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May 2008 |
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Opinions
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Grey hair is hereditary - you get it from your children |
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Friday, 25 April 2008 |
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By STEVE BROWNE
On April 4, the New York Sun published columnist Lenore Skenazy’s account of how she let her 9-year-old son take the subway and bus home from Bloomingdale’s, equipped with a $20 bill and a pocketful of quarters, but not a cell phone.
Since then, she’s been called “the world’s worst mom,” a “crazy _____” and accused of valuing her cell phone more than her son.
On the bright side, she and the kid have gotten a lot of airtime on the morning shows.
Skenazy specializes in looking at modern life from a slightly bent perspective. If you aren’t familiar with her work, maybe it would help if I mentioned that she used to write for MAD Magazine back before it was possessed by the devil (a.k.a. AOL-Time-Warner.)Some of her defenders attribute a lot of the criticism to “midwesterners” stuck in a time warp, people who still think of New York as Sodom-on-the-Hudson. They like to point out that New York now has about the same crime rate as Provo, Utah.O.K., point taken. Now I wonder what these New Yorkers would think if I told them that a fair number of the students in the recent Valley City hunter’s ed class (you know, the one held in a room with about a zillion guns) were 12- to 14-year-old boys and girls?We all worry about our kids. We worry what could happen to them at school, at play and in between. We worry about everything that could possibly happen to them, and then we worry if we’re being overprotective.
When our first child was born, I remember how for weeks I used to sit bolt upright in bed every time he turned over, thinking something like, “Omi-gosh it’s crib death, I know it is!”
And don’t even get me started on what I worry about for my baby girl, who already promises to grow up as beautiful as her mother…
Listen, I know abduction by strangers is statistically so rare it really isn’t worth worrying about, beyond elementary common sense precautions. But then, I buy lottery tickets too.
Horror writer V.C. Andrews was once asked for her formula for writing best sellers.
She said, “Threaten the children.”
We live in the first time and place in history in which parents normally expect all of the children they have to live to adulthood. This is probably one reason birth rates in all the developed countries of the world are in sharp decline.
Since we’re having fewer children, does this make us worry more about the ones we have?
I don’t know, but I resolve to spend less time worrying about improbable things and worrying more about realistic threats to my children’s safety.
Such as inattentive or impaired drivers and the fact that my son sometimes forgets to look both ways when he crosses the street and my daughter hasn’t grasped the concept at all. Especially after I saw that gruesome Operation Prom Night demonstration Thursday afternoon.
Pleasant dreams. |
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Blonde on the Prairie... It's getting worse |
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Friday, 25 April 2008 |
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By Jodi Rae Ingstad It’s getting worse. Most things in life are things you try, fail at and learn from. I must be dense. For me things are definitely getting worse. I don’t think I’m dumb. In fact, maybe I’m too intelligent and that has created a conflict in my brain against my hair color.
When I was still quite young, that father of mine brought home a new, baby kitten. That kitten was quite something. In human terms it would be attached to the adjective, “mischievous,” like many little kittens are. Being the worried- about -everything type of girl I was I watched that kitten like a hawk. For some reason it kept running out into the kitchen and jumping up onto the stove. That mother of mine had a lot of her own babies to feed so the stove was hot most of the time. I’d run after that kitten and swoop it into my arms before anything bad ever happened to it. My mother was aware of how exhausting this was and one day blurted out words I found unbelievable and even heartless. She said, “Jodi Rae, leave that kitten alone and let it jump up onto the hot stove. It will figure out the hard way that the burners are hot but it will do that only once. Once it feels the heat of the burner on its paws the kitten will never jump up on the stove again.” I thought my mother had gone wacko. She was a compassionate woman and loved animals and here she was not only anticipating but condoning my new, baby kitten jumping up onto the stove burner and getting burned. My mother was wise. The kitten didn’t jump up on that stove again. I never really knew if it was because that kitten felt the heat of the burner or because my brother Erik gave it a bath with dishwashing detergent in the toilet. The kitten was laid to rest that night. Don’t call animal welfare. Erik is even more compassionate than I am towards kittens. He was too young to know that things die when you hold them under water for too long and that kittens can’t swallow too much soap. Don’t worry. Both he and I grew up to be supporters of the SPCA.
