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Couple gives up ‘normal’ life in North Dakota to wander the world

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Couple gives up ‘normal’ life in North Dakota to wander the world


FARGO — On a blustery winter day, when the payments are piling up and the family litter is getting the most effective of you, who hasn’t had that thought, be it ever so fleeting?

“I ought to simply chuck the whole lot and journey the world!”

It didn’t occur precisely like that for Fargoans Brad and Jenn Lindemann, however the finish outcome is similar — they left their regular 8-to-5, suburban life in North Dakota for a life confined solely by a Rand McNally map.

Their house is now the world as they’ve offered, donated or saved portion of their “previous” life in Fargo for a semi-nomadic life overseas.

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Family and friends at residence can sustain with their travels on the web site and weblog they only began known as

Removed from Far.

The Lindemanns are sharing their adventures and journey recommendations on their web site and weblog Removed from Far.

Contributed / Removed from Far

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Within the weblog, Jenn explains their newly discovered way of life like this:

“Peripatetic is outlined as ‘touring from place to position, specifically working or based mostly in varied locations for comparatively brief intervals.’ A nomad is outlined as ‘an individual who doesn’t keep lengthy in the identical place; a wanderer.’ Many different phrases can be utilized to outline our location-independent way of life, equivalent to digital nomad, vagabond, wayfarer, adventurer, drifter, slomad, and traveler.”

Jenn, a local of Portland, North Dakota, who has labored as an government assistant, and Brad, who grew up in Fargo and works in logistics for a grain processing and buying and selling firm, took off from Fargo’s Hector Airport on Nov. 7, 2022, to start out their new life, spending two to 3 months at a time in several nations world wide, with no speedy plans to settle wherever completely.

At present, they’re dwelling in London the place they sat down for a telephone interview to speak about how cautious planning and out-of-box considering bought them to the place they’re as we speak and the recommendation they’ve for anybody who may wish to observe of their footsteps. Right here is their dialog:

How did the concept to depart ‘regular’ life in Fargo behind to journey the world start?

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Jenn Lindemann: It was a course of. Each time that we took a visit we could not wait till our subsequent one. On our manner residence, if we did not have one other journey booked already we have been each simply so disillusioned. We each simply actually acknowledged how a lot we like to journey. I began subscribing to blogs about journey and stumbled upon those that did this. I used to be like, it’s attainable to do that. Actually, it is a factor?

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The Lindemanns at Fargo’s Hector Worldwide Airport as they left for his or her new life overseas on Nov. 7, 2022. The departure got here after shut to 5 years of planning.

Contributed / Jenn Lindemann

So how did you broach the topic with Brad?

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Jenn: I do know him nicely sufficient to know that he is an adventurous spirit too. However his profession was taking off and I believed nicely, perhaps he wouldn’t be prepared for one more 10 or 15 years. However I simply stated “what do you assume if we give up our jobs and journey the world?” and he simply type of sat there and checked out me.

Brad Lindemann: It took me about 10 seconds to right away fall in love with the concept. I used to be born in Minot, moved to Fargo once I was 6 weeks previous, then lived in Fargo my whole life. I all the time wished to journey, however I didn’t know find out how to make it a actuality.

Jenn: We talked about it on and off for some time. However we did not actually grow to be severe about it till most likely 5 years in the past after we stated, “let’s completely simply plan this, let’s handle it.”

So then it’s essential to have needed to promote your home and do away with lots of your belongings?

Jenn: Sure, and it was a course of! It is not an in a single day factor. And I do know, as soon as we began, I believe we simply shortly realized how a lot this suits our priorities and our way of life and our plans for the longer term.

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To begin getting ready for his or her life overseas in 2018 the Lindemanns started to embrace a minimalist way of life — promoting, donating or gifting away most of their possessions. Additionally they offered their residence. Most of what they now personal can slot in a storage storage.

Contributed / Jenn Lindemann

Brad: We realized fairly shortly in our marriage that “maintaining with the neighbors” wasn’t satisfying. Everyone seems to be all the time going to have one thing you don’t. It’s pointless and nobody wins. Some days are more durable than others and it’s a endless course of. I nonetheless have an excessive amount of stuff and I solely have a carry-on suitcase and a backpack. We’ve been engaged on this for 5 years and it’s nonetheless a piece in progress. The $1 rule has been extraordinarily useful: Something we purchase must have a worth of lower than $1 per use. A $100 piece of clothes must be worn not less than 100 occasions in any other case we don’t purchase it.

