THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Take pride in how far you have come and have faith in how far you can go. Congratulations to the Class of 2023!

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Girls golf: at Brookings invitational, 10 a.m.
Track: at Huron invitational, 2 p.m.
— FRIDAY
Softball: home vs. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 4 p.m.
— SATURDAY
Softball: home vs. Sioux Falls Washington, 1 p.m.
— TUESDAY
Softball: at SoDak 16 game (site and time to be announced).
Girls golf: at ESD Conference tournament, Watertown, 10 a.m.

Softball: The Governor girls lost to Sioux Falls Jefferson, 15-1, and lost to Sioux Falls Lincoln, 9-0.

Girls track: At the ESD conference meet Reese Terwilliger was the shot put champion with a 42’0″ throw. Kali Ringstmeyer won the 100 in :12.50 and placed second in the 200 in :26.17. Maya Shorter placed second in the discus at 120’10” and third in the javelin at 105’8″. Dani Ringstmeyer was third in the 100 in :12.82. The 4×200 relay team of Dani Ringstmeyer, Charlee Williams-Smith, Reed Curry and Grace Richter placed second in 1:48.01.

Boys track: Jason Maciejczak won the shot at 58’11 1/2″ and the discus at 178’8″ at the ESD conference meet. Jared Lutmer won the 3200 in 9:44.98 and finished third in the 1600 in 4:34.72. Carson Stoeser was third in the 400 in :50.74. The 4×200 team of Caden Thompson, Stoeser, Landon Bettram and Deegan Houska finished third in 1:31.60.

Boys tennis: The Governors placed ninth in the team standings at the state “A” tournament in Sioux Falls. Rapid City Christian was the team champion with Lennox in the runner-up slot. Pierre’s highest finisher was Weston Northrup, who placed fourth in Flight 6 singles. He reached the state semifinals before losing a 10-5 match. At Flight 1 singles Devin Dodson lost in the consolation championship match, and at Flight 5 Carter Gordon won his consolation championship match, 10-7. At Flight 2 in doubles Gordon and Jacob Leiferman won their consolation championship match. At Flight 1 doubles Dodson and Lucas Hight lost in the consolation semifinals, and at Flight 3 Northrup and Keller Herman also lost in the consolation semifinals.

Track: Six members of the Governors girls track team earned Academic All-State recognition—Danielle Beck, Autumn Iverson, Hannah Lemieux, Margaret Maher, Marlee Shorter and Maya Shorter.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Track: at Mobridge-Pollock meet.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
— THURSDAY
Track: at regional meet, Gettysburg, 10:30 a.m.
— MONDAY
Golf: at regional tournament, Huron, 9 a.m.

Track: SBHS senior Lydia Hill earned Academic All-State recognition.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: root beer.
Friday-Sunday: lime.
Monday-Tuesday: peach.
Wednesday-Thursday: coffee.

COUNTDOWN

1 day: Minnesota Lynx WNBA season opener (May 19).
2 days: Sully Buttes High graduation (May 20).
3 days: Stanley County High graduation (May 21).
3 days: Riggs High graduation (May 21).
5 days: ESD Conference girls golf tournament, Watertown (May 23).
5 days: Oahe Zap baseball home opener (May 23).
7 days: State track meets, Sioux Falls (May 25-27).
11 days: Memorial Day (May 29).
14 days: State softball tournaments, Aberdeen (June 1-3).
14 days: Post 8 baseball season opener (June 1).
18 days: State girls golf tournaments, AA Pierre, A Rapid City, B Watertown (June 5-6).
18 days: State boys B golf tournament, Watertown (June 5-6.
22 days: Black Hills Playhouse’s “Silent Sky” opens (June 9-July 2).
22 days: Sully Buttes High Class of ’73 50-year reunion (June 9-11).
23 days: Black HIlls Playhouse’s “The Lifespan of a Fact” opens (June 10-30>
24 days: Tony awards, CBS-TV (June 11).
27 days: Flag Day (June 14).
29 days: College World Series, Omaha (June 16-26).
29 days: Oahe Days (June 16-17).
31 days: Fathers Day (June 18).
36 days: Pierre Folk Fest concert (June 23).

