Sunset on the Primaries

The sun went down tonight as the candidates made their final pitches to South Dakota (and Montana), with the Clinton family gathering in Sioux Falls and addressing an overflow crowd at the armory. We arrived too late to get inside, but just barely, and they told us right away that the three would be coming out to greet the supporters. So we stood at the rail, the mother-in-law, the sister-in-law, and the wife and me. And an elderly woman we befriended in line. We had to listen to the addresses over a loudspeaker, but afterwards, Chelsea, Bill, and Hillary all came out and shook our hands. Chelsea even signed shirts and stood for a picture. Bill said the two sisters looked good in their shirts, and everyone, including the "repentant Republican" among us, enjoyed the rollicking, energetic, and friendly event. We brought home a few Hillary signs to put up in the yard. I'm going with the gal.

Obama in Mitchell

After a typical Sunday morning at church and a late breakfast at the Howard golf course (no country-club images here, just folks either diving in to an eggs-pancake-bacon buffet or selecting from among the fried options on the one-page menu), we headed down to Mitchell to hear Barack Obama's side of the story after hearing Hillary and Bill Thursday and Saturday.
After the folksy and up-close style of the Clinton's, this event was like a rock show, highly produced and carefully staged. The event, held in front of the Corn Palace with "Everyday Heroes" emblazoned in corn on the front, had barricades, a security check under a tent, a huge sound system and stage, and bleachers at the side and back. Volunteers worked the crowd, selecting those who could go to the bleachers. We were chosen, but elected to stand and actually moved quite close, though behind, the candidate.
Obama's delivery and content were fine, a little soft on details and the folksy asides and examples that both Clintons use to such good effect. He's not the master of the million little details--facts and figures--that both Clintons use; either that, or it's simply his style to stick to broad portraits of what's to come. I was surprised at the little stutters that still punctuate the candidate's delivery, even after campaigning for 15 months.
But the crowd was with him, responding to the calls he made for change in policies on Iraq, the economy, and energy. There were young people in abundance, with a much more colorful array of people than you'll typically find at a South Dakota event. And his campaign appears to be well funded. The event involved some expenses, with multiple buses, free placards, and bright lights, even on an afternoon that was so sunny and warm one person even fainted during the speech.
Tomorrow, the Clintons, all three of them, will be in Sioux Falls, and it's looking like we might be in attendance.
The wife and I, who have both been hauling our cameras to the events, have put our pics here.
You might note there that we ran into George McGovern on a Mitchell street, making his way to the event, where he'd make introductory remarks. I got my picture taken with him. Now I've shaken hands with Hillary, Bill, Barack, and George, all in a few days. Now that's quite a hand. I wonder what I'd get for it on eBay.
Enjoy the photos, make your call, and get out there and vote. Maybe we'll see you at the Clinton fest.

Bechens at 25

Joe and Donna Bechen celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary yesterday (actual date was May 27), with a surprise party thrown by their daughter Megan at Camp Lakodia on Lake Herman near Madison. Lots of friends and family appeared and made the celebration a good one. Happy Anniversary, Joe and Donna!

Clinton in Madison

The wife and I attended former President Bill Clinton's address in Madison at Library Park yesterday as he stumped for his wife Hillary in the Democratic primary election on Tuesday. There was a nice little turnout, probably 400 people or so, and Clinton, a polished and moving speaker, kept their attention as he covered the benefits of having Hillary as president.
The wife, a dedicated fan of Bill and Hillary both, was excited to have her shirt and book signed.

A Haircut, a Fallen Tree, and a Visit from a Turtle

Yes, a tree fell in the back yard today, and the wife said goodbye to her long hair, revealing a woman underneath that many hadn't seen for quite some time. We also got in a brief party at a fellow DSU-er who is going away, then grabbed an episode of Lost online, the season finale (what the hell is going on with that now, anyway? Lots of questions to be answered). I did stakeout on the rabbits for a while, those pesky devils who have been devastating the flowers in the back yard. I altered some of their plans for the evening.
While I was at the backyard picnic table, I was visited by a traveling turtle, seen here. Perhaps he was warning me about being too harsh with the rabbits, or perhaps he was indicating that while there is a race being run, there are still two of them in it--one expected to win, the other plugging along with a sense of confidence that others don't fathom.

