“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — George Santayana Living as we are, in a time of extremes, it becomes easy to fail to see the incremental steps in history. Shortly after Donald Trump was elected, people started making comparisions to Nazi Germany and the discussion became immediately polarized. From a historical perspective, as …
Here is an excerpt from my latest book, “Of the First Class: A History of the Kimbell Art Museum.” Chapter 1 Sacred Ground On a muggy summer Saturday in 2014, 8,000 people converged on the heart of Fort Worth’s cultural district: the “Great Lawn” of the Kimbell Art Museum. The crowd was double what organizers of that day’s festival had …
This is the Thomas Jefferson Hour. Why are we talking about Theodore Roosevelt today? Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States. He took office 100 years after Thomas Jefferson became the third president. They are condemned to spend eternity on Mount Rushmore together. Right next to each other, in fact. There is no way that Jefferson could …
We are in the midst of a full-blown constitutional crisis, as the elected leader of the country is using the Justice Department to punish his enemies and reward his defenders who committed crimes to get him into office. This is not the action of a free democracy. This is the action of an authoritarian leader and dictator. The kind of …
January and February are a time when I turn to indoor chores and savor the fallow time of rest and restoration. I read books from the nearly toppling piles and I write. I shovel snow as needed and watch the winter birds from my office window while I write. This January and February have been anything but “normal,” whatever that …
My dad was a heckuva cook, and boiled dinner was one of his specialties. He generally made it in the winter, when a bowl of something warm was the perfect answer to the cold weather. I have many fond memories of big bowls of boiled dinner, served with dash of vinegar. It was a meal in itself and one that …
The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team, which has this weekend off, resumed its traditional annual outdoor skate Wednesday morning in Riverside Park in Grand Forks. The Fighting Hawks (21-3-3) are in first place in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference standings and are are ranked No. 1 in the country. The players, who donned random jerseys, played a couple of …
My friends, When the Senate of the United States voted on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, not to call John Bolton or any other witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, death rattled in the throat of the American republic. It’s over now. We will, of course, continue to be a great and powerful nation, a rich nation, with …
In honor of my friend Clay Jenkinson’s 65th birthday today, I’m going to share a story I wrote five years ago with a little bit of an update. First, let me say that it is hard to believe that my young friend Clay is 65 years old. I remember his 18th birthday, Feb. 4, 1973. We were both working at …
The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team exploded offensively in the second game of their National Collegiate Hockey Conference series with Colorado College, defeating the Tigers 8-1 Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The Fighting Hawks (21-3-3 overall, 12-2-2 NCHC) won the series opener 1-0 Friday night. Jordan Kawaguchi led the offensive outburst for UND with two goals and an …
Super Bowl Sunday is the perfect time to throw together a pot of chili, especially if you have guests coming over for the big game. But stop reading this now if you are one among those who believe that chili doesn’t contain beans. There are two schools of thought on the subject of whether beans belong in chili. As you might …
Summarizing, once more, where we are with the proposed bridge across the Little Missouri State Scenic River, reprinted from the January 2020 issue of Dakota Country Magazine. I’m going to keep writing about this stupid, harebrained, boneheaded, senseless, vacuous, selfish, destructive, egomaniacal, (insert your own adjective here), idea of the Billings County commissioners to put a bridge over the …
Junior goalie Peter Thome stopped all 25 shots he faced and Shane Pinto scored his 12th goal of the season to lead the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team to 1-0 shutout win over Colorado College in National Collegiate Hockey Conference play Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The shutout was Thome’s first since his freshman year. The Fighting …
Four things happened on the last day of January 2020. 1. We crossed the Rubicon: The United States was envisioned as a republic. In a republic, the protection the people have against tyranny is our system of checks and balances. The judiciary checks the legislative branch when it passes unconstitutional laws. The executive has the power to veto congressional legislation, …
I’ve been quiet for a while. Not because I haven’t been paying attention but because work has been overwhelming and I haven’t had the time to digest what has been an unbelievably painful week. These are just a few of the things that happened. There was an abhorrent Mideast “peace accord” that essentially endorsed apartheid for Palestinians and a destruction …
Thomas Jefferson wanted us to be the most enlightened nation on Earth, then and forever, the most enlightened nation in human history. That meant we had to be the best-educated, best-informed, most peaceful and most harmonious nation on Earth. We had to become the very template for rational, productive, thoughtful and harmonious living. This is the real American Dream. We …
In an effort to shake off some of this winter’s cold, Ginny and I decided to head south for a few days, about as far south as we could without having to break out our passports. We ended up in Fort Meyers, Fla., nearly as far south as the southernmost point in the U.S., Key West, along with the other …
During the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee’s recent impeachment hearings, I was surprised to hear several constitutional law scholars cite Samuel Johnson’s “A Dictionary of the English Language” for definitions of treason, misdemeanors, bribery, etc, a reference to Dr. Johnson’s 1755 dictionary of the English language. It is not altogether uncommon to hear the name Dr. Johnson — usually in …
Photographer Michael Bogert captured the solitude of the countryside during the winter on a recent trip outside the city.
