Thumbs up to Diane Adams
Thumbs up to Diane Adams at the Falls Public Library for her hard work on kids programs. She tirelessly comes up with new ideas and activities for the kids to do, all the while encouraging good reading habits.

Thumbs up,Thumbs down
Thumbs up to Brett Favre for staying retired. At the ripe old age of 39, Favre said he was not up to the daily grind, both mentally and physically, that another season would require. At least now Viking fans won't have to suffer through another season of what could have been (remember 1998?!). We will settle for just another season of what it is, a shining roster of talent lacking leadership and being one player away — a big-time quarterback — from a legitimate championship run.
Thumbs down to Favre and Vikings officials for three months of distraction. Now, let’s get down to the business of playing football.

Thumbs up to FFCBC
Thumbs up to the community of Fort Frances and the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship committees for another successful bass championship. And thumbs up to five-time winners Jim Moynagh of Carver, Minn., and Joe Thrun of Annandale, Minn., for returning to the tournament to defend their title.

Thumbs down to rude drivers
Thumbs down to drivers who pull out in front of other motorists only to proceed more slowly than the flow of traffic. Wait your turn.
But thumbs down, too, to drivers who are so annoyed by anyone who pulls in front of them that they speed up and follow their tail ends too closely.
Let’s put friendliness behind the wheel — good manners in the workplace and other public places can translate to the highway. And Minnesota niceness can be modeled in Borderland — among its visitors and its residents.

Thumbs down on waiting to praise
Thumbs down to waiting until people are gone to verbalize appreciation and value what they gave the world.
An illustrative recent example is the flooding of positive information about Michael Jackson, after he died and could no longer be enriched by the praise. While highly controversial as he lived, a lot of facts (and truths) about his generosity and goodness came to light because he’s gone.
Just think what someone like him might have changed had he known how importantly many of his talents and attributes were valued.
Deliver early eulogies — speak your praise.

Thumbs up to Sylvia Johnston
Thumbs up to Borderland resident Sylvia Johnston for being interactive with her community by sharing her warm perspectives with The Journal and with readers.
Johnston’s recent concern about even a chicken in her yard shows a connection and concern about the area in which she lives. Her photos and commentary have added levity, and community caring to the daily paper.

Thumbs up to advanced technology
Researchers at Virginia Tech have taken technology developed by the military and packed it onto a dune buggy that tells the driver exactly where to go, offering blind people the possibility of driving in the future.
Thumbs down to advanced technology. There is enough road rage without adding drivers who can’t see.