tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58296279619345287892024-03-14T05:58:49.213-06:00B.Frank BroadsidesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-77424049093930014932019-11-21T14:38:00.000-07:002019-11-21T16:55:50.513-07:00<b>Winter</b><br />
<br />
The water's tone is low<br />
a sibilance<br />
<br />
Current carries floes<br />
blocks channels<br />
<br />
Mid-river shoals <br />
are islands<br />
<br />
Geese float downstream<br />
in slush<br />
<br />
B-Dog cocks her ears<br />
steps lightly<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFHcWBwnuFiBZVAGbomUEru9tE06tT9NZj3Dqi7sccOfTR3txpQu1XGgMNt71JI_7Gigk1CEgnzENk5K1bAYF2F5Ld4YzfXB05mhHnK6cc58DTaHhYzKhgUhwu-VgMkJ8lmMDNQTQJzrV/s1600/IMG_0900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFHcWBwnuFiBZVAGbomUEru9tE06tT9NZj3Dqi7sccOfTR3txpQu1XGgMNt71JI_7Gigk1CEgnzENk5K1bAYF2F5Ld4YzfXB05mhHnK6cc58DTaHhYzKhgUhwu-VgMkJ8lmMDNQTQJzrV/s200/IMG_0900.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Wary on new ice<br />
she sipsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-49841099185688401562019-11-20T15:57:00.000-07:002019-11-21T16:48:00.967-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Check out <a href="https://kxci.org/" target="_blank">KXCI</a> Radio's <a href="https://kxci.org/programs/jazz-sundae/" target="_blank"><b>Jazz Sundae</b></a>!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://kxci.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Jazz-Sundae-220x220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="220" src="https://kxci.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Jazz-Sundae-220x220.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-57753200546448746492019-11-20T15:30:00.000-07:002019-11-21T15:30:40.671-07:00Notes From The Ragged Edge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt="Click to see more" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxhyphenhyphen3wu6g0S5d4OfAWsg_Vcu9JbGdllkI3S4TaPCBgyTqEA243C6qJbgbmD4MCbSfcGSLT3VMJTCqXw5n7lDKjU-ZlhJEjuMsxILHvgqhQOsjKqQyYO8q48MkdwDQt9_-E9prJV9GGP-Z/s320/A+Ragged+Edge.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
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<a href="https://bfrankbroadsides.blogspot.com/search/label/Notes%20from%20the%20Ragged%20Edge" target="_blank">Click here for more Notes</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-15546879829116272222019-11-19T16:53:00.000-07:002019-11-21T16:53:49.507-07:00B-Dog's Jazz Dive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HGhxeYpoMfxzMJlTG4l90U1cRxXVVXT0SghzvdGu-Szrb6LaCCNcI4MdaIIBnWkOBjnVA6Cf7Bobt9vgo3jP7lfJpi7MbaLYA_SAg0bA5wti57f_LWX6BLTeZvFDyd1SRtOXP6u3K9zE/s320/B-Dog+sniffing+out+the+trail.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://bfrankbroadsides.blogspot.com/search/label/B-Dog%27s%20Jazz%20Dive" target="_blank">Click here for more from B-Dog's Jazz Dive!</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-2138157718588076582015-01-15T12:31:00.004-07:002015-01-15T12:39:48.730-07:00Lookin' for a Book?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://app.box.com/shared/7ulpl7r142"><img alt="Read an Excerpt!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK-CI81MPzA_04IixBxDzR8rpaDOO-cBlAbnF-x-GyYFeZclZNpeLIQZ8_a-q6sM1rziFVOOZ55sASZstS8_AOvfaw-ORGfTsRXvqZ1r8kw6-5Fj1NRNUr1dXK5RBVggAlz5eYZRbjACk/s1600/ltd-front.cover.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click cover image to read an excerpt, then<br />
contact me at: <b><i>bfrankbroadsides@gmail.com</i></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-69405718962058888542014-01-28T10:57:00.000-07:002014-01-28T11:24:14.274-07:00Another Note From the Ragged Edge <div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/arts/music/pete-seeger-songwriter-and-champion-of-folk-music-dies-at-94.html?hp" target="_blank">Pete Seeger, 1919-2014</a></span></h2>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Pete Seege<span style="color: black;">r</span>, (<a href="http://www.peteseeger.net/HUAC.htm">responding</a> to House Unamerican Activities Committee questions, </span></span>August 18, 1955):</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my
philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I
voted in any election, or any of these private affairs. I think these
are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially
under such compulsion as this. I would be very glad to tell you my life
if you want to hear of it.” </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: black;"> ...and...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">"I
have sung for Americans of every political persuasion, and I am
proud that I never refuse to sing to an audience, no matter what
religion or color of their skin, or situation in life. I have
sung in hobo jungles, and I have sung for the Rockefellers, and I
am proud that I have never refused to sing for anybody. That is
