Author Archive for Christopher Gabriel
Christopher Gabriel is the host of the cleverly named Christopher Gabriel Program on AM 970 WDAY in Fargo, North Dakota. You can hear him weekdays from 9 to Noon. As a writer and humorist, his work has been been published online by the Chicago Sun-Times, Reuters and publications within the Sun-Times News Group.
Blog Harbor Awarded Nobel Prize
STOCKHOLM (AP) — It was announced today that Minneapolis-based Blog Harbor has been awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature. In an official statement from Gerhardt Lindstrom, the new acting Secretary of the Swedish Academy, he noted “Blog Harbor has brought a refreshing change in the way we view this new form of literature known as [...]
The BCS: Should Congress Get Involved?
This time of year everyone is a college basketball fan. From college hoops junkies to the office worker indifferent to sports, filling out The Bracket forces fans and “fans” to follow the NCAA basketball tournament with an almost maniacal intensity for three weekends every March. College football, however, as popular as it is, does not have the same [...]
Eye on Monday: Earth Hour
On Saturday, March 28, 2009, close to one billion people in nearly 4000 cities across more than 80 countries came together for an event called Earth Hour. From the tiny Chatham Islands of New Zealand to the Palace of Westminster in London to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the symbolic gesture of switching off lights for one hour, beginning [...]
The Seven People in the World Not on Facebook
Facebook. They’re coming after you. Your neighbors. Your children. Everyone. They are systematically taking over the universe. It was only a matter of time before they reached Earth. Can you hear me screaming? It’s a quiet scream. A private scream. It’s a cry for help. My life has turned into one of those horror movies [...]
Eye on Monday: Cannon Beach, Oregon
I went to Oregon for the first time about 30 years ago. Although I wouldn’t return for another 14 years, it left an indelible impression on me. Have you ever gone somewhere and got the distinct sense it was speaking to you? As if it reached out, tapped you on the shoulder and said “hey, you and me – [...]
Nikos Got a Gig!
After arriving in Wisconsin several months ago, Nikos’ green card finally came through. And I’m happy to report he got his first voiceover gig! It’s a radio ad for a small Minneapolis jewelry store owned by Russian transplant and all-around good guy, Boris Valnekoff. Nikos was the Sales Star of the Month for both January and February and [...]
Bison Fever! North Dakota State Marches to Minneapolis!
Bison Nation is coming to Minneapolis to play a little basketball. Basketball? They don’t play basketball in North Dakota. Do they? The Bison have been to Minneapolis before. They were here to play the Minnesota Golden Gophers in football for both the 2006 and 2007 seasons. That last game, on October 20, 2007, worked out pretty [...]
Eye on Monday: Late Night Dining…My Way
When it comes to what I like to call Late Night Dining, I’m referring to restaurants (or stands) many would call a “dive.” But one man’s dive is another man’s 5-star eatery. With that in mind, I give you my three favorite places in the United States that fall into the category of 5-star slices of simple, [...]
The Madness of March: Women on Fire!
It’s March, which means it’s time for March Madness. College Basketball. The NCAA Tourney. The Big Dance. So let me get right to it: Gentlemen, do not start your engines. Do not, under any circumstances, get into a tourney pool with your wife or girlfriend. You do it every year, and every year sends you one [...]
Eye on Monday: Chicago
This is post #100 for Blog Harbor which makes this something of an occasion to commemorate. And I can think of no better way to do so then by highlighting my beloved hometown of Chicago. I began this blog with a simple premise: Writing about people, places, things and events that passionately and/or humorously moved [...]
Snow Event 2009: Panic in Minneapolis
It was February 26, 2009. In the language and psyche of Minnesota, this was to be . . . The Day. Snowmageddon. Snow Emergency. The End is Upon Us. You betcha, we’re in trouble. The lines at the stores were insane. People buying all the eggs, butter, milk and bread they could fit into their baskets. Cross country [...]
Eye on Monday: Finger Puppet Theater
Blog Harbor was given a rare behind-the-scenes look at the Gabriel Finger Puppet Theater. They’re currently in rehearsals for the world premiere production of Le Vol de la Princesse. Notice the minimalist set design in stark contrast to the elaborate costumes. This is the signature style of director and legendary performer Caleigh Gabriel. Le Vol de la Princesse
Eye on Monday: The Premiere
This week brings three new features to Blog Harbor. The Farmland Almanac with Harrison Beillor will air every Thursday The Gabriel Theatre on the Air will perform on selected Fridays And starting today, Eye on Monday joins the Blog Harbor community. Inspired by weekly features on two great blogs, Photo Friday from my wife Wendy at her blog My Green Side, and [...]
The Drive-Thru Window and #3418
Christopher Gabriel, CGabriel.com It all started out like a great idea. You drive up and order. You drive a little further and pay. Then you wait patiently before you receive what you’ve ordered. And within minutes, you’re on your way. Coffee, food, prescriptions, even alcohol - you did it all without ever getting out of the car. It’s [...]
A Trophy for Everyone: The Seeds of Entitlement
When I was growing up, I played sports. Basketball was what I eventually settled on by high school but prior to that I also played baseball and ran track. When there was a tournament during the year or the playoffs at the end of the season, there were winners and there were losers. The winners got [...]
Low Pressure Front? No, It’s a Colonoscopy
WARNING: The following 1130 words have been approved for all reading audiences by the Council for a Healthier Colon. If you need to leave this column at any time due to feeling squirmy, rest assured you are not nearly as uncomfortable as I was during my 24-hour Journey to the Center of Christopher Gabriel. co·lon·os·co·py (kō’lə-nŏs’kə-pē) n. pl. co·lon·os·co·pies Examination [...]
The Lady in Purple
It all starts so innocently. A daily workout with my family. Fun times, lots of laughs. But no one’s laughing anymore. Not since we crossed paths with . . . The Lady in Purple. My wife, two daughters and I (henceforth known as “we”) jog or walk in a recreation “bubble” here in suburban Minneapolis. [...]
Social Media and Beyond: Responsibility Rests with You
Christopher Gabriel, CGabriel.com As a man of several decades, give or take three, I have a fairly good grasp of all that I am and all that I’m not. For the purposes of this piece, I’d like to highlight what I’m not. I’m not a businessman. I’m not a PR consultant. I’m not a marketing [...]
Battle for Boulder: The Cows Strike Back
Christopher Gabriel, CGabriel.com I grew up on the north side of Chicago. Although the city shares a bit of history with a certain cow kicking over a lantern (or so the story goes), schoolkids weren’t brainwashed into believing cows and trouble went hand-in-hand. Quite the contrary. In the Midwest we were taught cows were good. Cows [...]
The Acronym Generation . . . Or, TAG
We’re a country that’s fond of attaching labels and nicknames to things. It’s our way of grouping; of simplifying. Labels and nicknames will stick if they create buzz. And although sense rarely factors into them, buzz is more important than sense. So making sense doesn’t always make sense. We especially like naming generations. Some of the more [...]
Why Not Play the BCS Championship Game in June
By Christopher Gabriel, CGabriel.com Another college football season has come to an end. The Florida Gators are your BCS National Champions after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners, 24-14. Two things stick out about this win. This is Florida’s third national championship, the second under head coach Urban Meyer in the past three years. And this ties the latest [...]
Blackhawks Win and Lose in Winter Classic
By Christopher Gabriel, CGabriel.com I spent New Year’s Eve at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul watching the Minnesota Wild defeat the San Jose Sharks in overtime. On a brutally cold night outside, it was a warm, festive atmosphere inside. Watching the game with a dear friend I had reconnected with after not seeing each other [...]
