "Metaphors be with you."

Not three minutes ago, I got a really good idea for something to write. Seconds after I opened Microsoft Word to start writing, my mind went blank.

You deserve quick writing that results in timely news. Even in a small town like Jordan. In this age of immediacy, you ought to have immediacy in your news about Jordan.

As part of a story I’m working on for Southwest Saturday and Let’s Go, I am selling a few items on eBay through Jordan seller Jim Oldsberg of TraderJ’s.

Yesterday, I finished reading "Old School" by Tobias Wolff.

I had picked it up on a whim one day while I was browsing one of my favorite bookstores, Micawbers Books in the St. Anthony neighborhood of St. Paul. When I took it to the register, the cashier said there was one of these books on the clearance shelf. It cost $3.98 -- what a deal!