the only answer I can give along that line." </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">For more on his life and thoughts, click this <a href="http://peteseeger.net/wp/" target="_blank">Appreciation Page</a>, this <a href="http://peteseegermusic.com/" target="_blank">Pete Seeger Music</a> site, </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">or join in below... </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QhnPVP23rzo" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...and so we shall, someday.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-77290442875006434292013-11-22T15:17:00.000-07:002013-11-22T16:23:49.586-07:00A Note from the Ragged Edge <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_216038784"><a href="http://<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eCxi5VOYKOY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eCxi5VOYKOY" width="420"></iframe></a></span><span id="goog_216038785"></span><br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-34958023239682577062011-11-25T10:48:00.007-07:002013-11-22T14:27:49.089-07:00Recent Articles<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/features/snipe-hunting-in-the-war-zone-a-diary-of-peculiar-madness/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Snipe Hunting in the War Zone</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i>“Was thinking of taking a trip down to Big Bend last week of Oct.-ish, first week of Nov.-ish … wondering if you’d be inclined to ride along. There it is,” </i>read the e-mail from a fellow traveler...<br />
<a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/magazine/february-march-2012/page/2/" target="_blank">(in Mountain Gazette #186)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/features/cool-cats-dharma-bums/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Cool Cats & Dharma Bums</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As you look up from your preparations, stalking toward you in an unhurried way is a somewhat furry, low-slung, powerfully put-together specimen of what a certain number of days and nights “at altitude” hath wrought<a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/features/cool-cats-dharma-bums/">...</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/magazine/january-2012/">in Mountain Gazette #185</a>) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/features/in-the-zone/" target="_blank">In the Zone</a></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Old man Harrison knew the apple business, and he had a vision.<a href="http://...http//www.mountaingazette.com/features/in-the-zone/" target="_blank">.. </a><br />
<a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/features/in-the-zone/" target="_blank">(in<i> MG</i> #180)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/mountain-notebook/high-water-lines/" target="_blank">High Water Lines</a></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
“You oughta go look down by the bridge — that ol’ boy got some equipment wet.” </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
“He don’t have much sense anyway<a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/mountain-notebook/high-water-lines/" target="_blank">..." (in<i> MG</i> #181)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/mountain-notebook/on-resurrection/" target="_blank">On Resurrection</a></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m walking down a street in a town long dead to me<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_128648877" target="_blank">..</a></span><a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/mountain-notebook/on-resurrection/" target="_blank">. (in <i>MG</i> #183)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/blogs/ragged-edge/" target="_blank">The Ragged Edge</a></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
A bi-monthly visit to B. Frank’s deep research facility, where the air is rich with the dark brew<a href="http://...http//www.mountaingazette.com/blogs/ragged-edge/" target="_blank">...</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<i><br />
</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-80711804421033423502011-04-24T21:46:00.001-06:002011-04-24T21:48:28.449-06:00Tattoos, Pirates 'n' more!Recently published articles are now on-line, courtesy <a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/subscribe/">Mountain Gazette</a>:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/mountain-notebook/on-naked-pirates-and-a-snake-tattoo/">On Naked Pirates and a Snake Tattoo</a></span></b> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">and...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span><a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/features/ballad-of-francois-le-conducteur-dautobus/"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="FR">Ballad of François, le Conducteur D’Autobus</span></span></b></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">For more Mountain Gazette, check out:</span></div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/2011/04/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTyvkCfcXFCi3WE0_BUvV6rXawWf3RQajHyl1SQvRufjyUMMPDgu8P7hajT-qnQdlRDSM75aFF_HBuGJVF8HqT_xl8itIGPBg5_5YI6VDW1jO2bKlinioFPIDxVOPBE9MTih8SZT6M4OL/s1600/Mountain+Gazette+%2523177.