Yes, I was surprised reading the extended entry @the Bleat about the return to newspaper business. I mean, I seem to mess something - wasn't he always a columnist, all these years of Bleat and Diner and the matchbook covers, simultaneous with writing hilarious books and tending to Gnat?
And the radio hour with Jarvis? And the music-playing? Dog-walking? Archiving in his garage - etcetcetc?

Was there a temporary break from the Star Tribune in it somewhere?

Short version: they dropped his previous column and assigned him to an editing position at buzz.mn, the paper's community Web site. There was wailing and gnashing of teeth, but he bore his burden well and now seems to be enjoying himself. As to why they put him back in the paper, well, he sells a lot of books, and maybe someone who sells a lot of books might help to sell papers.

But it seems that now he manages all - the buzz, the column, the books, the music-playing and the rest!
He's a regular Leonardo, that man, I tell you.

I'd be interested to see the circulation numbers during all this kerfluffle. I have certain preconceived notions.

Sheesh, when he started talking about how he spent his Sundays ... it prompted me to go into heavy "remember when" mode. And ended up posting. And I have to admit, he may have a point. (from what I could gather) We perhaps are all the poorer for not having "that quiet day of relaxation, that day of rest, that Sunday of old fondly remembered.