 |
 Holabird AdvocateProviding all the news we see fit to print since 2002!Wednesday, August 29, 2012 Rather than write about one topic, I thought I'd write a little bit on different things. There is so much going on with me that It's hard to be focused.
Dakotafest was well attended, and so was Corn Palace Days. I enjoyed all matter of free entertainment. I really liked the free concert that the Corn Palace hosted featuring Power Play, a cover band from Sioux Falls. Usually with free shows, you get what you pay for, but they were an amazing group. They had the versatility to perform country and rock from the 60's 70's 80's and something called Maroon 5 (which is the one part of the show i didn't warm up to). Still, you gotta give props to any band that can perform "867-5309/Jenny" and "Billie Jean" with the same energy as the originators. The swear I almost saw the lead singer moonwalk. As it turns out, it was better than the Hinder concert.
At last report, my brother Doug has raised $65 for MDA, which is far short of the $1600 he needs to avoid going to jail or whatever. I'll do my part. If you don't want to keep my brother out of jail, you can still donate to MDA in your own way, if you are so inclined.
The debate last week was quite lackluster. I wasn't there, but the reports of it were less than enthusiastic. Rep. Noem did well, according to reports, holding her own. Mr. Varilek did well, but some say not quite good enough. Time will tell. The majority of the electorate, the rank and file voters, usually don't get to excited about elections until after Labor Day, if then!
That's it for now! If anything else happens, I'll be sure to let you know! God be with you and do the best you can!
Sunday, August 26, 2012 It was 5 Years ago this week that I moved here to Kornfield County. As it happens, I'm able to write this at the Corn Palace during the Corn Palace Festival. So nice to have air conditioned comfort in the middle of all this heat not like in 1892, I'm sure. My life has sure changed in the 5 years that I left my home and family behind at the Ponderosa. I still remember that first day here. It was a bittersweet mixture of excitement and dread. My parents and my brother Darrel helped move me into my current location downtown. When they left, I went to see the free entertainment, then back to my new home. It was so quiet. As I looked at these new unfamiliar surroundings, I realized just how truly alone I was in the world now. I shook of the thought and went to bed. The quiet stillness was broken by my neighbor's radio. It was on the local KLOVE radio station 91.9 FM. I still remember that first song. "Blessed be your name, when I'm found in the desert place. Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be your name". I realized that I wasn't alone after all. I knew that God was with me, and that somehow I'd be able to cope with this new environment. Then there was the first trip back home. It seems that somehow my nephew, Justin, wasn't told that I was not going to be as much, and when he saw me he told me "I don't like you living in Mitchell". I told him that I didn't like it either, but it was the way it had to be. He didn't understand, and to be honest, neither did I. I did know that this is where God wanted me to be. I knew that my family and I would be better off with me gone. Every year, when Corn Palace Days comes around, I wonder how long I'll be here. I was recently given an award at work for being with the company for 5 years, and they don't seem to want to be rid of me. If I were to leave, there is no other place for me to go, and nothing for me to do if I left here. For now this is home, and god sends me somewhere else, I'll go. Until then I'll bloom where I'm planted! Wednesday, August 22, 2012 I took in Dakotafest, but didn't stay for the big debate. I could have, but I could see that I was outvoted. Both Dad and Darrel clearly wanted to leave. Truth be told, I was a mite tired of the 98 degree heat out there myself. Before they went back to Hyde County, we went to Cabela's. After they dropped me off at home, I had a little nappy time! Did I miss out? Possibly, but I'll live! There is enough goin on downtown to talk about! Like the free concert at the Corn Palace. Along the carnival midway this year is a new taste treat, deep fried chocolate chip cookies!
If anything interesting happens tomorrow, which I doubt it will, I'll let you know! God be with you and do the best you can!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 I was able to break a previous commitment, and so I will be able to attend Dakotafest tomorrow after all, not that anybody could do it for me. As a bonus, my brother Darrel and my dad are coming over so that will be nice.
I might take in the debate, and then again I might not. I must admit that I'm slightly curious as to how this first debate will go. The weather, however promises to be typical late August heat, and I'm finding more and more that I'm not as young as I used to be. I'll try to get back sometime tomorrow afternoon with some thoughts. Until then God be with you and do the best you can!
