The New York Times' Patrick Healy explores "The Lingering What-If Question: Clinton?"

Attorneys are expected to begin selecting a jury in federal court in Minneapolis today for a case that could have played on "NYPD Blue." Call it Ramsey County Red.

"True Blue," the opening song on "Vagabonds" – the February 2008 release that is the one and only solo album by Gary Louris –  is one of the best things Louris has ever written.

Medtronic's income and earnings were up, and Target's were down, but both did better than expected, in pre-market quarterly earnings reports today.

Fever pitch: Buzz over Obama VP announcement heats up

The longtime head of the group within Best Buy Co. that served as liaison to the venture capital community is out, replaced by two senior VPs. Martin Nyman told me his position was eliminated June 30. He had been with the company for about seven years, with a recent title of director-global innovation network. At one time, Nyman had a staff of four, but that group was cut in April 2006 as part of a headquarters staff reduction.

We have all heard the label "comic genius" applied to our foremost creators of humor. But genius has little to do with what is amusing. The successful humorist simply recognizes funny words and uses them.

One of the Republican National Convention’s first events is the Media Party, a chance for journalists to stop their headlong pursuit of political corruption and enjoy a little taste of it themselves. Traditionally, a local news operation — often the biggest daily — sponsors the 15,000-person fete, providing the veneer that we’re being fed, liquored and entertained by one of own. But such is the joy of out-of-town ownership and a cratering ad climate: Neither the Star Tribune nor Pioneer Press forked over the dough to become the Minneapolis affair’s named sponsor.

One of my favorite blogs, U.S.S. Mariner, has been chronicling the Mariners' horrendous season full of bad decisions, management changes, and mistake-correcting personnel moves. Jarrod Washburn's situation became a hot topic over there last month, when the Mariners reportedly turned down a trade from the Yankees that would've shed Washburn's contract. Two winters before signing Carlos Silva to a four-year, $48 million deal, the Mariners handed Washburn a four-year, $37.5 million contract.

Minnesota rowers Matt Schnobrich and Micah Boyd helped the U.S. men's eight team win a bronze medal Sunday.

Patrick Seeb, an unabashed cheerleader for St. Paul and the president of the St. Paul Riverfront Corp., weighs in today with his thoughts about the convention. And he's not afraid to look ahead — dare I say, dream — with great optimism: An Olympics in St. Paul's future?

The Polyphonic Spree, "It's the Sun" (Friday, 5:53 p.m, The Current) and Death Cab for Cutie, "Soul Meets Body" (Sunday, same time, Cities 97). Two variations on the exact same auburn-absolution hue; thanks to all the deejays across the twin towns who honored the most glorious week of the summer by letting the sunshine, etc., in and reminding us to stop and smell the sunflowers.

When the Republican National Convention convenes in St. Paul in two weeks, "what viewers won't see may be among the biggest stories," reports the Arizona Republic.

It's easy to get caught up in the new gloss and glitz of Beijing. In a word, it's fantastic. World-class architecture and infrastructure has sprung up virtually overnight. The capital is currently in the process of throwing a superb coming-out party for China. The games have occurred thus far without a major glitch.

Good news for Republicans who are coming to St. Paul in two weeks: AP and others are reporting this morning that Qwest Communications has reached a labor agreement. The apparent settlement should mean no disruption of the phone lines during the Sept. 1-4 Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center.

FOSSTON, Minn. — The wheat is beginning to turn a lovely golden brown alongside a country road a few miles east of this northwestern Minnesota town, and the signs left by recent visitors have faded some into the waving grain.

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

We don't do Pledge Week ... but MinnPost does need your financial support!

Massive state underfunding has made taxpayer-approved levies an unfortunate necessity for Minnesota schools. Since a district's ability to balance its books depends on elections, how a school district asks voters for an increase is very important.

The dark cloud over the traditional media business looks like a silver lining to Scott Severson. As old-line media hemorrhage staff and ad revenue, Hopkins-based ARAnet is moving in with free print and Web content that carries client messages wrapped in consumer lifestyle articles.

BEIJING — Brothers and sisters have wrestled forever. It's part of growing up. A decade ago it often meant that the girls longed for their brothers' trophies and cool gear. There wasn't wrestling for girls and women.

How much can you learn about a person by glancing at his or her open email box? No fair reading the mail — just the in and out boxes. You would find subject lines, dates and times and the person's contacts. A Privacy Impact Assessment (PDF) published recently in the United States asserts that this information is not private. Speaking for every email and Web user, the authors say: