About Brainerd's Crosslake

Syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin in Thursday's Washington Times wrote:

"What and who exactly are President Obama's homeland security officials afraid of these days? If you are a member of an active conservative group that opposes abortion, favors strict immigration enforcement, lobbies to protect Second Amendment rights, protests big government, advocates federalism, or represents veterans who believe in any of the above, the answer is: You."

Patriotic Americans now pose a threat to the United States government. There are millions of them, they are everywhere.

People who believe the government is too large and taxes its people too much. All those who participated in TEA parties, anti-abortion rallies, those who attend Christian denominational churches, advocate for marriage and family in a traditional manner. People who realize that the government can not fix everything and should stop trying. If you are returning from active duty, you will be watched very closely because someone might want to recruit your US Miltary trained talent to their anti-USA cause - you are a bigger threat than an illegal immigrant or a Muslim militant.

You do not know where they are hiding, some are even undercover in the very government that is claiming this threat. You can not tell because they vote like all the rest - a very good undercover operation, indeed.

photo by - lautenbach FLICKR

See photos of the sandbagging efforts and view the Fargo/Moorhead flood area

Despite everyone's best efforts to keep up with the rising waters, in some areas there is already dike failure and subsequent flooding. The volunteers are growing weary but fresh replacements are still coming in. With the evacuations , there will be less time spend on rescue efforts as there will be less to rescue. There will always be those who stay in their homes risking their lives and those of their rescuers. No one knows exactly how long the waters will keep rising and how long the crest will be sustained.

Update: Officials are now indicating that the crest has been reached and for the most part the sandbags are holding.

click link for real time views below

Time lapse images here

The Red River has reached its highest stage in 112 years. Yesterday many buses went out from Brainerd/ Baxter MN from our Greater Lakes Association of REALTORS parking lot and from many area churches filled with volunteers. Their main goal was to fill and place as many sandbags as humanly possible to hold back the waters. Tired and wet, they came home late last evening as these communities began to call for evacualtions. Fargo is now under mandatory evacuation and Moorhead (lenient MN style) evacuation is highly recommended. The sewer systems are failing and drinkable water is a problem. Rescues are now being made by chopper and all types of boats.

Baby, that ice water is sure cold!!!

To the students of life -

As we 'round the bend in the school year and start chugging towards the Spring finish line, we know that there will be obstacles ahead that have to be seriously considered now - FINAL EXAMS
Do you totally freak out on test day or are you a last minute crammer? How has that been working for you so far?

Do you want less stress, higher grades and more return for your time and effort? Studying is the key - not studying your X- Box - studying subjects that you are actually enrolled in and hoping to get credit for taking.

Here is a handy list of some sites on studying and test taking.

How to Study

http://www.how-to-study.com

Test Taking Tips

http://www.testtakingtips.com

Study Skills Self Help Information

http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html

Six Steps to Smarter Studying

http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/school/studying.html

With the present economic troubles, we have lost a few Brainerd/Baxter businesses. I was pleased to hear that Papa Murphy's in Baxter has made a committment to the area by buying the building that their business is in presently. We often purchase their delicious pizzas for take home to bake perfection. I will even stop in on a busy work day to get a salad to eat at my desk at Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes where I am a REALTOR/Staging Specialist. Yes, I usually work right through lunch but if you have a home you want to list or buy - we can eat lunch out or just have coffee. Brainerd/Baxter has many places for that as well.

photo by; Baclava