Page 4
March 21st, 2013
Valley News
& Views
GREAT BEGINNINGS
1351
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth."
(the opening to one of Robert Frost's most
famous poems, "The Road Not Taken")
NATIONAL DEBT
As of March 17 the national debt was
$16,719,745,861,370.11 (over sixteen
trillion dollars). This was an increase of
six billion, 767 million dollars over the
$16,712,978,755,681.05 of March 10.
Each American now owes $53,144,31, an
increase of $14.46 over the $53,129.85 of
March 10.
The increase in the national debt since our
members of Congress were first in office:
Former Senator Kent Conrad: 1987-
-$2,350,276,890,953.00; Jan. 2, 2013--
$16,441,433,358,986.17, an increase of over
14 trillion, 91 billion dollars.
Former Representative Rick Berg: Jan.
2011--$13,997,932,781,828.89; Jan. 2, 2013--
$16,441,433,358,986.17, an increase of over
two trillion 443 billion dollars.
Senator John Hoeven: Jan. 2011-
-$13,997,932,781,828.89; today--
$16,719,745,861,370.11, an increase of over
two trillion 721 billion dollars.
Senator Heidi Heitkamp and
Representative Kevin Cramer: Jan. 3,
2013--$16,437,549,999,170.77; today--
$16,719,745,861,370.11, an increase of $282
billion.
TRIVIA QUIZ TIME
779
1. Althea Gibson was a champion at the
game of.
(a. golf; b. ice skating; c. tennis)
2. The black man who served as the
president of the Tuskegee Institute was
(a. W.E.B. Dubois; b. Elijah Muhammed;
c. Booker T. Washington)
3. Lord Beaverbrook's real name was
William
(a. Aitken; 6". Ely; c. Williams)
4. General John __ was nicknamed
',Gentleman Johnny."
:_._(a. Burgoyne; Eornwallis; c. Howe)
: /5. The greatest of the English suffragists
was
(a. Anna'Bethany; b. Emily Pankhurst; c.
Emma Mae Wattenberg)
(answers at the end of the Column)
A MESS OF POTTAGE
1408
This portion of my column describes
the works of Libertarian philosopher and
economist Murray Rothbard (1926-1995).
In 1995 he published "Economic Thought
Before Adam Smith."
Chapter 10 is entitled "Mercantilism and
freedom in England from the Tudors to the
Civil War." In the late sixteenth century a
group of writers known as bullionists claimed
that it was wrong to allow gold or silver to
leave a country and that this problem arose
because of unscrupulous foreign exchange
dealers. Sir Thomas Mun (1571-1641) was the
biggest defender of the East India Company,
which he claimed imported more specie than
it exported. Be that as it may, the important
thing was the country as a whole imported
more specie than was exported. Mun thus
backed some restrictions on imports, tariffs
and subsidies.
POETIC FRAGMENTS
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) was a
major Romantic poet. Here is a portion of
his poem "Stanzas Written In Dejection Near
Naples":
"Alas! I have nor hope nor health,
Nor peace within nor calm around,
Nor that Content, surpassing wealth,
The sage in meditation found,
And walked with inward glory crowned--
Nor fame, nor power, nor love, nor leisure;
Others I see whom these surround--
Smiling they live, and call life pleasure;
To me that cup has been dealt in another
measure."
DHS, 1927
11
From 3:30 to 4 p.m. on January 28, the
A.Y.A. Society put on the following program:
a song by the gifts; a reading by Evelyn
Erickson, a recitation by Agnes Kjorsvik, a
duet by Pearl Stavig and Lorraine Moquist,
a reading by Myrtle Wagner, and a song in
which the audience joined.
BILLBOARD'S TOP TEN
1973
March 17
1. Killing Me Softly With His Song
(Roberta Flack)
2. Dueling Banjos (Eric Weissberg/Steve
Mandell)
3. Love Train (O'lays)
4. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Deodato)
5. Last Song (Edward Bear)
6. The Cover Of The Rolling Stone (Dr.
Hook/Medicine Show)
7. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
(Spinners)
8. Neither One Of Us (Gladys Knight/
Pips)*
9. Daddy's Home (lermaine Jackson)
10. Danny's Song (Anne Murray)*
(* indicates a new song)
Gladys Knight and the Pips came from
Atlanta, Georgia. From 1961 to 1994 they had
forty-seven hits, forty of which hit the Hot
100. "Neither One Of Us" was their twenty-
fifth release. It peaked at # 2, was on the charts
for sixteen weeks, and became the group's
third-biggest all-time hit, behind "Midnight
Train To Georgia" and "Heard It Through The
Grapevine." In 1996 they were elected to the
R&B Hall of Fame.
