Also on a flood theme, for those cleaning up from the floods, here is a nice_article about how clorine bleach is not effective against mold, and what alternative is better. They suggest a mix of borax and vinegar, and while that seems likely to kill about anything I'd be careful handling that too.

Several rural Minnesota families evacuated their homes last week when the odors from a nearby dairy farm reached unhealthy levels. Hazardous hydrogen sulfide levels at Excel Dairy near Thief River Falls, Minn., in northwest Minnesota triggered state Department of Health toxicologist Rita Messing to advise nearby homeowners to leave their homes. At least a half-dozen families living near the 1,500-cow farm left their homes to stay with relatives or in hotels.

from the MediaGiraffe_website

The words: So this is a "place blog" and some might consider it a hyper-local blog.  I'm not so sure about that one because we don't cover the "man bites dog on Main Street" stories, but we do have mostly local interest as a start.  We can end up in State issues like controlling CAFOs and the future of coal for energy, or petroleum for getting around, but mostly this is a website locals would be most interested in reading.

I also learned that there are other places with place blogs that do things a bit differently, some with a lot of participation from the community.  From these folks I learned more about the potential of this technology when used to its fullest.  I also had the opportunity to join in a conversation with a dozen other bloggers that was recorded in the Minnesota Public Radio studio and is available online.  To listen to the hour we spent discussing our work click_this_link.

I hope it provides some insight into the motivations for place blogging, and the potential realized when a community cooperates and rejects those silos of power that create limits, not empowerment.

After the Place Blogging conference I attended the National Conference for Media Reform, and I have posted several stories last week, but the main message everyone seemed to return to was Unity. We are a group that has thrived on open-source, an open mode of communication and we need to stick together. Here is Reverend Romal J. Tune who addressed the National Conference for Media Reform in Minneapolis, June 7, 2008, presented by Free Press. He of all the speakers punched the point home.

picture of David Sirota from politicswest.com

Thinking about the election coming up, it seems a good idea to reach out to our community to see where the voters stand on candidates and issues.  I could make the time, or any of you fair readers could step up and make it happen.  Listen to Sirota and see if he sparks your imagination at all.  KickTime is here to help make it happen.

Here's the_link to the audio.

This one is a funny moment in a gallery, but their techno-phobic comments remind me of home.

And here is a Wisconsin native with a quirky style and art.

UW Richland Center has education enrichment camp that is usually arranged through the school system, but private school kids and homeschooling families should also be aware of the summer offerings. Link is here

Camp Woodbrooke in rural Richland Center still has some openings for boys and girls aged 7-13. The teen program is full. Check out the website here. They also offer work days to get camp ready that makes it easier for families to get to know what the place is about.

KickTime already_highlighted the music camp happening in June called Yellow Cello, but it is good to repeat it.

Lots of interesting heritage programs at Norskedalen in Coon Valley for adults and children. Direct link is here.

The Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center offers programs for children in July and August (and a lot of other programs at other times.) Their calendar is here.

Our local Driftless Folk School is quite active (mostly for adults I think) and the schedule is here.

A bit further down the road is American Player's Theater summer camp for older school aged kids. Their webpage about it is here.

Seems there is no excuse to be bored this summer.

The Broadcaster has the full stories (linked below)--one about a feral pig and the other a troop of white-tail deer that wandered into  town causing mischief.  Below is a picture of the pig, that most agree is a pretty substantial animal.  And second is a poem in honor of the fallen_deer.  Action-packed place is Viroqua.

photo from VC Broadcaster article

There once was a deer from the country,
I don't know his name so we'll call him Guntry.
He lived east of town out of route 56,
you know the road that their trying to fix?
He headed to town on a sunny spring day,
hoping that fun adventures were headed his way.

The producers of the movie Keeping the Lights On have released a short on Google Video.  If you missed the various showings of the full video (complete with conversation with those_opposed to the ash pit siting in Vernon County,) then here is the short.  [ed. note: I originally posted the second video below (sent to me by the producers,) but this first video is actually the latest. Thanks to Scott for the correction.]

A statement from the producers is in the full story...