Sometimes things don’t work out the way you want / I don’t know if I’m gonna laugh or cry … / But listen, I’ll tell you / I’m glad to be alive and kickin’ / I’m glad to hear my heart’s still tickin’ / So pass me the wine, baby, and let’s make some love. — The Rolling Stones, “Pass …
Of the great American writers, John Steinbeck is the most accessible. His masterpiece, “The Grapes of Wrath,” is perhaps the most widely read of all American classics. He wrote it in the white heat of anger — how the 1 percent were mistreating displaced Americans, “Okies,” good agrarian men and women of the Plains, who had made their way to the fields of …
My dog disappeared for a few days this week. Marti is beagle terrier cross, with the energy of a terrier and the intelligence and roaming instincts of a beagle. She’s a sweet little dog who is terribly anxious, because she was abused before I got her from the Humane Society in Willmar, Minn. (my hometown — where my first dog, …
It’s much easier to stuff lately. And it’s not like I don’t have the energy to feel, it’s more like I’m making the conscious choice to avoid feeling much of anything that relates to the distance between us. Like wearing a life jacket in a rainstorm, it makes my inner child think I’m protected. Something new has started where I …
It’s bash the refugees season again. We have one every month, so you never have to take down the decorations — or buy new torches. This time, it’s in the form of North Dakota House Bill 1427, introduced by Republicans Chris Olson, Rich Becker, a pair of Koppelmans and four others. As always, they say they just want to know …
The University of Minnesota-Duluth men’s hockey team completed its first sweep of the University of North Dakota in its 73-year history, a 4-0 National Collegiate Hockey Conference shutout of the defending national champions Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. UMD freshman goalie Hunter Miska made 29 saves in the shutout of UND (6-7-1-1 NCHC 13-9-3 overall), the first time the Fighting Hawks …
Grand Forks photographer Dave Bruner captured these images before our recent thaw, when there was quite a bit more snow around than there is now.
I inherited an interest in photography from my father. A lifelong photo hobbyist himself, he gave me a Kodak Pony 135 camera as a birthday gift while I was still in high school. Since then I’ve shot thousands of pictures, sometimes for pay as a freelancer or as part of my job. But mostly, it’s been a pastime, a way …
Grand Forks photographer Michael Bogert took these nice shots recently before the January thaw the area has been experiencing the past few days.
You are being rescued. Republican state legislators are taking North Dakota back. From themselves. In the immortal words of Stevie Wonder, who used to be a legislator from District 28, “Don’t you worry ’bout a thing, Pretty Mama.” And let me tell you, Al Carlson, another blind legislator, hates being called Pretty Mama. The mama part, anyway. There’s a lot …
The University of North Dakota men’s basketball staged another second-half come-from-behind victory, defeating Idaho State University 89-64 in Big Sky Conference action Saturday in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Corey Baldwin led the Fighting Hawks (11-7, 6-2 BSC), scoring a career-high 23 points. UND trailed 36-35 after 20 minutes but outscored the Bengals (3-14, 1-5 BSC) 54-28 in the second half. Quenton Hooker was one of three other Hawks …
May our eyes see the humanity of all people, worthy of dignity and respect, especially those who are clouded in the shadows of an unfair world. May our ears hear the cries of the oppressed, marginalized and forgotten and those being left behind, drowned out by the din of intolerance May our lips speak truth to power with boldness, grace …
Today, for the 44th or 45th time (you do the math — I was an English major), Americans woke up with a different president than the one they awakened with the day before. I’ve lived during the terms of 13 of them, about a third, depending on who’s counting. I can actually remember 12 of them; I was 5 when Gen. …
The University of Minnesota-Duluth men’s hockey team continued its mastery over the University of North Dakota this season, posting a 5-3 National Collegiate Hockey Conference win over the Fighting Hawks on Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The Bulldogs beat the Hawks twice in Duluth earlier this season. After Tyson Jost gave UND (13-8-3 overall, 6-6-1-1 NCHC) a 1-0 lead in …
The University of North Dakota men’s basketball team, behind strong performances from Gino Crandall and Quinton Hooker, scored a come-from-behind 83-77 win over Weber State University on Thursday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Crandall scored career-high 33 points and Hooker added 22 to lead the Fighting Hawks to the Big Sky Conference victory over the the Wildcats (9-7, 4-1 BSC), …
We’ve all been there. You’ve bought something — an appliance, tool, toy, DIY furniture, whatever — and the time arrives to use the thing. But first, decision-making time arrives. You see, humans divide themselves into those who read instructions before use, and those who don’t. Many, many men (mostly) I know believe they are born with that special intuitive skill — you know, …
There’s been an argument simmering over the years about whether chili should contain beans. To make a long story short, it depends on who you ask. In Texas, there’s a saying, “If you know beans about chili, it’s that there’s no beans in chili.” In other parts of the country, particularly in the North, beans are a staple. And, of …
Chopin’s “Waltz In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2” was etched into Eric Bergeson’s subconscious by his father, who learned it when Eric was 3 years old. Eric recalls his dD put masking tape on the keys to learn the last run.