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-27073065906104197202010-10-18T20:17:00.001-06:002013-11-22T15:54:30.811-07:00Livin' the Dream in the news<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 24pt;">Mountain Gazette's B. Frank worries Colorado has been tamed</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Mountain man seeks the 'ragged edge' </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">By Anna Maria Basquez</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> For the Boulder Daily Camera</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Posted: 10/16/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">When all the college kids his age were looking to work in the city, B. Frank tried that life too, and it wasn't long before he reconsidered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">"That whole era convinced me to drop off the edge of the cities," Frank said. His short story "Work Ethic," he said, "was the story of how I found getting a good steady job and showing up every day, being reliable, and finding a way to get away on weekends with everybody else was just not gonna work for me. Sometimes you have to throw yourself out of everything you thought you might want to do."</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/books/ci_16339280">Read More @ the Boulder Daily Camera</a> </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-64684690753267045632010-10-06T14:24:00.003-06:002010-10-12T10:37:52.805-06:00October book tour dates!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDN1zTlEPtFFdIzYsSTE6SUzOIQspMJwF1kc3sBB_YW-UiE0kzQH0W7mg8vBTtOSP9BPi7PyeDyQym5aTLKCA20VhIpUjbj_aTrzRTIbRkKBJhXbhUojQ0N6FyfwLHEzgP7THMNywWFf3/s1600/LtD+signing+poster+%28October+tour%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDN1zTlEPtFFdIzYsSTE6SUzOIQspMJwF1kc3sBB_YW-UiE0kzQH0W7mg8vBTtOSP9BPi7PyeDyQym5aTLKCA20VhIpUjbj_aTrzRTIbRkKBJhXbhUojQ0N6FyfwLHEzgP7THMNywWFf3/s400/LtD+signing+poster+%28October+tour%29.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-480304643746165902010-07-09T09:05:00.005-06:002013-11-22T15:54:02.994-07:00In the news!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqwh7gqKfk6LnT7h8cUJ9h_7lVOZsM_8Sh1tyLWQYcM4OjOuXppBqZBBZhwkeJYQ5MrrogEsdFgHn4ueaOcIU178M5PxS9Fi0vKV60RbSRhb_ULZ663qMF10TCRj9OeAMYUs55GvLNQTn/s1600/Livin+the+Dream+front+cover+jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqwh7gqKfk6LnT7h8cUJ9h_7lVOZsM_8Sh1tyLWQYcM4OjOuXppBqZBBZhwkeJYQ5MrrogEsdFgHn4ueaOcIU178M5PxS9Fi0vKV60RbSRhb_ULZ663qMF10TCRj9OeAMYUs55GvLNQTn/s320/Livin+the+Dream+front+cover+jpeg.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<a href="http://durangotelegraph.com/telegraph.php?inc=/10-06-10/betweenthecovers.htm">Durango Telegraph</a><br />
<a href="http://durangoherald.com/sections/A&E/2010/06/15/Book_tour_kicks_off_with_Mountain_Gazette_pair/">Durango Herald</a><br />
<a href="http://www.box.net/shared/0nkhalve0u">Daily Times</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-8208194772823085262010-05-25T21:09:00.002-06:002010-06-19T16:17:13.855-06:00Livin' the Dream signing tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDyEODfqhho8bVdG3qoIFVuglKRu7P8VvevCeJQdmfNYa4wO_pTSbEs9iCbKn_GglnolQ0Fcui3u1Q_lGsJQEuZRhkJ-h6YAJru-3g6EJnBbK5FSC0DXG_kc79_Ga5Q4JP5xca7MOdCiK/s1600/LtD+signing+poster+dates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDyEODfqhho8bVdG3qoIFVuglKRu7P8VvevCeJQdmfNYa4wO_pTSbEs9iCbKn_GglnolQ0Fcui3u1Q_lGsJQEuZRhkJ-h6YAJru-3g6EJnBbK5FSC0DXG_kc79_Ga5Q4JP5xca7MOdCiK/s320/LtD+signing+poster+dates.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhdAcOJtPTDxxt5ok2L1ULCrNbJBTgul6iXrsXYKSBsboPY0Itt6T0FR6p2oislZuNaLprSXNNV84qIbxszJ8mtGvbsFL6Z5DPLC6Ezg2jsC6G0_dmauXnqIUtYhP1xdvwMCnv2bsGoy2/s1600/Joint+book+signing+poster+dates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhdAcOJtPTDxxt5ok2L1ULCrNbJBTgul6iXrsXYKSBsboPY0Itt6T0FR6p2oislZuNaLprSXNNV84qIbxszJ8mtGvbsFL6Z5DPLC6Ezg2jsC6G0_dmauXnqIUtYhP1xdvwMCnv2bsGoy2/s320/Joint+book+signing+poster+dates.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-35671305615139810312010-05-09T19:36:00.007-06:002013-11-22T15:51:04.697-07:00<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Book Release Party! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mariasbookshop.com/event/meet-author-mountain-gazette-contributing-editor-b-frank">June 15 @ Maria's Bookshop</a>, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Durango, Colorado</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-52347660306837726902010-04-29T16:07:00.009-06:002013-11-22T15:50:25.759-07:00To buy multiple copies of Livin' the Dream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIcWvLTqycmFcSjciRZseXjeUI4AAXrorSt8uF3omGxepOo4gFVc9-Yns7Y6jDuS6Ad9-Xh-KAlWkKQmyDwZrxrIY1_H_1zQOGYev-XjlBYnyCw6XtfQTlig-60CRdoR9Bei5Ogd9q88E/s1600/Livin+the+Dream+front+cover+jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIcWvLTqycmFcSjciRZseXjeUI4AAXrorSt8uF3omGxepOo4gFVc9-Yns7Y6jDuS6Ad9-Xh-KAlWkKQmyDwZrxrIY1_H_1zQOGYev-XjlBYnyCw6XtfQTlig-60CRdoR9Bei5Ogd9q88E/s200/Livin+the+Dream+front+cover+jpeg.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Contact me!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-11516909078218032822010-04-23T10:03:00.009-06:002010-04-23T10:17:05.148-06:00The Fatted Bear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDe4WwBzjRnGN673zHXb7_bKAYngx803Ym6ZfXZslovDq1AFgKOtEmAZBFWF1Gsv7qJqrhY2qxTInIur5uaIcf31oCE_AY6Q48natH_so9D8LWs5OibiOapphDvQZhMNIWF4wWMbOhP0Xe/s1600/Bear+image+USFWS+%5B2005%5D+low-res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDe4WwBzjRnGN673zHXb7_bKAYngx803Ym6ZfXZslovDq1AFgKOtEmAZBFWF1Gsv7qJqrhY2qxTInIur5uaIcf31oCE_AY6Q48natH_so9D8LWs5OibiOapphDvQZhMNIWF4wWMbOhP0Xe/s320/Bear+image+USFWS+%5B2005%5D+low-res.