Willie Porter
We're very pleased to have Willie Porter back with us on WDAZ News @5 Friday. It's been too long. Maybe if we ask nicely, he'll do a number for us from his new album Available Light.
Willie is performing at the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks Friday at 7:30. It's part of the Empire's Acoustic Guitar Series.
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/30/2008 at 9:02 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Walk Your Paws
The Circle of Friends Humane Society always seems to have nice Fall weather for its annual Walk Your Paws event. It certainly did this morning. I think I heard correctly that about forty dogs (and their human companions) were signed up for today's walk at Lincoln Drive Park in Grand Forks.
The University of North Dakota's new president, Dr. Robert Kelley, the Grand Forks Herald's old columnist, Ryan Bakken, and I had a good time judging the doggy contestants in the pet parade which included "cutest," "look-alike," "best costume" and "best trick" categories.
It's funny but the animals all seem to know they have to be on good behavior at the Walk Your Paws event. In over an hour I don't think I heard so much as a bark out of any of the dogs--or Ryan for that matter.
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/27/2008 at 3:01 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
North Dakota Recreation & Parks Association
Thanks to Steve Mullally of the Grand Forks Park District for the invitation to speak to the North Dakota Recreation and Parks Association last night. We had a lot of fun.
Except for a couple of years spent overseas (at Ft. Benning, Georgia), I've lived in North Dakota all of my life and it's hard not to like an association with a goal of improving the quality of life for North Dakotans.
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/25/2008 at 6:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Neil Diamond
Legendary
performer Neil Diamond will take to the
Alerus Center stage November 22,
2008 at 8:00.
With a four-decade long career that
has seen more than 125 million records sold worldwide, 36 Top
40 hits, a Grammy, a Golden Globe and thousands of sold-out shows all
over the globe, Neil Diamond remains one of the most vital and innovative
forces in modern music. The 2008 summer tour will deliver a familiar
yet unique fan experience featuring amazing production, innovative stage
design and, of course, an unparalleled set list of Diamonds most
beloved hits. In addition to classics such as Sweet Caroline,
Im a Believer, and Cherry, Cherry, Diamond will perform
new, never before performed live songs from his upcoming, highly anticipated
album, Home Before Dark, his second collaboration with renowned
producer Rick Rubin, to be released by Columbia Records on May 6th.
Diamonds prolific
body of work includes You Don't Bring Me Flowers (the powerful
duet with Barbra Streisand), I Am, I Said and Cracklin Rosie,
as well as hits from his album and movie The Jazz Singer
( America, Love on the Rocks ) and from his acclaimed 2005
album 12 Songs. The album marked his first project with
Rubin, which entered the Billboard
Top 200 at No. 4 marking Diamonds highest-charting debut to date
and offered a stripped-down, emotionally honest and passionately
compelling approach that continues on Home Before Dark.
Like all great Neil
Diamond albums, Home Before Dark is a powerful work, crossing
generational lines with an extraordinary range and level of songcraft.
Imbued with the same style of inspired melodies that has made his music
so enduring, the albums highlights include the stunning lead single
Pretty Amazing Grace and a striking duet with the Dixie Chicks
Natalie Maines entitled Another Day (That Time Forgot).
The new collection was written by Diamond and recorded in Los Angeles
with guitarist Mike Campbell, keyboardist Benmont Tench (Tom Petty &
The Heartbreakers), bassist/acoustic guitarist Smokey Hormel and guitarist
Matt Sweeney. The album will also be available as a deluxe version that
includes two bonus tracks and a DVD with rare footage of Diamond in
the studio.
Tickets: $122, $87, $55
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/23/2008 at 8:53 AM | Comments (7) | Permalink
Rough Riders Reunion
HOEVEN TO WELCOME THEODORE ROOSEVELT ROUGH RIDER RECIPIENTS TO FIRST-EVER REUNION
Governor and Recipients to Participate in Harold Schafer Leadership Institute
Public Invited to Attend Open House
BISMARCK, N.D. Gov. John Hoeven today announced that his office, in partnership with the University of Mary's Harold Schafer Leadership Institute, will host the first-ever North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award reunion. Eight recipients of North Dakota's highest commendation representing business, education, fine arts and entrepreneurship will come together for an unprecedented two-day event in Bismarck September 24 and 25.