NUMBER 1 SONGS
March 21
1893--O Promise Me (George J. Gaskin)
1898--My Old Kentucky Home (Edison
Male Quartette)
1903--Come Down, Ma Evening Star
(Mina Hickrnan)
1908--As Long As The World Rolls On
(Alan Turner)
1913--When The Midnight Choo Choo
Leaves for Alabam' (Arthur Collins/
Byron Harlan)
1918--Hai1! Hail! The Gang's All Here
(Irving Kaufman/Columbia Quartet)
1923--Carolina In The Morning (Van &
Schenck)
1928--Among My Souvenirs (Paul
Whiteman)
1933--You're Getting To Be A Habit With
Me (Bing Crosby)
1938--Ti-Pi-Pin (Horace Heidt); Don't
Be That Way (Benny Goodman)
1943--I've Heard That Song Before
(Harry James)
1948--Manana (Peggy Lee)
1953--The Doggie In The Window (Patti
Page)
1958--Tequila (Champs)
1963--Walk Like A Man (Four Seasons)
1968--On The Dock Of The Bay (Otis
Redding)
1973--Killing Me Softy With His Song
(Roberta Flack)
1978--Night Fever (Bee Gees)
1983--Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)
1988--Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick
Astley)
1993--Informer (Snow)
1998--Getting' JiggyWit It (Will Smith)
2003--In Da Club (50 Cent)
2008--Love In This Club (Usher/Young
Jeezy)
15 YEARS AGO
On March 24, 1998, the DHS Speech
Team participated in the Drayton Speech
Meet. Because of winning their categories
the following were State qualifiers: Kent
Kliniske, Humorous Interpretation; Lindsey
Halcrow, Radio Broadcasting; and Clarence
and Michelle Sitter, Serious Duo.
On March 26, 1998, it was announced that
Jessie LeClerc had been selected as a division
winner in the Daughters of the American
Revolution Good Citizen Contest by the
Prairie Grass Chapter. That evening the DHS
gifts' track team took twelfth place at the
Dakota Prairie Indoor Track Meet at UND.
Rachael Schuster took second in the One-
Lap Dash with a time of :18.72, a new school
record (the old record was :19.09 by Maria
Carlin in 1989). The boys' team took second
with 91.5 pts. Ryan Weinlaeder had a first
in the 50 High Hurdles, setting a new meet
record of :06.86 (the old record was :07.19 by
Tom Kuznia in 1997) and in the Long Jump
with 18'10.5". Andy Grzadzieleski had a first
place fnish in the High Jump at 5'8". Tyler
McFarland took first in the Pole Vault at 11
feet, a new meet record, surpassing the 10.5'
byTom Kuznia in 1997.
On the evening of March 27,1998, the
installation banquet of the National Honor
Society was held in Hastings Landings
Restaurant. Three inductees - -JennyKowalski,
Erin Halcrow, and Rachael Schuster--joined
members Katie Weinlaeder, Clarence Sitter,
ChristieWatldns, Jessie LeClerc, Jessie Gebur,
Kristy Grzadzieleski, and Jamie Bratlie.
NOTABLE QUOTES
"But to my mind, though I am native here
And to the manner born,--it is a custom
More honored in the breach than the
observance."
(from Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet," Act
1, sc. 4)
STUDENT OF THE WEEK
KC's Student of the Week for March 11-15
is Tyber Pokrzywinski, eighth grade son of
Dennis and Genafay Pokrzywinski.
Tyber was on the "B" Honor Roll for each
of the first two Nine Weeks' grading periods.
He played on the Titans jtmior high
football team and for the Grafton bantams in
hockey.
This is Tyber's second time as Student of
the Week, having been selected for Jan. 30-
Feb. 3, 2012.
Trivia Quiz Answers
(l.c; 2. c; 3. a; 4. a; 5. b)
Dear Lady Di, my life? I worked hard to earn the money
I'm in my late 20's and getting married
this fall. The potential spending seems
daunting for the wedding and I need to get a
perspective and get my fianc6 under control.
She wants' a traditional large church wedding
with a big reception. She insists the guest list
should be no less than 225 people! I'm not
made of money.
I have a love of anything to do with
automobiles or anything on wheels. I own
a '32 Ford Highboy, '65 Cadillac Convertible,
'66 Mustang and a 1989 Ninja Motorcycle.
My fianc6 wants me to part with one of my
cars or my motorcycle to help finance the
wedding. We are planning on buying a house
too. We have agreed we won't live together
until we are married. Since we both rent our
own places now, thankfully we don't have to
worry about selling a house.
I'm at my wit's end trying to make sense
of all this and it's causing a rift in our
relationship. While both are families are
very traditional I can't seem to wrap my
head around all this spending. Why should I
sacrifice my treasures for one day of our lives?
She wants custom invitations at $5.00 each,
chair covers at $3.50 a chair, a Videographer
for $750.00 and I won't even mention the
price of the Photographer (and that's before
we order the pictures)! Currently, the cost of
this wedding is at $29,000 and she's not done
planning.
I always envisioned I would be married
in a church ceremony with our friends and
family. How do I let her know our wedding is
out of control? Should I be selling something
I have valued for a long time for one day of
to save to buy my cars and bike. I do have
money saved for this wedding but I don't
want us to go in debt over it and sacrifice
personal things along the way.
