Minnesotaphile

It has been my observation that Minnesotans are uniquely predisposed to an unnatural bias for all things native to their beloved state and are the only people who will point out these things on a regular basis for others' benefit.

10,000 lakes? Try over 12,000.
Going to Target? Another swell Minnesota company.
Thomas Friedman? Best educational system in the nation? Why, those are ours, too!
I see you're enjoying Spam. Made in Austin, a fine Minnesota city. I played in a tournament or two there; the whole town smells of pork byproduct, but, you know, in a good way.

Maybe it's just me. And Laurel. (Hi, Laurel)

Having hit the four year mark in my Army career has only exacerbated this effect.

But more to the point. We're pretty much churning out concrete barriers here as fast as you can make them. The most lucrative industry in Iraq right now has to be for Iraqis who can make and transport large concrete objects. (Following a close second is probably for the various third country nationals who sew up the mountains of ACU trousers with holes in the crotch.)

Back in the day all we had were Jersey barriers, Texas barriers, and Alaska barriers, all named according to their relative size. Now they have T-walls, Scud Bunkers, Oklahomas, Virginias, Colorados, Idahoes, you name it.

I pointed out to the guys in the TOC, who were most likely not listening anyway, that there were no Minnesota barriers on the current menu. If there were, though, they wouldn't necessarily be the biggest or the tallest or the widest.

They'd just posses a superior moral character.