Thomas Clifford, Angie Dickinson, William Marcil, Harry Pearce, Chester Chet Reiten, Bobby Vee, Sister Thomas Welder and Larry Woiwode will speak to business and community leaders, students and members of the public at various events scheduled over the two days, including the Harold Schafer Leadership Institute.
This is a historic event for the state of North Dakota as former Rough Rider recipients reunite to share their personal stories and proven strategies for success, Hoeven said. Business leaders, community leaders and students will have a unique opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and experience of some of North Dakota's most talented and influential individuals. These men and women have made their mark on our state, our nation and the world.
Beginning Wednesday, September 24 with an open house at the State Capitol and concluding with a special program at the University of Mary on Thursday, September 25, citizens will have a chance to meet with the recipients and hear them share their personal insights, strategies for success and reflections on their North Dakota heritage.
It is a great privilege for the University of Mary to serve as a host for this landmark gathering at the Harold Schafer Leadership Institute, said University of Mary President and 33rd Rough Rider Award recipient Sister Thomas Welder. We at America's Leadership University are particularly excited about the unique opportunity this event affords our students and guests to learn about leadership from this never-before-assembled group of individuals representing many fields of endeavor, who hail from our home state.
The public is invited to attend the open house on September 24 and visit with the Rough Rider recipients. The event will be held in the Brynhild Haugland Room of the state Capitol building in Bismarck from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Since
1961, 36 North Dakotans have received the Theodore Roosevelt Rough
Rider Award for achieving national recognition in their fields of
endeavor, thereby reflecting credit and honor upon North Dakota and its
citizens. For more information on the Rough Rider Award and biographies
on the recipients, visit http://governor.nd.gov/awards/
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/19/2008 at 10:06 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Bette Davis Stamp
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/18/2008 at 7:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Burn After Reading
The biggest joke in their latest "Burn After Reading" is the casting. George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt--each playing a character who wouldn't be bringing potato salad to the Mensa picnic.
The weird hair award in this one goes to Pitt's character. (Apparently there will be a weird haircut in every Coen movie from now on.)
"Burn After Reading" is darker than its advertising suggests. Think "Fargo" in Washington.
Anyway, "Burn" kept my mind off presidential politics, hurricanes and Wall Street for 97 minutes on Sunday afternoon. That's all I ask of a movie anymore.
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/15/2008 at 7:45 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Brenda Jo Gillund
The following is a United States Jaycess news release:
TULSA, OKLAHOMA: The United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) and the North Dakota Junior Chamber (Jaycees) are pleased to announce that Brenda Jo Gillund has been named as one of the 2008 Ten Outstanding Young Americans. The presentation of the 70th annual black-tie awards ceremony will be held September 27, 2008, in the San Diego, California Town and Country Hotel.
Brenda Jo Gillund joins the ranks of very notable Outstanding Young Americans of the past including Presidents John Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Bill Clinton, and Vice Presidents Al Gore, Dan Quayle, and Richard Cheney. Also honored were Howard Hughes, Orson Wells, Elvis Presley, Nelson Rockefeller, Ted Kennedy, dogsled champion Susan Butcher, and actors Christopher Reeve and Shannon Reed as well as author David Pelzer.
As an Oncology Nurse at the Altru Cancer
Center, Brenda Jo Gillund, 39,
co-founded Filling the Gap, a grant program designed to help lower income families
with the financial and travel difficulties of their stay at the Altru Cancer
Center. The program
works to fill the gap between what insurance, personal finance,
and other methods of financial support can provide. She received a
$50,000 grant for the program and worked to raise another $150,000. She
received a scholarship to attend the Oncology Nursing Society Congress in 2007
to present information about the Filling the Gap program to other nurses
internationally.
Gillund is also active in the American Cancer Society, and co-chaired the annual Relay for Life, including raising funds in excess of $180,000. She is currently the media liaison for the ACS Cancer Action Network in North Dakota, and also helped set up the Look Good&Feel Better, and Road to Recovery groups in Grand Forks. Gillund also coordinates with the Cancer Center Adopt a Family Campaign every Christmas to provide gifts for cancer patients and their families.
Gillund has received many awards, including twice receiving the Altru's Organizational Excellence Award, the American Cancer Society St. George Award, the Lane Adams Quality of Life Award, the Altru Health System Legend Award, and being named Outstanding Nurse of the Year by the North Dakota Nurses Association. She was also a member of the 2006 Celebration on the Hill Ambassador Team.