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Augustana track (Elizabeth Schaefer): At the NSIC conference meet in St. Paul, the Augie women placed second in the team standings. Elizabeth was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles in :14.12 and third in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:01.03, an NCAA provisional qualifying time. She also ran on the 4×400 relay team which placed fourth in 3:52.31.

University of Sioux Falls track (Jessica Lutmer): At the NSIC conference meet Jessica placed fourth in the 10,000-meter run in 38:16.14 and 11th in the 5000 meters in 17:37.23. The USF women finished fifth in the team standings.

Northern track (Addison Cumbow): Addison placed 24th in the javelin event at the NSIC conference meet at 81’11”. The Northern team placed eighth in the combined men’s-women’s standings.

Dakota State track (Houston Lunde): Houston and the Trojans were due to compete in the NSAA conference meet in Dickinson, but it was not held due to weather.

Rollins College baseball (Spencer Sarringar): Despite losing all three games of a weekend series to Embry-Riddle University, the Tars were selected as the #4 seed in the NCAA South Regional and will first face #5 Valdosta State today (Thursday) in Tampa. The other game there pits #1 Tampa vs. #8 Spring Hill. The winner of the four-team regional next week in the super-regional round will take on the winner of South Regional 2 where West Florida, Montevallo, Barry and Florida Southern will be playing. Inb a 15-0 loss to Embry-Riddle Spencer went 0-for-0 and walked once. He was 0 for 3 in a 6-5 loss. In a 10-7 loss Spencer was 2-for-5, including a double. Rollins enters tournament play with a record of 34-16 overall and 22-8 in league play.

South Dakota State baseball (Brady Hawkins): SDSU took two of three games from Northern Colorado. In a 3-0 loss Brady pitched one inning, facing three batters and retiring them all on a strikeout, a fly ball and a ground-out. In a 7-6 win he was the second of four pitchers and got the win even though he pitched only two-thirds of an inning, facing two batters and retiring both on fly balls. SDSU won the rubber game 18-7 in seven innings. On Tuesday the Jacks lost at Minnesota, 9-6. Now 21-24 overall and 12-9 in the Summit League, SDSU ends the regular season this weekend with three games today through Saturday at NDSU.

WORDS OF WISDOM

“Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.”
— Nora Ephron

BASEBALL UPDATE

Pierre high school baseball: The Governors, after going 0-5 in their first five games of the spring, all on the road, finished the regular season with a bang, compiling 10 straight wins. Their 10-5 record has seen them soar upward in the state standings, and thus the Govs will host a regional tournament this weekend. Pierre whipped Harrisburg, 6-1, gaining momentum when a Tiger runner was called out on appeal when he failed to touch home plate on a bases-loaded walk. J.J. Bucholz earned a save with 3 1/3 innings of relief, giving up three hits and one walk while fanning five. Jonathan Lyons’ sacrifice fly gave Pierre a 2-0 lead. Jack Merkwan’s single drove in a run for a 3-1 lead. A Brecken Krueger single and a Merkwan triple padded the lead to 6-1. After two games against Mitchell were canceled by last week’s rain, Pierre took a pair from Rapid City Stevens at home Sunday. In a 5-2 win Lincoln Kienholz pitched 5+ innings, striking out 13. Spencer Easland’s RBI triple was the big blow in a three-run second inning. Dawson Getz’s RBI scored what proved to be the winning run. In the nightcap Pierre was down by a 6-1 count, but again Bucholz was a hero on the mound, holding the Raiders in check with 5 2/3 innings of one-hit relief. Stevens provided some help to get the Govs’ rally going, allowing a run to score on a wild pitch and another on a passed ball. Kienholz’s homer cut the deficit to 6-4. Then with the bases loaded, an infield throwing error let two runs in, tying the game. George Stalley’s sacrifice fly scored the walkoff winning run.