One who writes for the Fargo newspaper (not to be confused with Moorhead’s No. 1 publication, The Extra) had some sharp advice to citizens who have issues with laws being proposed in North Dakota. Apparently, he believes those who oppose some legislation coming before the North Dakota Legislature as a “waste of time” are typical groaners and usually “lightly informed.” His advice: …
“Orv, are you still fuming about not being invited to perform at the inauguration?” asks Stan. “You can still do that thing, right? Very entertaining, as I don’t recall. Was it a card trick? Was it an egg yoke? Hee hee.”” “I told you to shut up,” grouses Orville. “I’m busy drinking and thinking.” “That was three minutes ago, if …
Grand Forks photographer Russ Hons recently stopped by the Red River Zoo in Fargo and snapped these photos at the gray wolf compound. (Check out more photos from Russ Hons here.)
Sabino Canyon, located north of Tucson, Ariz., in the Santa Catalina Mountains, is a favorite walking, hiking and riding recreation area for residents and visitors to southern Arizona. Just minutes away from the desert, the canyon features large waterfalls along Sabino Creek with minor bridges constructed over them. Wildlife also is abundant in the canyon, including deer, javelina, skunks, tortoises, rattlesnakes and mountain lions. Stonework …
I knew nothing about Ernest Hemingway in the fall of 1961. He had recently committed suicide in Idaho at age 60. My freshman English class at the University of North Dakota was assigned to read his short story, “A Clean Well-Lighted Place.” Impressed with Hemingway’s writing, I dashed off a story in his “style” and submitted it to “Tyro,” the campus …
Grand Forks KnightRiders and East Grand Forks Senior High skated to a 3-3 tie in girls high school hockey Tuesday night in Eagles Arena in Grand Forks. Kathleen Petersen scored two goals and Katie Rodningen scored one for Grand Forks (4-7-1), while Tyre Chupka, Kylie Stauss and Madison McDonald scored for the Green Wave (7-4-2). KnightRiders goalie Quinn Kuntz …
Samantha Roscoe’s first-career double-double — 12 points, 12 rebounds — were not enough for the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team as the Fighting Hawks dropped a 74-71 overtime decision to Big Sky Conference foe Montana State University on Thursday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. UND (9-7, 4-1 BSC), which had rallied from a 12-point deficit, missed a chance to send …
After several years of watching British cops shows on Netflix, something finally dawned on me. Years is generally the time it takes for me to have a good dawn. Anyway, like American cop shows, a detective is running down a suspect, and he — or she — has the criminal, punter or wanker basically cornered, but they have to go …
Jan. 11 — Today my mother (85), my daughter (22) and I drove down to the encampment on the north bank of the Cannonball River. It was an astonishingly beautiful day on the northern Great Plains: cold, but clear, with an azure sky that contrasted perfectly with the snow. We took the long way around thanks to the road closure. What …
Many people don’t know that POTUS is short for President of the United States. Well, it is … and for the current president-elect, we can shorten it even better: POS. (Since this is a family newspaper, use your imagination about what that’s short for.) After the election was over, I waited for Diaper Donnie to enter the world of adults. …
It’s listed on my Facebook and Twitter pages. “Long-suffering Gopher fan. Hopeless Gopher fan…” I admit to owning worn-out maroon slippers with the gold Minnesota logo. They’re so old, the stitching has come loose. Minnesota merchandise is everywhere. My fading gold T-shirt. The heavy Gopher jacket for cold weather games. The lighter, maroon version for early fall. Even the snazzy head gear that makes me look like I’m …
The University of North Dakota men’s basketball team won its third straight game with a 95-65 Big Sky Conference victory over Southern Utah University on Saturday in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Quinton Hooker led the Fighting Hawks (8-6, 3-1 BSC) with 23 points. Josh Collins, filling in as a starter for injured Drick Bernstine added 11 points and 7 rebounds. Also scoring in double …
