Last week I wrote a story in this space that said the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party had apparently been the victim of electronic eavesdropping after a device that might have been a “bug” was found in a door frame at the party’s former headquarters, the North Dakota Kennedy Center. Turns out that I, and several … Continue reading Oops. Maybe Nobody Was Listening After All.

I am a sucker for seafood. No, wait, let me shorten that sentence. I am a sucker. You’d think by now, at my ripe old age, I’d know to be mindful of the old saying “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” In my case, I’d change “probably” to “definitely.” I … Continue reading King Crab Legs. No, Really.

The only thing we know for sure after Monday morning’s court hearing on the proposed bridge over the Little Missouri State Scenic River is that the bridge is not going to get built before March 1. U.S. District Judge Dan Traynor made sure of that, because he’s not going to issue a decision on whether … Continue reading The Future Of The Bad Lands Is In The Hands Of A Judge

This space can get awfully discouraging much of the time, as I go after oil barons and county commissioners and politicians and other bad guys, and most of my friends will tell you pessimism is not generally my demeanor, so I continually go looking for things to get me back on the “sunny side of … Continue reading Anybody Need A New Tent, Or Vacuum Cleaner, Or Pool Table?

That’s the title of a storied 1969 movie starring Jane Fonda. The first time I saw it was the first time I fell in love with Jane Fonda. God, she was hot. I was a lad of barely 20, and she was ten years older than me, but I’ve been in love with her from … Continue reading They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?

Last night (New Year’s Eve) over supper with family and friends (Lillian’s extraordinary Swedish Meatballs with her secret ******berry ingredient and homemade egg noodles), we had one of those end-of-the-year conversations about the state of things. We decided things are not so good. Oh, our personal lives are pretty much okay, considering those around the … Continue reading A New Year’s Etymology Lesson

Lillian and I have cut back on our Christmas mailing this year, so we're using our blogs to send out our 2023 short Christmas letter. Dear Friends and Family, 2023 was a travel year for us. Including last December, when we were away from home the entire month, the states and provinces we’ve been to: … Continue reading Season’s Greetings From Red Oak House

It’s almost here. 2024, An election year. I get the feeling that most North Dakotans, like their fellow Americans, shudder at the thought. That’s okay. Politics in America, which I used to call “my favorite spectator sport,” has taken a sad turn away from what used to be the path to the most successful democracy … Continue reading So Which Cabinet Post Should Burgum Pick?

I wrote last week about the battle between the Short family and the Billings County Commission, and how it is going to finally go to court in January. The Short family, descendants of the late U.S. Congressman Don Short, own the land on the west side of the Little Missouri State Scenic River—the west end … Continue reading Where’s The Most Expensive Pasture Land in North Dakota? Looks Like It’s In Billings County.

The heirs of North Dakota’s United States Congressman Donald Levingston Short are going to get their day in court. You can join them if you sit quietly in Courtroom 1 of the United States Courthouse in Bismarck on Monday, January 22, 2024. At precisely 9:00 a.m., U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor will gavel the audience … Continue reading Billings County Lawsuit Hearing Scheduled