Avid readers of this blog may have noticed the "links" section in the red department on the left. Included are links to some of the very best photographers to shoot in South Dakota (not all but some....).

Today we want to alert you to George Burba. He was born in Russia and came to Lincoln, Neb., several years ago to study and work in engineering. He is a delightful young fellow who loves the Midwest, and though he lives in Nebraska he has traveled and photographed South Dakota quite a lot. Take a look at the photos on his web site. He looks at the Midwest just a little differently than we do, and it shows in the photos.

A drought to make the Dirty Thirties look like a rainy day in Seattle? That's what some scientist believe. A front page story by Ben Shouse in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader last Saturday quotes several scientists who make similarly dire predictions. "I don't think my grandkids will have it too easy," said Jarda Solc, a scientist from Grand Forks, N.D. Cities, power plants and farms could run out of water, they say.

Severe droughts have come periodically. Tree rings in the Black Hills show that the the 1930s drought was only the seventh most severe in the last 700 years. Crow Indians apparently migrated far to the south in such periods; part of the evidence is that their native language has a word for alligator. Need we say more?

Some things never change. For example, a Christmas cactus has been blooming in Brookings County for 122 years. Since 1973 it has been on exhibit in the Brookings County Museum in Volga. Jane Utecht of the Volga Tribune kindly loaned us this photo.

In 1882, a Mrs. Roddle of Brookings had a cactus that she set on a 2nd story window sill for light and fresh air. It accidentally fell to the wooden sidewalk below, and a Mr. Allison walked by and cut a few slips for his wife, Emily.

The cactus thrived under Emily's care. After her death, it was kept in a greenhouse, and then in a nursing home until it was moved to the museum in 1973. It is now five feet wide. Slips of the cactus are sometimes sold for fundraising.

It bloomed again this Christmas season, a purple explosion of peace and hope.

At 122 years of age, it must be among South Dakota's oldest living things. Perhaps we'll do a story on the state's oldest living things. Anybody have any nominations? (Bernie Hunhoff)

Holabird is a small town east of Pierre on Highway 14. Jerry Hinkle has been publishing a blog since 2002 about Holabird happenings, aptly named the Holabird Advocate. Dubbing himself as Reverand Hinkle, he recently took a tongue-in-cheek look at the nudity / strip club fights in Highmore.

After less than a week of planning, Reverend Jerry Hinkle of the Holabird Church of Universal Life has decided to forget his plans to stop nude dancing in Highmore. According to a statement he made this morning, he said,"After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that Highmore will do what Highmore will do..."

Reverend Hinkle was going to protest nude dancing by removing his own clothes at the establishment in question. Of course he said that when it was a whole lot warmer outside.

Well, we're glad he didn't have to do that.

This ad was in our favorite weekly, the True Dakotan of Wessington Springs. We don't know the birthday boy but we're guessing it's going to be a good party. (The editor)

Ground hogs, South Dakota species.

Groundhog Day comes Wednesday, so the worst of winter must be behind us. That optimism is reflected in the number and range of entertainment options this weekend.

Find free farm, ranch and rodeo shows from border to border this weekend. Rapid City’s 9-day Stock Show and Rodeo begins Friday at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. (605) 355-3861.

Friday is Men’s Ag Day at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Mitchell. Even lunch is free. (605) 996-9667.

The week-long livestock and Farm Show at W.H. Lyons Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls continues through Friday and Saturday. (605) 336-1620.

Ski events this weekend include the Funski Winter Carnival, Friday through Sunday at Great Bear Ski Recreation Park east of Sioux Falls. The Children’s Inn fundraiser includes competitions in snow sculpture, downhill, snowboarding, tubing and cross-country. (605) 339-0000.

Unless it snows soon at Bruce, the Children’s Ski Run, Sunday at Oakwood Lakes State Park, will be a walk instead. Grass or snow, there will be lots of family activities. Admission. (605) 627-5441.

History buffs will enjoy reenactments of life in medieval, Lewis and Clark, and Civil War periods at the Living History Fair at the Codington County Extension Complex in Watertown, Friday through Sunday. Admission. (605) 886-7335.

Can’t decide between symphony and rock and roll? They’re rolled together when an Eagles tribute band joins the S.D. Symphony Orchestra at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls Saturday and Sunday. Admission. (605) 335-7933. While you’re at the Pavilion, catch the premier of “Coral Reef Adventures” at the CineDome. (605) 367-6000.

The classic event of the weekend is Sunday in Groton –– the 67th annual Carnival of Silver Skates. The last festival before the move to a new rink features acts from the past. Performances begin at 2 and 6:30 p.m. (605) 397-4525.

Today's Aberdeen American News tells the story of Aberdeen's recent successes.

The northeast - also known as the Glacial Lakes and Prairies region in tourism circles - led the state in overall tourism growth with a 10.6 percent visitor spending increase.

Edmunds County saw a huge 37.5 percent, second only to Clark's 38.9 percent gain, the state's highest. Brown County's visitor spending shot up by 15 percent, Faulk's by 22.7 percent, Robert's by 17.9 percent and Day's by 5.6 percent.

The northeast, for the second straight year, outpaced the state's more well-known tourism spots like the Black Hills, which saw an 8.6 percent visitor spending rise.

Tourists pumped $752 million into South Dakota's economy last year, an increase of $54 million or nearly 8 percent compared to 2003.