High school baseball regional tournament: Pierre, now #1 in the state standings, will host a regional tournament at Hyde Stadium Saturday. At noon #8 Sioux Falls Lincoln will play #9 Brookings. At 2:30 Pierre faces #16 Douglas. The two winners face off at 5 p.m. with the survivor advancing to the state semifinals in Sioux Falls a week later.
Oahe Zap schedule:
May 23-24-25: home vs. Nebraska.
May 26-27-28: home vs. Badlands.
May 30-31, June 1: at Badlands.
June 2-3-4: home vs. Spearfish.
June 6-7-8: home vs. Fremont.
June 9-10-11: home vs. Hastings.
June 15-16-17: home vs. Hastings.
June 20-21-22: at Spearfish.
June 23-24-25: home vs. Spearfish.
June 27-28-29: at Casper.
June 30, July 1-2: at Fremont.
July 3-4-5: home vs. Nebraska.
July 7-8-9: home vs. Sawtooth.
July 10-11-12: home vs. Fremont.
July 14-15-16: at Hastings.
July 18-19-20: at Fremont.
July 21-22-23: at Casper.
July 25-26-27: home vs. Casper.
July 28-29-30: home vs. Badlands.

Minnesota Twins schedule:
— Friday: at Los Angeles Angels, 8:38 p.m. (BSN).
— Saturday: at Los Angeles Angels, 9:07 p.m. (BSN, MLBN).
— Sunday: at Los Angeles Angels, 3:07 p.m. (BSN).
— Monday: San Francisco, 6:40 p.m. (BSN, FS1).
— Tuesday: San Francisco, 6:40 p.m. (BSN).
— Wednesday: San Francisco, 12:10 p.m. (BSN).

Minnesota Twins scores: The Twins took the last two games of their San Diego series, 4-3 and 5-3; took two of three from the White Sox, losing 6-2 but winning 11-1 and 16-3, then split the first two of a Dodgers series, losing 9-8 in 12 innings and winning 5-1. The Twins at 24-19 remain in first place in the AL Central.

Sioux Falls Canaries: The Birds defeated Cleburne, 7-2, to open the season, then lost three straight to that club, 18-5, 19-12 and 8-4. On Tuesday the Canaries took down Lincoln, 5-1. Sioux Falls is home vs. Lincoln tonight, plays at Kansas City Friday through Sunday, then hosts Sioux City Monday through Wednesday.

SOCCER UPDATE

Minnesota United FC: The Loons lost to Sporting Kansas City, 3-0. After a game against Houston last night, the Loons go to Portland Saturday and to Houston next Tuesday.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Lynx: The Lynx lost to Chicago, 82-74, in their last preseason game. The season begins at home Friday vs. Chicago and Tuesday vs. .Atlanta.

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Vikings: For those of you who make an annual trip or two to Minneapolis to see a Vikings game, you now know when to go. Here is the 2023 schedule with home games in capital letters:
Sept. 10: TAMPA BAY.
Sept. 14 (Thursday); at Philadelphia.
Sept. 24: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS.
Oct. 1: at Carolina.
Oct. 8: KANSAS CITY.
Oct. 15: at Chicago.
Oct. 23 (Monday): SAN FRANCISCO.
Oct. 29: at Green Bay.
Nov. 5: at Atlanta.
Nov. 12: NEW ORLEANS.
Nov. 19: at Denver.
Nov. 27 (Monday): CHICAGO.
Dec. 10: at Las Vegas.
Dec. 16 or 17 or 18: at Cincinnati.
Dec. 24: DETROIT.
Dec. 31: GREEN BAY.
Jan. 5 or 6: at Detroit.

Denver Broncos: And for you out here in the West who go down to Denver for a game or two, here is the 2023 schedule with home games in capital letters:
Sept. 10: LAS VEGAS.
Sept. 17: WASHINGTON.
Sept. 24: at Miami.
Oct. 1: at Chicago.
Oct. 8: NEW YORK JETS.
Oct. 12 (Thursday): at Kansas City.
Oct. 22: GREEN BAY.
Oct. 29: KANSAS CITY.
Nov. 13 (Monday): at Buffalo.
Nov. 19 (Sunday night): MINNESOTA.
Nov. 26: CLEVELAND.
Dec. 3: at Houston.
Dec. 10: at Los Angeles Chargers.
Dec. 16 or 17 or 18: at Detroit.
Dec. 24 (Sunday night): NEW ENGLAND.
Dec. 31: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS.
Jan. 5 or 6: at Las Vegas.