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Image courtesy <a href="http://www.fws.gov/digitalmedia/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/natdiglib&CISOPTR=8847&CISOBOX=1&REC=1">U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service</a>)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Now that the first bears of summer are <a href="http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/04/21/First_10_bears_being_sighted/">prowling the edges of mountain towns</a>, it's time to dust off the old...</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/exclusive/features/the_fatted_bear_or_the_prophylaxis_of_fear_being_a_tale_of_panick_dread_and_dalliance_in_the_wildlandpantry_interface/index2.html">Black Bear Basics.</a></b></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe these will help keep our feet on the ground. Remember, people, we’re talking Smokey Bear Black Ursus americanus, not the oh-so-famous Ursus arctos horribilis Griz, in the following advice (especially about yelling, throwing rocks and the odds-on favorite in a fight).</div><br />
<b>Bear-Bait Management</b> <br />
• If you store your trash, tie it down, lock it up or — best of all — put it in a bear-proof dumpster. <br />
• Don’t leave fallen fruit, pet food, birdseed, peanut butter, small pets or other tasty morsels lying about in the yard. Put an electric fence around compost pits. <br />
• If you have lever handles on exterior doors, switch to round knobs. French doors? Good luck<br />
. <br />
<b>Should you encounter a Black Bear </b><br />
<b> </b>[courtesy: <a href="http://americanbear.org/blackbearfacts.htm">American Bear Association</a> (ABA), <a href="http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Mammals/HikeCampBearCountry.htm#Encounter">Colorado Division of Wildlife</a> (CDOW)] <br />
<br />
• “Stay calm (good luck!) — DO NOT RUN (running may elicit a chase response by the bear).” [ABA] <br />
• “Stand still, stay calm and let the bear identify you and leave. Talk in a normal tone of voice. Be sure the bear has an escape route.” [CDOW] <br />
• “Pick up children so they don't run or scream; restrain dog; avoid eye contact and talk in soothing voice.” [ABA] <br />
• “Never run or climb a tree.” [CDOW] <br />
• “If the bear stands up, he is NOT going to attack but is curious and wants a better sniff or view.” [ABA] <br />
• “Wave your arms slowly overhead and talk calmly. If the bear huffs, pops it jaws or stomps a paw, it wants you to give it space.” [CDOW] <br />
• “Slowly retreat from area or make wide detour around bear; don't crowd or block bear's escape route.” [ABA] <br />
• “If you see cubs, their mother is usually close by. Leave the area immediately.” [CDOW]<br />
<br />
<b>If a Black Bear Approaches</b> <br />
“A bear knowingly approaching a person could be a food-conditioned bear looking for a handout or, very rarely, an aggressive bear. Stand your ground. Yell or throw small rocks in the direction of the bear. Get out your bear spray and use it when the bear is about 40 feet away. (<i>B.’s note: Most bear spray manufacturers recommend waiting until the bear is less than 30 feet away</i>.) If you’re attacked, don’t play dead. Fight back with anything available. People have successfully defended themselves with pen knives, trekking poles and even bare hands.” [CDOW]<br />
<br />
<b>Size Matters</b> <br />
There is talk of an 1,800-pounder, but the tale dates to the late 1800s, so if it’s still alive, you just might be able to take the old geezer in a foot or tree-climb race. Once again, good luck. Black Bear adults usually range from 150 to 550 pounds, and will gain up to 30-percent of their denning weight in the last couple of months of the feeding season. Because of this yearly fluctuation, official records go by skull size rather than body weight (alive or dead), but the highest confirmed weights for males I can find are 700 to 900 pounds, out of all bears killed in the last 15 years. Looks like these were Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin bears, if it makes you feel any better out West. Females are somewhat smaller, but require heightened wariness, and are usually worth a close look. As my favorite anthropologist has been known to murmur, “Sometimes, size just doesn’t matter.”<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Read the rest of <i><a href="http://www.mountaingazette.com/exclusive/features/the_fatted_bear_or_the_prophylaxis_of_fear_being_a_tale_of_panick_dread_and_dalliance_in_the_wildlandpantry_interface/index.html">The Fatted Bear</a> </i><br />
(first published in <i>Mountain Gazette #165</i> [March, 2010])</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-54771949788892698452010-02-21T17:31:00.006-07:002010-02-23T13:09:14.583-07:00Gray Wolf Range - Then, Now; and How Soon?<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Then</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOilQJvRdAVqFyh4QHlvuS2qXAxrlPaO_YCWgeZ_ZQhiLBHxXik5YwXSUzJtnTmJor9CLFWcQaubFulvD1V-W1eoow0_rewqHbdK0q1phNdcQDjTWzkKwFqzwGzPbsyZOz-mEpyavCfsP/s1600-h/Wildlife-Wolf-CS06anim-med.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOilQJvRdAVqFyh4QHlvuS2qXAxrlPaO_YCWgeZ_ZQhiLBHxXik5YwXSUzJtnTmJor9CLFWcQaubFulvD1V-W1eoow0_rewqHbdK0q1phNdcQDjTWzkKwFqzwGzPbsyZOz-mEpyavCfsP/s320/Wildlife-Wolf-CS06anim-med.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Map courtesy: <a href="http://www.sightline.org/">Sightline Institute</a><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>For more information:<br />
