Past Propaganda

NYTimes.com has a long, multi-part feature on doctored photographs from the Depression, some of it involving drought in North Dakota in the 1930s. In case you're interested in that sort of thing.

Bobcat

Finally, someone reports some negative news about North Dakota.

CNN: Back to work but still a bit nervous

We're No. 7

... According to Forbes.

The Best States for Business, including an older interview with John Hoeven.

Were we more interesting when our economy was lousy?

Greetings from Asbury Park

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's solution to his state's near-10 percent unemployment rate? "Go to North Dakota."

We're No. 16!

According to CNBC, and tied with Washington.

America's Top States for Business '09

We're Awesome ... Wait

"People from Bismarck are pretty relaxed ... They're not worried, not at all."

It's always embarrassing when a magazine hypes your low unemployment and then the town's biggest manufacturer closes its plant.

BusinessWeek: What's North Dakota Doing Right?

Turf or AstroTurf?

Protesting and rallying are quite the thing to do nowadays. Other than famous dead people, it's about the only thing on TV lately. Despite the many people who will go out and shout about things for free, there seems to a market for people who will protest against things or rally for things for money.

Rob Port, a blogger who has been active protesting things by drinking tea, made the big news this week accusing an environmental group of buying support.

NY Times: Enviro Ad Sparks Debate -- Grass Roots or AstroTurf?

The Future of Health Care

... is North Dakota? Conrad, Pomeroy, MeritCare and the state Blues all enter into discussion of health care co-ops.

NY Times: Alternative Plan as Health Option Muddies Debate

The Great In-Migration

We are being invaded by economic refugees, poor, tired, huddle masses yearning for call center jobs. What's more, the state is going out and recruiting these outsiders, who will no doubt reshape our culture in unknown ways (like refusing to wave at other drivers while driving around in the country or mispronouncing "Sakakawea.")

Washington Post: In N.D., the Road to Economic Recovery

Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch: North Dakota wants you

Science

NPR reports on a program that helps student scientists to study the environment. George Seielstad of UND worked with NASA to create the program and is interviewed for the story.

Among the students' activities is flying around in a DC-8 and collecting data on carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

NPR: Earth Science From the Sky: The Next Generation

Old

Missed this commentary on last spring's floods.

Economy ... Ho, Hum

Getting repetitive now: The Financial Times reports on the state's kick-ass economy.

Warm welcome for businesses as wintry plains lure investors

But the real news is that apparently we are now America's chickpea capital. Who knew? Go eat some hummus.

Alternate Reality

Once again, North Dakota proves itself to be Bizarro America when it comes to the economy.

USA Today: Fargo, N.D., real estate market, home sales going strong

Satchel Paige

A new biography of Satchel Paige was recently published. The hall-of-famer played in Bismarck briefly in the '30s and helped lead the way for integrated baseball in the 1940s.

The author gives a long interview on NPR's "Fresh Air." Discussion of Bismarck is around the 15-minute point.

Elk

Should we allow hunters to shoot elk in overpopulated Theodore Roosevelt National Park? The New York Times says no.

And, since the New York Times forms my every opinion, I say no, we should not allow hunters to shoot elk in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

"Shaking Hands With a Dinosaur"

We need to find a way to make this dinosaur thing pay. Perhaps something involving Jeff Goldblum.

NPR: Fossil Hunters Uncover Rare Dinosaur Skin

Nekoma Pyramid

The Web site BoingBoing (whatever that is) mentions the Nekoma missile installation in Cavalier County, calling it "a monument to man's fear and ignorance."

Or maybe a monument to North Dakota's historical dependence on the federal money teat.

Conan

About a week late, as usual.

Outlier

As usual, North Dakota is out of step with the rest of the country, where the economy is in the crapper and states are flat broke. The state is the opposite of California in every possible way, just like it's always been.

WSJ: In North Dakota, the Good Times Are Still Rolling

Colbert/Dorgan

Byron Dorgan made another appearance on the Colbert Report last night, plugging his book about financial regulation and touting North Dakota's homespun, earthy values.

Did he forgo the comb-over for a hairpiece? His bald spot seemed more effectively (though not realistically) concealed. Free your scalp, Byron. It's 2009. Bald men no longer have to be ashamed.