Membership Sideblog
- The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
July 31, 2010 | 7:45 pmGrowing up in North Dakota during the 50s and 60s, I was privileged to experience something that's all too rare now - the old-fashioned family doctor. "Doc" delivered babies, set broken bones, treated pneumonia, and helped Grandpa with his newfangled hearing aid. Doc knew the community, the families, and the individuals whose basic medical needs he treated from birth through the end of life. Some of you who grew up in that time, and perhaps in smaller communities, may remember a Doc of your own. . . . → Read More: The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
- Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
July 28, 2010 | 10:51 pm
Let’s talk about cats, cats and more cats! Why?? Because Prairie’s Edge Humane Society is full of cats and we have many more arriving daily. As of today, there are 44 cats on the adoption floor with more awaiting their surgeries so they are ready for adoption. There are cats in every corner of the shelter who need homes! We are in desperate need of homes for these cats. We cannot emphasize this enough. So we are having a cat sale and we are calling it Kitty Mania ! Kitty Mania is this weekend, beginning Thursday, July . . . → Read More: Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
- On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
July 12, 2010 | 11:50 am
The free market does many things well, but we know it does not do everything. Even market fundamentalists concede that the public must build roads, put out fires, police streets, and provide national defense. Most people, at least those to the left of the Tea Party edge of political spectrum, accept that the government must also be involved in education, disaster relief, and health care. That is, certain services must be rendered — necessary services, universal services — whether or not those services are financially profitable. If your house is on fire, you do not have time to . . . → Read More: On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
- Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
July 12, 2010 | 10:56 am
Okay, so most of the news about the Vintage Band Festival so far has been about the bands. But there’s a number of other events during the weekend. Like the VBF Contra Dance, for instance. The Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance will feature music by The Dodworth Saxhorn Band of Ann Arbor, Michigan and will be led by dance instructor/caller Robin Nelson. Dancing will begin at 8:30 p.m. with a “Grand March” led by 60 costumed members of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Brigade, followed by a variety of period dances including polkas, contra dances, schottisches, reels and waltzes. . . . → Read More: Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
- The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
June 27, 2010 | 8:00 am
Even before I read the first word of this article I had a visceral reaction to it. The accompanying photographs — my eyes tend to skip over photographs in magazines — affected me in a manner that is difficult to articulate. I knew, immediately I knew, I was not going to like what I was about to read. In fact, for that reason I put the piece aside. Not now, I thought. Maybe tomorrow, I said to myself. But, then, I couldn’t not read it, either. If you have not done so already, I hope you will read . . . → Read More: The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
- Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
June 27, 2010 | 7:54 am
June may be Adopt A Cat month here at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society and we have lots of wonderful cats, but we also have PUPPIES! We have a male Newfoundland mix named Chong who is 6 months old, he was a stray so we don’t know a lot about him. He loves to play! We also have three Australian Cattle Dog mixes who are two months old. Marcia, Bobby and Cindy were born at the shelter and spent some time in one of our fabulous foster homes. They are now back at the shelter and ready to find . . . → Read More: Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
- Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
June 23, 2010 | 9:35 pm
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay for Life, teams of people camp out at local parks or fairgrounds and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events. Relay for Life of Rice . . . → Read More: Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
- Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
June 16, 2010 | 9:04 amNow Showing! Live Kittens playing! You can now watch our adoptable animals at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society (PEHS) live 24/7 on the new Critter Cam installed in conjunction with KYMN Radio. Thanks to the fine folks at KYMN radio we now have a live feed of our adoptable animals showing on our website and KYMN’s website, Tim and Jeff are AWESOME! Currently the Critter Cam is featuring kittens available for adoption. Watch them play, sleep, eat, and everything else they do 24 hours a day 7 days a week! It’s better than anything you can see on TV! . . . → Read More: Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
- Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
June 11, 2010 | 11:34 am
A BIG Thanks to all of you who came to last Monday’s Volunteer Organization Meeting, and to those who contacted us saying you wanted to help but could not make the meeting. We have pretty full support for Communications and Design and Build sub-committees, and we got a web graphic designer to help with the site. Alice Thomas is facilitating the Communications group, and Steve Edwins is facilitating the Design and Build group. What we are missing and really need are Fund Raising people. We have two grant writiers, but we need folks who are committed to the . . . → Read More: Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
- Photo albums: 2010 Prairie’s Edge Humane Society Walk for the Animals, by Bridgette Hallcock Photography
June 11, 2010 | 8:09 am
Thank you to all of those who came to Alexander Park on a beautiful Saturday morning in May to help support Prairie’s Edge Humane Society! I have placed all of the fun photographs on my Bridgette Hallcock Photography Facebook page so that everyone can see how much fun we had! See the two 2010 Walk for the Animals albums here and here. If you would like a print, please contact me, as the proceeds will benefit the animals at PEHS.
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Gun shows: Tupperware parties for criminals?
By Griff Wigley, on March 4, 2010, 10:54 am
 In mid-January, Northfielder Mary Lewis Grow authored a commentary in the Star Tribune titled Security alert: Gun show loopholes. (Mary Lewis is co-founder and board member for Citizens for a Safer Minnesota.)
In today’s Strib, there’s an article titled Effort to tighten Minnesota’s gun law getting folks riled up.
[St. Paul Rep. Michael Paymar] said the proposal addresses a significant loophole: While many gun show dealers have federal licenses, which require them to run background checks on purchasers, nothing requires someone who simply shows up at a gun show to sell a gun to do the same. Gun shows, according to one gun control group, are "Tupperware parties for criminals."
I’m a middle-of-the-roader when it comes to gun control. So it seems like a good time to learn more.