<ul><li>An interactive <a href="http://www.mexicanwolves.org/index.php/wolf-country">map</a> showing changes in Mexican Gray Wolf distribution from 1915 through 2009, from MexicanWolves. org.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Almost a year ago, I posted some information on a <a href="http://sanjuanalmanac.blogspot.com/2009/03/on-crying-wolf-too-soon-so-long-to.html">young wolf's death</a> in northern Colorado, in the San Juan Almanac.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Now</b></span></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Map of the current range of gray wolves in the lower 48 states." height="267" src="http://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/images/maps/CURRENT_RANGE.jpg" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Revised July 2009</i></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">Map Courtesy: <a href="http://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/aboutwolves/graywolfpoprange08to09.pdf">U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/images/BRWRA_sm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/images/BRWRA_sm.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: <a href="http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/BRWRP_map.shtml">U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How Soon?</span></b></div><b> </b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>February 11, 2010 - Anti-wolf plan passes both legislative houses in <a href="http://howlcolorado.org/category/eye-on-utah/">Utah</a>; for more background and a reported pack sighting, see <a href="http://www.standard.net/topics/utah-legislature/2010/02/08/despite-objections-wolf-message-bill-seeks-house-ok">Ogden Standard-Examiner</a>. </li>
</ul><ul><li>February 16, 2010 - U. S. population of Mexican Gray Wolf drops 20%, and a plan to release wolves in <a href="http://howlcolorado.org/2010/02/16/iwc-mexican-wolves-reintroduced-in-both-u-s-and-mexico/">northern Mexico</a>. </li>
</ul><ul><li>February 8, 2010 - Report of possible wolf pack residency in <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CO_COLORADO_WOLVES_MTOL-?SITE=ILBLO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">Colorado</a>. </li>
</ul></div><br />
<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=39.436193,-108.424072&spn=0.742444,1.167297&z=9&output=embed"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=39.436193,-108.424072&spn=0.742444,1.167297&z=9&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
<br />
For more thoughts on wolves in the West, past, present, and future, check out:<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" scrolling="no" src="http://books.google.com/books?id=wM-lNXepoGUC&lpg=PP1&ots=INPDQlYEsf&dq=wockner%20wolves&pg=PP1&output=embed" style="border: 0px none;" width="500"></iframe><br />
Still available through your local <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/indie-store-finder">independent bookstore</a>. <br />
<br />
My own thoughts on the subject started on page 79:<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" scrolling="no" src="http://books.google.com/books?id=wM-lNXepoGUC&lpg=PP1&ots=INPDQlYEsf&dq=wockner%20wolves&pg=PA79&output=embed" style="border: 0px none;" width="500"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-21308591769332411702010-01-18T14:59:00.001-07:002013-11-22T17:04:29.485-07:00To the Mountaintop - MLK, 1968<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kxniiAG67hA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param>
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kxniiAG67hA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
(Excerpt of speech given April 3, 1968. Complete speech: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2EnnclLMX4">part 1</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySGDMdQaDA0">part 2</a>. )<br />
<br />
For more on Martin Luther King, and more speeches, check <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/18/dr_martin_luther_king_jr_1929">Democracy Now</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-36752793909198568102010-01-11T09:40:00.007-07:002013-11-22T15:46:19.777-07:00The Troubles in Snowglobeland<div style="text-align: center;">
ACT ONE:</div>
THE SCENE: Along a mountain pass, in that crepuscular moment just before a storm hides the mountain beyond the players.<br />
<br />
Just beyond the trees, see that valley? At the bottom is our town. If you step over here, you just might be able to catch a glimpse. From the right angle, it looks about perfect. Summertime, the train steams in around mid-day, and during winter you’ll sometimes see folks out on their sleds, right on the main street. When it snows, it looks like one of those snowglobes your grandma would let you shake, so you could watch the storm you’d just started. In fact, looks like a few flakes coming down now. Don’t mind them. Maybe somebody’s shaking things up again. Shall we go down inside, and find out what’s going on?... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mountaingazette.com/"><img src="http://mountaingazette.com/photo-video/images/MG-Covershows09/MG_163-cover-350h.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
