Saturday sundog

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After a breakfast meeting with some of the guys from church, I saw the sun starting to poke up over the horizon. What the heck, I might as well head east a bit and see what it does! This morning it had to blaze through a layer of clouds and lots of blowing snow, but that made it possible to spot a really bright sundog to the north. The cloud cover made it impossible to spot a corresponding parhelion to the south.

HB1040 passes! Plus some musing as I’m prone to do

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This was a bittersweet day for the families of fallen soldiers in North Dakota. Some of those giving testimony in favor of House Bill 1040, which prohibits protesting near funerals or related activities, have had to endure some pretty nasty circumstances. That’s what sadly made this bill, now law, necessary.

As I’m sure everybody knows, a group from Westboro Baptist Church (which is not a Baptist church, they just claim it) was up here to protest funerals in North Dakota. I don’t recall them having the guts to set foot on sovereign tribal land, however…hopefully they didn’t. These people claim a weird mixture of twisted and perverted Old and New Testament theologies with rancid hate and come up with the tactic of protesting funerals across the country. What they don’t tell you is that they’re also licensed attornies just waiting for some outraged patriot to lay a hand on them. Thankfully we haven’t had any such cases here, although it does require a lot of personal restraint.

That’s where the Patriot Guard riders come in. While this picture from last June doesn’t convey how many people actually stand in attendance for the Patriot Guard, at least it shows that the families of fallen soldiers do not stand alone. It just goes to show that patriots can band together and honor our nation’s soldiers and their loved ones with actions, not just words.

So now, with this bill becoming law, protests like the ones I’ve decribed and stood to block are illegal. Will that make them stop? I sure hope so. Regardless, I’m sure the Patriot Guard riders will still stand in attendance to honor and pay respect to fallen soldiers and their loved ones whenever they’re called to do so.

The photo above is part of the ND state gallery. I’m holed up at home with a sore throat – fever – chills – headache kind of thing today. In fact, I slept from 7am to 7pm! Photos owned by the government are public domain, as far as I know…if they complain, I’ll take it down. But I don’t think I’m engaging in anything dishonest by using their photo. I’m sure Governor Hoeven and the others involved in this law’s passing are happy to get the word out. Now I’m going back to bed – my head’s in Mississippi (kudos if you get that music reference)

Citizens’ Night at the legislature

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Last night the state legislature held a Citizen’s Night where they took care of some of the state’s business after hours. This allowed the public who are normally unable to make the regular daytime sessions to stop in and have a peek at how our elected legislators conduct the affairs of making the state’s laws. While it wasn’t as busy as I thought it might be, there seemed to be a pretty good crowd in the hallways.

This is the journal room, where folks can stop by to get a copy of bills they’re interested in. When I had an evening job and could hang out here during the session, I used to spend a lot of time at this window. It’s nice to have the text of the different resolutions and bills available, so you can read it yourself. Then go lean on the legislators from your district if necessary.

Upstairs there were a few groups with displays and people on hand to answer questions. I think these halls would have been busier, but this was during a point in the evening where everyone was jammed into meeting rooms to watch various committee hearings.

This building was built in the 1930s after the original capitol burned. I find it an aesthetically pleasing building, and it’s even cooler at night. There’s a lot of glass that glares into the building during the day, and I think that takes away from the style. At night a guy can see the building the way it was designed, and it’s really very nice. Not bad for such a rural state, huh?

This is one of those committee hearings that I mentioned earlier. In this particular meeting, Secretary of State Al Jaeger was answering questions regarding a bill, one which proposes to restrict an elected official on a city board or commission from serving on a county board or commission at the same time. While there are four people doing just that across North Dakota, he was unaware of any conflict of interest arising from the situation…yet. So it’s a precautionary bill. With larger cities expanding further into counties, there is always a chance of some friction, so I think this bill makes sense from that standpoint. By the way, did you know that only 15 cities in North Dakota boast populations in excess of 2,500 people?

This is the House chamber. There really isn’t anything going on here, because at the time I took this the session hadn’t come to order yet. I had other things to do at 8pm, so I was unable to hang around to watch the session. I’ve seen them before, they look a lot like this!

The Senate chamber. Smaller, cozier, and indicative of the inherent belief of Senators that they’re somehow special among everyone else, including the House. If you look toward the upper part of the screen, you’ll see Joel Heitkamp surfing moveon.org for his show’s talking points. Sorry Joel, I couldn’t resist!

Of course one of the highlights of any such event is going to be the free cookies and lemonade! These friendly ladies served everyone with smiles. This spread was provided and served by the Republican Legislative Spouses. Wait a minute, that doesn’t fit the cold-hearted, racist, greedy stereotype that I keep seeing in the media! Hm…

Thanks to the legislature for putting on this evening. I have to admit that I wish it had been more crowded. This kind of thing is quite interesting and enlightening. North Dakota’s legislature only meets every two years, so I suggest finding some time during the day to go wander around and take it all in. If it seems boring, it’s because you’ve never been there!

I’m no Don Quixote

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Among my favorite features of the rural North Dakota landscape are windmills, functional and otherwise. As with the fallen farm scenes, there’s just something attractive about the windmills that catches my eye. Perhaps it’s because, as with the old abandoned farmhouses, I marvel at the fact that someone made it not too long ago in order to eke out a living from the harsh plains. Some are barely standing, others are still maintained. This is one of the latter.

It’s unfortunate I couldn’t get an angle without the power pole in the background, but at least I did capture the gradient of the evening sky. This windmill is on 26th street in Bismarck, actually, although I’m sure it’s outside the city limits. Since the enhanced 911 conversion, rural roads are given street names and numbers, making it hard to determine where that line is drawn.

