The Asian Tsunami that has claimed 80,000 lives plus so far is expected to climb further. Help is on the way from the developing countries of the world. All of us at the Holabird Advocate are stunned and shocked by the devastation caused by this turn of events. As is everyone else in all of the free world.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those effected by this disaster. Especially Petra Nemcova who was injured quite severely with broken bones and all. She was on the beach with her photographer boyfriend, when they were swept up. He is still missing. We are impressed by the heroics of Mr. Jet Li, the famous action movie star, who managed to pull his daughter out of the storm before she would have met with certain death. This sort of thing could not be possibly have been scripted any better. Or worse, depending on your point of view.

South Dakota Songbook
"Rusty Chevrolet"
(DeCaire / Potila) 1987
Dashing through the snow in my rusty Chevrolet.
Down the road I go, sliding all the way.
I need new piston rings. I need some new snow tires.
My car is held together by a piece of chicken wire!
Oh, rust and smoke, the heater's broke, the door just blew away.
I light a match to see the dash and then I start to pray-ay.
The frame is bent, the muffler went, the radio's okay.
Oh, what fun it is to drive this rusty Chevrolet!
I went to IGA, to get some Christmas cheer.
I just passed up my left front tire and it's getting' hard to steer.
Speeding down the highway, right past the county cops.
I have to drag my swampers just to get the car to stop.
Oh, rust and smoke, the heater's broke, the door just blew away.
I light a match to see the dash and then I start to pray-ay.
The frame is bent, the muffler went, the radio's okay.
Oh, what fun it is to drive this rusty Chevrolet!
Bouncing through the snowdrifts in a big, blue cloud of smoke.
People laugh as I drive by; I wonder what's the joke!
I have to get to Wal-Mart to pick up my layaway,
Cause Santa's comin' soon in his big, old, rusty sleigh!
Oh, rust and smoke, the heater's broke, the door just blew away.
I light a match to see the dash and then I start to pray-ay.
The frame is bent, the muffler went, the radio's okay.
Oh, what fun it is to drive this rusty Chevrolet!

It was one year ago today, on December 29, 2003 that I made this Top Ten list of resolutions. I heard on the "Good Morning America" TV show that only 12% of people that make resolutions end up keeping them. Since I made 10 resolutions, I'll see if I kept 12% or if I did better. As I go through the list, I hope you will assess how you did. I hope you did as well or better than I did. Still, if you did 12%. It's better than nothing. I will score each resolution on a 0-10 scale. SO NOW FROM THE HOME OFFICE IN HOLABIRD, SOUTH DAKOTA HERE IS MY ASSESSMENT OF THE TOP TEN LIST THAT I MADE ONE YEAR AGO TODAY
1. Get an interview with Stephanie Herseth ( it may be easier to exercise, but this is meant to be a challenge)

2. Be less judgmental about my mother's wine drinking (another toughie, but it is a personal growth exercise)

3. Now that my brother Doug has been named "Firefighter of the Year" for 2003, encourage him to be "Husband of the Year" for 2004

4. Keep the light of Justice, Freedom, Wisdom, Truth, and Love shining all year

5. Take better care of Grandad (it's gonna be a long year)

6. Take a vacation this year (Did you hear that Mavis?)

7. Be more tolerant of Oprah (this year I learned to quit hating Janklow, let's see if I can do the same with Oprah)

8. Make Audblog work for the Holabird Advocate

9. Endorse a Democrat for President

10. As I try to do each and every one of these things over the next 12 months to remember what Grandad always says, "Just do the best you can"

My final score 47. Ordinarily this would be a failing grade, but I did almost 400% above average. Not bad, but I could have done better.