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…

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​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…

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​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…

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​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? …

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​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…

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​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…

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​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…

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​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…

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​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…

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​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…

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