I need a link bailout

Slow news day in SoDakia…

Two more South Daktoa churches are calling it a career.  One is in Orient, and the other in Rockham.

Not many stories get this reaction from me, but eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Can you name the “opera capital of South Dakota”?  Click here for the answer.

Good news for all the crazy cat ladies in Yankton.

Governor Rounds is costing the state millions?  That’s what this guy said.

No word if mountain lions are being invited to this meeting.

The only states more free than South Dakota are New Hampshire and Colorado?

The weekend was a calm one on my end.  Most of it was spent with Kate and Braeden, which is just fine with me.  I’m looking forward to next weekend, as Kate won’t be at work at all thanks to Independence Day.  The week is looking good overall.  I’ll be going to the new Transformers movie (finally), and I’m only three per cent done on Boom Blox for Wii.  Just in case I’m not the last person to try that game, I’m telling you to try it if you have a Wii and haven’t at this point.  The Wii is rekindling my love of video games.  I know it doesn’t have the power of PS3 or the Xbox 360, but super fast games and great graphics aren’t where I’m at right now.  I’ve slipped into the casual, pick up and play market. 

I’ve had a weird mood the last week.  Actually, it’s been several moods.  A few brief highs mixed in with some unusual lows.  I’m not sad or depressed, but my self-esteem has been really low.  I can’t really explain it.  I’m not going to go full blown woe-is-me or anything, but even for my usual low self-esteem things have been low. 

Braeden is up to ten steps before falling.  How many steps does he need to take before he’s actually walking?  I’m thinking the clincher is when he’s walking more than crawling, and he’s not there  yet.  He is really finding his voice, just not any words close to English.  He seems to know what he’s saying, as he’ll rattle off some gibberish, and then when we don’t understand he repeats it but louder, just like an obnoxious tourist in a foreign country.  It’s quite funny.

I’m really missing running a campaign.  I’m thinking of scenario after scenario.  The problem is that they’re all for Star Trek: the RPG.  I’ll be lucky if I get to run that even once more in the next year.  I floated the idea of our old group starting to game again, even though we’re in different cities.  My idea was to use Skype to pull it off, and once that’s in place the only juggling will be with time-zones and schedules.  That could be tougher than hooking up the equipment.

I think that’s enough for tonight.

I had a great weekend, but a few things got stuck in my craw

First up, a potentially big story is developing in Pierre.  This is one to watch over the next few days.

The FCC is coming to South Dakota to discuss updating the info-infrastucture on reservations.

South Dakota’s DNA rules will not be changing.

One demographic that’s growing in South Dakota: rattlesnakes.

Balloons are going up to complain about how expensive clean air and water are, or something like that.

It’s always sad to read about another small town church closing down.

This is total late-night joke material: the town was so small the high speed chase was only two blocks.

Wind farms are about to start growing around Miller.

John Thune rises in the GOP ranks.

Rapid City students aren’t reading like they used to.

While discussing the need for security cameras, some vandals made it seem like an obvious decision.

All hail the new Miss South Dakota.

Tourists are still flocking to South Dakota.

Brookings is looking for help in finding a way to market the city.

Hey, let’s all protest something because it might be like something Europe or Canada has.  The insurance companies of America will probably print your signs for you if you ask them.  For frak’s sake, the system we have isn’t working properly.  If you’re going to bitch, come to the table with some ideas besides “whatever the Dems are doing is wrong”. 

I’m just going to lay it out here and now.  I was a Republican back in the early 90s.  I suppored Bob Dole in 1996.  However, somewhere along the line the Republican Party went off the rails hardcore.  I’m not a declared Democrat, but I might as well be.  These tea party fests and the crowd they attract sum up why I left. 

I don’t like to get too political on the web, since it usually leads to way too much arguing, but damn.  I can only take so much white noise these days.  I’ve already had my fill, thanks to spending a few hours with my mom, who I love dearly.  That being said, she’s always trying to steer a conversation towards something she saw on Fox News. 

On a non political and happier note, the Mrs. hit the ball out of the yard for my Father’s Day.  I’m now the owner of a Wii.  The weekend was so busy (and great) that I don’t even have it hooked up yet.  Hopefully I’ll be Wii-ing by Monday or Tuesday.

South Dakota news links again?

I need to change it up one of these weeks.

The texting menace has reached Aberdeen?  Is anyplace left?

That special circle of hell has a new spot reserved.

Did you know that South Dakota is a credit card mecca?  That’s why the state is starting to freak out about the new laws.

Shockingly, even the classy pRon store in Sioux Falls may not have a classy owner.  How do I know it’s classy?  A…friend told me.  Yeah, that’s it.

I shouldn’t be shocked, but don’t celebrate the South Dakota smoking ban yet.

