So I'm at the local Target this afternoon, buying a few things to help me clean up and unclutter the house this long holiday weekend.

The store is packed with shoppers on Black Saturday.  Lots of grumpy kids with grumpy parents, wore out from Thanksgiving, a house full of relatives, and too much Christmas shopping.

So I'm pushing my cart along and I see a little boy, probably two or three in the kiddie seat of a cart parked in the pet food aisle, in the early throes of a tantrum.  Mom comes along and tries to calm him down, to which he shouts, "I'm not f*cking stupid!"

I doubt he heard that on Sesame Street from Bert and Ernie.

A few minutes later, I'm near the books and video department.  A small, unseen voice yells, "I want Wall-E!"

To which the unseen mom replies, "You know what you did and why you're not getting it!"

Unfortunately, the child's infraction remains a mystery as I tool along to the checkout lane and the blessed relief that leaving this Seventh Circle of Hell can only bring.

Merry Freakin' Christmas!

In a spirit of understanding our fellow man and woman from other parts of the globe, South Dakota Watch presents this important video of beautiful Russian women running a sprint in high-heeled shoes.

Technorati Tags: Russian women, high heels, running

One of the issues Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin spoke about today in Sioux Falls was the possible bailout (she says “extended line of credit) for mortgage banks Freddie Mac and Sallie Mae. She also says she’s undecided.

Here’s an excerpt from her talk. I apologize for the poor video quality. I was shooting my cheapo point and shoot camera into heavy backlighting.

Technorati Tags: Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, economy, mortgage banks, Freddie Mac, Sallie Mae, U.S. House, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

She covered Medicare funding, the new GI Bill, the Lewis and Clark Water Project, energy, highway funding, and support for organized labor’s “Freedom to Choose” Act, among other issues.

Technorati Tags: U.S. House, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

I’m not a jazz fan. I’m even less of a heat fan.

So I don’t attend the annual Jazz Fest in Sioux Falls each summer. I also try to avoid the traffic mess near the venue, Yankton Trail Park.

I think it is great that such a cultural event is held here. Seriously. There are some great artists who attend. And most people behave themselves.

But apparently the event has a dark side you don’t read about in the Argus Leader.

For local law enforcement, it’s like an extended St. Patrick’s Day.

A friend of mine is a correctional officer at the Minnehaha County Jail. He said this weekend and Monday—thanks to Jazz Fest—will be one of the busiest weekends of the year at the jail, with 70-80 new “guests” spending some time in the local bastille for everything from DUI, public exposure, public drunkenness, and warrant checks.

I know the jazz folks think they’re a little smarter than the rest of us. True, perhaps. They’re apparently just not any better behaved.

Have fun—responsibly—while at Jazz Fest.  If you can’t, bring bail money.

Technorati Tags: Jazz Fest, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, jail, jazz, music

On my way back from court Wednesday around noon, I ran into my good friend (yes, he actually is) Mitch Krebs, Gov. Rounds’ press secretary, and Paul Kinsman, SD Secretary of Revenue, in front of the County Treasurer’s office in Sioux Falls.

When I had walked through the Minnehaha Administration building at 8:30 a.m. on my way to court, the line for the treasurer stretched from the treasurer’s office almost to the doors to the new courthouse building—about 80 yards.

At noon, the line was down to about ten people.

What had happened?

Apparently Treasurer Pam Nelson had been “convinced” by County Commissioners and Kinsman to open an express lane to help people who only had renewals. That’s a majority of the business.

The second thing was that Kinsman flew—yes, via airplane—a Revenue employee to help the treasurer’s office.

The change in the length of the lines in the intervening three hours was dramatic.

As I have been tough on Gov. Mike Rounds in this deal, I thought it only fair to point out that he did provide at least a partial solution to Minnehaha County’s woes and that things were better for citizens waiting in line.

And in talking to Paul and Mitch, it was clear that this was not a political issue to them but a governmental services issue that they were trying to fix.

There are still problems with the new computer system. But because people lowered their rhetoric, a problem improved and the citizens got better service.

That’s the way government is supposed to run—whether Democrats, Republicans, or independents are in charge.

Technorati Tags: WaitGate, Pam Nelson, Paul Kinsman, Mike Rounds, Mitch Krebs, Minnehaha County, licensing, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Are are some of my snapshots from the BushFailureBus that's in front of my office on North Main across from Sen. Thune's state office.

Enjoy!






Technorati Tags: BushFailureBush, The Bus Legacy bus, George W. Bush, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The BushFailureBus (The Bush Legacy Bus) is parked smack-dab in front of my law firm, Galland Law Firm, at 317 N. Main in Sioux Falls, across the street from Sen. John Thune’s state office.

The bus is open from 3-5 p.m. today. Come drop by if you have the time!

Technorati Tags: BushFailureBush, The Bush Legacy, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, George W. Bush

From Americans United for Change:

***Media Advisory for Thursday, July 17^th, 2008 at 3PM, CDT***

National Bush Legacy Bus Tour to Make Latest Stop in Sioux Falls 45-foot, 28-ton Museum on Wheels Features Several Exhibits on How Disastrous Bush/Conservative Policies - Embraced by Sen. John Thune - Have Harmed Our National Security, Ruined the Economy and Sacrificed Key Domestic Priorities

***Press Conference at 3PM / Open to the Public from 3- 5PM***

Click Here to Visit the Bush Legacy Tour Homepage

“Yes Sir, Mr. President!” – Thune Rubberstamped Bush’s Failed Policies 85 Percent of the Time

WHERE:     U.S. Senator John Thune’s constituent office

320 North Main Street

                        Sioux Falls, SD

Technorati Tags: Bush Legacy Tour, George W. Bush, President Bush, failure, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Americans United for Change

Official as in "officiating."