If you went all-in for this new life, how did individuals react?

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Jenn: Once we truly began telling a greater variety of individuals we have been going to do that, we bought lots of clean stares. I didn’t know find out how to interpret that. Apart from I believe individuals both did not know even the place to start and what to ask or they only made their very own assumptions about our life.

Folks should have assumed you’re independently rich, proper?

Jenn: Proper, sure, precisely! And we’re not by the best way. Not even shut. But when you concentrate on it, we don’t have a mortgage, we don’t have automotive funds. We don’t have lots of insurance coverage anymore. We pay hire generally, however we’re additionally pet-sitting. In order that’s free lodging. Usually, our bills are lots lower than after we lived within the U.S.

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Jenn Lindemann stated the concept to reside overseas was born, partly, about 5 years in the past. She and her husband Brad beloved occurring trip (together with this journey to San Francisco) and they’d really feel disillusioned in the event that they did not have one other one already deliberate once they flew residence from the final one.

Contributed / Jenn Lindemann

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Inform me concerning the pet-sitting

Jenn: The place we’re at proper now we’ve got one canine. Oh, he is only a sweetheart. His title is Max. And the homeowners — she’s from New Zealand, he is from England — they hadn’t been again there since 2020. In order that they took off for New Zealand for a month. So we’re with Max at their place. With pet-sitting you simply meet the nicest individuals. After which they’re additionally nice for providing you with suggestions. So we have already got suggestions for after we go to New Zealand. It is nice to get that connection as nicely. We actually love that. It has been one in all our favourite issues thus far.

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The Lindemanns are at the moment staying within the London residence of a pair visiting New Zealand. Jenn and Brad are pet-sitting Max, who Jenn stated “instantly took us to the park and his favourite espresso spot.”

Contributed / Jenn Lindemann

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Do you get to do lots of sightseeing? Is that this a continuous trip?

Jenn: The vast majority of our days are literally spent at residence, you understand, behind pc screens, cooking meals, caring for pets, planning our subsequent vacation spot and watching Netflix, like actually simply regular, on a regular basis issues. Brad works remotely, and I’m busy engaged on the weblog and web site. Our days are usually not glamorous. They actually aren’t. I imply, do not get me improper, I believe we’re extraordinarily lucky to get to discover the world. I do know that there are many individuals that do not have this chance. So I positively am very grateful for that.

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The Lindemanns have been in London since November 2022, the place they’ve had the possibility to go to many native websites. However Jenn stated it is not a continuous trip. They’ve a fairly regular life working remotely, grocery purchasing, watching Netflix and doing extra “on a regular basis issues.”

Contributed / Jenn Lindemann

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The place are you going subsequent?

Jenn: We’ll be going to Paris after which to the south of France for 3 weeks. Our daughter and her boyfriend will probably be visiting for spring break. (Jenn is the mom and Brad is the stepfather to 2 kids; Noah Bolgrean, 23 and Laura Bolgrean, 21. Noah just lately visited Jenn and Brad in England). We fly residence in Could. After which we will probably be going to Eire and I believe we’ll Germany in June. We’ve talked about Romania too, however we’re undecided about that, then Croatia in September.

How do you deal with the language barrier in non-English talking nations?

Jenn: Google Translate is only a godsend for anyone. I imply, it truly is. However we all the time attempt to study slightly little bit of the language in any nation that we go to. Simply the fundamentals, “howdy,” “goodbye,” “the place’s the toilet?” However we’ve additionally had nice conversations with individuals who completely do not converse English. We mainly play charades and all of us have giggle about it!

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We wish to change individuals’s views of the world. We actually wish to develop individuals’s views and know that it is not a scary place.

Jenn Lindemann

Do you miss something about Fargo?

Jenn: Clearly our household and mates. I imply, for positive Fargo will all the time maintain a really particular place in our hearts. However the different day, we began itemizing off the locations we couldn’t wait to eat at after we come again residence.

Brad: Buffalo Wild Wings, I can’t look forward to Caribbean Jerk Wings and I am planning to order 17 sides of ranch. An in depth second and third could be a Bison Turf burger and fried pickles at The Toasted Frog.

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Jenn: Have you ever ever had the steak and cheese French sandwich at SouthTown PourHouse? It is like a 12 out of 10. It’s so scrumptious! Vinyl Taco, too! England is not recognized for excellent meals. Apart from I’ll let you know, we got here to England and fell in love with Indian meals. Large Indian inhabitants and Bangladeshi populations right here. Oh my goodness. It’s so scrumptious!

