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PAGE 4 PRESS PERSPECTIVES JANUARY 25, 2012 .
FROM THE
EDITOR'S DESK...
BY ALLISON OLIAB
EDITOR, WALSH ¢OUNTY PRESS
If" you are like the majority of the people in this country and spent at
least a minute or more on the Intemet last Wednesday, you may have no-
ticed a few things. Words like SOPA, PIPA, Intemet blackout, and cen-
sorship were running rampant.
My sister was complaining that she wasn't able to use Wikipedia be-
cause of an online protest where a number of sites shut down for the day.
Cue my outrage.., and seriously this time.
The Internet is a place for freedom. A place where one person can
Tweet to their heart's content about the most meaningless things in the
world. It is a place for everything from family friendly entertainment to
the reason for child protection software. We may set up filters and locks,
but it is all still there.
What Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act pro-
pose is a ,ague attempt at putting a stop to counterfeiters and pirates. What
it would actually do is censor the web, which is not a good thing.
Ask China.
More than 384 million people have access to the Interact in China,
however, only a portion of what the World Wide Web has to offer is avail-
able to online users.
The government controls the filters. Anything undesirable i.e. Falun
Gong, Taiwan, Torture, or Tiananmen are automatically blocked. If you
want to view Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or YouTube... tough luck.
When China implemented the filters they did it under the guise of pro-
tecting the people from pornographic sites, but for some reason I highly
doubt that people who are blocked while searching for the Dalai Lama
are in danger of stumbling across naughty things.
What the American government attempted to do is extremely similar.
There are enough ways to bust a counterfeiter or online pirate without hav-
ing the government behind an Internet coup. The slightest infraction can
take down entire sites. If your three-year-old is singing along with "I'm
Sexy and I know it" and he didn't have the recording artist's permission
than good luck trying to share it with Aunt Sue on Facebook.
Congress wants tO give high filter power to the entertainment indus-
try. This is the same entertainment industry that has sued everyone from
90-year-old women to 12-year-old boys for downloading illegally.
Give someone an inch and they'll take a mile. The entire concept is an
avalanche waiting to happen.
The country was built on the basic First Amendment freedoms that
Congress is wasting their time trying t6 strip away while the economy is
dead in the water, the postal service is tanking, and any number of Amer-
ican problems could be stripped away rather than having their time
wasted micromanaging the insignificant. Outrage.
In response to my sister's: "Aww I can't even Wikipedia something"
I said, "Now imagine if you couldn't Wikipedia something forever!"
Like" the Walsh Count3' Press on Facebook and check out out" blog at http://walsh
count3,press, wordpres, com
Hello,
I remember when A1 Gore
warned us about global warming.
Now it is trendier to call it "cli-
mate change". And it is changing.
Now, how much man contributes
to the change can be a point of con-
tention. But I am going to tell you
things that I can really see.
One of my grandsons has a
snake. A garter snake. He caught
this young snake on the road last
summer and decided to keep it for
a pet. Last week, the first week of
January, the snake shed its skin!
Really! It shed its skin. Of course
the heat lamp may have something
to do with it.
And then one evening last week,
as I relax in the living room, I see
the moon rising on the eastern hori-
zon. A harvest moon! Big, bright,
glowing orange, regular old har-
vest moon. Now, I'm a cowboy.
Not a romantic writer of poetry.
Horses can be beautiful. Ladies can
be beautiful. Second cutting alfalfa
can be beautiful. A warm, gentle,
three day rain can be beautiful. But
moons aren't. But this one was. I
Hat
just hope you saw it. And I can't
blame this on the heat lamp.
So I'm sitting there thinking. No
snow. Snakes shedding skin. Har-
vest moon. Could it be that A1 had
it right? Geese going north in the
evening! Water running down the
creek. What the heck?
Then, to top things off, the next
evening as I am doing chores, I no-
rice a heifer that is really close to
calving. I mean really, really close
to calving. The babies feet are
sticking out! That is a really, really
good sign that she is close. With the
help of Doctor Shirley, I pulled the
calf.
Now this was out of a heifer I
had recently purchased. For a
healthy sum of money. I don't like
early calving. I don't like to get up
Tips
at night for several nights in a row
at 2 a.m. and walk out to the
heifers. I like to buy heifers that
have been ultra-sounded for a short
calving period. Like three days, or
ten days. But since these heifers
were supposed to calf in March for
twenty days, I thought that isn't too
bad. Shirley is home and can take
that late night check. She goes back
to sleep easier than I. I suppose that
is the result of having a clear con-
science. Something I haven't had
since the mid nineteen sixties.
