Culture

Interview with a Fox Demon

October 23rd, 2016

Lei Ying, eldest son of the Boluo Fox, lights incense before a picture of his father in the old clinic - photograph by C.S. Hagen

SHAANXI, CHINA (PRC) – Chen Xing yawned for the tenth time and moved to the screened door of his shaman clinic. He yawned not from boredom, but rather in preparation for the spirit about to possess him.

Among other more painful affects, the yawns were a human price to pay for signing a deal with a fox spirit, he said. Chen Xing yawned once more, this time longer and louder than before.

“When it possesses me I don’t know or remember anything,” Xing, who prefers to be called by his…

Read more...


​Brain games: bar trivia rocks F-M

October 19th, 2016

“Trivia, unlike karaoke, which typically attracts the more outgoing, theatrical crowd, appeals to all personality types. Whether you’re a sports fanatic, movie guru, or just a nerd, there is something in each trivia show for all types of people.” -- Donny Dahl, Trivia Takeover

Television quiz shows like "The $64,000 Question” and "Twenty-One" were highly rated in the 1950s. Then “Jeopardy” emerged in 1964, went away for a few years, then resurfaced in 1984, partially driven…

Read more...


​Slam poetry at the Red Raven

October 19th, 2016

By Faye Seidler

fayeseidler@gmail.com

On the first Thursday of every month, Kristen Jewel hosts “Outlet: Spoken Word Poetry” at the Red Raven Espresso Parlor. This event is safe and inclusive of all identities and begins at 7:30pm for signup, with performing starting at 8pm. They typically start with six original works and/or new poets first, then allow anyone who signed up to perform afterwards.

It is important to know that there is no cover charge or drink purchase requirement for…

Read more...


​Ink and iron at Scheels Arena

October 19th, 2016

Motorcycles and tattoos seem to go together. I say this as someone who has never so much as ridden a motorcycle and is too much of a sissy to get ink done (but has always admired the craft when done well and has his own fair share of inked friends). And of course I realize that not every person with tattoos rides a motorcycle, just as you don’t always necessarily have milk with your cookies. But when they come together, it seems like a match that just belongs together, doesn’t it? …

Read more...


​Laser Printer Confusion

October 19th, 2016

By Chuck Solly

rcsolly@gmail.com

I mentioned a little about Laser Printers in my column in July but I thought I might continue the conversation in greater detail now.

I bought a laser printer two years ago for my home office without knowing exactly what the machine was capable of. As it turns out, I got lucky and got one that almost met my needs. Sometimes I get a little click happy on Amazon...

One requirement I had was printing envelopes. Since I am a one man office, I didn't need too…

Read more...


​Agricultural Automata

October 12th, 2016

By Ben Haugmo

benhaugmo@yahoo.com

The NDSU annual Bison BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) Robotics competition was started to encourage middle school and high school students to become interested in engineering, science and technology careers.

Before the main competition kicks off, community members are invited to preview submissions during Mall Day this weekend.

Each Bison BEST competition has had a different theme, and this year, robots will be designed to perform…

Read more...


​Clubs for LGBTQ+ students

October 12th, 2016

By Faye Seidler

fayeseidler@gmail.com

A report called The 2013 National School Climate Survey was released a few years ago by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network). This report, which can be found on their website, takes a deep look into the lives and experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students and goes into detail about the impacts of homophobia and transphobia on the daily lives of LGBTQ+ students.

Essentially, the findings were that students in schools…

Read more...


​The new buzzword: IoT

October 12th, 2016

By Chuck Solly

rcsolly@gmail.com

It is very hard to keep up with the new buzzwords/buzz phrases in the world of technology and computers. The INTERNET of THINGS means ALL of the devices that connect to the Internet including refrigerators, thermostats, cameras, etc, ad nauseam.

Coupled with a general lack of awareness of poorly marketed smart home products and their benefits, worries about data privacy and a lack of interoperability between various IoT products, the current market was in…

Read more...


​ValleyCon re-animates for its 42nd year

October 12th, 2016

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

The landscape of nerd and geek culture has changed a lot in recent history, Tony Tilton and I realized. Tony, the longtime chairman of ValleyCon, recalled that back in his childhood his television only had three whole channels and the cultural phenomenon known as Star Wars had just been released in theaters. Things like reading comic books and watching science fiction were fringe hobbies that were likely to get you picked on.

Fast forward to the present and…

Read more...


​Cowboys and Indians

October 5th, 2016

By C.S. Hagen cshagen@gmail.com

Racism against Native Americans is prevalent across North Dakota. Nearly every activist who stands to speak in Big Camp’s Sacred Circle mentions oppression and genocide, in one form or another.

From the logo emblazoned on State Highway Patrol vehicles – Sitting Bull’s killer Marcellus Red Tomahawk – who was from Cannon Ball area, to whistleblowers in 2012 condemning federal and state authorities for allowing native children to be placed in homes…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry FPL Tracker Pixel for Entry blackbird Tracker Pixel for Entry FPL Tracker Pixel for Entry hjemkmost Tracker Pixel for Entry Farrms Tracker Pixel for Entry spirit

Recently in:

By Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.com The business of Indian Hating is a lucrative one. It’s historically been designed to dehumanize Native people so that it’s easier to take their land. ‘Kill the Indian, save the man,”…

By Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.comThere’s not really a word for reconciliation, it's said in our language. There’s a word for making it right. To talk about reconciliation in terms of the relationship between Indigenous…

Thursday, December 5, 7-11:30 p.m.The Aquarium above Dempsey’s, 226 Broadway N., FargoLegendary post hardcore band Quicksand plays Fargo, with fellow New Yorkers Pilot to Gunner and local heroes Baltic to Boardwalk and Hevvy…

By Jim Fugliejimfuglie920@gmail.com Okay, so last month I promised you a woman President of the United States. So much for my predictability quotient. Lesson 1: Never promise something you can’t control. And nobody, not even…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWith What is Happening in the World, Why not Artificial Intelligence? Since Lucy fell out of a tree and walked about four million years ago, she has been evolving to humans we call Homo sapiens. We…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com In this land of hotdish and ham, the knoephla soup of German-Russian heritage seems to reign supreme. In my opinion though, the French have the superior soup. With a cheesy top layer, toasted baguette…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.com Local band Zero Place has been making quite a name for itself locally and regionally in the last few years. Despite getting its start during a time it seemed the whole world was coming to…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Writer-director Nicole Riegel’s sophomore feature “Dandelion” is now playing in theaters following a world premiere at South by Southwest in March. The movie stars KiKi Layne as the…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIn 1974, the Jamestown Arts Center started as a small space above a downtown drugstore. It has grown to host multiple classrooms, a gallery, performance studio, ceramic studio and outdoor art park.…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Josette Ciceronunapologeticallyanxiousme@gmail.com What does it mean to truly live in a community —or should I say, among community? It’s a question I have been wrestling with since I moved to Fargo-Moorhead in February 2022.…

Rynn WillgohsJanuary 25, 1972-October 8, 2024 Rynn Azerial Willgohs, age 52, of Vantaa, Finland, died by suicide on October 8, 2024. Rynn became her true-self March 31, 2020. She immediately became a vocal and involved activist…

By Faye Seidlerfayeseidler@gmail.com My name is Faye Seidler and I’m a suicide prevention advocate and a champion of hope. I think it is fair to say that we’ve been living through difficult times and it may be especially…