Every few years, my husband and I embark upon an adventure outside of our beloved Bad Lands and North Dakota, seeking to fulfill our mutual goal of visiting all of the national parks. Thus, my blog has been on hiatus since the end of January. Because we garden, we find it necessary (for the most part) to travel in the …
The American people regard the U.S. Constitution as a sacred document — even though Jefferson specifically asked us not to — and historically we have been very reluctant to tamper with it. Too bad because it is badly in need of fundamental revision. Our Constitutional order has broken down. After years of thinking about this, I offer the following amendments. …
Good recipes can come from a variety of sources. Some people are fortunate enough to have ones that have been in their family for years. If you are really lucky, you might have you mom’s recipe box like I do. The internet is also a good source as are friends and newspapers. The publication that I worked at for more …
Photographer Dave Vorland recently spent some time in Arizona, where the weather in February is in stark contrast to that of his home in Bloomington, Minn.
White nationalists and their ideological cousins on the far alt-right won’t like this. As climate change projections for North Dakota have shown, the state will warm; we’ll have enough moisture. Not so bad, eh? We’ll be an island of relative calm, at least in the early stages of warming, if we don’t immediately act to remove the excess greenhouse gases …
I’ve got a problem. I need to write a column that is going to be kind of critical of three people I like, and I’m trying to figure out how to do it without making them all angry at me. Their names are Sara, Doug and Marvin. They’re all kind of half-ass friends of mine. And I’m not sure I …
Grand Forks Red River advanced to the semifinals of the East Region boys basketball tournament with a 52-51 victory over Wahpeton on Tuesday in the Riders’ gym. Red Rivers will play regular-season champion Fargo Davies on Friday in Scheels Arena in Fargo.. The Roughriders (12-10) were led by William Obioha and Brady Dvorak, who both scored 14 points. The Huskies (12-10) were …
The gun activists in North Dakota are feeling the cattle prod after losing out on carrying a sidearm to “99 percent of everywhere” due to the unpatriotic nay votes in the Commie Republican Legislature. The guy who publishes the MinuteMan Blog is really steamed. How dare a legislator vote closer than usual to their conscience or as their constituents want? …
One of Dad’s tasks as autumn hummed into winter was lifting his golf clubs from the car trunk and storing them in the basement. He was doing this one October when I was about 16. “Why’d you ever come back to Minnesota from San Diego after the war?” I asked. “You could play golf all year.” Fate had made the …
The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team dropped a defensive battle against the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena, falling 3-2 after a 4-0 National Collegiate Hockey Conference win against the No. 3 Bulldogs on Friday night. The Bulldogs (19-9-2 overall, 12-7-1 NCHC) took advantage of UND penalties, scoring twice 5-on-3 power plays, both goals …
The University of North Dakota men’s basketball team clinched a spot in The Summit League Men’s Basketball Championship with an 81-63 victory over the University of Denver on Saturday in Betty Engelstad Arena. UND (11-16 overall, 5-9 Summit) was led by Kienan Walter, who had a game-high 19 points, five rebounds and three assists. Also in double figures were Billy Brown (18), …
The University of North Dakota women’s basketball team staged a dramatic comeback against the University of Denver on Saturday in Betty Engelstad Arena but fell short, losing 92-91 in overtime to the Pioneers in Summit League action. The Fighting Hawks (10-17 overall, 5-9 Summit), trailed the Pioneers (15-12 overall, 8-6 Summit) by 18 points in the third quarter but took a three-point …
This one has been in crisper for weeks and it still feels fresh to me. So the great patriot whips the bag of snacks to the ground, stomps the delicious Doritos into dust, then pours a can of motor oil on the mess. Because a kooky bill didn’t pass. “Is there any patriots in the North Dakota House? This pro-gun …
The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team knocked off the University of Minnesota-Duluth — the No. 3 team in the country — 5-1 in a National Collegiate Hockey Conference game Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The Fighting Hawks (15-13-2 overall, 9-9-1 NCHC) jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period before adding an empty-net goal in the …
I’ll repeat that for the hard of listening. Known Suicidal Citizens Allowed To Keep Guns. Our Legislature voted down the “Public Safety Protection Order Bill.” “The ‘Public Safety Protection Order Bill’ (aka a Red Flag law) allows law enforcement or family members to petition a court to temporarily ban someone considered a danger to themselves or others from possessing guns.” — …