So I really don't know what to
tell you. To quote Clay Jenkinsons'
great column, "Like the geese, I'm
just confused!"
As of this writing I have three
new calves. All out of ultra-
sounded March calving heifers!
Oh, they are alright. But I'm sitting
here this morning thinking this is
going to be a long calving season.
The March heifers have started
calving. They are supposed to calf
all of March. That makes January,
February, and March. That is ninety
days on this small group of heifers,
And then our home raised heifers
start on April 1. Now I understand
why they call it April Fool's Day. I
imagine they will calf until the mid-
dle of May. That makes four and
half months of calving heifers.
Do you know how many heifers
I have? Twenty-onet Twenty-one!
And I am going to be calving
heifers for four and a half months!
I talked to the local vet about
this yesterday. He was the one the
checked these heifers. I explained
how his mistake was costing me
much sleep and many "happy
hours". He simply asked if the
three calves were alive. When I
replied they were, he simply said,
,I should be entitled to a bonus!"
And you wonder why I drink!
Later, Dean
Happenings at Our
Good Samaritan
Monica. Simon ADC
February Schedule: "
Feb. 2- 3:00 Monthly Communion Service
Feb. 9 - 3:00 Monthly Birthday Party hosted by Park River American
Legion Auxiliary
Feb. 14- 3:00 Valentine Party
Feb 23-3:00 Auxiliary Lunch and program hosted by the Federated
Church of Park River •
We are also accepting book donations for our Spring Book Sale. Date
TBA
]Pulgio Walsh County Health District
.... ,. P .... ,.. ,,.,,c,. Short Shots
SIDS-Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
In 1992 the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that
infants be put to sleep on their backs. There was a major decrease in the
incidence of SIDS because of this one change.
Today the American Academy of Pediatrics is expanding its
recommendations to focus on a safe sleep environment. Infant deaths
can be decreased if all infant caregivers and parents focused on a safe
sleep environment just as seriously as they followed the back to sleep
campaign.
What is a safe sleep environment?
• Use a firm sleep surface. A firm crib mattress covered by a tight
fitting sheet is the recommended sleeping surface.
• Room sharing-not bed sharing is recommended. Baby's crib
should be in parents' bedroom close to parents' bed. Breastfeeding is
impo.rtant, but put baby back in the crib when you are done breastfeeding.
• No soft objects or loose bedding in the crib. This includes
pillows, quilts, comforters, sheep skins, stuffed toys, bumper pads and
other soft objects.
• Avoid overheating the baby. Normal room temps that the adult
is comfortable in are fine. Baby does not need lots of extra coverings.
• Put baby to sleep on their back.
• Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.
General Recommendations to Prevent SIDS
• Pregnant women should receive prenatal care
Avoid smoke exposure during pregnancy and after birth.
Avoid alcohol and illicit drug use during pregnancy and after
birth.
Breastfeed your baby
Educate your family and caregivers of your baby on what a safe
sleep environment is.
NOTHI00 00RKS
LIKE NEWSPIUIER
nnVI0000SlNG,
We welcome the new develop-
ment in the North Dakota oil patch
and celebrate the benefits that will
enrich mineral owners, landlords,
community businesses, oil compa-
nies and the state treasury. How-
ever, the negative unexpected
consequences of the rapid devel-
opment are becoming too serious
to ignore.
Intoxicated by the prosperity of
the oil boom, we have ignored two
major trends as we have been run-
ning gleefully to the bank with the
proceeds. The first is the crushing
load being placed on the infra-
structure in the oil patch; the sec-
ond is the undermining of the
legislative process.
Practically unregulated and
moving at break-neck speed, the
development is overtaxing the in-
frastructure throughout the oil
patch. Public services are being
stretched beyond capacity.
Highways are being destroyed
faster than they can be rebuilt;
heavy oil traffic is shoving other
users off the roads; schools are
rushing to accommodate over-en-
rollment; housing, much of it in-
adequate, is in short supply; crime
is mounting; county social services
are being impacted, and environ-
mental concerns are being shoved
under the rug.
The oil has been here for mil-
lions of years. It isn't going to
evaporate next week so there is no
justification for the development
panic that is gripping the state.
