Dakota Beacon

The amicus brief addresses the following argument:

After retiring from engineering work, I needed to work with my hands. Carpentry came easy and building small structures is as rewarding as it gets for me. My latest project has consumed me for the past three summers… the construction of a 21' by 31' boathouse with a 9' ceiling and an “attic room” built into the roof trusses. On over a dozen occasions during those three summers I faced the amazing realization that I had in my possession the exact amount of nails, screws, or other fasteners required to complete the several phases of construction. Rather than mere coincidences, these tiny “miracles” were Jesus' way of reminding me that He too was a carpenter and was pointedly and incrementally blessing my work!  So after the second of these “miracles”, I tuned into a local Catholic radio station and, at 2 PM each day, listened to a beautiful piece of music called the “chaplet of the divine mercy” that brought me to my knees in thanks to God for a safe day of work. An important secondary benefit was an extended physical and spiritual rest period of from ten to fifteen minutes.

In the Autumn of life, the music that I took for granted in grade school is now cherished; when I have the opportunity to hear very young children sing “Jesus Loves Me”, “Silent Night”, or other songs that reveal their preciousness, the tears flow as easily as when wonderful symphony strings rip my heart out of my chest. From the love of Christ Jesus and the knowledge that His love can easily be spread to those around us if we just become the conduit, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

“I cannot see that lectures can do so much good as reading the books from which they were taken.” So said Samuel Johnson, compiler of the 1755 “Dictionary of the English Language,” the first of its kind.

Christmas, or the Mass of Christ, ‘tis the season for giving! What better way to say “I love you” than with the gift of a book? The recipients’ only prerequisite is an intellect imbued with curiosity.

The following suggestions from favorite books and DVDs in my library are meant to be edifying, revealing, and instructive; not light, inconsequential, or superficial. Readers do not share the same tastes and space limits detailed descriptions of selections. However, reviews are always available on-line.

As Democrats prepare to steal Senate seats won by Republicans in the midterm elections it is time for Republicans to use what Democrats have used in House and Senate elections during the last five decades:  Article I Section 5 Clause 1 of the Constitution which states that:  

“Each House [of Congress] shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.”

The US federal government will shut down. Mueller will submit a report. US economy will improve due to tranquility. Trump will tweet.

ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS; THE ND OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY; POWER SHIFT; TIME FOR A CHANGE; A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE; WON'T LET GO; TOO MUCH BISON?; IS IT A TEMPORARY PROBLEM?; WORLD'S NO. 2 ICE FISHING SPOT; CRYING WOLF; OVERSTEPPED; DAKTOIDS

Yesterday, the nation celebrated Thanksgiving with parades, food, football, family, and even some shopping. But what was missing? In this article, Dr. Paul Kengor observes that in many areas of the holiday—including books and school lessons for children—a very important part was missing: God.

Ever since the nation-rending Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 took effect in ’68, 85 to 90 percent of our immigrants have been Third Worlders, and 70 to 90 percent of them support Democrats upon naturalization.

This has caused a historic demographic shift (and attendant electoral one) that has seen our nation go from 85-plus percent white in 1965 to only 61 percent non-Hispanic white today. Let’s define further the political impact, using conservative figures.

My wife broke the silence first. “What am I thankful for? I’ll tell you what I am thankful for,” she exclaimed. “I’m sure thankful I went to school fifty years ago. At least I received a reasonably accurate account of the Thanksgiving story unvarnished before the political correctness and identity politics hogwash took hold.”

ND ELECTION OUTCOME; BECOMING PURPLE?; FLAWED MEASURE; CHET POLLERT; THE TASK FORCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION; GUESS WHAT?; THE PIPELINE WARS; TOSS A BEER FOR CHARITY; THE $5 MILLION ELEVATOR EMBEZZLEMENT; NINE LIVES; A BAD DUDE; THE NICKNAME CONTROVERSY; DAKTOIDS

a work environment so bad that 70 percent of its employees are distressed enough to be at risk of ill health, reports Ekot.

