THE IDLE AMERICAN
What a Difference a “Y” Makes…
Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury
Google gets the last laugh, probably far more often than we know. Include one letter more than needed to “Google” a subject turns research to clabber quicker than political candidates can call their opponents liars. (Seems like mere decades ago that such comments were tenderized, usually beginning with sentences like, “My worthy opponent deals loosely with the facts,” or maybe, “He is known to spend much of his time in the company of ‘terminological inexactitudes’.”)
I digress. Principal players in this piece are retired, eager to take to the road--any highway will do--after choosing for several months to “play it safe” in self-quarantine for whatever might loom as menacing beyond home and hearth.
Now retired--after serving three terms in the Texas Legislature and three presidential roles (Wayland, Hardin-Simmons and Howard Payne Universities)--Dr. Lanny Hall and wife Carol now like to “traipse about,” as my old mother used to say of educated people. Ordinary people like her she described as “gadabouts,” usually limiting their “traipses” to nearby destinations….
When “cabin fever” peaked recently, the Halls decided to drive to scenic Colorado, where foliage is so rich in color that some artists make impromptu stops, set up canvases, grab easels and flourish paint brushes.
Now married 52 years, the Halls finish each other’s sentences, and know which sing-along tunes come next. Give one of ‘em a first name, and the spouse rattles off the last name.
Motoring home, they quickly agreed that sandwiches from the ever-popular Slaton Bakery would be a wonderful end-of-trip treat. Lanny suggested that she “Google” to get the bakery’s phone number, then place an order for a ham and cheese sandwich, and her favorite, a Slaton Bakery hamburger. They’d arrive in Slaton in some 30 minutes….
Seconds later, she was greeted by a friendly voice at the bakery who indicated the order would be ready upon their arrival.
Best-laid plans panned out; they were parked in front of the bakery exactly 30 minutes later.
Bummer, they thought upon discovering the front door was locked. Back in the car, Lanny suggested that Carol hit re-dial. The same man answered, assuring her that the order was ready. But why was their front door locked?...
Further, she indicated they were parked immediately in front of the bakery. “Ma’am, I just came through the front door, and there’s no car in front,” said the baker.
In the meantime, steps were re-traced, beginning with Lanny’s insistence that the West Texas town in Texas is spelled “S-l-a-t-o-n.” Because she had Googled “S-l-a-y-t-o-n Bakery,” the had gotten the phone number of the Slayton Bakery in Slayton, MN, more than a thousand miles away.
Suffice it to say that at end of day, the baker up north had a couple of extra sandwiches to eat, one way or another. (Halls’ note-to-selves: The Slaton Bakery they know and love is closed Mondays.)…
Some people embrace advancing technology. Others act as if they think it’ll go away if avoided long enough.
My friend Ronnie Caram is in the “others” group. And he was more than a little upset recently upon losing his beloved flip phone.
He was sure that wife Linda--longest-tenured AT&T employee in Texas with more than a half-century of service--could find a “new” flip phone somewhere out there…
She claimed to give it the “old college try,” But, there were none to be had. She found an archaic model, only a few “baby steps” ahead of the flip phone. He growled, “I’m going to throw it into the first body of water I see.”
Their 44-year marriage was “saved by the bell,” the one ringing on Linda’s smartphone. One persistent store manager luckily found ONE flip phone in the storeroom.
Linda heaped praise, thanking the manager for his diligence. He “struck a nerve,” though, when he responded, “Anything for Ma Bell.”…
Dr. Newbury is a former educator who writes weekly and is a longtime public speaker. Comments/speaking inquiries to: newbury@speakerdoc.com. Phone: 817-447-3872. Web site: www.speakerdoc.com Twitter: @donnewbury. Facebook: don newbury
You are invited
Murray County residents interested in solar development in the area.
You are invited to participate in an upcoming community input session about solar energy.
Murray County is working with the University of Minnesota to map “sweet spots” for potential future solar energy installations. The project will consider financial feasibility, appropriate scale, local water quality, pollinators, and other possible benefits.
This project is focused on mid-sized solar development (1 megawatt to 10 megawatt, 10 to 100 acres) paired with facilities where a similar amount of electricity is consumed. GIS (geographic information systems) will be used to create:
● Maps to help visualize where multiple benefits can be maximized: local energy use, economics, habitat, and water quality
● Tools that Murray County and others can use for future decision-making
Benefits
Southwest Minnesota is already home to wind power. Increasingly we are seeing interest in solar, too.
Potential benefits to solar might include:
● Local power generation
● Greater community resilience
● Diversified farm income through land leases
● Expanded pollinator habitat
● Perennial cover to improve water quality
Hearing from you
The project team wants to hear from you about options, drivers, and benefits related to solar development.
Your input will provide:
● Understanding of community perspectives
● Insights on how the community prioritizes benefits and trade-offs
● Ideas for new opportunities for economic development
You are invited to choose ONE of three options for virtual meetings:
• Wed. November 4, 6 pm to 7:30 pm
• Thursday, November 5, 3:30 pm to 5 pm
• Friday, November 13, 9 am to 10:30 am
For more information and to register, go to z.umn.edu/murraycountysolar
United Way of Southwest Minnesota Announces Gift Card Drive
United Acts of Kindness Week is November 16-20. During that week, United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) will be encouraging spreading acts of kindness to everyone. Typically during the time leading up to this week, we collect hygiene items to pack and distribute to local human resource organizations to assist their clients. However, this year to due to COVID, we are encouraging monetary and gift card donations. By purchasing these gift cards, this will allow local human service providers and schools to purchase hygiene items that often are not donated but continue to be an ongoing need. Gift cards and monetary donations will be distributed during United Acts of Kindness Week.
