• Franz, Chapman and the Minard Hall Collapse Behind the Scene.
• NDSU, however one defines it, hasn't done anything wrong: only two individuals, one, the Fargo Forum's man of the year
• This coming Monday. the mostly unqualified NDSU Presidential Search Committee will announce which of the under qualified candidates it prefers to be NDSU's next president.
• Steve Swiontek , chair of the presidential search committee at NDSU, even though not being formally associated with the University, announced the finalists for the position.
• American's accomplishment should not be belittled. We scored in sports for which the podium had been only viewed from a distance by US athletes.
• Cormac McCarthy(Brokeback Mountain, No Country for Old Men), The Road, is no playing on the off Broadway screen at the Fargo Theatre.
• Obama Pays North Dakota Big in 2009 Healthcare Debate
• This decline has been going on at NDSU for well over thirty years, and I see it as a crisis.
• Condition of NDSU is Bleak....Creeping Meatballism
• Graduation North Dakota State University 2009

This coming Monday. the mostly unqualified NDSU will announce which of the under qualified candidates it prefers to be NDSU’s next president.  They will make their recommendation to an equally unqualified State Board of Higher Education.  Whomever their choice is, and none have administrative experience at a research institution that includes managing budgets or faculty, will  inherit... 

Fargo ND. – Although Congress is still working on health care reform legislation and it is far from final, rural North Dakota may be at the center of what some believe is the crowning achievement of the Obama Administration’s first year in office. Virginia Wolking, rural organizer with the Center for Rural Affairs, says the lack of health care services in rural areas has led to more serious... 

As I was about to write another essay on what I see as the crisis at NDSU my editor called my attention to the response to my Minard Hall ssay. Since it raises precisely the issues I wish to address, I will respond to these remarks. Tom Isern is presumably  For the record, I have been at NDSU quite a bit more than twice Isern’s tenure(I believe he came to NDSU in the early 90’s as dean... 

Menards Hall collapses at North Dakota State University. Definition of “Creeping Meatballism” The idea of thinking individually has become a big joke. Old Thomas J. Watson of I.B.M. came up with the idea for a sign which just said: “Think”. And today, it’s a gag! This is the result of “Creeping Meatballism”. On the first of December, Dr. Richard Hanson became... 

On Saturday, December 19, NDSU held the first commencement since the “retirement” of Forum Man of the Year Joseph chapman.  Presiding over the ceremonies was interim president Dr. Richard Hanson. Anyone that has not been to a major(well, in this case, maybe semi-major) college graduation shuold go, at leatt once.  They are colorful, precise and a true ceremonial tribute to the students,... 

The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 — and is likely to go higher. Nearly 16 million people can’t find jobs even though the worst recession since the Great Depression has apparently ended. Many economists worry that persistently high unemployment could undermine the recovery by restraining consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of the economy.... 

How long has it been now since Joseph Chapman has made the front page of the Forum or been the topic of a Television News Feature about his alleged accomplishments?  I’m not sure, but he sure seems to have dropped off the radar all of a sudden.  Wonder why  that is.  I can only speculate, but I think we don’t know very much of the story.  His sudden and unexpected resignation(regardless... 

This week will be Looong week for this guy. Next week faculty comes forward.  Read More →

FARGO, N.D. (FargoPhantom.com)–Tuesday night at 7 PM the 9th Fargo Film Festival began to an almost completely compact house. This year, there are four ice sculpted penguins in front of the theatre. The weather has been cold enough to preserve these sculptures, done by students from NDSU’s Department of Architecture and the public is requested to respect the integrity of the art. Penguins... 

FARGO, N.D. (FargoPhantom.com)–On Tuesday night, the NDSU Bison Men’s basketball won the Summit League tournament and thus qualified for the NCAA tournament.  This is indeed laudable, since this is the first year Bison were eligible for the tournament.  This has only been done once before (L:ong Beach State in 1970).  Even more impressive to me is that the Bison are primarily made up of... 