NFL football: With the release of the 2023 season schedule last week, we now know that on Thanksgiving Day this fall the three games we will get to watch, in order, will be Lions-Packers, Cowboys-Commanders and 49ers-Seahawks. The three games on Christmas Day will be Raiders-Chiefs, Giants-Eagles and Ravens-49ers. The first weekend in early September will have Lions-Chiefs on Thursday night, Cowboys-Giants in the Sunday night game and Bills-Jets in the Monday night game.

Rapid City Marshals: The Marshals fell to 0-9 for the season after a 41-38 loss to Southwest Kansas. Rapid City ends the regular season at home Saturday against Billings.

Sioux Falls Storm: The Storm lost to Quad City, 46-30, and is now 4-3. Sioux Falls plays at Tucson Saturday.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“If you believe in the ascendency of humanity, please loudly declare your intentions. And spend your lives making those dreams, whatever they may be, a reality. Class of ’23, I know you can help put us on the good foot. We need your very best, and we need it now.”
— Wynton Marsalis

ONE YEAR AGO IN THE MIDWEEK UPDATE

May 19, 2022: Spencer Kelly brought home an individual state title from the state tennis tournament, winning Flight 5 singles despite dislocating a shoulder in the first set of his championship match.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, May 18:
Sara (Tillman) Anderson, Josh Zellmer, Sommar (Jastorff) Nelson, Clay Roberts, Doug Marsh, Will Hansen, Bryce Herr, Joanne Andersen.

Friday, May 19:
Julie Smith, Darin Boe, Matt Koester, Emily Swanstrom, Casey Hight, Jack Runyan, Shawna (Miller) Lizotte, Michelle (Beemer) DeWitt, Gordon Woods, Tim Davis, Nola Terveen, Jeff Hayward, Casey Templeton, Mike Yackley, Paula Welch.
— 16th anniversary, Tim/Melissa Schumacher.
— 11th anniversary, Seth/Karae (Englehart) Parsons.
— 44th anniversary, Kevin/Brenda Goeden.
— We fondly remember Onie Neuharth on her birthday.

Saturday, May 20:
Katie (Hallock) Moberg, Murray Thompson, Lisa Chamley, Maggie Lanning, Taynen Stout, Caleb Kuszmal, Polly Gill, Renessa Williams, Mark Leiferman, Caelum Carr, Owen Joy, Elliesia Nelson, Dave O’Connell, Deanna Smith, Ainsleh Askew, Chad Johnson.
— 18th anniversary, Doug/Krista (Beastrom) Stevens.

Sunday, May 21:
Boomer Kuiper, Tessa (Heiss) Krueger, Claire Beesley, Hayse Moore, Lindsey Kozel, Sam Booker, Garrett Weber, McKenna Halverson, Bob McCarty, Tara (Hyde) White.
— 7th anniversary, Tyler/Erika Tordsen.
— 19th anniversary, Josh/Kelli (Snow) Rohrer.
— 46th anniversary, Mark/Sheryl Nielsen.
— 7th anniversary, Cliff/Alexis (Yackley) Warner.
— 29th anniversary, Paul/Toni Kenefick-Aschoff.
— 12th anniversary, Harry/Emily (Goeden) Decker.
— 12th anniversary, Mark/Alysia Livermont.

Monday, May 22:
Christopher Carter, Scott Aker, Kim (Merkwan) Schaefer, Nicole Royer, Pat Snow, Tennyson Newman, Brian Bumann, Mandy (Hill) Johnson, Macy (Welsh) Kaiser, Michell (Knoll) Peterson, Elliot Bertsch, Dick Koester.
— 14th anniversary, Joe/Amy (Robinson) Ryan.
— 13th anniversary, Kipp/Kelsee (Larsen) Stahl.

Tuesday, May 23:
Kade Binegar, Matt Gill, Hunter Canode, Carolne Zebroski, Jenny (Gors) Hodges, Billy Serbousek, Bob Jeffries, Morgan Freidel.
— 8th anniversary, Aaron/Claire Rumpca.
— 8th anniversary, Dmitri/Brittni Melius.
— 11th anniversary, Maxx/Macy Vaudrin.
— 8th anniversary, Dustin/Tarin James.
— 14th anniversary, Neils/Kara (Gloe) Christoffersen.