Monday, August 20, 2012 I got a rather interesting piece of forwarded e-mail yesterday. If this is legitimate, and it appears to be, the debate at Dakotafest could be interesting. As it happens, I have a prior commitment at the time of the debate, so if anyone of you 8 Readers can cover it for me, please do. I will pay for your ticket and if you provide a proper receipt, I may pay for your lunch as well. But first read the enclosed e-mail, and I'll have more to say: "As you may have heard, Kristi Noem is refusing to debate Matt at the State Fair. It's unfortunate Kristi has decided to turn her back on a long held tradition in South Dakota. But one debate she did agree to is coming up this Wednesday in Mitchell. On Wednesday, August 22nd, Matt and Kristi will debate from 2:00-3:00 pm at Dakotafest. In an effort to counteract the criticism Kristi has received due to her inaction on the farm bill, her absence on the Ag Committee, and her refusal to debate at the State Fair, the Noem campaign is PAYING to bus in supporters from Sioux Falls. (They also get a free lunch and t-shirt.) We can't let the Noem campaign get away with stacking the audience. Show your support for Matt and join us in Mitchell on Wednesday afternoon. And if you can't make it, show your support by making an online contribution. Every type of contribution makes a real difference in this race. I hope to see you in Mitchell on the 22nd! Thanks for all that you do, David Benson Campaign Manager Matt for SD P.S. I'm sorry we can't afford to bus in supporters with an offer of a free lunch and t-shirt. But I can promise you one thing: Matt will hold Kristi accountable for not standing up for South Dakota farmers and ranchers. Please help cheer on Matt in Mitchell on the 22nd. P.P.S. While you're in town, make sure to visit the Prehistoric Indian Village---one of my favorite places in the state." If Mr. Benson wants to increase the attendence at Dakotafest, he sure is going about it the right way. However, I find it hard to believe that Rep. Noem could bus in supporters from Sioux Falls for Dakotafest, and then not do it for the State Fair. Even if she is, there is nothing wrong with doing that! If I do find someone to cover this event, I hope they take plenty of pictures, just so we can see how many Noem T-shirt, if any were given away! Thursday, August 16, 2012
This morning, I was reading today's lesson in The Upper Room. In James 2:1-9 we are told, among other things, to treat everyone equally. Do you ever wonder what would happen if, next Sunday, Mitt Romney or President Obama came to your church? If either of those men just showed up with no warning at FUMC in Mitchell, and the Secret Service allowed it to happen, everyone would be most welcoming, both of these men would get the best seat in that building, and the ladies would go out of their way to make sure thet both of them had enough cookies and coffee (or in Romney's case water). Does anyone doubt it?
I wonder what we'd do if Jesus showed up at our church. Would he get the same welcome? Would someone try to get him to leave because his dirty feet might stain the carpet? Would he even want to stay if he was welcomed?
One thing that I learned from "Joan of Arcadia" was that God comes to us in many people. In her case, a hot guy, a little girl, an old lady, and several others showed up when Joan least expected "him" to. She didn't always welcome this intrusion, and I wonder if we would do any better. I try to be as nice to everyone as I can because you never know. That's why we are to care for the least of his people. By feeding the hungry, we worship God. We do the same when we visit the sick and imprisoned. If we go out of our way to be nice to someone like Obama or Romney, it is self serving. We expect that he will do us a good turn, simply because he can.
And even if he isn't elected president, Mitt Romney has a pretty sizable bank account. Not only that, according to the news reports, he gives something like 22% to his church and other charities. What church wouldn't want to get someone like that to join them? But that is not the way Jesus operates. The poor woman who offered the copper coins gave 100% of her wealth to the temple. Would that impress your church? I hope it would do more than that actually!
When I read about Romney's extravagant giving, I can't deny I was impressed. If every Methodist did that, every Catholic, every Jew, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist-whatever-we wouldn't need the government to provide welfare, healthcare, or any other entitlement. The church should be taking care of God's people and not let the government do their job for them. Then again, what do I know?
Once again, I'm going to be away, and won't be back until maybe Monday. Perhaps by then, I'll have something to say! For now, God be with you and do the best you can!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 I was Shocked to say the least, when I got an e-mail from my little brother, Deputy State Fire Marshal Douglas A. Hinkle, when he asked me for help to get him out of jail. It turns out that he is participating in an MDA fundraiser. Enclosed is an edited portion of the e-mail:
"Believe it or not, I'm going to jail and I need your help.... While it's not a real jail, it's even more important as I'm raising bail to help children and adults with muscle disease in my community who are supported by the vital work of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). More info at: http://mda.org/
"I might not be able to rely on good behavior to get out so that's why I need your help - I need you to donate to my bail! Just click on the link below to make a secure donation – or bring me the funding before I have to report on August 30th.
"I know that together we'll Make a Muscle and Make a Difference in the fight against muscle disease. If I don’t raise enough funds, they won’t let me out. (Heck they might even take donations to keep me in!) Please spread the word. I’ve heard of prison and it doesn’t sound good."