Some local leaders have become
alarmed at the destruction and are
calling for slowing down the run-
away industry by reducing the
number of drilling permits being
issued.
This can be done without dis-
rupting the industry. Areas suffer-
ing excessive damage could be
declared disaster regions and
drilling permits in these areas tim-
ited until the consequences can be
brought under control. In fringe
areas with manageable develop-
ment, the issuance of drilling per-
mits could be continued without
concem.
Not only is the oil boom de-
stroying some of our physical plant
but it is also threatening the leg-
islative process.
The flow ofoil revenue into the
state treasury has been so dazzling
that some interest groups are W-
ing to get a hog's share of the
money. They are proposing to junk
up the state constitution with pro-
posals that really warrant the re-
view and analysis of the state
legislature.
First, there is the measure that
would summarily end the local
property tax and mandate replace-
ment funding of local governments
by the state to a tune of $700 mil-
lion annually. This measure would
not be on the table without the
presence of oil money.
The sponsors have been claim-
ing that the state will not have to
reimburse the local governments
with tax money but Section 4 of
the proposal leaves no doubt that
the legislature would be required
to fund the revenue loss at the local
level. Oil money would be needed
to fund this proposal.
Wildlife and environmental in-
terests are proposing a constitu-
tional amendment that would
divert another $40 million annu-
ally out of the state treasury for a
raft of projects enumerated in the
proposal. They, too, see an oppor-
tunity to take advantage of the
flexibility in state funding result-
ing from oil revenues.
The problem with both of these
measures is that they would lock
up large sums money without re-
gard to the other priorities of the
state.
They are being proposed for a
vote of the people because the
sponsors feel that they don't have
a good enough case to convince
the legislature that their proposals
ought to have priority over money
for highways, state school aid,
Medicaid, higher education, and
other state programs.
These efforts to lock certain
revenues in the constitution would
impair the ability of the legislature
to balance all of the state's needs
or to respond to unexpected emer-
gencies, such as the major flood-
ing experienced by Bismarck,
Minot, Fargo and Devils Lake in
2011.
Both of these proposals belong
in the legislative process where all
of the state's priorities can be thor-
oughly discussed and balanced.
We not only need to save the in-
frastmdture in the oil patch but we
must also balance all needs when
it comes to allocating the state's
new-found wealth.
Extension Excbange
Wishing You a Healthy & (belated)
H-A-P-P-Y N-E-W Y-E-A-R
Hello, my name is Kari Helgoe and I am the new Family Consumer
Science Extension Agent in Walsh County. I am looking forward to be-
ing able to help connect you to the vast research-based educational re-
sources from NDSU that will help improve your quality of life. My fo-
cus will be on fulfilling questions and concerns regarding food and nu-
trition, family, financial, and youth development, and leadership needs.
Hailing from Cavalier, ND, I am excited to be working with my neigh-
bors in Walsh County. My background in youth development, education,
volunteerism, and leadership have brought me in contact with some of
you, but I look forward to meeting and working with many more of you
in the months ahead.
Since I didn't begin my duties until a week into 20121 hope you won't
fault me in wishing you a belated Happy New Year and continued suc-
cess in your endeavors to becoming healthier and happier this year. The
following is a great way to remember a few tips to a healthier NEW you!
ealth Make health a priority this year. Health should be more than
the absence of disease. Remember health is all-encompassing.
ttitude A positive attitude may not cure a disease. However,
thinking positive can help you deal with misfortune, make the most
of your situation and enjoy life more.
hysical activity The U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans rec-
ommends for adults: "Most health benefits occur with at least 150 min-
utes (2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of moderate intensity physical ac-
tivity, such as brisk walking. Additional benefits occur with more phys-
ical activity. Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle-strengthening (resis-
tance) physical activity are beneficial."
eople Numerous studies indicate social networks, whether formal
or informal, make people less vulnerable to ill health and prema-
ture death. Be wary, however, of social support that drains you through
demanding people or encouraging you to engage in harmful behaviors.
our body Schedule physical checkups as needed: eyes, teeth, mam-
mogram, colonoscopy, general physical, etc.
