Plan for Joshua Ritter
by Prairie Games · 10/15/2003 (6:43 pm) · 9 comments
For those who didn't know, I moved to a small town in North Dakota about 90 miles from the nearest interstate. Here is a short anecdote from last week.
On the way back from the sprawling city of Bismarck, we stopped at a little produce shop. Now understand, this is a shop, storefront and all... the odd thing was, when we walked in, no one was there... only a box on the counter with a little note that read: "If no one is here, pay here." ... inside the box was $150-$200 CASH and a number of PERSONAL CHECKS?!?!?! All... On... The... Honor... System.... Well, we picked out some produce and made our own change then walked out like grinning baboons... Rock On North Dakota!!!
I am too blown to write much of a development update... I have been coding my brains out and there is no end in sight. The last couple days I have spent upgrading the LAN with a couple boxes and switching to Subversion...
I am really, really happy about what is formulating here on these great plains. I need a cowboy hat.
-Josh
On the way back from the sprawling city of Bismarck, we stopped at a little produce shop. Now understand, this is a shop, storefront and all... the odd thing was, when we walked in, no one was there... only a box on the counter with a little note that read: "If no one is here, pay here." ... inside the box was $150-$200 CASH and a number of PERSONAL CHECKS?!?!?! All... On... The... Honor... System.... Well, we picked out some produce and made our own change then walked out like grinning baboons... Rock On North Dakota!!!
I am too blown to write much of a development update... I have been coding my brains out and there is no end in sight. The last couple days I have spent upgrading the LAN with a couple boxes and switching to Subversion...
I am really, really happy about what is formulating here on these great plains. I need a cowboy hat.
-Josh
#2
seriously, that is pretty damn cool...
10/15/2003 (8:33 pm)
Sweet jumping jesus! There's still a place in the world where people trust each other!? I had no idea...seriously, that is pretty damn cool...
#3
You definitely got a good place to live in :-)
10/15/2003 (8:59 pm)
I grew up in a small town near Wichita, KS, and have traveled to a ton of small towns that have industrial plants. The trust levels are amazing. I don't think I've ever seen someone put up a sign like that before, but, it's not uncommon to see a mom and pop store still open with a message on the counter that says back in 10 minutes. In 5 minutes, you could rob 'em blind. I kinda miss that thinking - I have to lock my car doors in the part of town I live in.You definitely got a good place to live in :-)
#4
And this was NOT an pan island custom, but only something an old couple of organic farmers did on a very small scale, mostly for their "immediate" neighbors on Stracon Road :)
I also meant to underline you also seem to be in a nice sweet spot as far as frame of minds go :)
Did anyone tell you you were made an example of indie dedication in Jeff's Keynote at IGC ? 8p
10/16/2003 (10:08 am)
Last place I saw something like this was on Hornby Island, in the Georgia Straight (ie in between Vancouver Island and the coast of mainland BC), which nearly 10 years ago had a population of 800 people year round, double in the summer (without counting them tourists). And this was NOT an pan island custom, but only something an old couple of organic farmers did on a very small scale, mostly for their "immediate" neighbors on Stracon Road :)
I also meant to underline you also seem to be in a nice sweet spot as far as frame of minds go :)
Did anyone tell you you were made an example of indie dedication in Jeff's Keynote at IGC ? 8p
#5
10/16/2003 (11:07 am)
"Did anyone tell you you were made an example of indie dedication in Jeff 
#6
10/16/2003 (8:04 pm)
yeah i think it was along the lines of "some crazy bastard even moved to North Dakota!". Or something like that. :-)
#7
10/16/2003 (9:24 pm)
"There's such a fine line between clever and stupid." - David St Hubbins of Spinal Tap
#8
As a guy who lives near by put it, you best follow the system as otherwise you may never make it anywhere, being 60 miles from any other gas stations.
10/19/2003 (1:14 pm)
I live in northern Montana and sort of the same thing goes on with gas stations. There's a mom 'n pop gas station about 60 miles out from any major city or gase stations where the locals who live near it are given a key to the pumps. When the old couple go home at night you can unlock the pumps and pay on the honor system.As a guy who lives near by put it, you best follow the system as otherwise you may never make it anywhere, being 60 miles from any other gas stations.
#9
If you're from a warmer climate, the bloom may go off the rose as soon as winter really sets in. It's not just the cold, but the cabin fever--just watch you don't end up writing the same bit of code over and over again...
IF work="all"
AND play="no"
THEN Johnny="a dull boy"
;-)
DM
10/24/2003 (4:30 am)
If moving to ND is a sign of dedication, I have to hear the story behind this.If you're from a warmer climate, the bloom may go off the rose as soon as winter really sets in. It's not just the cold, but the cabin fever--just watch you don't end up writing the same bit of code over and over again...
IF work="all"
AND play="no"
THEN Johnny="a dull boy"
;-)
DM
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