If anybody else ever does wish to do that, my recommendation is simply to do it. Get your passport. Go! Do not be afraid of the world. No matter your dream is, do it! You get one life, proper?

Jenn Lindemann, who left Fargo for a life overseas

What have you ever loved about your new life and what classes have you ever discovered?

Brad: On daily basis is a brand new journey and the surroundings is all the time altering. Don’t just like the meals? We’re solely right here two weeks. Too chilly? We’ll be someplace hotter subsequent month. There’s all the time one thing new proper across the nook to stay up for.

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Jenn: Through the years, I believe we’ve simply realized how small the world is, simply seeing totally different views however realizing mainly, everybody needs the identical issues out of life. Everybody needs to produce other individuals round them, to like them. They need safety, they need security, We’ve met individuals everywhere in the world and they’re nonetheless our mates. We wish to change individuals’s views of the world. We actually wish to develop individuals’s views and know that it is not a scary place.

What ideas do you will have for individuals touring internationally and even individuals seeking to do what you’ve executed?

Brad: Don’t over-plan. A part of the enjoyable of being in a foreign country is exploring and even getting slightly misplaced. Pack gentle — you’ll be able to truly purchase most issues in different nations. Get out of your consolation zone and discover past the common “vacationer” websites. Meet some locals. You’ll not remorse it.

Jenn: If anybody else ever does wish to do that, my recommendation is simply to do it. Get your passport. Go! Do not be afraid of the world. No matter your dream is, do it! You get one life, proper? And you really want to determine what you wish to do with it. I am glad we’ve got discovered that that is what we wish to do, for now not less than. I completely may by no means have thought that this might be what I did, however we’re doing it.

To observe the Lindemann’s travels, study budget-saving journey ideas and discover out extra about home and pet-sitting, go to their weblog at

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North Dakota

North Dakota House considers bills on AI in political ads, ‘deepfakes’ • North Dakota Monitor

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North Dakota House considers bills on AI in political ads, ‘deepfakes’ • North Dakota Monitor


Artificial intelligence used for political purposes would require a disclaimer under a bill proposed in the North Dakota Legislature.

The House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing Friday on House Bill 1167 that would require a “prominent disclaimer” on any political communication or political advertisement created wholly or in part by artificial intelligence tools.

The disclaimer must read: “This content generated by artificial intelligence.”

Bill sponsor Rep. Jonathan Warrey, R-Casselton, said he expects AI use in political communications to become a much bigger issue in the future.

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Rep. Jonathan Warrey, R-Casselton, speaks during a committee hearing on Jan. 17, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

“There are other states taking action on this to provide some protections in place, and I think the overall theme is very sound,” Warrey said. 

He added the bill was crafted through consultation with the Secretary of State’s Office and creates a new provision under the Corrupt Practices section of North Dakota Century Code, making any violation punishable by a Class A misdemeanor.

Deputy Secretary of State Sandy McMerty testified in support of the bill. She said AI can be used to help create graphics, write a newsletter and other communication. 

However, if AI is used in political communication, she said the public should be informed. McMerty likened the new policy to statements politicians are already required to attach to their political ads that say who paid for the ad.

Terry Effertz, executive director of advocacy group TechND, testified against the bill, telling lawmakers the proposal is too broad.

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“The bill, to be honest, is a reaction to hypothetical concerns, rather than a solution to documented harm,” Effertz said. “AI is evolving and hasty legislation in this area could inhibit legitimate uses while failing to address the actual risks.”

Terry Effertz, executive director of TechND, speaks during a committee hearing on Jan. 17, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Because AI has become widely embedded in digital content and software, it could lead to “disclosure overload,” she said.

“Really what we need to focus on is the fact that deepfakes are the real threat here,” Effertz said.

A separate proposal, House Bill 1320, would outlaw the fraudulent use of deepfake videos and images in North Dakota. 

Deepfakes, or videos, images or recordings manipulated by generative AI, have caused concerns about spreading misinformation. The bill would make the creation, possession and release of deepfake videos and images, without the consent of the person featured, a Class A misdemeanor. 

Rep. Josh Christy, R-Fargo, the prime sponsor of the bill, said deepfakes are a threat to North Dakotans because it’s become more difficult to determine what is real and what is fake. 

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He said the intent of his bill is to prevent someone from using someone else’s likeness without permission. The bill is not limited to deepfakes used for political purposes.