Amid all the talk of refugees and immigrants, and the mean-spirited people who want to stand in their way as they seek to become Americans, I thought I might just repeat here part of an article I posted about five years ago. I wish these people had known my mother. And two friends of hers, Adolf Schmidt and his wife, …
What do you do when Republicans refuse to take seriously what they would find absolutely appalling and outrageous, criminal and treasonous, disgusting and Constitution-threatening if it were done by a liberal Democrat? We all know that if the situation were reversed and Barack Obama had reached out to Pakistan to demand that it pretend to investigate Jeb Bush or Donald …
The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team, in need of a bounce-back performance after a 7-4 loss Friday night, gained a split in their National Collegiate Hockey Conference series with a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday night in Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Just like Friday night, when Westin Michaud gave them a 1-0 first-period lead, the …
After the Iranian attack on an Iraqi air base earlier this month we were told by President Trump that there were no injuries. However, this week, it turns out what the commander in chief told the U.S. was false. The numbered of injured was confirmed Friday to be 34. Seventeen of them have returned to duty. Eight have been returned …
The first-place University of North Dakota men’s hockey team had its eight-game unbeaten streak snapped with a 7-4 National Collegiate Hockey Conference loss to the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Friday night in Amsoil Arena in Duluth. The Fighting Hawks (18-3-3 overall, 9-2-2-2 NCHC) still have a five-point lead over UMD in the NCHC standings. The Bulldogs (13-8-2 overall, 8-3-2-0 NCHC) trailed …
Some things you just take for granted. Like opposable thumbs. When you lose the use of one (temporarily, I hope), you realize what a great invention they are. Here’s the rest of the story. I got a new recliner a couple of weeks ago, replacing a 10-year-old one that had served its duty. It was host to many naps, football …
Red meat cooked in a sauce has probably been popular since the earliest humans first tasted it — albeit in a much cruder form than we know today — thousands of years ago. Over centuries, this type of food has evolved into dishes such as beef Stroganoff, Salisbury steak and even the ubitquitous hamburger and gravy; the list goes on …
Bored mingling is suddenly interrupted by an almost familiar woman moonwalking into the White House press room with her middle fingers extended and aimed at the gaggle of journalists. “What’s up, jerks?” When she gets positioned behind the podium, the woman poses as if beseeching the harsh lighting to be kind and bellows in a deep, guttural baritone: “The Base’ …
Marlon Stewart scored 22 points and Filip Rebraca added 21 for the University of North Dakota men’s basketball team against North Dakota State University on Sunday in Fargo, but it wasn’t enough as the Fighting Hawks dropped a 83-74 Summit League decision to the Bison. UND (8-12, 2-4 Summit) dropped its fourth straight in conference play with the loss. NDSU …
Five University of North Dakota women’s basketball players scored in double figures, but it wasn’t enough as the Fighting Hawks dropped a 92-82 Summit League contest to North Dakota State University on Sunday in Fargo. Julia Fleecs led North Dakota ((12-7, 3-3 Summit) with 18 points. Lilly Keplin chipped in 13, followed by Olivia Lane with 12 and Maggie Manson …
In a surprising twist of fortune — or misfortune, I suppose, depending on your point of view — the company hired by Meridian Energy Group to design and build its oil refinery beside Theodore Roosevelt National Park is likely to file bankruptcy this week. Bloomberg reported over the weekend “McDermott International Inc. is preparing to file for bankruptcy as soon …
“I can. I will. Watch me!” was Oprah Winfrey’s mantra for her “2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus” tour. That not only resonated with me but also with the other 17,999 mostly women Jan. 11 in St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center. Never before have I paid so much to see anyone — $178.63 for my seat on the main floor, Row …
Last month, I began reporting on the apparent financial troubles besetting Meridian Energy Group, the company planning to build an oil refinery near the boundary of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the North Dakota Bad Lands. Since then, I’ve received more information on the company, which I feel holds much merit and credit. I’m going to share some of that …