The internal survey, Ekot also noted, shows in addition that a majority of the employees of the Gender Equality Authority suffer from sleep problems and “risk fatigue”.

Among other things, the women-dominated workplace is characterized by bullying and harassment, according to the survey.

Of all the federal law enforcement agencies, ICE headed the news cycle over the past year leading up to the 2018 midterm elections. Border security was a major issue on the minds of voters. Sadly, ICE was the whipping boy of the left. The Passing Scene takes this opportunity to address falsehoods, fibs, and outright lies promulgated by the left.

As the dust settles around the 2018 midterm elections, a nagging question remains. Under the new Congress, will America be any safer with updated immigration laws and enhanced law enforcement? Don’t hold your breath. This is not on the agenda of the cop-hating left.

Are political divisions eroding the important social institutions which hold society together: Family, friends, and community organizations? Will holiday gatherings be filled with uncomfortable conversations about the 2018 midterm elections? In this article, Gabrielle Etzel discusses the need for civility in American political discourse—even at the Thanksgiving table. She writes, “Engaging in a respectful dialogue and learning from the perspectives of others just as much as sharing your own is a way to strengthen a relationship and to foster a mutual understanding.”

THE MOST WATCHED RACE IN ND; ONCE IN A CENTURY; A NEW STATE ETHICS LAW; FARGO VOTERS; NO NONSENSE; MALTING BARLEY; FIDDLE YOUR WAY TO A LONG LIFE; WHERE DO ND NATIVE LIEVE; UNSUCCESSFUL, BUT PERSISTENT; THIS IS THE MOST EXTREME CASE; SEEK COVER; DAKTOIDS

Lack of civility in society is nothing new. George Washington, known for generations as the Father of Our Country, is regarded uncivilly in contemporary leftist thinking as little more than a sorry, old, white guy who should be ignored. Leftists generally believe the United States was illegitimately founded, especially leftists in academia who have taught generations of young people to hate America. As a minimum, school curriculum and text books teach revisionist history thoroughly ignoring American historical fact. Our Founding Fathers, if discussed at all, are portrayed as a bunch of elitist, racist, capitalist white guys who wrote the US Constitution to protect their own little fiefdoms. Nothing is further from the truth.

Perhaps the most disturbing feature of this year’s midterm election in Minnesota, however, was in the vote to elect a Sharia-advocating anti-Semite to the office of Attorney General.

ND NOT UGLY LIKE THEM; HEIDI'S OUT-OF-STATE GRATITUDE; FLARING; THE HORRIBLES WON; WHERE DOES THIS GO?; ROGUE CPA?; NO PASSION; SAUERKRAUT DAY IN WISHEK; LITTLE TOWN LOSES BIG MONEY; WHO ARE THE SUSPECTS?; DAKTOIDS

After the tragic Saturday shooting that claimed 11 lives at a Pittsburgh synagogue, there has been, lamentably, a predictable response. Seizing upon the incident, leftists are blaming President Trump and his supporters for creating a “climate of hate.” In response to this and the notion that it justifies suppression of speech, others will say that only one man is responsible, mass murderer Robert Bowers. Yet there’s far more to this matter than either position indicates.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced that he was lifting an EPA ban on sales of E15—a blend of motor fuel for vehicles. Was this a political move? Or is it a reflection upon the current state of the environmentalist movement? In this article, economist Dr. Mark Hendrickson examines the announcement and further suggests that current trade policy may also be a motivating factor.

DEVELOP AN AUTHENTIC ND BRAND; FORUM ENDORSEMENTS; HEARTLAND REGIONAL STUDY; SURPRISE BLUNDER; THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ALLOWED ND VOTER ID LAW; AG COMMISSIONER RACE; HAPPY BIRTHDAY FARGODOME; DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE LITIGATION; A THREAT; LATEST WORD ON ASHBY COOP; DAKTOIDS

It’s that time of year when pumpkins metamorphose into jack-o-lanterns and little imps provoke adults to give them candy. Halloween is here again.

