Storm Chasin'

I love storm chasing books, movies, and TV shows. My favorite movie is Twister. Growing up in South Dakota, I've had ample opportunity to view tornadoes and plenty of severe weather. So it should come as no surprise that one of the books I am currently reading is Into the storm by Reed Timmer of Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers. Timmer was actually in South Dakota last summer chasing storms. There is a story and photo in a late May edition of the Rapid City Journal as he made his way through town in his souped up storm chasing vehicle Dominator. He may have even been through Pierre. He was in SD in 2003 on "Tornado Tuesday" and witnessed the F4 tornado that wiped Manchester off the map.

Here is what I really wanted to share from Timmer's book, though. Discussing the days before storm chasers had mobile Internet access and laptops, he states, "And before we all had laptops? We'd hit public libraries. The libraries-no matter how modest-always had Internet access, and within a few years of becoming a storm chaser my wallet bulged with library cards from some of America's tiniest towns."

Yet another great testimony for America's libraries! And if you enjoy books about severe weather and chasing it down, read Timmer's book.

Into the Storm: Violent Tornadoes, Killer Hurricanes, and Death-defying Adventures in Extreme Weather by Reed Timmer c2010.

2011 Legislative Session

I always enjoy it when legislative session rolls around in SD. Being in Pierre makes one much more cognizant of the legislative processes that go on over at the Capitol. And working in the state government documents area also makes one realize just how much work goes on across the street in the filing of bills, committee hearings, etc.

As I work at my computer, I try to listen to the committee hearings in the mornings as they discuss the various bills. I've become more educated of the legislative process as I listen to committee hearings in the mornings, and full House or Senate sessions in the afternoon. I didn't understand until a couple of years ago that sending a bill to the 41st day effectively kills it for the current session. Often the same bill will come back the next year. Some of the opponent and proponent testimony of bills can get very emotional, and it takes a lot for a person to stand up for or against proposed legislation.

I do wonder sometimes if legislators realize how much work goes into the filing of bills. A bill was recently introduced, and even the legislator who introduced it admits that it is a stunt and he won't support it. Behind the scenes, hundreds of copies of this bill are produced and distributed, using staff resources as well as lots of paper. Oh well, it is getting plenty of national attention.

I chuckle on the days the House and Senate meet prior to heading home for the weekend, and always hope that high school government classes have not traveled far to see the legislature in action that day. What usually happens is that the group is called to order, announcements are made, and bills on the agenda are referred to the next meeting day. Then they adjourn and everyone heads home early for the weekend. It might take 20 minutes. :-)

At any rate, it is a great time to learn about the process. It is easy to read any document on how a bill becomes a law, but to actually listen to or view the process in action is much more meaningful.