The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team avenged Friday night’s 6-3 loss to the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a 4-1 National Collegiate Hockey Conference win Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. Casey Johnson, with his his first goal of the season in just his seventh game, and Collin Adams, Mark Senden and Shane Pinto scored for the Fighting Hawks (17-2-2 …
The University of Nebraska-Omaha men’s hockey team snapped the University of North Dakota’s 15-game unbeaten streak and 13-game home ice win streak with a 6-3 National Collegiate Hockey Conference win Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. Mark Senden, Grant Mismash and Jasper Weatherby scored goals for the Fighting Hawks (16-2-2 overall, 7-1-1-1 NCHC). Six different players — Taylor Ward, Joey Abate, …
Kacie Borowicz scored 15 points and Megan Zander and Julia Fleecs chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively, to lead the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team to a 63-57 Summit League win over the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Thursday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. UND improved to 3-0 in the Summit and 12-4 overall. UN0 (6-10 overall, …
The University of North Dakota men’s basketball team fought back from a double-digit deficit in the second half but fell short in a 66-62 Summit League loss to the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Wednesday in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Fighting Hawks (8-9 overall, 2-1) were led by Marlon Stewart, who scored 22 points. De’Sean Allen-Eikens chipped in 14 points …
It is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, I am a citizen of a country whose leader is taking rogue actions, like assassinating a foreign general — albeit an evil one — without informing, to say nothing of having the support of allies or members of Congress. In addition, President Trump has been impeached for abusing power and withholding aid from …
Sometimes tomato sauces can get bogged down with too many flavors and laden with meat. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good spaghetti sauce that is spiced up with herbs such as basil, thyme and oregano as well as containing good Italian sausage seasoned with fennel. But there are times when I’m in the mood for pasta and just …
The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team set a record for most consecutive home wins (13) in Ralph Engelstad Arena since it opened in 2001 and also pushed its season unbeaten streak to 15 games, the longest active streak in the nation, with a 5-2 win over the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Saturday night. Five different players scored for …
Marlon Stewart scored 29 points to lead the University of North Dakota men’s basketball team to a 83-69 Summit League win over Purdue University Fort Wayne on Sunday afternoon in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Joining Stewart in double-figure scoring for the Fighting Hawks (8-8 overall, 2-0 Summit) were Filip Rebraca (12), Kienan Walter (12), Brady Danielson (11) and De’Sean Allen-Eikens …
Lilly Keplin scored 22 points and Megan Zander added 18 as the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team defeated Purdue University Fort Wayne 91-82 on Sunday in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Julia Fleecs chipped in 14 points and Jaclyn Jarnot had 12 for the Fighting Hawks (11-4 overall, 2-0 Summit League). The Mastodons fell to 4-11 overall and 0-2 in …
Jordan Kawaguchi and Grant Mismash each scored two goals and linemate Collin Adams chipped in three assists as the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team won its 12th straight home game, a 5-2 win over the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. Cole Smith scored the other goal for the Fighting Hawks (15-1-2), while Christian …
New Year’s resolutions are easy to make. Promising to lose weight, give up fast food or exercise every day always feels doable when you’re working with a clean slate. Talk to us by the end of the month, and our convictions often are already waning. The same would seem true when it comes to faith in our Minnesota sports teams. …
Sometimes it is necessary to dig deeper behind the news story to really understand what is going on. I truly believe that is what is happening with the escalation of our conflict with Iran and to be honest, it is even more terrifying than it initially appears. The missing backstory to this warmongering is the belief by many evangelical Christians …