Standing Up for Hillary

The Second Street Diner was packed this morning with Hillary Clinton supporters who waited patiently for the campaign bus to arrive, but then enjoyed a kick-ass address that ended with a rousing call for effective leadership that has been sorely lacking.
Clinton addressed several things near and dear to South Dakotans, and she nailed every reference to the state, the city, and the issues that are central to the times. Check out the Madville Times for what promises to be a more in-depth discussion of the issues.
DSU's own Jona Schmidt sat next to Hillary as the candidate enjoyed a piece of the great apple pie at the restaurant. Jona's mom (Virginia?) was chosen to sit at the table having just converted to being a Democrat at 80 years old just so she could vote for Ms. Clinton.

Listener of Stories

I should create a job title for myself, "Listener of Stories," wherein I get to listen to stories that people tell me. It's one of my favorite things, like listening to the father-in-law tell his stories about leaving the farm in Winfred and venturing out on his own, taking off with a group of friends and working building grain bins in Minnesota, or serving in the Marines in 29 Palms, California. Or listening to my friend tell about the vacuum line on his car, how here it does pull, here it doesn't. Or even to a new aquaintance, Leon Saugstad, who came to fix the water softener, how he went to five different schools growing up in the area, some of them now non-existent, as his family rented and farmed one farm after the other. Or another friend tell about cruising up over the Rocky Mountains into Coeur D'Alene or growing up in Bucks County, in eastern Pennsylvania. That's a good day for me, soaking up stories, and telling some of my own.

I actually got a real job yesterday, a strenuous one. But I lost it about three minutes later, so my experience as a fabric layer is still limited to one brief voluntary stint and those three minutes in my imagination, my favorite kind of labor.

What Used to Be a Swimming Pool

It's 43 degrees here today, so swimming doesn't top my agenda, but we do still have that option, with the community center pool now available again. But it's not so with the outdoor pool.
We're grateful for having sold our old house every time we pass by the construction zone that was the swimming pool next to our home. It won't be ready this year, but the plans for the new aquatic center are ambitious and impressive. If it's successful, parking there will be even more of a problem than it was.

Lilac Barricades

In conversation today it came up that few new houses sport the kind of lilacs it takes decades to develop, big productive lilac bushes like these, a wall of them to sanctify the spring air, to lay its blessing on the death of May, the birth of June. The breeze coming out of the north had a chill to it, but these big breeze filters put their stamp of approval on every whiff.
If we say thanks to veterans today for the gifts their suffering brought us, we can also look at the gifts handed down to us over the years from someone, ever so many ages ago, like those who envisioned these flowering lilacs when they planted the twigs and watered them. I hope the owners of those new houses will favor their successors by leaving them blossoms like these.

Short Bus Student Revenge

Tasteless activities await on sites like Online Games, where you can play games like "Short Bus Rampage," with a description provided that will tantalize everyone who's wanted to take a school bus and run over children:
Drive over and murder all the school children as you get your own back on them for bullying you! Drive over them all and then out of the scene by the time the timer runs out or the police'll be on you! Good luck killing all the bullies!

Of course, there's no way to tell who the bullies are, so you're encouraged just to run over everyone. Not that you should run over bullies, of course.

Gateway to Appleville

I don't know what pollinates apple trees, but these trees are definitely flirting with the powers that be. With rain in the forecast, it may not be long before the petals have fallen, but today, they all had their hands in the air.

Apple Trees in Bloom

For now I'll just let these apple trees do the talking about what's been going on for the past couple of weeks. While I've been busy with other activities, the apple trees have pulled up from their roots and down from the sky these bouquets for our pleasure. Before you know it, the blossoms will be apples dropping into the yard.

