Curio – Page 39 – TheMinotVoice.com

Saskatchewan’s trespass law passes; visitors need consent from rural landowners

by: Josh Wolsky | May 9, 2019

Among the most contentious issues in North Dakota’s recently completed legislative session were proposed changes to land-posting, trespass, and hunting access laws. In Saskatchewan, they’ve been wrestling with the exact same issue, and the genesis of their discussion is worth noting — when the relationship between landowners and hunters becomes adversarial, the environment for tragedy

Read & Share sourced from: Estevan Mercury

Brandon develops recreation focused 20-year master

by: Josh Wolsky | May 8, 2019

How long into the future should we be planning? In Canada, the look forward is at least 20 years. Our neighbors to the North recently adopted a recreation plan that identifies the need for an outdoor aquatic center and more athletic fields. These themes are familiar. Minot’s Park District has been in a similar —

Read & Share sourced from: Brandon Sun

Germany Proposes Massive Fines For Parents Who Don’t Vaccinate Kids Against Measles

by: Josh Wolsky | May 7, 2019

It’s not been a regular topic on TheMinotVoice, but in the larger media realm, vaccinations and the re-emergence of measles are part of the constant news cycle. It’s all part of the larger question of what can — and/or should — the ‘state’ force us to do? In Germany, the solution to the vaccination question

Read & Share sourced from: Washington Post

A wonderful send-off

by: Brose Funeral Home | May 7, 2019

My Gramma Brose lived in Broken Arrow, OK, when she died at the home of her daughter. She had lung problems and moved there from Minneapolis, MN, to get out of the cold, harsh winters. As her health deteriorated and it got to the point her son-in-law had to change her diaper, she decided that

Read & Share

Welcoming Community Roadmap comes to life

by: Josh Wolsky | May 7, 2019

What does it mean to be a welcoming place? In Grand Forks they asked the question. Now, some of the answers are coming back and they’re setting to work to ensure their community puts its best foot forward to new citizens. With new transfers to Minot Air Force Base on a regular basis, coming and

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Two more murals finished in downtown Brandon

by: Josh Wolsky | May 7, 2019

Small towns across the region are tapping local artists to add atmosphere and vibrancy to their communities. Here’s a confirmation story from North of the border. Art is among the keys to making our place in Minot unique, but clearly, we’re not the only place striving to create a unique identity. But the real question

Read & Share sourced from: Brandon Sun

“I don’t plan to die:” The immortality movement is going mainstream

by: Josh Wolsky | May 7, 2019

Want to live forever? Have we got a club for you! Behind this Quartz paywall, you can dig into the topic of staying out of the ground. The story follows a small thread that’s been recurring on TheMinotVoice over the past weeks that will culminate with tomorrow’s #GoodTalkMinot episode on the evolution of funerals. Tune

Read & Share sourced from: Quartz

No smell here: Landfills expanding methane gas collections with new twists

by: Josh Wolsky | May 6, 2019

Deep in the bowels of a landfill, microorganisms go to work on decomposing our trash. One byproduct of their effort is methane gas. In Fargo, the City invested in capturing that methane almost 18 years ago. Today, that investment is starting to pay dividends. Check out this article by Barry Amundson for more outside perspectives

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

Saskatchewan must act quickly in Chinese trade dispute

by: Josh Wolsky | May 6, 2019

Have you noticed the global economy reorganizing in relation to all these trade conversations? Ask a soybean farmer if trade and tariff posturing and global politics matter in North Dakota; if they’re paying attention, they’ll tell you international politics matter on small North Dakota farms. And we’re not alone; our neighbors to the North are

Read & Share sourced from: Regina Leader Post

The best (and easiest) thing your city can do for itself? Plant more trees

by: Josh Wolsky | May 6, 2019

With stories of environmental ruin in the news feed, perhaps you’re wondering what can be done? Here’s one perspective on — if not a solution — a step in a better direction: plant more trees. Heather Alberro writing for Fast Company makes the argument for planting more trees. And she’s not alone in her thinking;

Read & Share sourced from: Fast Company

50 years later, what it was like if you zipped to Zap

by: Josh Wolsky | May 5, 2019

It started as a casual suggestion, one that offered an alternative (and less expensive one, too) to the emerging tradition of a spring break on the beach. In the end, thousands came including the National Guard. Not everyone left happy. Jill Schramm with the Minot Daily News has the full story on a colorful event

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

‘I want out of this body’: Unable to move or talk, but still here

by: Josh Wolsky | May 5, 2019

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be fully woke, but trapped inside of a body that didn’t work? Few things are scarier to contemplate, but these perspectives are important. Rahul Desikan is a neuroscientist who’s living just such a life and he shared his experience in this commentary on the Washington

Read & Share sourced from: Washington Post

‘America First’ may be last hope for these cattle ranchers

by: Josh Wolsky | May 4, 2019

The pressure on the ranching business is coming from every direction. You may have previously read about competition from a new product line. In the story linked below, you’ll find a challenge of a more political nature. David Lynch with the Washing Post has the story on the impacts of world trade — and the

Read & Share sourced from: The Washington Post

This is what you’ll find in the dark spots of the Minot sky — if you look closely for a long time

by: Josh Wolsky | May 4, 2019

We know the universe is big, but we’re consistently challenged by contemplating the full scope of what ‘big’ really means. Here’s a helper image. The image below shows an estimated 265,000 galaxies. Some dating back to more than 13.3 billion years ago — back when the universe was young. And while those numbers are impressive

Read & Share

Bismarck Board of Adjustment recommends denial of variance for infill development in Cathedral District

by: Josh Wolsky | May 4, 2019

How closely should we protect our historical buildings and neighborhoods? Should they be placed under a glass dome and preserved forever or should they be allowed to evolve in some circumstances? And how do we balance these interest against common interests like property tax rights and increasing property tax revenue? In Bismarck, they’re wrestling with

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

Filling in the blanks, a perspective on implementing infill development

by: Josh Wolsky | May 4, 2019

Have you heard talk of ‘infill development’ lately? If you’ve followed the local news, probably; it has been a common talking point over the past few years in Minot. It’s also a core principle of Governor Burgum’s Main Street Initiative. In concept, the idea is simple. Focus development towards the urban core of a city

Read & Share sourced from: Winnipeg Free Press