[read <a href="http://bfrankbroadsides.blogspot.com/2010/01/troubles-in-snowglobeland_11.html">full text</a> version]</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-90532781120765449872010-01-11T01:00:00.001-07:002010-03-03T07:30:19.851-07:00The Troubles in Snowglobeland [This article first appeared in <a href="http://mountaingazette.com/">Mountain Gazette</a> #163]<br />
<br />
ACT ONE:<br />
<br />
THE SCENE: Along a mountain pass, in that crepuscular moment just before a storm hides the mountain beyond the players.<br />
<br />
Just beyond the trees, see that valley? At the bottom is our town. If you step over here, you just might be able to catch a glimpse. From the right angle, it looks about perfect. Summertime, the train steams in around mid-day, and during winter you’ll sometimes see folks out on their sleds, right on the main street. When it snows, it looks like one of those snowglobes your grandma would let you shake, so you could watch the storm you’d just started. In fact, looks like a few flakes coming down now. Don’t mind them. Maybe somebody’s shaking things up again. Shall we go down inside, and find out what’s going on? <br />
You come in from the south? If you’d come the other way, you’d’ve gone right through Ouray, another town about like this one. Not many jobs except gift shops, restaurants, cleaning motel rooms. Mostly summer business, and quiet winters with ‘Closed’ signs in a lot of store windows – not much to do when the tourists take their money home. Anymore, a lot of folks live down in Montrose, drive to work in Ouray or Telluride when they’re hiring, or try to get steady jobs around there. Trouble with keepin’ towns looking like visitors expect is that it’s hard to hide the sounds, smells and sight of what folks call industry. You know, building stuff, fixin’ it when it breaks, that sort of thing. We end up with a lot of stores and condos, offices and such that don’t need more than one or two workers at a time to keep ‘em going, but as our real estate developers say, “That master plan sure looks pretty, doesn’t it?”<br />
You saw another of our towns, the way you came. Durango. Traffic sure was rough on north Main, I bet, no matter what time of day you drove through. Used to be kind of quiet most of the day down there; except when the downtown was hoppin’ with visitors, or with locals going about their business. Anymore though, Main Street is all retail shops and restaurants, with the library moved north of the downtown, the hospital 5 miles out on the highway, and the industrial parks south of town the place most people go to get somethin’ done. Some folks are saying our downtowns feel like a shopping mall, except without enough parking. Go figure. You see that kind of Roman-lookin’ development on the north end of Durango? Built by one of our local car dealers, just before the bubble busted – I hear they sold one or two condos, and haven’t leased a single retail space yet. They finally took down the chain-link fencing a few weeks ago, so it doesn’t look quite so much like a piece of Detroit in the making now. But you didn’t come all this way to hear about Durango, and here we are on the edge of our town. Let’s take a walk, see what folks are doing these days.<br />
The side streets are about like this one, once you get a block or so from the shops, not much for pavement here. Ice-packed most winters, anyway. Backyard clotheslines, piles of firewood, toys – and plenty of dogs, most of ‘em friendly. Look, there’s somebody’s sled right outside the front door, ready for winter. That one’s from our sled-maker. He’s having troubles lately, but we’ll get to that down the way. We’ll turn here, go by the old Kendall Mountain café; closed for some years now. If you’d been here back in the ‘90’s after the fire, you might’ve been sittin’ with a volunteer fireman inside, watchin’ the Town Hall building across the way for signs of smoke through the night. Mid-winter, and so cold that when the firemen sprayed the old building during the fire, it cased the outside in ice – stone walls, so they got the fire out, finally; but it was like an ice castle until it warmed up a few weeks later. <br />
Took a few years, but the townsfolk gutted and rebuilt the offices, restored the old building so it looked almost new. Shows what you can do when enough of us work at something. A young guy that works there, our town planner – he’s in the middle of the troubles too. He got cornered the other day by a FOX network camera crew from Denver, right there along the restored railings. Said he was enforcing the town codes, but they wouldn’t take that for his answer. Then the reporter asked him, “Does it bother you that they’re out of work because of your decision?” He looked like he didn’t quite know what to say. Who can blame him? Our building inspector had tagged our sled-maker’s workshop with a ‘Stop Work’ order, and now they’re dealing with bright lights and muckraking questions until the appeal is heard. As it happens, the reporter got the story wrong, and while the troubles brew, nobody’s out of work, yet. We’ll turn at this next corner, and I’ll fill you in. <br />