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In mid-January, Northfielder Mary Lewis Grow authored a commentary in the Star Tribune titled Security alert: Gun show loopholes. (Mary Lewis is co-founder and board member for Citizens for a Safer Minnesota.)
but I’d have a hard time during the sabbatical not paying attention to see if that was actually the case. I think the more places in Northfield...
Griff,
What does it mean to be a “middle of the roader” with respect to gun control? BBs but not bullets? Bullets but not bazookas?
Paul, I think Phil did a fine job in comment #4 of explaining a “middle of the roader” position that I’m pretty comfortable with. (I know, a preposition is a bad word to end a sentence with.)
The NRA position is that anyone should be able to buy a gun at a gun show–and they do–all kinds of criminals. We make you get a driver’s license in order to drive a car (and the dealer you buy your car from makes sure you have one.) It is reasonable to make gun purchasors show they are legal to own a gun.
Maybe, Griff, since you are middle of road kind of guy on this it means that you think some criminals should get to buy guns?
Oddly enough, most gun owners agree that it is reasonable to apply the same rules to gun shows as gun dealers–waiting period included.
Thus you suffer the fate of all messengers, Griff.
I also consider myself a “middle of the roader” on this issue. First, consider the extremes. On one side we have those that believe there should be no private ownership of guns, that the “…well regulated militia…” section of the second amendment is paramount, and since most private owners contribute nothing to the “militia” they have no rights under the second amendment. On the other side we have the folks that believe there should be no restrictions on gun ownership, those who tend to like the “…the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” section of the amendment. I fall somewhere in the middle.
I have owned pistols in the past (I used to love indoor target shooting) and was even granted a concealed carry permit when I was stationed in Colorado, so I’m not exactly anti-gun. But I believe there should be restrictions. I can’t imagine why anybody would need to own an assault rifle, for example. I also believe that background checks and safety courses should be required before purchase. I believe that if you have kids, you should be required to store any guns you own in a gun safe. I believe that if you’re armed any blood alcohol content should be enough to get you arrested and convicted of a felony.
All those positions would probably draw comparisons between me and Joseph Stalin from one extreme, and me and Adolph Hitler from the other!
Phil- Your approach sounds reasonable to me. The association of criminals with guns is somewhat of an emtionally loaded issue. I would also question the necessity of owning an M-16 or AK-47, unless they are disabled models held just for the association with a war veteran. There is a pretty good read here-
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/guns/procon/guns.html
There are some interesting statistics presented there. This last sentence is tell tale of the problem, IMO:
“Let’s be honest. If someone wants a gun, it’s obvious the person will not have difficulty buying a gun, either legally or through the extensive United States black market.”
I agree with you Phil, and I own a lot of guns.
I’m just amazed that the topic of gun control can actually be less controversial than that of small-town governance!
Phil- The difference is that small town governance just involves people shooting off their mouthes!
John, sometimes it feels more like “death by a thousand cuts”!
Or, getting nibbled to death by ducks!
No worries; we’ll take care of those killer ducks with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch! Brother John…if you please, consult the Book of Armaments.
Brother John: Armaments, chapter two, verses nine through twenty-one.
Cleric: [reading] And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, “O Lord, bless this thy hand grenade, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.” And the Lord did grin. And the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths, and carp and anchovies, and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit-bats and large chu…
Brother John: Skip a bit, Brother…
Cleric: And the Lord spake, saying, “First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.
Brother John: Amen.
All: Amen.
Sorry, I can’t resist the temptation to use a Monty Python reference.
Phil- LOL! Gives a whole new urgency to keeping one’s ducks in a row!
It is interesting to see how people react to this proposed legislation. From what I gather, there is very little if any proof that criminals buy guns at gun shows. I think most criminals obtain guns either by stealing them out of homes and businesses, or by purchasing them from other criminals. Imposing new restrictions on gun show purchases will not stop either of these sources.
Gun shows are not free for alls. The vast majority of sellers at gun shows have federal firearms licenses and must do the required background checks on purchasers. There can be some private individuals that simply decide to get rid of their gun collection and rent a table and sell off the stuff. Those sales typically are unregulated and are what the Paymar legislation is aimed at. (no pun)
But, but biggest concern about guns for me is still that fact that people in America seem quite capable of using them on each other. I’m much more concerned about raising a bunch of people that think it is OK to shoot people as a way of dealing with an issue than I am someone purchasing a gun at a gun show.
(Ray Cox is a blogger. See a recent post titled Three Links Apartments)
Ray- Did I really understand you correctly, that we should start teaching people right from wrong? Radical!
Ray, I particularly liked your third paragraph, as I worry about the same thing myself. Frankly, I wish we were raising people that felt there was no room for violence of any sort when it comes to settling a dispute, but I’m sure there are many that would disagree with me.
John, I’m thinking that would depend on whether we were teaching a particular version of “right and wrong” or something more universal.
How about the open-carry (unconcealed weapon) movement? See the Sunday NY Times: Locked, Loaded, and Ready to Caffeinate.
Griff, I’m not sure if the open carry movement would even get any traction here in Minnesota. It looks like their goal is to get “may issue” concealed carry laws eased in their states to “shall issue” by a). Openly carrying their weapons in accordance with their state open carry laws, b). Making the public nervous, and c). Getting the public (including businesses) to pressure their legislators to change the concealed carry laws. Obviously we must be talking about handguns; you could concealed carry a long gun, I suppose, but why the heck would you want to?
Anyhow, in Minnesota we’ve had a “shall issue” law in effect since 2005 or so. In addition, you have to have a permit to either open or concealed carry a pistol, so there’s no large group of people in this state that could open carry but not concealed carry.
If anyone reading the blog is in law enforcement, they may be able to correct any errors in my understanding of current gun laws if I’ve made any.