OUR OPINION: Short answers to big questions

Our view: Apparently, nothing is impossible: Brett Favre could be back in Green Bay.

Today, we're going to take on the really important questions.

n First, should Brett Favre give up on retirement?

Sure. If a man wants to work, he ought to find a job.

Frankly, we'd been hoping he might decide on a move to Minnesota, where the Vikings need a quarterback.

Of course, it would have been hard for Vikings fans to accept Favre and for Packers fans to concede that he's gone, just as now it's hard to accept that Favre won't come to Minnesota to spearhead that Cinderella season that could ?...

Hey! Let's get over it. It's his career.

You go, Brett.

But the follow-up question: Does Favre risk ruining his reputation by coming out of retirement?

Well, maybe. He faces competition to be the Packers' starting quarterback. And he's probably alienated some fans -- to say the least.

But the answer to this really important question will be a lot clearer at the end of the season.

n Second, should Grand Forks spend a quarter of a million bucks for lights?

These are not Christmas lights, specifically. Rather, they are winter lights. They'll remain up long enough to brighten the early winter evenings and, perhaps, the long winter nights.

Last week, we expressed some skepticism about this undertaking, but we've had a conversion experience. The money's available in the city's infrastructure fund (we wrongly put it in the economic development fund last week).

The lights would be spread all over town, and they could become an attraction, thus enhancing Grand Forks' growing reputation as a destination city.

So now, we're OK with the lights. We'll probably even enjoy them.

n Third question: Is North Dakota really in play in the presidential election campaign?

The Obama campaign surely thinks so. Obama volunteers have spread out across the state with the intention of meeting voters in every legislative district. This involves going door-to-door in cities and towns.

On the other hand, the McCain campaign is either indifferent to North Dakota because it has no presence closer than the Twin Cities, or it's supremely confident that North Dakota is safe territory for the Republican candidate.

History is on their side. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried North Dakota since Lyndon Johnson did it in 1964.

n Last question for today: Is anything impossible?

Apparently not.

Quarterbacks who've used up their energy, who've been written off as old and worn out ... even such quarterbacks may play the game.

And Mayor Lynn Stauss and his team from East Grand Forks won the Catfish Days chili cook-off for the first time ever.

Congratulations!

For the losers, Grand Forks Mayor Mike Brown and his team, the message as the same as it is for the Minnesota Vikings:

Better luck next year!