It appears not even our country’s warmer climes are immune from snow this winter. A winter storm ravaged the Southwest U.S., dumping snow on parts of Greater Los Angeles and Tucson, Ariz., before moving eastward into the Plains. Northern Arizona was hit particularly hard, with Flagstaff reporting its snowiest single day on record, with more than 35 inches of snow …
East Grand Forks Senior High defeated Red Lake Falls 9-0 on Thursday at the East Grand Forks Civic Center to advance to the semifinals of the Minnesota Section 8A high school hockey tournament Saturday. The Green Wave will meet Detroit Lakes, a 2-1 winner over Crookston. The other semifinal game will pit Warroad against Thief River Falls. Scoring goals for …
Lent is just around the corner, so that mean’s there will likely be a fish fry or two on tap in your neighborhood, not to mention Friday fish specials on many a restaurant menu. Walleye is the fish of choice at a lot of frys in my neck of the woods, although Alaskan pollock is a good substitute, especially if …
Two bills aimed right at Fargo. Hardly a liberal oasis, but frightening enough that some paranoid lawmakers feel a firewall is needed to prevent any progressive action on the things they hold dear. Keeping workers poor — and guns. Any brand, weight or color. Any size, grip or muzzle. And don’t you forget it! Kevin Cramer was in Fargo without …
There used to be a bar in Minot called Tiny’s. A little shack of a place across from the fairgrounds. It might have been a tavern, a pub or maybe just Tiny’s. Anyway, it was claimed that Tiny, who did in fact exist, did not allow anyone under 25 into his place. That was the word. He just didn’t like …
They don’t know the meaning of socialism and they don’t care what it means. Furthermore, they don’t want to learn the truth and they’ll label any Democrat they target with the American swear word, which will probably be the whole party. This isn’t the social media clods tossing around the socialist, communist and Marxist words to troll the libs. This …
The University of North Dakota women’s tennis team won its fourth match of the season with a 7-0 rout of visiting Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday morning in Choice Health & Fitness. The Fighting Hawks (4-3) received singles wins from Isa Sullivan, Kaede Amang, Preethi Kasilingam, Allie Ochotorena, Zahra Finnigan and Alex Revenig. The doubles teams of Amano-Masha Lobanova, Kasilingam-Ochotorena and …
Lexi Klabo scored 24 points and added nine rebounds but it wasn’t enough as the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team dropped a 80-58 Summit League decision to Oral Roberts University on Saturday afternoon in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. North Dakota fell to 10-16 overall and 5-8 in the Summit with the loss. Faith Dooley chipped in eight points. …
The University of North Dakota men’s basketball team picked up a big Summit League victory with a 85-73 decision over Oral Roberts University on Saturday afternoon in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Fighting Hawks (10-16 overall, 4-9 Summit) were led by Marlon Stewart, who led all scorers with 23 points. He was joined in double-figure scoring by Aanen Moody (21) and …
So, in the early half of Sunday the 10th, doctor and Rep. Rick Becker posted a meme on Facebook. Memes are evidently photos that convey what you’re thinking but could never find the words, or ever thought of one. Like a greeting card that punches you in the balls. Or provides a message of affirmation, whether you want one or …
“How did you do the laundering, Mr. President?” “You see that? Pimento loaf-face press hack just harassed me. I, Donald J, like the word jay. Trump. It’s the most shameful thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life, and nobody knows more about shameful things than me, believe me. Tremendous high ceilings. It might be the most shameful thing ever, some …
Leftovers. Almost all families have them, and they can pose a dilemma — if you let them. But creative cooks know that their limitations are endless. Perhaps the best use I can think of for leftovers is a pot of soup. Consider that roast chicken or beef that you had for Sunday dinner. Either would be a great starter for soup. …
Many years ago, on one of my visits to Pittsburgh, I told Fred Rogers about my experience riding in the back of a rental truck crowded with scores of Central American refugees. I vaguely remember my friend, the icon of children’s television, telling me later that he had mentioned my story in a speech. I hadn’t thought about this in …
(Satire) “Before the elephant gets in the room, we should make the room elephant-proof.” — Rep. Luke Simons, Bastiat Party (Not Satire) And I think that’s good policy for any room. Who wants an elephant in your room? Have you ever seen the size of those beasts? They’re enormous. And the aroma in close spaces would be unpleasant to the …
Grand Forks Central hosted Grand Forks Red River in boys and girls basketball Friday night, with the Roughriders coming out on top in both contests. The girls won 70-25 girls and the boys were victorious by a score of 68-63. In the girls game, Red River was led by Alex Page, who scored 17 points. The Sondol sisters, Jadyn and Jasmine, …
