So, there’s a new means of locomotion on the downtown streets. This one consists only of one beefy wheel and two footrests upon which the rider stands. The whole thing, I’m told, is controlled by a remote control that the user can adjust speeds. Mostly faster, in my view. Every time some guy comes whipping by me on one of these gadgets, by the time I get my first question out, the dude is six blocks away. It’s a pity because I’m kind of behind on the latest trends. I’m still looking into the red hot pogo stick trend that was sweeping the country. You know. At one point.

Stud photographer Russ Dillingham has another incredible photo of a bumble bee collecting pollen from a crocus somewhere in Lewiston. Russ does amazing work and all, but I always feel kind of dirty looking at photos like this. I mean, it’s a picture of a bee doing its private business. How would Russ like it if I went into his bathroom with a camera and . . . But no. I can carry that thought no further.

Was having a nice, long chat with a Lewiston police officer the other day, but I don’t think I heard half of what he was saying. I was too busy leaning in and listening to the squawking of the police radio affixed to his hip. It’s been near four years now since I’ve had the joy of listening to police radio traffic in the Twin Cities. I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned this before, but cruel police administrators shut us off from their radio traffic a few summers ago. You should be mad.

So, this week, I installed Linux Mint on two more computers and the whole affair took about 30 minutes combined. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Wait until your own computer starts bugging you to upgrade to Windows 11 and then revisit this conversation. We’ll talk.

I put a shorter kickstand on El Mechon, my dual sport motorcycle. Since the bike is old and sitting lower these days, the original kickstand became too long and so the whole rig would just tip over when I parked it. Happened on Pine Street in Lewiston the other day and all the kids in Kennedy Park pointed and laughed. It was very hurtful.

Word on the street is that they’re going to be doing paving work on both Main Street in Lewiston and on Center Street in Auburn where other construction jobs are also getting underway on North River and Stetson roads. Getting around in the Twin Cities is going to be dicey for a good while. My recommendation? Get one of those one-wheel hover-type rigs and blast right past those surly flaggers.