The main thing that is getting worse is my ability to pack a suitcase. I’ve read magazine articles and watched television programs on organization. I get it. It makes sense. I’ve lived an adult life of traveling to and fro and even patted myself on the back a few times for traveling lightly. And then this mid-life thing happened to me. I don’t know what to wear anymore. I’ve mentioned my inability to pack and my inability to dress appropriately for my age in other columns. My current peril is that we are on our way to Palm Springs, California. I packed a lot of summer tops with spaghetti straps. Spaghetti straps are just that. They are thin like the pasta they are named for. If my bra straps don’t match my spaghetti straps of the tops I wear I feel like I’m out of place so I was forced to pack 9 bras. They take up some room in the bin. The top of the bin no longer even fits on the top of the bin. So I had to get another bin for all the shoes that match the tops that match the bras. I packed 15 pairs of shoes not counting the 1 pair I’m currently wearing.
It’s my age. When I was young packing was simple. Now that I have this middle-aged sign attached to me I’m not sure who I am. There is some good news. This life I’ve lead has taught me that things need to get worse in order to get really better. I’m on my way to great that means! |
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Prairie Lite... For lo, the winter is past |
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Thursday, 24 April 2008 |
On Monday, my son called from his home near East Glacier, Montana. He sounded wary. The conversation started like this:
“Mom, how’s your weather?”
“Great. Sun shining, maybe a light breeze. How’s yours?”
What followed was a lament of the north-country dweller about the snow, which had already piled up to three feet against his garage. The wind was whipping everything around, and it was a sure ‘nuff blizzard.
Welcome to spring.
My favorite musical homage to spring is “I am the Rose of Sharon,” an anthem written in 1778 by William Billings, America’s first musical genius. He took his text from the Bible’s Song of Solomon, in chapter two: “Rise up, my Love, my fair one, and come away. For Lo, the Winter is past, the rain is over and gone.”
There are more verses about the Rose of Sharon, lily of the valley, flowers and birds, and deer skipping upon the mountains. Billings used them all in his wonderful anthem where the basses chase altos, who gallop after tenors and sopranos until that final victorious announcement: “the rain is over and gone.” It’s a work of genius, enjoyed in Billings’ own century, ignored in the nineteenth, and back to stay now, as musicians have revived their appreciation of this improbable composer.
It’s hard to imagine anyone less likely to make beautiful music. Born in 1746, Billings was described as “somewhat deformed in person, blind with one eye, one leg shorter than the other, one arm somewhat withered.” Not fond of soap and water, he was also a prodigious lover of snuff in a colonial society fond of the stuff.
Even though his physical ailments kept him out of the American Revolution, Billings was a fervent patriot. Of his hundreds of songs, his most famous is “Chester,” which the revolutionary armies claimed as their own. I’ll hum it for you sometime; you’ll recognize it.
Young America didn’t set much store by musicians, so Billings was a poor man, working as a tanner, not an occupation for the weak of stomach. Even when he scraped and tanned rotting hides, Billings sang and composed, writing the tunes and words in chalk on the walls of his tanning shed in Boston. In 1770, he found the time and means to produce “The New-England Psalm-Singer,” which became the backbone of singing schools he conducted, when he wasn’t tanning hides.
This music book was no small achievement. “The New-England Psalm-Singer” was the first published collection of entirely American music. The book of 120 songs also contained a frontispiece engraved by Paul Revere. Billings followed the “Psalm-Singer” with five more songbooks, until he became the fledgling nation’s most popular musician.
I wish I could say all this had a happy ending. It doesn’t. Life was never easy for Billings and his wife Lucy (he met her in one of his singing classes). Nine children require upkeep, and paper and ink were expensive. There were also no copyright laws to protect his anthems, songs, hymns and fugues and get income from them into his pockets. In his struggle to survive, the musical tanner also served Boston as coal inspector, police inspector, trade inspector, and hog reeve - someone who keeps stray pigs off the streets.
He was also a scavenger. I know what this is, because I came across the term while researching Fort Buford’s history at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. A scavenger cleans out privies. In the 1880s at Fort Buford, the scavenger was paid $50 a month, which was good pay, probably because it was hard to find someone to do this. Again, not a job for the weak of stomach, but for someone desperate to earn money.
Billings’ life was hard, and he was handicapped, to boot. I doubt he had a pain-free day, but you’d never know it by listening to his joyful music. It’s still performed enthusiastically, particularly by shape note singers. If you ever have the opportunity to hear shape note singing, you’ll find yourself immersed in and surrounded by a literal wall of stark, four-part harmony. There is nothing like it on earth.