Two things I’m sure of: that this site is completely fair, and that John Thune isn’t a tremendous “rhymes with koosh-bag”.  The third thing not worth mentioning too much is my need to be sarcastic.

Dude, really?  No truck is that dirty.

In terms of problems, this probably ranks low on GM’s list.

Democracy in inaction: file for the election for mayor, watch as no one else files, become mayor with no election.

Speaking of mayors, Volga welcomes their first female mayor.

I don’t see many stories that involve an Alco, so here’s one.

Willow Lake is the latest school to make Thursday the new Friday.

South Dakota’s very own White is about to turn 125!

A South Dakota weapons permit is now good in half of the other states.  I’d still check before bringing along the firearms.

Redfield has a new place to rent movies, while Clark’s used clothing shop has a new location.

Small businesses, South Dakota is still lookin’ pretty good.

The gopher-razzi caught this local celebrity near Huron.  There was a story to go with it, but I just wanted to post the picture.

Who wants a pictoral history of Britton?  I’d actually like one.

Mr. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin is now one of us.

This probably isn’t really news, but the fact they’re keeping it so mysterious makes it news.

Brookings County is starting to worry about the usual problems: ATVs and loose animals. 

Charity may begin at home, but it continues in Brookings.

Hey, how are you?  How’s the family?  Economy easin’ up on you?

Things in my corner of not-South Dakota are going great.  This was probably one of the better weeks I’ve had all year.  Braeden is up to four steps before falling down.  He’s starting to get really happy to see me, and then there’s when he scrunches his head in my shoulder when I pick him up.  So…damn…adorable. 

Once again, I think I did too much writing this morning on my book project, and now I’m feeling less verbose when it’s time for this one.  Even with all of that writing, I’m still a good 70,000-100,000 words short of being done.  When I put it that way, it seems like a lot.  Granted, that doesn’t include revisions and such. 

Geez, that sounds like a lot of work.  No wonder I don’t have time for video games lately.

Hey, have a good [MORNING/AFTERNOON/EVENING/NIGHT IN YOUR AREA] when you read this.

Since I’m not a rancher from Mission, I’ll keep this up

Even though this doesn’t pay…

I had no idea Hosmer had a civic center.  Heck, I was barely aware we had a town called Hosmer.

Part of the Black Hills is now off-limits to ATVs and such.

This could either be filed under “bad economy” or “thieves with no delusions of grandeur”.

Pierre residents want a BOLD pool.  What the heck is a “bold” pool?

Waubay has a new cafe you say?

When you have to make sure it blows up real good, trust South Dakota detonating devices.

Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin makes a cameo at Girls State.  My big highlight from Boys State was getting within a yard of George Mickelson.

Rapid City has a meeting involving one current mayor and four former mayors.  I think the next one is free with purchase of a small drink.

The State Fair is saved!  Well, no.  However, in my own defense, I enjoy Mel Tillis’ acting.

John Thune actually does a good job of having the GOP cake and eating it with South Dakota too, at least with his choice of words.

The Big Stone II project is still in the theater of the court system.

I didn’t link to any stories about the Powerball winner, because that ship sailed a few days ago.  Only updating on Sundays can cause that to happen.

Sorry about no update last week.  I spent most of the weekend in Rochester rolling dice and having a blast with some old friends.  By the time I was back in town, I had to scramble to get everything done, and I made the decision to put the Shag partially in the can to spend some more time at home with the Mrs., who I missed quite a bit.  If you want more on my weekend for some odd reason, click over here.

I think I blew out the blogging part of my brain this morning.  I wish I could say it was something profound, or more work on one of my books, but instead it was just some old off-brand Transformers and the bios I wrote up for them back in the 1980s.  If you don’t believe me, read here how I spent my morning.

I think I’ll spend the rest of my evening just letting my brain recharge.  Have a good day, whatever day you might read this.

Delayed

Due to my late arrival back from Rochester Sunday night, along with throwing together a radio show, no blog tonight.  I’ll try and have something up tomorrow night.

Iowa took me, but then it gave me back.

I even found time on this travel-packed weekend to do this.

Aberdeen’s police force is in step with 2009.

Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin blows off criticism from somebody I went to high school with, then she works with Ron Paul?  Oh, she’s angling for some road money as well.

The EPA is sending some money South Dakota’s way, including a bit for Sisseton.

Clark finds one way to bring shopping choices to town.

Will the NFL have another SDSU kicker?

The Brookings HyVee will never be quite the same.

South Dakotans are hip with e-filing.

125 years of Blunt?  Insert your own lame weed joke here.

Let’s hear it for yet another SDSU professor getting an award.

Brookings has goths, and they’re being discriminated against?

