Editorial

Is it OK to brag on Facebook?

October 17th, 2013

Huffington Post recently published an article called “7 Ways to Be Insufferable on Facebook.” It basically tells us to quit “serving ourselves” on social media.

Sure.

The author did use some great examples of statuses that can absolutely be self-serving:

“Ughhhhhhhhh,” – Goodness, you’re not the only one with problems.

“Finally finished my paper!” – Well, whoop-de-doo-doo.

“Hawaii!” – Yes, we are happy for you that you are in Hawaii, but at least post a picture…

18 Little Public Courtesies

October 3rd, 2013

Small courtesies are not living requirements, but by abiding by them we make life enormously easier.

Because they are small gestures we often think of them as unworthy of mentioning or unworthy of making an impact.

Think again.

Ahem … Let’s review:

1.Put trash in recycling receptacles. It doesn’t take long for the workers to sort the garbage anyhow.

2.Always leave at least a 20-cent tip. Yes, buffets included.

3.When parking, take up two spots. White lines are nothing more than white…

Welcome to America

September 19th, 2013

Nina Davuluri

Last Monday, Buzzfeed.com published a list of tweeters who made racist comments about this year’s Miss America winner, Nina Davuluri, an Indian-American.

The list included the names and links to the accounts of each of the offenders. After clicking through every account posted on this Buzzfeed page, we found nearly all of the accounts had been deleted or suspended.

In fact, the only ones that were kept active were by foul-mouthed, unapologetic dudes continuing the conversation and…

Questionable customer service

July 25th, 2013

Our opinion/ Let’s keep big retailers honest

If a business tries to tell you your damaged product is unfixable or that “It would just be much cheaper to buy a new one,” remember to be skeptical. It is one of many popular dealings that companies use to increase their revenues.

Is this wrong or is this okay?

First of all, whether it’s wrong or not, it most certainly is something we as consumers have every right to know – because it can be extremely valuable information.

For example,…

20 reasons why we (ahem) love cold, sleet and snow in April

April 11th, 2013

Our Opinion/ Look on the bright side ...

I’m sure by the time this gets published and read by viewers like you, it’ll be sunny, calm and disgustingly hot. It’s F-town for God’s sakes.

But as of right now, many of us are having the violent chills because it feels like mid-January.

So here you have it: 20 reasons why we (cough) love cold, sleet and snow, even in April:

1.Because warm weather and green grass makes people happy, but aren’t genuinely positive people absolutely the…

Guns and the human condition

January 24th, 2013

Our opinion/ Let’s fight for prevention

Human principle will always prove that prevention yields the most efficient, constructive and positive outcomes. Human principle will always prove that the most effective solutions exclusively attack problems by their roots. Short-term, quick-fix “answers,” by nature, tend to backfire.

America’s gun violence problem has root issues as well. Unfortunately, because they are hidden, we don’t always realize their potency – and we foolishly…

Impress: Time to Put That Word in the Dump

August 23rd, 2012

Our Opinion/ Whatever you do, do it for yourselves

True to form, Christopher Gabriel made a quick and poignant point one Thursday, passing on some psychological research while delivering his radio program ever so effortlessly, confidently and fluently. It went something like this: People are less likely to enjoy a vacation if they take it to impress others, rather than for their own well-being.

According to Gabriel, I glared at him at that moment. His comment apparently stirred me. The…

The Real Reason Americans Hate Nickelback

August 9th, 2012

Our Opinion / Don’t Waste Your Breath

Need an easy target? Take a dump on Justin Bieber or Nickelback – piece of cake.

Nickelback came to Fargo in May, and what do you know, a band that rhymes with the word “seed” and starts with the letter “C” will be in town on August 18.

A sort of massive rage against bands like Nickelback has been going on for years, so, obviously, participating this type of mumbo jumbo is enjoyable for some.

But by now it must be less fulfilling. It’s…

When Communication Turns to Mush

April 26th, 2012

Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival – to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated. - Stephen Covey

How often do we try to persuade or influence people by telling them our ownreasons to do something without discovering the way they reason first?

Some universal principles obviously make life easier, so it seems strange that they are not practiced more commonly. Yet because of natural human tendencies and faulty…

Admitting it’s cool, and other smoking confessions

March 1st, 2012

After all these years I have finally figured it out. I have finally figured out why people are drawn to smoking cigarettes.

Before you start to think this is some promotion for smoking, know this: I still hate smoking. For reasons too obvious to discuss, I hate smoking’s non-existent guts.

Yet, after years and years of never truly understanding a smoker’s attraction to a habit that robs our health, I now think I know the answer. So here is an attempt to help the majority understand…