Condolences to the Houle family from Bev Morinville Azure (72):Dunseith, ND

To the Houle family . Our condolences in the loss of your Mother, Grandmother and Great grandmother. Clarence and Bev (Morinville) Azure

Reply from Marge Landsverk Fish (57): Horicon, WI

Hi Gary,

I am writing in response to Erling’s letter which was such a tribute to N.D.

I wanted to tell you that he is talented in many ways.

He is blind but uses the computer. That must be very interesting to know how he does that.

He plays guitar by ear very well. He is invited to preform at the state capitol every year and other places.

He has written a small book about his growing up in the Turtle Mountains which is very good. I have a copy which is being passed around to my kids. It even has a picture of my dad in it with me when I was a baby.

I felt like blowing his horn for him as he is my 1st. cousin. His dad Gunder and my dad Knute were brothers.

I live about 40 miles from him . I live in Horicon Wi. and he and Joanne live in Portage.

Sincerly,

Marge(Landsverk) Fish

Reply from Tom Hagen (51): Mesa, AZ, Williston, ND & Allegany, NY

Hi, Gary, just wanted to add my “RIGHT ON’ to Erling Landsverk’s
letter to NG. I knew several of the people written about and quoted in
that article around Williams County where I was administrator of New
Public School Dist.#8 from 1970-1979.

Tom Hagen, (51)

Reply from Bill Grimme (65): Birmingham, AL

Gary,

I might as well put in my comments on the ND video. I didn’t send it to promote dialogue or provoke any controversy, although, I guess the video did that by itself. Thanks for the comments in today’s posting, Gary, but, I think you are stretching it with “brilliant”. I sent the video because I thought it was funny and it had some good pictures of snow. But, when I watched it before I sent it, I set up the context in my mind that this was a Michael Moore effort and I knew that it would be humor without any accuracy or truth, like nearly all of Moore’s efforts, academy awards notwithstanding. (Although, I guess it didn’t surprise me that ND might be the least visited state-it’s a long way for most folks. So, I kind of believed that.) This production used the same formula that most popular “documentaries” use – interview a bunch of people, pick the ones that either make the point or are stupidly funny, sometimes rearrange the questions and answers, and go into production. What surprises me is that people would even consent to be interviewed by Michael Moore and his crew, but, I also know that the interviews are often sometimes scheduled under false pretense. (Example: Borat) Someone mentioned Jay Leno’s on-the-street interviews. Does anyone really believe that all those people are that stupid (maybe some do because they are usually done in LA, although I know there are some very smart people in LA.) But, if someone puts a camera in your face and a microphone close to your mouth (and that someone is JAY LENO) and asks you a bunch of questions, there will be one or two where you go blank. Guess which response gets aired? (Usually the one where the eighth grade history teacher from Kansas, or Oregon, or Florida, or possibly even North Dakota can’t recognize a picture of George Washington.) So, now he or she gets to go home looking like a fool. Any recourse? Nope. You signed a release.

Even some of our “revered” news interviews are staged. CBS’ “Sixty Minutes” was notorious. Mike Wallace routinely filmed his questions after the “answers” were selected. I had an opportunity, about 20 years ago, where the company being interviewed also filmed all The Sixty Minutes interviews while the Sixty Minutes crew filmed. When Sixty Minutes aired, sure enough, answers were edited out of context, questions were reworded, and comments were aired stating contents of documents to suit the needs of the show. The interviewed company requested that CBS air a correction to show the true interviews. Guess what, there is no requirement to do anything of the sort. “If you want your side aired, buy some of our air time yourselves”. Of course, that air time will be at one in the morning right alongside the Veg-A-Matic ads.

There is an old adage that says, “Believe none of what you hear, half of what you read, and all of what you see.” I don’t think that is true today. You can’t believe half of what you see. Most of the “news” in our country is really not news-it is entertainment. I actually believe you can believe more of what you read in the papers than what you “see” on TV.

As they say down here – “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!”

Bill

Reply from Colette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe, NM

Hi Bev,

YES! I’m sure any photos you have would be of interest to all of us. You did a great job of “uploading” the others, but in case you need a refresher …. our kids are a great resource for technical help, right?

And, in response to your request, my address is:

Colette Hosmer

1558 Avenida de las Americas

Santa Fe, NM 87507

I would be very happy to receive any originals of the Hosmer clan that you might be tired of storing.

Thanks, Bev,

Colette

Request from Ardis Metcalfe Steggall:Coupeville, WA

Hi Gary,

I would like a copy of the Tickled Pink CD also.

Thanks,

Ardis Steggall
845 Seabluff Terrace
Coupeville, WA98239

Ardis, Please let us know if you are unable to down load the songs and place them on a CD from Bill Grimme’s WEB sight below. Gary

“Tickle Pink” WEB site posted by Bill Grimme (65): wgrimme@charter.netBirmingham, AL

Gary,

Mel Kuhn has graciously sent a copy of the “Tickle Pink” CD to me and I have posted the first 6 tracks. I plan to post 6 new ones each Monday until we get through the entire CD of 29 tracks. The quality of these tracks is amazing, considering they were made around 30 years ago and the original was taped on a one track portable cassette player (I believe it was done by a very talented sound technician from the Class of ’65.).