Here’s to you, William Billings, an American original. You are always on my mind in spring – “Rise up, my Love, my fair one, and come away; for Lo, the Winter is past, the rain is over and gone.”
It’ll quit snowing any day now. |
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Paws to Consider... Networking to rescue |
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Wednesday, 23 April 2008 |
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By Julee Russell
Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals
This week’s column begins with a big thank you. Thanks to the individuals, families and area businesses who have become members of the Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals. Your memberships allow us to continue to assist animals in need, network with other rescue agencies, and further develop our work in education for responsible pet ownership.
Memberships help develop the network of people who care about and for animals in our area. Another heartfelt thank you goes out to all those foster home families who take in needy animals and provide safe, loving environments until the pets are adopted. The SFVA appreciates your kindness and generosity.
 ACTIVITIES
In pursuing our mission of networking with people and groups to improve the welfare of animals, we assisted in the rescue of two dogs, Lisa and Leo, who otherwise would have been euthanized. The rescue group working to save these dogs had accepted some dogs from us early in the fall, and we were happy to able to return the favor. We also accepted an area dog, Milo, who is in need of a new home. Each of these dogs is currently up to date on shots, spayed/neutered, and available for adoption.
LISA
Lisa is an Australian Shepherd mix. She’s relatively small with a slight build and a sweet disposition. She gets along well with people and with other dogs.
 LEO
Leo is a border collie mix. He’s got bright eyes and a wagging tail. Leo is a medium sized dog, friendly and enjoyed playing with Lisa when they were together. His foster Mom thinks he’s a great dog.
 MILO
Milo is a 2 year old Jack Russell Terrier. He is friendly and energetic.
If you are interested in adopting any of these dogs, please go to www.svfanimals.org to download the Pre-Adoption form. You can also call 840-5047. All of the pets available for adoption are posted on PetFinder.com. Just type our zip code into the search.
In addition to the “new” dogs who joined us, several SVFA cats found permanent homes; some of whom you have come to know through this column. All of us take special pleasure in seeing the adopted pets go to safe, caring homes where they are important parts of the families.
The SVFA is continuing to work toward our 2008 goals so watch this newspaper for more information on the summer spay/neuter campaign and other developments.
As always, be responsible: ID and have your pet spayed/neutered. |
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Legislative Report: Adequate education |
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Wednesday, 23 April 2008 |
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By Phil Mueller North Dakota has a proud heritage of public education. The State students' academic performance has been above average when compared to their counterparts in other states. However, a disturbing trend has developed in recent years. Other states are gaining on North Dakota and in some cases have passed our state's academic achievement. The accountability required by the No Child Left Behind Act has forced educators to confront the fact that the system is failing many students even as it is successful with the majority. Fifty-seven percent of the North Dakota class of 2008 are proficient in math and 73 percent are proficient in reading according to state assessments. We can and must do better.
Of even greater concern is the fact that students in many countries around the world are out performing the students in the United States. This country's ability to maintain an economic edge is at risk without high academic expectations and performance. China and India and others are breathing down our necks!
The Governor's Commission on Education has been charged with determining what is required to provide an adequate education for all North Dakota students. The Education Commission hired an educational adequacy consultant that has set forth an ambitious set of goals that is to result in a dramatic increase in academic performance in the next four to six years. It is an 88 page report that cannot be fully explained in this space. The goal of implementing the report is to have all students except those with severe disabilities perform at or above proficiency levels on tests and to boost the percentage of those performing at advanced levels especially in math and science.
Some of the report's recommendations are state funding for pre-kindergarten programs for students from families that are at or below 200 percent of the poverty level. Continued state funding of full day kindergarten is essential according to the consultants. The report recommended that class sizes be no bigger than 15 for grades K through 3 and that 25 students be the maximum for grades 4 through 12.
It was also recommended that a more intensive, structured teacher mentoring program be instituted to insure good teaching practices and that more career counseling be made available to students who are struggling to find their career niche. The report also suggests that the school day be four 90-minute class blocks to provide more in depth study on core subjects. The report highly recommended that much better intervention programs for students falling through the cracks be implemented. Summer school, after school, and tutoring programs need to be better than they currently are.
The report has much more to suggest and the reports implementation has a rather healthy price tag. It is unlikely that all the recommendations will be passed through the Legislature but it is important that all the ideas be examined and discussed. We owe our students and our state's and country's future nothing less.
For more information about the school report or other legislative issues, contact Rep. Phil Mueller, Rep. Ralph Metcalf, or Sen. Larry Robinson. |
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