Wednesday, May 24:
Cameron Pottorff, Kellen Pottorff, Stephanie Paul, Luke Schanzenbach, Gio Cappellano, Adrian Freidel, Tony Jockheck, Hannah Maxwell.
— 20th anniversary Gary/Molly Redden.
— 9th anniversary, Mick/Jenny (Ness) Hofer.

Thursday, May 25:
Michael Lyons, Kristen (Hanson) Ganske, Jennifer (Duba) Erlandson, Bronson Schiefelbein Kris Schneider, Caitlin Reimers, Ryan Russell, Jessica Smith, Ronda (Zebroski) Kline, Dave Mack.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

The Pierre Youth Orchestra will present its 11th annual season concert at 6:30 p.m. next Wednesday, May 24, at the Riggs theater, featuring seniors Ellie Noyes, Kate Lee Mullett and Grace Soma. Special guest performers will be the Rawlins Piano Trio from the University of South Dakota. Admission is by a free-will donation.

Luke Venner, head chef at the elm restaurant in New Canaan, Conn., rode 200 miles in two days and raised $11,000 for No Child Hungry in the Chefs Cycling Challenge in the Santa Rosa, Calif., area.

Lance Day, 52, died unexpectedly May 11 at home in Eden Prairie, Minn. A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. next Wednesday, May 24, at Washburn-McReavy Albin’s Eden Prairie chapel. The son of Leslie and Lois (Yeager) Day grew up in Onida and graduated from Sully Buttes High School in 1989. He graduated from SDSU in 1993 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. He spent his entire career in the Minneapolis area, working for EPS Solutions, Cargill, EcoLab and National Carwash Solutions. He is survived by his parents; his brothers, Lowell (Helen) Day and Leland (Hannah) Day; his sister, Lorlee (Kevin) Steever; seven nephews and nieces and one great-niece.

At the awards program at Sully Buttes High School this week, it was announced that Reese Voorhees is the valedictorian of the Class of 2023, and Taryn Kenzy is the salutatorian. They will speak at Saturday’s graduation exercises in Onida.

Kristen Job has taken on a new job as an adjunct professor at Wayne State College in Nebraska, teaching gifted courses to practicing teachers. Her presence there is part of a $5 million grant she helped write.

Laurie Baukol-Mellem, 70, died April 30 in Madison, Wis. A native of Webster, she and her family made their home in Madison. She is survived by a son, a brother and three sisters, including Rosemarie Gors in Pierre.

Donna Stanton, 93, died May 11 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Pierre. Donna graduated from Bonesteel High School in 1947 and married Saylor Stanton in 1949. They lived much of their life together in California. Later they moved to the Pierre area to be near their children. They lived first in the Grey Goose area, then in town. After her husband died, Donna moved to ParkWood Apartments. She is survived by her children, Linda (Randy) Jirsa, Kelly (Nancy) Stanton and Steven Stanton; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Justin Oakland graduated last weekend from the University of Minnesota law school.

Tristan Bisbee, son of Jason and Erin Bisbee, gave the senior speech at Brandon Valley High School’s commencement Sunday.

Helen (Vetter) Wallace, 83, died March 26 at Maryhouse. A memorial service was held May 13 at the Isburg Funeral Chapel. Helen graduated from Gettysburg High School and married Robert Stanton in 1957. They lived first in Mobridge, then moved to Pierre in 1959. She worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for 21 years and for the May Adam Gerdes Thompson law firm for 18 years. She is survived by her husband; her son, Robert Stanton; three grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

The Glen and Geoff Garrett Scholar-Athlete Awards for this school year have been awarded to Deegan Houska and Maya Shorter. The award requires participation in at least two sports during their senior year and a grade-point average of at least 3.0.

Meghan Buscher graduated last week from the University of Colorado-Boulder with a master’s degree in applied mathematics. She is moving to Kansas City to work as an operations research analyst.