Why do women have such great
expectations when it comes to their wedding
day? Help!
Auto Enthusiast, soon to be married
Dear Auto Enthusiast,
You're headed down Route '66 with a very
large roadmap. The average cost couples
spend on weddings in Pembina County is
between $16,916 and $28.914. The best way
to save money on a wedding is limiting the
number of guests and in your case, some of
the peripherals.
It's your responsibility to share in the
wedding planning, not hers alone. It's a
large task and with your assistance you can
collaborate. You never want to go in debt
or 'charge' services associated with your
wedding. Your honeymoon may go on a
credit card but be sure to have the resources
to pay it off prior to booking your trip.
I applaud your purchase of a home.
Mutually agree to reign in the costs of your
wedding dayby30%. Make a concession too,
selling your bike or one car, using the money
toward your purchase of your home, which
too will last a lifetime.
C'est la vie,
Lady Di
Write Lady Di confidentially at
DearLadyDi@gmail.com. Letters can be
mailed to; Dear Lady Di, 8351 West Bush
Lake Road, Bloomington, MN 55438
"I have heard there are
troubles of more than one
kind. Some come from ahead
and some come from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm
all ready you see. Now my
troubles are going to have
troubles with me."
- Dr. Seuss
For Christmas a few years-
ago, my incredible sister-
in-law Jackie gave me a
picture of my big brother
driving down the sidewalks
of Boston in his wheelchair.
The photo was taken as we
walked behind him one day
when we were out running
errands while in the big
city for his proton radiation
treatments.
On the picture she wrote a
little note, "Don't look behind
but always look ahead." I
treasure that photograph as
well as my "sista." She is an
amazing woman who has
been through so much in her
short lifetime, so very much,
losing both her parents and
beloved grandmother and
now going through every
difficult step of the way with
my big brother. She has taken
her marital vows seriously,
"In sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish, from
this day forward until death
do us part."
I do not know if she
understands how much we
all admire and love her for
all she does, all she is, and
all she brings into this world.
She has taken better care
of my big brother than any
licensed nurse could dream
of doing. One time she told
me all she wants is to just be
able to laugh once in a while.
"Your brother helps me do
that," she said.
She has looked after me
as well since we were in high
school together. A year older,
she always tried to include
me in things and to this day,
she remains one of my best
friends. I love you Jackie
Jensen, thank you sista for
loving us and for never giving
up.
I'm sure it has been
apparent from my writings
I have been struggling a
bit with depression, it is an
illness that can sometimes
be hard to understand and
I certainly feel for anyone,
especially people like my
auntie Harriet, who have
been dealing with it most
of their lives. I have thought
a lot about her this winter
and feel guilty I haven't been
over to visit her because I
love her so dearly. I think
what a strong woman she is
to have made it through life
dealing with the ramblings
of depression, stronger than
I think she realizes. I will
get there one of these days
auntie, sooner than later, I
love you very much.
Today as I write, the sun
is shining outside. I can feel
the mosaic of spring right
around the corner. I woke
up early this morning at 4:30
a.m. and have accomplished
much. It feels so good to have
the clouds lifted a bit and to
feel hope coming back.
In the past few days, I have
heard from some dear friends
I love with all my heart and
admire deeply. It is amazing
what a few short words of
love and encouragement
can do for a person, it can
make someone feel loved
especially when they aren't
feeling very loveable. It is
the greatest gift we can give
to each other in this world
- unconditional love.
One of my stops the other
morning was at my big
brother's house. We talked
about how we need to look
ahead instead of behind us
and I brought up the picture
Jackie gave me a few years
ago. I can sometimes be my
own worst enemy, we all
can. I know my father was
hard on himself too and
sometimes felt unworthy. I
can see him in heaven now,
looking at us wishing so
desperately he could teach
us what he knows now, that
we are all pure, loving light
only we could see it through
the blinding fog of our own
insecurities.
My beloved brother said
to me when we were visiting,
"You have to stop being so
hard on yourself." He is right,
we all have to stop being so
hard on ourselves. In my
heart, I know we all have a
purpose here; I wish we had
a concrete map telling us
which way to go but that is
part of our purpose, to find
our way. I told one of my
friends who contacted me, "I
feel like I am growing up all
over again, trying to learn the
things I felt like I lost when
my father had to leave." I
need to find my worth in the
characteristics he gave me,
in the lessons him and mom
taught me about life and
love, in the simple acts of
kindness I can do on a daily
basis like he did. It will come,
bit by bit.
Today, I feel like, "I've
bought my bat. I'm all ready
you see. Now my troubles
are going to have trouble
with me," as Dr. Seuss so
eloquently put it. I read
that quote and it made me
smile, simple words from a
children's book. I felt a shift
of personal power coming
through; words do have
power there is no doubt
about that. One day I would
like to turn words of struggle
into a book of inspiration,
a healing book - one that
can shed a little light in the
darkness for someone. I pray
Continued On Page 5