O! Rather than adding "take a time management class" to your
"to do" list, consider starting a "don't do" list. You may discover
doing LESS can bring MORE enjoyment to your life. Especially if do-
ing less allows you to spend time doing more to contribute to your health
and happiness and that of family and friends!
at healthy MyPlate.gov recommends: To move to a healthier weight,
you need to make smart choices from every food group. Smart
choices are the foods with the lowest amounts of solid fats or added sug-
ars: fat-free (skim) milk instead of whole and unsweetened rather than
sweetened applesauce. Also, consider how the food was prepared. Choose
skinless baked chicken instead of fried and choose fresh fruit instead of
a fruit pastry. For more information: www.choosemyplate.gov
isdom Take time to listen to your own body. Rather than set your
goals based on how fast other people walk or jog or how much
someone else eats, concentrate on what makes YOU healthy.
Mr 1! " " "
V o hands Keepmg hands clean ls one ofthe most tmportant ways
lto prevent the spread of infection and illness," according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here's how to wash your
hands with soap and water from the CDC. Wet your hands with clean run-
ning water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available. Rub hands
together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces. Continue rubbing hands
for 15-20 seconds. Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to
a Mend. Rinse hands welt Under running writer. Dry your hands using a
paler towel or air dryer. If possible, use your towel to turn offthe faucet.
nough sleep According to the 2009 "Sleep in America" poll by the
National Sleep Foundation: The number of people reporting sleep
problems has increased 13% since 2001. In the past eight years, the num-
ber of Americans who sleep less than six hours a night jumped from 13%
to 20%, and those who reported sleeping eight hours or more dropped
from 38% to 28%. Lack of sleep is creating a major safety problem as
well--drowsy driving. The poll finds that more than one-half of adults
(54%) - potentially 110 million licensed drivers- have driven when drowsy
at least once in the past year. Nearly one-third of drivers polled (28%)
say that they have nodded off or fallen asleep while driving.
void portion distortion. Rather than worry so much about "what"
you eat, consider "how much" you eat. Downsize your portion
sizes. Serve food on smaller plates. Eat from plates and bowls rather than
packages and bags, so you see how much you're eating.
) eading materials Consider the source before starting a new dras-
l\\;,tic diet or exercise plan. Beware of plans that promise quick, dra-
matic results; Charge large fees for consultations, equipment, supplements,
etc.; and rely solely on testimonials and statements from "professionals"
with unusual-sounding degrees.
Adapted from the Cooperative etetion System
]
Around the County
Walsh County Extension Office
Park River- 284-6624
C ..00Pesl00cid00
eruncanon 00eason
This is the time of year we once
again need to make sure we have
everyone certified for the upcoming
season2 We will start at 9 a.m. and
run to 12:30 for recertification. If
your license has not expired, all you
have to do is sit through the meet-
ing and sign your sheet and hand it
back to me when I ask for them at
the end of the meeting. If I do not
get the sheet you were not there, so
give me the sheet. If your license has
expired or if you are an initial cer-
tification, you will need to go until
about 3 p.m. and then take a test and
pass. If you take a good set of notes
and pay attention most do not have
a problem passing. You must pre-
register for the meetings as seating
can be an issue ifI do not know how
many to plan for. To preregister you
need to send a check for $25.00
made out to Pesticide Program for
each person certifying or recertify-
ing. If we do not get your check you
are not preregistered. There will be
no refunds of checks if you do not
get trained or take a test in 2012. We
also need to know names and ad-
dress of these people especially if
you are not in our data base. Outside
the County people are also welcome
with the same expectations. Dates
are Feb 28, Feb 14 and an evening
session for Feb 19th, at the Ext Of-
rice. You especially need to pre-
register for this as I frequently turn
.people away at the door due to seat-
mg ssues. I also plan to have a
cleanup session for snowbirds and
new hires on April 11 in my office.
Seating is limited so would suggest
the earlier dates.
Please figure out whom on your
operation needs to be certified. I get
a bit fmslrated when I am sent 4 peo-
ple to be initially certified and they
need the certificate in an hour and
need to be spraying. It is not going
to happen! The fail rate in this sit-
uation is over 60% as they are in a
hurry and try to rush things. I have
a high degree of success in teaching,
if your new hires attend the all day
sessions so please keep that in
mind. Many of these people have
been away from school for a long
time and struggle with tests. Give
them all the advantages they can get.
Plan ahead, once the field work
starts it is a huge inconvenience for
most operations to lose their hired
foraday. . !-, ,
sper IS tJolng fast
Just a small note, Prosper is go-
ing fast so if you want some act now
and give me a call. I can route you
to a grower who still has some.
Dates to Remember:
2-28 Private Pesticide Recertification and Certification Train-
ing, Park River City Auditorium 9 a.m.