Veblen makes the paper twice!  The first time is for water (which is hard to believe, because it used to be horrible), but I wish they hadn’t for the second thing.  I’d like to think I would have gone to the last concert last Friday, but with the way my weekend was scheduled there was no way I could have made it.  The High School has been sitting empty for quite a while, and now the elementary building might suffer the same fate.  Not all my memories of Veblen’s school system are good, but a lot of them are.  I can’t even remember the last time I was in the elementary building.  Riding a bus to Sisseton, Britton or Lidgerwood every day was something I thought we’d face when I was in school.  Some days I wonder how long Veblen has left before it’s a ghost town like its former nearby neighbor Hillhead. 

One town that isn’t going to be a ghost town anytime soon is Mason City, Iowa.  I found myself there this weekend, and I had a really nice time.  I had an even nicer time just North of Dike, where a family get-together was goin’ on and goin’ on strong.  It was the wife’s side of the family, and they excell at hospitality and making a relateive outsider like myself feel pretty welcome.  It is a bit odd for me when I’m there.  Most of them are outdoorsy, like to drink, and veer farther right than I currently do.  They’re also very friendly and talkative, and I’m more the type to blend into a crowd and just hang out.  That is a bit harder to do when one has a son that everybody wants to see/hold/look at.  I’m hoping my side of the family has a get-together soon, as I’m finally at a point in my life I’m ready to go. 

Speaking of going, I’m out.

Okay, a not so slight delay

Okay, so that break was a bit long.  My bad.

I can relate to these kids from Conde.  My class wasn’t the last in Veblen, but we could see the end on the horizon. 

The fight over/for Hyperion heads to Pierre.

The Corn Palace hopes to con more people into stopping draw more tourists this year.  I give the ol’ bird feeder a hard time, but I saw “Weird Al” there, so I’ll always have fond memories of the place.

KAUR is dropping the stick to go online only.

Madison’s school has a fairly tame discipline problem, if this is the biggest problem.

I had no idea first contact had already happened in Rapid City.

Governor Rounds sees his balance dropping in the future.  By “balance”, I mean “employment“.

Aberdeen has quite a few people in need.

South Dakota has its own surf-rock band?

USD will keep cranking out journalists.

The Brookings school board had some catering at their last meeting.

Brookings is starting to ponder the possibility of wind turbines in city limits.

A Sioux Falls business is going to run with a Deere.

What’s on the mind of our Washington brain-trust?  Electricity, ethanol, and the EPA.

Hey, how the heck are you?

Things have been pretty good in my hood of late.  We went to Sioux Falls to visit my niece on Saturday.  As an added bonus, Rainbow Comics had some of the 501st’s Central Garrison on hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know if those guys will find this post, but if they do I just want them to know they helped make this weekend 1000 times more awesome.  The pictures were good (Braeden wouldn’t quite smile, but to his credit he didn’t cry) and the troopers and I talked about G.I. Joe for about five minutes.  They tried to get me to join, or at least steer me towards a group like Cobra Cares.  We’ll see.  Other Sioux Falls highlights included seeing my hella cool niece, a decent meal at the Olive Garden (with a very good server named Tsega), finding the perfect b-day gift for a friend at Gordman’s, buying a cat tie at Target, and sampling some candy that should be illegal at the Northwoods Candy Company.  The one downer of the day was turning the corner at the Empire Mall only to find that Great Plains Coffee was gone.  I was denied a Black Tiger, so I made do with an iced mocha at Caribou Coffee.  I did some quick google research tonight, and it looks like GPC changed their name and moved out of the mall.  I didn’t see a menu on their website, so I don’t know if the Black Tiger is still on the menu.  I’ll stop in next time I’m in town and find out.

Since my last post, I’ve had some medical happenings.  I’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  In case you don’t know or want to look that up, it means my thyroid isn’t producing enough of what it’s supposed to.  The pills they gave me should return the balance to normal, and I’ve noticed that I seem a bit more “with it” and less foggy and depressed.  I didn’t even consider that could be wrong with me, but after reviewing the symptoms it looked pretty obvious.  Also, my mom and brother have it, so that just seals the deal.

Next weekend I’m off to Iowa, so the link roundup might get pushed back, again.  You can always check out my Wednesday blog if you’re so inclined.

Slight delay

Due to this being Kate’s first Mother’s Day as a mom, I won’t be writing tonight, so that I might spend my free time with her.  I’ll try and piece something together for this site Monday or Tuesday.  All the news sites are full of fluff pieces today anyway.

I’d have more links if not for that darn swine flu

A mystery donation might not be a mystery come June 1.

I’ve heard a lot of jabbering about state’s rights lately.  Rapid City is thinking states have too many rights.

If your degree is brought to you by Monsanto, you might go to SDSU.

Spearfish needs to skip the courts and just skip to the end of this story to resolve an electoral tie.