“If I’m able to take a video of you, upload it to a service, and then be able to represent you in a way that you don’t want, it’s not a good thing,” Christy said.

A public hearing on the bill is at 11 a.m. Monday in Room 327B at the Capitol. Christy said he plans to play a video of himself reading a portion of the Gettysburg Address in Russian, German and from a female avatar that he programmed though software.

He said he doesn’t want to cross any lines with satire or First Amendment concerns and hopes to get some feedback during the hearing.

“I don’t know where that line is,” he said. “Hopefully the Attorney General’s Office or others will come out for testimony on this and help clarify any amendments.”

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The committee did not take immediate action on the bill related to disclosures of AI in political ads. Written testimony on the bill addressing deepfakes can be submitted online until 8 a.m. Monday.

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North Dakota

Jelly Roll to headline 2025 North Dakota State Fair

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Jelly Roll to headline 2025 North Dakota State Fair


MINOT, N.D. (KFYR) – A big North Dakota State Fair announcement. We now know who will headline the fair this year.

Jelly Roll is set to take the main stage in Minot on Sunday, July 20.

The Grammy-nominated artist also played at the state fair in 2023.

He just finished his sold-out arena tour, “Beautifully Broken” making 2024 his most successful year.

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Single tickets for Jelly Roll will be 80 dollars, it’s the same price for reserved seating or standing-room spots.

Tickets go on sale on March 3.

You can get them online, in person, or at one of seven kiosks throughoUt the state.

The North Dakota State Fair will soon release the other artists joining the line-up with Jelly Roll and Bailey Zimmerman.

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South Dakota State soars past North Dakota

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South Dakota State soars past North Dakota


BROOKINGS — The Jackrabbits had their shootin’ boots on Thursday night against North Dakota, blowing past the Fighting Hawks 109-73 before a First Bank & Trust Arena crowd of 3,261 in one of the most impressive offensive performances in recent memory by South Dakota State.

The win marked the second most points they’ve ever scored against a Division I opponent (fans may remember the 139 they dropped on Savannah State in 2018), and their .656 field goal percentage is the fourth-best of the D1 era.

Joe Sayler had 25 points for the Jacks — all of them coming in the first half — while Isaac Lindsey had 13, Oscar Cluff and Kalen Garry 12 and Jaden Jackson 11, as all 11 active players on the roster scored.

But hot shooting and scoring exploits aside, the Jacks needed this win. An 0-2 road trip last week dropped them to 1-2 in league play, and while it’s far too early to really be worrying about the standings, SDSU wanted to end the losing streak before it became an actual streak.

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“It was an important win, especially back on our home court,” said Lindsey, who was 5-of-7 from the floor and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. “We knew this week in practice that this was a big game after a tough road trip and the coaches were on us but they stayed super positive with us. That helped us come to work with a good attitude, so we were gonna get back on track at home.”

Both teams started out hot, with SDSU leading 32-28 at the midpoint of a fast-paced first half. But the Hawks started to gradually cool off (or the Jacks played better defense), while SDSU just kept on ripping the nets.

The Jacks connected on 71 percent of their shots from the field before the break, and actually kept pushing that shooting percentage higher in the early stages of the second half before finally cooling off.

“We started off a little slow on the defensive end but we picked it up late in the half and when we play good defense our offense comes along,” said Sayler, who was 10-of-13 from the floor and hit 4-of-7 3-pointers. “We just trust each other to make the right play, shots went in tonight and that’s what we needed on our home floor.”

Matthew Mors had nine points, four rebounds and four assists, Owen Larson had six points, six rebounds and four assists and Damon Wilkinson had eight points and four rebounds.

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Amar Kuljuhovic had 14 points to lead the Fighting Hawks (7-13, 1-4), while SDSU held UND’s leading scorer, Treysen Eaglestaff, to 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting. Mier Panoam had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists. The Hawks shot 47 percent in the first half but a dreadful 21 percent (7-of-32) in the second.

It’s almost become a running gag how Jacks coach Eric Henderson always focuses on and talks about his team’s defense no matter how well they play on offense, but this game figured to put that to the test. One of the most efficient and entertaining offensive performances the Jacks have put together in Henderson’s tenure — would he still credit the defense first in his postgame remarks? Of course he did, and when teased about it, the coach offered no apologies.

“You know me,” Henderson said with a laugh. “Joe’s performance was pretty special. The pace that we played with and how we shared the basketball is as good as we’ve done all year.”

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.

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