Page 4
June 23rd, 2011
Valley News
& Views
GREAT BEGINNINGS
1260
Announcer: "The Kraft Food Company
presents The Great Gildersleeve. It's The
Great Gildersleeve, starring Hal Peary and
brought to you by the Kraft Food Company,
makers of Parkay Margarine and a complete
line of famous quality food products. Now
let's peep into the world of Summerfield and
see what goes on there..."
(the opening of"The Great Gildersleeve," a
comedy program on radio; NBC, 1941-1958)
NATIONAL DEBT
As of June 19, 2011, the U.S. national debt
was $14,355,293,527,352.63 (over fourteen
trillion dollars), a decrease of over 243 million
dollars from the previous week.
Each American now owes $46,190.87,
down $13.20.
TRIVIA QUIZ TIME
689
1. __ Pakistan became the country of
Bangladesh.
(a. East; b. North; c. West)
2. __ is not a Scandinavian nation.
(a. Denmark; b. Finland; c. Latvia)
3. The Magyars live in the country of
(a. Hungary; b. Poland; c. Slovakia)
4. Djakarta is the capital of
(a. Indonesia; b. Laos; c. Malaysia)
5. Today the country of Persia is called
(--. Lebanon; b. Iran; c. Iraq)
(answers at the end of the Column)
A MESS OF POTTAGE
1317
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 7 is entitled "Mercantilism:
serving the absolute state." By the end of the
seventeenth century, England and France
were busy creating revenue by producing
paper money. England was enabled to
increase the public debt and use the money
to fight its seemingly endless wars.
POETIC FRAGMENTS
George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824)
was one of the three great later Romantic
poets. Here is a portion of his poem "Youth
And Age":
"O could I fell as I have felt, or to be what
I have been,
Or weep as I could once have wept o'er
many a vanished scene,--
As springs in deserts found seem sweet,
all brackish though they be,
So midst the withered waste of life, those
tears would flow to me!"
DHS, 1926,
44
The ninth member of the Class of 1926
and the 279th DHS graduate was John Edwin
Felt, who was born to Edwin J. and Eva
Caroline Olson Felt on January 22, 1907, in
Robbin, MN. The Felts were Lutherans. He
went to California in Oct. 1926 and then
was in Washington in 1926-Nov. 1928, when
he returned to Drayton. He was in Stephen,
MN, in March 1935 and then in Drayton. He
was a railroad worker and a farm laborer,
but I don't know dates or locations. He died
January 20, 1978, in McVille, ND, at the age
of 70.
BILLBOARD'S TOP TEN
1971
June 19
1. It's Too Late (Carole King)
2. Rainy Days and Mondays
Anyone Interested in Getting Together
for a Model Aviation Fun Fly During
Riverfest ... RC, Control-Line and
Model Rockets? Call 360-3005 to
Organize.
(Carpenters)
3. Want Ads (Honey Cone)
4. Brown Sugar (Rolling Stones)
5. It Don't Come Easy (Ringo Starr)
6. Treat Her Like A Lady (Cornelius
Bros./Sister Rose)
7. Indian Reservation (Raiders)*
8. Joy To The World (Three Dog Night)
9. I'll Meet You Halfway (Partridge
Family)
10. Sweet And Innocent (Donny
Osmond)
(* indicates a new song)
The Raiders was a band from Boise, ID.
Paul Revere was the lead singer. From 1961
to 1973 they had thirty hit songs, twenty-
four of which made the Hot 100. "Indian
Reservation" was the twenty-fifth release, it
peaked at #1, was on the charts for twenty-
two weeks, and became the group's all-time
biggest hit.
NUMBER 1 SONGS
June 23
1891--Michael Casey As A Physician
(Russell Hunting)
1896--A Hot Time On The Levee (Len
Spencer/Vess Ossman)
1901--Tell Me, Pretty Maiden (Harry
MacDonough/Grace Spencer)
1906--The Grand Old Rag (Billy
Murray)
1911--Come, Josephine, In My Flying
Machine (Ada Jones, Billy Murray &
American Quartet)
1916--Good-Bye, Good Luck, God Bess
You (Henry Burr)
1921--My Mammy (Paul Whiteman)
1926--Gimme A Lil' Kiss, Will Ya, Huh?