Lexi Klabo scored 26 points and added 12 rebounds, her seventh double-double of the season, to lead the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team back from a first-half deficit and a 70-58 Summit League win over North Dakota State University on Thursday night in Betty Engelstad Arena. The Fighting Hawks (10-14 overall, 5-6 Summit) trailed 31-30 at halftime before …
Suddenly, we’ve seen multiple bum-kissing letters-to-the-editor for big carbon. It was the oil tax thing that got them going. The North Dakota Republicans voted to let big oil keep the gift of a lower tax rate that they maniacally bestowed on the impoverished industry when the R’s slipped the dollars past the goalie in last days of the 2015 session. …
Three University of North Dakota men’s basketball players scored in double figures, but it wasn’t enough as the Fighting Hawks dropped a 74-70 Summit League decision to North Dakota State University on Wednesday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The win gave the Bison a season sweep of the Hawks, their first since 1996-97. Marlon Stewart of UND ((9-15 overall, …
Let me explain this article before you read it. It is an article that appears in the current (February 2019) issue of Dakota Country magazine. My editor there, Bill Mitzel, is kind enough to let me share my articles with my blog readers who don’t subscribe to Dakota Country or pick it up on the newsstands (although you should subscribe …
Grand Forks Central’s boys hockey team set the record for most consecutive wins in North Dakota boys hockey (35) with its 8-0 win over West Fargo on Tuesday night in Purpur Arena in Grand Forks. The previous record was held by Central’s 1974 team. Will Howard led the way for the Knights with a hat trick. Parker Stroh chipped in …
Chicken is the most popular meat in the United States, more well-liked than beef or pork. That’s according to 2018 statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But why is it so? Versatility is probably the No. 1 reason. The U.S. is a very diverse country, so chicken’s mild taste and uniform texture is easily assimilated into many cuisines. But …
You know, local newspapers and electronic media do a pretty good job of keeping us informed on local events. On national events, not so much. Take, for instance, the case of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat. He is accused of, has admitted to and then disavowed being in a picture in the 1984 yearbook of Eastern Virginia Medical School. …
The unburied lede. The close relationship between guns and suicide is a fact. It has been my experience that when the topic of suicide and guns comes up, anywhere in the universe, the way-not-like-me people have all suddenly scored a 63 percent Smith and 19 percent Wesson on “23andMe,” so they feel related to the object in some odd way, …
There’s hardly anything better on a cold winter day than a bowl of chili and some freshly baked bread, and I’m not the only one who thinks that is a good idea. On Tuesday, perhaps our coldest day of the winter (-33 degrees) until today (-35), I made some chili and Therese baked some no-knead cheesy bread. After we finished …
Stay inside? Not Grand Forks photographer Dave Bruner, who ventured outdoors this morning. With the temperature at 33 below zero, Dave snapped these images that show him tossing a thermos of hot water colored with green dye into the air. After that, Dave headed back indoors, “staying inside to thaw out!”
Before I depart for a month, leaving the North Dakota Legislature to its own devices, I’m going to comment on some of the strange goings-on over at the Capitol. I just can’t help myself. The best adjective to describe this session of the Legislature is weird. Maybe even awful. Much of the weirdness comes in the form of concurrent resolutions. …
The bitterly cold weather, which pretty much of the country (including the Great Plains and the Midwest) is experiencing, can produce some pretty spectacular photographic images. Grand Forks photographer Russ Hons was out and about on Tuesday (Jan. 30) in temperatures that were minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit and lower. Here are some of the things he saw through his camera’s lens. (Check …
By now, video of the confrontation at the Lincoln Memorial has been examined more closely than the Zapruder Film, and the gaslighting of America is complete. You really didn’t see what you saw. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., in his ongoing inspirational battle against the First Amendment, encouraged lawsuits against the media for misinterpeting the video. “Those kids did nothing wrong,” …
I was named Lillian after my maternal grandmother, my Norwegian ancestor. My mother tells me that when they handed me to her upon my birth, she looked down and saw her mother’s face, hence my name. I think I would have been given that name no matter who I looked like, but no matter. My mother loves to tell the …