James Umbanhowar
@jumbanho.bsky.social
Part time ecologist. I spend more time on Mastodon @jumbanho@mas.to
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
Overnight, ice has finally cleared from the great river that connects the Twin Cities and bisects our continent. May any remaining ICE leave our state just as rapidly.
February 20, 2026 at 3:18 AM
Overnight, ice has finally cleared from the great river that connects the Twin Cities and bisects our continent. May any remaining ICE leave our state just as rapidly.
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
local newspaper doxxes town by reporting news
February 20, 2026 at 2:31 AM
local newspaper doxxes town by reporting news
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
ESPN with the hard hitting analysis.
February 20, 2026 at 12:12 AM
ESPN with the hard hitting analysis.
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
New analysis w/ @aaronsojourner.org finds consumer spending declined by 2.9% in MN in Jan 2026 due to Operation Metro Surge, resulting in a loss of $626 million. Bigger losses in food and accommodation spending (3.8% in MN, 4.1% in Hennepin County).
northstarpolicy.org/impact-metro...
northstarpolicy.org/impact-metro...
The Economic Impact of Operation Metro Surge in January 2026: A Synthetic Difference-in-Differences Analysis | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
February 19, 2026 at 4:23 PM
New analysis w/ @aaronsojourner.org finds consumer spending declined by 2.9% in MN in Jan 2026 due to Operation Metro Surge, resulting in a loss of $626 million. Bigger losses in food and accommodation spending (3.8% in MN, 4.1% in Hennepin County).
northstarpolicy.org/impact-metro...
northstarpolicy.org/impact-metro...
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
10:00 AM Final winter weather service update: 21% of buses are delayed, with an average delay of about 4 minutes. There are currently no weather-related light rail delays and no routes on snow reroute. metrotransit.org/snow
February 19, 2026 at 4:01 PM
10:00 AM Final winter weather service update: 21% of buses are delayed, with an average delay of about 4 minutes. There are currently no weather-related light rail delays and no routes on snow reroute. metrotransit.org/snow
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
Zeva notes that the snow is very wet.
February 19, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Zeva notes that the snow is very wet.
This was very interesting and I buy the argument. I'm wondering if there would be segmentation in a way that cultivated meat fills the "cuts of meat" segment that is more expensive, while plant-based goes into the less expensive "enriching dishes", aka stews, soups, casseroles segment.
Today on Volts: meat! Bruce Friedrich argues that a) the dire environmental & social impacts of meat cultivation are rising, but b) so is meat consumption, so the only solution is c) plant-based or cultivated meat. We talk about the state of the market, the tech, & the future possibilities.
Can fake meat help solve climate change?
Bruce Friedrich on why we need to change the meat, not the consumer, to solve the climate crisis.
www.volts.wtf
February 19, 2026 at 2:48 PM
This was very interesting and I buy the argument. I'm wondering if there would be segmentation in a way that cultivated meat fills the "cuts of meat" segment that is more expensive, while plant-based goes into the less expensive "enriching dishes", aka stews, soups, casseroles segment.
Zeva notes that the snow is very wet.
February 19, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Zeva notes that the snow is very wet.
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
Very good
Oh, the grand old duke of york
He ██████████████████
He ██████████████████
And he ██████████████████
He ██████████████████
He ██████████████████
And he ██████████████████
February 19, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Very good
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
Federal officials now project that Lake Powell will "most probably" drop below power pool level — meaning Glen Canyon Dam will no longer be able to generate hydropower — before the end of this year: www.landdesk.org/p/the-colora... via @landdesk.bsky.social
The Colorado River Crisis is Here
States fail to reach a deal; Lake Powell Deadpool appears imminent
www.landdesk.org
February 19, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Federal officials now project that Lake Powell will "most probably" drop below power pool level — meaning Glen Canyon Dam will no longer be able to generate hydropower — before the end of this year: www.landdesk.org/p/the-colora... via @landdesk.bsky.social
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
Minnesota is a fun place, because last week it was "biking in a single layer" and "jogging in shorts and tshirts" weather (~55°F and sunny) and now it's this (blizzard).
February 18, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Minnesota is a fun place, because last week it was "biking in a single layer" and "jogging in shorts and tshirts" weather (~55°F and sunny) and now it's this (blizzard).
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
Just like 2020, Minneapolis has also been enduring a whole variety of two-bit agents provocateurs, from social media influencers to petty arsonists. We're also a lot tougher and smarter about handling this now. Glad this latest insult didn't cause much damage.