Is this really a time for celebrating evil, death and debauchery?

Many parents harbor misgivings about exposing their children to the horrific and macabre. Some rightly fear for the safety of their children. To celebrate or not to celebrate?

In light of today's "multicultural" environment, Halloween demands a fair hearing. In perspective, Halloween extends back more than one and a half millennium but few people associate Halloween with observances of the ancient Christian church.

On Saturday morning, 11 innocent people lost their lives at the hand of a gunman during a worship service at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. In this article, Dr. Paul Kengor details a personal account of the tragedy that left a community and nation asking: Why? Kengor reflects, “This world, unlike the heavenly paradise we seek, is full of sin and rot. Trees in this world decay and die. Like people, they face mortality in this realm. Eternal life and perfect bliss is not reachable in this world. It comes in the next.”

A reasonable case for term limits can be made when reviewing the lack of accomplishments of the permanent political class. Where is their leadership when it counts? On many of the following items, especially military legislation, they seldom co-sponsor legislation much less lead on the national issues. They remain part of the inert establishment enjoying their perks. As part of the majority of their respective houses they have accomplished zero on illegal immigration, the devastating sequestration, the fight against terrorism, correcting America’s disastrous health care policy, reversing the upward trend of the ever-increasing national debt, thwarting the monstrous spread of federal regulations – the list goes on. They are part of the establishment. Very little changed in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Not until 2016 and Trump’s outsider style of leadership did things begin to change.

Why not make the offer and put Mexico on the spot and unmask their corrupt government and reveal their real agenda?  

With perhaps the most significant midterm election in decades nigh, big tech’s censorship of conservatives has kicked into high gear. And while Facebook’s recent purge of right-leaning pages is obvious and has made news, perhaps just as destructive is the stealth censorship. A good example may be the report of WordPress’ “statistics shadowbanning” of Whatfinger News.

WAS CRAMER-HEITKAMP DEBATE A DRAW?; WHY DO THEY CARE?; REMEDY; POOR LLOYD'S (OMDAHL) ALMANAC; REMARKABLE MOMENT; FORUM AGAINST MEASURES; AN NPR/HARVARD/STUDY; THE ACT TEST; "THERE'S WAY TOO MANY MOOSE"; ND COLLEGE STUDENTS; DRONE FALCONS; SUNNYSIDE UP; HUB CITIES; DAKTOIDS

Our Founding Fathers collectively possessed incredible wisdom: Ben Franklin, John Adams, John Jay, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and so many more.

Where did they acquire such knowledge and wisdom to create the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and the Constitution? None had “public education” to their credit but were taught at home by parents and tutors. All were well-read and otherwise self-educated. Several attended private universities in their late teens and early twenties.

In particular, the wit and wisdom of Thomas Jefferson remains an inspiration to all who read him. As with others, he was essentially self-taught surrounded by books. Jefferson is so often cited and embraced both by liberals and assorted progressives as well as conservatives and libertarians.

What we know of Jefferson’s thinking comes principally from his letters. He never wrote a book but, at the age of thirty-three, he drafted the Declaration of Independence.

A NEW ROUGH RIDER; COLUMNIST MIKE JACOBS; SKEPITCISM; HEIDI HEITKAMP; SOCIAL MOBILITY; ONE MEANING OF "SALTING"; HIGHER ED REPORT; STOPPING BAD GUYS; PIPELINE PROTESTORS; SMILE, YOU'RE ON TELEDENTIRISTY; PAYBACK; DAKTOIDS

Many factors are involved when a young adult begins to choose a college: cost, campus life, location, employment after graduation, and others. But is the most important factor the one that is often overlooked? In this article, Lee S. Wishing argues: “Joy, real meaningful joy, should be the most important consideration when choosing a college.”

The people will have to decide what they want for themselves and their children - mob rule, where hysterical people can accuse without proof and destroy others’ lives or the rule of law, where the accused has the right to a presumption of innocence, specificity of charges against him, a fair hearing, the right to his defence.  That is the question to consider this November.