Happy National Minnesota Day

Travel 1 Minute

If you’re planning a trip to Minnesota, Land of a Thousand Lakes, Trip Advisor says these places are among the MUST SEE places in Minnesota!

Mall of America

Don’t miss out on the Mall of America, which welcomes more than 40 million travelers annually from around the world. Shop at over 500 stores before refueling at any of the 50 restaurants. That’s not all; the kids will love the Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park and SEA LIFE Aquarium. Wear good shoes as the mall is massive, with plenty of digital maps for ease of navigation.

North Shore Scenic Drive

Driving through Haleʻiwa, Waimea, and Sunset Beach on the North Shore is one of the most scenic and enjoyable experiences on Oʻahu. The contrast between the relaxed surf towns, massive winter waves, and stunning coastlines creates an unforgettable day. Perfect for photos, beach walks, and soaking in authentic island energy.

Minnehaha State Park

One of the city’s oldest and most popular parks.

Gooseberry Falls State Park

This North Shore park is home to a spectacular four-level waterfall, scenic overlooks and is ideal for trout fishing.

Minneapolis Sculpture Park

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is closed for renovation, and will reopen in June 2017. One of the crown jewels of the city’s park system, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden unites two of Minnesota’s most cherished resources—its greenspace and its cultural life. A partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, the Garden is a top destination for tourists to enjoy art like the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry in an outdoor park setting.

Ariel Lift Bridge

Originally constructed in 1905 as an aerial lift, this unusual elevator bridge is 386 feet long and spans the canal entrance to Duluth Harbor.

SOURCE: TRIPADVISOR

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Published by pat frederick

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38 thoughts on “Happy National Minnesota Day”

  1. Good Morning All!

    we had wonderful weather yesterday –sunny and near 50*–so of course, it snowed overnight…about 2 inches. At least I was able to clear all the ice off the deck from the LAST several storms before it snowed again…LOL…

    no early spring here.

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    1. Morning, Pat! I’m really glad you got a bit of a break! It’s flipped back to winter here – only 17 this morning and cloudy, w/possible snow showers. Thankfully, no accumulation here. Wheezer came and ate overnight – most of the food is gone. I refilled his dish with dry food and will add tuna if/when he shows up.

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  6. Overton

    @overton_news

    Rep. Tim Burchett torches Democrats for their pearl clutching over President Trump’s strikes on Iran. BURCHETT:

    “President Obama bombed 8 countries without Congressional approval.”

    “So I think it’s a little disingenuous for the Democrats start saying this is unprecedented and you’ve got the most stable regime, outside of probably the Chinese, in the whole right now.”

    “And they’ve killed Americans within recent memory.”

    “Is this the revenge tour? Maybe be a little bit. But you poke the bear you get it.”

    “Or you poke the bull, you get the horns and the horns.”

    “And the horns right now are Donald J. Trump.”

    “And he’s letting an enemy of this country know how we feel about them.”

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  9. Just The News: “President Donald Trump declared Saturday evening that a diplomatic solution in Iran may be “much easier” after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others in Tehran’s theocratic leadership.

    Trump also told CBS News in a phone interview he has been surprised by Iran’s response to the attacks so far. “We thought it’d be double,” he said, though he added that the situation remains fluid. “Thus far, it’s been less than we thought.”

    The American president declared himself pleased with the results of the first day of military action, saying it was “a great day for this country, a great day for the world.” He expressed confidence that the heavy early toll that Iran suffered may open the door for a quicker diplomatic solution. “Much easier now than it was a day ago, obviously,” Trump answered when queried about the possibility of a diplomatic solution “Because they are getting beat up badly.”

    Trump announced that Khamenei, Iran’s ayatollah for nearly four decades, was killed in the strikes. Iran likewise announced the death.

    Trump told CBS News “there are some good candidates” to lead Iran if its people want regime change.”

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  10. Just The News: “President Trump reacted to the death of Iran’s longtime supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, on Saturday following U.S. and Israeli strikes in the country. Trump said Khamenei’s death marks the greatest chance for freedom in Iran.

    “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

    “He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do. This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country,” he added.

    Trump said the targeted strikes will continue as long as necessary.

    “We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us. As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!’ Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves,” he wrote.

    “That process should soon be starting in that, not only the death of Khamenei but the Country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated. The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!” Trump also wrote.