("Whispering" Jack Smith)
1931--(There Ought To Be A) Moonlight
Saving Time (Guy Lombardo)
1936--The Glory Of Love (Benny
Goodman); Is It True What They Say
About Dixie? (Jimmy Dorsey)
1941--Maria Elena (Jimmy Dorsey);
Daddy (Sammy Kaye)
1946--The Gypsy (Dinah Shore); The
Gypsy (Ink Spots)
1951--Too Young (Nat "King" Cole)
1956--The Wayward Wind (Gogi Grant)
1961--Moody River (Pat Boone)
1966--Paint It Black (Rolling Stones)
1971--It's Too Late (Carole King)
1976--Silly Love Songs (Wings)
1981--Medley (Stars on 45)
1986--0n My Own (Patti LaBelle/
Michael McDonald)
1991--Rush, Rush (Paula Abdul)
1996--Tha Crossroads (Bone thugs-n-
harmony)
2001--Lady Marmelade (Christina
Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink)
2006--Hips Don't Lie (Shakira/Wyclef
Jean)
15 YEARS AGO
On June 27, 1996, the high temperature
was 95 above.
NOTABLE QUOTES
Claire Standish: 'Tm not fat."
John Bender: "Well., not at present, but
I can see you're really pushing maximum
density."
(From the movie, "The Breakfast Club,"
with Molly Ringwald as Claire Standish and
Judd Nelson as John Bender.)
Trivia Quiz Answers
(1. a; 2. c; 3. a; 4. a; 5. b)
Riverfest Continued From Page 1
Mud Volleyball
Supper at the Soddy
Fireworks Show
Alumni Banquet
and probably more - please fill us in on your
plans
Thank you--and don't forget to invite
your family and friends to spend Riverfest
weekend in Drayton!
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, June 30, July 1, 2, & 3, 2011 @ Hamilton, ND
II I
Friday @ S:O0 p.m.
snsobr s Comm crem U.k-
Saturday @ 3:00 p.m.
Thursday,
June
3O
u Matt Hodek Polka Band
7:30 p.m. ! li
Tickets SlO & SS Saturday @ 4:00 PIT.
Chariot ¢ Chuakvagon svoNsoneo or,.
Friday, July 1 @ 7:00 p.m. Citizens State Bank- Midwest&
Saturday, July 2 @ 1:30 p.m. United wley ,k Sunday, July 3@ 2:00 p.m.
Tickets $10 & $5 T Vl©kets & SS
ALL ICKETS $10.00 $1o
Heals
the Way
It has been difficult to sit
down and write today as my
thoughts are in Rochester
with my big brother who
is undergoing tests. We are
waiting to hear if the cancer
is back this quickly after his
last surgery.
I have been praying non
stop and trying to start
prayer chains wherever I can.
He received a call on Friday
from Mayo he needed to be
there Monday morning at 8
a.m. Michael, his famil and
our mother left on Father's
Day.
We gathered with our
father that night and were
definitely missing the
presence of the rest of the
family. I gave papa a picture
frame carved with the word
children in it and donning a
photo of my brothers and me
when we were trout fishing.
Papa couldn't hold back the
tears, nor could the rest of
US.
I have been reading a lot
about healing lately and read
how important it is to keep a
positive attitude, not only for
the person going through a
sickness, but also for those
surrounding that loved one.
Energy is a concrete thing;
it can lift one up or pull one
down so I have been doing
my best to place my trust
in God's healing hands,
knowing He has the power to
heal Michael.
Today several of us
decided we would text Mike
an inspiring verse or words of
encouragement every hour, I
just sent mine which I read on
his caringbridge page from
our cousin Amber Johnson.
"Be strong and courageous.
Do not fear or be in dread of
them, for it is the Lord your
God who goes with you. He
will not leave you or forsake
you." -Deuteronomy 31:6
I keep telling people,
"HOPE FLOATS!! We need to
raise the roof with our prayers
and positive thoughts. When
I talked to my brother the
other day, I told him there
were so many people praying
for him and if he could just
get through this and get to
Boston where he will have
a special kind of proton
radiation, he will live a long,
healthy life. "I just know it
Mike," I said with energetic
hope. "You are going to get
through this, we all are, we
just need to stick together."
I could tell he was smiling
a little on the other end of
the line when he said to me,
"No wonder I feel so positive
today, it must be from all the
prayers."
His doctor in Rochester
explained how this type of
radiation works. He said it
is like using round up, if you
try to use it on a big weed, it
probably won't work, but if
you use it on a small weed,
chances are it will kill it. That
is why they need to remove
any large tumors he may
have before he starts the
treatment. It is tough as we
think about everything he
has been through so far, but
if there is one thing I know
about my brother, he is a
fighter.
I was watching a story
on the news the other day
about a former fighter who
was batting cancer. The
narrator said even though
he is surrounded by so
many people routing for
him, "Ultimately, he is in
the ring alone." I know how
tough this has been for all
of us, but I cannot begin to
comprehend what Michael
or any other cancer patient
goes through on a daily
basis, the uncertainty must
be unbearable. I know my
brother has told me on
numerous occasions how
he is so grateful for all the
prayers and support that
give him strength on a daily
basis. I wish I could do more,
but right now, all I can do is
focus on the positive and
pray for healing.
