South Dakota is a close community.

It's hard, sometimes, for those who have never lived here or visited to understand the closeness that we share despite our geography.

Many times, we take it for granted. I can recall the first time I realized how unusual this "closeness" was. I was a sophomore at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell and was dating a girl from California. One night after a movie, we stopped at the local Taco Johns for a bit of supper.

My girlfriend was wearing my Lead High School letterman's jacket, and when the person behind the counter saw it, asked her, "Are you from Lead?" My girlfriend seemed puzzled and answered no.

I interrupted by telling her that I had gone to school there, but that I was actually from Deadwood.

"Oh, do you know David Zuhr?" the worker asked.

I told her I had played football with him and knew him pretty well.

"He's my cousin," she countered.

At this point, my girlfriend let out an audible half gasp-half guffaw, astonished that anyone from the other side of the state would know anyone else, especially during a chance encounter at Taco Johns.

But the truth is, it happens all the time here. In a state smaller than some major cities' suburbs, it is not unusual to be able to ask someone where they are from and then ask them if they know someone you know, even if that city is Rapid City or Sioux Falls.

Another reason that's true is because we tend to share an identity. The boundaries of West Dakota and East Dakota nonwithstanding, our interests, our culture, the very fabric of our day to day interactions are defined as much as being a South Dakotan as other memberships such as the church to which we belong, the school that we attended or the job in which we work.

And then there are the things that matter to us. It is reflected in the news, but it is even more apparent in the South Dakota blogosphere. Conservative, liberal, anarchistic - it doesn't matter, the themes that come through tend to show more about South Dakota than political alliances.

Oh, yeah, politics has a whole lot to do with it. But if you want to get an idea of the eclectic mix that is South Dakota, spend a little time on their blogs.

Meanwhile, here's a sampling of some of the ranges that you'll find in the semi-regular trip around the South Dakota blogosphere.

Rounds watch intensifies on smoking ban

With support for the smoking ban surging to unprecedented levels in the South Dakota Legislature this year, it seemed the inevitable that the sweeping measure (the only places exempted from the ban are motel/hotels and some tobacco businesses) would become law.

But it doesn't become law without the signature of Gov. Mike Rounds, and his lack of commitment to either sign or veto the bill to this point has plenty of political pundits watching Pierre closely these days. Although he has come out and said he personally doesn't like smoking, he has not said he will endorse the bill in its current form.

Meanwhile, taking Kevin Woster's story from Monday one step further, Pat Powers at South Dakota War College examines the likelihood that a broader and more stringent ban will likely be sought whether or not the governor vetoes the bill.

Powers suspects that the movement would be headed by the Robert Wood Johnson foundation, an corporation that has supported similar efforts throughout the U.S, as well as efforts to crack down on alcohol consumption.

Whether or not the foundation gets involved in the South Dakota battle remains to be seen, but their involvement would certainly give ammunition to those fighting the smoking ban.

Powers notes that as the group has fought to limit smoking in other states, it has simultaneously profited from said ventures as a maker of alternative nicotine products such as Nicoderm.

God hates … figs?

Offensive? Well, maybe slightly. Funny? Oh, yeah.

Scott L. Ehrisman, the self-proclaimed author of "South Dakota's snarkiest political blog" South DaCola, takes aim on the lover of hate himself, the Rev. Fred Phelps.

You remember Phelps, the vilest of guys who regularly protests churches and institutions whenever he hears about a gay-rights issue coming to pass or something similar.

He became even more notorious when he began protesting at the funerals of fallen U.S. servicemen, saying that their deaths were God's vengeance on a nation that had allowed homosexuals to exist and prosper.

I don't know if he, himself, has ever been to Rapid City, but he has sent his minions a couple of times, having his elementary-age school follows hold up the notorious "God Hates Fags" placards as they demonstrate.

Ehrlisman's post, as simple as it is, made my morning. What's great about it is the biblical support it presents in its anti-fig rant, finishing with "Figs Doom Nation." It brings out the absurdity of Phelps and his use of the Bible as a tool of hate.

That being said, don't be surprised if the Rev. decides to make a return trip to the Hills in the near future after the Rapid City council's actions of Monday night expanding protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals.

Maybe then we could get his stance on the Bible's obvious directive against figs.

A Democrat's chance in West River

If you haven't checked out Sam Hurst's blog, Dakota Day, you really should. Hurst was the left-leaning voice on the Sunday opinion page of the Rapid City Journal for many years and now has his own blog.

While at the Journal, he was much-loved by many and much-not loved by many as well for his views, which often bordered on antagonistic in the Libertarian-loving land known as West Dakota. However, they were never boilerplate, and neither is his blog.

Hurst takes a look at a question of what impact the Democratic Party has in these here parts and is that likely to change in the future. Specifically, he talks with Cheryl Chapman of Rapid City, perhaps the strongest Democratic voice in the state these days sans those that are currently hold/or have previously served in the U.S. Senate or House.

Hurst paints a bleak picture for the party. Broke. Without a leader (Jack Billion retired early). Still licking its wounds from last fall's election. But Chapman seems to be willing to pick up the fight, and Hurst gives us a little insight into the coming 2010 election season for the Dems and their David vs. Goliath task in taking on the popular John Thune.

Can they win? Well, probably not. But can the party be saved this side of the Missouri? Stay tuned.

Illustrations at 11

The Madville Times pokes a little fun at media giant KELO over their coverage of a Rapid City news story, the explosion that leveled Midwest Clutch and Auto Repair early Saturday morning.

OK, not so much as their coverage, but more on their accompanying graphics to the online version of the story. The graphic includes huge clouds and flames shooting out, with the background setting the sky ablaze.

"Um, Perry, it was a shop explosion, not the Allied assault on Anzio," the blog states.

Yes, it was a bit over the top, but I've got to tell you, I've been in their shoes and have had to come up with a graphic for the home page. It's sometimes the next best thing to a crayon illustration by the Web master.

Requiem for a blogger

I don't often feature the Journal's community bloggers in this column, if ever. But this week, I make an exception.

About a month ago, we lost one of our bloggers all-too-early, Dan Olson, the founder of the Black Hills Area Paranormal Society. Olson was well-known in the community, and his passing came as a sincere shock to all. The blog remains up temporarily as we see if there is interest in refashioning it and if there is someone else who wants to pick it up in Dan's absence.

Meanwhile, his last post, "Are the Dead Lonely?", is eerie in it's look forward to the Great Beyond.

"When I sit and ponder the idea that at some point in time, I will indeed shed these mortal coils, I often wonder if it's a joyous occasion, or something nightmares are made of," he writes.

I hope it is the former, as do some of the commenters on the blog, who used the feature to offer up condolences. As one commenter offered up, "God speed, Dan."

God speed, indeed.