I'm refereeing basketball at the Sioux Falls MAYB tournament at Augustana and soccer at the Dakota Gold Tournament at Tomar Park.

Three games down today, three tomorrow.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really quite stiff. Not tired, stiff. I'm thinking of taking a soak in bathtub full of Atomic Balm.

So far I've not said "play on" during a basketball game or done a ten count when the attacking team is bringing the ball up on their half of the field during a soccer match.

Technorati Tags: soccer, Dakota Gold, MAYB, Augustana College, Sioux Falls

From EqSD PAC:

Contact: Todd Epp FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tel: 605.351.5021 Released June 7, 2008

Email: eqsdpac@gmail.com

LGBT FRIENDLY CANDIDATES WIN PRIMARIES

$5000 in Campaign Contributions is Excellent Investment

Seven of the 11 Lesbian/Gay/Bi-Sexual/Transgender (LGBT) friendly candidates endorsed by EqSD PAC won their primary races on June 3.

Lead Mayor Tom Nelson won the 3 way Republican primary for District 31 Senate with 38% of the vote. He faces Democrat and LGBT friendly candidate Nyla Griffith in the general election.

Four candidates running for House seats were the top vote getters in their districts:

• Darrell Solberg, Sioux Falls Democrat, received 41% of the District 11 votes;
• Martha Vanderlinde, Sioux Falls Democrat, received 56% of the District 15 votes;
• Larry Lucas, Mission Democrat, received 63% of the District 26A;
• Kevin Killer, Pine Ridge Democrat, received 31% of the votes in a 4 way District 27 race.
  

Two EqSD PAC endorsed candidates also move on to the general election:

• Elaine Elliott, Aberdeen Democrat, received 39% of the District 2 votes;
• Jeff Nelsen, Rapid City Democrat, received 40% of the District 33 votes.
  

EqSD PAC will endorse and provide funds to selected legislative candidates in the November general election who it believes have progressive views on LGBT issues. General election candidates have until June 10 to return their surveys to EqSD PAC.

“Our ratio of elective successes to failures seems about right to me,” says PAC member and Republican former legislator Don Frankenfeld of Rapid City. “We could easily have achieved a 100% success rate simply by backing obvious winners. But our goal was to back well-qualified candidates who could be strong advocates for equality in Pierre, and that meant taking some risks. In the general election, we will continue to look for candidates who exhibit courage, leadership and integrity, and we expect that our support will propel some of them to victory.”

EqSD PAC is the political action committee affiliate of Equality South Dakota (EqSD), a South Dakota non-profit corporation. EqSD PAC is a voluntary, non-profit, unincorporated association operating as a separate, segregated organization of EqSD.

# # #

Paid for by Equality South Dakota PAC.

Technorati Tags: EqSD, EqSD PAC, LGBT, GLBT, 2008 election, South Dakota, gay rights

 

All of our recent rain has had one small benefit—the Falls of the Big Sioux in Sioux Falls which would normally be at a trickle this time of the year are roaring like they do during the early spring snow melt.

There is a ton of water going through the falls. I thought you might enjoy some photos. I’ll also be posting some video later.

Technorati Tags: Sioux Falls, Falls of the Big Sioux, South Dakota Sphere: Related Content

Seriously, I didn’t seek to make any comments with my former brothers in the press at the Sioux Falls Vets for Obama event today.

I swear to God Randy, that’s true!

But apparently I have some sort of pheromone that attracts the press. Here are a couple stories from today.

From The Page at Time magazine:

“It’s going to take a lot of guts to do what he’s promising, but I think he can do it.”

Todd Epp, 49, of Harrisburg, echoed that.

“I think he obviously understands that you’ve got to surround yourself with good people. And I think he’s smart enough to understand to know what he doesn’t know. He doesn’t have arrogance and I think that will carry him far. And I’m sure he has people behind him to advise him,” he said.

And from the AP (via Fox News):

“It’s going to take a lot of guts to do what he’s promising, but I think he can do it.”

Todd Epp, 49, of Harrisburg, echoed that.

“I think he obviously understands that you’ve got to surround yourself with good people. And I think he’s smart enough to understand to know what he doesn’t know. He doesn’t have arrogance and I think that will carry him far. And I’m sure he has people behind him to advise him,” he said.

Technorati Tags: AP, Time, The Page, Barack Obama, veterans, Iraq War, 2008 election, South Dakota Primary

Technorati Tags: South Dakota Legislature, crackerbarrels, Sioux Falls, legislators, South Dakota

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Here’s an excerpt of my latest entry on KELOLAND.com—Where’s Blanchard the Zombie Killer When We Need Him?

As a conservative Republican academic in Aberdeen and apologist for Thune propagandist Jon Lauck, I was never convinced that fellow KELOLAND blogger Ken Blanchard served much of a purpose other than just ticking me off with his Rightwing screeds.

But even a bleeding heart liberal Democrat like me can appreciate the great service Dr. Blanchard is doing our state and nation by his constant vigilance about a growing and heretofore under-reported problem facing us all.

What you ask?

Zombies.

Yes, zombies.

Ken has alerted us to both the menace of zombie farmers and what ours ociety might look like if we don’t take the zombie threat seriously.

You can’t say the good doctor hasn’t warned us.  He has.  With passion and facts.

Unfortunately, like a preppy clique of College Republicans pretendingnot to see the ROTC recruitment tables at USD and SDSU so they can gofight in a war they think is important enough for their non-collegepeers to go fight on their behalf, zombies struck downtown Sioux Falls tonight.

Zombies at Zandbroz?

Is there no God?  The horror, the horror. 

Isn’t anyone listening to Ken the Zombie Prophet? … .

Above: The enemy.

Bottom: Our Hero, Northern State University’s Dr. Ken Blanchard, the Zombie Killer.

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