A few months ago, my
younger brother and sister-
in-law gave my husband a
beautifulnewleather covered
Bible for his baptism. This
morning when I was looking
through it for verses I ran
across one that stood out.
"I have told you these
things, so that in me you may
have peace. In this world you
will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the
world." -John 16:33
On the bottom of each
page, this particular Bible
prints a translation of each
verse, so I skimmed to the
bottom to read it.
"With these words Jesus
told his disciples to take
courage. In spite of the
inevitable struggles they
would face, they would not
be alone! Jesus does not
abandon us to our struggles
either. If we remember that
the ultimate victory has
already been won, we can
claim the peace of Christ
in the most troublesome
times!"
I read through the
translation several times
and started to feel a
special peace. In addition
to Michael's struggles we
have been keeping updated
on my cousin Heidi's
cancer diagnosis from her
caringbridge website. I think
of her daily when I pray,
hoping she keeps her smile
and stays strong through the
chemo treatments.
There are so many
people who are struggling
with various illnesses and
hardships. I know I write
about my brother's battle
a lot, but I do so because
not only is it healing for me
but it is my hope someone
out there will find strength,
courage and faith through
their own life battles.
Sometimes along the way,
life seems to give us more
than we think we can handle.
It is in those times when
hope floats in and heals the
deepest wounds and the
most difficult struggles. Hope
does float, energy is real, and
our prayers are heard. I don't
care who you are, what you
have done, or the mistakes
you may have made, you are
never alone.
I want to thank all of you
with deep sincerity for your
constant prayers, words
of encouragement, and
powerful positive energy you
have brought to my brother
and our entire family. Your
Continued On Page 6
e Board of ti gncr0000
00cation Dysfunct00 i
Om00ht
Article VIII of the state
constitution grants sweeping
powers to the Board of
Higher Education for the
management of the state's
colleges and universities.
A number of recent events
suggest, however, that the
Board may not be measuring
up to its constitutional
mandate.
First, the Board failed
to defend itself against
encroachment by the
Legislature in the Fighting
Sioux logo issue. By failing
to assert itself, the Board
left a precedent that will
be pointed out in future
legislative invasions of the
Board's authority. Instead
of fighting, the Board just
"rolled over".
Second, the Board
proclaimed that student
tuition increases would be
restricted to a maximum
of 2.5 per cent. This was
followed quickly by a request
from one institution for an 8.8
per cent increase which was
granted only a few days after
the Board set the policy and
the Legislature adjourned.
Third, the Board has failed
to monitor the reckless
use of on-line courses by
institutions to pad their
enrollment figures. All
institutions are rushing into
this newgame. Unfortunately'
the academic quality of some
of these courses is subject to
question.
Fourth, the Board has
permitted the proliferation
of majors, post-graduate
degrees and programs that
are not adequately staffed by
faculty to deliver the quality
students have a right to
expect.
This is not to mention
the whole series of episodes
involving Joe Chapman
when he served as president
of NDSU and left higher
education with a black
eye that will take years to
overcome. Duringthis period,
the Board demonstrated an
inability to monitor and curb
abuses.
To what can we attribute
these failures of the Board
to manage the colleges
and universities? As far as
appointments are concemed,
we have a good screening
process for obtaining
quality Board members.
They are nominated by a
select screening committee,
appointed by the governor
from a list of three, and
then confirmed by the state
senate.
Of course, the process is
not neutral. Unfortunately,
it does not thwart the covert
crusades in university cities to
get "their" persons (residents
or graduates) appointed to
represent their institutions'
interests. Consequently,
the Board does get some
members who think it is
their responsibility to fight
for certain institutions.
Then there is the constant
lobbying by chambers
of commerce, alumni
organizations and various
other community and college
interests. Many of these
contacts are made one-on-
one with Board members and
Board members get caught
up in personal campaigns
to promote special benefits
for one institution at the
expense of the system as
a whole. Legislators from
the university cities also get
into the game because their
constituents expect parochial
support.
Then there is the
problem of the federal
earmarks conjured up by
programmatic people at the
institutions and presented to
the Congressional delegation
to pursue. When an earmark
for $3 million is made
available for a program that
subverts the overall academic
mission, it becomes difficult
for the Board or recipient
institutions to resist the
call of cheap money from
Washington.
It is obvious that Board
members are tom by a
large number of competing
interests that must be
negotiated to move forward.
To cope with demands, the
Board has doled out favors
to all institutions because
in the North Dakota culture
we think everyone ought to
get something, regardless
of merit. So, rather than
focusing resources on needs,
we misallocate resources to
keep everyone happy.
If the Board is to
strengthen its control of
higher education, the key in
the future will be a stronger
staff that can provide the
Board with solid objective
arguments thatwill overcome
the political influences that
seem to be winning the day.
That's a topic for next week.
don't be afraid of doing this:: :: :Herman Melville :: :