Someone doused Renee Good’s Minneapolis memorial and a nearby pile of wood with gasoline and started a fire at about 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Renee Good memorial site in south Minneapolis doused in gasoline
Damage was minimal but police are investigating.
bit.ly
February 18, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Just like 2020, Minneapolis has also been enduring a whole variety of two-bit agents provocateurs, from social media influencers to petty arsonists. We're also a lot tougher and smarter about handling this now. Glad this latest insult didn't cause much damage.
I'm all in on biathlons in every endurance sport.
February 18, 2026 at 5:50 PM
I'm all in on biathlons in every endurance sport.
And now, U2 🤷♂️
February 18, 2026 at 5:26 PM
And now, U2 🤷♂️
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
This entire piece is spectacular, but this bit is a little grenade
February 18, 2026 at 3:53 PM
This entire piece is spectacular, but this bit is a little grenade
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
Last night, there was attempted arson at Renee Good’s memorial at 33rd and Portland with gasoline being poured on the fence, near the front yard of the house, and throughout the memorial. This is despicable. 1/
February 18, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Last night, there was attempted arson at Renee Good’s memorial at 33rd and Portland with gasoline being poured on the fence, near the front yard of the house, and throughout the memorial. This is despicable. 1/
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
Elon posted this yesterday. Just for fun I did it with my before/after cancer PET scans that I had already posted online. In the "before" scan Grok missed the massive tumor lighting up my liver, and in both scans it flagged a non-existent "area of concern" in my chest. Other than that, works great!
February 18, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Elon posted this yesterday. Just for fun I did it with my before/after cancer PET scans that I had already posted online. In the "before" scan Grok missed the massive tumor lighting up my liver, and in both scans it flagged a non-existent "area of concern" in my chest. Other than that, works great!
Someone finally challenged the Cadbury Egg for gross looking chocolate treat.
February 18, 2026 at 4:39 AM
Someone finally challenged the Cadbury Egg for gross looking chocolate treat.
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
This language on the TrumpRx site.
February 18, 2026 at 1:07 AM
This language on the TrumpRx site.
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
"Mary Moriarty said in a statement Monday that the federal government’s refusal to cooperate shows it is 'not confident in their agents’ actions or their immediate response."
www.startribune.com/trump-admini...
www.startribune.com/trump-admini...
Trump administration formally denies Minnesota access to Alex Pretti evidence
Drew Evans, head of the state’s investigative agency, said the FBI once again refused access to evidence and information from the killing of Pretti at the hands of federal officers.
www.startribune.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:02 PM
"Mary Moriarty said in a statement Monday that the federal government’s refusal to cooperate shows it is 'not confident in their agents’ actions or their immediate response."
www.startribune.com/trump-admini...
www.startribune.com/trump-admini...
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
In honor of Lunar New Year, one of my all-time favorite maps:
How dumplings spread around the world
(tl;dr: It was largely, though not exclusively, the Mongol invasions!)
How dumplings spread around the world
(tl;dr: It was largely, though not exclusively, the Mongol invasions!)
February 17, 2026 at 4:32 PM
In honor of Lunar New Year, one of my all-time favorite maps:
How dumplings spread around the world
(tl;dr: It was largely, though not exclusively, the Mongol invasions!)
How dumplings spread around the world
(tl;dr: It was largely, though not exclusively, the Mongol invasions!)
Reposted by James Umbanhowar
Yes. Every word.
Republicans Are Much Much More Corrupt Than Democrats
But most people either do not know this, or refuse to admit it.
www.offmessage.net
February 17, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Yes. Every word.
Grad school intramural soccer when the (student) ref wouldn't let us finish a game short-handed because a teammate had to leave. I shouted: "you're too young to be a dictator" as we marched off the field.
let's hear some more of these Olympic Moments, what's your greatest personal sports-related tantrum
Yinz guys are special writers and always make me laugh.......
This is beyond relatable
I rolled a bowling bowl across a parking lot and into the woods. I drove home in my bowling shoes. I haven't picked a ball up since. Almost 24 years.
This is beyond relatable
I rolled a bowling bowl across a parking lot and into the woods. I drove home in my bowling shoes. I haven't picked a ball up since. Almost 24 years.
February 17, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Grad school intramural soccer when the (student) ref wouldn't let us finish a game short-handed because a teammate had to leave. I shouted: "you're too young to be a dictator" as we marched off the field.
Katie is not my Rep, but I love the helmet on the light rail representation (and all the work she does for Minneapolis and MN).
February 17, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Katie is not my Rep, but I love the helmet on the light rail representation (and all the work she does for Minneapolis and MN).