When Doug asked me to spread the word, I decided to to go big time! I won't ask any of you to contribute to this "bailout", but I'm sure all who are so inclined will find that your offer of help won't be turned down.
The ironic thing here, is that I didn't think there would be anything to write about today, and literally at the 11th hour (PM. that is) I find something. Can't wait to see what happens tomorrow! Until then, God be with you and do the best you can!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012 One of the drawback of not watching TV news is that when a news event happens, I miss the spin. Depending on how the clip of the event is edited, it can say whatever the editor wants one to hear, Take The campaign speech that President Obama made on Friday July 13, of this year when he said, in part "If you've got a business, you didn't build that". Yes I know, he was misquoted, taken out of context, or so it is said. As I read yesterday's paper, Mallard Fillmore brought up the statement again. So I went to YouTube to investigate this further. What I've come up with may surprise you. Nobody is successful on their own. I found a rebuttal video that shows Romney giving examples of Steve Jobs and Henry Ford. I can't agree there. Mr. Jobs had Steve Wozniak, and several other people at Apple helping him. Did he build all those devices himself? Not likely! Somebody helped him! In fact there are 60,00 people who work at Apple, and I'm sure they are just as busy as they were when the late Mr. Jobs was alive. I don't men to take away from what he has done, I just wish to express that he didn't do it alone. Real success takes teamwork. Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone, but had it not been for Mr. Watson being there to answer the phone, the kids in school would be reading a different name in the history books! Even this website, that I started was not just me. I've had help from several people. Someone or something inspires me to write, and then the magic starts. And of course the people that read this site help whatever success I have with it as well. The last official count claims that 14 of you Readers out there, and I thank you, and thank God that you are able to. In every other aspect in my life, I always have someone assisting me there too. One thing I can take issue with is that if the President is going to try to take credit for someone else's success, he should also share the blame for somebody else's failure. I doubt that's gonna happen! And before anyone asks, I'm not endorsing either Obama or Romney for President. I'm going to wait at least until Labor Day, and maybe even after that. I might decide to endorse somebody and not tell anybody! Until then, God be with you and do the best you can! Monday, August 13, 2012 As anyone who knew me growing up can testify, I loved to watch "Dallas" when I was growing up! I hated to miss a single episode, and this was before the advent of DVR, and even before VCR came along.
Dallas had 13 seasons until it was ended in 1991. When I heard last year that after 20 years, Bobby, JR, and Sue Ellen were coming back, I was a tad excited. I don't have Cable, but I found a way to watch it online, not that TNT was any help. I must say that the 21 year wait for season 14 brought with it a bag of mixed blessings
As much as I loved Dallas back in the 80's, I'm only just liking it here in 2012. It's a sad reminder that a lot of time has passed. The Ewing Family has changed. Some old friends have died, Those that are still alive are noticeably older, kids have grown up, and Bobby has a new wife (more about her later). It was almost a sort of depressing letdown.
What really disappointed me was the complete lack of regard for the history of the show. All this talk of Miss Ellie's will leaving the ranch to Bobby (She gave him clear title while she was still alive), Jock giving the mineral rights to their 3 sons (They weren't his to give), and the part about Miss Ellie being in a sanatarium after Jock died (Did I miss that episode?) really upset me. As good as the writing is, it behooved the present writers to watch the other 13 seasons of shows at least one time through to get a feel for what might have happened in the 21 years since this show was gone.
Still, it is great to see Ol' JR wheeling and dealing, and it's even nice to get to know the next generation. TNT has shown the audience some things that CBS would never have done. The profanity and the amount of skin kind of made me glad I wasn't watching this with my Grandma.
Which brings me to another point. The Hinkle family, much like the Ewing family, has changed in the last couple of decades. My brothers and cousins have all grown up (But I haven't yet, thank God) and they are having families of their own. It may be sad to see that JR, Bobby and Sue Ellen with a little grey in their hair, but I've been greying up a little myself. It happens! Even though it's all made up, the fact that season 14 is not like the old show is a good thing. We've all changed, for better or worse.
As I mentioned previously, I didn't take to Bobby's wife, Ann, right away. Episode 10, where she helped out Sue Ellen in a most unorthodox way (watch it if you haven't already) showed me that she deserved the Ewing name.
Season 15 begins in January of TNT. If I can, I'll be watching it somehow. But unlike when I was growing up, I won't let it interfere with the business of living life. It'll be more like visiting some old friends and catching up.
