Culture

Don’t get angry about Internet Trolls

March 4th, 2020

It is totally useless to have your blood pressure increased because of an Internet troll. Not only that, but your doctor will have to increase your dose of blood pressure medicine, costing you more money.

Internet trolls are people who want to provoke and upset others online for their own amusement. Here’s how to spot the signs that someone is a troll, and how to handle them.

If you’ve been on the internet for any period of time, you’ve likely run into a troll at some point. An…

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Field trips: Setting the hook for lifelong engagement

March 4th, 2020

by Chris Dorfschmidt

I have always been a storyteller. My notebooks from school contained bits of stories or skits, things I found amusing, or ideas that would not leave my head until I had them down on paper. I still carry a notebook for that reason. My love of storytelling was a part of what made me an engaging teacher. Like a good story, I had to hook my audience. Right now, my focus is on field trips and how we can create a memorable experience. Students are not going to remember all…

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Transgender Support : Summit and Gala

February 26th, 2020

photo by Taylor Snyder Art Photography

by Kris Gruber
perriex1@gmail.com

The Tristate Transgender Support Summit is a conference and marketplace with speakers, workshops, and vendors. The Trans Support Gala takes place on Saturday, February 28, at the Radisson Hotel in Fargo. High Plains Reader spoke to the Vice President of Tri-State, Rebel Marie, about the Summit and Gala.

HIGH PLAINS READER: Can you give a little background on what Tri-State Transgender does for the community, and your role with it?
REBEL MARIE
: I am the vice…

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Get Rhythm: King of the sale ring

February 26th, 2020

photo courtesy of ND Winter Show

The North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City will celebrate its 83rd year in 2020. Attendees can anticipate a variety of agricultural and heritage programming from rodeos to dances to keynote speakers and vendors but this year organizers of the event have a couple of new tricks up their sleeves. One in particular is the first annual “King of the Sale Ring” auctioneer contest to be held on Sunday, March 1.

There are two rounds to the contest. The first round of participants auction…

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What about Public WiFi?

February 26th, 2020

This is a complicated topic. It’s true that browsing on public Wi-Fi is much safer and more private than it used to be thanks to the widespread embrace of HTTPS on the web. Other people on the public Wi-Fi network can’t just snoop on everything you’re doing. Man-in-the-middle attacks aren’t as trivially easy as they used to be. The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) recently came down on the side of public Wi-Fi being safe, writing that “There are plenty of things in life to…

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Skip the clichés and reclaim Valentine’s Day

February 12th, 2020

cover design by Raul Gomez

Valentine’s Day can inspire annoying questions if you’re single and the spending of a whole lot of time or money if you’re not. So shake up the old routine with fun, unusual and affordable (or even free) activities.

Feel free to disregard traditions that don’t work for you and make new ones that matter. Override date night (even if you’re part of a couple) and meet a group of friends for cocoa, a concert or a barn dance. Trade your usual dinner for two for a salsa lesson, a…

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Nature of the North: Bringing People Inside to Get Them Outside

February 5th, 2020

photo provided by John Showalter - Nature of the North - Construction of Fargo-MoorheadYs first-ever retail rock and bouldering wall is underway.  The bouldering wall will be open to the public for use spring of 2020.

A lot of us may sigh and roll our eyes when our parents or grandparents chastise us for spending too much time attached to our electronic devices. There may be a grain of truth in their complaints, however. According to the Outdoor Foundation’s 2019 Outdoor Participation Report, almost half of Americans did not go outdoors for recreation. We went on one billion fewer outdoor outings in 2018 than in 2008. How should this loss of passion for the great outdoors be addressed? …

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New grant expands coverage for mental health in North Dakota.

January 29th, 2020

by Jill Finkelson
jsfinkelson99@gmail.com

A new grant from the Department of Corrections and Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota allows for victims of crime to receive help for PTSD and related mental health issues. HPR arched out to Terri Burns of LSS about the new grant and how it’s working to bridge the gap left by conventional insurance. Working alongside Abound Counseling, the program is available state wide. There are telehealth and language interpretation options to reach…

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Weather this Winter Joyfully - Frostival 2020!

January 22nd, 2020

design by Raul Gomez

by Taylor Markel taylormarkel@cableone.net

What began as a single weekend of wintry activities, has now, for the first time in its history, snowballed into a multi-week celebration of all things winter! With countless, exhilarating activities like the beloved cardboard sled races, a coffee and cocoa crawl, a winter gear swap event and even an outdoor winter movie night. Frostival is by far one of the coolest winter traditions for you, your friends, family and coworkers to be a part of in…

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Hardy, Healthy Hemp : NDHA Membership Drive

January 22nd, 2020

by Kris Gruber
perriex1@gmail.com

Hemp is a Cannabis plant grown all over the world, in temperate climates. It is fast-growing, beneficial to the soil, requires minimal fertilizer, and is pest resistant. The fibers are processed and used for cordage, fabric, bioplastics, construction material and paper. The seeds are edible, with a mild, nutty taste, and nutritious--even surpassing flax, chia and fish oil. The list of the benefits from hemp is long. Containing all 20 known amino acids, an…

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