NDSU Wins Over Oakland in Summit League Tournament NDSU Goes to NCAA March Madness NDSU Basketball Wins over Oakland 66-64 FARGO, N.D. (FargoPhantom.com)– Ben Woodside’s medium jumper with 3 seconds left gave North Dakota State a 66-64 win over Oakland University Tuesday for the Summit League championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament. No. 1 seed NDSU (26-6) trailed through much of the game... 

Downtown fargo was still moving on Skis and we have the pictures to prove it. FARGO, N.D. (FargoPhantom.com) — Here’s the March 10th Downtown Fargo Snow Pics & Pictures Brought to by our Snow Storm Team at the Fargo Phantom. Fargo theatre was closed. Heavy snow driven by wind gusting to 40 mph brought parts of the upper Midwest to a halt Tuesday, closing courts, schools, businesses and... 

FARGO, N.D. (FargoPhantom.com)–On Tuesday night at Babbs Coffee Shop the College of Science andMathematics at NDSU held its fourth “Science Café.” There will be a fifth in April. with hopes of a more regular schedule during the 2009-2010 academic year.  According to Dr. Kevin McCaul, the Dean of the college, the meetings are held downtown to make them more informal and more attractive... 

Lately the news, particularly the sports news, has been filled with news about Yankee baseball star Alex Rodriguez and his history of steroid and performance enhancing drug use.  There is also an old saying that “those that don’t learn from history are destined to repeat it.” What do these things have to do with each other?  A lot, I think. No one denies that our country is in... 

I think everyone knows our country is in trouble. Most politicians and civic leaders alike agree that we desperately need to put differences aside and work hard to get us out of this mess.  Everybody, it seems, except Republican Congressmen and a certain far right talk show host I’ll mention later. To set the record straight, I consider myself a-political.  Some strong conservatives call... 

The new president has made a pledge to spend money on infrastructure across the United States because he believes it is a way to strengthen the economy. While the country is spending money to build/maintain roads and bridges, Caterpillar in North Dakota will reap the benefits of increased demand for their equipment.  Read More →

What’s going on in Gaza…Same as usual just more intense. Israel expanded its most lethal air offensive to date (some 300 air strikes since midday Saturday) against Gaza’s Hamas leaders yesterday. The successful attacks dolled out more damage than ever before, making rubble out of parts of the city. They are amassing what appears to be a large ground force attack as well  Read More →

“We were really busy leading up to the storm,” Thompson United for the Homeless Director said. “Some days we can get all of them in, some days we can’t.” Area shelters have similar ways of dealing with homeless who have to be turned away. The New Life Center can house about 100 men and serves 180 or more meals each day.  Read More →

Watch Friends of the Phantom Working the Streets of Fargo North Dakota during Raging Blizzard Here Blizzard conditions made travel hazardous Sunday across the northern Plains as officials closed major highways and urged people to stay home.  Read More →

CHICAGO – President-elect Barack Obama asked the White House if his family could move to Washington earlier than normal, but aides say the White House couldn’t give them the official guest house as early as his family wanted.  Read More →

NEW Online Fargo Based Company We offer so much more than just the BEST selection of memorabilia and souvenirs of Fargo and North Dakota. We are the one stop shop that does it ALL! Custom framing, gift baskets, and custom gifts for corporate events and family reunions are just the beginning. We’re always on time, on budget, and satisfaction is guaranteed! ShopFARGO.net an shop,shop,shop  Read More →

In the last installment, we discussed life in the segregated rural south in the mid 1950.s Now, I don’t want to leave the impression that I totally did not like the south or its people. In general, it’s a relaxed area of the country in which to live and the people an inherent gentility that we midwesterners can’t imagine. But on the issue of race they were at that time in my opinion... 

Girl can’t keep her balance because of her big boobs Fargo, North Dakota Hot woman found in Local Pub in Downtown Bar. Pics of Hot Blonde Singles Here 32 sizzling hot versions of hot Fargo Woman  Read More →