Watch history come alive when scholar Clay Jenkinson appears in costume and character as President Theodore Roosevelt. President Roosevelt served seven years, 171 days as the 26th president of the United States. He was an accidental president, “kicked upstairs” into the vice presidency in 1900, ascending to the presidency on Sept. 14, 1901, after President William McKinley died of gunshot …
Winter in Minnesota is not my favorite season. But there IS one benefit to lousy weather. It provides time to a catch up on the reading you’ve deferred in order to enjoy being outdoors in the spring, summer and fall. My winter goal is to dip into the literature created by the Irish novelist and poet James Joyce, 1882-1941. He …
Fargo Force dropped a 3-1 United States Hockey League game to the Sioux City Musketeers on Friday night in Schools Arena in Fargo. Hank Crone scored the lone goal for the Force, who dropped to 16-11-2. Carson Vance, Solag Bakich and Brian Rigali (empty net) scored for Sioux City (19-6-3). Matt Murray had 23 saves in goal for Fargo, while Sioux …
Chris Allen took in some sights while in New Delhi, India, to attend USAID-supported workshops for Afghan professors from Kabul University and Balkh University in communication studies and Kabul Polytechnic University in hydro-engineering. Among the places he visited were the India Gate, a war memorial located astride the Rajpath, on the eastern edge of the “ceremonial axis” of New Delhi; Connaught …
Quinton Hooker scored a game-high 20 points to lead the University of North Dakota men’s basketball team to a 68-63 win over Northern Arizona University in its Big Sky home opener Thursday in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Conner Avants added 17 points and equaled his career-high with nine rebounds to pace the Fighting Hawks (7-6, 2-1 BSC). Also in double-figure scoring for UND was …
Stan shuffles up to the bar and bellows, “Merry Christmas, Orv?” No answer. Stan looks closer at the man sitting on the stool. “Wait a goddam minute, here. You’re not Orville. Who the hell are you, and why are you sitting in Orv’s spot?” “Mark. I don’t know any Orv.” Stanley is flummoxed, until Orv barks, “I’m over her, you …
Note: This post has been updated from its original version because of some additional information provided to me by the North Dakota Health Department. Thanks to Inspector Bill Suess for that. Out in the Oil Patch, when a pipeline leaks, or a tank overflows, or a valve is accidentally left open, and something (mostly oil and toxic salt water) spills …
When the U.S. Supreme Court, on a 5-4 decision, ruled to basically eliminate caps on political spending through its decision on Citizens United — We the People lost. My comments apply to our political system and what has been happening in recent years, regardless of your political persuasion. Money has come to dominate our elections. Here are just a few examples …
Twelve and a half minutes and two screws. That’s what two of the first bills submitted to North Dakota’s 65th Legislative Assembly address. This is the kind of stuff guys love. No wonder, then, that the whole state is talking about two proposals submitted by Grand Forks legislators. One would raise the speed limit on North Dakota’s interstates and divided …
The Los Angeles Times has named a work by North Dakota native and UND graduate Sam Anderson one of the Top Ten L.A. Theatre Productions of 2016. Edward Albee’s “The Play about the Baby” was produced by the Road Theatre Company last year. Sam is the company’s artistic director. Edward Albee died last year. The Times says of “The Play About …
Homemade soups are awfully hard to beat. And when eating out, there’s something soothing about knowing that a restaurant’s soup is made from scratch. Maybe the reason is that you are a soup maker yourself or your mom or dad was accomplished at that, too. Both are true in my case. I usually make a pot of soup at least three …
This is my Norwegian immigrant grandmother, Anna Vorland (above), photographed by my father on the family farm northeast of Harvey, N.D., in the late 1940s. She’s been on my mind lately. A few years ago at New York’s Ellis Island, Dorette Kerian and I saw the official record of Anna’s entry into the U.S. with her new husband, Hans. He …
Grand Forks photographer Russ Hons braved the snow and wind Monday night to capture these lovely scenes in downtown Grand Forks and Lincoln Park. (Check out more photos from Russ Hons here.)