New Windows for Beadle Hall

Yesterday a crew was scoping out Beadle Hall to get ready for putting in new windows, including arched windows that have not been seen for 40 years or more. Meanwhile, there will be refugees as our offices become uninhabitable this summer.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

A little video celebration of our Spanish-speaking neighbors, via con YouTube: Disney's Three Caballeros.

And, from 1986, The Three Amigos.

Spring Events

Spring this week was in evidence, not just because we had a small crowd of people at the house on Saturday for the Kentucky Derby, but also because it was warm, warm, ever so warm. At least by our standards here in the frozen north. Quick, how long till frost? Grow, stuff, grow!

For the derby party we were able to invite guests out to the porch for the first time this season, and they were appreciative of the space and comfort there. Too bad the race was marred with poor Eight Belles and her demise.

We also put behind us the old house on Catherine Street, vacant since July when we moved into this big unit. We signed the papers on Wednesday, the buyer signed on Thursday, and we got our check that day. But we're happy to have it out of our hair.

Meanwhile, it's time for the city-wide cleanup, with free stuff at the curbside all over town. Much of it will reappear at garage sales and even in the flea market this summer. It's spring, it's finals week, and it's time to finish the semester!

Zombie vs. Humans at Goucher College

Students are playing a game on the campus of Goucher College in Baltimore where students become either zombies or stay human, and only nerf guns or balled up socks stand between humans and zombie-hood. Check out the article and especially the video here.

Almost May (It just doesn't look it)

Our late winter storm appears to be finished with its ham-handed reminder that it holds sway in this part of the country. After having told some Norwegians from north of the Arctic Circle that we here in SD say we have two seasons--winter and road construction--he said they too have only a pair--a white winter and a green winter. How many words do you have for winter?

Spring in South Dakota, Blizzard Style

Snow continued to give South Dakota a beating, at least for those of in the eastern half. The video and photos here were from this morning, and the snow continued all day, the wind driving full force.

Video to Tighten Your Glutes

JB points to this video that will could give you a coppery taste in your mouth it's so spooky. From southern Spain, this walkway video is bold enough to keep you off-balance for all of its six minutes. Watch it full screen!

"Sleeping it Off in Rapid City"

The title of the book jumped out at me from the NY Times: Sleeping it Off in Rapid City, a new book of poems by August Kleinzahler. Read the review and an excerpt of the title poem.

Omaha and Back Again

Thursday the wife and I headed down to Omaha for the "Death, Murder, and Mayhem" Symposium put on by the University of Nebraska, where I delivered a paper on the use of Native American imagery in violent electronic games. I had a good turnout, and the participants asked good questions about violence and racial stereotyping.

We enjoyed staying at the old downtown area and checked out some of the shops and eateries, and we went to a play that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize: "The Man from Nebraska," by Tracy Lett, put on by the Blue Barn Theater. Saturday we enjoyed lunch in the 70 degree sunlight.

Saturday, before we left, I had to drive onto the Omaha Marathon course where it used to finish uphill into the domed arena, the site of my just-too-late finish that kept my first marathon from qualifying me for the Boston Marathon (to be run tomorrow!) by 34 seconds. Then we hustled home again, jiggety-jig.

Computers and "Writing"

Imagine the volumes you could write if you could just get the computer to do most of the work--like the writing itself--for you. A guy who should be a hero to our English for Information Systems majors at DSU has figured that out. What's the answer? Algorithms. A New York Times article describes how Philip M. Parker has "licked the problem," publishing over 200,000 books, by having computers search for publicly available information, compile it, and put it into a book, which will be printed on demand. You can watch a demonstration of his method for books and video (and games) on Youtube. Consider the implications! It's worth a look.

Three Steps Forward, No Steps Back

Another Sign of Spring in South Dakota

Two steps forward, one step back.