    Iranians took to the streets to celebrate Khamenei’s death.”

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  11. “End of Euphoria”

    Michael T. Flynn LTG USA (RET), Feb 28, 2026

    IRAN SITREP: Today was an historic day in the region of the Middle East and around the world. That said, my training and education as well as a life’s worth of experience have taught me many things. When the euphoria of successful military operations end, what comes next? Below is an attempt to address this vital question.

    First, the euphoria from today’s strikes such as precision hits on IRGC command nodes, nuclear infrastructure remnants, missile arrays, and top leadership (including the reported death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei) will inevitably give way to harder questions of “what comes next?”

    Operations Epic Fury (U.S.), and Roaring Lion (Israel), launched February 28, 2026, after the Islamic regime rejected maximalist demands in Geneva talks. It’s not a one-off raid like this past June 2025; it’s a sustained campaign to degrade existential threats: nuclear breakout, ballistic missiles, Iran’s navy, and the regime’s ability to project terror via proxies.

    Initial high-fives in Jerusalem, Washington, and among Iranian diaspora communities (reports of street celebrations waving pre-1979 flags and Reza Pahlavi portraits) stem from real tactical wins: hundreds of targets damaged, air defenses suppressed, and a decapitation strike that severs the theocracy’s symbolic head. But euphoria fades fast when the bill arrives; financial, strategic, human, and when the fog of war clears on Iran’s response.

    Short-term realities (days/weeks): Iran has already retaliated with ballistic missiles and drones against Israel and U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE (and possibly others). Expect more: proxy activations (though Hezbollah is gutted, Houthis/Iraqi militias remain), attempts to harass Gulf shipping or mine the Strait of Hormuz (20% of global oil), and asymmetric hits. U.S./Israeli air and naval superiority can blunt most of this, but casualties or oil spikes will test domestic support.

    No U.S. ground invasion is planned or feasible. Trump’s messaging emphasizes “Iranians seize your destiny,” with offers of immunity to defecting forces. Strikes will continue “as long as necessary” to “raze” the missile program and “annihilate” naval capabilities. The regime’s survival instinct historically favors calibrated restraint over all-out suicide to preserve power.

    When the initial rush ends: the branching paths U.S. intelligence reportedly modeled scenarios pre-strike, and experts (Gold Institute for International Strategy, Atlantic Council, CFR, Stimson, Foreign Affairs) converge on three broad futures. None are clean…..”

    https://genflynn.substack.com/p/end-of-euphoria

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  17. “This is the moment an Iranian anchor sobbed on state TV as he announced the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed yesterday. “God is great. God is great. With deep sorrow, it is announced to the nation of Iran that Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, was martyred today in a joint criminal attack by the United States and the Zionist regime,” the anchor says, before breaking down. Others can be heard crying off screen in the studio as the newsreader announces Khamenei’s death to the nation.”


    “It’s interesting. Fetterman is the only Democrat who actively came out in support of the military actions in Iran. I really don’t think he’s the one and only voice of reason in the Dimorat party. I think he’s really a Republican who hasn’t discovered that about himself yet.”

    “Ever feel a fake boob? It’s really friggin’ weird. Juss’ sayin’…”

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  18. “Operation Epic Fury: Iran Campaign Is a nightmare for China’s Taiwan ambitions — America’s Iran operation is crippling the CCP’s Pacific strategy.”

    Jordan Schachtel, Mar 01, 2026

    “Operation Epic Fury, the massive U.S.-Israeli strike campaign launched February 28th, targeted Iran’s nuclear and ballistic weapons program with devastating precision. President Trump’s stated goals are being executed by the greatest fighting force the world has ever known. And preventing the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism from obtaining nuclear weapons is absolutely a core American national security interest.

    But stopping Iran’s nuclear program isn’t the only strategic victory here. And it might not even be the most significant one.

    Operation Epic Fury is also delivering a crippling blow to China’s energy security and, by extension, Beijing’s ability to move on Taiwan. While the strikes targeted Iranian infrastructure, the strategic damage extends to the Pacific. This operation weakens China’s position in America’s ongoing Great Power competition with the Chinese Communist Party.

