Bergman Gone

BBC NEWS Entertainment Film director Bergman dies at 89: "Legendary film-maker Ingmar Bergman, one of the key figures in modern cinema, has died at the age of 89.Legendary film-maker Ingmar Bergman, one of the key figures in modern cinema, has died at the age of 89."

Reading this news leaves me sad and lonesome. How else would Ingmar expect me to feel?

BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | World owes US a debt, says Brown

BBC NEWS UK UK Politics World owes US a debt, says Brown

This item carried by the BBC is worth reading. The new Prime Minister meets with Bush today.

Some Manvel History

This is a great story. Read it.


· Grand Forks Herald ·: "Hatts off to Manvel
By Kevin Bonham
Herald Staff Writer - 07/27/2007
MANVEL, N.D. When Robert Hatt needs a little advice on civic matters, the mayor of Manvel knows he can rely on his dad. "

Life in the slow lane / In I-80's shadow, Crockett has stayed small as the county grew up

Life in the slow lane / In I-80's shadow, Crockett has stayed small as the county grew up

Sometimes reporters capture the essence of the community. This article is 4 or 5 years old but worth reading.

Hayward Fault Quake

"July 20 (Bloomberg) -- Northern California was shaken this morning by a magnitude-4.2 earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The earthquake struck at 4:42 a.m. local time, 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) east-northeast of Oakland, and was 3.6 miles deep, the agency said in a report on its Web site. "

Earthquakes happen with som frequency and usually go unnoticed. Peter and Jason woke up. I didn't. The scarry part of this one is that it is on the Hayward fault and the fault that will cause the greatest damage. Sometime in the next 40 years a 7.0 or greater is expected. A 7.0 shake would release 30,000 times as much energy as this one and virtually wipe out everything in the east bay!

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Viking ship attempts sea crossing

BBC NEWS Science/Nature Viking ship attempts sea crossing

Time passes and the world changes - mostly for the best. Read this BBC News article. The question: Where are the Vikings these days?

Cottonwood Seeds Reunion

The reunion of Charlie Olsen's descendants has passed. I am sorry I couldn't be there. Hope Everyone survived in health and happiness.

Fire Scare in Crockett

Last week, for a day, we were surrounded by fires. Our area was not in danger but the upper regions of Valona, above Rose, were threatened. A few yards further and the houses could have burned.

Pray for the People of Chiapas

: "By AP
TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mexico — A strong earthquake shook parts of southern Mexico on Thursday night, sending thousands of area residents fleeing from buildings into the streets.
Officials said there were no immediate reports of injury or damage.
The magnitude-6.1 earthquake hit Chiapas state at 8:09 p.m. local time, said the U.S. Geological Survey, which monitors quakes worldwide.
Thousands of people in the Chiapas state capital Tuxtla Gutierrez ran out of homes and buildings as the ground trembled and windows rattled. Electricity for much of the city was also cut off for several minutes.
In the swampy oil-rich city Villahermosa in neighbouring Tabasco state, the quake also rattled buildings.
Some Mexico City buildings also shook, causing some residents to run out of their homes. "

Immigration Policy????

BBC NEWS Americas 'Melting pot' America: "'Melting pot' America
American society has often been described as a melting pot but in recent years, it has also attracted other definitions such as 'tomato soup' and 'tossed salad'.
For centuries, the US has attracted people in search of a share of 'the American dream' from all corners of the world.
In fact, US history is one of immigration. "

Now that the Congress has again proven that it is incapable of legislating, maybe we the people should make the current recess permanent.

Single Issue Voting

For years I have railed against voting based on a single issue such as abortion, etc. I think I am now a single issue voter - that anyone at any level to receive my vote must convince me that their position on global warming is positive.

Preservation Online: Today's News Archives: N.D. Approves $5 Million for 1932 International Peace Garden

Preservation Online: Today's News Archives: N.D. Approves $5 Million for 1932 International Peace Garden: "N.D. Approves $5 Million for 1932 International Peace Garden


Story by Krista Walton / June 5, 2007

Harmony soon will be restored to the 75-year-old International Peace Garden, a park that serves as a reminder of the long-standing accord between the U.S. and Canada.
After decades in the grips of overgrown weeds, the park and its 180 structures will soon get some much-needed care, thanks to $5 million allocated to the garden's restoration by North Dakota lawmakers last month. "

Read on. Great idea and timely.

North Dakota Revisited

I hope someone will write and tell me their reaction to these.


Fields of Dreams: "Fields of Dreams
To help revive his North Dakota hometown, a former high-school principal created giant sculptures to grace a stretch of prairie highway

By Reed Karaim

Gary Greff was driving across western North Dakota when he came upon a
human figure fashioned out of metal and a round hay bale. As he watched a family
stop to take a picture of the figure, he saw his future. Having recently left
his job as a high-school principal, Greff had returned to his hometown of
Regent, a struggling community of some 200 souls tucked into the southwestern
corner of North Dakota, to figure out what to do next. Now, he knew. "

Norwegians' day to celebrate

Norwegians' day to celebrate: "Norwegians' day to celebrate

The 17th of May is Norway's Constitution Day, celebrating the signing of the country's most important document back in 1814. It took another 91 years before Norway won full independence in 1905, and Norwegians have been celebrating ever since. The biggest national event is the school children's parade up to the Royal Palace in Oslo.
PHOTO: KYRRE LIEN / SCANPIX"

And to think that there were no celebrations in Crockett! On the other hand, a couple of whales went all the way to Sacramento. See below.

He's Back

It has been several years since Humphrey invaded the Straits.

: "Whale rescue mission set for today: Plan is to nudge pair with sound
By Rowena Coetsee
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Contra Costa Times"

Changes in France

Pro-american president may permit our people to talk to the French.

Sarkozy Wins the Chance to Prove His Critics Wrong - New York Times: "But what is certain is that Nicolas Sarkozy, who won Sunday’s runoff election, is one of the most polarizing figures to move into Élysée Palace in the postwar era. He is a whirling dervish of ideas who inspires hope and fear. Even many members of his own party, the Union for a Popular Movement, are holding their breath in anticipation of what his presidency may bring. “Other politicians don’t want to take risks, but he will take any risk,” said Brice Hortefeux, one of Mr. Sarkozy’s closest friends and political allies"

Doomed to Drive

No matter what, we will not spend money for rail. Yesterday the water company predicts a dry year next year and the year following.


The Schwarzenegger Administration has floated a budget proposal that slashes
transit funds by $1.1 billion, just months after the Governor personally committed
himself to fighting global climate change. The proposal caused fury among rail and
transit advocates testifying at State Senate and Assembly budget subcommittees in the Capitol in late March.

Its Time for Trains

This morning we learned that a piece of freeway had been destroyed by a truck accident and that it will take months to repair the damage. In the meantime, traffic to and from San Francisco will be impossible. At the same time, the Governor is cutting funds for "high speed rail." It seems to me we should put bunches of resources into trains cutting the carbon footprint.

Mexico City Earthquake

Last night right around midnight, a 6.0 quake stuck from Acupulco to Mexico City. There was a small item buried in the middle of today's New York Times and nothing in our local papers. How come? A 6 quake in California would shove Imus off the front page.

Our Dog Bear

The recent problems with dog food has caused me to view Bear differently. He is an essential member of our family and the thought of losing him because of tainted food has changed his diet. Now we feed him only what we would eat ourselves. Except for the dry food!