Month: April 2017

Dear Governor Burgum, Let me quote from the conservation easement you signed for some ranchland you and your friends own in southwest North Dakota’s Bad Lands six years ago: “The Protected Property possesses agricultural, scenic, and historic, and cultural values. The Protected Property is located in the heart of the only Ponderosa pine forest in … Continue reading An Open Letter to Governor Doug Burgum, on the Occasion of the Greatest Threat Ever to the Little Missouri State Scenic River

There are two or three days left in the Legislative Session. A lot of bad things are going to happen to North Dakota in that short period of time. I've been watching every Legislative Session since 1975, and this one is by far the most irresponsible I've seen. One of the worst things that could happen … Continue reading Act Today to Protect the Little Missouri State Scenic River

Well, yesterday and today I have learned I did not ask enough questions of my doctors about treating gout. Partly my fault--the specialist is a very busy guy, and I dd not think to go back to my family physician and find out about ongoing inexpensive meds to keep the gout at bay once I … Continue reading More About Gout and Canada Drugs

I got gout. Of all things, after a long winter in which I survived two spine surgeries to relieve pressure from a herniated disc on my sciatic nerve, I woke up one morning in early March with excruciating pain in the big toe on my left foot. My first thought was an ingrown toenail, so … Continue reading Growing Old Is Not for Weenies. It’s Good to Have a Friend in Canada.

The North Dakota State Water Commission has violated state law more than 600 times in recent years, by issuing permits for industrial use of water (read: fracking oil wells) from the Little Missouri State Scenic River. Employees there claim they didn’t know they weren’t supposed to do that. I believe them. But that’s no excuse. … Continue reading 600 Illegal Water Permits? Unacceptable Behavior by a State Agency.

Jason Halek wandered in and out of Bismarck Wednesday. He wasn’t all that excited about being here, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t stick around to visit with old friends, instead likely heading back to Texas to sell some more used cars. For a couple more months. I wrote about Jason last month, after his … Continue reading “Guilty, Your Honor”