Word has it that a new member of the extended Vikings family arrived at an area hospital Wednesday, just in time for minicamp.
It's a baby girl!
When I telephoned the new mother, her sister answered the phone: "Who is this?"
C.J.
Those initials meant nothing when repeated to the new mom, who could be heard in the background.
"C.J. from ...?" the new aunt followed up.
Star Tribune.
"No thanks," she said, disconnecting faster than a dropped call.
Details anon on whether the new arrival makes the Vikings 2010 media guide.
Poor Peter's schtick Peter Buffett has great appreciation for how annoying it is to read books by the filthy rich about life and happiness. But he wrote one anyway.
"Oh yeah. I start out my book-signing appearances with 'Easy for you to say,'" said a laughing Buffett, who was at the Dakota for "Concert & Conversation," a fundraiser for Courage Center.
He also was promoting his music and book, "Life Is What You Make It: Find Your Own Path to Fulfillment," a collection of stories, not just his, about those who Buffett said "end up doing what they love regardless of whether it makes them a fortune."
Buffett claims that he's not rolling in dough and not expecting any inheritance despite being the scion of Warren Buffett, one of the wealthiest people in the world. "The truth is, nobody knew who my dad was for most of my life, and certainly in the music business it didn't matter. There's no question the book found an audience because of my last name," said Buffett, who enjoys busting the myth that he grew up rich. "You don't have to have all that stuff, and in fact it won't make you happy. The lessons in the book: It's about the process and journey."
Peter and his wife, Jennifer Buffett, began devoting lots of funds to others after creating NoVo Foundation, started with millions Warren gave his kids with which to do good. The foundation fights human trafficking and promotes the empowerment of women, which he talks about at startribune.com/video.
He also discusses how his collaboration with the controversial rapper Akon came about, calling their work "the crazy combo of the decade."
Akon's interest in working with NoVo has improved an image tarnished by his offensive concert performance behavior with the 15-year-old daughter of a preacher. Is it safe to leave our daughters with Akon yet? "I can't say for certain," Buffett said, "but he is evolving. Akon would be the first to say that he made mistakes; he's learned from them and he hopes other people learn from his mistakes."
Despite the ease with which Buffett talks about expecting no inheritance -- "It is possible we will get .000001 [percent of the estate]" -- and his "multiple mortgages on my house," there's no way Warren would let his son drown financially. Right?
"Well, I've come pretty darn close and he did not bail me out," Buffett said.
'Widely despised?' It seems Twin Cities novelist and former 'CCOer Julie Kramer is dying for my attention.
Her third novel, "Silencing Sam," hits close to home: "When a widely despised gossip columnist is found shot to death, TV reporter Riley Spartz must secretly investigate a case in which she's become the prime suspect."
Ooh, ohh. When the movie is made, the opening scene should show Riley driving to the station while listening to Prince singing "Billy Jack Bitch."
As always I'm honored. Can't wait to autograph some copies, even though any similarities to people living or dead would be purely coincidental, as usual.
I guess Kramer took great umbrage at my asking if she was being nice to her husband, former Stribber Joe Kimball. Don't think I ever wrote about that encounter until today.
High on love "Weeds" star Mary-Louise Parker was at First Avenue to watch her significant other, musician Charlie Mars, perform.
Coincidentally, First Avenue is a prime spot for contact highs.
C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. She can be seen on Fox 9 Thursday mornings.
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