Here we are. That pile of willow sticks is for the kicksleds. They get hand-carved into sled handles. No two alike, as you can see. Probably curing out here in the alley until they’re needed, they’ll carve easier that way. There by the door is the order from the city, and a ‘Notice of Violation.’ You can read ‘em if you’d like. Plenty have. Says our sled-maker should’ve had a permit, architect, change of use hearing, and so on. It’s all there. Stick your head inside; let’s see what they’re building. That’s the wall that got ‘em in trouble, the 2 x 4s with plastic stapled to ‘em. For a dust-free finish room, I hear. There are a couple of the woodworkers now. They didn’t come to work just to entertain us, so we won’t interrupt. These are the sleds they make here. Good work – nice cuts, even finishes. It looks like they’re about to start assembling the bodies from that stack of seats and backs. Over there is a finished one of the Flyers. See how the maple glows under that finish? They’re pricey, around 4 or 5 hundred each; but nice work, if you can get it. Lots of celebrities and regular folks have found ‘em worth the price. Let’s go see if we can find our sled-maker, across the alley in the shipping room.<br />
Yep, there he is – looks like some sleds are going out soon. Interesting story – grew up in a down-valley town, about a hundred miles from here. Majored in Chinese, speaks Mandarin, got married, became an activist, had kids, started a couple businesses, sold ‘em, and then moved up here about seven years ago and started building sleds. Did a new take on the old Flexible Flyer ideas, started making kicksleds, and folks all over liked ‘em. Says with the price of materials in Colorado, he wasn’t making any profit to speak of until he found a little factory in China to make the cheaper ones, so he could just build the more expensive ones here. Has a couple of ideas for new designs, and once this winter starts winding down, he’ll build and test them out on the mountains around town. That is, if he still has a workshop by then. Oh, here come a couple of drinks from across the street. Rum and Coke likely, looks like the work-day is done, and those two guys wrapping that pallet will be relaxing soon enough. Sound good? Let’s step across, while I finish.<br />
What you drinkin’? The Purple Passion is a new one on the menu. Rum, fruit juice, and who knows what else – packs a punch before you’re done. Tell the mixologist over there and she’ll make you one. The sled-maker started this distillery too, along with his wife. Their kids’ll likely pop their heads in after awhile. Nice kids, like livin’ here. The guy turning knobs over there is drawing off some of the alcohol they call the heads, making sure the rum coming out of that still tastes as good as what we’re drinkin’ now. Says he used to be an attorney, somewhere else. He seems happy at this work, doesn’t he? This building used to be a lodge, had a couple rooms upstairs, a bar here. Closed down, business got too slow for too much of the year. Now the rum ferments in the basement, is distilled in that copper still in the middle of this room, and it ages upstairs. There on the wall is one of the sleds, and a toboggan on the other side of the window, just past the still. Looks like a fantasy come true, but they tussled with the same town department on setting up this distillery, too. Had a different interpretation of the rules, just like this time. Town agreed with their appeal, that time. We’ll have to see if there’s a way to keep the woodworkers working, satisfy the codes, and get the parties to sit down over a hot toddy or two after this round of troubles dies down. <br />
Maybe it’s this Purple Passion talkin’ here, but here are some things to remember, when you come through town. There’s always a past; in the buildings, and in the people, too. Folks live right across, or just up the streets from each other, and somehow, after the troubles settle down from whatever last shook up the little globe I’ve been calling ‘our town,’ neighbors will have to get along, or ignore each other as best they can. That or leave, and too many are having to do that right now, what with high rents, over-valued mortgages, low wages, and more and more of the real jobs where people make and fix things going to the coasts, or to China. Our sled-maker says his ideal solution to this whole dispute would be something that leads to full buildings in the downtown, with people going in and out of stores and workshops, busy with all the things that folks find to do in a town with a future as well as a past. I think he feels like he’s come up against an interpretation of rules that may make this just one more downtown that looks like a shopping mall, with industry that started here pushed somewhere down-valley, lost in a park of big box buildings, out along a highway clogged with commuter cars full of workers that can’t afford to live in their town anymore. As you go home, take a look at Durango, Flagstaff, Moab, Glenwood Springs, Santa Fe; or pick your own poison near a snowglobe you used to love.<br />