Mary Ann Sivertsen, 91, Ree Heights, died May 9 at Good Samaritan Society in Miller. Her funeral is being held today (Thursday) at 1 p.m. at the Community Church in St. Lawrence. She is survived by five children, Randy (Sandy) Sivertsen of Ree Heights, Sandy (James) Garrett of Pierre, Michael (Laurel Fornia) Sivertsen of Spearfish, LeAnn (Rex) Haskins of Pierre and Susan Fritz of Brandon; 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and her sister, Deanna Peterson.

Jessica LaMie has resigned as Hughes County state’s attorney, effective June 9. She will be taking a position in the state attorney general’s office. (News courtesy of KCCR News)

Nolan Burchill of Sioux Falls will be one of this year’s inductees into the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. He played four years of high school ball at Lincoln High School from 2013 through 2016, then went to the University of Minnesota where he pitched on the baseball team. His parents are Pierre natives Tom and Paula (Adam) Burchill.

When the South Dakota Newspaper Association announced its annual awards this week at the joint SDNA-NDNA convention in Devils Lake, Tanya Manus of the Rapid City Journal earned a first-place award in the category of best local government news stories for her story on “Defending Literature,” a piece on opposition to banning books. Tanya, who grew up in Pierre and is the daughter of former residents Lou and Pauline Manus, also earned a third-place recognition in the best feature story category for her coverage of the Project Me exhibit.

Ione “Onie” Neuharth died May 9 at Maryhouse just 10 days shy of her 94th birthday. Her funeral took place Monday at Lutheran Memorial Church. In 1946 the Nellermoe family moved to Onida, and Onie graduated from Onida High School, later attending Mankato Commercial College in Minnesota. She returned to Pierre to work for the attorney general’s office and the Division of Criminal Investigation. In 1950 she married Curt Neuharth, and they raised four children. In 1970 Onie went to work as a secretary in the Riggs High School guidance office, retiring in 1986. She later worked part-time with the state during the legislative sessions as a committee secretary, a page adviser and an index clerk. She is survived by her children, Pamela (Dan) Moen, Nance (Ben) Orsbon and David (Lisa) Neuharth); her daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Neuharth; nine grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren, and her sister-in-law, Marlys Nellermoe. Among those who preceded Onie in death were her husband, her son Bruce, her sister Jan Hipple and her brother-in-law George Hipple.

Alisa (DeMers) Bousa next week will become public information officer at the South Dakota Unified Judicial System. Alisa has been working at home as a marketing and project manager for Project Solutions, Inc., based in Rapid City.

Danny Slocum, 63, died May 12 after battling liver cancer. His family will have a private gathering to disperse his ashes at a later date. Danny grew up in Oregon and married Jacquelyn on New Year’s Day 2000. They eventually came to Pierre where they opened the Papa Murphy’s pizza store. He also worked as an electrician, for JS Alternators, for Carquest, for the Hughes County jail, for Red Rossa as a bartender, for Century Business and for Pete Lien as a concrete truck driver. He is survived by his wife; his children, Sylvia (Ryan) Swartz of Pierre, Stephanie (Jared) Dryer of Aurora, Colo., Samantha (Stephen) Bowers of Pierre, Kristie (Jeremy) Young of McEwin, Tenn., Lacey (Chris) Miller of Eugene, Ore., Ashley Slocum of Chicago and Dane (Felicia) Slocum in Georgia; 22 grandchildren; his mother and stepfather, Dona and Jim Herring; his stepmother, Jane Slocum, and his brothers, Donald and Dorane Slocum.

PONDER THIS

“In this time our country is crying out for a new collective dream. We need a new belief and a massive, unapologetic assertion of integrity. There is just simply too much trash in this system—a pornographic cultural mainstream that sells sexualized and violent products to kids under the guise of music and film; a contemptuous corrupt leadership in all political parties and from all walks of life posing as public servants, boasting and preeming while wasting billions of overprinted dollars that have been siphoned off of the hide of America with increasing velocity and shameless arrogance; incendiary and lightweight punditry from fraudulent news outlets on both sides delivering cynical entertainment under the banner of serious journalism; paper-thin celebrities and narcissistic influencers peddling pixie dust as holy water.”
— Wynton Marsalis in his commencement address at the University of Michigan.