Some info we have on Tickle Pink:

Band members:

Elaine Metcalfe

Janice Metcalfe Poitra

Kathy Metcalfe (deceased)

Cheri Metcalfe Evans

Shelly Fulsebakke Albertson

Roberta Hagen Striker

According to the best sources, the band was named after a variety of Boone’s Farm called “Tickle Pink”. Boone’s Farm still makes some fine wine, although Tickle Pink has been retired.

To download and play the tracks, walk through the following:

Using your browser, navigate to http://webpages.charter.net/wgrimme/

You should see a page that looks like this:

If you place the mouse on a track and click the left button, the selection will play using Quicktime, but you will not download the track with this method. To download, place the mouse cursor on the track, click the right mouse button and you will see a pop-up menu. Select “Save Target as….” and you will be taken through the download process to put the track on your computer. From that point, you can play the track with about any music program, such as Windows Media Player, iTunes, etc.

Let me know if you have any trouble.

Bill

Kenny Nerpel, you did a fine job of recording these songs with what you had to work with 30 plus years ago. They actually turned out pretty good. These gals are good.

Bill Grimme, you are a genius with your abilities to be able to provide this to us. Gary

Message/Picture from Bill Grimme (65): wgrimme@charter.net Birmingham, AL

Gary,

Irina and I did a little whale watching in Monterey, CA, last month. Reviewing this picture got me thinking about the Alaska Cruise. Hope we get this close to a whale up there. I plan to turn around and look at it next time I get a chance. Note: Picture SLIGHTLY edited, but, not too much.

Bill

Reply/Letter from Blanche Wicks Schley (42): Grand Forks, ND

Gary,

After reading today’s Dunseith Alumni news, I received this e-mail. The subject: “About North Dakota” is very much in keeping with the letter written to the National geographic. I remember when my brother, Henry, was in service he often mentioned that so many people did not realize that North Dakota was really a state of the USA. I enjoy your daily e-mails. I do hope that you all have a very enjoyable reunion on your cruise to Alaska.

Letter to the editor: People of N.D.
showing the way for the rest in the U.S.

Eric Anderson

The Jamestown Sun – 02/07/2009

The other day I ran across a news article on the Internet about North Dakota ‘s $1 billion state budget surplus. Sitting in my home state of Michigan ,wondered, “What are North Dakotans doing that we aren’t?” Of course, there are many practical answers to that question, including your energy and agricultural revenues. But I settled on a more emotional answer – and the answer lies with the people of North Dakota themselves.

Thirty-eight years ago, I was a young airman stationed at Minot Air Force Base. In the 14 months that I was assigned there, I grew to know and love the people of North Dakota . In a time when those in the military were not shown appreciation in other parts of America , North Dakotans took a different stance – they treated us with respect and appreciation. I’ve always remembered that, and to this day I have a warm place in my heart for the people of North Dakota .

But it goes deeper than that. In my time at Minot , I grew to understand how proud and how hard working the people of North Dakota are. Perhaps it’s the love of the land, the harshness of the winters or the spirit than binds people of the Plains together. Whatever it is, you North Dakotans are a breed apart. I’m just glad I had a chance to live there so many years ago and become acquainted with the people.

Yes, all of us in America face grave challenges in the days ahead. I understand that despite your budget surplus, North Dakotans face the same uncertainties as the rest of the country. Education, job growth, health care and infrastructure needs are concerns for all of us. Yet, I believe that if the rest of the nation had the same resolve, spirit and work ethic of North Dakotans , we would not fear the future, but embrace its possibilities.

May the people of North Dakota continue to show the way for the rest of the United States . Perhaps, someday soon, we’ll take notice and follow your lead.

Eric Anderson

Folks, I seldom, if ever, post jokes with these daily blogs, but I’m making an exception for this one sent to me from

Mike & Sandra Zeiler (62) Vandal: Elk River, MN

Phones in Church
A man from Topeka Kansas decided to write a book
about “churches”. He
started by flying to San Francisco and started

working east.
Going to a very
large church, he began taking photographs and
making notes.

He saw a golden telephone on the vestibule wall
and was
intrigued with a
sign which read, “Calls: $10,000 a
minute”. Seeking out the
pastor he asked
about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered
that this
golden phone is,
in fact, a direct line to heaven and if he pays
the price he
can talk
directly to GOD. The man thanked the pastor and
continued on
his way. As20he
continued to visit churches in Seattle, Denver,
St. Louis,
Chicago,
Milwaukee, and around the United States , he found
more phones
with the same
sign, and the same answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in North Dakota. Upon entering
a church
in anywhere,
ND, behold – he saw the usual golden telephone.
But this time,
the sign
read: Calls: 35 cents.

Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor.
‘Reverend, I have
been in cities
all across the country and in each church I have
found this
golden telephone
and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven
and that I
could talk to
GOD, but in all the other churches the cost was
$10,000 a
minute. Your sign
reads only 35 cents a call. Why?’ (I love this
part.)

The pastor, smiling benignly, replied, “Son,

you’re in
North Dakota now.
This is ‘God’s country’, It’s a
local call.”