    Major strikes on Iran thus far

    Here’s the strategic picture that deserves more attention. China purchases over 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports, which amounts to well over one million barrels per day. That oil accounts for around 15 percent of China’s total crude imports, and it is delivered at a steep discount because American sanctions make Iran desperate for buyers.

    If war breaks out over Taiwan, global sea lanes become contested within hours. Beijing needs alternative energy sources that can’t be quickly cut off by American naval power. This is why they placed so much value in the cheap corridor through Iran.

    Iran has been a critical pillar of that strategy. A stable Iran, protected from Western military action by Chinese diplomatic cover, gave Beijing guaranteed energy access that U.S. planners couldn’t easily disrupt.

    Operation Epic Fury is in the process of eliminating that pillar. If the regime that rules Iran falls, China will lose its most important hedge against energy strangulation in a Pacific conflict.

    Iran’s regional proxies (Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Iraqi militias, etc) have functioned as strategic attrition against America. However, thanks to Israel’s post October 7th campaigns against several of these forces, the United States is in better position to compete with Beijing directly. Yet these proxies still hamper American resources, and China benefited from watching U.S. forces bleed resources managing seemingly permanent Middle East crises, all thanks to the mullahs in Tehran.

    If Operation Epic Fury collapses the Iranian regime, the proxy architecture loses its sponsor and disappears virtually overnight. The Middle East becomes manageable with a key ally in Israel, which becomes the regional strong horse, allowing for a lighter American footprint, freeing ships, aircraft, munitions, and attention for the Indo-Pacific.

    If a Taiwan crisis erupts, the U.S. will need allies to impose economic costs on China through sanctions and other means. That coalition’s effectiveness depends on whether major energy producers participate.

    If Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf producers are so integrated into China’s economy that they refuse to curtail oil sales during a Pacific conflict, the sanctions architecture loses effectiveness. But a Middle East where Iran’s regime has been obliterated, and even overthrown, leaves Gulf partners feeling secure aligning with Washington.

    The strikes, of course, also demonstrate American willingness to use force decisively. It sends a signal to Beijing not to completely discount that President Trump would take military risks defending Taiwan. The strikes certainly demonstrate American resolve, though whether Trump would actually engage in direct military conflict with China over Taiwan remains an open question. Nobody wants World War III.

    Preventing a theocratic regime that funds terrorist organizations across the Middle East from acquiring nuclear weapons is clearly in American national security interests. And American grand strategy never exists in isolation. The same military action that destroys Iranian nuclear facilities also eliminates China’s most reliable alternative energy source for a Taiwan contingency, and it creates an opening for Gulf energy producers to make clearer alignment choices on the side of the United States.

    Beijing understands what just happened. That’s why both China and Russia are coping and seething at the U.N. Security Council. They watched the United States and Israel coordinate strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader and destroyed hardened targets that took decades to build. Most importantly, they’re calculating what this means for their Taiwan timeline. China just lost a critical hedge against energy disruption, and American forces are finally being freed from being bogged down in Middle East conflicts.

    Stopping Iran’s nuclear program was the primary objective. Weakening China’s strategic position for Taiwan was the bonus, and may prove just as consequential an outcome.”

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  19. “Saw this as a teaser ad for these so-called ‘wobble pet’ dogs that I bet gets thousands of grandmothers running for their purses. Thing is, this shit is AI generated and the actual little robot dog things don’t anything like what’s depicted there, but I’m sure you probably figured that out for yourself already. Here’s their catchy little ad. Don’t go for it – especially at eighty bucks a pop:”

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  21. “So much for Global Warming, huh? With spring officially just three weeks away, Americans have been warned not to pack up their winter wardrobe yet. Spring is due to begin on March 20 but climatologist Judah Cohen said that after the Northeast took a battering in recent weeks with record snow and frigid temperatures, the warmer weather may take a little longer to get here. 

    ‘Something different is happening,’ he said. ‘There’s gonna be a polar vortex split. One piece is going to go to Asia, another piece is going to come to North America. Usually the impacts from that are delayed quite a bit.

    ‘It could, at least initially, bring warmer temperatures in the Eastern US, which I think will make everybody happy, given how this winter’s gone.’  

    ‘However, leading into late March and April, there could then be a dip in temperature, due to the vortex split. It could kind of delay real, true spring. I think that’s something that could be a big factor and needs to be watched.'” 

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