Langford is turning 125 in a few years, but the logo is ready now (if you actually want to see the logo, hit the main page).

The Brookings Register goes ahead and says what is on many people’s minds.

Remember that mayor who is now an ex-mayor because he was stealing prescription drugs?  Here’s the latest.

Kudos to South Dakota hunters for helping the hungry.

Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin is getting nudges from her own party.

One senator likes what Obama is doing, one doesn’t.  I wonder who is who…

Mountain lions have heard people in Brookings are kinda tasty, so be careful.

Just when you thought driving in Sioux Falls couldn’t be any more dangerous…

I think Beadle County might be short a few drug users.  I can’t confirm it, but my sources tell me there are plenty left.

Is CBS getting this desperate?  I hope so, because I think this would be an interesting show.

Brookings is getting Culverized.

Attention Piedmont election officials: you can relax.

The Capital Journal is on Twitter!  Plus, they wrote a nice article about Twitter.

An old Vermillion watering hole is about to become just a hole.

Pierre teens reclaim their skate park.

The AP hearts Kelo.

Noxious Weed Month?  I can’t wait to see the cards that will go on sale for that.

Now that I’ve looked over South Dakota news…

Every week I try to think of what to write here.

Lately, by the time I get to this part…nothing.  I’m either too tired or too busy.

I had some tests done at the hospital.  It was just routine stuff (not swine flu either).  I’m a bit nervous about those.  I’m not as young as I used to be.

On days like today, I don’t feel like I was ever young.

Most of the day, I’ve felt out of phase with the world around me.  It’s like I’m just a little off sync with everything else. 

Part of me just wants to cocoon up at home.  Part of me just wants to get in the car and drive until the wheels fall off or the ATM card is empty. 

I’ll do neither.  I’ll just keep on keepin’ on.  It’s what I know.

There are a lot of people out there I’ve not seen and/or talked to in ages.  Most I’d like to see again.  Some I wouldn’t.  I just hope they’re all happy and doing well in this day and age.

I’m doing well.  I’m feeling pretty good.  Things at home are going pretty good. 

The creeping sadness that I fought off last year has started to creep around my back stair again.  I’m working on it.

I’m not sure when my blog will go up next week.  It’s Kate’s first mother’s day as a mother, so I’ll be pretty busy all day and night.  Maybe I’ll shoot for a Saturday update.

No news from the Aberdeen Scotland News here

The Aberdeen American News has news about the Aberdeen American News.  Speaking of the paper I grew up with, several years ago there was a billboard on the East side of Aberdeen on Highway 12 that read something like “Judge Aberdeen by our friendly people, not by our local newspaper”.  I’ve always wondered what the hell that was about.

Cyber bullying is serious business, but is it bad that I laughed at the Brookings Register’s obviously fake photo?

 

BTW, if this is real and the person in it finds this blog, I’m very sorry.

Numerous factors are causing sex offenders to all live next to each other.  I’m not sure what to think of that.

There’s no “may” about this.  It will happen.  It happened here.

Woodland creatures in the Black Hills who somehow have internet and read my blog, I have bad news.

Headliners like this are why I don’t go to the State Fair.  Actually, to be fair, I’m not big on any fairs.  This is just another reason.

Brandon goes from no limit to limit.

Aberdonians (?), prepare for street sweeping season.

The Sioux Falls Storm are having a pretty cloudy weekend. 

Let’s hear it for a real Veblen hero!

The Brookings Register is back with a pun-tastic headline.

Senator Thune is all about more wind, and cows breaking wind.  Tim Johnson thinks the second one blows.  Wow, I can hear the readers groaning.

SDSU is about to start making pod people. 

Worst new word of 2009: sexting.  This has to be one of the signs of technology passing me by.  It takes me forever to text message on my phone.  I can’t imagine doing this, as it would take me forever to type AND I don’t even know if I know how to send a photo.  Thank goodness I’m married, and my wife understands how slow I text.  She’s reminded every time she dictates one to me while she’s driving.

I had a bit of news on my last Verbiage Dump entry, but if you missed it I’ll just quickly mention that I’m now music director at the station I work at.  It was 100 % bittersweet, because the guy I replaced was the guy who got me this job.  Granted, he has another really good job already, and was only doing the MD thing as a side job.  This effectively cuts the cord on his “radio” career however, and that is a shame. 

Speaking of radio, this is what I’ve been working on the past week: our iTunes storefront.  It still needs some work, but it’s live and ready to go.  Eventually, we’ll have a link on our main page that takes people right to it.  I have some cool ideas for it, and I’m pretty excited to start working on them.

Life has been busy.  The last few weeks I’ve complained about not wanting to say much about myself, but now I don’t have time to type much about myself.  How did I ever find time to do Cliffhanger Theater?  I have no idea.