Speaking of poison, it looks like the storm is picking up. It’s about time for that appeals hearing to start. Likely will be a lot of folks turning out, with a lot to say. If you want to listen in, let’s drain these Purple Passions, head over to the old Town Hall, and find a couple of seats in the back row. I’m going to ask you not to say a word though, because neither you nor I can really build a future in this town, unless we move here, get a job or provide some jobs, and then stay awhile. Since I’m buyin’ this round, I will ask you to study how the storm started and how it finishes, before you go try to fix the snowglobe town of your dreams. Our towns have been here awhile now, and some of us want them to be here for the kids coming through the door right now. <br />
<br />
ACT TWO:<br />
<br />
THE SCENE: Silverton, Colorado.<br />
<br />
2002: Brice Hoskin starts Mountain Boy Sleds in a shed on Blair Street.<br />
<br />
2003: Business incorporates, moves to former garage on Cement Street.<br />
<br />
2004: Contracts for manufacture of 800 sleds in China, while making 70 high-end sleds in Silverton.<br />
<br />
2005-2008: Business continues to expand, receiving patents on designs and offering more models of sleds and toboggans.<br />
<br />
2008: Now up to 8,000 sleds per year from Chinese manufacturer, along with almost 200 handmade in Silverton, Mountain Boy rents current space in Silverton’s downtown, in an alley off of Greene Street. Previously a print shop and office equipment fabrication facility, Mountain Boy uses it as an overflow shop/warehouse.<br />
<br />
2009:<br />
<br />
September - Mountain Boy loses lease on Cement Street shop, moves woodworking equipment to Greene Street shop for 2009-2010 winter production.<br />
<br />
October - Building inspector posts ‘STOP WORK’ order on Greene Street woodworking shop, citing wall construction and change of use. Mountain Boy files appeal, saying cost of wall-building is below threshold requiring building permit, and providing letter from print shop owner to defend current use as similar to previous activities.<br />
<br />
November - By now, at least four newspapers, one television camera crew, and an inveterate home range wanderer have asked for quotes, pictures, and sound-bites, from some or all of the people involved. All players (workers, town officials, and business owner) look and sound tired of the troubles.<br />
December About 50 town citizens, interested parties, and the curious turn out at Town Hall, for a Board of Adjustments appeal hearing on whether sleds are being ‘crafted’ or ‘manufactured.’ Building permit dispute is off the table for discussion.<br />
<br />
SLED-MAKER: “Each sled is built by one guy, signed and numbered.”<br />
<br />
TOWN PLANNER: “Their business license said ‘sled manufacturing’.”<br />
<br />
VOICES OF THE TOWN: <br />
“In a small town like this, we need to be flexible.” <br />
“I don’t know of any town that allows manufacturing in the downtown core.”<br />
“I don’t for the life of me understand why this has to be so difficult.”<br />
“I would like to see both sides sit down together.”<br />
“Can’t we all get along?”<br />
Board denies appeal, recommends that business be allowed to continue if an application for a zoning variance is filed. Discussion of building permit dispute is not allowed.<br />
<br />
OPERATIONS MANAGER: “Can we go to work in the morning?”<br />
<br />
TOWN ATTORNEY: “Yes.”<br />
<br />
Sled-maker schedules meeting with town manager and town attorney to discuss re-zoning options for workshop. <br />
<br />
ACT THREE: <br />
<br />
EMILY: “Mother Gibbs?” <br />
<br />
MRS. GIBBS: “Yes, Emily?” <br />
<br />
EMILY: “They don't understand, do they?” <br />
<br />
MRS. GIBBS: “No, dear. They don't understand.” <br />
<br />
The STAGE MANAGER appears at the right, one hand on a dark curtain which he slowly draws across the scene. In the distance a clock is heard striking the hour very faintly.<br />
[Vignette from <i>Our Town</i>, a play by Thornton Wilder (1938)]<br />
<br />
Trying to understand the troubles of people living, working and dying in a snowglobe town, ‘THE SCENE’ can shift to a community theatre presentation of Wilder’s classic play; or to conversation with some town locals over a warming brew, where no stage manager appears, and we find that the play has no end.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5829627961934528789.post-50682502732642439722010-01-08T12:10:00.000-07:002013-11-22T17:05:17.351-07:00Along the Path<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/46wWs2Yth0o&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param>
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[Video and text courtesy <a href="http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=232">Karma Tube</a>]<br />
On October 17th, 1931, just days before he would once again be imprisoned, Mahatma Gandhi spoke at London's Kingsley Hall. It was an address he called "My Spiritual Message," and remains one of the best surviving sound recordings of his voice. Gandhi opens with: "There is an indefinable mysterious power that pervades everything, I feel it though I do not see it. It is this unseen power which makes itself felt and yet defies all proof, because it is so unlike all that I perceive through my senses. It transcends the senses."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com