Sunday, August 12, 2012 It is still hard to believe that 37 people visited this site in one day. While not a record, it has been a while. Not much is going on, so as I tried to think about what to write on my self imposed deadline, I figured the best thing to write about is myself. Longtime Readers will not be shocked by that revelation! In order to inform new Readers, and remind the rest, I am a bit of a maverick. I will wear a label, but I don't like to be grouped in with a lot of other people. I like to be an individual. I like to zig while everyone else zags. This is not as easy as one may think. Take politics. Now, anyone who takes the time and expense in going to the Kornfield County courthouse will see that I'm registered Democrat. It would be easy to label me as such, and yet I hold some beliefs that are not part of the modern perception of the modern Democrat. I do agree with some of them, but most people from talking to me assume I'm Republican because I'm a pro-life, born again Spirit filled Bible believing Christian. I suppose I could pass for one, as my core convictions lean toward the right. Still, I was born and raised in the Democratic tradition of my Grandfather, and I hope that the party will return to those traditions again, and soon. Some of my Republican friends are former Democrats who left the party because, as they say, "The party left me first." If anything, I'm politically agnostic, as I don't really believe either party can really save this country. If indeed America can be saved, it will take a real bipartisan effort. Enough politics, let's take religion. I am a member of the Methodist church in Highmore, SD, yet I live in Mitchell. I'm an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church. For those who dislike organized religion, ULC is the church for you! I have no beef with any church or religion that is not my own. I know what I believe, and see no reason to change. I see no reason for anyone else to change, unless their religion, or lack thereof is not connecting them with their god or their neighbor. That is the function of any true religion. Back when I was living at the Ponderosa, my family home, I watched Bishop Fulton Sheen on EWTN. I'm quite sure God spoke through him back when those programs were being filmed and he is still speaking through Bishop Sheen, even though he no longer walks the earth. Technology really is something, eh? Well, now you know a little bit about me! Tell me about you! Get your own blog and tell everyone about you. If you feel that you want to tell me how wonderful I am, or even if you want to tell me to drop dead, write to me at publisher@gmail.com and maybe I'll be back tomorrow! Until then, God be with you and do the best you can! Thursday, August 09, 2012 There have been all kinds of traffic on the shows website this week. In fact, according to the circulation department, we need just one more person to log on to exceed the total hits for all of July. All from one little visit to MTI one supposes. They are reading us from as far away as Washington, DC and they are even reading us in Castlewood, SD. Hopefully they we're bored so much and will come back again. Another blogger who was at the MTI made a point of mentioning that the first part of the roundtable last Tuesday was closed to the media and the public, a fact that was not in the paper, but it really doesn't matter to me. I was just thrilled to learn as much as I did. Rep. Noem's office gave me a press release stating that MTI is expects to have 42 students in first year of their Wind Turbine Tech class next fall, and 29 in the second year. From what I've seen, those students will learn a whole lot, if they make it through. One thing is for sure. We need to find new sources of energy. I can understand the reluctance to get behind wind power after the Solyndra mess. We need a winner, and I hope Rep. Noem's faith in windpower is a justified as it is genuine. I'm going to have a busy weekend starting tomorrow. I will try to get back with something new by Sunday. Hopefully it will be on another topic, because I have a feeling that I have driven this one into the ground. Wednesday, August 08, 2012 The ratings for this website are getting up there! I was just at the Circulation department and the report is that 25 people have visited here, and it isn't even noon yet! Word must have gotten out about yesterday's new episode! Whatever the reason, welcome back! I promised Brenda an answer to her question, and here it is! As you recall, Brenda Pope of Corvallis, Oregon wanted to know how many jobs wind power would create and if they were temporary or permanent. Well, the answer we got from MTI President Greg Von Wald was "All of the jobs are permanent" While the exact number of jobs in South Dakota is not at hand, they people that work in the wind energy industry have the chance to go all over the world, and still be able to enjoy the quality of life here in the state. The good news for us in South Dakota is we don't have to spend 44 cents to write our representative to support the Production Tax Credit to develop wind power in this country, because Rep. Kristi Noem already does just that! Tuesday, August 07, 2012 Rep. Kristi Noem hosted a roundtable discussion at the MTI campus this afternoon. even though it wasn't open to the public, I was invited to sit in and listen to questions after the discussion took place. On my Facebook page, I asked for questions and Brenda Pope of Corvallis, Oregon asked how many jobs wind power would bring in and if they were permanent jobs or just temporary. I'll have the answer for that question tomorrow!
I was also invited to take a tour of the Wind Energy program's facility at MTI. As someone who doesn't work in that field, I must say I was very impressed by what I saw. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the good folks at MTI for their hospitality and Rep. Noem for hosting a most enlightening afternoon event. As time permits, I hope to study some more on this and get back into blogging more actively, but don't wait for that to happen! 
|
 |