Comet McNOT

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All the space weather and astronomy websites have been posting remarkable pictures of Comet McNaught, a near-earth object that put on a fabulous display as it passed through our solar system. The sun started to melt the comet more and more as it approached, and it is now even visible in daylight…if you live in the southern hemisphere.

I tried to capture this comet with my camera…repeatedly. People from as far north as Great Falls, and perhaps even further north, were posting their pictures of it…so what was my problem? Clouds.

I would dutifully get up early to go find a nice high point from which to stalk this celestial event, pull out my little locator map that I’d found on the web somewhere, and wait for the comet to come over the eastern horizon. Many mornings I never even got out the door; a look outside would indicate far too many clouds for the trip to be worthwhile. On some particularly frustrating mornings, the sky would be perfectly clear…except for a thick band along the horizon! It seemed I could NOT catch a break. Soon I began to read on the websites that Comet McNaught would no longer be visible from the northern hemisphere. So I guess I missed it…or did I?

This was a sunrise photo I posted on the morning of January 12th. I’d run over to the church to sweep the snow from front steps and had my camera pack with me (of course). The sun was doing some cool things, so I found some high ground on my way home and grabbed some nice wide sunrise shots for later. As it turns out, there might be a comet in there somewhere!

Obviously I didn’t use my telephoto lens or adjust my aperture to try to find the comet, but I think that I did get it. Had I tried to find it and set the camera accordingly, who knows? Maybe I’d have been able to get a shot of the tail. Maybe I would have had to show up a little earlier, before the sun began to blaze in the eastern sky. In any case, that’s apparently as close to Comet McNaught as I’m ever going to be.

Hangin’ with Daddy and Scooter

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We three amigos were playing the part of couch pilot Saturday. Either PJ was having a really good dream, a strong case of gas, or a nice nap with his dad. I like to think the latter is the case. My wife was kind enough to grab my camera and document the possibility that yes, my boy likes me!

One concern we had was how Scooter would take to a baby. Having a jealous pet is one thing, having one that can fly and dive-bomb is another! True to his sweet personality, Scooter accepted PJ from day one and gives him a wide berth. If we let PJ sleep on our bed for an afternoon nap, Scooter perches atop the closet door, fluffs up, and guards the baby for us.

This is an interesting stage in a newborn, where they start to develop personality and become more expressive. I can’t wait until he starts to babble and smile and all that! Even more I look forward to taking him hiking with me, maybe giving him a little digital camera of his own, and having some father-son time as we ramble around Bismarck-Mandan and the rest of the world.

The new Dakota Beacon is on the stands

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The new issue of the Dakota Beacon is out! It can be found at Barnes & Noble, at many convenience store counters, and in dispensers at places like the post office on 3rd & Rosser or Denny’s on south 7th.

I love the Beacon. It features articles by many talented local authors and commentators from a perspective that’s hard to get anywhere else. Among the authors are my former Creative Writing teacher from Mandan and former ND governor Ed Schafer.

This issue is special to me because I took the photo on the cover! It was an honor to get a call from Steve Cates, the magazine’s devoted publisher. He has a passion for North Dakota issues and the way his magazine tackles them, much like I have a passion for the lighter side of Bismarck-Mandan. We also share a love of Applebee’s appetizers, and I love when he picks up the check!

I invite you to grab an issue of the Dakota Beacon and see for yourself. Sure, they’re free at several locations, but I suggest you subscribe. Since the magazine first started and my mom brought me a copy to read, I’ve been an ardent supporter and subscriber. Try it out, I’m sure you’ll be equally pleased.

Identify That Statue #5

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Sorry about the goofy angle, but this one is just too easy. So easy, in fact, that I Photoshopped out a few edges of buildings from this picture to avoid giving it away entirely.

This statue is in an area of very heavy traffic, yet I had forgotten about it entirely. I stumbled upon it by accident while running errands Saturday. Can you identify it?

Thursday night sunset

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It’s been a while since I contributed to my Thursday Night Sunset series, so here we go! Tired of shooting across the city or from U-Mary hill, I ventured west of Mandan a ways for this shot. There are fewer power lines and things out there, and I had just enough time to find some scenic high ground before the sun began to bathe the sky in color. After that I bolted home and went to Applebee’s with my wife to enjoy my favorite Bourbon Street Steak and some boneless wings…yum!

Go ahead…I dare ya

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If you follow Washington Street all the way south to Sibley Park, you’ll see that it turns into what the county calls a No Maintenance road. They mean it. The wheel tracks in this road are cut so deep that my truck bottoms out if I slide into them, and I have 31-inch tires. They’re lot level, either. It’s a real riot going down this road, if you’re brave enough.

In the summer I take frequent trips down this road to the river bottoms, and I’m not alone. Sometimes I’ll take the truck, sometimes my dirt bike. It’s fun and there are plenty of photo opportunities down there. But when those ruts fill with snow? No way! I’m no stranger to offroading in deep, crusty snow, but this is a recipe for a chilly walk home.

The driver of the Jeep you see down the road a ways was having a grand old time, and even did something I’d never seen before: he hung a hard right and ventured off into the wilderness. I don’t know if he ever drove out of it, but to me that seemed like the craziest idea in recent off-roading memory. The fields on either side are full of fallen trees and soft, sandy soil…the perfect combination for even a big 4×4 to become hopelessly stuck. I hope they made it out okay.

Once the snow’s gone and the ground dries out I’ll be out on this road again. If you’re gutsy and have a truck, you may want to try it! But do so at your own risk.