‘What happened to Christmas?’

December 23, 2023

Dusted by the travel, a stranger walked down Wad Al Rahib street, hoping to find a hospitable home in which to talk about his Christmas experience. From a poorly lit porch, Isaac called out. “Hey, stranger, welcome to Bethlehem,” Isaac called out and the stranger cheerfully accepted the invitation. “You new in Bethlehem?” Isaac asked. “We are the proud city of the birth of Christ. What’s your name?” “I’m Luke,” came the reply. “Luke who?” Isaac inquired. “I’m Luke – I wrote the book on the first Christmas. It’s all in Chapter Two.” “Oh, ...

Santa won’t be at Christmas in 2070

December 16, 2023

Even though this should be the season of cheer and celebration, it is all temporary. Santa may be around next week but he will not show his face in 2070 when the warming earth may have no snow. After years of reckless flaring of gas in the oil fields, the Biden administration has said that “enough is enough” and is cutting back on the permissible release of methane According to an excellent article on the subject by Forum reporter Pat Springer, the new federal standard will cut greenhouse gases by 80% of emissions of greenhouse gases in the petroleum industry. ND’s sad ...

Property taxes are price of our civilization

December 11, 2023

If taxes are the price of civilization, how little of civilization do we want? It seems that North Dakota stands on the edge of the cave when it comes to funding the activities that make us a civilization. Taxes – not civilization – have become the focus of North Dakota policy making. Every session the legislature throws several proposals in the air without thought or research. It has become a game of hunches. Former State Senator Jim Maxson of Minot recently asked in PrairieAction ND just a few of the questions that ought to take the air out of proposals to eliminate property ...

Nothing to fear but bedbugs themselves

November 18, 2023

“BEDBUGS” the voice shouted into the air shaft of the Mercy Mattress Company. Every mattress employee froze with unbridled fear. In less than 10 seconds, Company Boss Matt Stress was on the intercom. “Relax everyone,” he announced calmly. “This is why we have been holding bedbug drills weekly. Exit the building until we find the terrorist. Be calm. Holy smoke! Be calm! There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” No room for bedbugs As the 57 employees streamed out of the building, they knew who the culprit was. He was the tuft control engineer. When they quit putting ...

Governor Burgum, have you no decency?

November 10, 2023

When Governor Burgum – joined by a huge majority in the House — proposed more income tax cuts, the remarks of Boston lawyer Joseph Welch came to mind. During the height of the post-war communism scare, Senator Joe McCarthy claimed that the government reeked with communists and ended up in the Army-McCarthy confrontation in 1954. When the Army hired Welch to be its counsel, McCarthy charged that one of Welch’s attorneys was tied to a communist organization, to which Welch responded: “Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. ...

Dispensing proverbs, wisdom, imprudentnesses

November 4, 2023

Global warming will have numerous effects on the American economy. For one thing, it will destroy the long underwear market. Our country finally decided that might was not right. But we didn’t decide that until we had taken all of the land owned by Indians. In some ways, we still think a little might is handy. New science tells us that the earth is millions of years old, much more than calculated by Anglican Bishop James Ussher in 1650. He missed by 20 million years. Since then bishops have been doing better. Neither twine nor haywire are not used in their calculations ...