Gillund currently resides in Grand Forks, North
Dakota with her husband, Brent and six year old
twins, Benjamin and Anastasia. She is the first North Dakotan to be awarded as
a Ten Outstanding Young American. Gillund was recognized as Outstanding Young
North Dakotan (OYND) by the North Dakota Jaycees in 2007.
The Ten Outstanding Young
Americans program (TOYA) is one of the oldest and most prestigious recognition
programs in America.
Annually since 1938, The United States Jaycees has sought out the ten young men
and women who best exemplify the finest attributes of America's
youthful achievers.
The TOYA selection process begins
in the spring of each year. Following the submission deadline, all nominations
are forwarded to a panel of screening judges who, working independently, select
and rank their top twenty choices. The top twenty point getters become the
finalists. The finalists' nominations are forwarded to a panel of
finalist judges who rank their top ten choices. The task of judging the
nominations is arduous.
Each nominee's accomplishments and contributions are also judged in relation to the Jaycee Creed: That earth's great treasure lies in human personality, and that service to humanity is the best work of life and they must meet certain qualifications: age (18-40, inclusive), American citizenship (or application therefore), and agree to attend the TOYA Awards Ceremony.
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/15/2008 at 7:34 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Passion Play Closes
The Passion Play in one thing you think will always be there. But, not so.
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/14/2008 at 8:50 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Pete
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/11/2008 at 7:20 AM | Comments (6) | Permalink
Peanuts Animator Dies
He was the only animator Minnesota native Charles Shultz allowed to work on the series. He won eight Emmys for his work, which includes television specials like "A Charlie Brown Christmas." He was 91.
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/04/2008 at 7:53 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Jagger Patrick Dugan
Jagger Patrick Dugan
Born: 11:17 AM, September 3
8 Lbs., 6 Oz.
22 Inches
Parents: Jessica & Jay
Siblings: Jackson & Jordyn
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/03/2008 at 3:25 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Don LaFontaine Dies
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/02/2008 at 11:10 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Koko Update
The following is an August 26th news release from Alligator Records:
The Blues Machine, Koko Taylor's
band, was involved in a serious van accident near
Black River Falls, Wisconsin early morning on Saturday,
August 23. Koko was not in the van at the time. The van
was the only vehicle involved in the accident. They were
on their way to Thief River Falls, Minnesota for a
concert and planned to meet Koko there.
Traveling were guitarist Calvin Louden, guitarist
Shunsuke Kikuta, bassist Ricky Nelson, drummer Brian
Parker, keyboardist Stanley Banks, driver Jesse Hutson
and road manager Lee Threatt (husband to Joyce Cookie
Threatt, Koko's daughter).
Louden, Kikuta, Nelson, Parker, and Banks all suffered
broken bones and required surgery. Hutson and
Threatt were treated and released from the hospital
There were no life-threatening injuries and all are
expected to make full recoveries.
Cards can be sent to individual band members care of
Alligator Records, P.O. Box 60234, Chicago IL
60660.
Posted by: Terry Dullum on 9/01/2008 at 11:47 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
Tipping
Spent some time on vacation reading the wildly entertaining Waiter Rant: Thanks For The Tip -- Confessions of A Cynical Waiter. When it was first published it was credited as being written only by the Waiter. The Waiter has since been outed as Steve Dublanica whose popular blog about the restaurant industry led to the book.
After trying the seminary and big business, Dublanica worked as a waiter for several years at the high-end, New York eatery The Bistro. Patrons included celebrities like Russell Crowe, smart-ass yuppies, drunken regulars and the neighborhood homeless guy. Much of it is "laugh-out-loud" funny.
The Waiter writes: "I once had a man who started choking at one of my tables. He waved off all attempts for assistance, but when he started to turn blue, I stepped in and Heimliched him. (It wouldn't do to have a customer die in my section.) I applied a few quick abdominal thrusts and the bolus obstructing the man's airway projectiled out of his mouth and splattered onto the table. Can you guess what kind of tip the man gave me after saving his life? Eight percent! I also found out from the name on the credit card this guy was a doctor. Next time I let him die."
Dublanica suggests 20 percent is a decent, minimum tip. He says seniors often tip too little and that others tip well, but then are overly-demanding. Over-tipping is not always appreciated, either.
So, what's everybody been tipping lately? We'll explore further on television Friday on the Dullum File.
Posted by: Terry Dullumg on 9/01/2008 at 8:10 AM | Comments (4) | Permalink