Gift cards from grocery stores, hardware stores, dollar stores, gas stations and restaurants are all being accepted through November 16. Gift cards are a great way to support both the individuals throughout our communities who are in need and our local business owners. By supporting the drive, you will allow local human service providers and schools to purchase items that often are not donated but are in high demand.
All gift cards and monetary donations will stay local and will benefit youth, families and seniors in the UWSWMN service area. Donations can be sent to: United Way of SW MN, PO Box 41, Marshall, MN 56258. Note “Gift Card Drive” on the memo line.
United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) is committed to responding to the needs in our service area that impact all of us. When our communities are stronger, we all are. United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. In southwest Minnesota, United Way focuses on health, education, financial stability, hunger and safety & well-being. To learn more about UWSWMN, visit our website UnitedWaySWMN.org and follow us on social media.
United Way is an autonomous, local organization working to create lasting change in people’s lives and the communities we serve in Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine, and portions of Cottonwood, Lac Qui Parle, Nobles, and Redwood counties of Minnesota.
Murray County Christmas Project
The Murray County Christmas Project is again planning to provide toys and gifts to over 300 eligible children in Murray County. We are accepting donations of toys and gifts for children 0 through 11 years of age. We also need stocking caps and mittens. Monetary gifts are also accepted to help with the purchase of gift items.
Please have all checks made payable to: Murray County Christmas Project/SRDC. Donations can be dropped off at the Slayton Shoe Repair in Slayton, local banks in Murray County or sent to Murray County Christmas Project, Box 111, Slayton, MN 56172. Please have all donations in by December 1, 2020 or contact 507-530-1292 and we will schedule a pick up time for your donation. Due to the pandemic we will be handing out gifts and toys earlier this year.
Thank you for your support to the Murray County Christmas Project, your donations will be greatly appreciated by all who receive them.
Health officials offering free COVID-19 testing in Tyler on Tuesday Oct. 27
The Minnesota Department of Health is partnering with local public health officials to offer free COVID-19 testing in Tyler. The testing event in Tyler will be held Tuesday, October 27 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Rock Christian Youth Center. Testing is free, available to anyone who feels they need to be tested whether they have symptoms or not, and will not require insurance.
Amber Scholten, Director of Lincoln County Emergency Management, encouraged folks to get tested, noting that “testing uncovers positive cases earlier and slows the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The longer it takes for someone to find out they’re positive, the more likely it is they can unknowingly spread it to others.”
Many who contract COVID-19 may experience mild or even no symptoms, but some suffer life-threatening complications. All who contract the virus are contagious. Getting tested helps people know they if have contracted COVID-19 so they are informed and can protect those they are close to who might be most vulnerable to serious complications. This is a proven strategy for fighting spread of a virus like COVID-19.
Here are the details of the testing in Tyler:
Tuesday, October 27
12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Rock Christian Youth Center
148 N. Tyler St.
Tyler, MN 56178
To avoid long lines, community members are encouraged to pre-register for a time slot. Visit https://www.primarybio.com/r/tyler?locale=en for more information and to sign up for an appointment.
Those who are unable to sign up online or need interpretation can call 1-855-612-0677 for assistance.
Increased access to testing and identifying positive cases as early as possible is a critical way to keep schools and the economy as open as possible. Positive cases staying hidden leads to more spread and more detrimental impact to our schools and economy.
Switching from one learning model to another is a complicated calculation that can be very disruptive and requires significant planning. School districts have to balance the important benefits of in person learning to the mental and emotional health of their students with the very real risk of COVID spread in a school environment.
Now that school has opened, broad community level data alone does not directly determine a potential change to the learning model. Instead, cases within the school community and what is happening in the schools themselves are the most important considerations. Any decision to change the model is made by the school district in consultation with a local support team, including local public health, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Department of Education.
Good News
By: John Stenen
Many of our once ‘Christian’ colleges and universities have persuaded students to believe that socialism and communism are the way we should live. I wish all of these people who believe that way could go and live for several years in North Korea, Russia, China, Cuba, or Venezuela. I believe they would come to the realization that the United States with its Capitalism and the Free Market system is a far better system of government, and they would probably kiss the ground they walk on when and if they could make it back to the U.S. Go to many of those countries listed above and lose your freedom of speech, freedom of religion, no right to bear arms to defend yourself and loved ones. If you oppose your government and speak out against it you would be sent to some labor camp, re-education camp, or killed. In these ungodly governments your life is filled with fear, and tyranny rules rather than any sense of freedom and safety.
When the Pilgrims landed here in 1620, they tried socialism and it failed – it always fails. Like Margaret Thatcher said, “The only problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”
Look at the evil it is already producing in our nation today by those who are doing all they can to bring this type of government into being. Our cities are being burned, our police officers who should be highly respected are being killed as well as many others. Citizens are forced to make statements by Antifa and BLM they do not believe in, fear is growing throughout our nation at an alarming rate. Add all of this on top of all the other evils that are growing in our nation and we can only expect judgment by a holy God.
I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who said, “When the government fears the people, there is freedom; when the people fear the government, there is tyranny.” If you want to live in freedom, please vote for it next month, Also, Christians are suppose to be a light in the midst of darkness, so let your light shine brightly for Christ. God bless.