Not Exactly Lake Wobegon

Fergus Falls, Minn., bills itself as the "gateway to the lakes." I happen to know that's an accurate description, because I've actually been to Fergus Falls, which is not far from the lake cabin my family used to visit when I was a boy.

The town (population 12,000) also apparently has a nice new Social Security Administration office, with plenty of security. That irks Fergus Falls resident Julianne Sanden, who wrote about her experiences at the office in yesterday's edition of the Fergus Falls Daily Journal. She lamented having to go to a "computer doodie" to sign in at the office, and criticized the less-than-attentive staff. Waiting 10 minutes to speak to an SSA representative, she wrote, made her "understand why they have an armed police officer there."

"Some people, customers, or taxpayers might get a little fidgety," Sanden added. "Not me. I just sat there in the wonder of it all."