Culture

Heart to heart conversation

January 30th, 2019

Design by Raul Gomez

By Gabrielle Hersch
gabby gabbyhersch@gmail.com

It was about a year ago when I turned to my friend and said, “Dude, we should start a podcast.”

“Okay,” he said. “What do I have to pretend to be an expert in?”

But podcasts – especially the more recent ones in the ever-evolving and growing world of podcasting – aren’t all like the structured interviews of old. JJ Meets World, a local podcast hosted by JJ Gordon and produced by Tucker Lucas, is a show premised in what JJ…

Purses help provide the next step

January 30th, 2019

Purses with purpose - Facebook

On February 7, The Next Step ND will hold their second annual Purses for a Purpose event at Atonement Lutheran Church in Fargo to raise funds for victims and survivors of human trafficking in North Dakota. The event includes a dessert banquet, speakers, and a 10-package raffle.

As the name suggests, purses are an important part of the event. People attending are encouraged to bring a new purse that will get stuffed with different items for women that they are not typically provided when…

ARE: Helping artists throughout the region

January 23rd, 2019

By Jacinta Zens
jacinta.zens@gmail.com

Trying to make a living in the arts can be immensely challenging, frustrating, and intimidating. We as artists spend an enormous amount of time, energy, and money dedicating our lives to learning about our craft and discovering our voice for our chosen medium. This process is not all fun and excitement, as some may perceive it. On the contrary, being an artist is often a daunting task that takes years of dedication and countless hours of practice.…

Microsoft seeking to bring rural communities into the future

December 19th, 2018

It is no secret that our world is becoming more and more computerized. Over the course of a few decades, computers and the Internet have transformed from being solely objects of luxury or business to a ubiquitous part of 21st century life. Millions of Americans carry computers in their pockets in the form of smartphones and the Internet seems near omnipresent. Even for people living in cities, it can seem difficult to keep up with the ever-accelerating rate of technological…

North Dakota is Failing Our Queer Youth

December 19th, 2018

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) youth in North Dakota attempt suicide at a rate 58 times higher than the estimated national average for suicide attempts. Nearly half of North Dakota’s LGB youth experienced bullying for their identity. Eight percent of all youth in our state reported being bullied because other students thought they were gay.

This data comes from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) which is a statewide survey of 10,000 middle and high school…

All is calm, all is bright:

December 19th, 2018

Erfurt christmas market - photography by Alicia Underlee Nelson

The peaceful mood that permeates a German Christmas market is the opposite of the holiday madness we often associate with the season. Instead of rushing through the mall or fighting the lines at a big box store, you stroll through the streets of the historic district or gather in the town square, following the scent of the roasted almonds in the air. Instead of shopping by the blue glow of your laptop, you meet friends for a steaming cup of glühwein – wine spiced with fragrant…

Drink n’ Destroy

December 14th, 2018

design by Raul Gomez

Pixeled is every 1980’s nerd’s wet dream. This is the kind of place that you sat in your parent’s basement and dreamt about. Contemplating what college might look like, and through your braced teeth, you took a wheezy breath, a heavy pull of your inhaler, and in a slight lisp you spoke out loud “What if there’s an arcade that also serves BEER!?” At this point beer was something that you considered disgusting, as you had only had a sip of your fathers, but you knew you would…

Your next cat might be at the ‘Cradle’

December 5th, 2018

by Ryan Janke
ryan.janke78@gmail.com

I held it off for as long as I could, but the other day, I caved. I thought I was doing okay. I made all the strong arguments. I applied the five canons of rhetoric, just like you’re supposed to. My defense was rock solid. I was on my A-game, or so I thought. It turns out, a wife and daughter’s pouty eyes, when combining forces, are strong. Really strong. So, despite my best efforts, we added a cat to the family. He came home today.

We adopted him…

Housing Authority of Cass County moves forward with new affordable housing project

November 28th, 2018

by Ryan Janke
ryan.janke78@gmail.com

What started as a dream for the Housing Authority of Cass County four years ago will become a reality by 2020 says Executive Director Blake Strehlow. 60 current public housing units between 8th and 9th Avenue West on Sheyenne Street in West Fargo, which are some of the oldest in the state, will be demolished and replaced with two new apartment buildings housing 85 total units. The project will not affect the high-rise building north of 8th Avenue.

Out…

Get Inspired at Inspire Wellness

November 28th, 2018

While I have a great belief in self-care, I have a hard time taking my own advice. Thankfully I have a very thoughtful partner who recognized my need and presented me with a gift certificate for some much-needed spa treatments. These treatments turned out to be a godsend as I was walking on air afterwards, feeling much more myself than I have in a long time.

I received both a massage and a float in the float tank at Inspire. The float tank is a large enclosed tank full of salt water and…